COVID Surge

Health experts are warning that the highly contagious COVID-19 variant Omicron is expected to cause the greatest surge in virus infections to date within the coming months.

The CDC and the state’s department of health and human services are therefore urging people to get the COVID vaccine, and whenever eligible get the booster to help prevent serious illness, hospitalization, and death.

Early evidence suggests that Omicron is two to three times more contagious than the Delta variant, making it four to six times more contagious than the original COVID-19 virus.

Officials say once Omicron is in a community, it’s nearly impossible to contain; making vaccines and boosters essential in protecting people from severe illness.

A study released last week estimates COVID-19 vaccines prevented more than 1 million additional deaths and more than 10 million additional hospitalizations in the US through this November.

COVID Update

Although the current positivity rate has dropped slightly, Burke County still remains in a high rate of community transmission for COVID-19, according to the CDC.

Burke’s positivity rate fell from 6-point-1 percent to 5-point-7 percent, with 111 new cases of COVID.

Burke’s total stands at 16-thousand-917, with 236 active cases reported, and 10 residents hospitalized.

According to the state’s vaccination dashboard, the percentage of Burke County residents five years and older who are fully vaccinated remains at 47-percent.

Booster vaccines are recommended for those who are 16 and 17; as they are only eligible to receive the Pfizer booster with parental consent.

And a holiday scheduling change for COVID testing – the only days to get a test through the Burke Health department will be today and Tuesday December 28^th.

Regular testing schedules will resume the week of January 3^rd.

Elsewhere in the Catawba Valley, Caldwell County reported 80 new cases and two COVID-related deaths since Wednesday.

McDowell County saw 74 new cases since Monday, with 140 still in quarantine.

Robbery Suspect

Local authorities are looking for a suspect wanted in connection with an armed robbery.

The Burke County Sheriff’s Office reports Oak Hill Grocery on NC 181 was robbed at gunpoint around 9:35 December 9^th.

A news release describes the suspect as a black male, approximately 6 feet 2, weighing 300 pounds.

Reports say the man got away with an undisclosed amount of cash.

Anyone having information about the case is urged to call the Burke Sheriff’s Office at 438-5500 or Morganton/Burke Crimestoppers at 437-3333.

All Crimestoppers tips are anonymous, and anyone with information leading to an arrest may receive a cash reward.

Found Not Guilty

A Catawba County jury has reportedly found a man not guilty in connection with a 2015 shooting death.

According to Hickory Police reports, 23-year-old Octavis Sentex Geter was found by authorities on the side of the roadway on June 6^th 2015 after being shot and left to die.

Police report Geter was located on 2^nd Street Southeast in Hickory around 2 that morning.

Reports say he was taken to the hospital where he died of his injuries.

Three days later, police charged Jamar Franklin Robinson with first degree murder after he turned himself in to authorities.

On Thursday, a jury found Robinson not guilty of the charges.

Stolen Patrol Car

An Alexander County Sheriff’s deputy sustained injuries Friday as a suspect stole a patrol car and crashed into him.

Reports say the incident took place following a chase that ended around 3 am on Antioch Church Road.

Officers had attempted to stop a suspect that was speeding near Taylorsville.

Authorities report the suspect was driving at speeds topping 100 miles per hour, when they deployed stop sticks.

As the chase ended, the suspect exited his car and jumped into a deputy’s patrol car and rammed into another deputy’s car.

The suspect has been identified as 35-year-old Tony Timothy Martin of Taylorsville.

Martin was charged with flee/elude arrest with motor vehicle; larceny of a motor vehicle; assault with deadly weapon on law enforcement officer; assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury; four counts of resist/obstruct/delay; two counts of injury to personal property; and numerous traffic offenses.

The deputy, reports say, suffered a minor head injury.

The SBI and Taylorsville Police are assisting with the investigation.

Reward for Info

The US Marshal’s Office is offering a 5-thousand-dollar reward for information leading to an arrest in the shooting death of a Shelby teenager.

16-year-old Skyteria Poston was killed in a drive-by shooting November 9^th in the area of Roberts and Martin Streets.

Warrants for first-degree murder and discharging a weapon into occupied property have been issued for Santana Almont Eaves Junior of Shelby.

Anyone having information on Eaves’ whereabouts is urged to call Shelby Police at 704-484-6845 or Crimestoppers at 704-481-TIPS.