COVID Update

Local public health official reports Burke County is still at a high rate of COVID-19 transmission with a current 10-point-5 percent positivity rate; while 127 new cases were reported over the weekend.

Burke’s total is now 14-thousand-423; with 65 cases added just since Sunday.

1-thousand-220 cases are reported to be active, and 48 Burke residents are still in the hospital.

The highest number of cases continues to be in those under 40 years of age.

McDowell County reports 122 new cases of COVID over the weekend, and 2 additional deaths.

McDowell’s total is 7-thousand-805 presently, with 486 in quarantine.

The FDA’s advisory committee met last week to discuss the possibility of distributing a Pfizer booster to those 16 and older, to be administered about six months after completing the vaccine’s second dose.

The committee approved the booster dose only to those who are 65 and older as well as those at high risk of contracting COVID.

Future meetings among national, state, and local health care workers are required before they can begin administering booster doses.

The CDC is scheduled to meet to discuss the booster specifics today.

Government officials in Cleveland County are describing COVID-19 as a dire situation in their area – so much so that a joint press conference about the virus’ impact was held Monday.

Reports say Cleveland County remains one of the highest counties in the state with new COVID cases; placing a critical impact on its’ health care systems.

The cities of Shelby, and Kings Mountain, along with the Town of Boiling Springs, the Cleveland County Board of Education, Cleveland Community College, and Atrium Health Cleveland were involved in yesterday’s conference.

McDowell Drug Conviction

A Marion man convicted on drug trafficking charges receives a prison term of up to 47 years.

32-year-old Wesley Clayton Rhom Junior was charged with two counts of trafficking in opium or heroin, and two counts of trafficking in meth.

In March 2020, reports say McDowell drug enforcement officers were conducting surveillance on US 70 East and Harmony Grove Road in Nebo while investigating illegal drug distribution.

A motorcycle being driven by Rhom was stopped for a traffic violation, when Rhom reportedly led detectives on a short foot chase.

As he was apprehended, a search of Rhom turned up 137 grams of heroin, and 99 grams of meth.

The incident was a joint investigation by the McDowell County Sheriff’s Office, Marion Police, the NC Bureau of Investigations, and the District Attorney’s office.

Full Moon

NASA says the Harvest Moon reached its fullest phase at 7:54 last night.

Harvest Moon is given to the full moon nearest the autumnal equinox and typically occurs in September.

This year's Harvest Moon is the closest (43 hours, 26 minutes) Full Moon to the Equinox since 1980 (39 hours). It won’t be closer again until 2029.

Why Is it Called the Harvest Moon? For several evenings, the moonrise comes soon after sunset. This results in an abundance of bright moonlight early in the evening, which was a traditional aide to farmers and crews harvesting their summer-grown crops. Hence, it's called the “Harvest” Moon!

While September's full moon more commonly falls near the autumnal equinox, sometimes October's does. In those years, September's full moon is referred to as the corn moon according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac.