Although Burke County and several of the municipalities within it already have ordinances against public camping, advocates for the unsheltered say a proposed statewide homeless encampment ban would only strain a community that’s already struggling — should lawmakers override Gov. Josh Stein’s veto.
When Randall Williams left incarceration, all he had was the white uniform they released him in. If it hadn’t been for a group of men at a local church, Williams said he would have ended up back behind bars.
BUCM Executive Director Alice Horton shared the update at Morganton Rotary Club’s noon lunch on Wednesday, while also introducing the organization’s new logo and some annual statistics.
Burke County families can start loading their children’s bags with cans of nonperishable items and shipping them off to school for the annual Souperintendent’s Souper Bowl Canned Food Drive.
Burke County families can start loading their children’s bags with cans of nonperishable items and shipping them off to school for the annual Souperintendent’s Souper Bowl Canned Food Drive.
Dr. Katie Samuels returned to Burke County as the Opioid Settlement Coordinator in spring 2025, and among the many milestones passed, the county has negotiated a lower purchase price for naloxone kits provided free across the county, established a Post Overdose Response Team (PORT), created a safe space for recovery support, and propelled local partners into implementing opioid addiction treatment programs.
It isn’t often that ribbon cuttings draw a crowd, but last week’s grand opening at Burke United Christian Ministries (BUCM) filled the entrance to the brim with excited spectators and proud locals.
