COVID Update

Burke County public health reports a lower positivity rate in testing local residents for COVID-19.

A news release states Burke is still at a high rate of transmission, but currently has a 6-point-08-percent positivity rate.

Burke reported 32 new cases Friday, and 166 additional cases since Monday.

Currently health officials are seeing the highest virus increases in birth to 19 year olds: 41 new cases, 20 to 39 year olds: 35 new cases, and 40 to 59 year olds: 55 new cases.

According to the release, the percent of individuals 12 and older who are fully vaccinated in Burke County has increased to 48-percent.

Burke’s total of COVID-19 cases stands at 15-thousand-799 with 41 residents still hospitalized.

McDowell County Friday reported 14 new cases and one additional virus-related death.

McDowell’s total is 8-thousand-579 with 207 individuals in quarantine.

Withers Sentenced

A Hildebran man has been sentenced to a prison term following his conviction for attempted murder and other charges.

28-year-old Brendan Marshall Withers will serve 17 to 23 years after pleading guilty to attempted murder, robbery with a dangerous weapon, and three counts of first-degree kidnapping.

Reports show Withers, in April 2018, held three former co-workers at gunpoint while robbing them, and binding their hands with tape in Catawba County.

He then forced them into a vehicle and drove them to Granite Falls.

According to reports, one of the victims tried to disarm Withers inside the vehicle when Withers shot the victim and then fled on foot before eventually surrendering himself to law enforcement.

The Caldwell County Sheriff’s Office led the investigation with assistance from several other area law enforcement agencies.

Marion Meth

Two Marion residents are charged with drug trafficking and possession following an investigation into illegal drug activity.

On September 29^th, the McDowell County Sheriff’s Office, Marion Police, and SBI agents served a search warrant on Eldleweiss Drive.

The search reportedly turned up trafficking amounts of meth.

65-year-old Winston Bo Webster Senior and 25-year-old Savannah Michelle Jimison were both arrested and charged with multiple drug offenses.

Caldwell Rabies

Caldwell County reports its third confirmed rabies case of the year.

On Friday, the State Lab notified Caldwell Animal Control that a skunk submitted for testing was indeed infected with the rabies virus.

A news release says the skunk was found on Addison Lane in the Grace Chapel community when it made contact with a dog.

Not only is this the third case of rabies in Caldwell for the year, but the second in the Grace Chapel area.

Lincoln Double Arrest

A couple was arrested in Lincoln County this week following an altercation involving gunfire.

Deputies responded to shots fired at a convenience store on Maiden Highway Tuesday.

Officers learned one of those involved had left the scene and went to her residence, while the other individual was walking along Car Farm Road.

Lawmen located 34-year-old Zakari David Glode who told officers he met 34-year-old Molly Marie Cate at the convenience store to allegedly return several vehicle titles that belonged to her.

Reports say an altercation between Glode and Cate resulted in a shot being fired from a pistol.

No one was injured in the incident. Cate was charged with assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill, and placed in custody under a 15-thousand dollar secured bond.

Glode was served with a string of outstanding warrants, and placed in custody under a 182-thousand dollar secured bond.