COVID Update

Burke County Public Health Monday reported 103 new cases of COVID-19 since last Monday for a total of 16-thousand-517 cases.

Health officials report Burke is back in a ‘substantial’ rate of community transmission with a current positivity rate at 4-point-5 percent.

According to the state’s vaccination dashboard, the percentage of Burke County residents five years and older fully vaccinated stands at 46-percent presently.

A news release issued states Burke currently has 102 active cases and 12 remain hospitalized.

McDowell County reports 13 new cases of the virus for a total of 8-thousand-906 cases.

61 residents in McDowell remain quarantined.*

The Burke County Health Department will host a vaccine clinic today from 9-4.

Officials there report they will have pediatric Pfizer doses available; as well as first second third or booster doses of Pfizer, Moderna, and J and J.

If interested in scheduling a vaccine, call the Health Department at 764-9150.

Drug Trafficking Sentence

A Morganton woman is sentenced to prison from a 2019 drug trafficking case.

Found guilty of trafficking heroin, 34-year-old Ashley Dawn Ramsey was sentenced in McDowell County Superior Court to serve 7 and one-half to 10 years in prison.

Ramsey was fined 100-thousand dollars and court costs.

In the same case, 33-year-old Jamie Denise Riddle of Nebo was sentenced to serve up to 7 years following a conviction for trafficking meth.

Riddle was also fined 50-thousand dollars and court costs.

In July 2019, the McDowell County Sheriff’s Office charged Ramsey and Riddle as part of an ongoing investigation.

A vehicle occupied by Ramsey and Riddle was stopped by officers after leaving America’s Best Value Inn on US 221 South.

A search of the car turned up 2-point-6 pounds of meth and just over 2 pounds of heroin.

Authorities also seized additional drugs inside their motel room.

Standoff

A Sunday afternoon standoff in Morganton that lasted for more than 5 hours ended with a man being transported to a local hospital.

Reports say Morganton Public Safety officers were summoned to a welfare check at an apartment on Second Street around 1:30.

Witnesses reportedly told lawmen the man had accidentally shot himself before going inside the apartment.

As officers arrived the man refused to come out and had barricaded himself inside the residence.

According to reports, the man began to cooperate with negotiators after about 5 hours at the incident.

Public Safety then was able to enter the home and escort the man to a waiting ambulance without further incident.

Reports state officers discovered numerous firearms in the residence.

Burke County EMS assisted at the scene.

Vale Fire

An early Monday morning fire in the Vale community in Catawba County has destroyed a home.

Fire officials believe the destructive blaze started from an electric space heater.

Multiple fire departments from Catawba and Lincoln counties responded at 4 o'clock  to Phelps Road south of Hickory.

Reports indicate the NC Forest Service was also called upon to assist after the fire spread to a wooded area near the house.

A volunteer firefighter who lived nearby reportedly helped his neighbors escape from the burning home.

No injuries were reported.