COVID-19 UPDATE

70 new cases of COVID-19 in Burke County since Monday and health officials reported an additional virus-related death Friday.

Positive cases amount to 10-thousand-129 locally; while there have been 160 virus deaths during the pandemic.

Health officials say the individual was in their 80’s and was not hospitalized.

Elsewhere, McDowell County reported two new cases yesterday for a total of 5-thousand-92 positives.

58 residents in McDowell remain quarantined.

TheBurke County Health Department continue's to encourage residents to consider getting the vaccine to prevent further spikes of the virus within our community.

Experts also ask residents to stay at home when sick with any COVID-like symptoms, and not visit family, friends, or attend gatherings that can spread infections.

To schedule a vaccine appointment visit myspot.nc.gov to find locations within Burke and surrounding counties.

Vaccine Campaign

The NC Department of Health and Human Services will kick off the ‘Bringing Summer Back’ campaign tomorrow with more than 140 partner organizations across the state registered to rally together to promote COVID-19 vaccinations.

Registered organizations from more than 55 counties and an estimated 31-hundred volunteers hope to reach more than 1-point-2 million North Carolinians to encourage their neighbors to get vaccinated.

The campaign runs through June 26^th.

Organizations that want to get involved can register, download the partner toolkit and access ideas for how to participate at covid19.ncdhhs.gov/bringsummerback.

Dispute Arrest

Two Marion men are arrested and charged following a domestic dispute.

On April 29^th, McDowell officers were called to a pre-dawn disagreement between the pair on Ashworth Circle.

An investigation revealed 28-year-old Shawn Wilson and 27-year-old Jose Campos was involved in a disagreement, assaulted each other, and Wilson reportedly would not allow Campos to answer the door or call 911 for help.

Reports say Wilson was charged with simple assault, resisting a public officer, and interfering with emergency communication.

Deputies also charged Campos with simple assault.

Sex Charge

McDowell County authorities charge a Union mills man with a reported sexual assault.

45-year-old Michael Alexander Young is accused of attacking a female acquaintance and forcing himself upon her.

Young is now charged with first-degree forcible rape.

Long View Case

 After countless years and a long history of disturbances, drug violations and numerous calls to the Long View Police Department, an area neighborhood should soon see long awaited changes.

Yesterday, Superior Court Judge Robert C. Ervin signed a consent judgment for a Chapter 19 Nuisance Abatement action against Roland Wesley Stout Jr., the property owner of 51 39^th Street NW, Long View.

This judgment concludes a civil nuisance abatement case brought by the Town of Long View on behalf of the State of North Carolina.

 Chapter 19 of the North Carolina General Statutes defines “nuisance” activities and provides for a civil remedy to abate such criminal acts and their detrimental impacts on the community.

The terms of the consent judgment called for the Property to be sold and forged an agreement detailing the future intended use of the property, which forbids future nuisance related activities on the property.

In addition, the judgment ordered the property be vacated within 10 days of the entry of the Order.         

The investigation was a joint effort between members of the Long View Police Department, Long View Legal counsel and members of NC Alcohol Law Enforcement’s Nuisance Abatement Team.