I recently submitted my application for the Morehead-Caine Scholarship to UNC to my school’s nominating committee, which will nominate three students for the next round of the application process. …

I was brushing my teeth when my husband walked into the bathroom and announced he had a column idea for me. Marshall placed his phone beside the sink for me to see his screen. I laughed so hard that …

The famous author Kurt Vonnegut once issued a piece of advice I’ve found helpful over the years. We should, he said, strive to produce art, not for monetary gain nor public acclaim, but simply for …

Ma & Pa Kettle on the road again for a long April weekend. Destination Chattanooga. Google Maps drive time 4.5 hours. My superbly curated itinerary called for a noon departure and 4:30 p.m. …

Tracy Ollis Hicks had a 30-year career teaching in Burke County Schools and has been serving churches throughout our community in music ministry roles for over 40 years. She has lived in Burke County …

Back in the late summer of 2008, Draughn High School was opened on a beautiful tract of land to the north of Lovelady Road in Valdese. The wooded acres between the campus and the Catawba River were …

The famous author Kurt Vonnegut once issued a piece of advice I’ve found helpful over the years. We should, he said, strive to produce art, not for monetary gain nor public acclaim, but simply for …

We really appreciate the Burke Arts Council, their Director, Deb Jones, Courtney Wheeling and their board and volunteers for the tremendous job they did hosting The Blue Ridge …

I’m a watch guy. Something about the design, engineering, and functionality. I have an old shoebox with dozens of dusty mass-market relics. They are missing bands, or batteries, or covers. Only a …

One of the reasons my grandparents came to Morganton in the '90s is because of the mountains that tower over our town. The hills reminded them of the geography of their hometown in Guatemala. As a …

North Carolina, Texas, Florida, and Georgia accounted for 93% of the nation’s population growth in 2022 and 67% in 2023. There is no denying the fact that our region is growing. Many are attracted …

Parents of the incoming juniors at the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics-Morganton will arrive this weekend to learn more about the school and town where their children will spend the …

Over the years I started and guided many different groups in ministry to single adults. Back then, before internet dating and our current vibrant downtown venues, Morganton was a difficult place for …

Adult Programming Author Betty Bullock will discuss her book “Spinning Threads” on Saturday, May 4, at 10 a.m. at the Morganton Public Library. “Spinning Threads” tells about her grandfather, …

Drug use has been a big problem in America for a while. Since the Industrial Revolution, people have been using mind-altering substances, but as science has advanced, so has drug usage, as synthetic …

When I was in fifth grade, my class took a field trip to Catawba Meadows Park for the annual Environmental Field Day for fifth graders from around the county. I still remember this field trip from …

Last Saturday, on a cool and overcast late April morning, my brother Johnny and I stood atop Kennesaw Mountain, roughly 20 miles northwest of downtown Atlanta. Although the “mountain” stands only …

In our never-ending quest to add young readers to The Paper, we (the editorial team) recently added Jumble for Kids puzzles to our pages. These warped brain-twisters, invented by the same Chinese …

Happy Easter! And Chag Pesach Sameach! With the holidays of Easter and Passover, springtime is a time of rebirth, reflection, and renewal. I have received a few emails from folks asking about the …

May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month, a time to celebrate sun safety and skin health.  As the weather gets warmer and the sun shines brighter, it's tempting to spend more time outdoors soaking up …

Elementary Lunch Menu May 13 Chicken Nuggets Chicken Alfredo Chicken RanchWrap May 14 Sloppy Joe  Chicken Sandwich Garden Salad with Mozzarella May 15 Hot Dog Chicken Tenders Chicken Ranch Wrap …

It would be difficult to find a more dynamic personality than Mike Fischesser. His influence on this community is immeasurable. Mike was born in Montgomery, Alabama, in 1952. His family moved to …

The Paper recently learned that Sen. Warren Daniel, who represents Burke County in the N.C. General Assembly, is poised to introduce a bill that would shift municipal elections in Morganton from …

Let the record show, in the beginning, that I am and always have been a big fan of baloney. No, not the stuff spouted by politicians, TV evangelists, crooked insurance operators, and used car …