COVID-19 UPDATE

Burke County has suffered its 22^nd COVID-19 death as reported Thursday afternoon by local public health officials. The individual was in their 40's, was not hospitalized, but died from virus-associated complications. Burke now has 1,288 positive cases.

Catawba County saw an increase of 28 positive cases yesterday, bringing the total to 1,380, with 952 people that have recovered and 35 are hospitalized. Caldwell County has 18 new cases of COVID-19 for a total of 725, with 369 people that have recovered and 19 that are hospitalized. McDowell County reports now 315 cases of COVID-19.

BOE Special Meeting

As other school districts throughout the state are making plans for the upcoming year following the Governor’s announcement Tuesday, the Burke County Board of Education has announced a special-called emergency meeting for today.

 According to the agenda, schools superintendent Dr. Larry Putnam will discuss with board members a re-opening plan for Burke County schools. 

The meeting takes place at Noon at the Olive Hill Resource center on West Concord Street in Morganton.

Weston Arrest

An argument between two women turns into a felony charge for a Morganton woman.

Last month, officers with the Burke County Sheriff’s office were called to the incident at 1815 Conley Road; where the victim told deputies 26-year-old Taylor Denise Weston of 225 VFW Road was picking up her belongings and was supposed to leave.

A news release says upon questioning, the victim told them Weston had struck her a week prior to this incident.

Reports say Weston agreed to leave the home and both parties were advised of their legal options.

The next day, reports indicate, the victim advised the magistrate that she had been assaulted by Weston prior to the deputy’s arrival the day before.

According to the report, the victim said she had been choked, struck in the head, and pulled out of a car by her hair, but had failed to reveal the assault to officers.

A warrant was then issued for Weston, while Morganton Public Safety officers arrested her Wednesday.

She is charged with felony assault by strangulation and placed under an 11-thousand dollar bond.

Weston’s court date is set for today.

Lenoir Drugs

A month-long investigation by lawmen from two counties ends with the arrests of five Lenoir residents.

Members of the narcotics unit and the special response team with Lenoir Police assisted by Newton Police and Longview Police served a search warrant before sunrise Thursday at 517 Hospital Avenue in Lenoir.

Investigators found and seized 1-point-7 grams of meth, 2-point-3 grams of heroin, and 500-dollars in counterfeit US currency.

37-year-old Michael Joseph Ford, 38-year-old Kelvin Anthony Dula, 38-year-old Michelle Margaret Whitney, 38-year-old Sterling Dion Dula, and 38-year-old Michael Pasquel Powell all face a string of drug possession charges following the seizure.

Reports say additional charges may be forthcoming as the investigation continues.

Lenoir Police urges anyone with information relating to their investigation to call 757-2100.

COVID-19 UPDATE   

                                                                                                                                                                    Catawba County recorded 32 new cases of Covid-19 yesterday bringing the total number of positive Covid-19 cases to 1352.  Of that number 952 have recovered and 33 are hospitalized.  Caldwell County added 24 new cases of Covid-19 yesterday.  That number includes two more cases at Brockford Inn Assisted Living.  The facility now has 63 cases, 44 residents and 19 employees.  Caldwell County has 369 patients that have recovered and 18 are hospitalized.  Burke County now has 1281 positive Covid-19 cases.  966 have recovered and 4 are hospitalized.  McDowell County added 15 new cases yesterday bringing the total to 315 cases.  209 have recovered there.

McDowell DSS

The McDowell County Department of Social Services has temporarily closed because of positive cases of COVID-19 according to public health officials.

The temporary closure affects both the Spaulding Road office and the main DSS office on East Court Street.

Officials released a statement saying the likelihood of transmission to the public is thought to be low; however, individuals who have been in one of these facilities on or after July 6^th are welcome to get tested for free.

The drive-thru testing will take place Monday July 20^th at the McDowell Health department at 408 Spaulding Road in Marion from 9 to 11 am.

DSS employees will be responding to voicemail messages left by citizens needing assistance at 828-652-3355.

Find information online also at mcdowell-county-nc-dss-dot org.

McDowell Drug Bust

An on-going drug investigation in McDowell County leads to the arrest of two Marion men.

Reports indicate on June 18^th, the McDowell Sheriff’s Office along with SWAT teams from the Marion Police Department searched a residence on Zion Hill Road; a suspect location for drug activity.

Officers came away with a half-gram of meth; arresting both 54-year-old Terry Franklin Woody and 26-year-old Christopher Jaren Forney and charging them with meth possession.

Woody was also charged with possession of crystal meth and maintaining a dwelling to keep a controlled substance.

Forney faces additional charges of possession of drug paraphernalia, and possession of up to one-half ounce of marijuana.

Sweeney Arrest

A Morganton woman spotted by deputies driving without a license ends up being charged with drug possession. 

On June 30^th, a deputy with the Burke Sheriff’s Office spotted 35-year-old Misty Ellen Sweeney of Ridgecreek Drive traveling on Salem Road.

Reports say the officer stopped Sweeney knowing she did not have an operator’s license.

A search of her vehicle turned up heroin and drug paraphernalia.

Sweeney was jailed under a 10-thousand dollar bond, and appeared in court July 3^rd.


Prep Fall Sports Start Delayed

The North Carolina High School Association announced on Wednesday that the
start of fall sports has been delayed until at least September 1st.

COVID-19 UPDATE

Burke County Public Health says Burke County now has 1248 confirmed cases of

Covid-19.  Caldwell County saw their cases jump by 40 yesterday as the county

now has 683 cases.  Caldwell Public Health was also notified yesterday of two

more Covid-19 related deaths.  Both were over age 65 and both had underlying

health conditions.  Catawba County saw 66 new cases of Covid-19 yesterday

bringing the total to 1,320.  567 have recovered in Catawba and 31 patients are

hospitalized.  McDowell County now has 300 cases of Covid-19.  201 patients have

recovered.

Schools Can Reopen With Restrictions

North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper says public schools in North Carolina can

reopen in August with classroom restrictions, or students can continue to learn

online as they have been since mid-March.  Districts can choose to continue

online, or open K-12 with masks for students, teachers and staff, daily health

screenings and social distancing.  Districts can choose to alternate days or weeks

to reduce classroom numbers in order to meet social distancing requirements. 

Meanwhile, North Carolina businesses will remain in Phase 2 of a 3 part

reopening plan for another 3 weeks.  Governor Cooper says Covid-19 infections

rates and hospital admissions have continued to increase.

Drugs Seized in Search in McDowell

A search by NC Probation and Parole and the Marion Police Department yielded

drugs with a street value of over 7 thousand six hundred dollars on Monday. 

Officers searched the Seagle Street residents of thirty-two year old Jonathan Boyd

and found 13.1 grams of heroin, 45. 1 grams of meth, 3.3 grams of marijuana and

50 dosage units of a schedule four controlled substance.  In addition, firearms and

2 thousand 3 hundred 78 dollars in cash was seized.  Boyd,  who was on probation

for a previous felony conviction, was placed in the McDowell Jail under a one

hundred one thousand dollar secured bond.

Burke Drug and Gun Charges

A Morganton woman faces drug and gun charges. The Hickory Police

Department, early this morning, charged 49-year-old Leslie Marie

Bradley of Amherst Road, with Possession with Intent to Manufacture,

Sell or Deliver Controlled Substance, Possession of Marijuana, along

with Possession of Marijuana Parphernalia and Drug Paraphernalia.

She was also charged with Carrying a Concealed Gun. Bond was set

at $10,000 secured bond with a court appearance set for today.

McDowell Man Faces Theft Charges

An Old Fort man is charged with stealing a dump truck and utility trailer.

According to the McDowell County Sheriff’s Office, 34-year-old Jordan

Lee Davis faces charges in connection with the theft of a dump truck

from property on Henry McCall Road in Marion and the utility trailer

from property on Old Glenwood Road in Marion. The trailer was

recovered at the residence of Davis and the dump truck was located

in Durham, where Davis had gone to visit relatives.

COVID-19 UPDATE

Catawba County saw the Covid-19 numbers increase by 44 yesterday bringing the

total to 1 thousand 2 hundred 54.  551 patients have recovered and 28 are

hospitalized.  Caldwell County recorded 27 more cases on Monday.  The Covid-19

numbers now stand at 643 cases in Caldwell County.  340 patients have recovered

and 16 are hospitalized.  McDowell County now has 292 patients that have tested

positive for Covid-19.  200 patients have recovered. Burke County reports 1,232

positive cases, while 966 of that number have recovered with 8 hospitalized.

Assault by Strangulation in Boone

Quick action by neighbors in an apartment complex in Boone helped to prevent

further harm to a woman who was found unconscious in her bedroom.  The

Boone Police Department says neighbors at the Brown Heights Apartment

Complex on Eric Lane notified authorities of an assault in progress.  When officers

arrived on the scene, a suspect was seen leaving the apartment in question.  22

year old Oscar Ortiz, Jr was arrested and charged with burglary, possession of

burglary tools, assault by strangulation, and attempted 1^st degree murder.  He

was placed in the Watauga County Jail under 500 thousand dollars secured bond. 

The victim was taken for treatment to the Watauga County Medical Center, and

was later released.

Drug Arrest in Catawba

A Hickory man was arrested and charged with drug possession after a traffic stop

on Highway 321 North.  52 year old Paul Mark James was placed in the Catawba

County Jail charged with trafficking in meth by possession, trafficking in meth by

transportation, maintaining a place for a controlled substance and possession 

with intent to manufacture, sell, deliver a schedule VI controlled substance.  His

bond was set at fifty thousand dollar secured.  Officers with the Catawba County

Sheriff’s Department found 2 pounds of marijuana and 179 grams of meth in the

vehicle.

Road Rage Death

A suspected road rage incident Friday has resulted in the death of a Candler man. 

Reports from Morganton Public Safety say Richard L. Peterson was found lying in the roadway in the area of Jamestown Road off I-40 westbound exit 100.

Peterson had reportedly sustained traumatic injuries consistent with an assault that authorities believe started as a road rage incident, after speaking with witnesses and viewing dash cam video.

Peterson was airlifted to an area trauma center, but died from his injuries on Saturday.

The other driver involved initially fled the scene but has since been identified.

Officials continue to investigate, and will further consult with the district attorney’s office whenever the investigation is completed.

Stolen Gun

A Marion man faces a string of charges in connection with his arrest for a break-in. 

Reports with the McDowell Sheriff’s Office say 31-year-old Joseph Lee Davis of Old Linville Road was charged with breaking and entering, larceny after breaking and entering, larceny of a firearm, and possession of a stolen firearm.

A shotgun and ammunition had been taken during a break-in at a home on Old Linville Road reports say.

Davis had been arrested in a separate case, and was discovered to possess the stolen shotgun. Officers recovered the firearm.

CVCC Commencement

Catawba Valley Community College will hold its first-ever commencement drive-thru ceremonies Saturday August 1^st. 

Ceremonies will start at 8 am with the School of Academics and Educational opportunities followed by the School of Workforce Development and the Arts at 10:30, and the School of Health and Public Services at 1 pm.

CVCC President Hinshaw will present diplomas at the front of the college, and each graduate will then exit their vehicle to receive their diploma cover before having a professional photo made in their cap and gown.

For more information on the commencement ceremonies, visit cvcc-dot-edu online.

Morganton Storm

Morganton city crews spent nearly 16 hours restoring power to more than 32-hundred customers after Friday’s severe storm.

A news release says numerous trees and limbs fell, taking out power lines and causing power poles to break and fall throughout Morganton.

A large tree was toppled on Valdese Avenue at Church Street taking down five power poles and two transformers causing more than 13-hundred outages.

Crews from Newton and Maiden assisted Morganton crews in helping to restore power and make necessary repairs.

COVID-19 UPDATE

Positive cases of Covid-19 continue to rise in our area as well as hospitalizations.

In Burke County there are 12 hundred 10 cases of Covid 19 since testing began in

March.  Of that number 930 are recovered and 8 are hospitalized.  Catawba

County has 38 new cases over the weekend for a total of 12 hundred 10 cases.  24

patients are hospitalized.  In Caldwell County there are 616 cases with 340

recovered.  16 patients are hospitalized.  And in McDowell County there are 279

positive cases.

Person  Arrested in Catawba 

One person was arrested in connection with the assault of another in Newton late

Saturday night.  39 year old Taji Shareef Haqq was charged with assault with a

deadly weapon inflicting serious bodily injury in connection with the stabbing of

an adult male during an argument on Stove Drive.  The injured party was taken to

Catawba Valley Medical Center in serious but stable condition.  Haqq will make

his first court appearance today.

McDowell Courthouse Closed

Both the McDowell County and Rutherford County Courthouses are temporarily closed because of a confirmed case of COVID-19. 

Reports say visitors to the McDowell Courthouse in downtown Marion discovered the doors locked with a flier taped to the glass stating the facility is closed for cleaning following the confirmed case.

The health department that serves McDowell and Rutherford requested the closing because of the contamination related to both courthouses.

Officials say some departments at the courthouses may re-open next week depending on employee test results.

Court is expected to resume Monday July 20^th.

Spears Charged

A Banner Elk man has been charged in connection with a road rage incident that occurred last month on NC 181. 

A news release from the Burke County Sheriff’s Office says officers were called to the scene near Avery County June 12th where a vehicle had struck another vehicle multiple times, and a shot was possibly fired.

Reports say Avery County deputies stopped the suspect vehicle being driven by 24-year-old Robert Torrence Spears.

Evidence gathered from an investigation by the Burke detective division revealed Spears intentionally struck the victim’s car numerous times.

On Wednesday, Spears was served with a Burke County warrant for Felony Assault with a Deadly Weapon with Intent to Kill.

He was issued a 50-thousand dollar secured bond.

COVID-19 UPDATES

Local Public Health officials report the 21^st COVID-19 associated death in Burke County. 

A news release indicates the individual was in their 70’s, was hospitalized, and died from complications associated with an underlying medical condition.

Officials continue to encourage residents to routinely practice the 3 W’s to reduce the spread of the infection.

Wear a cloth face covering when out in public and unable to physically distance yourself from others, wait at least 6 feet away from others, and wash hands frequently or use hand sanitizer.

In addition, health experts say it is imperative for those testing positive to stay at home until your isolation time has been completed.

Burke County figures released this afternoon; currently 1-thousand-133 residents in Burke who have tested positive for the virus.

 Thursday marked the highest number of COVID hospitalizations in NC, and the second highest in number of new cases.

With a thousand-35 North Carolinians in the hospital with the virus, and more than 2-thousand new cases statewide since yesterday, Governor Cooper says there is still ample hospital and ICU-bed capacity.

In his address to the media this afternoon, Cooper says the disease continues to spread and though NC isn’t a surging hotspot like some states, it could be if we don’t stay strong in our fight.

Cooper also mentioned delays in getting test results back in that labs are slowing down in part due to a nationwide shortage of testing supplies.

In addition, the governor said he will make an announcement next week on schools and whether the state will lift any restrictions when the present executive order expires on July 17^th.

McDowell Thefts 

Items stolen from residents in McDowell County during the holiday weekend have authorities on the lookout for suspects.

 Darren Harris of Nebo told officers on July 3^rd that someone had removed his maroon 2008 Kia Optima from a residence on Bartlette Road in Marion.

 The vehicle displays an NC tag EMY-7131.

 elsewhere, Jeffrey Gardner of Old Fort reported thieves took a tan 1991 Cole pop-up camper from property on Boyce Road sometime July 1^st or 2^nd.

Anyone having information about either of these thefts is urged to contact the McDowell detective division at 652-2237 or Crimestoppers at 65-CRIME.

McDowell  Runaway

A news release from the McDowell Sheriff’s Office on Thursday says deputies are still on the hunt for a 15-year-old runaway.

Amanda Nevaeh Brown of Snyder Drive in Marion was last seen Tuesday on Triton Way in Old Fort at 7:30 in the evening.

She is a white female who stands 5 feet 3 inches tall, weighs 115 pounds, and has red shoulder-length hair, blue eyes, and a nose piercing.

Anyone having information about Brown’s whereabouts should call the McDowell County Sheriff’s Office at 652-2235.

COVID-19 UPDATE

The 3^rd straight day of record-high COVID-19 hospitalizations in the state, as the nation tops 3 million positive cases; while Burke County’s numbers also increase.

Public health officials say Burke now has 1-thousand-116 positive cases; while 

McDowell County reports 263 positive cases, and Caldwell County with 555.

Caldwell County reported a third outbreak of COVID-19. Two employees at Hickory Falls Health and Rehabilitation tested positive, with eight more cases reported at Brockford Inn Assisted Living. Caldwell County now has 555 confirmed cases._
Catawba County Public Health is investigating another outbreak of COVID-19 at
a Newton long-term care facility, Three residents and two staff members at
Abernathy Laurels have tested positive for the virus. 

State experts continue to warn residents about methanol-contaminated hand sanitizers.

Methanol is a toxic alcohol that can cause blindness and/or death when absorbed through the skin or when swallowed.

No alcohol-based hand sanitizers should ever be ingested.

Manufacturers and distributors are working on a voluntary recall of products that contain significant methanol.

Officials say to check your hand sanitizer on the FDA’s testing and manufacturer’s recall list.

If your product is listed, stop using the product and dispose of it immediately in appropriate hazardous waste containers; and do not flush or pour down the drain.

Child Abduction

Two Morganton men face felony charges for child abduction.

A news release from Morganton Public Safety states the department on Tuesday took a report of a runaway juvenile, while further investigation into the matter revealed reports of an additional runaway juvenile.

Reports say the two juveniles were located unharmed in Georgia through cooperative efforts of Morganton Public Safety, the Houston County Georgia Sheriff’s Office, and the Burke County Emergency Communications Center.

Those charged in the case - 30-year-old Bryan Febres and 21-year-old Michael Rodriquez are currently awaiting extradition back to NC.

Further charges are pending.


Bear Statue Taken

The Burke County Sheriff’s Office is seeking the public’s help for

information about the theft of a large bear statue that was stolen

on or about June 30^th from Old NC 18 outside Morganton. In you

have any information please call the Sheriff’s Office at 438-5500 or

Crime Stoppers at 437-3333.

Cocaine Charges

Two people are found in possession of cocaine in McDowell County.

Just before 4pm on June 24^th, during an ongoing investigation into

child sex allegations involving 45-year-old Jacob Daylen Ross ,of Landis

Road, Marion, a McDowell deputy stopped a vehicle occupied by Ross

and 48-year-old Angela Powell Carpenter of Powerhouse Road, Morganton.

A search of the vehicle turned up two dosage units of crack cocaine.

Missing Marion Girl

McDowell deputies are searching for a 15-year-old Marion runaway.

Amanda Nevaeh Brown was last seen on Triton Way in Old Fort at

7:30 last night. She is described as a white female, 5 feet 3 inches tall

weighs 115 pounds and has red shoulder-length red hair, blue eyes and

a nose piercing. Anyone with information is asked to call the Sheriff’s

Office at 652-2235 or the 911 communications center at 652-4000.

New Hickory Traffic Pattern

Beginning Monday, a new traffic pattern will be implemented in

Hickory along Main Avenue NE, from Third Avenue NE to Seventh

Avenue NE, due to construction of City Walk. The new traffic

pattern will narrow travel in both directions from four lanes to two

lanes during City Walk construction. You are advised to slow down

and look out for construction workers and equipment. The new

traffic pattern is estimated to be in place for four to five months.