The Morganton News Herald

A proposed county animal ordinance would do away with a license fee but would impose penalties for violations. Full Story »

Two teams that were looking for their second win of the season locked horns at South Caldwell on Friday night, but Draughn came back across the river into Burke County with their second win, 51-39. Full Story »

What a difference one half makes.After a very physical defensive battle between arch rivals East Burke and Freedom in the first half, the Lady Pats zipped out of the locker room and produced — on both ends of the court — in the second half to claim a 51-29 non-conference girls varsity victory on Friday. Full Story »

SACS CASI today will make its first visit to Burke County since putting the four local high schools on probationary accreditation. Full Story »

Freedom High School is among the North Carolina high schools named this year to U.S. News & World Report's annual list of "America's Best High Schools." Full Story »

Police officers apprehended one of Burke County's most wanted Friday night after a Morganton Public Safety officer initiated a traffic stop. Full Story »

Armed with bags of sand and candles, youth volunteers from around the county joined together Saturday morning at Burke Memorial Park to set out 5,500 luminaries. Full Story »

Burke County sheriff's investigators believe they have found the suspects responsible for numerous residential break-ins around Burke County in the past several months. Full Story »

The special educational program was held at the Kiwanis regularly scheduled meeting and was presented by the Enola Group. Full Story »

The Burke County Health Department is now able to offer the H1N1 vaccine, nasal spray or flu shot, to all persons wanting to receive the vaccine. Full Story »

Don't blink or you could miss the group of elementary school girls running by as they complete a 5k-race. Full Story »

As the off-roading season comes to an end at Brown Mountain Off Highway Vehicle trails, the Trail Jammers Club is taking initiative by cleaning up the 5 miles of trails available to four-wheel vehicles. Full Story »

It took approximately 94 cups of flour, 187 tablespoons of butter, 31 tablespoons of ginger, 31 eggs, 15 cups of molasses, two high schools and one church to pull it off, but Beth Browning and her coworkers brought together the right ingredients to raise money and awareness for their work.Browning examines children for abuse at the Child Advocacy Center, nicknamed the Gingerbread House. Full Story »

The Morganton Public Library will host Miguel Pico in concert at 7 p.m. Friday. Full Story »

Local musician Robert Kearns presents the Inaugural Tom Kearns Memorial Blue X-Mas Benefit Concert at 8 p.m. Dec. 18 at the Old Rock School in Valdese. Full Story »

Bouncin' Kids of Morganton is a drop-off location for the 2009 Toys for Tots Holiday Drive. Full Story »

The Town of Valdese and the Valdese Merchants Association will hold their Christmas in Valdese event at 6 p.m. Friday in the downtown area. Full Story »

Lights, camera, action! A team of independent filmmakers has been shooting scenes around Morganton and doesn't expect to stop anytime soon. Full Story »

Officers arrested a man Tuesday after a customer of Belle Farm told the owner someone was trying to swap items similar to ones in the store. Full Story »

The Burke County Health Department is now offering the H1N1 ("swine flu") vaccine to the general public. The first clinic will be open from 8:30 a.m. until 5 p.m. Friday at the Morganton Burke Senior Center, 501 N. Green St. Full Story »

A husband-and-wife team is accused of stealing items from Defeet Inc., 371 Interstate 40 Access Road. Full Story »

Four Burke County Board of Education members on Monday refused to appropriate money for capital outlays until the school district finds a way to start restoring its staff's salaries. Full Story »

The Burke County Board of Commissioners and the county's Planning Board will take a "go-slow" approach to regulating motocross and other off-track racing. Full Story »

Burke County sheriff's investigators are seeking information regarding two wanted men. Full Story »

Nobody wants to go to jail, but on Thursday, approximately 100 business leaders will voluntarily go to "jail" to raise money for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. Full Story »