COVID-19 UPDATE

Burke County Public Health reported the 64th COVID-19 related death on Tuesday. The individual in their 60's, was hospitalized and later died from COVID-19 related complications. Burke's current total number of positive cases is 3-thousand-374 with 9 patients hospitalized.

Caldwell County reported the 35th and 36th COVID-19 related deaths yesterday, with both over the age of 75, were hospitalizedand reported to have underlying health conditions. 20 new positive virus were reported for a total of 2-thousand-897.

Catawba County reported an additional 88 new COVID-19 cases, for a total of 5-thousand-312 and in McDowell County had 24 new cases of coronavirus for a total of 1-thousand-404.

Burke CET Ranking

Career and Technical Education students in Burke County receive state

rankings. A recent released ranking lists Public School CTE students 12^th

in the number of credentials earned; 13^th in the state based on the number

of credentials earned as a percentage of CTE course enrollment aligned;

and as 1 of 4 districts out of 115 in North Carolina to place in the top 15

in both categories. Students completed CTE courses in subjects such as

fire fighting, health care, construction, foods and Microsoft Office with

credentials which are endorsed by business and industry and document

student mastery of skills required for employment and advancement in

a career. Over 2,900 Burke students enrolled in CTE courses.

Veterans Day Closings

Morganton City Hall and City facilities will be closed today, in

observance of Veterans Day. There will be no garbage collection

today, with trash pickup operating on a one-day delay for the

rest of the week.

 

COVID-19 UPDATE

Most of the positive cases of COVID-19 are because of community spread due to all types of gatherings such as recent Halloween parties, sports activities, and close contacts with other household members – that word coming from Burke County health officials as positives continue to mount.

Officials reported 34 new positive cases Monday, with a current total of 3-thousand-338.

Of that total, 459 cases are active, 2-thousand-787 are recovered, and 8 are still hospitalized.

Local public health in a news release, urge residents not to attend gatherings of any kind, especially when they’re sick.

The release goes on to say as we move into the holiday season where social gatherings are normally held between family, friends, and neighbors, remember all gatherings pose a risk for virus transmission, including the flu.

State health officials recommend having a screening for COVID-19 three to four days ahead of time for those planning to attend or host a gathering.

Also, health experts warn against participating in the traditional Black Friday shopping where customers gather in large groups waiting for the store to open or are in crowded stores for extended periods.

Any large gathering of people poses an increased risk for spreading the virus.

McDowell County reported 41 new cases for a total of 1-thousand-380. There was an additional virus-related death and 123 McDowell residents remain in quarantine.

Caldwll County reported the 34th COVID-19 related death Monday. The patient was over 75 and hospitalized with underlying health conditions. 46 new virus cases were reported for a county total of 2-thousand-877.

In Catawba County, 53 additional COVID-19 cases were reported Monday for a county total of 5-thousand-224.

Lenoir Rhyne Remote

Due to a substantial increase in COVID-19 in Catawba County, students at Lenoir Rhyne University are now learning exclusively online.

Students there are also being urged to move home early if possible because of the growing case count.

School officials say before classes began they required all students and faculty to take a COVID-19 test before arriving on campus.

Since then, school leaders report the university was averaging 6 to 9 cases a week, and only recently an uptick of about 9 to 12 cases weekly which they believed was manageable.

However, there has been a 300-percent increase in positive cases overall in Catawba County.

Banner Elk Fire

One person died in an early Sunday morning house fire in Avery County.

According to fire officials, the fire was reported just before 7 am in Banner Elk.

Reports say fire apparatus experienced difficulties in getting to the scene because of limited access for the tankers.

Two of the home’s occupants escaped with minor injuries reports say, while one person was discovered deceased inside.

The residence received heavy damages. The Red Cross is assisting the family.

Lincoln Shooting

Lincoln County deputies continue to investigate a Thursday shooting incident.

35-year-old Thomas Mathis of Lincolnton told officers he and 36-year-old Cody Johnson of Vale were involved in a physical altercation at Johnson’s home.

During the fight reports say, 28-year-old Katie Lattimore of Shelby shot Mathis in the abdomen.

Officers stopped Lattimore as she was trying to leave the scene and charged her with assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury.

Two days following the incident, Lincoln deputies and Longview Police arrested Lattimore at a location in Catawba County.

She was taken into custody under a 50-thousand dollar secured bond.

Mathis was transported to Atrium Health Cleveland where he was treated and released the next day.

Shelby Police served him with an outstanding warrant for breaking and entering a motor vehicle that occurred a day prior to the shooting.

As a convicted felon Cody Johnson was served a search warrant for his home, after which deputies located a handgun and meth.

He was then charged with possession of a firearm by a felon and jailed under a 20-thousand dollar bond.

 

 

 

 

 

COVID-19 UPDATE

Caldwell County Public Health reported the second highest single day cases of Covid-19 since March on Friday.  83 new cases were reported, where 2 thousand

8 hundred and 31 people have contracted the virus.  19 patients are hospitalized

in Caldwell County and 18 hundred and 64 patients have recovered.  Burke

County is reporting 3 thousand 3 hundred and 4 cases of the virus with six

patients hospitalized and 2 thousand 7 hundred and 51 people recovered. 

Catawba County reported 45 new cases of Covid-19 yesterday for a cumulative

total of 5 thousand 1 hundred and 71.  51 patients are hospitalized in Catawba

County and 4 thousand 1 hundred and 30 patients have recovered. McDowell County

reported 15 new positive cases Friday, for a total of 1-thousand-339 with 

119 McDowell residents in quarantine.

Armed Robbery Arrest

A Catawba County man accused of the theft of two vehicles and an attempted

theft of another, was arrested yesterday after a multi county chase.  Thirty-nine

year old Keith Allen Willis, Jr. was arrested after he was spotted by deputies in a

stolen vehicle, taken from a woman by knifepoint in a parking lot of a gas station

near Oxford School Road and Interstate-40.  Deputies chased Willis from Springs

Road in Hickory into Alexander County before apprehending him.  Willis is also

accused of the Friday afternoon theft of a truck from a Northeast Hickory

business, and the attempted theft of another vehicle from a gas station parking

lot in Catawba the same day.

Blue Angel Comes In Today

The City of Hickory will welcome the Hickory Aviation Museum’s latest addition to

its permanent aircraft collection, Blue Angel Number 5.  The plane is scheduled to

arrive at the Hickory Airport around 12:30 p.m. today.  The plane had originally

been scheduled to arrive on Friday, but due to the approaching Tropical Storm

Eta, the time table was moved up.  The Hickory Aviation Museum is located at the

Hickory Regional Airport and is open on Fridays from 10 a.m. till 3 p.m.; Saturdays

from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sundays from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.  Masks are required of

all visitors over 5 years of age.  Admission is free.  The indoor museum and gift

shop are currently closed to the public.

 

COVID-19 UPDATE

Burke Public Health reports 30 new positive cases of COVID-19 Thursday afternoon, with Burke’s total of positives now at 3-thousand-251.

Figures from the county’s website shows 481 cases as active, 2-thousand-683 as being recovered, and 7 as being still hospitalized.

In McDowell County, 8 new positive cases were reported, with a total of 1-thousand-324 positive cases. 112 McDowell residents remain in quarantine.

Catawba County reported an additional 106 new virus cases for a total of 4-thousand-986. And in Caldwell County, 19 new cases of COVID-19 for a county total of 2-thousand-727.

Holiday Gathering Tips

With Thanksgiving only three weeks away, Burke County public health officials issue reminders to those engaging in social gatherings.

Officials stress private or public gatherings between family members, friends, and neighbors pose a risk for transmission of COVID-19 along with the flu.

No gatherings can exceed the current limits within the Governor’s Executive Order of 25 people indoors and 50 outdoors.

Health experts say outdoor activities are always preferred over indoor events to help reduce the virus spread.

Officials recommend everyone wear face coverings at indoor gatherings and physically distanced from others at least six feet.

In a news release, public health urges residents to follow the basics – Do not host or attend a gathering if: you have been diagnosed with COVID-19, you are waiting on COVID-19 test results, you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, you have been told by a medical authority to quarantine or isolate, or you have been possibly exposed to someone with COVID-19.

Social gathering guidelines have been posted on the Burke County Health Department’s Facebook page.

 

Child Abductors

A Morganton couple was charged last month with child abduction after authorities found a missing child at their home.

A release issued by the Burke County Sheriff’s Office says a deputy went to the Scott Road home of 36-year-old Jonathan Paul Holtsclaw and Samantha Leigh Bowman on October 9^th looking for the child.

The release indicates the investigation determined the child was a runaway, and Holtsclaw and Bowman told the officer they had not seen the child.

Then reports say deputies returned to the residence the following morning and located the child.

Both Holtsclaw and Bowman were charged with one felony count each of abduction of children, and were each issued 20-thousand dollar secured bonds.

They will both appear in court December 7^th.

  

Suspect Caught on Scene

Deputies in McDowell County nab a suspect at the scene of the crime.

On October 8^th, officers were called to a break-in in progress at a residence on Airport Road in Marion.

Upon arrival, lawmen found 50-year-old Kevin Gordon Elliott of Marion at the crime scene, with obvious signs he had broken into a pool house.

Nothing was reported missing; Elliott was charged with breaking and entering.

 

 

COVID-19 UPDATE

The number of COVID-19 positive cases continues to grow daily, while public health officials report two more virus related deaths in Burke County.

According to a news release issued Wednesday, officials report the sixty-second and sixty-third COVID deaths to occur in Burke since the pandemic began in March.

One individual was in their 70’s, was hospitalized, but later died from virus related complications.

The second person was in their 80’s, was not hospitalized, but died from COVID associated complications.

24 new positive cases were added to Burke’s tally, bringing the county’s total to 3-thousand-221 positives.

The latest figures show 481 cases are active, 2-thousand-664 are reported as recovered, and 6 remain hospitalized.

In McDowell County, public health reports 14 additional positives; bringing the total number of positives to 1-thousand-316.

130 individuals in McDowell remain in quarantine.

In Caldwell County, the 33rd COVID-19 related death was reported, with the patient between the ages of 65 and 74, was hospitalized, and reported to have underlying health conditions. Thirty new cases were reported in Caldwell yesterday and twenty patients are hospitalized.

Catawba County saw an increase of 49 COVID-19 cases Wednesday for a cumulative total of 4-thousand-880. 44 patients are hospitalized.

Shelby Man Sentenced

A Shelby man has been sentenced to a prison term for his involvement in a pair of robberies – one in Burke, and the other in Catawba County.

20-year-old Kamau Jarek Clark pleaded guilty to two counts of robbery with a dangerous weapon, as well as two counts of second-degree kidnapping.

Clark was sentenced Tuesday in Burke County Superior Court to an active prison term of five to seven years.

One of the robberies took place in Newton on June 12^th 2019, while the other took place in Morganton the following day.

In both instances, report say Clark and co-defendants held employees of two businesses at gunpoint and robbed them of cash, while also stealing money from the businesses.

Clark also received a pair of suspended sentences of 27 to 45 months each for the kidnapping charges to be served consecutively if he violates terms of his probation.

Deputies Assaulted

Two recent incidents in McDowell County have led to deputies being assaulted.

51-year-old Theodore Scott Owenby of Marion is charged with three counts of assault on a government official and one count of resisting a public officer.

McDowell deputies responded to a domestic dispute around midnight November 1^st at Owenby’s residence.

Officers had discovered there were three outstanding warrants for Owenby’s arrest .

When they arrived on scene and attempted to take him into custody, reports say Owenby began fighting and assaulted three officers.

In a separate incident 50-year-old Scott Lee Parry of Marion was charged with resisting a public officer, communicating threats, and assault on a government official.

An officer reportedly responded to Parry’s home because of a loud music complaint.

As the officer arrived and advised the suspect to turn the music down, Parry became belligerent and struck the deputy in the head.

Reports say other officers then arrived on scene and took Parry into custody.

Woman Charged  As Accessory to Murder

A 34 year old woman has been charged with accessory after the fact of murder in

connection with the homicide of Samuel Antonio Hernandez Loza.  Sheala Diane

Layell was arrested by Catawba County law enforcement officers and placed in

the Catawba County Detention Center under a 75 thousand dollar secure bond. 

Tony Marshall Shook remains in custody charged with the murder of Loza.  No

bond has been set for him at this time.  The homicide appears to be narcotics

related according to a press release from the Catawba County Sheriff’s

Department.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Heavy Area Election Turnout 

Over 76 % of registered voters cast ballots in Tuesday’s general

election in Burke County. With all 33 precincts reporting, 44,398 people

voted out of 58,308 registered voters.

In McDowell County, with 17 precincts reporting, 23,006 people had

voted out of 29,895 registered voters, which is almost 77%.

Catawba County reported that 83,047 people voted out of 108,862 registered

voters. Out of 40 precincts reporting, about 76.3% of registered voters

had cast ballots. And in Caldwell County, 77.7% of 54,771 registered

voters had cast ballots, which means 42,555 people voted, with all 20 precincts

reporting.

Burke Election Results

Jeff Brittain, Scott Mulwee and Johnnie Carswell were the leading

vote getters for three seats available for Burke County Commissioners.

Brittain led the way with about 24.4%, followed by Mulwee at around

23.6% and Carswell about 22.9%. Other candidates receiving votes

include Dorian Palmer with 10.3%, Diane Ervin Conley about 10.2%

and Matthew Lucas Church with around 8.7%.

In the State Senate race District 46, Warren Daniel received over 68%

of the vote, with Edward Phifer at about 32%.

For State House District 86, Hugh Blackwell recorded almost 70% of

the vote, with Cecilia Surratt around 30%, and in State House District 112,

David Rogers had almost 78% of the vote with Ed Hallyburton at about

22% of the vote.  

Prison Sentences  

A Taylorsville man was given a prison sentence of 10 to 13 years after

he pleaded guilty to various charges Tuesday, during Catawba County

Superior Court. 27-year-old De Andre Jerome Mack was convicted for

attempted first-degree murder, first-degree kidnapping, assault by

strangulation, assault inflicting serious injury and misdemeanor assault

on a governmental official.

In another case Tuesday, 46-year-old Carl Reese Bullabough of Hickory

was sentenced to 44 to 65 months in prison, after being convicted of

assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury,

assault by strangulation and communicating threats.

 

Election Day Tips

The NC State Board of Elections has a few tips for today’s voters.

Polls across the state are open until 7:30 p.m. and voters still in line at 7:30

will still be able to cast a vote. Keep in mind, lines tend to be longer before and after normal business hours.

You are required to vote at your designated precinct, that you can find online by visiting the State Board of Elections website and go to ‘Voter Search’ or ‘Polling Place Search’. You can also find sample ballots through the Voter Search tool

online, and remember that same-day registration is not available today.

If you’re not registered to vote, you will not be able to vote today..

Voters are not required to show a photo ID to vote in this year’s general election.

And finally to protect all involved, masks and hand sanitizer will be available to all voters, and remember to observe social distancing practices while at the polls.

COVID-19

COVID-19 claims two more Burke County residents as local positive cases continue to climb.

In a news release, public health officials report the fifty-ninth and sixtieth deaths in Burke.

The release reports both were hospitalized when they died from virus related complications; one in their 60’s, and one in their 50’s.

There are currently 3-thousand-173 positive cases in Burke; up 78 positives since last reported on Friday.

According to the release, the increase is due to late reporting to the electronic data surveillance system from new testing locations.

In Burke, 422 cases are active, 2-thousand-635 cases are termed recovered, and 6 remain hospitalized.

Officials with the Burke County Health Department in Monday’s release are encouraging parents to make sure their children’s immunizations and school health assessments are up to date, even though they’re not in school full-time.

According to the release, there has been an extension provided under executive order 172 to allow families time to obtain all outstanding immunizations and health assessments before the December deadline.

For more information or to schedule an appointment for immunizations or school health assessments, call the health department at 764-9150.

Theft Arrest

A Marion man is charged in connection with property theft that occurred in July.

Reports with the McDowell Sheriff’s Office say an Asheville man told officers on July 16th that someone removed a backhoe, a metal building, diesel fuel and gasoline, a cast iron pot, and a water tank from a field on Burma Road East in Marion.

Investigators received information that 54-year-old James Andrew Johnson of Sugar Hill Road had taken some of the items.

Johnson was charged with stealing the metal building, the water tank, and cast iron pot.

Value of stolen items was 20-thousand-500 dollars.

The metal building was recovered; however, the remaining items are still missing.