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Business
Burke Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting celebrations
Earlier in July, the Burke County Chamber of Commerce sent The
Paper this photo from its May 18 groundbreaking for Romarco Road
Small Business Park, 123 Romarco Road, Morganton. Owners Mike Folz
and Matt Schulte broke ground alongside Morganton Mayor Ronnie
Thompson, team members, friends, and supporters. Also in attendance
were Burke County Commissioner Mike Stroud; City Councilwoman Wendy
Cato; President of Western Piedmont Community College Dr. Joel
Welch; President and CEO of Burke Development Inc. Brandon Ruppe;
President and CEO of the Burke County Chamber of Commerce Tonia
Stephenson; and Chamber Board members Myron Stephen and Lily
Laramie; and Chamber ambassadors Mackenzie Bostian-Adams and Gerald
Greene. For more information on the park, call Mike Watts at
Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Blue Ridge REALTORS at
828-438-3660.
PAT APPLESON STUDIOS photos / FOR THE PAPER
The Burke County Chamber of Commerce hosted a ribbon cutting for
the reopening of Town Tavern of Morganton on May 19 and submitted
this photo in July. Town Tavern is at 315 Sanford Drive, Morganton.
Owners Justin Davis and Jett Lamont cut the ribbon alongside
Morganton Mayor Ronnie Thompson, team members, friends, and
supporters. Also in attendance were Burke County Council Member
Chris Jernigan; Commissioner Mike Stroud; Executive Director of the
Burke County Tourism Development Authority Ed Phillips; President
and CEO of the Burke County Chamber of Commerce Tonia Stephenson;
and Chamber Board members Bryan Fish and Myron Stephen; and Chamber
ambassadors Devan Berry, Amy Fisher, Kelly Messenheimer, Logan
Smithers, and Katie Tocci. Stop by for a delicious meal or order
takeout by calling 828-334-3321.
PAT APPLESON STUDIOS / FOR THE PAPER
News
Kinninger named executive medical director for Blue Ridge Medical Group
UNC Health Blue Ridge has named Dr. Adam Kinninger executive medical director for Blue Ridge Medical Group.
In the role, Kinninger will help lead clinical strategy, physician engagement, and quality initiatives across the organization’s employed medical practices.
Kinninger, a physician at McDowell Family Practice, will continue seeing patients there.
“I’m honored to serve,” he said. “Our group is deeply committed to providing exceptional care to the communities we serve. I look forward to partnering with our clinical and administrative leaders to strengthen access, support our care teams, and continue building a medical group that delivers outstanding patient care.”
As executive medical director, Kinninger will provide physician leadership and professional guidance to Blue Ridge Medical Group physicians, advanced practice providers, and administrative teams. He also will help strengthen clinician engagement and experience across the medical group.
Kinninger will work closely with Brittany Dobbins, executive director of Blue Ridge Medical Group, to align clinical and operational priorities, enhance practice performance, and promote standards of quality, safety, and accountability.
“Dr. Kinninger is a highly respected physician leader who brings credibility, experience, and a genuine passion for improving patient care,” Dobbins said. “I’ve had the privilege of seeing firsthand his thoughtful leadership, unwavering integrity, and deep commitment to both his patients and his colleagues. He has earned the trust and respect of those around him, and I look forward to partnering with him as we continue strengthening Blue Ridge Medical Group and advancing our mission of providing exceptional care to the communities we serve.”
Kinninger serves on the UNC Health Blue Ridge Board of Directors. He is a board-certified family physician and sports medicine specialist with more than 15 years of clinical, leadership, and governance experience.
Throughout his career, Kinninger has been involved in patient-centered care, physician leadership, and health care system improvement. He has held numerous senior leadership roles within hospital and physician organizations.
He also serves as adjunct clinical faculty for Campbell University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and has precepted medical students, residents, and fellows.
Outside medicine, Kinninger is involved in community leadership and service. He serves as an elder and chair at Grace Community Church, leads community groups, coaches youth athletics, and has provided sports medicine coverage for high school and collegiate athletes throughout the region.
Kinninger earned his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine from the Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine. He completed his residency through Ohio University and his sports medicine fellowship at Kettering Medical Center.
UNC Health Blue Ridge said Kinninger’s clinical expertise, leadership experience, and dedication to service will support the continued growth of Blue Ridge Medical Group and its mission to improve the health and well-being of the communities it serves.
— AKC
Obituaries
Clay 'Butch' Mull
Clay “Butch” Mull
FOR THE PAPER
Clay “Butch” Mull, 86, of Morganton, went to his Heavenly Reward on Monday, July 20, 2026, at his residence.
Mr. Mull was born April 25, 1940, in Burke County, a son of the late Carze Alexander and Alice LeFevers Mull. He was a proud veteran, serving for four years in the U.S. Navy. He was sworn in on his 17th birthday and a short time later he was on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier, USS Princeton. He worked on the flight decks of two other carriers, USS Hornet and the USS Bennington, as his squadron of planes moved from one carrier to another. It was dangerous, but you could just tell he loved every minute of it.
“Butch” was a longtime active member of Drexel Memorial Baptist Church, where he served as a Sunday School teacher, an usher and greeter. He would greet you with a warm smile, a firm handshake and give you a bulletin as you entered the service. He will be missed by his brothers and sisters in Christ. Mr. Mull retired after many years of faithful service from Drexel Heritage Furniture Co.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by three brothers, Fleming, Ray and C.A. Mull; sisters, Jewel Clay, Mary Delia Shuffler, Queen Nutting, and Maezell Grady.
Those left to cherish his memories are the love of his life, his wife of 66 years, Peggy Ann Pearson Mull; son, Gary Mull and wife, Kathy; grandson, Taylor Mull; great- granddaughter, Maci; step-grandson, David Fair and wife, Frenchie; and step-great-grandson, Tyler; and his loving sister, Essie Gillespie. Also surviving are a number of nieces and nephews whom he tried to include into his life by attending their many sporting events and especially hunting with his nephew Steve Shuffler.
The funeral service for Clay “Butch” Mull will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday July 27, 2026, at Drexel Memorial Baptist Church, with Rev. Mike Chandler officiating. Interment will follow, with military honors by the U.S. Navy, in Burke Memorial Park.
The family will receive friends from 10-11 a.m. Monday at Drexel Memorial Baptist Church.
Michael Keith Church, 73, of Connelly Springs, went home to be with the Lord on July 21, 2026, at Carolina Caring of Newton, following an extended illness.
Michael was born on July 1, 1953, in Burke County to the late Mattie Smith Church and David Leonard Church. He grew up in the Knob community of Burke County and was proud to be a part of the “Knob Gang.” He was a member of the Valdese High School Class of 1971. After high school he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps where he served from 1971 until 1975. Following this, he pursued a degree in Transportation Management from Catawba Valley Technical College and worked as a heavy-duty truck parts salesman for Salem Leasing, Stone Heavy Duty Equipment and most recently FleetPride of Hickory, before retiring in 2018.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by grandparents, Leonard and Lula Church, Bert and Carrie Smith; brother-in-law, Horace Eugene Bivens; and nephew, Kenneth Ray Church.
Those left to cherish his memory are his wife of more than 50 years, Teresa McCorkle Church; a son, Christopher Church; sister, Diane Bivens; brother, Kenneth Church; sister-in-law, Susan Kincaid; brother-in-law, Jimmy Kincaid; nieces Kelsie Bunn (Travis) and Stacie Waldon (Quinn); great-niece, Josie Bunn; and nephews, Justin Kincaid and Chad Church.
Mike was an active member of East Valdese Baptist Church and a faithful follower of Christ. He loved his church family and served in several capacities, including Servant Leader, men’s Sunday school teacher, youth Sunday school teacher and the East Valdese Baptist Church van ministry.
Mike was a man of few words, and he loved the simple things in life … working outdoors, tinkering with cars, completing home projects, spending time at the beach, fishing, grilling and being a great “Handyman” around the home. Mike was a selfless man, always thoughtful of others and willing to help. He was a quiet man who always saw the good in everyone, loved his family and friends, and was content with life’s simple pleasures.
A celebration of life will be held Monday July 27, 2026, at 2 p.m. at East Valdese Baptist Church, with Pastors Steve Walsh and Ken Gillen officiating. Entombment will follow in the Burke Memorial Park Mausoleum.
The family will receive friends on Monday from 1-2 p.m. at East Valdese Baptist Church.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to East Valdese Baptist Church, 101 Eldred St. SE, Valdese, NC 28690 or Carolina Caring, 3975 Robinson Road, Newton, NC 28658.
Heritage Funeral Service & Crematory is assisting the Church family.
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