Cats’ Cradle fundraiser draws support at Applebee’s Jun 13, 2026 We would like to thank Applebee's manager and staff for hosting Cats' Cradle on a regular basis and for donating 25% of the day's total sales …
+2 Like a tractor, give your gears time to mesh By BRANDI SILVER For The Paper Jun 13, 2026 Columnist Brandi Silver equates the challenges faced on a farm to the challenges of staying grounded in a busy and stressful world.Â
Valdese councilwoman praises value of asking questions By HEATHER WARD For The Paper Jun 13, 2026 Valdese Councilwoman Heather Ward says elected officials must ask hard questions with an eye toward future responsibilities.Â
+2 A morning goodbye and an evening prayer By BILL POTEAT bill@thepaper.media Jun 13, 2026 Editor Emeritus Bill Poteat looks back on a life-changing, gray October day nearly a quarter of a century ago and the lessons that it taught.Â
A marathon sprint between terminals By JACOB CHRISTOPHER jacob@thepaper.media Jun 13, 2026 Not in great shape? Then don't attempt the airport gate-to-gate sprint.
Opportunity Zones deserve Burke County's attention Jun 13, 2026 Burke County residents need to speak up now about Opportunity Zone choices.Â
Valdese ready to move forward again Jun 11, 2026 A Valdese resident calls for the town to move forward on building a new public safety building.Â
The capacity for astonishment: Why worship still matters to me By MATT MATTHEWS For The Paper Jun 10, 2026 Columnist Matt Matthews writes about the centering role of worship in his life.
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+2 The summer we found Whirligig Wilson in Kentucky By MICHAEL RENO HARRELL For The Paper Jun 6, 2026 Columnist Michael Reno Harrell reflects on the day he and his family met an amazing artist along a Kentucky backroad.Â
Poetry by day, bull riding by night By JACOB CHRISTOPHER jacob@thepaper.media Jun 6, 2026 Jacob Christopher writes about bridging two cultures in a single day.Â
When seniors struggle, Burke County suffers By JOHNNIE CARSWELL For The Paper Jun 6, 2026 Former County Commissioner Johnnie Carswell urges local governments to take a more active role in assuring our senior citizens can continue to…
Trump pardoned violent criminals; now he seeks to make them rich Jun 6, 2026 This letter writer accuses the Republican Party of rolling over to the illegal schemes of President Trump.Â
+2 When Gen Z speaks, this uncle needs a translator By ALLEN VANNOPPEN allen@thepaper.media Jun 6, 2026 Talking to a member of Gen Z? You may not understand all that much.Â
+2 Should Valdese increase debt to pay for public safety building? By GLENN HARVEY For The Paper Jun 6, 2026 Former Valdese Town Councilman Glenn Harvey says all options should be considered before going into debt.
+2 People, planes, and limitless possibilities By MATT MATTHEWS For The Paper Jun 6, 2026 The view from 30,000 feet is oftentimes not as interesting as the view at the airport gate waiting area.Â
Budget work belongs in public Jun 6, 2026 Every year, local governments in Burke County go through a ritual that many residents never see, and few fully understand. That ritual is crea…
Valdese municipal workers deserve significant raises Jun 3, 2026 This letter writer supports significant raises for Valdese municipal workers.Â
Memorial Day: The long walk of remembrance By TAD ELLIOTT For the Paper May 30, 2026 Tad Elliott reminds us of the debt we owe to members of our Armed Forces who made the ultimate sacrifice to protect our liberty.Â
+2 The time for celebrating our nation's 250th birthday is near By LARRY CLARK For The Paper May 30, 2026 Columnist Larry Clark reminds us of the importance of our nation's upcoming 250th birthday.Â
+2 The Big Beautiful Bill comes with a price for Burke County By JOHNNIE CARSWELL For The Paper May 30, 2026 Former County Commissioner Johnnie Carswell warns about the hidden costs contained within President Trump's "Big Beautiful Bill."
The Battle of the Fork had Revolutionary War significance By W.F. BROWN III For The Paper May 30, 2026 Although it has been largerly forgotten, the Battle of the Fork in Burke County did have an impact on the Revolutionary War.Â
Strong recreation department benefits the entire community May 30, 2026 Ed Jost explains how everyone in a community benefits from a strong recreation program.Â
In 'I Am Not a Robot,' AI gets weirdly, wonderfully personal By ALLEN VANNOPPEN allen@thepaper.media May 30, 2026 The new book, "I Am Not a Robot," is favorably reviewed by The Paper's Publisher, Allen VanNoppen.Â
+2 Graduation cards and reality checks By KEN CORN For The Paper May 30, 2026 Columnist Ken Corn, who moonlights as a high school bus driver, reflects on the passing of another school year and of the lessons which life teaches.Â
When public money loses public accountability in education By KELLY J. FAUST For The Paper May 30, 2026 Local writer Kelly Faust examines the need to ensure that public tax dollars truly fund public education.Â
Why The Industrial Commons matters May 30, 2026 More than a decade ago, The Industrial Commons started with a mission that might have sounded overly ambitious for a county still feeling the …
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