Before we make the big leap into 2025, this weekend we reflect on the stories that impacted our community and spurred conversation. The year brought challenges, triumphs, and moments of profound connection, and through it all, The Paper has remained steadfast in its mission to inform, engage, and inspire.
These pages revisit the Top 10 stories that defined our year together. The listing order was voted on by The Paper’s staff and then we sent two surveys out to our readers for their input. You’ll see the Readers’ Choice ranking in parentheses.
The reporting spanned the devastation and resilience in the wake of Hurricane Helene to the hard-hitting investigations that demanded transparency and accountability from our elected leaders. We also celebrated the incredible people who make our community a better place to live — neighbors who lifted others in times of need, teachers who inspired young minds, and volunteers who worked tirelessly for the greater good.
Looking back at these impactful moments isn’t just about revisiting the past. In fact, we are not finished covering these topics.
Next year will bring more stories about communities recovering from Hurricane Helene’s impacts, the priorities of newly elected officials, the proposed development at the Burke Business Park (and Great Meadows industrial site), whether Valdese moves forward on a Public Safety building, and more.
And we are keeping our eyes on what’s around the corner. As we move forward, we remain committed to telling the stories that matter most to you.
Helene tore through western North Carolina beginning on the morning of Friday, Sept. 27, bringing catastrophic flooding and high winds, and leaving destruction of biblical proportions in her wake.
Perhaps the most contentious national election cycle in U.S. history saw shakeups on the county level as well, with incumbents giving way to newcomers on both the Burke Board of Commissioners and Board of Education.
The 2024 saga of the proposed Great Meadows industrial megasite in western Burke County is as sprawling as the 1,353-acre tract itself. The project began simply enough in the fall of 2023, but as the new year dawned, it quickly became apparent absolutely nothing else about the process would be simple.No. 4: Changes in Valdese
(Readers' Choice: No. 3)
Conversations and decisions that persisted throughout the year included Town Manager appointments, the Old Rock School’s renovation project; solutions for the public swimming pool amenity; plans to relocate or combine the town’s police and fire buildings; commencement of a 2024 strategic plan; and the swearing in of WHO council members Heather Ward, Glenn Harvey, and Gary Ogle, who were the victors of the 2023 election.No. 5: New Elementary School
(Readers' Choice: No. 5)
In 2024, the Burke County Board of Education committed to constructing a new elementary school in the Icard and Hildebran communities, thanks to a $42 million needs-based capital funds grant awarded in February by the Department of Public Instruction.No. 6: Bella Vino Lawsuit
What all began as a simple eviction case between a downtown restaurant and the City of Morganton turned into a two-week strenuous civil jury trial resulting in over $1 million in due compensation to the restaurant and a lawsuit against five senior Morganton leaders.No. 7: Housing Shortage
The county is 5,000 housing units short of where it needs to be to meet expected demand. The shortage and the factors driving it were the subject of a series of in-depth stories The Paper published in July, and the crisis is our seventh biggest news story of 2024.
The charity, which has been providing food, services, and support to those in need since 1975, had been at its current location, 305 W. Union St. in downtown Morganton, for 22 years. But in early 2023, the owners of that building, Burke Charitable Properties, announced they were putting it up for sale.
In a rare development for local high school sports, Patton High School canceled its varsity football season after parents came before the Burke County Board of Education. The parents cited a situation unsafe for their freshman and sophomore children who were being forced to “play up” instead of competing on a junior varsity team.
About this time last year, the local “celebrity” participants in the annual Dancing with the Burke Stars were busy preparing their dance routines for the February 2024 show slated for the CoMMA stage. The advertised spectacular never happened.
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Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.