COVID Update

The uptick of new COVID cases in Burke County continues as public health reports 113 new cases since Monday.

Burke’s total now stands at 16-thousand-757, with 217 cases active, and 6 residents hospitalized.

Health officials say Burke is currently at a 4-point-9 positivity rate, which according to the CDC is a high rate of community transmission.

McDowell County Friday reported 47 new cases of the virus since Monday for a total of 9-thousand-fifteen.

105 residents in McDowell are in quarantine.

Meanwhile, Mecklenburg County officials have confirmed a student from UNC Charlotte has tested positive for the Omicron variant of COVID-19.

Reports say though the student was isolated and has recovered.

The student is the first known confirmed case of the omicron variant in NC.

Drug Trafficker

A traffic violation stop leads to drug charges for an Old Fort man.

Reports with the McDowell County Sheriff’s Office say 47-year-old Christopher Calvin Basham was pulled over November 3^rd on Sugar Hill Road.

Officers discovered a trafficking amount of meth inside his vehicle.

Basham was charged with two counts of trafficking in meth, possession with the intent to sell or deliver, possession of meth, and maintaining a vehicle to keep a controlled substance.

He was given a 100-thousand dollar secured bond.

City Walk Ribbon Cutting

This week, the public can celebrate the grand opening of the first completed segment of the Hickory Trail – the City of Hickory invites all to the ribbon cutting for the City Walk and the dedication of the pedestrian bridge across NC 127 Thursday December 16^th.

The ceremony takes place at 5 pm on the western side of the NC 127 bridge on the City Walk trail.

Immediately following the ceremony, the city will ‘Light it up for Rudy’ at 5:30 as the City Walk bridge is illuminated for the first time and officially named and dedicated as the Rudy Wright bridge in honor of late Hickory mayor Glen Rudolph Wright Jr.

Wright served as Hickory mayor for 16 years .

For more information about City Walk and the Hickory Trail, visit craftinghickory.com.

Asheville Murder Charge

A Louisiana man is charged with murder in the October death of an Asheville man.

29-year-old Roy Tyler Forbes has been apprehended in Louisiana on unrelated charges and also faces Asheville Police charges of first degree murder and felon in possession of a firearm.

Forbes is accused in the death of 40-year-old Benjamin Lee Hoffman whose body was found in the Swannanoa River in mid-October.

He is currently in custody in the Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections.

Rutherford Co Stabbing

Rutherford County authorities are looking for a suspect following a fatal stabbing Thursday night.

According to reports, officers responded just after 11 o'clock to Bills Creek Road in the Lake Lure area in regard to a subject who had been stabbed.

Deputies located the victim identified as Reginald Randy Vess lying on the ground near a logging trailer.

EMS personnel reportedly arrived on the scene and pronounced Vess deceased.

Reports state the suspect Nicholas Dewayne Smith had fled the scene before deputies arrived.

A warrant for Smith’s arrest has been issued.

The investigation is still ongoing.

Anyone having information on Smith’s whereabouts should call Rutherford County Crimestoppers at 828-286-8477.