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 …

Public education has taken a bit of a beating in Burke County and in North Carolina in recent years. Here in Burke County, far-right extremists have accused our teachers and administrators of pushing …

Yes, we know the name of the franchise is “Hickory Crawdads.” And yes, we know that part of L.P. Frans Stadium, the home of the ‘Dads, sits in Catawba County. But we’re not afraid to claim …

Burke County Manager Brian Epley has likened the development of the industrial megasite at the western edge of the county to a nine-inning baseball game. Right now, he says, we’re only in the …

“Politics,” the late Sen. Robert Kennedy once declared, “ought to be a noble adventure. An adventure based on the desire to help others, to serve others, and to do what is right.” Much of …

In the long ago summer of 1980, both the late Sen. Sam J. Ervin Jr. and his younger sister Eunice Worth Ervin were guests at a luncheon political gathering at Morganton’s Holiday Inn, which at that …

Burke County’s reputation as a conservative county just got turned up a notch. If Tuesday’s Republican primary election results are a prime indicator – and we believe they are – Burke County …

Tuesday, March 5, is Primary Election Day in Burke County and across North Carolina. Indeed, Tuesday is “Super Tuesday” as 14 other states are holding primary elections that day, with national …

North Carolina is not exactly the last of the big-time spenders when it comes to public education. So far as average teacher pay goes, The Old North State currently ranks 34th out of 50. Talk about …

Score one for democracy. Score one for residents of Burke County exercising their constitutional rights. And score one for a man who decided to challenge the system — and won! Dr. Don Hemstreet …

Without question, Lake James – by far the cleanest lake along the Catawba River – is a tremendously positive selling point for Burke County, providing unparalleled opportunities for fishing, …

Newly elected Valdese Town Councilman Glenn Harvey is not likely to win any popularity contests. Small talk and social niceties are not his strong suit. He’s a “get to the point” sort of …

A thorough examination of the many ways in which our American political system is broken would no doubt fill this page and quite possibly this entire 32-page newspaper. Money plays far too great a …

To say that the deck is stacked against unaffiliated candidates in North Carolina is to engage in profound understatement. Consider: Joe Schmoe is an unemployed 30-something who has no higher …

Just glancing at the numbers can make even an optimistic person despair: Only 10 counties out of the 100 in the state had more drug overdose deaths per capita than Burke in 2021, according to the …

When conversation in various circles throughout Burke County focuses on municipal and governmental senior leadership – council, manager, mayor – the topic often, ever-so-gently, turns to the …

It’s a time-honored tradition in the newspaper business on the last day of publication before the beginning of a new year to take a look back at the Top 10 stories of the year coming to its close. …

As anyone who has lived here well knows, Christmastime in Burke County is unlikely to be the subject of a Currier and Ives lithograph. White Christmases here in the foothills of the Blue Ridge are about as rare as Carolina Panthers victories this season, coming at best once every other decade or so. But even without a comforting layer of snow, Christmastime in Burke County is indeed beautiful.

Burke County government and Burke Development Inc. (BDI) were left with more than a little egg on their faces last week. The reason for the embarrassment? The county had scheduled a hearing of its …

In his remarks to the Burke County School Board on Monday evening, veteran Freedom High English teacher Tim Fossett did a marvelous job in explaining just how important the reading of books can be to helping young people “develop their ideas, their opinions, a sense of empathy, and perhaps even their own identity.” …

Traditionally, December is considered a month for celebration and contemplation, as the holidays are enjoyed, relationships are savored, and the ups and downs of the year coming to its close are …

Across the Foothills, the peak of the autumn colors is well past; indeed some tree branches are already bare, like gray fingers stretched against the late autumn sky. The bright and blue and glorious …

Tuesday was Election Day in four central Burke municipalities – Valdese, Drexel, Morganton and Glen Alpine  – but apparently a lot of registered voters never got the memo. Turnout was …

Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 7. Veterans Day is Saturday, Nov. 11. It is fitting that the two dates fall so close to each other, for one would not be possible without the other. The millions of men and women who have served our country in the Armed Forces, in times of war and of peace, have made it possible for us to vote.

Not since 1980 has the Town of Valdese been embroiled in the sort of election-related tension, division, and speculation that are rampant today as a result of the looming municipal vote. If there was …