Morganton’s local cable channel is expanding its live coverage of community events, giving CoMPAS Cable viewers more chances to watch local government, holiday, and sports programming from home.
CoMPAS Cable Channel 2 will broadcast three major live events in the coming months: the Burke County Chamber of Commerce Candidates Forum on Sept. 24, a high school football game between East Burke and East Rutherford on Oct. 23, and the Morganton Christmas Parade in December.
CoMPAS uses a TelVue HyperCaster, an IP broadcast server and automation platform, to schedule, manage, and play video programming for Channel 2. The system also allows CoMPAS to stream live from locations where an internet connection is available.
That technology has already been used for the Morganton Christmas Parade. CoMPAS has live-streamed the parade for the past two years, and this December will mark its third year broadcasting live from the event. Bryan Black and Tom Peeler will host the parade broadcast.
The first upcoming live event is the Burke County Chamber of Commerce Candidates Forum, scheduled for Sept. 24. CoMPAS will assist the chamber with broadcasting the forum live on CoMPAS Cable Channel 2 and on the chamber’s YouTube page. This will be the second year CoMPAS has helped broadcast the forum live.
The next month, CoMPAS will take on a new kind of broadcast.
On Oct. 23, Channel 2 will air East Burke at East Rutherford, marking CoMPAS’ first high school football broadcast. CoMPAS CATV Production Specialist Chad Medford said the opportunity came through his work assisting WAGY Radio in Forest City and KTC Broadcasting with a weekly Rutherford County football game.
“When I saw that a Burke County team was playing East Rutherford, I received permission from KTC owner Calvin Hastings and CoMPAS Manager Greg Branch to broadcast the game on Channel 2,” Medford said.
The play-by-play will come from Rutherford County announcers, but Medford said he will make sure they acknowledge CoMPAS Cable viewers.
— AVN
Allen VanNoppen is the publisher. He may be reached at 828-445-8595 orallen@thepaper.media.
Community_news
Carolina Caring receives national recognition for 8th straight year
Carolina Caring staff members received an award for being one of
the nation’s top 50 healthcare places to work for 2026 during the
Modern Healthcare Best Places to Work in Healthcare Awards Gala on
Wednesday in Houston. Pictured (from left) are Volunteer
Coordinator Sara Waugh, Senior Vice President of Enterprise Risk
and Professional Development Angela Gruebbel, President and CEO
Christina McNally, and Vice President of Patient and Caregiver
Experience Kelly Tate.
FOR THE PAPER
Carolina Caring attended Modern Healthcare’s Best Places to Work in Healthcare Awards Gala on Wednesday in Houston, where the nonprofit organization learned that it was ranked among the nation’s top 50 healthcare places to work for 2026.
Modern Healthcare partners with the Best Companies Group to recognize exceptional employers from across the healthcare industry who go above and beyond to create outstanding workplace cultures. Rankings are determined annually through an extensive, anonymous employee survey.
This is the eighth year in a row that Carolina Caring — which provides care for patients and families facing serious illness in Burke and 12 other counties across Western North Carolina and the Charlotte region — has received national recognition as one of the Best Places to Work in Healthcare.
“Being recognized among the Best Places to Work in Healthcare for the eighth year in a row is a tremendous honor,” Carolina Caring President and CEO Christina McNally said. “Our organization received this award because we truly care about one another — not just within the workplace, but also in our day-to-day lives. We are connected by a shared sense of purpose. And when our employees feel cared for, we are better able to care for the patients and families trusting us to support them during life’s most difficult moments.”
A special supplement featuring a ranked list of all winners will be published in the October issue of the Modern Healthcare magazine.
Established in 1979, Carolina Caring received Hospice Honors Elite status by the Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems earlier this year. Carolina Caring is a Community Health Accreditation Partner (CHAP) accredited organization and holds the CHAP Age-Friendly Care Certification as well as the CHAP Pediatric Care at Home Certification.
For more information about Carolina Caring, visit carolinacaring.org or call 828-466-0466.
— JM
Culture_community
Old Colony Players raising funds to restore amphitheater
Valdese’s Old Colony Players (OCP) is launching a fundraising campaign to restore the Fred B. Cranford Amphitheater, where the group’s flagship show “From This Day Forward” is performed every year during the summer.
The goal is to raise $500,000 total to repair or replace various parts of the amphitheater, including the light towers for $75,000, the turntable stage for $25,000, and electrical wiring for $50,000.
A dream project, according to OCP leadership, would be a $100,000 waterproof canopy to prevent performance cancellations when it rains.
Valdese Director of Community Affairs & Tourism Morrissa Angi said $175,000 has already been raised for the project, leaving $325,000 until OCP reaches its goal.
The fundraising campaign comes ahead of OCP’s 60th anniversary of “From This Day Forward,” a drama unique to Valdese that tells the story of the town’s Waldensian ancestors.
During the first half of the show, the Waldensians endure religious persecution from the Catholic church in the 1600s. The second half shows the challenges Waldensians faced as they settled in the area that would become Valdese.
The amphitheater was built in 1968 and has served as a stage, event venue, and cultural landmark, Angi said.
After almost 60 years, Angi said the venue needs significant renovations to ensure it remains safe, structurally sound, and accessible.
“By investing in the amphitheater, OCP hopes to strengthen an important cultural tourism asset while continuing to provide quality community theater for local residents and visitors,” Angi said. “As a nonprofit organization, OCP depends on the generosity of individuals, businesses, and community partners to produce its annual programming and undertake significant capital improvements.”
The fundraising campaign ends on Jan. 15, 2027, and renovations will be completed before the 60th production of “From This Day Forward.”
Those who wish to contribute can do so using a credit card at oldcolonyplayers.com. OCP also accepts checks payable to Old Colony Players at P.O. Box 112, Valdese, NC 28690.
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