Lost Cove Fire

The Lost Cove fire has grown to an estimated 700 acres as the wildfire continues to spread with low intensity.

The fire is burning in the Wilson Creek watershed in the Grandfather Ranger district in Avery County.

Containment remains at 20-percent.

The fire was reported on Christmas Eve and has now progressed downhill from Timber Ridge to the south and east.

Officials report the fire is primarily burning through leaf litter at low to moderate intensities.

Firefighters report they expect the fire to continue to grow within the Lost Cove Wilderness Study area until significant rain is received.

No homes or structures are currently threatened.

Emergency closures of some trails in the fire zone remain in place.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

COVID Treatment Paused

In a news release from Caldwell County health officials, the assistant secretary for preparedness and response announces the organization is pausing allocation of some monoclonal therapies used to treat patients who test positive for COVID.

The therapy has been paused pending updated data from the CDC.

According to the FDA and Preparedness and Response officials, the particular monoclonal antibodies may not work against current circulating COVID variants, including Omicron, which continues to increase across the US.

In the news release Caldwell County states based on the federal changes and recommendations, the Caldwell health department along with EMS personnel will provide monoclonal treatments on a limited basis; while continuing to monitor the most current federal and state guidelines.

Meanwhile, state health officials report nearly 37-hundred new COVID-19 cases today statewide.

Officials further report almost 2-thousand residents in NC are hospitalized with the virus.

Tuesday’s daily percent of positive tests reported in the state is 21-point-9 percent.

Marion Sex Crime

A Marion man has been found guilty in McDowell County Superior Court of sex crimes involving an underage girl.

52-year-old Joseph Guzman of Robin Drive pleaded guilty, reports say, to indecent liberties with a child.

He was given a 19 to 32 month suspended sentence, with a credit for 168 days time served.

Guzman will serve 48 months supervised probation, and will be required to register as a sex offender.

Guzman also pleaded guilty to felony disseminating obscenity, and issued a 5 to 15 month suspended sentence; with an additional 48 months supervised probation to follow the initial judgment.

In August, a detective with the McDowell County Sheriff’s Office reportedly charged Guzman after an investigation revealed he had inappropriate sexual contact with a teenage female acquaintance, and had sent her obscene photos to her phone.

12/28/2021 PM

A Lincoln County teenager has been arrested on outstanding armed robbery charges from Mecklenburg County, and a robbery of a Denver convenience store.

Officers were called to the store in Denver around 3 Tuesday morning to a reported armed robbery.

Store clerks told deputies a lone gunman entered the store wearing all black clothing and brandishing a gun.

The suspect described as a white male reportedly demanded the clerk place money from the cash register in a grocery bag.

The man then left the store, ran across the parking lot and fled in a silver passenger car.

Then around 6:30 a.m., Charlotte Mecklenburg officers assisted by Lincoln County deputies were serving three outstanding warrants on a Lincoln resident for robbery with a dangerous weapon at convenience stores in Charlotte.

Officers arrested 18-year-old Abdel Lagueb who also confessed to the Lincoln convenience store robbery that occcured Tuesday morning.

He is currently being held in the Mecklenburg detention center under a 75-thousand dollar bond.

Lagueb will be charged with common law robbery in connection with the incident.