Marty Queen
Verified- Burke County Government Reporter, The Paper Media
- Producer, WKBN-TV (Youngstown, OH)
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Articles by Marty Queen
THE PAPER: Keith Rigsbee is new city attorney for Morganton
“I’m really excited to be involved with the team that has led the city so successfully. It’s an honor to be invited to help with that,” Rigsbee said after his appointment during the City Council’s meeting tonight Senior leaders have been searching for permanent legal counsel since attorney Louis Vinay retired Sept. 1. Since that time, Vinay has served in an interim capacity until his replacement could be found.
An inside look at how conversation groups and the county collaborated on megasite plan
In all likelihood, the Burke County Board of Commissioners will approve conditional zoning for the proposed Great Meadows industrial megasite at its next meeting Sept. 17. That approval would set in motion a process that could turn a 1,353-acre property in western Burke County into — depending upon whether you’re talking to the site’s proponents or detractors — either a generational economic opportunity for the county or the beginning of an environmental apocalypse.
Burns receives award from NC Association of County Commissioners
Burke County Commissioner Randy Burns received an Exemplary Service Award from the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners (NCACC) at its annual meeting in Winston-Salem last weekend. Burns received the award for his efforts in chairing the group’s Public Education Steering Committee for 2024. He appreciated the honor but deflected the praise. “My role was to facilitate the meeting, line up speakers, and develop the agenda,” Burns said.
Casting for Hope annual fundraising gala set for Friday, Sept. 6
As an organization, the cancer charity Casting for Hope is in the midst of some changes, but its popular annual fundraising gala will remain the same lively, entertaining event as usual. This year’s version of Hope in the Hills is set for Friday, Sept. 6, at the Hidden Hills Venue on Burkemont Mountain. As always, the evening will feature plenty of great food and drink, as well as an eclectic cavalcade of live musical acts.
Officials: Sackler opioid lawsuit decision won't affect Burke's payout
The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision earlier this summer to reject a $6 billion opioid settlement by Purdue Pharma will not affect the money Burke County is receiving from drug companies, officials say. The court rejected the Purdue bankruptcy agreement on the grounds it unfairly shielded the Sackler family – who essentially engineered an opioid epidemic that resulted in the deaths of more than half a million Americans from 1999-2021 – from future civil liability.
Local governments trying to solve housing riddle
With the housing shortage headed for crisis levels, Burke County and the City of Morganton are taking measures to address problems stymying would-be land developers. Two of the three obstacles most often cited by builders are a lack of sewer, water, and electrical infrastructure, and zoning codes they see as restrictive. Burke County is in the midst of a state-funded study that will assess the feasibility of expanding its water and sewer services to facilitate further expansion.
Hundreds voice opposition to Charlotte's request for more water
Burke County residents took advantage of a meeting in their own backyard to voice their concerns about Charlotte’s request to nearly double the amount of water it siphons from the Catawba River Basin every day. But it will likely be several years before the matter is settled. Charlotte Water hosted a meeting at the CoMMA (City of Morganton Municipal Auditorium) Monday night to hear from the public.
Duke's planned lithium battery facility to support current electric grid
When the words “lithium-ion battery” and “Lake James” are used in the same sentence, some folks in western Burke County will no doubt be up in arms. But they needn’t worry: The lithium-ion battery storage facility Duke Energy is building on N.C. 126 near the lake has nothing to do with the controversy surrounding the proposed Great Meadows megasite, which opponents suspect is the future home of a lithium battery plant.
90% and counting
Broadband coverage for 100% of Burke County homes and businesses is now within sight. The county is one of 19 in North Carolina to receive funding from the state’s Completing Access to Broadband …
Morganton approves preliminary plans for 7-home development
Some new housing could be headed for Morganton and the city is on board with the plan. City Council approved preliminary plans for a new, seven-home development called Carriage Park Subdivision at …
Residents won't pay more in taxes, will see an increase for some services
Taxes for Morganton residents won’t go up this year even though the city is embarking on a lengthy list of capital improvement projects. Those were two main takeaways from the proposed 2024-25 …
AG Stein says Burke ahead of the pack in plans for opioid funds
National Drug Czar Dr. Rahul Gupta’s flight was delayed, and he didn’t make it to the Burke Community Forum on addiction Wednesday night, leaving Josh Stein to go it alone. But the state’s …
Budget Process: Five Takeaways
One of the overarching themes of Burke County Manager Brian Epley’s proposed 2024-25 budget was what he termed “budget re-engineering.” The county’s cost of doing business rose by more than …
Public Education may see $250K boost from Burke County
Burke County’s property tax rate will remain the same for fiscal year 2024-25 in the proposed budget presented by County Manager Brian Epley during Tuesday’s meeting of the Burke Board of …
Century-old stained glass to be returned to former glory
$7,500 grant enables Grace Episcopal Church to repair, revive three windows Century-old stained glass to be returned to former glory By MARTY QUEEN Senior Reporter Posted 5/18/24 The iconic stained-glass windows at Grace Episcopal Church in Morganton don’t come out of their frames very often — maybe once or twice a century. That means May 7 was a rare occasion indeed. …
Charlotte wants to pull 63 million gallons from Catawba Basin
Charlotte has been taking millions of gallons of water from the Catawba River system for more than two decades via the interbasin transfer agreement, but the Queen City is apparently thirsty for much …
BUCM finds new home in former Food Lion on East Fleming
For more than a year, Burke United Christian Ministries steadfastly prayed for a new home. That prayer was finally answered earlier this week. The mission, which has offered food, support, and …
Teacher pay, voter rights priorities for Stein
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Josh Stein’s visit to Morganton last week included a significant amount of rallying the troops for this fall’s general election, but Stein touched on a number …
Downtown construction closes parking lot and adjacent alleys
A parking lot closure will affect motorists and pedestrians in downtown Morganton, the city said this week. Renovations and utility upgrades at the 100 Block of West Union Street began earlier in the …
NCSSM-Morganton students thanked for service to Historic Burke
A pair of North Carolina School for Science and Mathematics-Morganton students made quite an impression as volunteer interns for the Historic Burke Foundation, and foundation members offered their …
Meals on Wheels - The Paper
Every Monday morning, Bob Erwin and his wife, Alice, park their car behind the Burke Senior Center and load the cargo bay with insulated bags containing hot, nutritious, meals. Then, the duo begins …
Imagine Morganton 2040
The City of Morganton’s strategic land use plan, IMAGINE Morganton 2040, took yet another step toward completion this week with the final two in a series of public input workshops. Working with …
Woofstock! - The Paper
The Burke Animal Services Foundation Inc. (ASFI) supports programs like the county’s current TNR (Trap-Neuter-Release) initiative for cats, (see related story) and fundraising events like Woofstock …
Megasite facing another hurdle -- Board rejects conditional zoning
There is another potential stumbling block in the path of the proposed Great Meadows Megasite: There will be no conditional zoning in Burke County. In a 4-2 vote Thursday, the county’s planning …
Despite defeats, Carswell and Mulwee fully engaged at budget retreat
Posted 3/16/24 It couldn’t have been easy for longtime Burke County Commissioners Johnnie Carswell and Scott Mulwee to participate wholeheartedly in last week’s commission budget retreat. After all, only two … This item is available in full to subscribers. E-mail Password
Morganton receives $11.5 million from state to upgrade wastewater facilities
It’s early March, but it probably felt like Christmas for Morganton city officials Monday evening. The N.C. Division of Water Infrastructure (NCDWI) came through with more than $11.5 million in a …
Blackwell and Warren announce grant allocations to fire departments
Posted 2/17/24 State Rep. Hugh Blackwell and Senator Warren Daniel worked alongside other North Carolina General Assembly members to allocate $4 million to Burke County’s volunteer fire departments. Members of … This item is available in full to subscribers. E-mail Password
Happy trails to you: Chabaane excited about her role as Burke Trails Specialist
Posted 1/27/24 Sarah Chabaane is passionate about making the great outdoors accessible to everyone. It’s fitting then, that she would end up in Nature’s Playground. Chabaane was hired last June as Burke … This item is available in full to subscribers. E-mail Password
Trailblazers: 2024 could be another big year for Burke County trail systems
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 …
Local credit union raises funds for BUCM
It was a record-breaking year for Telco Credit Union, and Burke United Christian Ministries was the beneficiary. Each year, Telco picks out a local charity and embarks on a fundraising drive. The …
Morganton taps new lobbyist to represent city in Raleigh
The City of Morganton has a new advocate in Raleigh. The city council approved the award of a contract with lobbyist James A. Harrell, III, and Associates, PLLC, for lobbying services at its first …
Burke County Health Department official says drug epidemic has no easy answers
A couple of startling statistics have emerged in recent months concerning the prevalence of drug overdose incidents in Burke County. The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services …
Morganton: Carbon-free but few residents know
With its numerous parks and trails and the manicured plots of grass and flowers situated all around the town, Morganton is a city that obviously values the color green. Turns out Morganton is greener …
1970s marked Golden Age of Toys for young sportsmen like me
Posted 12/23/23 During the Christmas season, I like to pause and reflect on how fortunate I was to have been a child during the Renaissance – the Toy Renaissance, that is. The 1970s were a glorious period – a … This item is available in full to subscribers. E-mail Password
BRIDGE to a better life: Innovative program fights fires with successful prison reform
With Western North Carolina amid a severe drought, fire departments battling blazes can use all the help they can get. Fortunately, the Young Offenders Forest Conservation Program is there to help BRIDGE the gap.
Daniel and Blackwell top list of incumbents filing for re-election
Posted 12/9/23 A number of Republican incumbents threw their hats in the ring during the first week of election filing for the March 5 primary. State Sen. Warren Daniel (46th District) and State Rep. Hugh Blackwell … This item is available in full to subscribers. E-mail Password
Massive Bethel Park renovation project moves closer to reality
Posted 12/9/23 Monday’s Morganton City Council meeting was a walk in the park — Bethel Park , to be exact. The city’s plan to restore the popular park is one step closer to reality after council … This item is available in full to subscribers. E-mail Password
Rural Lawyer Dilemma: Burke's Legal Profession Faces Aging Workforce and Youth Attraction Challenge
There are no wild-growing Saguaro cacti in Burke. No sidewinder rattlesnakes. No scorpions. No gila monsters. But it’s a desert just the same: A legal desert. Burke, home to nearly 90,000 residents, had just 76 lawyers when the American Bar Association last conducted a study in 2020.
Dry as dust: Burke experiencing third-driest autumn in last 130 years
Posted 11/11/23 The drought afflicting Burke County and the rest of Western North Carolina this fall isn’t your average dry spell. It’s downright historic. Only two other autumns in the last 130 years have been … This item is available in full to subscribers. E-mail Password Print subscribers If you're a print subscriber, but do not yet have an online account, click here to create one.
Officials hope to avoid fiery fall in Burke
With Burke County mired in the throes of a severe drought and with little relief in sight, local fire officials are clear about the message they want to send to the public: This place is a tinderbox. …
Housing project on East Meeting Street comes closer to reality
The proposed housing project that has been in the works for Morganton since January is a step closer to becoming a reality after the City Council approved a development agreement at Monday’s …
Acres of adventure: Foothills Conservancy protects 2.3 more miles of Wilson Creek
Posted 11/4/23 It’s difficult to overstate how important Wilson Creek is to Burke County as a recreational area. Thanks to Foothills Conservancy of N.C., there are now 2.3 more miles of outdoor adventure … This item is available in full to subscribers. E-mail Password Print subscribers If you're a print subscriber, but do not yet have an online account, click here to create one.
Early voting ends today; Election Day set for Tuesday
This is it: Today is the final day for early voting for Burke County residents. Early voting opened for its final day this morning at 8 and ends today at 3 p.m. There are four locations …
Titans struggle at Great Smoky Mountain Grapple
The McDowell Titans placed 22nd in a 34-team field at the Great Smoky Mountain Grapple in Ashville last weekend. The Titans had only one placer in the varsity tournament. Heavyweight Jonathan Hall finished fourth. Morgan Repasky placed second at 107 pounds in the girls' tournament. Uwharrie Charter Academy won with 189 points to edge Newton-Conover (186). Dorman (SC) placed third with 145 points. Hall had a first-round bye and then pinned Enahjay Fowler of Dorman in the second round.
Spartans hand Lady Titans second straight loss
The McDowell Lady Titans knew coming into the season they would be at a height disadvantage most nights, but hoped they could make up for it by forcing turnovers and shooting the ball well from the perimeter. It's been a successful formula for the most part, but McDowell just couldn't balance the equation Thursday in a 41-38 home loss to the South Caldwell Spartans.
Titans finish strong in 51-41 win over South Caldwell
The McDowell Titans have had their share of struggles down the stretch in tight games this season, but they may have exorcised that demon Thursday. McDowell (3-6 overall, 0-1 Mountain 3A/4A Conference) did virtually everything well in crunch time and pulled out a 51-41 win over the South Caldwell Spartans (6-3) to avenge a 76-70 loss Nov. 30. The Titans overcame a 10-point, first-half deficit and took the lead for good during a pivotal stretch midway through the fourth quarter.
Titans win 2 but drop Mountain Conference opener
The McDowell Titans scored a pair of victories on the mat in a quad-match at T.C. Roberson Tuesday, but they didn't get the one they wanted most. McDowell picked up nonconference victories over Erwin and Brevard, but dropped its Mountain 3A/4A Conference opener to the T.C. Roberson Rams. Erwin is a member of the conference, but the Titans' match against them doesn't count for conference standings. The two are slated to meet in a dual later in the season.
Lady Titans fall to Rams in slug-fest
McDowell High dropped its second football game of the year to the T.C. Roberson Rams Tuesday night - in girls' basketball. Roberson (6-2 overall, 1-0 Mountain 3A/4A Conference) became the first team to slow the Lady Titans' tempo down and pulled away late in a chippy, physical, foul-marred 57-42 win. It was the first setback of the year for the defensive-minded Lady Titans (7-1, 0-1), who allowed a season-high 46% field-goal shooting.
Titans come up short in Mountain 3A/4A Conference opener
Another close game down the stretch led to another heartache for the McDowell Titans. The T.C. Roberson Rams escaped Titan Gym with a 64-59 win in the Mountain 3A/4A Conference opener Tuesday in a game that featured three ties and five lead changes in the fourth quarter alone. It was the fourth such loss of the season for McDowell (2-6 overall, 0-1 conference). It was also the first win of the season for the Rams (1-7, 1-0).
Titans' Haynes takes 3rd at Falcon Frenzy; Repasky wins girls' championship
The McDowell Titan wrestling team competed in the Annual Falcon Frenzy at West Henderson last weekend. Several McDowell grapplers placed in the various events, which included a junior varsity tournament and a girls' tourney. The Titans' best finish in the varsity tournament came at 220 pounds, where sophomore Hayden Haynes captured third place, going 4-1 in the tournament. Haynes opened with a pin of Owen's Lucian Thomas.
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