Vaccine and ETC

COVID-19 vaccine eligibility officially opens to all NC residents age 16 and older today; although counties throughout the state, including Burke, have already opened appointments for Group 5.

Governor Cooper moved up the vaccination timeline ahead of schedule as more vaccine supply became available.

Cooper urges NC residents to get vaccinated and to encourage others to get the vaccine.

Reports show there have been more than 5-point-2 million vaccinations throughout the state, while 36-percent of adults are at least partially vaccinated.

The latest figures on Burke County’s website shows there is now a total of 9-thousand-770 cases of COVID-19, with 213 cases termed as active and 6 Burke residents are hospitalized.

Vaccine appointments in Burke run from 9 am until 7:30 pm and can be scheduled by calling 358-4454, or schedule on-line at chsbr.org/vaccine.

Meanwhile, McDowell County health officials Wednesday reported 2 new cases, for a total of 4-thousand-909 positives.

39 people in McDowell remain in quarantine.

Meth Found

Deputies in McDowell County detain a man with drugs while assisting state wildlife officers.

On March 17^th, a deputy and a resource officer with NC Wildlife were working together on Black Bear Landing on Lake James Road whenever the wildlife officer spotted a truck parked in a no parking zone.

Authorities searched both occupants of the vehicle and located drugs on one of the men.

24-year-old John Conner of Marion was charged with possession of meth and possession of a schedule 4 controlled substance.

Assault on Jailer

A man already in custody in the McDowell County jail now faces additional charges after assaulting two detention officers.

Reports say on the morning of March 12^th, an inmate 42-year-old Benny Phillips of Spruce Pine became combative and refused to be handcuffed further leading to the assault.

Phillips is charged with two counts of assault on a government official or employee, and one count of resisting a public officer.

Felony Drug Arrest After Traffic Stop  

A man faces multiple drug charges after a traffic stop in Morganton.

Just after 9:30 p.m.Monday, a Public Safety Officer initiated the vehicle

stop on Burkemont Road near Walker Road for an expired registration

plate. After a vehicle search, the passenger 61-year-old Bruce Allen Hanna

was arrested for Possession with Intent to Manufacture, Sell or Deliver

Schedule III, along with Simple Possession of Marijuana and Possession

of Drug Paraphernalia. He was taken to the Burke Jail under a $25,000

secured bond. The driver, 47-year-old Brian Ted Carswell was arrested

on an outstanding warrant.

 

 

 

 

COVID-19 UPDATE

Burke County Public Health Monday reported 216 active cases of COVID-19

for a total of 9-thousand-770 positives, with 6 patients hospitalized.

McDowell County reported 11 new cases of coronavirus for a total of

4-thousand-907, with 40 McDowell residents in quarantine.

Caldwell County saw an increase of 29 cases of the virus for a total of

9-thousand-6, with 8 people in the hospital.

Catawba County reported 81 new cases of COVID-19 yesterday, for a total

of 17-thousand-928, with 15 patients hospitalized.

Numerous Arrests 

Numerous arrests are made after a months long investigation into

drug activity at two Morganton residences. On March 26^th, Burke

Narcotics investigators searched a residence at 128 William Parks Lane

finding methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia. Three people were

in the mobile home and  arrested. Then on March 31^st, another search

at a residence at 112 William Parks Lane, where investigators located

heroin, methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia. Seven individuals were

arrested in that search. The Sheriff’s Office was assisted by Morganton

Department of Public Safety, NC Probation and Parole and Burke EMS.

Lincoln Arrest and Missing Person  

A Denver man faces child assault charges. 34-year-old Austin Jade Tucker

was arrested by the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office on Saturday on charges

of felony indecent liberties with a child and felony child abuse by a sexual

act, along with felony statutory sex office with a child. The juvenile victims

were reportedly known by the suspect.

Also in Lincoln County, detectives are looking for 16-year-old Navaeh Blaze

Rollins, last seen April 1^st, about 11 p.m., when she left McDonalds on

NC Business Highway in Denver. She possibly got into a gun-metal gray

crew cab truck with dark windows and rims. The vehicle, possibly a Ford

Ranger, was driven by an unknown individual. Rollins is described as a white

female, 5 feet 8 inches tall, weighs 110 pounds and has long dark hair that

has been dyed red. Anyone with information is asked to call the Lincoln

County Sheriff’s Office at 704-732-9050.

 

COVID-19 Update 

All individuals in Burke County over the age of 16 that are interested

in a COVID-19 vaccine are eligible to schedule an appointment. The

appointments run from 9 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. while appointments last.

To schedule an appointment call 358-4454.

Burke County Public Health reports 216 active cases of the virus for

a total of 9-thousand-736, with 6 Burke residents hospitalized.

McDowell County reports 5 new cases of coronavirus for a total of

4-thousand-896, with 35 McDowell residents in quarantine.

Caldwell County reports 9 new cases of the virus for a total of

8-thousand-977, with 7 patients hospitalized.

Catawba County saw an increase of 28 additional cases of COVID-19

for a total of 17-thousand-847, with 15 people in the hospital.

Prescribed Burn  

The Grandfather Ranger District is planning a prescribed burn today

in Burke County. It will be located in the Old Way Ridge unit directly south

of the tri-county junction of Avery, Burke and Caldwell counties. For

firefighter and visitor safety Raven Cliff Road, FSR 197, and the

Greentown short-cut trail, TR 268A, will be temporarily closed.

Hickory PACT  

The Hickory Police Department’s April traffic enforcement– Pay Attention

in City Traffic will be located on Falling Creek Road NE and Springs Road NE

(from McDonald Parkway to Highland Ave NE). Enforcement will focus on

following too closely, distracted driving, speeding and other traffic violations.

City Council  

The April meeting of Morganton City Council will take place tonight

in Council Chamber at City Hall. The meeting begins at 6 o’clock with

public comment.

 

Easter COVID

With the Easter season upon us, health care officials are concerned about rising COVID-19 cases.

CDC officials are still cautioning against non-essential travel, and some health experts in Western NC say it’s still possible that we could see another surge in cases like we did over the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays.

Experts go on to say that the key is getting everyone vaccinated that wants to be vaccinated.

Health officials say even though the weather is warmer and even if you are vaccinated, you should still follow safety measures – continue to wear a mask, wash hands frequently, and continue to keep 6 feet of distance from others especially if going to a large gathering.

According to the latest data on Burke County’s website, there are 9-thousand-702 total cases of COVID-19 with 231 cases termed active and one resident in the hospital.

McDowell County reports 6 new cases for a total of 4-thousand-885 cases and 34 in quarantine.

Sex Offense Charges

A Candler man is charged by McDowell County authorities with numerous child sex offense charges.

27-year-old Tommy Lee McKinney is charged with four counts of first-degree statutory rape and three counts each of statutory sex offense with a child 15 or younger, incest with a child younger than 13, and taking indecent liberties with a child.

Reports with the McDowell Sheriff’s Office say McKinney is accused of having inappropriate sexual contact with a teenage girl from late 2020 to earlier this year.

Lincoln Traffic Stop

A traffic stop in Lincoln County Monday leads to the arrest of a passenger on outstanding warrants and other charges.

Although the driver of the car gave officers a valid driver’s license, reports say a passenger in the vehicle gave lawmen a fictitious name, and further produced an ID for that person.

A deputy recognized the individual and ran a check on her that revealed she was wanted on outstanding warrants in Cleveland and Gaston Counties.

The passenger was then identified as 22-year-old Cynthia Diane Chavis of Crouse and was charged with felony identity theft, resisting a public officer, and giving false information to an officer.

She was also served with numerous outstanding warrants including larceny, possession of a stolen motor vehicle, and conspiracy.

Chavis was jailed in Lincoln County under a 27-thousand-500 dollar secured bond, and also ordered held for Cleveland County authorities.

Statesville Kidnapping

Four people face kidnapping charges in connection with taking a 15-year-old girl from Statesville to Florida.

A news release indicates Statesville Police were called to a home on March 13^th  to investigate a report of a teenage girl who had ran away from home.

Officers reportedly searched the home and areas that the girl was known to visit but did not locate her.

An investigation later revealed the teenager had been taken to a home in Pasco County Florida by 77-year-old Paul Wayne Thompson of Statesville.

Further investigation showed other relatives of Thompson’s assisted the youth and obstructed police efforts to find her.

On March 17^th, authorities located the residence in Florida, Thompson reportedly answered the door to deputies, and admitted she was in the house.

Thompson remains in custody in Florida charged with felony abduction of a child, felony conspiracy to abduct a child, transporting the child out of state, and contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile.

He is awaiting extradition back to NC.

Also charged were 43-year-old Laurie Thompson and 24-year-old Skyler Haneline both of Olin, and 45-year-old Lewis Lyons of Statesville.

Each are charged with felony conspiracy to abduct a child, contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile, and resist obstruct delay a law enforcement officer.

Their bond was set at 5-thousand dollars each.

The teenager was brought back to Statesville immediately after being located.

 

 

COVID-19 UPDATE

13 new cases of COVID-19 since Friday as reported by Burke County Public Health officials bringing the county’s total to 9-thousand-700.

237 cases are reported to be active, while one Burke resident remains hospitalized.

The Burke County vaccination team will be hosting two local clinics for those essential workers still in need of a vaccination.

The clinics will be held tomorrow from 8 am till Noon, and again from 4 till 8 pm at Freedom High School.

You can schedule your appointment online at chsbr.org/vaccine, or you can call the health department to schedule at 764-9150 and choose O to speak with the operator.

All adults 16 and older will be eligible for the vaccine starting April 7^th.

Meanwhile, McDowell County reported 9 new COVID-19 cases Monday; with 28 still in quarantine.

McDowell’s total stands at 4-thousand-879.

Hickory Men Sentenced

Two Hickory men were sentenced last week for selling stolen firearms.

A US District Judge sentenced 35-year-old Gevon King to 144 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered 22-year-old Michael Williams to serve 72 months in prison and two years under court supervision.

Court records reveal King and Williams took part in the unlawful sale of numerous firearms some of which were stolen from November 2019 to July 2020.

Records further state that Williams was responsible for several vehicle break-ins in Burke County from which firearms were stolen and that King conspired with Williams in the sale of the guns.

In November 2020, both King and Williams pleaded guilty to dealing in firearms without a license.

King also pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a felon, while Williams pleaded guilty to possession and sale of stolen firearm.

King is currently in federal custody, and Williams was released on bond and will be ordered to report to a federal facility once one is designated.

The Burke County Sheriff’s Office assisted in the investigation along with the SBI, Hickory Police, the Catawba County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.

Maiden Shooting

A double-shooting that took place in Catawba County Friday night remains under investigation.

Officers were called to the incident just before 9:30 off Ramseur Road in Maiden.

Reports say as deputies arrived, they discovered a man and a woman had been shot multiple times.

The woman was reportedly airlifted to a Charlotte hospital, while the man was taken by ambulance to a Lincoln County hospital.

Both remain hospitalized in serious condition at last report.

Authorities have charged Dimitrius Williams with two counts of attempted first degree murder in connection with the shooting.

He is currently jailed without bond.

Foot Chase

The driver of a motorcycle who failed to stop at a McDowell County license checkpoint now faces drug charges.

44-year-old Brandon Kyle McNeil of Finley Road in Marion reportedly approached the NC 226 South checkpoint on his motorcycle March 13^th but didn’t stop reports say.

An officer followed McNeil and found his motorcycle wrecked on Jacktown Road.

Reports say McNeil fled on foot and was apprehended a short time later.

A search of the suspect turned up meth and drug paraphernalia.

McNeil was charged with possession of meth, possession of drug paraphernalia, and failure to heed a blue light and siren.

Stolen ATV

Authorities in McDowell County are on the lookout for a stolen ATV and the person who took it.

Reports say the green 2010 Honda Rancher TRX420 four wheeler was taken from a Deacon Drive business in Marion sometime between 2 pm Saturday and Monday morning.

Anyone with information about the crime should contact McDowell Detective Lambert at 652-2237 or Crimestoppers at 65-CRIME.

Fatal Wreck

A two-vehicle accident in Lincoln County Friday afternoon claimed a pair of lives, and seriously injured another.

Investigators with the NC Highway Patrol say around 1:10 pm Friday, a Chevrolet Avalanche driven by Alexander Hickman was headed west on Campground Road.

Officers say he crossed the center line crashing head-on into an eastbound GMC Yukon.

The driver of the GMC, Boyce Moore and his passenger Michael Spillars both died on the scene.

Hickman was flown to a Charlotte hospital with life threatening injuries.

The initial investigation indicates reckless driving on Hickman’s part to be a contributing factor in the accident.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 COVID-19 UPDATE

Burke County Public Health officials Friday afternoon released an updated COVID-19 case count; Burke now has a total of 9-thousand-687 positive cases – that’s 32 additional cases since Monday.

Latest figures show that 261 cases are reported to be active, and 2 Burke residents remain in the hospital.

McDowell County health officials reported 3 new cases Friday for a total now of 4-thousand-870 cases.

35 individuals in McDowell are in quarantine.*

Meanwhile, people in Group 4 – adults 16 to 64 years old who are at high risk for exposure and increased risk of severe illness, along with homeless persons, and those who are incarcerated are eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine.

The rest of Group 4 including other essential workers and people in close group living settings will become eligible Wednesday March 31^st, while all adults 16 and older will be allowed the vaccine on April 7^th.

In Burke County, you can schedule a vaccine appointment by calling 828-358-4454 or go online to chsbr.org/vaccine.

Executive Order In Effect

The new executive order easing some COVID-19 restrictions in NC is now in effect.

Last week Governor Cooper announced the order which went into effect at 5 Friday afternoon, and expires on April 30^th.

Retail stores, salons, and museums are a few of the businesses that are allowed to resume full capacity, with physical distancing measures and face coverings still required.

Restaurants, gyms, amusement parks, wineries, and other specified businesses can open to 75-percent capacity; while bars, movie theaters, sports arenas and auditoriums can open to 50-percent capacity.

The state’s department of health and human services Dr. Mandy Cohen reports NC is in a promising place; with virus key metrics improving and vaccinations increasing, the easing of restrictions are being guided by science and data.

 

NC 181 Fatality

A Morganton woman was killed Thursday afternoon in a one-car crash on NC 181.

Reports with the NC Highway Patrol say around 2:20 , 43-year-old Carrie Collins Ollis was driving south in a Toyota four-runner when she ran off the right side of the roadway, overcorrected; causing her to cross the center line then running off the left side of the highway, and striking a utility pole and embankment.

The collision further caused the utility pole to fall into the road striking a northbound vehicle being driven by 19-year-old Mandi Lowe of Morganton.

Lowe was not injured according to reports.

Ollis died from her injuries, reports say, while being transported to the hospital by Burke County EMS.

The investigating trooper reported Ollis was not wearing a seatbelt, and impairment was not suspected.

Thursday’s torrential rainfall and slick road conditions could have been a factor in the accident authorities say.

Oak Hill Fire and Rescue and Burke REACt assisted at the scene.

 

 

 

 

COVID-19 UPDATE

According to the dashboard figures on the county’s website, Burke County now has 9-thousand-674 confirmed cases.

267 cases in Burke are still considered as active, while 2 people are still hospitalized.

McDowell County reported only 3 new cases Thursday for a total of 4-thousand-867 positives.

38 residents in McDowell are quarantined. 

Good news reported yesterday for individuals wishing to get the COVID vaccine that haven’t yet been able to.

Governor Cooper announced that the state has gotten more supply of the vaccine than anticipated.

Therefore, the biggest change for NC residents is that beginning April 7^th, all adults in the state will be eligible to receive the vaccine.

Swan Named Interim Superintendent 

During Thursday’s Burke County Board of Education meeting, the

announcement was made naming Dr. Mike Swan as interim superintendent.

of Burke County Public Schools. Swan moved to the county in 1998, and has

served in various roles, including teacher, assistant principal, principal,

Director of Student and Family Services and assistant superintendent.

He succeeds Dr. Larry Putnam, who will become executive vice president at

Catawba Valley Community College.

Kidnapping Charge

A brother and sister have been arrested following the issuance of an Amber Alert for a missing 14-year-old girl in Caldwell County Tuesday.

Reports state Austin Ryan Setzer and Autumn Bryce Setzer are both charged with first-degree kidnapping and breaking and entering.

Authorities in Caldwell County report the girl was found safe and in good condition in Lenoir.

The Amber Alert was canceled less than an hour after it was issued Tuesday evening.

According to officers, Austin Setzer was arrested under a 250-thousand dollar bond; while Autumn Setzer received a 100-thousand dollar bond as an accomplice in the incident.

The Caldwell County Sheriff’s Office urges anyone having additional information about Tuesday’s abduction to call them at 828-757-1400.

Pot Bust

A multi-agency traffic checkpoint in McDowell County turns up a drug arrest.

McDowell deputies, the State Highway Patrol, and SBI agents conducted the checkpoint March 9^th at the intersection of Zion Hill and Epley Roads.

Reports say as 22-year-old Lucas McHone of Marion pulled up to the checkpoint, officers detected a strong odor of marijuana.

Following a search of his vehicle, authorities charged McHone with possession with intent to sell or deliver marijuana, possession of marijuana, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Hickory Stabbing

A man is reportedly in critical condition following a stabbing incident at a Hickory motel Thursday.

Hickory Police report the stabbing resulted during an altercation between a father and son at the Quality Suites.

Reports say the victim was transported by Catawba County EMS to an area hospital.

No charges have been filed.

Police continue to investigate.

Lincoln Drugs

Lincoln County narcotics officers have charged a Vale man with trafficking illegal drugs.

Last Monday, officers reports say observed a hand-to-hand transaction in the parking lot of a Lincoln County business.

Investigators made contact with 71-year-old Ray Wylie of Vale and 26-year-old Trenton Carver of Lincolnton.

Officers recovered US Currency and a trafficking amount of hydrocodone.

An investigation revealed that Wylie had sold the narcotics to Carver.

Wylie was arrested and charged with trafficking by sell and deliver, trafficking by transport, and trafficking by possession.

He was placed in custody under a 75-thousand dollar secured bond.

Carver was taken into custody Wednesday on a charge of trafficking in opium or heroin.

He was released on bond.