Community Owned. Local News. Burke County, NC.

The Hickory Aviation Museum spans much of military aviation history with two dozen planes and exhibits

The Air Force's F-105 at the Hickory Aviation Museum is the second oldest of the 833 that were built.
The North Carolina coastline at Kill Devil Hills is the spot where Orville and Wilbur Wright took the first controlled, powered airplane flights in 1903. But you don’t need to travel 400 miles east …

A bunch for breakfast

Noelle and Noah Tolbert feasted with their grandfather, Mark Tolbert, at the Morganton Rotary Club's pancake breakfast at the Morganton Community House last Saturday. The fundraiser attracted a large crowd.
The Morganton Rotary Club's pancake breakfast fundraiser  at the Morganton Community House last Saturday attracted a large crowd.

New architect sought to examine Valdese public safety building

Valdese Fire Chief Truman Walton points out displaced bricks in the public safety building.

The Valdese Town Council is advertising for a new architect to evaluate the cost of renovating the town’s public safety building. Depending upon what the renovation would cost, if it is feasible at …

Trailblazers: 2024 could be another big year for Burke County trail systems

A winter view of Lake James from the Fonta Flora State Trail.

North Carolina dubbed 2023 “The Year of the Trail” to promote the state’s numerous hiking destinations. Burke County may just have to apply for an extension in 2024. The county’s new trails …

Cold temps created the perfect backdrop for 3rd annual ice festival

This plesiosaur was one of more than a dozen Jurassic creatures carved during the annual Lake James Ice Festival.

Plunging temps and a stiff breeze could not dampen the excitement and anticipation at last weekend’s third annual Lake James Ice Festival.  As the sun began to set over an eerily still and …

Morganton's largest annual holiday light display would fill even the Grinch with the peace and joy

Sparkling, twinkling lights have always been my favorite part of Christmas. More than the presents under the tree or the feast that would be placed on the table.  My childhood home had a formal …

All ages enjoy horsin' around with Exceptional Equestrians program at JIRDC

Gentry Hollifield beams a wide smile as she rides a horse during Christmas with the Horses at JIRDC in Morganton.

The horse is associated with strength, courage, and freedom.  The Burke County residents who came out to Christmas with the Horses at J. Iverson Riddle Developmental Center got to experience that firsthand …

Nearby ski resorts heat up as the temperature drops

Sugar Mountain Resort

Freedom.  Bryan Searcy of CBS Sports says that’s the main reason people take to the slopes when winter weather arrives. “It’s just you and your skis or board and the views are amazing...”

Morganton starts the festive season with its annual Winter Carnival

The Patton High School Choir sings holiday favorites at the Winter Carnival and Memorial Tree Lighting Ceremony at the Historic Burke County Courthouse Amphitheater on Nov. 18.

The annual Winter Carnival launched Morganton's holiday season on Saturday, Nov. 18, at the Burke County Courthouse Square. The day was filled with holiday entertainment for the entire family. The …

Happy Cooking! A twist on Thanksgiving favorites

Chef Lara Hicks of Queen's Catering leads a cooking class at the Burke Arts Council on the evening of Nov. 15.

If you want to add a little pizzazz to your Thanksgiving while still honoring the traditional flavors of the big meal, we have some delicious dishes, courtesy of the Burke Arts Council and Queen’s Catering. BAC regularly hosts cooking classes. Lara Hicks, head chef, makes cooking accessible with her unstuffy style. 

Halloween at Morganton Day School

Morganton Day School's Owen Suttlemyre got into the Halloween spirit, dressed as a pirate.

It's Halloween at Morganton Day School...

Valdese Halloween

Kimberly, Adam, Alexander, and Jennifer Morris make Treat in the Streets a family outing.

It's Halloween in Valdese.

Prized chickens galore — a roiling uproar of cluckin’ and clackin’

Chickens

They came from Ohio, Tennessee, South Carolina, and all over North Carolina to the Burke County Fairgrounds last week for the biannual beauty contest, and they brought their human handlers with them. …

Aliens behave at Brown Mountain Lights Festival

Stewart and Rachel Browning and their son, Theo, travelled from Marion to visit the festival. They were shopping at the booths and waiting to check out some of the musical acts.

Festival organizers said more than a thousand people attended the Second Annual Brown Mountain Lights Festival on the Historic Courthouse Square in Morganton Saturday. To the best of their knowledge, …

Freedom High School Homecoming Candidates

Caroline McRaken

Lilly Barnes Lilly is the daughter of Brian Barnes and Bridget & Nathan Shoaf .   While at Freedom, she has participated in Spirit Club as the acting secretary, Anchor Club, HOSA, …

2023 Draughn High School Homecoming Court

Carleigh Meadows

Carleigh Alesie Meadows Carleigh is the daughter of Jeff and Jaime Meadows. She is escorted by her father, Jeff Meadows. Rylyn Mae Deal Rylyn is the daughter of Ryan and Casey Deal. She is escorted …

North Carolina School for the Deaf homecoming court

Madison Harrell

Madison Harrell (Junior) Parents: Wilena Harrell and Keith Jones Escorted by   Jaidon Johnson ­Veatriz Mendoza (Senior) Parents: Joauin Candelario Cruz Cirina Mendoza Canseco and Escorted …

Patton High School's 2023 Homecoming Court

Grace Arrowood

Grace Caroline Arrowood Grace is the daughter of Brian and Susan Arrowood. Grace is escorted by Richard “Brian” Arrowood. During four years at Patton, Grace has been a member of the Patton High …

East Burke High School's 2023 Homecoming Court

Grace Chapman

Grace Chapman Grace is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Chapman. Tonight, she is escorted by her father, Don Chapman. During Grace’s time at East Burke, she has participated in Cheer Team, Student …

Valdese was the subject of 30 plein air artists

Lyudmila Tomova-Clark demonstrates impressionist plein air technique in the courtyard of the Waldensian Presbyterian Church in Valdese on Sept. 13.

Local and visiting artists used the beauty of Valdese for their inspiration in the second Plein Air Fest, organized by the Rock School Arts Foundation, the  Town of Valdese, the Valdese …

Youth football season kicks off with jamboree

Oak Hill and Valdese duking it out in the 10-12 age group.

East Burke High School hosted the 17th annual Burke County youth football jamboree on Sept. 9 in Icard. A total of 22 teams spanning all three age divisions in the Burke County Recreation …

Having Fun, Rain or Shine at the Morganton Festival

Festival food vendors lined Green Street.

The weekend was a mix of intermittent sun and downpours but the periods of rain didn't dampen the spirit of those who came out for the annual Morganton Festival...

The bestest pizza in Burke County: An informal survey

Twin Brothers Pizza Co. in Valdese was voted best pizza by nearly 38% of our voters, making it the overall No. 1 pick.

Who doesn’t love pizza? Good pizza. Not some wanna-be frozen, pre-made, cellophane-wrapped pizza. The real thing that screams Italian with fresh ingredients, bountiful toppings, dough that has been shaped by hand, slid into genuine pizza ovens, and baked to bubbly-crust perfection.

Pickin' on the Porch

The Family and Friends Jam brought out a yard-full of music fans to The Belle at Avery.

Hundreds of people got their fill of live music during Play Music on the Porch Day on Saturday, Aug. 26. There were about two dozen locations officially participating locally and thousands around the …

Cavaliers back atop Fat Friday for 1st time since 2009; Draughn tops Patton to bounce back

East Burke quarterback Asher Gebhard prepares to take a snap in this preseason file photo. Gebhard ran for a touchdown and had a tackle for loss defensively in the Cavaliers' 29-13 home win over Freedom on Friday.

For the first time in 14 football seasons, Fat Friday supremacy lies with East Burke. The Cavaliers held the Patriots scoreless in the second half – and altogether, aside from a pair of one-play, first-half touchdown drives …

Celebrating Heritage

Otis Todd on guitar and his fellow members of Southside Station entertained the crowd. The band was one of five musical acts to perform during the festival.

Since 1976, the Town of Valdese has set aside the second Friday and Saturday in August to commemorate the heroic Waldensian people who founded Valdese in 1893. Thousands of people from Burke County …