Statewide C19 Increases

New daily COVID-19 cases in NC topped 4-thousand Thursday for the first time since February.

Yesterday, Governor Cooper held a COVID-19 briefing sharing numbers that the pandemic is indeed reaching heights it hasn’t seen in months.

Cooper is not instituting any new restrictions or mandates presently, further emphasizing that vaccinations are our way out of the pandemic.

The governor is also encouraging school boards to ask their staff and eligible students to get the vaccine.

Cooper stated over the past couple of weeks, NC has seen a 42-percent increase in first doses.

In Burke County, health officials say the local vaccination rate is still hovering around 36-percent for those fully vaccinated.

Local officials attribute the increase in cases to restrictions being lifted, kids attending summer camps, and family vacations.

To learn about available vaccination options, call the Burke County Health Department at 764-9150.

Hickory Man Killed

A Hickory man was killed early Wednesday morning in a one-car accident in Statesville.

The NC Highway Patrol reports the crash occurred on Interstate-40 East near mile marker 143.

36-year-old Keith Donte Hutchison was reportedly driving a 2005 GMC Envoy when he ran off the right side of the roadway, struck the guardrail causing him to over-correct leftward into the median, and overturned.

Troopers say he was not wearing a seatbelt and was partially ejected.

Hutchison died at the scene.

The initial investigation indicates driver inattention as a contributing factor.

Medals Stolen

Caldwell County authorities are looking for a man wanted for breaking into the home of a deceased veteran and taking his war medals.

Reports say deputies have identified the suspect as 31-year-old Charles Aaron Carr who is wanted on charges of obtaining property under false pretenses.

Detectives say he took two Purple Hearts, two Bronze Stars, and other items from the home, and proceeded to trade one of the Purple Hearts for a two-liter bottle of Code Red Mountain Dew.

According to reports, the purple hearts have been recovered but lawmen are still looking for the other stolen medals.

The medals were awarded to Daniel Laws who spent two tours in Vietnam.

Investigators say an ATV was also taken from an outside shed at the residence, and are hoping to track it down to get further information into the case.

Should anyone have information on Carr’s whereabouts or anything connected to the case, contact the Caldwell Sheriff’s office at 757-1300.

Marion Assault and Thefts

A domestic disturbance in McDowell County results in charges for a Marion woman.

Deputies were called to the incident August 1^st on Lucky Street where they found 33-year-old Hilary Brooke Inman of Buck Creek Road in an altercation with another subject.

An investigation showed Inman assaulted a man at the residence; and whenever he attempted to call 911 for help, she took his phone away from him.

Inman was charged with simple assault and interfering with emergency communication.

McDowell County deputies are also involved in a search for suspects who have stolen property from the McDowell Parks and Recreation twice in recent days.

On the first occasion, someone broke into a facility outbuilding between July 30^th and August 2^nd and removed two chainsaws.

Then between August 2^nd and 3^rd, thieves made off with two weed trimmers and a leaf blower from the same outbuilding.

Anyone having information about the thefts should call Detective Hicks at 652-2237.