80 Percent Vaccinated

More than 80-percent of adults 65 and older in NC have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine – that announcement Friday by the State Department of Health and Human Services.

State health officials say people who are fully vaccinated can do all of the things that they did before the pandemic.

They go on to say those who are unvaccinated still need to wear a mask in public indoor settings and outdoors as well when they cannot maintain physical distance.

To date, NC has administered more than 8-point-3 million vaccine doses.

Figures show 77-percent of the population 65 and older is fully vaccinated with close to 54-percent of state residents 18 and older having received at least one dose.

To find a vaccine location, visit myspot.nc.gov or call 888-675-4567.

Gorge Fall

A hiker falls to his death in Linville Gorge Thursday – marking the second fall-related death to occur in the gorge this year.

Just before 12:30 p.m., Burke County Emergency officials received the call about an injured hiker in the Rock Jock trail area off of Old NC 105.

Reports say rescuers found 30-year-old Michael Patrick Ryva of Illinois who had fallen approximately 80 feet.

Ryva was pronounced dead at the scene.

Crews worked for several hours to extricate Ryva from the rugged terrain.

Those assisting in the operation included Burke County Special Operations, Burke County Rescue, Burke County Emergency Management, NC Emergency Management, Oak Hill Fire and Rescue, Linville Central Rescue, and responders from Avery and McDowell Counties.

Deputy Pursuit

A license checkpoint in McDowell County last week results in a pursuit and the arrest of a Nebo man.

On May 31^st, deputies were operating a checkpoint on Sugar Hill Road when 26-year-old Cody Lee McKinney approached in his vehicle, and abruptly sped off.

Deputies recognized McKinney and knew he did not have an operator’s license.

Officers reportedly pursued him onto several roadways, with McKinney exiting the car to flee inside a home on Quail Hollow Road.

Deputies located him inside the house and took him into custody.

A search of his car turned up suboxone strips, pills, liquid THC, and drug paraphernalia.

McKinney was charged with failure to heed a blue light and siren, fleeing to elude arrest, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of a schedule three controlled substance, possession of synthetic cannabinoid, reckless driving to endanger, resisting a public officer, and failure to stop for a stop sign or flashing red light.