First Person Convicted in Murder of Valdese Man 

A man accused of the 1^st degree murder/kidnapping of a Valdese man in 2018 has

been found guilty in Tennessee.  Robert Littleton is the first suspect to be

convicted in the murder of Carlton Lamaar Edmondson.  He will be sentenced in

October.  Edmondson was reported missing by his family January 19^th of 2018. 

His family told Valdese Police they had received a call from kidnappers asking for

money.  Authorities say Edmondson was beaten to death with suspects’ videoing

the crime with cell phones.  Arrested with Littleton, at the time, was his wife,

Leigh Katherine Littleton.  Also charged are 39 year old Michael Stacey May; 30

year old James Combs, 24 year old Valerie Ann Dollar and Brittney Arnold.  The

body of Edmondson has never been found.

COVID-19 Weekly Numbers  

Burke County Public Health reported on Friday 10,559 cumulative cases

of COVID-19, with 160 active cases and 6 people in the hospital.

In McDowell County on Friday, 41 new cases of coronavirus were reported

last week and 1 additional COVID related death. Total cases number 5,274

with 44 McDowell residents in quarantine.

As of July 21^st, Governor Cooper announced that Executive Order 215 will

be lifted on Friday. This lifts all mandatory capacity and gathering limits,

lifts all social distancing requirements, and lifts the mask mandate requirement

for most indoor and outdoor public settings, excluding public transportation,

child care, schools, prisons, and certain public health settings.

Morganton Flow Testing  

The City of Morganton will begin flow testing on Sunday, and will last

about 10 days. Residents and business owners who notice a discoloration

in their water supply should allow an outdoor faucet to run until the

water is clear again. Flow testing on Sunday will occur on East McDowell

Street & Valdese Avenue. For further information, call the Water

Resources Department at 438-5276.