COVID Update

The year’s final full week of summer ends with a continuing upward trend of COVID-19 cases in Burke County.

Public health reported 94 new cases Friday with the majority of additional cases still afflicting individuals 40 and under.

The report from Burke health officials say there are 12-hundred-99 active cases, and 48 in the hospital, as Burke’s total now climbs to 14-thousand-296.

McDowell County also reported 94 new COVID cases Friday, and one additional virus-related death.

McDowell’s total is now 7-thousand-683, with 570 residents in quarantine.

Health officials urge those who have been exposed to COVID-19 or test positive for the virus, to remember it is important to quarantine for the necessary amount of time.

And if you have questions about how to quarantine and the length of time required, call your county’s health department.

Nebo Drug Bust

Local and state authorities charged two Nebo men last week with drug offenses following a search of their home.

On Wednesday, detectives with the McDowell County Sheriff’s Office, Marion Police, and agents with the SBI served a search warrant on 46 Mae Drive.

55-year-old Charles Robert Brown and 26-year-old Cody Thomas Brown were both arrested and charged with numerous drug offenses.

Reports say a search of the home turned up 165 grams of meth, 3-point-5 grams of heroin, cash, firearms and drug paraphernalia.

Caldwell Rabies

Rabies detected in Caldwell County – on Thursday, the state’s lab notified Caldwell Animal Control that a raccoon submitted for testing was indeed infected with rabies.

Reports say the raccoon was found off  Connelly Springs Road in the Fairway Acres subdivision.

Animal control officials urge pet owners to make sure their rabies vaccinations are current.

Rabies is a viral disease of the central nervous system that is almost always fatal once symptoms begin.

Caldwell County Animal Control is hosting a rabies vaccination clinic Saturday October 23^rd from 1 till 4 pm at the Health and Human Services Building in Lenoir.

One and three-year vaccinations will be offered for a fee of 7-dollars each.

For questions about rabies vaccinations, call Caldwell County Animal Control at 757-8625.