East Burke student Max Williams (right) reaches for a cup of
water after Ray Childers student Isaiah Cramer plants a Wandering
Jew plant in his plastic cup, a mini greenhouse.
JACOB CHRISTOPHER photos / THE PAPER
Fifth graders from across the county flocked to East Burke High School and Freedom High School last Friday, March 20, learning about farm animals, making mini greenhouses, and shooting staple guns with the guidance of high school agriculture students.
High schoolers led each of the workshop tables for Agriculture Day, giving the elementary schoolers quick explanations on their respective topics, such as how a circuit board works in a barn and what it takes to raise livestock.
At the end of the visit, students left with plastic cups and Ziploc bags filled with plants to grow at home.
— JC
East Burke High student Jaxson Wiley (left) held the post and
the back of the staple gun when Ray Childers fifth grader Kayden
Huffman was the only one in his group to volunteer to shoot it.
JACOB CHRISTOPHER / THE PAPER
The high schooler showed the fifth graders the horse’s gums,
explaining how to check the color to know if they need worm
medicine. To check sheep, they flip down their bottom eyelids.
JACOB CHRISTOPHER / THE PAPER
Although the kids weren’t able to pet the animals, the high
schoolers brought out sheep and a horse for the kids to learn
about. According to the high school student showing off the sheep,
this breed doesn’t have to be sheared, they shed their fur on their
own.
JACOB CHRISTOPHER / THE PAPER
Morganton
Bethel Park reopens after $2.4 million upgrade
By MADISON LIPE
madison@thepaper.media
Mai Her and Steve Hang were just two of many people that hit the
pickleball courts during Bethel Park’s soft opening on
Thursday.
LISA PRICE photos / THE PAPER
A day with temperatures in the 70s was the perfect backdrop for
Morganton residents to enjoy the new playground at Bethel Park.
LISA PRICE / THE PAPER
After two years of waiting, Morganton residents were able to return to Bethel Park on Thursday for its reopening.
The City of Morganton Parks and Recreation Department opened the park’s gates for a soft opening, according to Public Information Officer Jonelle Sigmon. A grand opening is planned for a later date, with details to be announced.
The park initially closed in March 2024 for renovations, six months before Hurricane brought additional work to be done. That work included debris removal, and fixing the washed-out seeded floodplain and significant buildup of sediment.
“We want our community to enjoy the new park, but we ask that visitors understand that during the duration of the soft opening there will be continued work inside the park,” Sigmon stated.
The redesigned Bethel Park includes a paved walking path, new pickleball and futsal courts, modernized playground equipment, picnic shelter, dog park, and improved landscaping and lighting. Due to the new layout of the park, the disc golf course could not be added back, according to the parks and recreation staff.
Ellisyn Lawton climbs up the Warped Wall at Bethel Park’s new
playground. The park was busy for its first day open after being
closed for a $2.4 million upgrade.
LISA PRICE / THE PAPER
One of the most significant upgrades is the reconstruction of the stream that flows through the park, completed by Wildlands Engineering. Built to withstand a 25-year flood event, with a 4% chance of occurring in any given year, the new stream’s dynamics will reduce the likelihood of closures from a routine rainfall.
The $2.4 million project was covered largely by grants. The City of Morganton received $500,000 from the Parks and Recreation Trust Fund, $913,000 from N.C. Clean Water, $150,000 from North Carolina’s Environmental Enhancement Grant Program, $250,000 from Golden LEAF Foundation, and $200,000 from the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Water Resources.
Both parking lots will be open during the soft opening. However, when construction begins on new restrooms, portions of the larger lot will be temporarily closed, Sigmon said.
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