Area COVID and Death

Burke County’s death toll from COVID-19 climbed by one Monday afternoon as public health officials report 166 residents have now died from the virus.

A news release says the person was in their 40’s and was not hospitalized.

Burke also saw an increase of 15 cases of COVID-19 over the weekend, for a total of 10-thousand-345.

123 cases are currently active, while 6 people are in the hospital.

Caldwell County reported 4 new cases yesterday, for a total of 9-thousand-566 cases.

5 in Caldwell are hospitalized.

12 new cases reported in Catawba County Monday bringing the county’s total to 19-thousand-325.

9 in Catawba remain hospitalized.

McDowell County reported a total caseload of 5-thousand-166 last Friday.

Shooting Case Closed

A shooting case in which a Conover man died outside a Hickory nightspot on Valentine’s Day has been ruled closed according to the Catawba County Sheriff’s Office Monday.

A press release from February states 34-year-old Jordan Ramseur opened fire on a group of people outside the Stump Event Center in Hickory.

Witnesses told authorities Ramseur retrieved a gun from his car after being involved in a fight.

Ramseur was reportedly shot and killed by someone in the parking lot.

Another person was shot in the leg with non-life threatening injuries.

Upon an investigation, officials with the Catawba Sheriff’s Office conclude Ramseur was the first to fire his weapon.

Their findings were then turned over to the DA’s office.

The person who shot Ramseur was not charged, and their name will not be released by authorities.

Drug Charge

An Old Fort woman wanted on an outstanding drug charge is found in possession of additional drugs.

On May 25^th, McDowell deputies stopped a vehicle because of multiple traffic violations.

39-year-old Tina Marie Bielski was a passenger inside the car and was found to be hiding meth underneath her seat.

She was charged with meth possession and served with an outstanding warrant for trafficking in opium or heroin.

City Closures

Construction this week in the city limits of Morganton will be temporarily closing some traffic lanes.

Several lanes of traffic downtown will be closed through Friday to allow completion of construction work on traffic islands surrounding the courthouse square.

Closures will include inside lanes closest to the courthouse on South Green Street and South Sterling Street as well as both lanes of East Meeting Street.

Motorists are encouraged to practice caution in these areas.

Normal traffic resumes Friday when the work is completed.

Also, Freedom Park is closed to the public today through Thursday as contractors are resurfacing the park’s entryway.

City officials say the public will not be allowed access to the park until Friday.

Prisons Hiring

The Department of Public Safety will host hiring events for two correctional facilities today.

Correctional officer positions are available at both Foothills Correctional Institution in Morganton and at Marion Correctional Institution.

The hiring event is from 9 am until 8 pm, with same-day offers made to those who qualify.

Computers will be available for candidates to complete applications on-site but candidates are strongly encouraged to complete applications at ncdps.gov/careers before attending.

For those who cannot attend, contact a recruiter via email at recruiters@ncdps.gov.