The last repair on Western Piedmont Community College's Hurricane Helene damage list is the Alpine Tower and ropes course for the college’s recreational therapy program.

There were 1,815 applications at Western Piedmont Community College in the 2024-25 academic year. The number was up to 1,954 at the end of the 2025-26 year.

As school districts across North Carolina compete for teachers, two Burke County school board members will spend the next six months developing strategies they hope can strengthen recruitment and retention locally.

The last repair on Western Piedmont Community College's Hurricane Helene damage list is the Alpine Tower and ropes course for the college’s recreational therapy program.