Kids Vaccines Data

Officials with the state’s department of health and human services report a small percentage of NC parents had their children vaccinated in the first days COVID-19 shots became available for kids age 5 to 11.

Dr. Mandy Cohen said in a news conference Wednesday that more than 24-thousand children in the age group were vaccinated within the first five days; representing less than 3-percent of the nearly 900-thousand kids who are now eligible.

Cohen further encouraged parents to discuss their concerns about the vaccine with their child’s pediatrician.

Reports show NC will soon have received more than 486-thousand vaccines aimed at children 5 to 11, and doses are widely available throughout the state.

Cohen also encourage the state’s adult population who received a single shot Johnson and Johnson vaccine at least two months ago to get a booster now.

And those adults who got the second Pfizer or Moderna at least six months ago and meet certain requirements are urged to get a booster of the same, although there is the option to mix vaccines. 

For questions about the children’s vaccine or the adult booster, call the Burke County health department at 764-9150.

Hky Road Closure

City Walk contractors in Hickory will close Second Avenue Northeast from NC 127 to Main Avenue Northeast/Third Avenue Northeast next week.

The closure will allow workers to complete construction of the new roundabout.

The road will be closed beginning Monday November 15^th at 9 am and will last through 3 pm on Friday November 19^th.

Drivers should use Fifth Avenue Northeast to navigate around the closure.

Detour routes though will be clearly marked.

Asheville Murder

New information is released about the murder of a man whose body was found in the Swannanoa River in October.

Asheville Police confirm that 40-year-old Benjamin Lee Hoffman the second was shot to death.

Hoffman’s body was pulled from the river along Azalea Road on October 18^th.

Authorities suspect though Hoffman was killed much earlier in the month.

No one has been charged in his death.

Another body had previously been recovered in the same area October 2^nd.

Two people have been charged in that case with the recovery of 19-year-old Jose Ramirez.

Lawmen say the two cases are not likely connected.

Anyone with information about the Hoffman case can call Asheville Police at 828-252-1110.

Shelby Drive By

Shelby lawmen continue to search for a suspect wanted in connection with a drive-by shooting that killed a teenage girl Tuesday.

According to reports with the Shelby Police, investigators have obtained warrants for first-degree murder and discharging a weapon into occupied property for 20-year-old Santana Eaves Junior of Shelby.

Eaves allegedly fired the shot that killed a 16-year-old girl in the area of Roberts Street and Martin Street.

Following the shooting, reports say she was taken to Atrium Health Cleveland where she was pronounced deceased.

The investigation is ongoing and authorities expect additional charges to be filed.

Anyone having information on Eaves’ whereabouts should call Shelby police at 704-484-6845 or Crimestoppers at 704-481-TIPS.

 

 

 

 

 

Man Found Deceased 

A deceased male was found in Eastern Burke County late Friday

afternoon. Search crews located the male in a creek near the area

of Highway 70 and East Burke Boulevard. A positive identification

was made by the Burke County Medical Examiner’s Office of 51-year

old Kao Hang of Morganton, who died from blunt force trauma to

the neck resulting from a high fall.

Multiple agencies assisted, including the Sheriff’s Office, Emergency

Management, EMS and Rescue, Icard Township and Rescue, Rhodhiss

and Drowning Creek Fire Departments and the SBI.

September Unemployment  

The September unemployment rate for the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton

metro area was 3.5 percent. Area county rates include Alexander at 3.2%,

Avery 2.9%, Burke, McDowell and Catawba 3.5% and Caldwell 3.7%,

according to figures released Thursday by the North Carolina Department

of Commerce.

Prison Term for Newton Man  

A Newton man was sentenced Monday during Catawba County Superior

Court following a second-degree murder conviction. 35-year-old Justin

Drew Dalton was given an active prison term of 26 to 32 years , after he

pleaded guilty in connection with the 2019 shooting death of Emden Lee

Syres, Jr. In addition to murder, Dalton also pleaded guilty to larceny of

a motor vehicle.

New Catawba Correctional Center Warden  

Timothy Mayor has been named the new warden of the Catawba

Correctional Center in Newton. Mayor had been serving for the past

year as associate warden at Catawba Correctional.

 

Death by Vehicle Charge

A Catawba man has been charged in connection with a motorcyclist’s death that occurred in Hickory last month.

On October 23^rd, 23-year-old Cofield Ray Alexander Bost was driving south on Startown Road in a 2000 Chevrolet SUV when he merged into the left lane from the right lane; crashing into a motorcycle driven by 56-year-old Daniel Coley of Maiden.

Coley was taken to a Charlotte hospital, but died from his injuries the next day.

Reports say Bost told Hickory Police he was having vehicle problems and merged into the left lane to access a service station.

He has been charged with death by vehicle.

Sex Charge

Burke County authorities have arrested a Lenoir man on sex charges.

A news release from the sheriff’s office says on October 18^th, the criminal investigation division received a report of a possible sexual assault involving an adolescent.

An investigation led officers to 56-year-old Raymond Edward Harmon Junior of Hollywood Ridge Road Lenoir.

A warrant was issued Tuesday for Harmon’s arrest for charges of misdemeanor sexual battery.

He was placed in the Burke County jail under a 2-thousand dollar secured bond with a court date set for January 10^th 2022.

Hickory Centennial

The Hickory Landmarks Society, Hickory Community Theatre and the City of Hickory will host the Old City Hall Centennial Sunday November 7^th .

The event celebrates the 100^th year since the dedication of the former Hickory Municipal Building in 1921.

The former Hickory Municipal Building, also known as the ‘Old City Hall’ was authorized, planned, and constructed beginning in 1920.

It originally contained city administrative offices, Hickory Council chamber, the fire and police departments, the jail, the water department, the city court, and an auditorium.

The celebration takes place at the Hickory Community Theatre building at 30 Third Street Northwest in downtown Hickory.

Doors open Sunday afternoon at 2, with the program starting at 2:30.

Local COVID

According to the online dashboard maintained by the Burke County Health Department, there have been 30 new cases of COVID-19 reported since Monday.

Burke’s total is now 16-thousand-161.

221 cases are active, and 12 residents remain hospitalized.

Fall Back Time

Daylight Saving Time ends Sunday morning at 2:00, so remember to set your clocks back one hour before going to bed Saturday night.

In addition, area fire fighters encourage residents to make another change that could save your life – change the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.

Officials say changing these batteries at least once a year is one of the simplest and most effective ways to reduce tragedy.

Statistics show that a working smoke alarm nearly cuts in half the risk of dying in a home fire.

If a resident does not have an alarm and can’t afford one, they should contact their local fire department for assistance.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

COVID-19 Update  

Burke County Public Health was notified on Tuesday of 3 individuals

who died from COVID-19 related complications bringing Burke

County’s total to 270. The individuals were in their 50’s, 60’s and 70’s.

The Health Department also notified Burke County Public Schools

of a cluster at Valdese Elementary.

Since Monday in Caldwell County, 119 COVID-19 cases have been

reported with 12 people hospitalized.

And now children  5-11 years old can receive the COVID-19 vaccine.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend all

children 5-11 get the vaccine. Visit MySpot.nc.gov to fine a location.

Heroin Traffickers Arrested in Catawba County  

Two heroin traffickers are arrested in Catawba County after a traffic

stop. On Monday, Narcotics Division investigators seized 10 grams

of heroin during the stop along Highway 16 South at the Buffalo

Shoals Road intersection. According to the Catawba Sheriff’s Office,

two Conover residents, Michael Eugene Brown Jr. and Jonathan

Lynn Sorrels were arrested at the scene. Bond on Brown was set at

$54,000 secured, with Sorrels bond set at $60,000 secured.

N.C. 127 Road Closure  

Hickory city contractors will close N.C. 127 this weekend in connection

with construction activities related to the City Walk project. N.C. 127

will be closed between First Avenue SE and First Avenue NE from

5 a.m. Saturday, through 6 a.m. Monday. Detour routes will be established

and clearly marked.

 

Municipal Election Races  

Election Day 2021 saw some new winners for the Burke County Board of

Education. In the Central District, Tiana Sims was victorious over Buddy

Armour. For the Eastern District, Leslie Ritchie Taylor won against Scott

Lambert. In the Western District, the two seats available went to Aaron

Johnson and Jane Sohovich.

In the race for Mayor in Valdese, Charles Watts was victorious over

Jim Jacumin. For Ward 3, Rexanna Lowman got the win.

For Mayor in Connelly Springs, Dennis Seagle defeated Johnny Berry.

In the Alderman race for 3 seats, Terry Childers, Carroll Turner and

Jeffrey Beck were victorious.

For Rutherford College Mayor, Yates Jensen won over Mike Duncan.

For 3 Council seats, Kress Berry, Starr-Nell Bowman and Zachary Cagle

received the most votes.

Check the Facebook page of The Big Dawg 92.1 for additional winners

in other counties.

 

 

 

Lenoir Shooting

Two people are dead and an infant is in critical condition following a noontime shooting in Lenoir on Monday.

Lenoir Police were dispatched to the shooting incident on North Willow Street.

Upon arrival, officers discovered two adults and an infant child suffering from gunshot wounds.

EMS personnel transported the three to a local hospital where 24-year-old Anthony Maurice Stevenson Junior and 21-year-old Shantel Leighann Harper died from their injuries according to a press release.

The infant child was airlifted to CMC Main and remains in critical condition.

Preliminary information and evidence gathered at the crime scene suggests that the three are related, and the shooting occurred following a domestic disturbance.

The investigation into the case is active and ongoing.

Anyone having information about the incident should call Lenoir Police at 757-2104.

 

Operation Game Over

A joint crackdown on illegal drug, gun and gambling activities in Lenoir resulted in 40 arrest warrants.

Called ‘Operation Game Over’ a dual operation between Lenoir police and state ALE officials targeted two Lenoir convenience stores.

Reports say there had been citizen complaints about Gamewell Superette on Morganton Boulevard and Fastop on Blowing Rock Boulevard.

Whenever a search warrant was executed at Gamewell Superette, authorities report employees at the store were accused of distributing meth and heroin to customers.

The 40 arrest warrants that were secured contained charges ranging from felony gaming and carrying a concealed weapon to trafficking in opium.

30 of the 40 suspects have been arrested.

Gamewell Superette’s alcohol license has been suspended for 30 days during the investigation reports say.

Prison Sentence

A Hickory man is sentenced to spend the remainder of his life in prison after a Catawba County jury found him guilty on two counts of first degree murder.

32-year-old Arsenio Dewayne Curtis was convicted in the deaths of a Claremont couple that occurred more than five years ago.

Curtis was given two consecutive life sentences without parole Friday at the end of a week-long trial in Catawba County Superior Court.

A news release says Curtis was found guilty of his role in the March 2016 home invasion and shooting deaths of 34-year-old Mark Anthony Wilson and 39-year-old Deidra LaCarol Ramseur at the couple’s home on Rest Home Road in Claremont.

He was also found guilty of first-degree burglary, robbery with a dangerous weapon, and conspiracy to commit robbery.

Curtis received a sentence of 9 to 12 years for those crimes to be served consecutively to the life sentences.

COVID Update

72 new COVID-19 cases reported in Burke County since last Thursday bringing the county’s total to 16-thousand-131.

A news release indicates 225 cases remain active while 14 Burke residents are still in the hospital.

Burke’s positivity rate continues to decline with a current rate at 4-point-9.

McDowell County reported 12 new cases Monday, for a total of 8-thousand-727.

69 residents in McDowell are quarantined.

Caldwell County saw 64 new cases of the virus since Friday for a total of 15-thousand-553. 9 in Caldwell are hospitalized.

Last Friday, the FDA approved emergency authorization of Pfizer’s vaccine for children ages 5 to 11.

The dose is a third of a regular dose and will be given in two doses three weeks apart.

The CDC’s advisory committee is scheduled to meet today to give their final approval.

Health departments throughout the Catawba Valley region will begin administering the children’s vaccine once state directions and orders have been received.

 

 

 

Death Investigation

Authorities in McDowell County are involved in a death investigation after finding a man deceased inside his Old Fort home.

A news release from Wednesday afternoon states McDowell deputies were called to a Griggs Road address late Tuesday night.

Reports say officers found the body of 31-year-old DeAngelo Maurice Rushing.

The release says an investigation into Rushing’s death is underway, and there is no threat to the community.

Hickory Fatality

A Hickory man was killed Wednesday evening in a two-vehicle mishap.

55-year-old James Nelson Poovey Junior was reportedly driving north on NC 127 in Hickory around 7.

Highway Patrol reports indicate Poovey drove left of center and collided with a vehicle driven by 19-year-old Hannah Ollis of Granite Falls.

Poovey died on the scene reports say while Ollis sustained non-life threatening injuries.

Troopers say Poovey was not wearing a seatbelt.

Mountain View firefighters assisted at the scene.

Sex Charges

A couple is facing sex crime charges in Alexander County.

According to the Alexander Sheriff’s Office, 44-year-old Colan Lewis Swink of Newton is charged with 109 felony counts of sex acts by a substitute parent or custodian, along with 25 felony counts each of statutory rape and sex offenses.

Reports say 49-year-old Tammy Reedy Brown of Taylorsville is also charged with one felony count of conspiracy of a sex act by a substitute parent or custodian.

A news release says Swink is accused of committing the crimes while he and Brown were living together in Taylorsville.

His bond was set at 5-million dollars secured, Brown received a 75-thousand dollar secured bond.

The Catawba County Sheriff’s office assisted in the investigation.

App State Employee Accused

An Appalachian State University employee has been accused of hiding a cellphone inside an all-girls dorm.

College police received a report on October 15^th that a phone was in the third-floor bathroom in Eggers Residence Hall.

The girls-only dorm is filled with mostly freshmen.

According to reports, 49-year-old Jerry Alan McGlamery of Wilkes County has been charged with secret peeping after officials seized the phone from the vent inside a bathroom.

McGlamery works with the school’s facilities operations department and was taken into custody October 22^nd.

Reports say he has been placed on investigatory leave and is not allowed back on campus.

The investigation continues.