Dark and silent late last night…Geese in flight and dogs that bite.  Signs that might be omens say I’m going…going…gone to Carolina in my mind. James Taylor As related previously, I …

Burke County, you make a mighty fine first impression. I’m a McDowell County girl, born and raised. As a Marion native, I always thought of Morganton as the big sister city, the halfway point to …

My grandfather, Irenaeus Pillmore Jeter was born in 1861. His name was an odd choice even for his eccentric parents. However grandiose it sounded at the onset; it was so convoluted that his family …

Despite my best efforts, I am not known for being punctual. However, over 42 years of ministry I honestly only remember being late for ONE worship service.  A little before worship was to begin, …

Here we go again. For the inquisitive person, or in my case the ignorant person, the internet offers an infinite number of rabbit holes through which one may burrow in hopes of becoming better …

Recently, the idea of a four-day workweek/school week has been thrown around. I think there are so many issues with our schools that could be solved by cutting off a day, not to say there aren’t …

Freedom High School junior, Henry Beall, talks with Mr. Timothy Fossett, Burke County’s teacher of the year in 2009, and former Marine, about book bans, teaching...

Tom and Beth Blanton have been married for 56 years and most of those years have been as residents of Morganton. They attended the same high school, although graduating in different years, in …

Some kids grew up fearing the boogeyman. I grew up fearing Raw Hides and Bloody Bones, Konkey of the Blue Hole, and the ferocious incubator in the corner of my grandmother’s attic. I was raised out …

I am a diehard ‘Three Stooges’ fan. If ever I’m down and out, or just need a good chuckle, I can depend on Moe, Larry, and especially Curly to bring a smile to my face. Speaking of smiles, do …

Going to college has long been a rite of passage for millions of American young adults. College creates for many a time of new beginnings, of making new friends, of examining personal convictions and …

On Tuesday, Aug. 29,  the Men’s Book Club convened for an end of summer meeting. Membership roster consists of five retired or almost-retired gentlemen. The clubhouse alternates between Fonta …

In the early 1980s, my college roommate’s name was Joan. She was from Brevard. I visited her home a few times and her parents took us to the Conservation Camp Corps for free barbeque without …

The Friends of the Library Fall Book Sale will be held on Friday, Sep. 15, and Saturday, Sep. 16, at the Collett Street Recreation Center. Friday will be a members only preview sale from 5 to 7:30 …

A note from the teacher’s (er, I mean, the reporter’s) desk… As a new employee at The Paper, I am currently dealing with a learning curve as I settle into my role as education, business, and …

Over the years at First Baptist Church of Morganton, we were fortunate to have the dancer Hope Harrell Laman bless our worship services with graceful liturgical dances. When done well, I think they are a wonderful addition to the worship service.

This will be the last column I write on college because there is so much else to write about at Freedom High School in Morganton. But I think student loans, as I have referenced before, are one of …

It was a bright sunny spring afternoon when I left my Salem home headed to work that day. On April 4, 1985, I was working at WSVM Radio in Valdese in the news department. As I traveled east on I-40, …

The Rev. Dr. Josh Lail has been at the First Baptist Church of  Valdese for eight years; three of those years were as Associate Pastor before becoming Senior Pastor. He and his wife, Chrystal …

John H. Cantrell, Jr. will soon celebrate his 85th birthday. Known as Johnny Cantrell to many, he is a dear, dear friend.  I first had the pleasure to work with John in 1995 when he was named …

A recent post on Facebook asked, “Does anyone else feel that Morganton is losing the small hometown feeling with all the pictures on buildings and metal pieces around town?” I replied with …

SANDRA WILKERSON QUEEN: Once upon a time, there was a young girl who believed her second-grade teacher when that teacher told her she was a good writer. The girl had composed a short poem in her second-grade manuscript writing class, and that teacher read the poem, smiled warmly at the girl, and made a statement that set the child on her professional path...

Expectations for the coming year: I’m entering my junior year of high school. All I’ve heard so far is that junior year is the most stressful year in high school, and that comes down to one big …

It was 1952 when we moved into our new house. The street was close to town, leafy, green, and near the Catawba River, although the river itself was half a mile away and out of sight of the spacious …

Clint Long was born and lived his early years in the Salem community of Morganton. After living in East Tennessee for around five years where he attended college, he came back and bought a house in …