The Paper Media

01/07/2026

Seven and a half months after her older sister, Lani, signed her letter of intent to play softball at Surry Community College prior to graduating from Freedom High School, Rumi Campbell made her college decision official on Wednesday.

A senior infielder for the Lady Patriots, Campbell signed her letter of intent to play softball at Cleveland Community College in Shelby once she finishes her prep career.
.. Check back online Saturday for more of this story, which can also be found in this week's edition of The Paper!

Seven and a half months after her older sister, Lani, signed her letter of intent to play softball at Surry Community College prior to graduating from Freedom High School, Rumi

01/07/2026

An independent pharmacy, which has been a staple of the Glen Alpine community for 87 years, will soon close its doors.

Owner Jeff Czarkowski announced on social media Dec. 22 that Clinic Drug’s last day of business will be Tuesday, Jan. 6. On Jan. 7, all records will be confidentially transferred to CVS in Morganton at 200 N. Green St., where he will be taking a pharmacy position.

Clinic Drug was founded in the 1930s by Hilliard Fletcher Bobbitt, according to the Burke County Public Library’s Picture Burke. Czarkowski bought the store in 2011 from John Bennett, who ran the store for about two decades, and the store has had previous owners.

Czarkowski stated that his family had exhausted all resources to keep the business running, but it wasn’t enough. For a small, rural pharmacy, many factors contributed to the stress that eventually led to the decision to close.

Drugs have been getting more expensive, yet Czarkowski said the margins have been shrinking. For name-brand drugs, which he wasn’t getting reimbursed for, he said he was losing about $20 to $80 per prescription. The goal for pharmacies is to fill that gap with sales on generics, but being a small, rural pharmacy, the sales weren’t enough to fill the gap.

“You’re going to need to be doing a lot of volume,” Czarkowski said, for any pharmacy to be successful.

Clinic Drug

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The drugstore has been a Glen Alpine community staple for 87 years.

01/07/2026

Despite facing some setbacks over the past couple of years, Daxton Bennick is feeling good entering his third season as a professional in the Monster Energy American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) Supercross Championship.

A Morganton native who will celebrate his 20th birthday on Monday, Jan. 12, Bennick acknowledged that he is healthy following a season in which he suffered multiple concussions as well as a compression fracture in his back.

Bennick is also adjusting to life with a new racing team, as it was announced in November that he was leaving Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing to join Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing.
.. Check out Saturday's edition of The Paper for more details from Bennick's first two years as a pro and to read about what he's hoping to accomplish in 2026!

Despite facing some setbacks over the past couple of years, Daxton Bennick is feeling good entering his third season as a professional in the Monster Energy American Motorcyclist Association (AMA)

01/07/2026

At the quarter turn of the century, HighSchoolOT.com recently selected its Best North Carolina High School Athletes of the 2000s list, and three former Burke County student-athletes made the cut.

Among the selections — which encompassed all prep sports — were East Burke 2009 graduate Tyler Shatley, Freedom 2016 graduate BJ Emmons, and East Burke 2024 graduate KJ Byrd.
.. Check back online Saturday for more of this story, which can also be found in this week's edition of The Paper!

At the quarter turn of the century, HighSchoolOT.com recently selected its Best North Carolina High School Athletes of the 2000s list, and three former Burke County student-athletes made the cut.

01/07/2026

Burke’s local laws regarding animals were updated several weeks ago, but it wasn’t due to an uptick of animal abuse, said County Manager Brian Epley — it was primarily to clarify language and adjust some details.

Commissioners voted unanimously at the Dec. 15 meeting to sign off on the updated chapter in the county’s code of ordinances.

The first, on page 20 of the amended ordinance, is about documenting violations of local chaining and tethering laws, and warnings to violators.

Originally, the text said violations constituted a misdemeanor and were subject to a $500 fine. Now, violations will be documented by three written warnings to the property owner from Burke County Animal Services. After those warnings, violations will lead to a misdemeanor and $500 fine.

On page 28, there are three additions to the laws on animals creating a nuisance.

The word “habitually” was added to two sentences on unlawful actions of a pet owner. The update clarifies that it is illegal to let an animal habitually overturn garbage containers or pull out trash. Allowing a pet to habitually damage gardens, foliage, and other real property is also unlawful.

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Burke’s laws regarding animals were updated recently, but it wasn’t due to an uptick of animal abuse, said County Manager Brian Epley.

01/06/2026

UNC Health Blue Ridge has implemented temporary age-based visitor restrictions due to a rise in respiratory illnesses. The restrictions, effective immediately in all inpatient locations, aim to reduce the risk of transmission to vulnerable individua…

UNC Health Blue Ridge has implemented temporary age-based visitor restrictions due to a rise in respiratory illnesses. The restrictions, effective immediately in all inpatient locations, aim to reduce the risk

01/06/2026

Gov. Josh Stein announced in December that 80 grants totaling $50 million will be awarded to local governments in western North Carolina to aid with ongoing hurricane recovery efforts — and Burke is one of the recipients.

Flooding from Hurricane Helene caused significant damage to some of Burke’s streambanks, leading to erosion that, in some cases, left sewer lines uncovered and exposed to the elements.

Burke will receive $1 million to address streambank erosion caused by the storm.

County Manager Brian Epley said the money will go towards projects in nine spots where erosion uncovered sewer lines. Most of those spots are along the streambanks of Drowning Creek in eastern Burke County, according to a map provided by Epley.

Exposed sewer lines not only run a higher risk of damage, but should there be major damage, the resulting wastewater spill would be a serious environmental hazard, Epley said.

“It’s also very expensive anytime you’re working around bodies of water,” Epley said. “The environmental side (and) the permitting side is significantly more challenging. So, we’re thankful and grateful to the North Carolina General Assembly for appropriating the dollars, and we’re grateful that we’ve been selected for a million-dollar allocation.”

Read the full article in The Paper.

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Flooding from Hurricane Helene caused significant damage to some of Burke’s streamlines, leading to streambank erosion that, in some cases, left sewer lines uncovered and exposed to the elements.

01/06/2026

Daphne Mozeley, who participated in four different sports at East Burke High School before graduating in 2001 and later serving as a teacher assistant and coach at Heritage Middle School, died at age 42 on Dec. 30 after battling cancer for more than four years.

A lifelong Burke County resident who was a member of the Cavaliers’ volleyball, basketball, softball, and track and field teams as Daphne Abernathy during her high school days, she married fellow EB graduate RJ Mozeley in 2004. They have three children together: 21-year-old son Mason and daughters Bailey and Shellie, who are 17 and 10, respectively.
.. Check out Saturday's edition of The Paper for more details on Mozeley's life, including quotes from two of her best friends, Stephanie (Brendel) Hatley and Kristin (Camp) Ramsey.

Daphne Mozeley, who participated in four different sports at East Burke High School before graduating in 2001 and later serving as a teacher assistant and coach at Heritage Middle School,

01/06/2026

Entering this week, four county hoops teams — the Freedom and Patton boys, and the East Burke and Draughn girls — each sport records of eight or more wins and four or fewer losses.

Each of those programs has either won a conference title or reached at least the fourth round of the playoffs over the last three seasons, with the Lady Cavaliers actually having accomplished both of those feats on multiple occasions in that timeframe.
.. Check out what to expect from the second half of the local prep basketball season in this Saturday's edition of The Paper!

The midpoint of the 2025-26 prep basketball season in Burke County is upon us, so now is a good time to examine each local teams’ resumes to date and gauge

01/06/2026

A former Valdese Elementary teacher was arrested Tuesday morning following months of investigation and the ex*****on of a search warrant.

01/06/2026

Burke County voters now have a clearer picture of the 2026 election ballot as additional candidates filed Dec. 18-19, expanding several local and state races as the filing period closed.

Candidate filing for most 2026 contests opened at noon Dec. 1 and ended at noon Friday, Dec. 19. The primary election is scheduled for March 3, with the general election set for Nov. 3.

All county, state, and federal races on the 2026 ballot will be decided countywide, unlike municipal elections where only town residents vote.

Dec. 18 filings included Democrat Kyle Whisnant for the N.C. Senate District 46 seat, Democrat Wesley Hendrix for the N.C. House District 86 seat, and Republican Tony Padgett and Republican Shawn Freeman filed on Friday for the Burke County Board of Commissioners.

Senate District 46 is currently held by Republican Sen. Warren Daniel, who filed earlier this month. The district includes all of Burke County, along with McDowell County and part of Buncombe County.

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New candidate filings expanded several Burke County races ahead of the 2026 election filing deadline, adding challengers in state legislative and county contests as voters prepare for March primaries and

01/05/2026

One Burke County nonprofit has recently beefed up its staff in preparation for 2026, a year that will come with more attainable housing in the eastern part of the county for low-income families, those in the workforce, and seniors.

Open Hearts Place, which was founded in 2020, has recently expanded its staff in preparation for the construction of Hildebran Switch, a soon-to-be pocket neighborhood with 44 homes situated on 6 acres in the Town of Hildebran. The homes will range in size from 600 to 1,300 square feet and will include anywhere from one to three-bedroom units.

The organization, which is based in Morganton, serves families experiencing financial hardship by providing homes and opportunities to increase life skills, gain stability, and become more self-sufficient. Their goal is to move hardworking families from financial uncertainty to a place of stability and homeownership.

Open Hearts Place

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Site work will begin for Hildebran Switch, a neighborhood with attainable housing, in early 2026.