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 …

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 …

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 …

If you have been keeping up with Burke County news or have recently talked with any frustrated young adult, our beloved Nature’s Playground is squarely in the midst of a housing crisis.  This …

The topic of mental health has been at the forefront of many conversations in recent years. Whether connected with family struggles, veterans’ support, children's development, homelessness, etc., …

Growing up, my sister was an active participant in gymnastics and ballet. She would perform at the CoMMA and practice her dances at home. I was never much of an “artsy” person growing up. I …

ChatGPT came out almost exactly a year and a half ago. Created by OPENAI, ChatGPT was the first of its kind and has exploded in popularity, bringing in 1.6 billion visits per month. That is almost …

EDITOR’S NOTE: This vignette is an educational moment in American history.  It is about those who made a difference during the Revolutionary War era and how they served our country. During the …

First, An Epigraph The "coastal grandmother" style is a fashion and lifestyle aesthetic. It gained popularity through social media, mostly TikTok. It embraces the serene lifestyle associated with …

I have known many interesting, unusual people in my life. Mr. Charlie G. has got to be one of the most outrageous. He could be irritating, irascible, and downright infuriating, but was consistently …

Some dogs are made for walking with their human companions, and some are not. Some dogs contribute to an energetic walk, and some leave their humans exasperated. During a recent visit with my …

Rebecca Myrick Poteat is currently serving as Organist/Accompanist at First Baptist Church of Morganton. She has had extensive service in music ministry at a variety of churches before FBCM. Becky …

My culture has always been an important part of who I am. Recently someone asked me what makes me me. I responded by saying my culture. My Mayan parents, grandparents, great-grandparents, etc. have …

I went to Morganton Day School, a K-8, tiny, private school. And by tiny, I mean microscopic. Everyone in the grade was always in one classroom together, and my grade was the biggest the school …

College is a topic I have written about a couple of times in this column, possibly because of how soon I will apply (in the fall), or because seniors have just finished getting their decisions. I …

In what promises to be a memorable gala concert that she herself calls “a dream come true,” musical artist Alfreda Gerald returns to her hometown after a stellar performing career to headline the …

I’m hopeful that as of writing this column we’ve made the jump into spring. I’m done with cold but love these cool mornings and evenings. I can feel my cravings for richer, warming wines …

Occasionally, a generation will experience an exceptional person who has the needed innate talents for the time.  Such a person was Henry Knox.

Several church youth camping/rafting trips blend together in a kaleidoscope of images, some of them regrettable, but there is one I that will live in infamy. We had enjoyed a trip down the Nantahala …

Politics is a touchy subject. Everybody has ideas on how everything should be run, and generally, people are not especially kind to each other regarding politics. And we can all agree that, as a …

Morganton has always been a refuge for various cultures. From the Mayan population, the people I come from, to the Hmong people, Morganton has been a safe space for various cultures and races. Being …

A hero is someone who is recognized and celebrated for their achievements or acts of bravery. An unsung hero is someone who goes unnoticed for their contributions; someone not well known but who …

In my many years of youth ministry, I organized and supervised numerous youth-led mission trips: From the town in Pennsylvania where they play the Little League World Series to the town in New Jersey …

It was called the ‘Sunshine Protection Act'; a bill introduced in 2022 that would have made Daylight Saving Time (DST) permanent. Unanimously approved in the Senate, the bill, however, did not pass …