Drawing Eligible

State residents vaccinated by the Veterans Administration and through the Tribal Health Program are now eligible for the 4-million dollar summer cash and college tuition drawings being launched by Governor Cooper.

NC Health and Human Services Secretary Mandy Cohen states veterans vaccinated through the VA and American Indians vaccinated by the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians are now included in the drawing.

Four vaccinated North Carolinians 18 and older will win 1 million dollars each and four residents ages 12 to 17 will win tuition for a college education.

The first drawings occur Wednesday June 23^rd.

Entries closed at midnight.

The 4-million dollar summer cash and college drawings will take place every other week until August 4^th.

Area COVID

17 new cases of COVID-19 last week in Burke County as reported by local public health officials Friday, brought Burke’s total to 10-thousand-362.

121 cases are reported to still be active, while 5 in Burke are hospitalized.

Catawba County reported 5 new cases for a total of 19-thousand-365.

8 Catawba residents are in the hospital.

Caldwell County remains at 9-thousand-581 COVID cases with 4 people hospitalized.

McDowell County reported no new cases Friday with a total at 5-thousand-173.

9 in McDowell remain in quarantine.  

Martha's Park

The city of Morganton and the Morganton Service League held a ribbon cutting Thursday to mark the completion of renovations and the install of new equipment at Martha’s Park.

Park renovations began near the end of 2020 and were just recently completed.

New features at the park include a new main playground structure, American with Disabilities Act compliant playground equipment, and a wide variety of playground equipment for all ages.

Martha’s Park originally opened in 1972 as ‘The Children’s Park’ and was renovated in the early 2000’s.

The park was renamed in memory of Martha Phifer.

Gas Thief

A Marion couple returns to their home on Greenlee Road to find a suspect in their barn.

On June 6^th after being in the barn, a man identified as 39-year-old Kevin Joseph Needle of Wilkesboro reportedly stole a gas can, jumped in his vehicle and sped away toward the US 221 bypass.

Marion Police spotted the suspect running into a wooded area on Ridley Street.

County and city officers conducted a short manhunt and located Needle hiding in thick brush.

Needle was charged with breaking and entering, larceny, and resisting a public officer.