Authors

Paul Foster

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Recommended Fiscal Year 2021 Budget Maintains Current Tax Rate, Plans for Uncertainty Due to COVID-19

Catawba County Manager Mick Berry has recommended a budget of $242M for Fiscal Year 2021, which maintains the current property tax rate of $0.575 per $100 of valuation. The recommendation represents a 4.1 percent decrease in the total budget and $3.3M less revenue than anticipated. Due to the impact of COVID-19 on revenues from sales tax, property tax and building services, revenue projections have been downsized but still reflect… View More

Catawba County Announces Second Death Associated with COVID-19

Catawba County Public Health is reporting the second COVID-19 associated death in Catawba County. The individual had been hospitalized and died Sunday from complications associated with the virus. The patient was in their early 70s and had underlying medical conditions. The person did not reside at a senior living facility. To protect the family’s privacy, no further information about this patient will be released. "We are… View More

Collaborative Innovation Drives Solutions in Catawba County

With the onset of COVID-19, health care systems across the country began assessing readiness in the event of a surge of COVID-19 patients. Catawba Valley Health System in Catawba County, North Carolina, was no different. The system’s Director of Emergency Management & Environmental Compliance, Mike Helton, reviewed the hospital’s reserve inventory of personal protective equipment (PPE), which included a back-up supply of… View More

Residential Household Hazardous Waste Collection Event May 2

Catawba County’s spring residential household hazardous waste collection event will take place Saturday, May 2 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Catawba County Government Center, located at 25 Government Drive in Newton. Residents are advised to use the Business Hwy 321 entrance to access the event by vehicle. The event is open to Catawba County residents only and is free of charge. To comply with social distancing requirements,… View More

We Can All Help Children, Families in Trying Times

By Karen Harrington, MSW, LCSW, Director, Catawba County Social Services April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month. As everyone knows, EVERY month should be child abuse prevention month. In North Carolina, child protection is everyone’s job – we are all responsible, under the law, to report suspected child abuse or neglect. Due to the impact of COVID-19, it may be more important now than ever before to make a report… View More

Why Contact Tracing Matters

Last week, Governor Cooper announced a path forward for eventually easing certain COVID-19 restrictions while still protecting North Carolinians from a second wave of the virus. His path is a three-pronged approach that focuses on tracing, testing and trends. Since tracing has already been a big part of our response to COVID-19, I thought it might be helpful to explain what this is and how it works. Tracing, or contact… View More

Answers to Common Coronavirus Questions

By Jennifer McCracken, Health Director, Catawba County Public Health With our county’s first confirmed case of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in March and news this month of the first COVID-related death of a Catawba County resident, we know our community’s hearts are heavy with worry. I would like to assure Catawba County residents that Catawba County Public Health and our community partners have been working… View More

Explosion Confirmed, Under Investigation in Town of Long View

Emergency Management and Long View Fire Department have confirmed that an explosion took place at OneH2, a company located in the Town of Long View. All employees are accounted for, and there were no injuries or fatalities. The cause of the explosion is still being investigated. Responders are also monitoring air quality, and there is no risk to the community. Approximately 60 surrounding homes sustained mostly minor damage… View More

Catawba County Holiday Closures

Catawba County government offices and the Blackburn Construction & Demolition landfill will be closed Friday, April 10, in observance of the Good Friday holiday. Services available from the Catawba County Library system, including curbside pickup at the Newton and Sherrills Ford-Terrell branches, will be closed Friday-Sunday and will resume Monday, April 13. Catawba County parks (Bakers Mountain, Riverbend and St. Stephens) will be open… View More

Catawba County Announces its First Death Associated with COVID-19

Catawba County Public Health is reporting the first COVID-19 associated death in Catawba County. The individual was hospitalized and later died on March 30 from complications associated with the virus. Public Health was notified of the test result today. The patient was in their early 70s and had underlying medical conditions. The person did not reside at a senior living facility. To protect the family’s privacy, no further… View More