COVID Update

The State Department of Health and Human services Thursday reported 7-thousand-20 new statewide COVID-19 cases – the first time the daily total has topped 7-thousand since late January.

The number of those hospitalized with the virus also increased yesterday to 3-thousand-83; which also compares to late January numbers.

State health department Secretary Dr. Mandy Cohen believes if cases continue to increase at the current rate, NC will surpass the January peak in a matter of weeks.

Cohen reports recent data shows unvaccinated residents are more than 4 times or 400-percent more likely to get COVID than people who are fully vaccinated.

Presently, 59-percent of North Carolinians are fully vaccinated.

Virus numbers are still rising throughout the Catawba Valley counties.

Burke County’s dashboard data indicates 68 new cases since Wednesday, for a total of 11-thousand-628.

837 cases are now active, with 22 hospitalized.

McDowell County reported 67 new COVID cases for a total of 5-thousand-990.

419 McDowell residents are in quarantine.

Murder Arrest

An eastern Burke County man has been arrested in connection with the murder of a Connelly Springs woman Wednesday afternoon.

Deputies with the Burke County Sheriff’s Office were called to a residence on Coldwater Street around 2:45 yesterday to reports of gunfire.

Once there, officers found 50-year-old Pamela Alice Moses outside her home deceased from probable gunshot wounds.

A news release from the Sheriff’s Office says witnesses at the scene identified the shooter as 49-year-old Johnny Everette Setzer of Icard.

Responding authorities observed Setzer leaving the scene in a vehicle when a chase ensued.

As the chase ended, reports say Setzer jumped from the vehicle and fled on foot.

A nearby resident spotted Setzer and called 911 to inform officers; Setzer was then quickly taken into custody.

Burke County deputies were familiar with Setzer and had been investigating previous crimes he had been connected with this month; including larceny, possession of a stolen vehicle, and larceny of firearms.

In Wednesday’s incident, Setzer was charged with murder and larceny of a firearm; with no bond on the murder charge, and 50-thousand dollar secured bond on the firearm charge.

Capitol Arrest Cleveland Co Man

A Cleveland County man has been taken into custody for allegedly having explosives inside a vehicle parked near the US Capitol Thursday morning.

Law enforcement sources have identified the suspect as 50-year-old Floyd Ray Roseberry from Grover.

Officials say the incident began around 9:15 when Roseberry drove his truck onto the sidewalk outside the library of Congress.

Reports say he told an official there that he had a bomb and was holding what the officer believed to be a detonator.

Officials proceeded to evacuate buildings around the Capitol, and positioned snipers to the area.

According to reports, police negotiators continued to communicate with Roseberry in attempts to determine whether he had an operable bomb.

Roseberry cooperated with authorities and gave himself up without incident.

A Charlotte news outlet reports several law enforcement agents were observed at Roseberry’s home in Grover.

Haywood Co Missing

Emergency officials in Haywood County are confirming two people are dead,many individuals remain unaccounted for after floodwaters swept through Tuesday.

Governor Cooper issued a state of emergency Wednesday to assist county officials with securing needed resources and to activate the state’s emergency operations plan.

More than 200 searchers are involved in rescue efforts along the flooded Pigeon River.

NC Emergency Management has deployed personnel from across the state to assist, including swift water rescue teams from Burke County.

Reports say nearly 100 people have been rescued from floodwaters, while searchers are continuing to go home-to-home looking for those still missing.

Medical examiners are working with emergency officials to determine the identity of the two victims.

Weather experts say the record flooding was the result of nearly a foot of rain that fell from the remnants of Tropical Storm Fred.