COVID-19 UPDATE  

Burke County Public Health reported 292 active cases of COVID-19 on

Tuesday for a total of 10-thousand-163, with 6 people in the hospital.

McDowell County reported an additional 3 cases of coronavirus for

a total of 5-thousand-102, with 46 McDowell residents in quarantine.

Caldwell County saw an increase of 18 cases of the virus yesterday, for

a total of 9-thousand-385, with 5 patients hospitalized.

Catawba County reported 51 new cases of COVID-19, for a total of

18-thousand-924, with 16 people in the hospital.

Indecent Exposure  

A Caldwell County man is charged in Burke County with Felony Indecent

Exposure. The Burke County Sheriff’s Office charged 22-year-old Tristan

Douglas Coffey in connection with exposing himself to two female

childcare workers, last week, in Morganton. Coffey has been charged with

over 10 misdemeanor indecent exposure charges since 2019. Burke County

detectives are investigating Coffey for other possible indecent exposure

charges in Burke and surrounding counties. Bond on Coffey was set at

$20,000 secured. The Caldwell County Sheriff’s Office assisted Burke County

in the case.

Lincoln Grand Jury Indicts 14 People for Drug Operation  

A Lincoln County Grand Jury on Monday indicted 14 people in connection

with a lengthy Sheriff’s Office undercover drug operation. Narcotics

investigators began targeting street level dealers in late 2019 and ending

early this year. Undercover officers purchased crack cocaine, heroin, meth,

Marijuana and opiods. Of the 14 indicted, 9 people were from Lincolnton,

with 1 each from Hickory, Maiden, Shelby, Gastonia and Crouse.