COVID Update

Holiday gatherings are apparently showing up in the latest COVID figures throughout the Catawba Valley.

On the Burke County health department’s online dashboard, 283 new cases of COVID-19 have been reported in the last two days.

There are now 411 active cases, and 12 Burke residents are in the hospital.

Catawba County reports 245 new cases in the last week with 48 hospitalized.

Caldwell County saw an additional 239 cases of the virus, and 14 residents remain in the hospital.

In McDowell County, there have been 53 additional cases since Monday, and 236 are presently quarantined.

NC health officials Wednesday reported nearly 94-hundred new COVID cases statewide and more than 21-hundred people throughout the state are hospitalized because of the virus.

Blood Donations

The American Red Cross says their blood supply is lower than it’s been in years and is desperate for donations.

Officials state the holiday season always leads to a drop in donations but this year it’s been worse and the demand is up.

Red Cross workers say that someone in the US needs blood every two seconds; and during the holidays, accidents come at a higher level due to kids being out of school and family travel.

Workers also stress the need for donations due to ongoing health issues that people endure.

Those who would like to donate can make an appointment on redcrossblood.org or by calling 1-800-RED-CROSS.

 Lost Cove Fire Update

The Avery County wildfire in the Lost Cove area is now estimated at 1-thousand acres, and is now 60-percent contained.

The latest update from fire officials says firefighters are currently patrolling and monitoring the fire perimeter.

Some light rain fell on the fire area, with additional rainfall expected.

Officials say the outlook of firefighting operations beyond Wednesday will depend on whether enough rainfall occurs to fully extinguish the blaze.

Emergency closures of some trails in the area remain in place.

The US Forest Service assisted by Collettsville and Linville Fire Departments are on the scene of the wildfire.

Fire officials continue to investigate the cause of the fire.

Caldwell Rabies

Caldwell County health officials are reporting the county’s fourth confirmed case of rabies for the year.

A news release says the state’s lab notified Caldwell animal control that a skunk submitted for testing was infected with the rabies virus.

The skunk was found on Power Drive in Granite Falls and was sent for testing after coming into contact with a dog.

The dog received a booster rabies vaccine and is under observation for 45 days.

Rabies is fatal and can also be transmitted to people; making the rabies vaccine a state requirement for cats and dogs.

Rutherford Co Arrest

A Rutherford County man faces charges after lawmen find the partial remains of two people on his property Monday.

Reports say officers were responding to a call about two possible deaths at a residence in Forest City.

Authorities report the discovery of remains and personal belongings of 44-year-old Jason Van Dyke who lived with the suspect on the property.

Investigators also found the remains and personal belongings of 42-year-old Tracey McKinney of Ellenboro.

McKinney had been reported missing by her family earlier on Monday.

34-year-old Matthew Thomas Cooley has been charged with one count of homicide in the death of Van Dyke.

He is also charged with two counts of dismembering or destroying human remains, and two counts of failing to notify law enforcement of the deaths.

Cooley has not yet been charged with homicide in connection with McKinney’s death.

Reports state an autopsy on the victims is scheduled for tomorrow.

Cooley is currently being held in the Rutherford County detention facility with no bond.

 

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