+2 Featured Dr. Mike Swan named Regional Superintendent of the Year FOR THE PAPER May 20, 2026 The Northwest Regional Educational Service Alliance (NWRESA) has named Burke County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Mike Swan the 2027 Regio…
+2 Bad soil adds $12 million to new elementary school price tag By JACOB CHRISTOPHER jacob@thepaper.media May 20, 2026 The cost of the new eastern elementary school leapt by more than 20% this past week to approximately $66.7 million, forcing the district to re…
Featured Who's your daddy: High drama, high tension in Valdese By MICA BANKS mica@thepaper.media May 19, 2026 Ultimately, no changes were made to the proposed budget. Residents will still pay more in taxes and fees if the budget is approved at the May …
Drexel residents could pay higher taxes, fees and utility bills By MADISON LIPE madison@thepaper.media May 19, 2026 Overall, the proposed budget is a slight 0.2% decrease from the current amended budget. It would provide a 4.5% cost of living adjustment for …
+6 Burke residents honored with Governor's Volunteer Service Award By ANGELA KUPER COPELAND May 18, 2026 Family, friends, and colleagues gathered Thursday evening at First United Methodist Church to recognize a special group of people being celebr…
Burke County hospice provider responds to national concerns over hospice industry Allen VanNoppen May 16, 2026 AMOREM defended the nonprofit hospice care model amid national scrutiny of the hospice industry saying community based care in Burke County an…
Burke Animal Resource Center: Motley Angela K. Copeland May 16, 2026 He’s 2 years old and 34 pounds and is a class clown. He’s funny, loves attention, and is always ready to be the center of your world (as he sh…
Cats' Cradle: Elliott Angela K. Copeland May 16, 2026 I’m a sweet and curious girl who likes to observe before diving in. At first, I might sit back and watch the chaos, but give me a minute, and …
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+3 Valdese residents Rob and Deb Bratcher share a love like a fairytale By MICA BANKS mica@thepaper.media May 16, 2026 Imagine being proposed to on stage, during a production of “Shrek the Musical.”Debra Bratcher doesn’t have to imagine. It really happened.
PICTURE BURKE PHOTO OF THE WEEK PICTURE BURKE / FOR THE PAPER May 16, 2026 The 1929 Rutherford College Ramblers football team is pictured in front of ‘Old Main,’ the institution’s primary administration building. The …
Burke County population edges up to 88,655 in latest Census estimate Allen VanNoppen May 16, 2026 Burke County’s population reached an estimated 88,655 in July 2025, according to new Census figures, showing modest growth since 2020 and rein…
Valdese council denies rezoning request for apartment complex By MICA BANKS mica@thepaper.media May 16, 2026 Mayor Pro Tem Rexanna Lowman, who made the motion to deny the request, said that the planning board unanimously recommended denial after revie…
Morganton construction values top $3.7 million in April May 16, 2026 Morganton approved 123 permits in April with a combined construction value of about $3.71 million.
Burke Schools urged to prepare students for an AI-driven economy By JACOB CHRISTOPHER jacob@thepaper.media May 16, 2026 With the continued retirement of baby boomers overlapping with the decline in birth rates, the job market is expected to see major shifts in t…
+2 Renowned bluegrass band plays Burke concerts, visits schools Angela K. Copeland May 16, 2026 The Sentimental Gentlemen visited with third and fourth graders at Mountain View Elementary School and pre-K through fifth grade at W.A. Young…
America250 exhibit to pair local history with national Revolution stories Angela K. Copeland May 16, 2026 A nationally touring exhibit on the American Revolution will make a stop this spring at the History Museum of Catawba County.
Site grading almost complete for Burke's shell building, but pace slows on HR building renovations By MICA BANKS mica@thepaper.media May 16, 2026 Construction of the county’s shell building in the Burke Business Park is moving along on schedule, but the Human Resources building renovatio…
+5 BUCM receives truckload from LDS May 16, 2026 The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ national America250 initiative to send trucks filled with nonperishables to 250 food banks ac…
LIBERTY TREE DEDICATION MICA BANKS / THE PAPER May 16, 2026 Burke County's America250 Committee and the City of Morganton held a dedication last Friday for a Liberty Tree, a Red Blaze maple, planted in …
+2 Open Hearts Place nears start on new workforce housing development By MADISON LIPE madison@thepaper.media May 16, 2026 Open Hearts Place is advancing its 44-home Hildebran Switch development to provide attainable housing for working families in Burke County whi…
Glen Alpine zoning ordinance update serves as clear guide for future development By MADISON LIPE madison@thepaper.media May 16, 2026 As Glen Alpine officials start the process of developing a five-year economic development plan, they now have an upgraded zoning ordinance to …
Work remains stalled on construction of new Castle Bridge By BILL POTEAT bill@thepaper.media May 16, 2026 Work on building a new Castle Bridge began last autumn. And then, it suddenly stopped.
+6 Burke residents honored with Governor's Volunteer Service Award By ANGELA KUPER COPELAND angela@thepaper.media May 16, 2026 Family, friends, and colleagues gathered Thursday evening at First United Methodist Church to recognize a special group of people being celebr…
+2 Bad soil adds $12 million to new elementary school price tag By JACOB CHRISTOPHER jacob@thepaper.media May 16, 2026 The cost of the new eastern elementary school leapt by more than 20% this past week to approximately $66.7 million, forcing the district to re…
Drexel residents could pay higher taxes, fees and utility bills By MADISON LIPE madison@thepaper.media May 16, 2026 Overall, the proposed budget is a slight 0.2% decrease from the current amended budget. It would provide a 4.5% cost of living adjustment for …
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