Burke County Sheriff Will Not Seek Re-Election  

 

Burke County Sheriff Steve Whisnant has announced he will not seek re-election

in 2022.  Sheriff Whisnant, who has led three different agencies within the

criminal justice field, announced his decision on his facebook page and in a

statement release to local media.  Sheriff Whisnant called his tenure of 45 years, a

privilege and recognized all those who worked with him at the Burke County

Sheriff’s Department whom he says are admirably dedicated to our citizens. 

Sheriff Whisnant says he plans to give his family more of his time and becoming

available for other opportunities.

Mountain Biker Found  

 

A mountain biker, separated from a group around the Greentown Trail in Jonas

Ridge, was found safe by Burke Search and Rescue early Sunday morning.  Burke

Rescue was called around 8:30 p.m. Saturday to help find the biker in the

often steep and overgrown terrain.  Around 2 a.m., rescue workers made voice

contact with the subject and were able to slowly access the subject on a rock

ledge.  The missing subject, bike and rescue crews made it out of the woods

around 5 a.m. on Sunday.  Burke Search and Rescue was assisted by Linville

Central Rescue Squad, Burke County Emergency Management and Burke

Communications.

Wilson Creek Drowning 

 

Caldwell County Emergency personnel were called to Wilson Creek just after six

p.m. Saturday night in search of a possible drowning victim.  People at the scene

say the teen male victim went underwater in the bathtub section of Wilson Creek,

a half mile upstream from Brown Mountain Beach and never came back up.  The

subject was later located deceased.    

Lincoln County Looking for Missing Man  

 

Lincoln County Sheriff’s deputies are asking for the public’s help locating a missing

western Lincoln County man.  23 year old Elijah Samuel Torres of Vale was last

seen by relatives on July 15^th.  He did not show up for work at Honey’s

Supermarket on Highway 10 in Catawba County that same day.  Torres was

reportedly seen on July 17^th, but Lincoln County officers were not able to locate

him.  He is described as a white male, six feet tall and weighing 190 pounds.  He

has brown hair and brown eyes.  Anyone with information on his whereabouts is

asked to contact the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office at 704-732-9050.