Candidates Crisscrossing The State 

President Donald Trump made a campaign appearance yesterday at the Hickory

Regional Airport. People from throughout Western North Carolina begin lining up

for the rally around 7 Sunday morning; even though the appearance wasn’t set

until 5:30p.m.  By the time the rally got underway around 6:30, the crowds had

grown to tens of thousands.  Estimates of crowd size range from thirty to over  

fifty thousand people.  President Trump wrapped up his speech and went back to

Charlotte for his fourth stop of the day in Rome, Georgia.   Trump made a

campaign stop in Hickory in 2016, also.  Meanwhile both Vice Presidential

candidates were in North Carolina Sunday.  Vice President Mike Pence attended

Sunday services at a church in Boone with Franklin Graham, and Senator Kamala

Harris visited Goldsboro and Fayetteville, where President Trump is planning a

stop today.

Early Voting Turnout

Early voting for the November 3rd general election has ended in North Carolina

with an unprecedented 61.6% of registered voters casting ballots.  Over four and

a half million people have already voted in the state either by one stop voting or

absentee ballot.  In the Catawba Valley area, some 65 percent of registered voters

cast ballots in Caldwell County, while 62.6 percent of Burke County voters have

voted.  67 percent of Alexander County voters cast ballots while 62 percent of

Catawba County voters turned out for early voting.  Iredell County had a 63.6

percent turnout while McDowell had 57.3.  Election day voting begins at 6:30

tomorrow morning and registered voters who have not voted will need to cast

 ballots in their correct precincts.

COVID-19 UPDATE

Caldwell County reported 21 new cases of Covid-19 over the weekend for a

cumulative total of 2 thousand 6 hundred and 17 cases.  Of that number, 1

thousand 7 hundred and 38 have recovered and 20 patients are hospitalized. 

Catawba County also reported 21 new cases yesterday for a cumulative total of 4

thousand 6 hundred and 71, 3 thousand 7 hundred and 84 patients have

recovered and 39 patients are hospitalized. Burke County Public Health on Friday

reported 33 additional positive cases of the virus, for a new county total of

3-thousand-95 positives. 459 cases are active and 8 patients are now hospitalized

with COVID-19. In McDowell County, 11 new cases were reported Friday, for

a new total of 1-thousand-262 positives, with 1 additonal death for a total of 34.

Center Crossing Construction

Construction has begun on Center Crossing, a 50 unit affordable rental

community for seniors near downtown in the City of Hickory.  Center Crossing will

serve seniors aged 55 and older who earn up to 80 percent of the area median

income with some units reserved for those at 40, 50 and 60 percent.  The

development is undertaken by Woda Cooper Companies, Inc   The development is

just a few blocks away from Union Square shopping and dining and is close to

cultural opportunities plus various medical facilities and public offices.

 

Remote Learning Due to Weather

As the remnants of Hurricane Zeta passes through the area, schools have

returned to remote learning for all students today.  Hickory City Schools, Burke

County Schools, Caldwell County Schools, Catawba County Schools, Newton-

Conover City Schools and McDowell County Schools will all provide remote

learning. Meanwhile, McDowell Tech announced a two-hour delay today.

One Stop Voting

Burke County has passed the 51 percent mark as nearly 16 hundred voters cast

early ballots yesterday.  Including absentee by mail, that means some 31

thousand 2 hundred and 88 people have already voted in the November 3^rd

General Election.  Catawba County has voted fifty point eight percent of the

registered voter list for 55 thousand and 18 ballots.  Caldwell County has voted

53.6 percent of registered voters, and McDowell County has voted 45 point 1

percent of registered voters in that county.  State wide over fifty percent of the

registered voters have voted.    Early voting continues thru Saturday.

COVID-19 UPDATE 

Catawba County Public Health was notified yesterday of 66 new cases of Covid-

19.  The cumulative total of Covid-19 cases in the county now stands at 4

thousand 4 hundred and 9.  30 patients are hospitalized and 3 thousand 7

hundred and 84 patients have recovered.  Caldwell County has 48 new cases of

Covid-19.  The Health Department says 2 thousand 5 hundred and 21 people have

tested positive for Covid-19 since late March.  18 patients are hospitalized and 1

thousand 6 hundred and 88 have recovered.

Burke County public health reports the fourth COVID-19 related death in the last two days, while positive cases continue to soar. Wednesday's reported death marks the 58th virus associated death in Burke. The individual was in their 80's, was hospitalized when they died from COVID-19 complications. 32 new cases were reported with a total of 3-thousand-33. 

Meanwhile, Governor Cooper held an afternoon press conference Wednesday to announce the signing of a new executive order in addressing how COVID-19 is adversely affecting some residents.

The executive order will prevent evictions for those NC residents unable to afford rent.

Cooper says otherwise as many as 250-thousand people may be evicted by January.

The order builds on the CDC’s federal eviction moratorium that requires landlords to ensure tenants are aware of CDC protections and how to claim them.

 

 

COVID-19 UPDATE

As the number of positive cases of COVID-19 continues to rise daily, Burke County public health says Burke is currently at 2-thousand-977 positive cases, an increase of 24 cases since Sunday. 396 cases are active, 2-thousand-508 cases are termed recovered, and 5 individuals remain hospitalized.

98 new Covid-19 cases have been reported since late Saturday in Caldwell County. 

That total marks the highest number of cases in a single report for the county.  All

together, 2 thousand 4 hundred 66 people have contracted Covid-19 in Caldwell. 

16 hundred and 7 have recovered and 19 patients are hospitalized.    The Caldwell

Health Department learned of the 31^st Covid-19 related death yesterday.  The

patient was over the age of 75 and had been hospitalized with underlying

conditions.  Catawba County reported 73 new cases of Covid-19 yesterday for a

cumulative total of 4 thousand 3 hundred and one.  32 patients are hospitalized

and 3 thousand 2 hundred and 47 patients have recovered. McDowell County reported

 26 new positive cases Monday with 128 still in quarantine.

Early Vote 

Early voters continue to go to the polls in our area during one stop voting.  Burke

County saw some two thousand additional votes cast yesterday at the 5 early

voting sites.  Burke now stands at 44 percent of the registered voters who have

cast ballots for the November 3^rd General Election.  That means 25 thousand 4

hundred 93 people have already voted.  46 thousand 9 hundred 63 people have

voted in Catawba County which represents 43.3 percent of the registered voters

in the county.  46.7 percent of Caldwell County’s voters have cast ballots for 25

thousand 3 hundred and 38 votes.  And McDowell County stands at a 37.9

percent turnout rate with 11 thousand 2 hundred and 84 votes.  Early voting

continues today through Saturday.

Federal Fugitive

A traffic stop in McDowell County leads to the arrest of a wanted federal fugitive.

A Sheriff’s deputy stopped 27-year-old Chandra Danielle McCool of Old Fort for an expired driver’s license October 13^th.

Upon checking for outstanding warrants, the officer discovered McCool was a federal probation absconder.

Once taken into custody, a search of McCool, her vehicle and belongings turned up meth, suboxone, clonazapam, marijuana, and a defaced handgun.

She now faces numerous drug related charges along with possession of a firearm by a felon, and possession of a gun with an altered serial number.

Conover Shooting Update

A second suspect in last week’s fatal Conover shooting is being investigated.

According to reports, the unnamed suspect has not been charged, as authorities are in consultation with the district attorney’s office to determine which charges apply to the suspect’s involvement.

A previous news release from the Catawba County Sheriff’s Office say Samuel Hernandez-Loza was discovered deceased from a gunshot on White Tail Circle in Conover October 19^th.

Tony Marshall Shook was arrested that day and charged with murder in connection with the incident.

He is being held without bond with a court appearance scheduled for November 10^th.

Authorities say charges concerning the second suspect most likely won’t be addressed until the grand jury convenes in November.

 

 

 

 

 COVID-19 UPDATE

Burke County Health has reported 2 thousand 9 hundred and 47 cumulative cases

of coronavirus.  2 thousand 4 hundred and 68 patients have recovered while 5

patients are hospitalized.  McDowell County reported 16 new cases of coronavirus

Friday for a cumulative total of 1 thousand 1 hundred 89.  1 thousand and 21

patients are out of quarantine.  Catawba County reported 10 new cases of

coronavirus yesterday for a cumulative total of 4 thousand, 2 hundred and 28.  35

patients are hospitalized.  3 thousand, 2 hundred 47 patients have recovered. 

And Caldwell County reported 10 new cases of coronavirus for a cumulative total

of 2 thousand 3 hundred 68.  16 patients are hospitalized and 1 thousand 5

hundred and 59 have recovered.

Voting Wrapup

Burke County voters turned out in large numbers to the one stop voting sites

Saturday, as nearly fourteen hundred people cast ballots for the November

General Election.  Some 44 percent of Burke County’s registered voters have

already cast ballots, either through one stop voting or absentee.  That means 25

thousand, 4 hundred and 93 voters have already voted.  In Caldwell County, some

46.7 percent of the registered voters have cast ballots, for a total of 25 thousand,

3 hundred and 38.  37.9 percent of McDowell County’s registered voters have cast

ballots, for a total of 11 thousand 2 hundred and 84.  And in Catawba County,

approximately 41.8 percent of registered voters have voted, for a total of 45

thousand 2 hundred and 45, excluding Sunday’s vote.  Early voting continues

through Saturday, October 31^st.

McDowell Runaway

McDowell County authorities are looking for a 17 year old last seen at her

residence on Hoyles Orchard Road in Old Fort last Thursday.  Shelby Joann

Harwood was last seen around 4:30 p.m.  Law enforcement reports say Harwood

is a white female, 5 feet 2 inches tall and weighing about 1 hundred 50 pounds. 

She has brown hair and hazel eyes.  Anyone knowing her whereabouts should call

the McDowell Sheriff’s Office at 652-2235.

 

COVID-19 UPDATE

As state officials on Wednesday announced that NC will remain paused in Phase 3 for three more weeks to monitor viral trends, numbers in the continue to build.

Burke County Public Health reported 34 new cases of COVID-19 Thursday afternoon.

Burke’s total of positive cases of COVID-19 now stands at 2-thousand-893.

425 cases are active, 2-thousand-396 cases are reported as recovered, and 6 residents remain hospitalized.

Health officials in McDowell County reported 15 additional cases Thursday, bringing the county total to 1-thousand-173 positives.

Caldwell County reported the 2nd outbreak at the Shaire Center after the first outbreak of

4 cases was closed on August 20th. The Shaire Center now has 7 new cases of COVID-19.

Caldwell added 49 new cases of the virus yesterday, for a new total of 2-thousand-307.

Catawba County added 67 new cases of COVID-19, for a total of 4-thousand-121.

Shooting Leaves One Critical

An early morning shooting Thursday at a Hickory apartment leaves one critical, and the suspect apprehended in the afternoon.

Hickory officers arrived at 2830 12^th Avenue Southeast to find 32-year-old Winter Devonne Brooks of Hickory suffering from a gunshot wound to the abdomen.

Reports say Brooks was able to tell police she was shot by her boyfriend, 34-year-old Andrew Mungro of Hickory.

At 12:30 p.m Thursday, Mungro was taken into custody by the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office after a deputy conducted a traffic stop of the suspect vehicle.

Police reports state Mungro left the scene of the shooting in a 2004 gold Chevrolet Trailblazer, armed with a semi-automatic handgun.

He is currently being held in the Catawba County jail without bond; charged with felony kidnapping and assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury.

Brooks was taken to CMC Charlotte, where reports list her in critical condition but stable.

A news release states a 12-year-old child was also at the residence at the time of the shooting but was not injured. 

Anyone having additional information about the incident should call Hickory Police at 828-328-5551.

Meth Trafficking Conviction 

A federal jury, sitting in Statesville has convicted a 37 year old Fresno

California man in connection with the distribution of meth via the US Postal

Service and FedEx and money laundering.  David Alexander Moralez, Jr. has been

detained pending sentencing, at which time he faces 10 years in prison and up to

20 years in prison for money laundering.  According to evidence presented at trial,

law enforcement in Newton and Hickory seized two pounds of meth during

controlled buys on December 18^th and 19^th of 2018.  The meth was also trafficked

to other locations throughout North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee. 

Girlfriend Choked

A Marion man is arrested for choking his girlfriend and interfering with 911.

McDowell deputies were called to a reported domestic disturbance at an Old Fort residence at 4 am on October 15^th.

An investigation revealed 33-year-old Thomas William Dalton had choked his girlfriend during a dispute, and when she called 911, he had reportedly grabbed the phone from her and ran into the woods.

Dalton was later taken into custody and charged with assault by strangulation, and interfering with emergency communication.

 

 

 

 

Burke Reports 52^nd Covid-19 Associated Death

Burke County Public Health has been notified of the 52^nd Covid-19 related death

in Burke County.  The individual was in their 90’s and was not hospitalized when

they died from Covid-19 related complications.

Area Covid-19 rates are continuing to increase.  Burke County’s cumulative

case numbers now stand at 2 thousand 8 hundred and 59 cases. Catawba

County saw 47 new cases yesterday for a cumulative total of 4 thousand-54

31 patients are hospitalized and 3 thousand 2 hundred and 47 patients have

recovered. Caldwell County reported 56 new cases Wednesday for a

cumulative total of 2 thousand 2 hundred and 58.  More than 3 hundred 50

positive cases have been reported in the county in the last 14 days. 1 thousand 4

hundred and 76 patients have recovered and 14 patients are hospitalized. And

McDowell County reported 20 new cases yesterday for a total of 1 thousand 1

hundred and 58.  9 hundred 80 patients are out of quarantine.

Claremont Woman Charged With Murder

A twenty-two year old Claremont woman has been charged with murder in the

death of her infant.  Aaliyah Nicole Mungro was arrested after an investigation by

the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation and Claremont Police.  On

October 17^th the two month old boy was found unresponsive by his father. 

Mungro was placed in the Catawba County Detention Facility and denied bond.

Funding Received for Treatment Court 

The 36^th Prosecutorial District has been allocated funding for the establishment of

a treatment court.  The grant funds, from the Bureau of Justice Administration,

will be used to fund a court coordinator, court-associated operating costs,

equipment expenses, program materials and drug testing.  The total amount

allocated will be 3 hundred 39 thousand, 3 hundred and 23 dollars over a period

of three years.  The Veterans’ Treatment Court is scheduled to begin in April 2021. 

Catawba will be the 5^th county in North Carolina to have a treatment court for vets.

 

COVID-19 UPDATE

Positive cases of COVID-19 continue to mount in Burke County – Public Health officials reporting 21 new positives Tuesday, with a total of 2-thousand-838 cases.

390 of the total cases are active, 2-thousand-384 have recovered, and 11 people remain hospitalized.

McDowell County health officials reported 10 additional positive cases with

McDowell’s total of positives – 1-thousand-138.

125 cases are in quarantine, while 981 are out of quarantine.

Recent numbers released by public health in Catawba County on Tuesday indicated more than 4-thousand cases diagnosed since the pandemic began.

Caldwell County reported 11 new cases on for a total of 2-thousand-202,with

80 people released and counted as recovered.

Icard Elementary COVID

Burke County Public Schools was made aware Tuesday of a cluster of at least five or more related positive COVID-19 cases at Icard Elementary School.

 As a result, Icard Elementary School will move to Plan C instruction until Thursday, Nov. 5th; which means all learning at Icard will move from in-person to remote while the school is shut down.

There will be no activity at the school at least for several days to ensure adequate time for the virus to dissipate from the air.

 Once that time period is up, the custodial team will move in to start the thorough sanitation process.

School officials made parents aware of the positive cases today; giving them the e option of checking out their students early, if they wished, but the Icard buses did run on their normal afternoon schedule to accommodate families who did not have alternative transportation and childcare options in the middle of the afternoon.

The school is working closely with the Burke County Health Department for guidance and to identify anyone who may have been exposed to COVID-19.

Just as with individual cases, if a child was identified as having had close contact and exposure, the school nurse notified the parents. Parents who do not hear from the school nurse should know their child is not considered to have had close contact. Parents who have questions about their child's health, can contact their physician or the Burke County Health Department Public Information Line at 828-764-9168.

MDPS Arrest Suspect

Morganton Public Safety has arrested a Burke County man wanted in connection with a Lincoln County shooting that took place last Friday.

51-year-old Terry Lee Peeler of Wards Gap Road Connelly Springs was charged with assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury.

He is accused of shooting his nephew Jimmy Drew Peeler using a shotgun during an altercation at Halfway Supply on NC 18.

The victim was transported to a Shelby hospital, treated for his injuries, and released later in the weekend.

Reports further say Terry Peeler fled the crime scene and was chased by a vehicle driven by Jimmy Frank Peeler Sr.

The two vehicles wrecked on Highway 10 in Cleveland County with both drivers running from the scene.

Terry Peeler eluded lawmen, while Jimmy Frank Peeler received treatment for a leg injury.

Morganton Public Safety received information that Terry Peeler was in a room at Carolinas Healthcare in Morganton.

He was arrested without incident early Sunday morning.

In addition to the Lincoln County charges, Peeler was served outstanding warrants for felony larceny and misdemeanor larceny.

Peeler was placed in the Burke County jail under a 105-thousand-500-dollar secured bond.

Voted Best Place to Live

The Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton area known as the Catawba Valley has earned bragging rights as a home for retirees and families, and is becoming a destination for young professionals.

Our area was voted 49^th among the 150 ‘Best Places to Live in the US’.

The poll was part of an article included in the recent issue of US News and World Report.

The article noted the region’s growing businesses, restaurants, outdoor recreation, moderate climate and affordability.