High school sports practices resume Thursday across Burke County

(UPDATED Oct. 3, 11:25 a.m.) Burke County Public Schools on Wednesday announced that high schools may hold optional practices for all fall sports beginning Thursday.

BCPS public relations officer Cheryl Shuffler said the optional practice days run from Thursday through Saturday and then resume Monday and Tuesday, Oct. 7-8, with schools being out those days as well.

The practices are for high school teams only, with middle school teams still in a holding pattern since the last games were played on Sept. 25.

The East Burke High School Athletics page on Facebook first shared the news Wednesday shortly after noon. The post reads, in part: “If you are safe to travel, we encourage all student-athletes to try and attend (the optional practices). We have not received word from the state as far as an extension of the season or when games will be made up. We will continue to update you as we know more. If you have any questions, please reach out to your coaches individually.”

All fall sports at EBHS except for girls golf were set to hold practices both Thursday and Friday, eight and nine days after all BCPS prep and middle school athletics were suspended with schools being closed.

EBHS had announced Tuesday its plans to hold this week’s football game at Newton-Conover on Saturday but on Wednesday reversed course and said there would be no game this week. That leaves both EB and Draughn entering next week with two scheduled football contests to make up, while Freedom was idle on Sept. 27 and has just this week’s game to attempt to reschedule.

The NCHSAA Board of Directors is set to discuss potentially adjusting dates for its fall sports championships to accommodate those affected by the storm across the western part of the state.

Schools pitching in to help those in need

East Burke High School athletic director Chip Watts on Tuesday told The Paper he had reached out and offered support as needed to various schools in mountain areas affected the worst by flooding from Tropical Storm Helene.

Other local schools have also offered their assistance to those in Burke and surrounding counties.

Draughn High School football coaches over the weekend were out in the Valdese area helping cut trees off driveways and more.

Also, according to the Draughn Wildcats Football page on Facebook, New Hanover High School in Wilmington is sending supplies to the school on Saturday.

“Anyone needing specific things can let us know, and if we get that, we will help our community first,” according to the post. “Anything not needed will be sent up the mountain to other areas.”

DHS coaches and support staff are also headed to Avery County High School on Thursday “with (three or four) truckloads of necessities,” according to the post, which went on to state: “We will make another run this weekend and will take up any donations anybody has.”

And Table Rock Middle School is accepting donated supplies — particularly water, diapers, wipes, and formula — to deliver to those affected by the storm in both Burke and McDowell counties.

Rec centers re-open; Parks still closed

The Collett Street Recreation Center, the Mountain View Recreation Center, and the Morganton Aquatics Center, all in Morganton, as well as the Valdese Community Center and the R.O. Huffman Center in Drexel all re-opened Wednesday.

The Morganton Parks and Recreation Department says all city parks remain closed. The Valdese Parks and Recreation Department says only Children’s Park is open and advises folks to remain off of the greenway and out of Valdese Lakeside Park and McGalliard Falls Park at this time.

“We hope to have them back open by the end of the week,” according to a Facebook post from the Town of Valdese page.

The gym, pool, showers, grill, and bowling alley at the Valdese Community Center are all fully functional.