Tomorrow's Edition of The Paper: What’s that smell? | Rising fuel costs | A lifetime of service

SNEAK PEEK | In tomorrow’s edition of The Paper

A lingering odor draws state scrutiny. Diesel prices squeeze the school budget. And two longtime community leaders reflect on more than six decades together. Here are five stories to watch for in the Saturday, Oct. 31, edition of The Paper.

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What’s that smell in Morganton?

Residents have been complaining for months about a strong odor that can be especially noticeable in the evenings and early mornings. Some point to Case Farms, but state air-quality investigators have yet to identify an objectionable odor from a specific source. We look at the complaints, what regulators have found, and what the smell could mean for quality of life and business. 

Diesel prices put school buses in a bind

Burke County Public Schools’ fuel bill has jumped from about $17,000 to $38,000 every 10 to 12 days as diesel climbed above $5 a gallon. If prices stay high, transportation officials say the district could face a $260,000 deficit — and eventually some difficult choices about routes and service. 

66 years together. A lifetime of service.

Claude and Jo Sitton have spent more than six decades helping shape Burke County — he as an attorney, judge, and founder of the History Museum of Burke County; she as a businesswoman, community leader, and political voice. Bill Poteat sits down with the couple for a look back at their lives, their marriage, and a community they helped build. 

Can Chesterfield find its next chapter?

The old elementary school is gone, but business owners say Chesterfield’s identity is very much alive. From a new fish house to a racetrack and neighborhood tavern, entrepreneurs along U.S. 64 see opportunity as Morganton grows north — even as they hope to preserve the community’s rural character. 

The girls have the football

Seventy girls ages 5 to 13 signed up for Morganton’s first separate girls flag football league, created as the sport prepares to make its varsity debut in North Carolina high schools. Coaches say the season has brought competition, camaraderie, and a new athletic option for local girls — with playoffs just ahead. 

Read the full stories in tomorrow’s edition of The Paper.

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