2E SUNDAY, MAY 5, 2013 THE NEWS HERALD www.morganton.

com
BURKE 20TWENTY
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Burke 20Twenty:
What is it?
T
he News Herald is proud to
bring you Burke 20Twenty:
Looking back, looking
forward. Its a 20-page examination
of various aspects of life in Burke
County and what perhaps is in our
future.
While this isnt an all-encompassing
look at all of Burke County, we touch
on a variety of topics, fromeconomic
development and job skills needed in
the 21st century to howthe children
of our county will be educated and
explore their spirituality.
There are many people who
helped make this special section a
keepsake.
Freelance writers Mike Fuhrman,
Emily Killian and Gretchen Gifth
contributed a variety of stories to
this special edition. In addition
to preparing stories for all of our
editions of The News Herald, our
newsroom made the time to gather
intensive stories about our county.
The North Carolina room of the
Morganton branch of the Burke
County Public Library let us dive
into their photographs of the history
of Burke County.
Many people throughout the
county in a variety of positions were
kind enough to take the time to lend
their insights into the history and
future of Burke County.
Lastly, BH Media Groups Consoli-
dated Editing Center painstakingly
designed a beautiful section.
So take a trip with us. Lets look
back at where we were and where
were going. Its an intriguing journey.
Kyle Phipps
News Herald Editor
WHATS INSIDE
Burkes history in textiles...........3E
Economic development............. 4E
Changing job skills .....................5E
Burke as a swing state................6E
Preserving our lands ..................8E
Tourismas a moneymaker.........9E
The early days of education.......2F
The role of WPCC........................3F
Education alternative ................4F
The STEAMAcademy ................5F
Atourismdestination ................6F
Tap your toes in Burke................ 7F
Embracing the arts ....................8F
Closer to God with technology .....9F
First Baptist Church
Of Morganton
Honoring the past, energizing the
present and leaning into the future with
faith, hope and love.
BY GRETCHEN GRIFFITH
Special to The News Herald
F
rom its storied past
to its constantly
changing present,
the textile industry has
long been a dominant
force in Burke Countys
economy. The 2013
Chamber of Commerces
Industrial Directly lists 19
companies throughout
the county connected to
textiles. Once there were
multitudes. Now, 19.
Simple beginnings
Burke Countys textile
industry is rooted in the
18th century immigrants
arriving in the county,
the early Scots-Irish with
their knowledge of spin-
ning and the German and
English, often weavers by
trade. In the beginning,
these home industries
were just that, home, local,
and unorganized, leaving
the large scale industri-
alization to the northern
states. As the 19th century
ended, being close enough
to the cotton elds and far
enough from the oppres-
sive summer heat of the
deeper south became an
advantage recognized by
enterprising visionaries.
Early attempts to indus-
trialize beyond the home
began in Morganton in
1888 at the Dunavant Cot-
ton Mill and with spinning
mills in the Bridgewater
community.
Further industrial devel-
opment began when the
newest immigrants, the
Waldensians, arrived from
Italy in 1893 and realized
their plans of farming the
land for prot could not
support the colony. Broth-
ers John and Francis Gar-
rou, along with Antoine
Grill, found an alternative
moneymaking enterprise
in a few secondhand
knitting machines. They
traveled to South Caro-
lina, learned the hosiery
business and how to
use those machines,
returned toValdese and
in 1901openedWalden-
sian Hosiery, steering the
colony toward an industri-
alized economy.
Other textile companies
located inValdese soon
manufactured a wide va-
riety of products. Walden-
sian Swiss Embroidery
added embroidery designs
to bedspreads. Alba
Waldensian, known for
pioneering stretch pant-
ies, developed a medical
division manufacturing
products such as sterile
stockings. Dolly Hosiery
made infant booties while
Martinat Hosiery and Rob-
inson Hosiery specialized
in socks. Valdese Manu-
facturing supplied dyed
cotton thread to many
textile companies in the
county. With its booming
textile industry, Valdese
gained the reputation as
the fastest growing town
in North Carolina.
In 1907 Sam Huffman
and D.B Mull founded
Drexel Knitting Mills. To
entice a labor force into
leaving the farms to work
in the mill, this com-
pany and its counterpart,
Drexel Furniture, supplied
low-rent housing to its
workers. According to tex-
tile historian Rondal Mull,
the textile mill houses
the companies built
in Drexel on the south
side of the railroad were
painted green while on the
north side, in an area still
referred to as Red Hill, the
furniture workers houses
were painted red. Henry
River Manufacturing in
eastern Burke County
built an entire village for
its workers, complete
not only with individual
homes but also with a
company store.
Textile modernization
Many Burke County
textile companies were
self-sustaining, or verti-
cal, maintaining their own
operations to complete
the entire process on site
beginning with the card-
ing when the cotton rst
arrived by train, through
spinning and dyeing,
then nally to knitting
or weaving into an end
product ready for market.
Other textile companies
chose to specialize in
one particular step of the
process, the yarn pro-
duced at Henry River for
example, or Burkyarn that
manufactured pre-dyed
yarns, or the cords and
sashes produced at the
Icard Cordage Mill, and
the cut and sew nal step
at Shadowlines intimate
womens apparel and Sky-
land Textiles Buster Brown
clothing line.
A demand for upholstery
cloth by the burgeoning
furniture industry also led
to specialized companies.
Valdese Weavers, once
Waldensian Swiss Embroi-
dery, produced uphol-
stery materials through
a jacquard technique, as
did Ross Fabrics and Duff
Looms.
Finding focus
Two distinct manufac-
turing industries pro-
duced textiles in Burke
County, either those knit-
ting with multiple needle
machines or those weav-
ing on massive looms.
Both required consider-
able amounts of power,
water wheel or steam
powered dynamo gen-
erators in the early years,
followed by Duke Power
electricity in the 1920s.
Although water from
the Henry and Catawba
Rivers and the many side
streams offered adequate
resources in the begin-
ning, the availability of
electric power allowed the
industry to expand. Not
only could the machines
run more efciently 24
hours a day, but electric
lighting brought about
the possibility of a second
shift. No longer depen-
dent on a nearby water
source, a proliferation of
knitting mills sprang up
throughout the county.
The advent of nylon, Da-
cron and Orlon synthetic
bers proved to be an
even greater revolution for
the industry. Full fash-
ioned hosiery that once
was produced at and
then seamed down the
back could now be knitted
into a seamless product in
cylinders equipped with
up to 400 needles. These
machines produced a
tighter product not possi-
ble with the thicker cotton
thread. Synthetics offered
a greater tensile strength,
the ability of each thread
to withstand stress, and
a stretch characteristic
that resulted in a new,
one-size-ts-all hosiery.
Before synthetics, cot-
ton thread needed to be
mercerized, treated with
a chemical to prepare for
dyeing. But synthetics had
new textures that offered
an endless variety of color
possibilities without the
mercerizing process.
There was a trick to
the dyeing process, even
then, explained Mull, for-
merly of Drexel Knitting
Mills. Every time the town
would add its chemicals to
the water, it would throw
the ph out of balance
and they would have to
use what we calledadds
to adjust the formula to
shade.
Companies eventu-
ally became even more
narrowly focused, known
for specic products.
Our specialty at Drexel
Mills was manufactur-
ing argyles, the diamond
shape pattern, Mull said.
Highlander, Ltd, produced
double-knitted garments
andWamsutta Knits, a
high pile fabric. Huffman
Knitting Mills was known
for its full-fashioned
hosiery, Glen Alpine Knit-
ting Mills for high grade
half-hose, Burke Mills,
formerly Burkyarns, for
labels and dyed yarn for
furniture. Hanes Knitting
in Burke County produced
T-shirts while the Rhodhiss
plant of Burlington Indus-
tries was noted among
other products for the ag
placed on the moon.
Technology takes hold
Another revolution in
the industry came about
with an ever increasing
use of computers. Time-
consuming tasks such as
changing a pattern on a
knitting machine, once
involving hours or even
days, could be reduced
to mere minutes with
computer technology.
Along with the change to
computerization came
a need for a well-trained
workforce, the consis-
tently strong ingredient
Burke County has offered
through the years.
In fact, thats one rea-
son why my father chose
to build his plant in Burke
County, says Sherrod
Salsbury of Shadowline.
He always said the em-
ployees here have a good
work ethic.
Mike Shelton, president
of Valdese Weavers, agrees.
Employees there are
highly trained, are con-
sidered associates and are
offered a vested interest in
the company through par-
tial employee ownership.
We are the quintessential
Made in America success
story, he explains. The
company offers exible
scheduling and is active
in the community. It uses
sustainable raw materials.
It has the ability to react to
customers needs as it of-
fers custom-made fabrics
for use in home and ofce
furnishings, wall paneling
and for the hotel/restau-
rant hospitality industry.
A tradition of excellent
products and hard work
continues today in those
19 textile companies listed
by the Chamber of Com-
merce. In an industry that
depends on consumer
trends and international
economies, what worked
yesterday might become
obsolete tomorrow. Or
with a few adjustments,
might come back in style.
This history of textiles
in the county is far from
complete.
THE NEWS HERALD www.morganton.com SUNDAY, MAY 5, 2013 3E
BURKE 20TWENTY
History of Burkes involvement in the textile industry
PHOTOS COURTESY OF PICTURE BURKE/BURKE COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY
LEFT: An early picture of Alpine Cotton Mill in Burke County, which was donated to Picture Burke by Joyce Carroll. RIGHT: The Henry River Manufacturing Company. The picture was donated to
Picture Burke by Faye Aderholdt Poteat.
ABOVE: Workers from Henredon Furniture Company are photographed at the job site. The picture was donated to Picture
Burke by Nelson Causby. BELOW: Shadowline was a popular place for women in the workforce in Burke County. The picture
was donated to Picture Burke by the Burke County Chamber of Commerce.
thekitchenconnection-nc.com
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Unique Kitchen
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BY KYLE PHIPPS
kphipps@morganton.com
MORGANTON While
economic leaders want
to see Burke County grow
and expand, they also are
working diligently to make
sure it doesnt take steps
back.
Burke County is pretty
diversied, said Scott
Darnell, president and ex-
ecutive director of Burke
Development Inc. (BDI)
We have food industries,
we have metal industries,
we have furniture indus-
tries, we have state gov-
ernment employment, we
have local government
employment.
But economically, that
process should include,
howdo we better growthe
companies we have here?
Ineconomic development,
I think thats the No. 1
strategy. About 80 percent
of all jobs come from your
existing companies.
If we cant be successful
in making our local com-
panies protable and suc-
cessful, do we have what
it takes to attract someone
else here?
Darnell added that keep-
ing Burkes economic
development moving
forward isnt a one-time
occurrence, but rather a
day-to-day challenge.
Economic development
is a process, not an event,
Darnell said. You dont
turn it off. You dont turn
it on. A process is ongoing.
A project is a denite start
and nish.
Weworkalot of projects,
but the economic develop-
ment process never stops.
In communities, it never
can stop. You should be
just as aggressive the day
you win a project as the
day you lose a project.
The old mainstays
Burke County, like much
of North Carolina, has seen
a shift in the job landscape
over the years. Not that
many years ago, staple
industries were textiles,
tobacco and furniture.
Through the ongoing eco-
nomic shift worldwide,
theseindustrieshavescaled
back considerably. Its not
different in Burke County.
Darnell said furniture
and upholstery are still
strong in Burke County,
but they dont approach
what they used to be.
The topic of furni-
ture is the topic of a lot of
conversation right now,
Darnell said. Whats hap-
pened with the furniture
industry? A lot of the case
goods did go offshore. A
lot of the upholstery were
left behind. Today, 2,700
people are still employed
in the furniture industry
and related jobs in Burke
County 2,700 with an
average salary of about
$36,000 a year. Is the fur-
niture industry still im-
portant to Burke County?
Absolutely.
Burke businesses have
found their niche and are
making the most of the
opportunities presented.
A majority of the jobs
left behind are upholstery.
Upholstery never went off-
shore. The Chinese never
could really line up the
stripes as well.
But a lot of it with our
local companies is more
customization or a higher
end price point where the
customer will choose cer-
tain variations and want
it delivered in 30 days, not
six months.
Are we getting ahead
or falling behind?
As the United States con-
tinues totry torecover from
the Great Recession, con-
sumer condence is grow-
ing and the stock markets
are continuing to climb.
Darnell said that as the
nations economy gets
up off the canvas, Burke
County will see growth as
well.
As the economy contin-
ues to improve, Darnell
said, our furniture com-
panies should continue to
improve.
Continental (Teves)
makes anti-lock brake sys-
tems for the automotive
industry. It goes without
saying that as we buy more
cars, Continental sells
more anti-lock brakes, and
they continue to add jobs.
If the sales of cars go
downor the sales of homes
go down, we notice a
reverse relationship.
So far this year, the
numbers are promising.
Existing home sales in
the Catawba Valley were
up 6 percent in 2012 from
2011. Additionally, the av-
erage cost of a home was
up 8 percent from the
previous year.
Selling Burke
Darnell said there are a
variety of aspects Burke
County can sell itself on
to potential and existing
companies.
In addition to major in-
terstate exchanges and
proximity to major mar-
kets, Burkes economic
makeup is attractive.
While the countys larg-
est employers are the pub-
lic school system and the
health care industry, the
arrival of a large shopping
center will be a boon.
Weve got a strong base
that were building upon,
and that base continues to
get stronger, Darnell said.
An example of that is the
Walmart Supercenter (at
Morganton Heights).
Look at not only the tax
revenue, but look at the
number of jobs that will
be created there hun-
dreds and hundreds of
new jobs that arent here
today, a different type of
employment.
Burke also has the oppor-
tunity and space to grow.
When the new Brough-
ton Hospital opens, the
space the old hospital
sits on will be available.
Darnell said there is po-
tential for a partnership
with the state to utilize the
hundreds of thousands of
open square feet.
Infrastructure
is in place
For a major industrial
player to come into the
county, there are several
things it will need imme-
diately that it wont wait
on to be built. Those are
things like water, available
land, established waste
management and plenty
of electricity.
Darnell said Burke is
ready with its established
infrastructure.
We have the capacity
for industry, Darnell said.
Thats something you
dont create. Youve either
got it or you dont. We can
handle a lot of different
types of companies, but
as you go down the list we
have a lot of checks in the
boxes and you try to get as
many checks as possible.
We have a lot of those
core requirements.
Darnell pointed out
Burke has diversity, infra-
structure and location. He
added the countys manu-
facturing background was
an asset.
Dont forget where you
came from.
Is giving grants
the key?
Its almost become a
given that when a new
industry moves into an
area or expands, there is a
grant involved. They can
come from federal, state
or local sources. There are
often stipulations involved
related to the number of
jobs that will be created
with the grant money.
Is giving the biggest or
most lucrative grant the
key to attracting business?
They are a necessary
evil. Nobody likes them,
Darnell said. Not one
economic developer on
the earth likes incentives.
They are a necessary evil.
As long as someone else
wants what we do, theres
going to be competition.
When theres competition,
there are inducements,
incentives, there are price
incentives.
Darnell said Burke
County, like many other
communities, rarely offers
money up front. The mon-
ey is basedonthe company
delivering on its promise.
We really risk nothing
with incentives, Darnell
said. The other thing
youve got to be cognizant
about whatever youre of-
fering new companies,
youve got to make sure
youre offering existing
companies.
4E SUNDAY, MAY 5, 2013 THE NEWS HERALD www.morganton.com
BURKE 20TWENTY
Economic development: An ongoing process
SUBMITTED PHOTO
Valdese Weavers employs around 500 people in Burke County.
BURKES MAJOR MANUFACTURING EMPLOYERS
Company Product Estimated employees
Case Farms Food 725
Valdese Weavers Woven fabric 575
Leviton Southern Devices Electrical 520
Continental Teves Anti-lock brakes 350
Sara Lee Bread 285
Visotec Automotive Automotive 250
Baker Furniture Furniture 250
Sypris Solutions Axles 250
BSN Medical Medical hosiery 245
Ferguson Copeland Furniture 200
Molded Fiberglass Truck and bus bodies 170
Gerresheimer Glass Glass and product manufacturing 150
SGL Carbon Graphite products 125
Caterpillar Inc. Motor vehicle parts 115
* August 2012
BURKES LARGEST EMPLOYERS
Company Product/Service Estimated employees
Burke County Schools Education 2,200
Blue Ridge Healthcare Health care 1,400
Broughton Hospital Mental health care 1,200
J. Iverson Riddle
Developmental Center Health care 1,000
Western Youth Institution Youth corrections 800
Case Farms Food 725
Valdese Weavers Woven fabric 575
Western Piedmont
Community College Education 560
Leviton Southern Devices Electrical 520
Burke County Government 500
* August 2012
NEWS HERALD FILE PHOTO
The newMorganton Heights Shopping Center is rapidly taking shape. Its expected to open
this summer.
Monday - Saturday 10-7
909 W Union St
828.334.5515
Buy Sell Trade
Ask 20 different employ-
ers what specic skills they
are seeking in prospective
workers, and there is likely
to be 20 different answers.
However, there are general
skills that employers con-
sistently are seeking, and
local leaders are busy ad-
dressing those needs and
providing opportunities
to equip the local workers
with those sought-after
skills.
Long gone are the days
when a single skill is
enough to land or keep a
job. More often, compa-
nies are seeking employ-
ees who can solve prob-
lems or manage a product
or process from beginning
to end.
An article in the Decem-
ber editionof Forbes lists
generic skills that are criti-
cal to any job whether
its working the line in a
high-tech factory or a cus-
tomerservice-drivenofce
job. The top 5 are: critical
thinking, complex prob-
lem-solving, judgement/
decision-making, active
listening and knowledge
of computers/electronics.
The same types of skills
are at the top of the list
for local employers and
the leaders who are trying
to ensure satisfaction of
those needs.
Varying skill sets
Regardless of the indus-
try, be it retail or any of
these manufacturing com-
panies we work with, a lot
of the skill sets are things
people take for granted,
said Michael McNally,
president and CEO of the
Burke County Chamber
of Commerce. A lot of the
companies are looking for
folks who are able to think
on their feet, work well
with others, communicate
well.
Lee Kiser, dean of Con-
tinuing Education at West-
ern Piedmont Community
College (WPCC), points
to two basic skill sets that
are most sought after. Soft
skills, Kiser said, include
creative thinking and
problem solving, the abili-
ty to work inteams, under-
standing of lean concepts,
excellent written and ver-
bal communication skills,
the ability to read and in-
terpret complex materials
and drawings, and a good
work ethic.
Technical skills in de-
mand include computer
integrated machining,
robotics and automation,
programmingandtrouble-
shooting programmable
logic controllers, and tra-
ditional furniture produc-
tion skills like upholstery,
cutting and sewing.
According to local lead-
ers, meeting those needs
will rely on two important
factors: the willingness of
local workers to expand
their knowledge base be-
yond that of traditional
manufacturing and the
exibility of local leader-
ship to adapt training and
education programs to
meet the ever-changing
needs of employers.
Burke County is home
to many hardworking,
dedicated and dependable
workers who are ready and
willing to upgrade their
skills to meet the needs of
our evolving economy,
Kiser said.
Burke County also is
home to various organiza-
tions that are working to-
gether to provide training
opportunities and inno-
vative workforce develop-
ment initiatives. It will take
various agencies working
together on multiple levels
to effectively address the
needs of both employers
and job-seekers.
Groups work together
Burke Development Inc.
(BDI) President Scott Dar-
nell said a combination of
both private and public
sector efforts are needed
for a successful workforce
development strategy. The
responsibility also will
lie with individuals of all
ages and skills levels, who
will need a willingness to
stretch themselves in ways
that previously werent
required to nd employ-
ment.
An employee needs
to be willing to invest in
themselves and has to
understand that a job in
todays manufacturing fa-
cilities is a changing envi-
ronment where they need
to continuously learn,
Darnell said.
At the same time, Burkes
workforce development
must be willing to evolve.
In the long term, we
need to remain focused
on employer input and
understanding that for a
successful career in some
elds, a degree isnt always
needed, Darnell said.
Workforce development
programs need to be ex-
ible, timely and meet em-
ployers needs ongoing.
Among the leading orga-
nizations workingtogether
to improve quality of the
local workforce, thereby
improving Burkes market-
ability for new economic
growth, are: BDI, Burke
County Public Schools,
Burke County Chamber of
Commerce, Burke Manu-
facturers Executive Coun-
cil, Division of Workforce
Solutions, Western Pied-
mont Workforce Develop-
ment Board, WPCC and
dozens of other compa-
nies and agencies.
Atticus Simpson, vice
president of Student De-
velopment at Western
Piedmont Community
College, cites several ex-
amples of how organiza-
tions such as these are
responding to the needs
of the local workforce, em-
ployers and community.
ApartnershipwithBurke
County Schools soon will
yield a STEAM (Science,
Technology, Engineering,
Agriculture and Math) ini-
tiative that speaks to the
skills that todays employ-
ers are seeking. Simpson
said the efforts in partner-
ship with Burke County
Schools to improve the
overall educational attain-
ment of the community
will continue.
Another example, Simp-
son said, is the RENEW
Program (Re-Educating
a New Employable Work-
force), developed through
a partnership between
WPCC and BDI, which
focuses on developing es-
sential soft skills along
withhighly-technical skills
in computer applications,
blueprint reading, ISO
9000 and CNC machining.
Not only is the program
being emulated across the
state, its generating quan-
tiable results. More than
100 RENEW graduates al-
ready have been placed in
entry-level manufacturing
jobs and the program also
has received glowing re-
views from employers.
One local company
has hired several RENEW
graduates and has seen
excellent results, Darnell
said, echoing pride in its
success. They even told
us that the RENEW gradu-
ates have helped to turn
around one of their de-
partments that had previ-
ously been struggling.
Though its crucial, pub-
lic sector response and
preparations cant be the
only focus. Considering
the private, some compa-
nies are able to contribute
by making sure employers
dont always have to foot
the bill for training andll-
ing employer needs. In the
case of temporary stafng
agencies, they can help
take the guesswork out of
matching employees with
the culture and needs of
prospective employers.
Matching people,
places
Friday Stafng, for ex-
ample, makes understand-
ing their clients needs
a big priority. In addition
to matching the technical
skills, they also custom-
ize their stafng options
to meet the needs of
employers.
You can teach someone
to read a calibration de-
vice, but you cant teach
personality skills, said
Jackie Keyes, branch man-
ager for Friday Stafng
in Morganton. Its impor-
tant to know the culture
of our clients. It varies
widely.
The most challenging
thing we face is an abun-
dance of unemployed
people who have worked
in industrial settings, but
were never taught the
soft skills that are impor-
tant to know, she said.
We have an enormous
pool of people who can
go to work, but we some-
times nd it hard to match
with what companies are
looking for.
However, Friday has ex-
perienced an uptick in its
number of placements in
recent years, Keyes said.
And all the forecasts and
expectations are that that
will continue to grow over
the next few years.
McNally sees a similar
trend, but from a different
perspective. And he too
sees the trend improving
as aforementioned efforts
to bolster the skills of the
local workforce lead to fur-
ther job announcements,
industry recruitment and
business expansion.
They see workforce
availability and potential
for growth here, he said,
adding that local work-
force development efforts
have made the difference.
They could easily move a
line or expand to another
area. When they choose
to expand or move here, it
says something about this
community.
Yet theres still much
work to be done, as evi-
denced by long-termplan-
ning and ongoing efforts.
At WPCC, for example, a
new Coordinator of Cus-
tomized Training is being
hired, while efforts to de-
velop a closer connection
to employers is occurring
on various levels. Its im-
portant to remember, that
they are customers when
it comes to workforce
development.
Our role is to listen to
the employers, Darnell
said. Our customer is the
company. Whatever the
customer needs, weshould
be ready to respond, lead
the charge and implement
strategies to make our
business successful.
THE NEWS HERALD www.morganton.com SUNDAY, MAY 5, 2013 5E
BURKE 20TWENTY
Local employers seek wide variety of skills
NEWS HERALD FILE PHOTOS
Melissa Piercy (left) and Cindy Carpenter (right) sew upholstery for sofas at EKornes production facility on Wamsutta Mill Road.
Wanda Clines sprays sealer onto part of the cofns. The cofns are part of a new line of USA and locally-made products from
SpartaCraft CustomWoodworks.
COMEVISITOUR
NEWESTBUSINESSES
INRUTHERFORDCOLLEGE!
JDs Smokehouse
6E SUNDAY, MAY 5, 2013 THE NEWS HERALD www.morganton.com
BURKE 20TWENTY
Burke: A swing state of mind
BYJ. REYNOLDS HUTCHINS
jhutchins@morganton.com
MORGANTONBack in2008,
all eyes were on North Carolina
as polls and journalists specu-
lated on the outcome of the
national election in the nations
newest swing state. When fresh-
man Sen. Barrack Obama won
the race by a margin of 0.3 per-
cent a feat unheard of among
Democrats since 1976 the
states swing state membership
card looked like it had been
signed, sealed and delivered.
But in just four years, North
Carolina has seen a conservative
resurgence.
Since 2009, an overwhelm-
ingly Republican legislature has
been voted into ofce, the state
approved an amendment de-
claring marriages can only be
between one man and one
woman, Gov. Bev Perdue was
replaced by Republican Gov.
Pat McCrory and the state fell to
Romney in 2012 by a margin of
2.2 percent.
The state seems to have re-
turned to its conservative roots.
In spite of this trend if it
can be called that North Car-
olinas swing state status is still
hotly contested as liberals vie to
wrest control away from conser-
vatives ghting to retain power
and third parties scrounging for
recognition in local elections.
But this gap between reputa-
tion and reality is nothing new
to Burke County voters.
Since the days of Democratic
Sen. Sam Ervin, the county has
garnered a reputation as a Dem-
ocratic stronghold.
And while Democrats have
always outnumbered Republi-
cans, independents and third-
party voters, the county had
never seen a Democratic county
commissioner re-elected until
2006 and hasnt voted for a Dem-
ocratic presidential nominee
since Jimmy Carter (and even
Carters election was bookended
by Richard Nixon and Ronald
Reagan).
Red state blues
Debbie Mace has been the
executive director of the Burke
County Board of Elections for
the past eight years and for as
long as she can remember the
county has always leaned con-
servative, in spite of its Demo-
cratic reputation.
I dont really knowthat theres
been a whole lot of transition
between the parties, not as far
as Ive seen, Mace says fromher
ofce off South Sterling Street in
Morganton. I have been told,
now I dont have the statistics
to back this up, that beforehand
this used to be a Democrati-
cally controlled area: city and
county.
But inall her timeontheboard
and in the region, Mace says
shes never come across any sta-
tistic to support such a claim.
The myth of the Democratic
machine in Burke County, Mace
says, probably began in the days
of Sen. Sam Ervin.
In those days, another time
and another place, Mace says
Democrats and Republicans
werent what they are today.
Before 1860 in Burke County,
before the rst cannon red on
Fort Sumter, S.C., Democrats
were the conservative power-
house of the American South,
Republicans their liberal rivals
to the north.
More than 150 years later, the
tables have been turned 180
degrees, but back in 1954 when
Ervin was elected, the political
landscape in Burke, and the en-
tire nation, was in a state of tran-
sition.
Today, few Democrats would
recognize Ervin, a man who ar-
gued in favor of segregation and
Jim Crow Laws in his early years,
as a liberal brother-in-arms.
In mid-century America, the
Democratic Party was gradually
transitioning into the center-left
congregation it is in 2013.
Democrats in the South were
at a crossroads.
The name Democrat still held
power and sway, but the nation-
al Democratic candidates no
longer reected the conservative
ideals of Southern voters.
According to Burke County
Republican Party Chair Richard
Epley, that obstacle was only
magnied in Burke County.
For the most part you had
Democratic control in the state.
Which gave it a lot of power in
Burke County because of all the
state jobs, Epley says.
Even in the 1990s, when Epley
rst became involved in politics,
we still talked about the Demo-
crat machine.
There was no stopping it, Ep-
ley adds. People would register
Democrat because thats where
the jobs were.
But these same people, Epley
explains, were Democrats in
name alone.
At the polls, Epley says, they
voted either way.
Whichwouldexplainwhy, even
today, when registered Demo-
crats outnumber registered Re-
publicans by 1,277 registered
voters, the Republican Party has
outperformed in every national
election since 1976.
In fact, on the local level, the
rst time a Democrat was re-
elected to the county commis-
sion wasnt until 2006.
When I was re-elected it was
4-1. I was the only Democrat on
the board, former commission-
er Ruth Ann Suttle said.
But Suttle adds that theres
never really been a question
of a Republican or Democratic
stronghold, at least not on the
PHOTOS COURTESY OF PICTURE BURKE/BURKE COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY
Sen. Sam Ervin speaks to the Quaker Meadows DAR Chapter in September of 1973. The picture was donated to Picture Burke by the Quaker Meadows Chapter of Daughters of the American
Revolution.
Contrary to popular belief, county hasnt
always been a Democratic stronghold
Then Gov. Ronald Reagan campaigns at the old BurkeCounty Courthouse in 1976. The picture was donated to
Picture Burke by Durward E. Clark.
Democrats: 21252
2900 black
17586 white
29 Indian
261 Asian
52 multi-race
299 other
Republicans 19,975
114 black
19,476 white
19 Indian
109 Asian
18 multi-race
172 other
Libertarians 176
155 white
5 black
1 Indian
3 Asian
1 multi-race
8 other
Unafliated 15759
444 black
14411 white
27 Indian
373 Asian
38 multi-race
293 other
Primary colors
Burke County registered voters by ethnicity
See SWING, Page 7E
For the most part you had
Democratic control in the
state. Which gave it a lot
of power in Burke County
because of all the state jobs
Richard Epley,
Republican Party chair
local level.
In the same year Suttle
was re-elected, Republi-
can commissioner Wayne
Abele was also re-elected
to his seat on the commis-
sion.
Until 2006, whenWayne
Abele and I were re-elect-
ed, it was the rst time,
Suttle says. No one had
held the ofce for more
than four years.
In 2012, when Republi-
cans ofcially took com-
plete control of the com-
mission, many saw it as a
rising conservative tide in
Burke County, but Suttle
and Mace say that isnt
necessarily so.
People are apt to
change,Macesays. When
people want change they
go fromone extreme to the
other.
Mace says, from her
experience, it seems ev-
ery few years or so, Burke
County voters dont vote in
a newcandidate, but a new
party.
Suttle agrees.
They dont like the way
things go and they want to
get new people in there,
says Suttle.
For Suttle, the countys
ip-opping is a danger-
ous trend.
You should look at the
candidate, not just the
platform, Suttle says. If
you have the platform of
the Democratic Party or
the Republican Party, that
doesnt mean the person
on the local level is going
to represent that.
But for Mace, the coun-
tys back-and-forth history
is a sign of democracy at
work.
Were allowed to vote.
Were allowed to change
our opinions. Some coun-
tries dont have that lux-
ury, Mace says. When
people want their voice
heard, they vote.
In either case, with the
county and state con-
trolled by an overwhelm-
ingly conservative legis-
lature, all sides agree that
the next four years will be
a condence test for the
Republican Party in the Tar
Heel State.
Richard Epley is the rst
to admit that the state and
county may be in Demo-
cratic hands again by
2016.
I think its up to how
well the Republicans do,
theyve never had this kind
of control before, Epley
says. Nowif they go inand
do a bad job it could be re-
versed.
Burke County Democrat-
ic Party Chairman Marcus
Key says his party will be
giving local Republicans
a run for their money in
coming years.
Its quite correct that in
our county commission
Republicans have com-
plete control and therefore
they will be completely re-
sponsibleforwhathappens
for the next four years,
Key says. We intend to
hold them accountable for
the results and we feel like
there will be some changes
in the future.
A large part of that
change, Key adds, will be
reaching out to voters in
the next four years, es-
pecially registered voters
who felt as if theyve been
cast aside by the GOP.
Viva Burke
Since2000, BurkesLatino
population has increased
by more than 1,500, or
45.72 percent more than
any other group.
Those numbers are part
of a national trend, as
hundreds of the countrys
southern neighbors mi-
grate from harsh econom-
ic conditions in Central
and South American to
cooler climates and higher
standards of living in the
American South.
At the same time, vote-
tracking organizations na-
tionwide have predicted
an overall Democratic shift
in those southern states.
Back in the summer
of 2012, the Institute for
Southern Studies, a non-
prot civil-rights orga-
nization based in North
Carolina, studied that shift
betweenthe 2008 and2012
presidential elections and
according to the ofcial
study, that shift was large-
ly spurred by an inux of
minority votes, primarily
those of Hispanic origin.
Infact, inNorthCarolina,
the share of white voters, a
stronghold for the Repub-
lican Party, shrunk in that
time to just over 72 percent
between 2008 and 2012.
For the most part, those
liberal-leaning Hispanic
populations have been
centralized in urban cen-
ters like Wake and Meck-
lenburg counties.
But people of Hispanic
origin still make up a size-
able 5 percent of Burke
Countys population and
when elections come
down to hairline margins,
party leaders tend to take
notice.
For now, it seems as
though the Hispanic vote
in Burke has found a home
in the Democratic Party.
Although the Burke
County Board of Elec-
tions does not track the
Hispanic voting popula-
tion specically, it does
include that population in
a demographic known as
Other. According to the
board of elections, Other
voters make up 1.4 percent
of the local Democratic
Party. A small number, but
still larger than 0.9 percent
among local Republicans.
Even with the upper
handintheminorityvoting
market, Key says his party
will continue to reach out
to growing minority voters
in Burke County.
Well denitelybereach-
ing out to minority groups
in the county, Key says.
We have a big tent in the
Democratic Party and we
welcome all the growing
groups in the county.
Burke minority voters
shouldnt expect the same
welcoming embrace from
the GOP, Epley says.
I dont mind getting the
Hispanic vote, myself, Ep-
ley says. But it has to be
legal residents.
Epley says parties should
never compromise their
standards or beliefs to ob-
tain votes. The GOP chair
says parties shouldnt have
to feel compelled to ca-
ter to groups just because
those groups are a growing
sector of the greater popu-
lation.
Epley, who is a rm sup-
porter of voter ID laws,
says the Republican Party
must remain dedicated to
seeking legal votes, Ameri-
can votes.
Were not looking to ca-
ter to illegals. Theres a cer-
tain way to come into this
country, Epley says. They
swear allegiance to the
United States of America,
giving up their citizenship
from wherever they came
from.
Accoridng to the U.S.
State Department, men
and women applying for
American citizenship are
not required under any
law to forfeit their previ-
ous citizenship, but Epleys
message is clear: If youre
looking to cater to people
who dont have the same
values as this country, then
I think thats the wrong
thing to do.
Libertarian Party Chair
Jon Baird says that exclu-
sionary ideology is one of
the many reasons he de-
fected from the Republi-
can Party.
Even so, Burkes largest
third party has struggled to
nd a niche among minor-
ity voters.
Only 11.9 percent of
Burkes 176 registered Lib-
ertarians are a race other
than white.
Ive approached people
and they think the Liber-
tarian Party has a bad rep-
utationwithcivil liberties,
Baird explains.
According to Baird, that
reputation couldnt be fur-
ther from the truth.
One of the founding g-
ures of the modern Ameri-
can libertarian movement,
Rose Wilder Lane (daugh-
ter of American novelist
Laura Ingalls Wilder) de-
veloped her early notions
of libertarianism as a jour-
nalist at the largest black
newspaper at the time:
The Pittsburgh Courier.
The entire point of lib-
ertarianism, Baird says,
was to encourage African-
American entrepreneurs
to pull themselves out of
poverty and make some-
thing of themselves.
But few today would
associate the American
Libertarian Party with the
civil rights campaigns and
labor union struggles of
Lanes time.
Weve gotten away from
that, that history, mainly
because weve been the
victimof a huge propagan-
da campaign from both
the Republican side and
the Democrat side, Baird
explains.
The partys appeal to mi-
nority votes hasnt been
helped by its criticism of
afrmative action or wide-
spread support of voter ID
laws that studies say may
signicant disenfranchise
African-American, His-
panic and other minority
voters.
Were against anything
that gives one voter more
rights to society more than
anyone else, Baird says.
Theres nothing I can do
to draw in voters if they
dont believe in that simple
principle.
Third-party narrative
The Burke County Liber-
tarian Party, Baird says, is
still too small to be overly
concerned with minority
voter dynamics.
With only 176 members,
party chairman Jon Baird
says the group has empha-
sized general party admis-
sion rather than targeting
select groups.
Just how a third party
can amass the members
necessary to compete with
the countrys historic two-
party system is the ques-
tion Baird faces every day.
To tell you the truth Im
not really sure at this point
what the answer is, Baird
says. What I really want to
do is build up at least ve
or 10 people who are core
members of the party and
go out and meet with the
public. I think well have
a better response than sit-
ting back, knocking on
doors, talking to people,
making sure they under-
stand that everybody has
an equal chance.
Even with its member-
ship woes, Libertarians are
Burkes largest third party
and rank alongside unaf-
liated voters as the big-
gest new players in Burke
County politics, according
to Burke County Board of
Elections Director Debbie
Mace.
In the 2012 elections,
Libertarians voted innum-
bers never before seen in
North Carolina.
The N.C. Libertarian
Party reported more than
13,000 registered mem-
bers in 2012 more than
the party has ever held in
its 13-year history.
In Burke, Libertarians
turned out at 51 percent
an unprecedented num-
ber, no doubt, but still low
considering 51 percent of
the partys 176 members is
just 89 voting members.
The number still ranks
high for a party so newand
so foreign to many North
Carolina voters. In fact,
Baird says, Burke Coun-
ty was at the top of the
charts for Libertarian voter
turnout.
In Burke County, 1.6
percent of voters voted
a straight Libertarian
ticket, more than Wake,
Buncombe, Forsyth and
Mecklenburg counties.
We probably had some
of the highest numbers
in the entire state, Baird
says.
Although he couldnt
speak denitively, Baird
believes the strong Liber-
tarian presence in Burke
has less to do with Lib-
ertarians moving to the
county and more to do
with current residents de-
fecting from a two-party
system that has been his-
torically unresponsive to
their needs.
The Libertarian Party is
so strong in Burke County
because we have a real
mixture of Republicans
and Democrats, mainly
because of all the state jobs
here. When you get the
two together youll usually
nd Libertarians, Baird
says. The real reason that
people defect from the
Republican Party is the
social aspects of the Re-
publican Party. Personally,
its none of my business
who marries who, has sex
with whom. The Repub-
lican Party wants to stick
their nose into everybodys
business. And while the
Democratic Party doesnt
do that on social issues, it
does do that on nancial
issues and whether or not
I have a gun.
But Libertarian candi-
dates still lag behind Re-
publicans and Democrats
in the polls, even if party
numbers are higher than
they have ever been be-
fore. And the party needs
to remedy this, or face los-
ing their access to state
elections.
North Carolina arguably
has some of the most re-
strictive ballot access laws
in the nation. If Baird and
the Libertarian Party hope
toremainonfuture ballots,
the party must continue to
garner at least 2 percent of
the total vote.
Libertarian gubernato-
rial candidate Barbara
Howe just managed to
scrape through in 2012,
but North Carolina Liber-
tarians know theyll have
to step up their game if
they ever want to see an
elected leader who shares
their ideology.
Baird says that doesnt
necessarily mean a gover-
nor, state senator or even a
county commissioner.
Weve thought about
stressinggettingaLibertar-
ian judge, Baird explains.
I think we can address
peoples concerns with a
Libertarian judge.
Baird says, to a certain
extent, a Libertarian legis-
lator is an oxymoron.
What I like to say about
Libertarians, were not
lawmakers, were law un-
makers.
Baird believes that since
the 1990s, North Carolina
residents have been bur-
dened by thousands of
federal and state laws that
do nothing more than hin-
der business and distract
normal, everyday people.
The law needs to be
simplied, Baird says,
and a judge practicing
keen judicial review could
accomplish that.
THE NEWS HERALD www.morganton.com SUNDAY, MAY 5, 2013 7E
BURKE 20TWENTY
Swing
FromPage 6E
NEWS HERALD FILE PHOTO
Burke County Republicans currently serving in Raleigh Rep. Hugh Blackwell, (left) and Sen. Warren Daniel talk after securing
an election win.
The Libertarian party is so strong in Burke County because we have a real mixture of Republicans and
Democrats, mainly because of all the state jobs here. When you get the two together youll usually nd
Libertarians.
Jon Baird,
Libertarian Party Chair
PICTURE BURKE/BURKE COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY
The Burke County Democratic Ladies Organization meets in
1960. Pictured are (seated) Mrs. Roy Waycaster, Mrs. James
Knox, (standing) John E. Giles, Sam J. Ervin III, Mrs. John E.
Giles and Robert Byrd. The picture was donated to Picture
Burke by the History Museum of Burke County.
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RUBIa: 20TWENTY
THE NEWS HERALD . www.morganton.com
Foothills Conservancy
Keepingour
land pristine
Foothills
Conservancy
joined
forces with
citizens and
community
leaders to
expand lake
James State
Park bynearly
3,000acres
along Paddy
Creek and the
long Arm in
2004
SUBMITTED PHOTO
James. The group has also
been looking at nearby
land, reaching out to own-
ers and working with them
to expand. There are two
other places in Caldwell
and Rutherford counties
where there are scenic by-
ways, she said.
The conservancy has
also played a role in
adding trails in western
North Carolina, includ-
ing the Overmountain
Victory Trail, which will
one day feature a nation-
al trail headquarters in
Burke County. It stretches
through Virginia, West
Virginia, North Carolina
and South Carolina.
"Burke County is at the
center of that," said Ham-
rick Jones. "It is also signifi-
cant because of the gather-
ing at Quaker Meadows."
The conservancy is also
working on raising money
for a trail adjacent to South
Mountains State Park in
Burke County and the
Carolina Thread Trail,
which will run through
Catawba and Cleveland
counties.
"We're in a unique po-
sition to be able to help
secure places for people
to enjoy a picnic, a hike,
backpacking and camp-
ing," said Hamrick Jones.
"Millions of people benefit
from the work Foothills
Conservancy has done and
will do in the future."
A Proud Dignity
Memorial" Provider
the Pisgah National Forest
near Old Fort at Catawba
Falls. It takes about 40
minutes to get there and
offered a moderate hike to
the falls near Interstate 40.
But there was one catch.
"Youhad to trespass to get
there," said HamrickJones.
"Many groups tried to buy
the land with no success.
The owners were going
to sell with a realtor. We
borrowed the money and
moved very quickly to pur-
chase that property."
The U.S. Forest Service
then paid back the conser-
vancy for the land.
Eyes on thefuture
Overall, the group is stra-
tegic in its function.
"You're not just buying
land for the sake of buying
land," said Hamrick Jones.
"We do a lot of homework
up front. Places must be
considered significant
with respect to their natu-
ral resource value."
The group relies on bio-
logical and water studies
and looks at the condition
of the forest and the land's
scenic value, she said.
The scenic value plays
into the area's roadways,
too, through the National
Scenic Byways program.
In Burke County, a small
grant a few years ago
helped with the Pisgah
Loop, which goes around
Linville Gorge and Lake
Call today to learn more
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make your final farewell just as you envisioned.
perience all the park has
to offer and said it's con-
venient for people to visit
from Charlotte. For Mc-
Dowell County, Ruther-
ford County and Asheville
visitors, the park was more
difficult to access, but
with fairly recent acquisi-
tions, the park has plans
to establish a western en-
trance to make it more
convenient. There is al-
ready a temporary access
for Burke County at the
old Broughton watershed
that the group helped add
to the park years ago, she
said. It doesn't have devel-
oped trails yet, but there
is a parking area, and it's
been renamed the Clear
Creek watershed. As for
the future, the state has
plans to add an educa-
tional center to the site,
said Hamrick Jones.
Although the group
works hand-in-hand with
the state, it is independent
and has a long-term focus
onmindwith each acquisi-
tion, she said. As a 50l(c)3,
the nonprofit group has
a board of directors and
serves as a facilitator.
"As such, we are able
to move more quickly on
securing lands that are at
risk," she said. "There are
many examples of when
we can move quickly on
land that was about to be
sold and forever gone."
One such example is in
group's efforts. The most
critical money is dona-
tions and memberships
from individuals, she
said, urging the public to
help.
"There is no small con-
tribution," she said. "It's
a great way for people to
have a lasting impact."
She said she'd love to
see people get inspired
by the group's work.
They hold events and
outings throughout the
year, including an up-
coming bonfire and po-
etry reading and a paddle
down the Johns River.
For more information
on the group, its events
or how to participate, log
on to www.foothillscon-
servancy.org/ .
and created a new game
land there that is also a
world-class trout fishery."
On the east side of the
Linville River, the group
added more than 1,400
acres to the state's public
game lands. In doing so, it
protected about a mile of
the river.
"All these lands were at
risk of development," said
Hamrick Jones. "More
than 1,000home sites were
proposed on one track of
land."
On the other side of the
river, lands were owned by
a paper company, and the
conservancy was able to
get them added to the Pis-
gah National Forest.
One of the group's main
functions is to raise public
and private funds to secure
land.
The group was also in-
strumental in securing
lands added to the Pisgah
National forest in Burke
and McDowell counties.
Over five years in the early
2000s, it worked with part-
ners to protect about nine
acres surrounding Lake
James and in 2004, was
part of a 3,000 acre expan-
sion of Lake James State
Park.
"The new Paddy Creek
and Long Arm sections of
Lake James are one of the
things we've been proud-
est of," said HamrickJones.
"There are some places on
earth that really need to
remain wild and scenic for
people to enjoy and Lake
James is clearly one of
those places."
Alltotal, the organization
has been at least partially
responsible for protecting
lOs of thousands of acres
in western North Carolina.
"Think about lands that
are important watersheds.
Then think about farm-
lands and the region's wa-
ters and large areas of un-
disturbed farmland," said
Hamrick Jones. "Lands
protect wildlife and are
homes to rare and com-
mon plants and animals
that need to roam."
With tourism as the
state's second-largest in-
dustry, the group is help-
ing preserve scenic views,
she said. They have led
land acquisitions to triple
the park's size and expand
it all the way west of N.C.
Highway 64.
"In Burke County alone,
you have the area's largest
state park at South Moun-
tains. It is truly a wilder-
ness park," she said.
She urges people to ex-
'There is no small
contribution'
Parks and protection
It has worked on projects
with the area's four state
parks, she said.
"We are very proud of
our major role to help with
South Mountains State
Park and Lake James State
Park," Hamrick Jones said.
The conservancy has
also worked with the North
Carolina Wildlife Resourc-
es Commission to help
obtain land for the state's
hunters and fishermen.
"We protected four or
five miles of Wilson Creek
Paying for large tracts of
land can be expensive for
a group such as the Foot-
hills Conservancy.
It took about $1.5 mil-
lion for the group's work
with Lake James State
Park. That money was
used to leverage addi-
tional funds to secure
land.
"Only a handful of peo-
ple can help at that level,"
said Foothills Conservan-
cy's executive director
Susie Hamrick Jones.
With five full-time em-
ployees, the group has
helped with the protec-
tion of lands costing tens
of millions of dollars, she
said.
That's where the area's
residents fit into the
depending on the number
of acres in the tract.
The old family
homestead
For people who want to
see their land protected
from development, Ham-
rick Jones said often the
land has been in a family
for a long time.
"They're rooted in the
land and shave seen the
landscape of our region
change very quickly," said
Hamrick Jones.
Sometimes, estate taxes
are hard to pay andfamilies
are forced to sell off land to
pay the taxes. That's some-
thing that affected Ham-
rick Jones personally with
her grandparents' farm.
With an easement on the
property, the market value
is lower, which can poten-
tially lower taxes.
With agriculture at the
top of the state's indus-
tries, Hamrick Jones said
protecting farmland is
important.
"Many farms in North
Carolina have been turned
into subdivisions," she
said. "They will never again
be farmable land."
The group's goal is to
work with landowners
who are interested in pre-
serving the land for future
generations, she said.
"Land trusts are autho-
rized by the way they are
incorporated to work with
private landowners to
achieve permanent con-
servation through con-
servation easements," she
said. "The land trust takes
on a perpetual obligation
to make sure it's upheld."
The land trust is what
Hamrick Jones called a
"unique community insti-
tution," in that it has to be
on solid footing with funds
invested in endowment
that can provide periph-
eral funding for ongoing
projects and potential le-
gal defense obligations.
BYEMILY KILLIAN
Special toThe News Herald
Even though they're
miles apart, kayakers on
the Catawba River, eques-
trians at South Mountains
State Park, hikers at lin-
ville Gorge and families
relaxing at Wilson Creek all
have something in com-
mon - they're enjoying the
area's natural resources.
That's something Susie
Hamrick Jones and the or-
ganization she leads, Foot-
hills Conservancy of North
Carolina, hope to growand
protect over the coming
decades.
"Because our area is so
scenic, we're an area where
a lot of people like to come
and visit and enjoy the
outdoors," she said.
Lots of land
Founded in 1995, the
group is one of24 indepen-
dent nonprofit land trusts
that are set up to cover dif-
ferent regions of the state.
Foothills Conservancy
of North Carolina covers
eight counties in its area,
including Burke County.
"What distinguishes us
from the other 23 is the ar-
eas we serve, said Hamrick
Jones, who stressed the ar-
ea'sbeautyandusabilityfor
residents and visitors alike.
"People visit here, come to
the Blue Ridge Parkway, go
to Chimney Rock."
It follows strict national
accreditation guidelines.
Out of around 1,700 land
trusts in the country, it is
one of 150 or so that are
accredited.
The group focuses on
rivers, lakes and other
waterways, including the
headwaters of the Ca-
tawba River in McDowell,
Burke and Caldwell coun-
ties, Lake James, Wilson
Creek, the headwaters of
the Broad River in Ruther-
ford County and the Yadkin
River in Caldwell County.
It also focuses on cover-
ing lands and wilderness
areas, including Hickory
Nut Gorge, Chimney Rock,
Linville Gorge, Johns River
Gorge, as well as South
Mountains State Park and
the Pisgah National Forest.
"We preserve and pro-
tect lands that include a
large portion of the east-
em slopes of the moun-
tains in North Carolina,
and the foothills," said
Hamrick Jones. "We have
these mountain lands that
we protect across the Blue
Ridge."
The conservancy also
looks after the area's
farmlands and works to
preserve them whenever
possible.
"In the eastern counties
of the foothills, Cleveland
County and all the oth-
ers, there still remain a
lot of significant agricul-
turallands," said Hamrick
Jones, who explained that
the group works with pri-
vate landowners to protect
a family farm or a tract of
forested land with creeks
running through it from
future development.
It's entirely voluntary,
and the results are perma-
nent, she said.
"They give up some de-
velopment rights to pre-
serve the natural resources
of that land," she said. In
exchange, landowners can
potentially benefit from
federal and state tax in-
centives. Landowners also
retain the ability to build a
few additional home sites,
THE NEWS HERALD www.morganton.com SUNDAY, MAY 5, 2013 9E
BURKE 20TWENTY
BY EMILY KILLIAN
Special to The News Herald
MORGANTON
A
little more than two years
ago, Burke County busi-
nesses and ofcials set
out to bring in a bigger piece of
the tourism pie. Since then, the
county has seen an uptick in the
number of visitors and a grow-
ing contingent of retirees.
Ed Phillips, director of tourism
for Burke County, said its just
one more way the county is
transforming its economy.
If you look at the economy
here, for many years it was
based on manufacturing and
state employees, he said. To-
day, the manufacturing fur-
niture and textiles has gone
away.
Hes hoping to ll at least part
of that void with tourism.
Phillips and others have spent
the last two years promoting the
county with a grant from the
Golden Leaf Foundation that
gave money for marketing and
developing new businesses that
would impact tourism.
The payoff: 431 new tourism
jobs, he said. They range from
the traditional retail, service
and restaurant positions to jobs
in art galleries and wineries, he
said.
Those businesses account
for $6.6 million in capital, with
almost $1 million in grants and
loans.
Natures playground
provides a pop
Phillips cites outdoor suc-
cesses such as The Beanstalk
Journey, a zip line that operates
with about 35 seasonal employ-
ees, and an outpost that outts
people with canoe, kayak and
tubing equipment for use on the
Catawba River. He also credits
area wineries for a tourism
boost, including Lake James
Cellars, which now has solar
panels on its roof.
We helped them with a
$225,000 grant to help them do
solar energy, Phillips said.
The countys largest vineyard,
Silver ForkVineyard andWinery,
opened in April. It also is offer-
ing tours for visitors. Catawba
Valley Brewing also has added
six new jobs for its canning line
and distribution, Phillips said.
The county saw a 179 percent
rise in the number of people in
its visitor center, bringing the
total number of people using
its services up to 4,433, Phillips
said. The center also set a one-
month record in June with 943
visitors.
That number is in part due
to regional marketing efforts
that landed the county in
several publications, including
WNC Magazine, Lake Norman
Magazine and Upstate South
Carolina Lake Living. Southern
Living magazine featured Burke
County in March. Newspapers
also told the story of the coun-
tys Brown Mountain Lights.
There also is a Burke Music CD
release scheduled for October
that features people and places
in Burke County. The nationally-
released hit movie, The Hunger
Games, brought in additional
visitors to the Henry Mill Village,
said Phillips.
Other businesses with a tour-
ism impact include The Old
Country Store, which added six
new jobs downtown; My Local
Bakery, which is new downtown;
and the farmers market, which
expanded the number of days it
operates.
Businesses are taking advan-
tage of billboards on Interstate
40, which runs through the
county, bringing 45,000 people a
day through the area.
We see that as a huge benet
for us, so we try to pull as many
of those people as possible, he
said.
Pattersons Amish Furniture
is one area business that has
seen out-of-state visitors off the
interstate.
Every day of the week, people
are getting off the interstate to
nd their store, he said.
The county also is promot-
ing the Pisgah National Forest
and Lake James Visitor Center,
Phillips said. A weekend tour
operator and outtter plans to
serve visitors this summer with
guided hikes and more in the
Pisgah National Forest, begin-
ning this spring.
Phillips and others are looking
forward to bringing in more
tourists in 2013 and have a vi-
sion for development.
Id love to see us have a new
hotel, he said.
In the meantime, hes going to
continue promoting the county
any way he can.
Well continue with public
relations and marketing cam-
paigns, he said.
Retirement haven
Marketing efforts also are fo-
cused on bringing more seniors
into the area, and local groups
are working to provide services
for the inux.
Brenda Yost, executive director
of Grace Ridge CCRC, is one of
the people working to entice
more seniors to the area.
She said North Carolina has
surpassed Florida as seniors
favorite place to retire.
Thats good news for the
group, which is owned and op-
erated by Blue Ridge Healthcare,
which is afliated with Caroli-
nas Medical Center.
A lot of people in our industry
have felt that was coming, she
said. We call them halfbacks,
explaining that many people
retire to Florida, then come half-
way back to the Carolinas.
Retirees go to Florida in their
50s and 60s.
As they approach an older age
and see a need for health care,
theyre coming to North Caro-
lina, saidYost, thanks to the
states progressive health care.
Another driver is the areas
weather.
Its all about location, loca-
tion, location. They want to see
snow and enjoy it, but not be
homebound by it, she said.
A third reason why seniors
come to the area and stay is
the variety of things they can
do. There are many activities in
Charlotte and Asheville for older
adults, including walking trails,
museums and symphonies
all within an hours drive, she
said.
Anything anybody would
want to do is at a ngertip in
Burke County, she said.
Grace Ridge also is working
with people like Phillips in the
tourism ofce to start cross-re-
ferrals.
We have the best greenway
in the state, saidYost. There
is nothing that beats the Baker
Meadows Greenway.
Theyve started providing
regular programs on downsiz-
ing and are working on one on
the Brown Mountain Lights as a
tourism tie-in, she said.
I think we have a lot of secrets
in Burke County and we need to
tell people about it, Yost said.
Marketing also is key for Grace
Ridge, saidYost.
They partnered with Retire-
ment Dynamics to tap into new
ways of reaching older adults.
A few years ago, we just had
to stand at the door, Yost said.
With the economy now, people
are hesitant to spend money.
Theyre waiting until they need
care. We have to go out and tell
our story.
Grace Ridge is hoping to bring
in new people by offering some-
thing many similar communi-
ties are not all private rooms.
We have a commitment to
maintaining all private rooms,
she said.
The group offers a unique
therapy for older adults with
dementia. Based on a Scandina-
vian concept, Grace Ridge has a
multi-sensory room with music,
a massage table and a waterfall
that helps with the memory
loss, confusion, fear and com-
bativeness that can accompany
dementias such as Alzheimers
disease. It also can lower pain
levels, as well as the need to use
behavior control medications,
she said.
As for the future, Grace Ridge
is working to design and reno-
vate common areas. Thats set to
begin in May.
We are anxious to get that
started, she said.
The group has also partnered
with a new vendor, Morrison
Senior Living, which is part of
a larger international company
that provides food and house-
keeping services.
We already had what many
people called the best restau-
rant in town, saidYost. She said
the new partnership should
make it even better. Theyre
used to working with seniors
and know what seniors like.
Staying t in retirement
Once seniors are here, Phifer
Wellness Center comes into
play.
Shea Rostan, Phifers wellness
center manager, said the facility
is not only serving seniors, but it
is focusing on people of all ages.
A big misconception is that
we just have programs for se-
niors, she said.
Its programs are all, however,
modied so seniors can
participate.
With Silver Sneakers, many
services are paid for through
Medicare and seniors dont end
up paying out of pocket. As
time goes on, Rostan sees other
insurers following suit.
The center has more than 60
group tness classes a week, in-
cluding yoga and pilates. Water
aerobics alone accounts for 12
classes a week.
We have people greater than
60 participate in those all the
time, she said.
The centers staff also has spe-
cial hiring requirements, which
helps ensure that they can offer
classes appropriate for seniors.
One-on-one services include
sessions that focus on balance,
muscle endurance and range of
motion. The center offers mas-
sage therapy, which addresses
muscle tension, and a therapist
also can help improve seniors
posture.
One-on-one training is some-
thing we really excel at, said
Rostan.
Wellness coaches can sit down
with seniors to create a vision
plan to help them achieve
physical goals.
Do you want to be able to sit
down on the oor and play with
your grandchildren? They plan
to make it happen, said Rostan.
Coaches also help people de-
velop an exercise program and
go through it with them.
Then theres always the ele-
ment of socialization, she said.
Thats really important for the
senior population.
As for the future, Rostan
stressed the importance of the
areas seniors to stay active.
Stay active. We are the experts
at helping you stay active and
we can help you know how to
stay active and see what ts
your schedule, she said.
She puts the centers vision for
the coming year succinctly.
Were planning for continued
excellence in the programs we
offer, she said.
Tourism, retirement providing a boost
NEWS HERALD FILE PHOTO
Wineries are becoming a popular tourist attraction in Burke County.
TRACY FARNHAM/THE NEWS HERALD
Myrtle Epley, Margaret Beneld Charlie Poole and Verna Deal at Grace Heights Health and Rehabilitation Center.
Games like these are used to stimulate hand and eye coordination and keep seniors active socially.
SUBMITTED PHOTO
Catawba Meadows Park is a popular attraction for locals and tourists
alike.
Looking Back, Looking Forward
EDUCATION ARTS MUSIC RELIGION
BY GRETCHEN GRIFFITH
Special to The News Herald
T
he year is 1893.
Inside a school
in eastern Burke
County a group of stu-
dents wait for class to
begin. The teacher enters,
speaks to them, but they
only stare, shaking their
heads. They speak French,
not English, and imme-
diately the parents in the
Waldensian colony realize
this one-room, one-teach-
er school is not equipped
to handle their childrens
needs. Had these children
arrived a century later,
they would have found
the schools well prepared
with programs designed
to meet the challenges
they brought. Had these
children arrived a century
before, they would have
found nothing.
This evolution of the
schools into a unied
school systemserving
nearly 15,000 students
wasnt automatic, nor was
it smooth. Much of it was
in response to state and
federal mandates. Through
peaks of achievement
and depths of setbacks,
the Burke County Public
Schools have entered the
21st century with a resolve
to students toempower
themto be competitive,
successful and productive
citizens.
The earliest years
Although the system of
public education began
ofcially with the state Lit-
erary Fund in 1825, early
families in the county
recognized the need to
educate their children.
The rst school, the Mor-
gan Academy, opened in
1783 in Morganton, a day
trip too far for children
in the rural areas. It was
a tuition-paid school.
Free public schools were
years away. A series of
other academies followed,
including one near Quaker
Meadows, another,
Table Rock Academy in
the mountains, and in
eastern Burke, Rutherford
Academy, later known as
Rutherford College.
Church-funded schools
also operated in the
county, many as an exten-
sion of Sunday school,
the only day working
farmchildren could at-
tend. Classes were held in
private homes known as
schoolhouses or in church
facilities, the option the
Waldensians eventually
selected. First Presbyterian
Church of Morganton
sponsored a school in the
South Mountains through
their Burkemont Mountain
Mission.
The state steps in
The North Carolina Gen-
eral Assembly passed the
Public School Law of 1869
establishing state regula-
tions to be carried out by
local authorities. Each
administrative unit would
be overseen by a super-
intendent and an elected
school board who were in
turn accountable to a state
superintendent. Local
committees appointed by
the school boards would
control the business of
individual schools. As the
money ran out, the school
closed for the year, or in
many cases, continued
through a subscription
system with families
shouldering the costs. Bar-
tered goods were accepted
as readily as cash. By the
time the Waldensians ar-
rived in 1893 the length of
the school year was four
months, recently in-
creased from three. Many
of the teachers were not
high school graduates and
few had teacher education
training.
Since municipalities in
the state could supple-
ment schools from their
treasuries as early as 1870,
a discrepancy between
available funding for city
schools and rural county
schools soon developed.
In 1903 the town of Mor-
ganton left the county
system and established its
own public school admin-
istrative unit. The town of
Glen Alpine followed in
1907. Existing within all
three units were colored
schools serving the black
communities throughout
the county. There was
no single unied school
system, instead white
and colored city schools
administered by two
different city units, and
white and colored county
schools administered by a
county unit. The evolution
into one system was over a
half century away.
New schools to serve
county needs
The 22-classroom Rock
School built by masons
and carpenters from the
Waldensian community
opened in 1923, replac-
ing the many one-room
schools in the Valdese
area. When Robert L.
Patton, Jr. became the
county school superinten-
dent in 1924, there were
66 schools in the county
system alone, mostly one-
room, one-teacher facili-
ties. By the time he retired
in 1963, the total number
had been reduced to 15,
although the school popu-
lation had doubled. This
drastic reduction came as
a result of the 1925 county
systems plan of school
consolidations, closing the
small schoolhouses and
busing children into more
efcient, larger schools
that could offer greater
opportunities for learning.
Funds for building
newschools in the 20th
century came fromlocal
property tax revenues
supplemented with money
fromstate bond appor-
tionments. Additional
funding for schools in the
black communities came
fromthe Rosenwald Build-
ing Programin the form
of matching grants from
Julius Rosenwald, presi-
dent of Sears, Roebuck and
Company. Schools built
with these funds included
Morganton School, a 1924
six-teacher structure, the
1925 McElrath (also known
as McAlpine) andWillow
Tree schools, and in the
far west of the county, the
1926 Rosenwald (Bridge-
water) and Rock Hill
schools. Federal aid during
the Great Depression
partially funded additional
school building projects
through the PWA, Public
Works Administration.
Modern system takes
shape
In 1943, the school year
expanded to a required
nine-month calendar.
Schools operated on
schedules based on the
lifestyle of the local
community. County
schools were often closed
because of weather-
related road conditions,
while city schools were
better able to maintain
normal schedules. Jonas
Ridge in the Appalachians
opened in March, ran
during the summer and
completed the year before
the January snows. Two
rural schools in farming
communities, Absher and
George Hildebrand, began
the academic year in July,
2F SUNDAY, MAY 5, 2013 THE NEWS HERALD www.morganton.com
BURKE 20TWENTY
Burke education: Centuries in the making
PICURE BURKE/BURKE COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY
Pictured are students and a teacher fromAlpine Cotton Mill School. The picture was donated to Picture Burke by Joyce Carroll.
PICURE BURKE/BURKE COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY
Pictured is a rst-grade class from Morganton Central School in 1961. The picture was donated to Picture Burke by Michael
Conley.
PICURE BURKE/BURKE COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY
Pictured is the former Mull School. The picture was donated to Picture Burke by Burke County
Public Schools.
See HISTORY, Page 3F
SoSSoman funeral home
crematory center
THE NEWS HERALD www.morganton.com SUNDAY, MAY 5, 2013 3F
BURKE 20TWENTY
closed for two months
beginning in late August and
reopened after the harvest
season.
With a 12th grade of school-
ing added in the 1944 through
1946 school years, overcrowd-
ing forced the Morganton and
Glen Alpine systems to change
a standing policy and no longer
accept students living outside
the city limits, with one excep-
tion, Olive Hill High School. Al-
though it was in the municipality
of Morganton, this was the only
black high school in the county.
After a 1954 U.S. Supreme Court
decision struck down the sepa-
rate but equal school structure,
it was closed and its students
reassigned to schools in their
home communities.
In 1969 the three administra-
tive units merged into the Burke
County Public Schools under the
leadership of superintendent Dr.
Charles Weaver. Shortly after the
merger, the eight high schools,
Drexel, George Hildebrand, Glen
Alpine, Hildebran, Morganton,
Oak Hill, SalemandValdese,
consolidated into two, East
Burke and Freedom. Two addi-
tional high schools opened more
recently, Jimmy C. Draughn and
Robert L. Patton. Junior high
schools created for the seventh
through ninth grades were later
restructured into sixth- through
eighth-grade middle schools.
A state supported kinder-
garten added in the 1970s was
followed by a ground-breaking
decision to lower class size in
the primary grades. Libraries
evolved from a delivery service
provided by the public librarys
bookmobile into well equipped
media centers. Cafeteria service
grew from the early days of
home canned foods and a
bartering exchange to a central-
ized food service system that
now insures each child access to
nutritional meals. Curriculum
trends through the years offered
a variety of techniques and
teaching styles including new
math, whole language, open
classrooms and team teaching.
As the school system moves
into the 21st century, new
technologies, an expanding
curriculum and well educated
teachers are becoming the hall-
mark of the individual schools.
Current programs developed
in response to student needs
include Pre-Kindergarten,
Career and Technical Educa-
tion, Middle College, and the
one program that would have
been so valuable to the Walden-
sian children those many years
ago, ESL, English as a Second
Language. Exciting programs,
well equipped schools the
evolution continues.
History
FromPage 2F
PICURE BURKE/BURKE COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY
Pictured is Morganton Graded School. The picture was donated to Picture
Burke by the Historic Burke Foundation (R.M. Lineberger Collection).
JENNIFER FREW| THE NEWS HERALD
The campus of Western Piedmont Community College, photographed in fall 2010. BELOW: An aerial view of the campus.
WPCC a plus during tough economic times
BY MARY ELIZABETH ROBERTSON
mrobertson@morganton.com
MORGANTON Within the
next decade, Western Piedmont
will be a more dynamic commu-
nity college, touching the lives
of almost every family in Burke
County, then-president of
Western Piedmont Community
College (WPCC), Jim Richardson
said in a March 25, 1990, News
Herald article.
Richardson was not too far off
in his predictions. Today, WPCC
serves one out of ve Burke
County adults.
WPCC was chartered in 1964,
with the rst two-year degree
graduation held in the summer
of 1968.
In the 1968-1969 academic
year, the school enrolled 1,037
full-time students.
WPCC recently saw the lowest
enrollment numbers in six years
at the college. And thats a signal
that perhaps the economy is on
the rise.
Typically, there is an opposite
or inverse relationship with the
economy, WPCCs Vice Presi-
dent for Student Development
Atticus Simpson said in a Feb. 5
issue of The News Herald. When
the economy is down, our enroll-
ment goes up because people
are looking for opportunities to
enhance their employability. If
the economy is up, our enroll-
ment goes down because fewer
people are looking to enhance
their skill sets.
Currently, 2,331 students are
enrolled in the college.
In 2009, the school saw 3,298
students enrolled.
We look at a variety of data
sources including workforce
trends, feedback from our advi-
sory committees, rst year en-
rollment as a predictor of course
offerings for the second year
and local high school gradu-
ation rates, Simpson said in
February.
Today, 58 percent of students
are 21 or over. The average age
for students is 30. WPCC offers a
12 to 1 student/teacher ratio and
only 9 percent of students take
classes exclusively online.
Thirty-eight percent of stu-
dents take a combination of
online and traditional classes.
Simpsonsaidtheopportunities
found at WPCC are invaluable
during economic downturns.
Its close to home; offers af-
fordable tuition; offers a variety
of career and transfer related de-
grees; and provides a close-knit
learningenvironment supported
by services andpeople ready and
willing to help students achieve
whatever their higher education,
training and career goals may
be, Simpson previously said.
Simpson said students can
save $20,000 on the rst two
years of pursuing a college de-
gree compared to four-year
university students.
WPCC has added programs
and certications over the
years including the Career
Readiness Certicate, awarding
484 certicates in 2011.
Additionally, WPCC held its
Mission Transition Job Fair
in October 2011. The fair at-
tracted more than 350 commu-
nity members who packed the
college to pass out resumes to
possible employers.
The event has become an
annual community event;
collaborating efforts between
the college, Burke Develop-
ment, Inc. Work Source West,
the North Carolina Employment
Security Commission and
Western Piedmont Council of
Governments.
When the economy is
down, our enrollment
goes up because
people are looking for
opportunities to enhance
their employability. If
the economy is up, our
enrollment goes down
because fewer people are
looking to enhance their
skill sets.
Atticus Simpson,
vice president for student
development
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MORGANTON With
an estimated 60 percent
of Burke County gradu-
ates leaving high school
with a diploma but no
plans to attend a college
or university, educators
are looking for new ways
to equip 18-year-olds for
the skilled labor work
force.
Furniture, textile and
other manufacturing
plants were once abun-
dant in Burke, meaning a
high school student who
took a few shop, wood
working or metal working
classes in school could
graduate and easily get
hired on at the plant that
employed his father and
his grandfather.
In todays high-tech
world, companies look for
skills and experience that
high school graduates
dont have.
Educators are blazing
new trails and asking for
help along the way from
government leaders and
economic developers to
equip tomorrows workers.
Over the past year and
a half, members of the
Burke County Board of
Education, and especially
a subcommittee of the
board looking into work-
force development, and
the Burke County Public
Schools superintendents
ofce have led round-
table discussions and
created new curriculums
in an effort to broaden
students ways of learning.
Heres a look at a few
education alternatives
that go beyond your
usual reading, writing and
arithmetic:
Going to the core
The North Carolina
Department of Public
Instruction adopted the
Common Core and North
Carolina Standard Course
of Study curriculums for
this school year.
The Common Core is
used for teaching English
language arts and math
and the standard course
for all other courses.
Common Core is de-
signed to help students
learn and gain skills and
build on those as they
move up through each
grade level. Critical think-
ing, problem solving and
communication skills now
go into teaching the basics
of learning to read, writing
analytically and solving
math problems.
More than 40 states have
adopted Common Core so
as a child moves from one
state to another he or she
should be more easily able
to jump into a new school
environment and be on
the same level as those
new classmates.
Full STEAM ahead
STEM which stands
for science, technology,
engineering and math
is a buzzword in the
education sector.
Burke County Public
Schools, the North Caro-
lina School for the Deaf,
the North Carolina School
of Science and Math and
Western Piedmont Com-
munity College have part-
nered to teach those four
concepts, plus added an
A for agriculture, to local
high school students.
Opening on the deaf
school campus in August
is a yet-to-be-named
academy that will offer a
buffet of course options.
The courses include
engineering, forensics,
genetics, physics, blue-
print reading and farm
maintenance.
Teaching the classes will
be WPCC professors in the
classroom and math and
science school teachers
lecturing via interactive
video conferencing.
Students will have the
exibility to plan their day
and can take classes at the
academy as well as their
traditional high school.
Each class will be set up
for up to 24 students, and
students will have to go
through an application
process to get a seat.
Leading the way
Project Lead the Way
exposes middle and high
schools students to hands-
on engineering concepts.
It uses a STEM-based
curriculum focused on
creative problem solv-
ing and dreaming up an
invention and guring out
how to make it a reality.
The program launched
at Liberty and East Burke
middle schools in Au-
gust and will expand to
the countys other three
middle schools in the
2013-14 school year.
Jonathan Clontz, career
and technical education
director for Burke schools,
said, If we can engage
kids, weve got them. If
we can engage them, the
learning becomes easy.
We want to spark kids
interests and give them
another opportunity,
Superintendent Larry
Putnam said.
Students can explore
aerospace, green archi-
tecture and biomedical
topics, such as genetics
and diseases.
They robot
To foster engineering
interests in younger stu-
dents, Burke elementary
schools this year are offer-
ing robotics programs.
Much like a spelling
bee or math counts, the
schools sponsored a robot-
ics competition in April.
The students have to
build a robot and program
it to perform specic
tasks.
That task this year has
to be centered on helping
senior citizens.
The eight-member
teams practice up to three
times a week and learn
not only the technical
lessons of robot concept
and design but also team
building skills.
Free college credits
Burke County high
school juniors and seniors
who want to get a jump-
start on their college
careers or get trade cer-
ticates that lead to jobs
right out of high school
can enter the Career and
College Promise program.
Students can choose
three pathways: career
and technical, which leads
to a certicate or diploma;
Core 44, which provides
34 hours of tuition-free
college credits that are
transferable to state col-
leges and universities
and some participating
private ones; or coopera-
tive innovative high school
programs, which is what
Burke Middle College is,
a high school onWPCCs
campus where students
earn both a high school
diploma and an associates
degree.
Taking cues from
others
In setting up the STEAM
academy, Burke school
system department lead-
ers toured the North Caro-
lina Center for Engineer-
ing Technologies earlier
this year.
The Appalachian State
University facility is in
Hickory and offers sum-
mer camps for elementary,
middle and high schoolers
plus associates, bachelors
and masters degrees, non-
credit training, research
and support to businesses
and industries for working
professionals.
Director Sid Conner and
Engineering Technologist
Randy Burns, who also
serves as a school board
member, said the center
puts the E (engineering)
in STEM.
It has an engineering
lab, polymers lab and a
design and rapid product
realization lab and the
labs house high-tech,
cutting edge machines
and software for computer
assisted design, laser cut-
ting and scanning and 3-D
printing.
Its the 3-D printers the
Burke school system is
interested in purchasing
and incorporating into a
curriculum at the STEAM
academy.
Engineering courses,
which require interests
and backgrounds in math
and science, give stu-
dents not on the path to
a college a foundation in
development and design
and make their skills set
more marketable, Conner
and Burns said.
In Iredell County, the Ca-
reer Academy and Techni-
cal School (CATS) houses
automotive technology,
culinary arts and nursing
programs, digital com-
munication and reght-
ing under one roof an
old 205,000-square-foot
furniture plant.
At the start of their quest
to expand course offerings
to Burke students, Burke
school leaders toured the
Iredell-Statesville Schools
facility.
CATS enrolls 500
students and the Iredell
Statesville Schools system
4F SUNDAY, MAY 5, 2013 THE NEWS HERALD www.morganton.com
BURKE 20TWENTY
Preparing students for the future
FILE PHOTOS BY CHERYL M. SHUFFLER/THE NEWS HERALD
Ashley Crafts rst-grade class at Morganton Day School works on an activity. The private school in Morganton enrolls junior kindergarten through eighth-grade
students and offers an International Baccalaureate program.
ABOVE: Jeter Hall on the campus of the North Carolina School
for the Deaf will be the home of the new STEAM academy, a
partnership of the deaf school, Burke County Public Schools,
North Carolina School of Science and Math and Western
Piedmont Community College. Opening in August, it will
offer high school students science, technology, engineering,
agriculture and math courses.
LEFT: Director Sid Conner at the North Carolina Center for
Engineering Technologies gives a tour of the facility in Hickory
to members of the Burke County Public Schools leadership
team. The center houses engineering, polymers and design
and rapid product realization labs plus high-tech, cutting
edge machines and software for computer assisted design,
laser cutting and scanning and 3-D printing. The Burke school
system is interested in some of the equipment for its new
STEAM academy.
See FUTURE, Page 5F
www.ejvictor.com
Est. 1990
210 US Highway 70
828.874.5100
THENEWS HERALD . www.morganton.com
RUBIa: 20TWENTY
SUNDAY, MAY5, 2013 SF
Picking up STEAM in Burke
Students work ondesigning theinterior of thefutureSTEAM academy onthe campus of NCSD.
Milland Bradley,
assistant superintendent of Burke County Schools
"Itisimpossible to know whatnew technologies might
existinthenextjewyears. Ourgoalhasbeen tocreate a
eutting-edge,jlexibleprogramthatattracts students and
provides opportunities thatfinancially we arenotable to
qiJer at allfourhighschools. The design istooffer abuffit
ifrelevant andrigorous courses in afle:rible manner that
engage andappeal tostudents."
THE NEWS HERALD FILE PHOTO
this pre-engineering curriculum
for the coming school year."
The program also is work-
ing with the Burke Chamber of
Commerce and other business
partners to provide field trips
and speakers that will increase
student and teacher awareness of
skillsused in the local workforce.
As for the future of STEAM
Academy, the school system
will continue seeking additional
funding to not only sustain the
program but keep it on the cut-
ting edge. School officials are ap-
preciative of Board of Education
efforts to support the program
and plan to continue keeping
an eye toward its future as it pre-
pares to kick off its first year.
"There is no question that
exposing students to the lat-
est technologies, like 3D print-
ing and providing an adaptable
classroom environment capable
of video conferencing and what-
ever methods of instructional
delivery the future may hold, is
expensive," Bradley said. "We
are fortunate to have great part-
nerships and community sup-
port for these programs. We are
constantly seeking grant money
that would enable us to expand
more quickly, with an eye on en-
suring we can sustain what we
implement."
program looks bright.
Among the proposals being
considered for the future are: of-
fering foundational engineering
classes in all four of Burke's high
schools, expansionof agriscience
programs at NCSDand working
Western Carolina University to
provide summer programs and
graduate programs after hours
via video conferencing for Burke
County teachers.
That kind of partnership has
been key to making the new
STEAM Academy possible. The
partnership includes the N.C.
School for the Deaf, Western
Piedmont Community College
and the N.C. School of Science
of Math. Bradley said the STEAM
Academy also is actively recruit-
ing local business partners as
well.
Recruitment of the future gen-
erations of STEAM Academy
participants also has begun, tar-
geting both middle school and
elementary students.
"All elementary schools have
been involved in a robotics
competition this year," Bradley
said. "We have piloted Project
Lead The Way curriculum in two
middle schools this year and will
offer it in all middle schools next
year. We have required all middle
school students to go through
emy, as well as after-school
opportunities.
lilt is impossible to know what
new technologies might exist in
the next fewyears," Bradley said.
"Our goal has been to create a
cutting-edge, flexible program
that attracts students and pro-
vides opportunities that finan-
cially we are not able to offer at
all four high schools. The design
is to offer a buffet of relevant and
rigorous courses in a flexible
manner that engage and appeal
to students."
The program's design has been
such that students will want to
participate. So far, the response,
from both parents and students,
has been positive. With more
improvements and expansion
on the way, even before the first
students attend STEAM Acad-
emy classes, the future of the
advanced study in the areas of
science, technology, engineer-
ing, agriculture and math. Open
to eligible students in grades
10 through 12, participants will
take core classes at their home
high school with the option of
taking one or more courses at
the STEAMAcademy.
Students will have the opportu-
nity to earnAdvanced Placement,
honors and college credit through
Western Piedmont Community
College, in addition to their regu-
lar high school credits. Among
the tech-heavy course offerings
are aerospace, forensic science,
genetics and biotechnology.
Flexibility, both in scheduling
and the evolution of the pro-
gram, is key to its future suc-
cess, Bradley said. Students can
take courses at their home high
school or at the STEAM Acad-
MORGANTON - The first ap-
plications for Burke County's
STEAM Academy, submitted
mid-March, are in and the first
group of 24 students will begin
classes this fall. And even before
the first class takes place, Burke
County leaders already are look-
ing to the next phase of the
program.
Across the country, school sys-
tems are looking for ways to inte-
grate more Science, Technology,
Engineering and Math (STEM)
into the curriculum - and for
good reason.
According to a report by the
U.S. Senate's Joint Economic
Committee from 2012:
}} STEM-related occupations
are projected to grow at a faster
rate than all others
}} STEM-related occupations
have lower unemployment and
higher wages
}} The demand for STEM
graduates has outpaced supply
}} Fewer American college
students are pursuing STEM-
related degrees
}} The United States is ranked
48th in the world in quality of
math and science education
The brand new STEAM Acad-
emy is Burke County's answer
to the national challenge to im-
plement more "STEM" into the
curriculum. For Burke County's
program, the addition of "/'\' for
agriculture, plus a special em-
phasis placed on engineering,
will provide students the oppor-
tunity to sharpen their academic
skills as well as prepare for the
more technical jobs of the fu-
ture, said Milland Bradley, as-
sistant superintendent of Burke
County Schools.
"The ability to think critically,
problem solve, reverse engineer
and the ability to innovatively
design are skills that transfer to
any career," he said. "The agri-
science offerings enable stu-
dents to gain skills specific to
farm maintenance, lawn main-
tenance, sustainable agriculture
and other careers in that field."
Located on the campus of the
North Carolina School for the
Deaf, the STEAM Academy of-
fers students an opportunity for
Future
From Page 4F
purchased the space with
help from lottery proceeds.
With NASCAR in its
backyard, the automotive
program at the ISSvo-tech
school is its most popular
and offers service and re-
pair, paint and body repair
plus specialty programs in
diesel and heavy equip-
ment and motorcycle and
marine service.
It has a fullystocked auto
parts store, stocked and
sponsored with help from
NASCAR sponsors, includ-
ing Lowe's and Auto Zone.
In addition to CATS,
Iredell-Statesville offers
a magnet school and an
International Baccalaure-
ate (Ill) program.
The U.S. Department
of Education website
defines magnet schools as
a school "designed to at-
tract students from diverse
social, economic, ethnic
and racial backgrounds
by focusing on a specific
subject, such as science,
technology or the arts."
An IEprogram, the web-
site said, "is a program of
rigorous academic courses.
Students who graduate
from the program receive
an International Bacca-
laureate diploma that is
recognized by colleges and
universities throughout the
world."

five-year facilities subcom-
mittee has explored using
the old MountainViewEl-
ementary School building
as a magnet school.
The future ishere
While Burke schools
offer many of the same
career and technical
programs to students that
CATS does, they are spread
out at the county's four
high schools.
They are designed for
diverse students with di-
verse interests and diverse
career goals.
The list includes health
care, culinary, automotive,
a Microsoft Academy, fash-
ion apparel and carpentry.
Through these courses,
Burke high school
students, for example,
earn their certified nursing
assistant license, build
homes and handicapped
ramps, rebuild cars,
prepare award-winning,
four-course meals; are
designing signs for the
building on East Parker
Road that houses the
schools' Central Office
plus the Department of
Social Services and the
Health Department, and
are designing and decorat-
ing a commons area at the
new STEAM academy.
It'snowthelaw
The Career Technical
Education law signed on
Feb. 18was the first law
new N.C. Governor Pat
McCrory put into place.
The lawrequires the
State Board of Education
develop by the fall of 2014
new diplomas that make
clear whether a student is
ready for college, ready for
a vocational career, or both,
and find ways to make it
easier to license vocational
and technical teachers.
"Wemust ensure our
education system provides
opportunities and path-
ways for our students to get
the necessary knowledge
and skillsto fulfill their
post-graduation goals,
whether that be entering
the workforce or continu-
ing on to getting a higher
degree," McCorysaid.
"This new lawadds value
to the hard work of stu-
dents who choose to focus
their high school studies in
a technical field. These stu-
dents often go above and
beyond the current high
school graduation require-
ments in order to prepare
for a technical career," said
State Superintendent June
Atkinson.
Atkinson said the law
gives students options
and incentives to take
more than one track to
graduation and focus on
preparing for a career in
a technical field as well as
college.
Charting anewcourse
As Burke County's only
charter school, New
Dimensions accepts
students in kindergarten
through seventh grade and
plans to add eighth grade
in the coming school year.
It implements the Core
Knowledge curriculum,
boasts small class sizes,
engages students with
hands-on activities and
individualizes learning
based on each student's
needs.
Going private
Morganton Day School
is a private school in
Morganton for students
in junior kindergarten
through eighth grade.
It boasts a low student-
teacher ratio and focuses
on individualized learning.
It offers the International
Baccalaureate Organiza-
tion PrimaryYearsPro-
gramme through the fifth
grade and follows North
Carolina Standard Course
of Study.
Students also are ex-
posed to Spanish, visual
arts, music/ drama, and
physical education.
Educating attitudes
Teaching a trade, build-
ing a robot or analyzing a
piece of literature can only
take a student so far.
Educators and business
leaders say students also
need to develop soft skills.
Those include being able
to show up on time, work
as a team, communicate
with others - basics skills
that employers look for.
"It's hard work getting
kids to go to work," Clontz
said during a roundtable
discussion on workforce
development last year.
"They don't have the soft
skills needed to work."
Scott Darnell, president
of Burke Development
Inc., said during that same
roundtable that manu-
facturers were surveyed
as to why certain workers
weren't hirable. Of the
prospective workers, 50
percent of them couldn't
pass a drug test, a criminal
background check and/ or
had a bad appearance and
attitude.
Attitude is another big
hurdle.
Machine operators
are in high demand in
Burke's current workforce,
and while WPCCoffers
machinery courses, the
school system doesn't be-
cause it is too expensive.
Clontz said the percep-
tion is it's dirty work and
therefore is not an attrac-
tive career path.
Alsofurniture and textile
layoffs of the 1980s and
90s have left lingering
bad tastes in parents'
mouths resulting in
them not encouraging
their children to seek
manufacturing jobs.
Making it all happen
New curricula, ways of
learning and the technol-
ogy needed to keep up
with 21st century living all
cost money.
The Burke County
schools have been able to
implement many of these
programs through stimu-
Ius funds, grants and a
healthy fund balance.
Bums said he would like
to see business and indus-
try get more involved and
sponsor "labs" where they
would present a problem,
provide equipment and let
students come up with a
solution. The end results
give students knowledge
and experience and the
businesses extra minds,
eyes and hands working
on a problem.
BY MIKE FUHRMAN
Special to the News Herald
Brian Miller and Aimee Perez
spent two years putting togeth-
er a business plan for the res-
taurant they dreamed of open-
ing while searching for just the
right location.
After nding the perfect
spot, they began gutting the
building at 139 W. Union St. in
Morganton.
People thought we were
crazy, Miller recalls. It was a
dump.
Today, their restaurant, root &
vine, is a destination for Burke
County residents as well as reg-
ular patrons from throughout
the region who enjoy fresh cui-
sine, ne wines and top-shelf
liquor.
Weve beenvery well received
in Morganton, said Miller.
There was nothing in Mor-
ganton approaching what we
wanted to do.
Their lunch specials have
been a hit and the popularity of
the fresh seafood offerings has
been a surprise.
We had a joke that we were
going to change our name from
root & vine to hook & line,
Miller said.
A positive trend
Their venture is one of 13 res-
taurants that have opened in
the county since 2010, a trend
county ofcials believe will con-
tinue as the area benets from
an increase in tourist trafc.
More than 1,000 jobs in Burke,
including hotels and restau-
rants, are directly or indirectly
tied to tourism.
When the construction work
on Exit 105 off Interstate 40 is
nished in 2014, county of-
cials expect the local hotel and
restaurant industry to experi-
ence some additional growth.
We expect groundbreaking
on new restaurants and, hope-
fully, a new hotel, said Ed Phil-
lips, Burke County Tourism
director.
There are currently 400 hotel
rooms in Burke County. Smith
Travel Research, a Tennessee
company that tracks the hotel
industry, reported the countys
hotel occupancy rate at 44 per-
cent for 2012, which was about
the same as 2011.
The newly remodeled Hamp-
ton Inn in Morganton attracts
most of the business travelers.
Manager Mitch Karce said the
hotel also attracts youth sports
teams, festival-goers and leaf
watchers.
The Comfort Inn & Suites also
has been remodeled recently.
Theres room in the market for
another 100-room hotel, partic-
ularly one with a large number
of double-bed rooms to accom-
modate the youth sports teams
and continuing education stu-
dents who frequently visit the
area, ofcials said.
Developers are looking at
new hotel sites constantly
and we have sites available,
Phillips said.
The areas natural attractions
have played a large role in the
nearly double-digit growth in
this sector of the local economy,
according to county ofcials
and business managers.
Lake James and Pisgah Na-
tional Forest are attracting large
numbers of visitors during the
spring, summer andfall. Andthe
countys proximity to ski resorts
helps ll some hotel rooms and
restaurants during the winter
months. Local tourism ofcials
have also stepped up efforts to
market the Catawba River Gre-
enway and Catawba Meadows
Park.
Local events like the Red,
White and Blues Festival and
the Western North Carolina
Glass Show are also a boon for
local eateries and hotels. And
the countys six local wineries
soon to be seven also are
a major draw.
Tourism pumped $78.5 mil-
lion into the Burke County
economy in 2011, according to
the N.C. Department of Com-
merce. The county ranked 42nd
of 100 North Carolina counties.
Local restaurants and hotels
have cashed in.
This past year has been the
best year, said Jane Hogg, own-
er of The Inn at Glen Alpine.
Its been busier than it ever has
been. Its been steady growth.
Each year has been a little
better.
Internet marketing has been
instrumental in the bed-and-
breakfasts growth, said Hogg,
who moved to Burke County
and bought the bed-and-break-
fast seven years ago after her
husband died.
Featuring a wrap-around
porch for sitting and situated
on ve acres in the small vil-
lage, the 100-year-old inn has
four rooms and accommodates
up to eight people.
State employees who travel
to Burke County have become
an important part of her busi-
ness, Hogg said, noting that she
offers the approved state rate.
The hearty breakfast she pro-
vides guests each morning is a
bonus.
Thesamegroupof guests stays
at the bed and breakfast each
year for the local Red, White
and Bluegrass Festival. They
make their reservations a year in
advance, Hogg said.
Growth
No new hotels have opened in
the county in more than a de-
cade, but nal details are in the
works for a new bed and break-
fast, which will be opened in an
historic home in Morganton,
Phillips said.
But new restaurants, including
the new Bojangles near the in-
terstate, have been popping up
throughout the county. Down-
town Morganton has benetted
fromthis upswing as well.
The ones that have opened
have had staying power, said,
Michael McNally, president
and CEO of the Burke County
Chamber of Commerce
Several existing restaurants,
like the Pie Hole, a pizzeria that
has grown from eight employees
to more than 20, have moved or
expanded.
Brett and Kelly Simon opened
My Local Bakery in downtown
Morganton in September.
Brett is in the store by 3 a.m.
most days, baking the fresh
breads he remembers from his
childhood in NewYork.
Thats my baby, he said of the
artisan breads and bagels.
His wife Kelly is in charge of the
desserts Death by Chocolate
cupcakes and red velvet cup-
cakes are the top sellers and
his mother-in-law whips out the
scones.
After deciding toopena bakery,
the Simons fell in love with the
location on North Sterling Street.
The building owner supported
their vision for the business and
helped with the remodeling. So-
cial network marketing and bill-
boards on I-40 have helped get
customers in the door.
The fresh baked goods have
kept them coming back and the
business has enjoyed steady
growth each month. In less than
six months, theyve grown from
three employees to eight.
The community has helped
build this business, Brett said.
This is business is really com-
munity driven. Theyve been be-
hind us 120 percent, right from
the beginning.
The future
Phillips, the countys tourism
director, saidthe short- andlong-
term future looks bright for this
sector of the local economy.
The opening of the Morganton
Heights Shopping Center, slated
for this summer, will provide an
immediate boost.
Another major hotel alsowould
be a boost toexisting restaurants,
McNally, the chamber director,
said.
If they stay in a hotel in Hicko-
ry, we know they are going to eat
dinner in Hickory, he said.
By the end of this decade, Phil-
lips predicted Burke County
would have at least two more ho-
tels near the interstate andtwoor
three more bed and breakfasts.
Karce, the Hampton Inn man-
ager, and Miller, the root & vine
owner, are optimistic about the
future.
We want to see more busi-
ness come downtown, Miller
said. Everybody does better
when there is good, healthy
competition.
We need more high-qual-
ity accommodations and to
continue to promote our region
as a fun, relaxing value, Phil-
lips said. You dont have to
spend a lot of money. A lot of our
activities are free.
6F SUNDAY, MAY 5, 2013 THE NEWS HERALD www.morganton.com
BURKE 20TWENTY
Ofcials expect to see bump in tourismnumbers
NEWS HERALD FILE PHOTO
Beanstalk Journeys is a popular attraction for tourists
throughout the region.
MARY ELIZABETH ROBERTSON/ THE NEWS HERALD
Brett Simon (right) hands a box of bakery goodies to a
customer at My Local Bakery. Simon and his wife, Kelly,
opened the bakery on North Sterling Street.
SPECIALTOTHE NEWS HERALD
The Inn at Glen Alpine celebrated 10 years of operation as a bed-and-breakfast and 100 years of being a historic
home.
NEWS HERALD FILE PHOTO
Fans enjoy the 2013 Super Bowl at Catawba Valley Brewing
Company in Morganton.
We need more high-
quality accommodations
and to continue to
promote our region as a
fun, relaxing value. You
dont have to spend a lot
of money. A lot of our
activities are free.
Ed Phillips,
Burke County Tourismdirector
Morganton Eye Physicians, PA
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BY CHERYL M. SHUFFLER
cshufer@morganton.com
MORGANTON Sum-
mer Friday nights in Burke
County are becoming
synonymous with lawn
chairs, a center stage and
bands making toe-tapping
music during Morganton
andValdeses summer
concert series.
But Friday nights arent
the only nights bands
perform in Burke.
Restaurants and coffee
shops bring in more inti-
mate gatherings of musi-
cians and their fans on an
almost weekly basis and
CoMMA in Morganton
and the Old Rock School
inValdese regularly host
big names and those on
the verge of making it big.
And we cant forget
about the festivals.
Theres the Historic
Morganton Festival every
September, which for two
nights features national
acts on one stage, local
and regional acts on an-
other plus a kids stage and
teen dance party stage.
The Valdese Waldensian
Festival every August fea-
tures a main music stage,
also for two nights.
And the Red, White and
Bluegrass Festival every
July involves 40-some
bands during the ve-day
event.
What are those who have
their ngers on the pulse
of Burke Countys music
scene saying? A lot. Heres a
sampling:
Sharon Jablonski, director
Morganton Main Street.
Jablonski, who lines
up acts for Friday night
concerts in the summer
and the Historic Morgan-
ton Festival each year, said
Morganton is making a
name for itself.
This is why we are
becoming known as Mo-
town, Jablonski said. Mu-
sic is a huge attraction.
She said restaurants are
answering the call of pa-
trons who want live, local
music, but she desires for
the streets to come alive
with even more music.
I would like to see more
musicians play on the
sidewalks of downtown
Morganton, she said. We
encourage it.
As for economic impact,
Jablonski said the TGIF
summer concert series
brings in thousands of dol-
lars to the downtown area
and the festival brings in
around $1.5 million.
Barbara Hefner, director
of town of Valdese Commu-
nity Affairs &Tourism
Hefner, who lines up acts
for summer Friday night
concerts inValdese and the
Valdese festival each year
as well as Old Rock School
performances, said the op-
portunities to offer a vari-
ety of music inValdese has
increased over the years.
Family Friday Nights
was created in 1995 and
provided top notch blue-
grass and gospel music to
the community, Hefner
said. In the past sev-
eral years, Family Friday
Nights has seen a change
in a more variety of music
genres. Nowattendees are
guaranteed the chance
to hear the music they
like, whether it is country,
country rock, jazz, blue-
grass, beach music and a
great variety of dancing
music.
Valdese has made a
name for itself in the music
scene because of the Blue-
grass at the Rock concert
series, Hefner said.
And it continues to
become a hot spot for
bluegrass lovers, she said,
adding, The changes to
Family Friday Nights have
been noticed by attendees
and more people are
coming toValdese to
hear the music.
She said musicians ask to
come and play inValdese.
Because we have
expanded our Friday
night series to a variety of
sounds, musical groups are
constantly sending their
promo packets and calling,
hoping to be a part of our
music scene, she said.
Hefner said the Old Rock
School is branching out
with its bluegrass acts.
In the past, our blue-
grass was pure traditional
sound, and as we move
forward, the Rock School
concert series will include
progressive bluegrass,
Hefner said.
Hefner said the summer
concert series and Rock
School bluegrass attract
visitors fromsurrounding
counties, with bluegrass
even attracting folks from
out of state, which helps
the local economy.
They shop in our stores
and use our local restau-
rants, she said. This
exposes our area with its
many attractions, great
shops and restaurants
to visitors that have not
stepped foot into Burke
County before.
Hefner said ticket sales to
the bluegrass series dipped
some during the down
economy.
I think most entertain-
ment businesses have seen
some type of decrease, but
we continue to build our
concert series with great
music and have already
seen our ticket sales slowly
rising, she said.
As for what she would
like to see in the future,
Hefner said, As the music
industry changes and new
music evolves, Valdese will
continue to change to en-
sure that everyone enjoys
our music venues.
W. Scott Pyatt, Catawba
Valley Brewing Co.
Pyatt has the job of brew-
ing up beer people want
to drink and bringing in
music they want to hear.
He said, The Burke
County music scene is
alive, and its hard to
believe the quality and
quantity of howgood these
folks are.
He said the music scene
has progressed in the ve
years the brewery has been
open and that Burke Coun-
ty is somewhat friendly
to musicians.
I see the city paying
out-of-town musicians
more than qualied
musicians when they play
for city events, he said,
adding musicians want to
play anywhere they will
get paid.
Reggie Harris, one of two
brothers Ryan is the other
who makes up the Harris
Brothers band out of Lenoir
Harris said Burke
County is ahead of most
western North Carolina
counties in that it has big
festivals throughout the
year and several smaller
gatherings that offer music
at other times.
There are not that many
weekly venues, but people
do support the ones
available, Harris said.
He said the future de-
pends on people coming
out and embracing the
music scene.
It has to do with people
and their support for the
arts. Its important for
people to go toThe Grind
Cafe and other music
venues like The Old Rock
School to keep the music
scene alive and support
the musicians.
Harris said Burke
County is very friendly
to musicians.
There seems to be an
abundance of people who
are into music and there
are lots of local musicians
who make music on many
different levels, he said.
Harris understands to
make a living playing in a
band, musicians have to be
willing to travel, but that in
good times and bad he has
found fans are willing to
pay because, people like
being entertained in hard
times.
He said the Red, White
and Bluegrass Festival
draws so many fans and
musicians to the area be-
cause of its standards.
(It) is one of the last big
traditional festivals left in
the country, Harris said.
Clint Bernard, managers
of Americana Stage Series
Bernard books 10 shows
a year for the Americana
Stage Series, which brings
in a variety of acts, includ-
ing Grammy winners,
Nashville singer/
songwriters and popular
national and international
touring groups.
The music scene in
Burke County is best de-
scribed as diverse, growing
and offering something for
everyone, Bernard said.
He credited CoMMA and
the Historic Morganton
Festival for bringing in
national touring acts, espe-
cially in the country music
genre, and the Old Rock
School and Red, White
and Bluegrass Festival for
bringing in the bluegrass.
On a more intimate level,
Bernard said over the past
decade, Morganton and
Burke County have seen
a rise to three newmusic
series which have diversi-
ed the fabric of music
being made available to
our community.
Those are the Ervin
House Concert Series (at
the home of Jimand Mary
Ervin); The Grind Cafe Cof-
feehouse (owned by Dave
andTeresa Reep); and the
Americana Stage series
(Bernard and his wife,
Katie Perkins, started six
years ago.)
I see all three of the
newseries prospering
and enriching the musi-
cal experiences available
to our city and county,
Bernard said. If anything,
the diversity of music will
most likely grow. I an-
ticipate a fewmore house
concert series to arise. I see
the larger venues, festivals
and Friday night events to
continue to be popular.
Also looking to the future,
Bernard said he would like
to see a medium-sized
venue in Morganton for
music and theater.
There are so many mu-
sical groups we miss out
on because CoMMA is too
large and the other venues
are too small, he said.
He said a venue that
could seat 125 to 200
people would be ideal.
Bernard sees the impact
music is making on Burkes
economy and said the slow
economy beneted
Americana Stage.
I can say that the
Americana Stage series has
drawn ticket purchasers
from11 states, he said.
The series also draws
fromall over our region.
When the economy was
at its worst, the series was
prospering. I attribute this
to the fact that people still
want to have music as part
of their life. With gas prices
high I found people were
staying closer to home for
their entertainment.
Bernard said Burke
Countians should take
pride in their musical
heritage.
He said, Ive talked to
people fromsurrounding
communities who only
wish they had what we
have here. People who
move here and nd out
about the musical diversity
we offer are often amazed.
One couple visiting here
fromcentral Michigan who
attended an Americana
Stage performance told me
they would have to travel
two hours to Detroit to
hear the caliber of music
available here. A couple
fromFlorida attending a
Harris Brothers concert
at The Grind told me they
were at a loss for words to
express the pure joy the
showprovided.
Gary Leonhardt and Mike
Ramsey, creators of the
Red, White and Bluegrass
Festival
What started as a re-
works showthe Morganton
Recreation Department
sponsored in the early
1980s grewinto a bluegrass
festival Leonhardt and
Ramsey dreamed up and
started 10 years ago.
The rst Red, White and
Bluegrass festival was a
two-day event that grew
a day here and there over
the years until 2010 when
it became a ve-day event,
always starting June 30 and
ending July 4.
The event, Leonhardt
said, has made Morganton
a destination for outsiders
to visit and locals to stay
put for their July 4 holiday.
Visitors fromCanada,
England, Switzerland, Ger-
many, France and Japan
travel to the festival, nowat
its permanent home at the
Catawba Meadows Park,
each year.
Legends such as Earl
Scruggs, George Shufer,
Herb Lambert and Jim
Buchanan helped put the
area on the map, attracting
bluegrass fans to the place
where it started for these
musicians, Leonhardt and
Ramsey said.
Paying homage to the
legends and remember-
ing the roots of bluegrass,
when Leonhardt and
Ramsey work on the
line-up for the festival each
year, they seek traditional
bluegrass musicians.
You have to stay in tune
with your audience, Leon-
hardt said.
The men gave ve
reasons the festival keeps
growing each year:
The music itself
Its a family event, with
no alcohol
It takes place the week
of the Fourth
It is affordable, even
for a family of ve or six
people
The venue at Catawba
Meadows Park
A sixth reason could be
the Bluegrass Camp for
Kids, which the past few
years has been coordi-
nated by Patti Moore,
mother to young brothers
Jacob and Isaac, who make
up the Moore Brothers
bluegrass band.
Last year the camp
hosted 80 children and this
year expects 90 to 100.
Musicians love work-
ing with kids who want to
learn fromthemand who
they dont have to baby-
sit, Leonhardt said. And
families look at music as
a healthier choice. These
kids dont watch muchTV
or play video games. They
practice their music.
Leonhardt said hes in fa-
vor of the festival growing
even more, maybe to the
point where they outgrow
the parking lots and have
to shuttle people in.
He sees the camping
getting bigger, too, as more
musicians come for the
jamsessions that go on
into the wee hours of the
morning, long after the last
act of the night has left the
bluegrass stage.
Ramsey would like to see
an adult camp for older
musicians.
The men said the impact
the festival has on the
economy reaches into the
$3 million range as hotels,
grocery stores, gas stations
and restaurants see
increases in business
around festival time.
Regional attractions,
such as the Biltmore
House, see more business,
too, Leonhardt said.
In addition to attract-
ing visitors, the festival
attracts musicians who
want to come and play
bluegrass.
You wouldnt believe
how many calls I get ask-
ing what does it take to
play the festival and how
many bands I have to turn
away, Leonhardt said.
Ramsey described the
festival as a secure place
for musicians as there is
no shady manager who
doesnt pay them.
Having the festival
leading up to July 4 gives
the musicians a place to
play as there are few other
festivals that week.
We want them to make
money, make a living so
they can keep doing what
they are doing with their
music, Leonhardt said.
THE NEWS HERALD www.morganton.com SUNDAY, MAY 5, 2013 7F
BURKE 20TWENTY
Like music? County very friendly to musicians
ABOVE: The Harris Brothers play at The Grind.
The venue is a popular spot for area music lovers.
LEFT: Josh Green plays mandolin and ddle for
the traditional bluegrass and bluegrass gospel
band Bruce Moody and Elk River at the Red,
White and Bluegrass Festival on July 1, 2008.
NEWS HERALD FILE PHOTOS
James Otto performs at the 28th annual Historic Morganton Festival on Sept. 12, 2009.
ROB FOSTER
Morganton, NC
Associate in Electrical Engineering
Technology
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BY CHERYL M. SHUFFLER
cshufer@morganton.com
MORGANTON
B
urke County may be
known as natures
playground and a
great place to retire, but
something else also is
putting it on the map.
Art.
From a fresco to art
crawls, galleries and live
theater, art has emerged
as part of the countys
culture.
Morganton is on the
cusp of becoming a mecca
for cultural tourism, said
Deborah Jones, executive
director of the Burke Arts
Council.
Art has become main-
stream inValdese, said
Barbara Hefner, director
of Valdese Community
Affairs and Tourism.
Both women are movers
and shakers in the ever ex-
panding circle of all things
art in Burke County and,
along with others in that
circle, see a bright future.
Art on Main Street
Sharon Jablonski,
director Morganton Main
Street, said a thriving art
community can make or
break a downtown.
The impact is huge,
Jablonski said.
She pointed to what the
arts have done for Ashe-
villes River Arts District.
You look anywhere, in
town after town, where it
was dying in a section and
you introduce art to the
section, it revives it.
Morganton isnt there
yet, but is on its way, she
said.
People who love art
followart, Jablonski said.
They travel for art and
that is the type of tour-
ist and supporter who
you want to come to your
town.
Morganton artists are
becoming more business
savvy, Jablonski said. It
used to be that they had
to travel elsewhere to sell
their wares and now there
is a market for their art
here in Burke County.
Jablonski said the reces-
sion helped, not hurt, art
in Morganton.
In a down economy,
people rely on skills and
revert back to what they
can make with their
hands, she said. As a
way to make money, they
recreate themselves.
A block or two from the
Old Courthouse Square is
the most desirable place
for artists to be, she said.
And 10 years from now
Jablonski wants to see
more galleries in those
blocks and more of a
variety of artists.
She also would like to
see the Burke Arts Council
develop space for visual,
performing arts.
A cultural destination
Hefner said inValdese
she has watched art diver-
sify over the past decade.
There are now more art
classes and more accessi-
bility to different mediums
of art, such as ne crafts
and sculpture, she said.
She lauded the Rock
School Art Galleries and
Valdese Heritage Arts
Center for being instru-
mental in the growth of
art by offering a variety of
programs.
The impact of more art
venues on the economy
has been positive because
the arts have madeValdese
a cultural destination, not
simply a heritage site,
she said. This also makes
Burke County a cultural
destination, though Burke
County is also rich in
American history.
In looking to the future,
Hefner expects even more
diversity, more classes
and workshops and more
exhibitions, all of which
will make Valdese an
economic center for fun
and education in art, for
tourist and resident
life-long learners.
She credited eager vol-
unteers for pushing art in
a slow economy.
This means that art is
important to people even
when the economy
suffers, Hefner said.
A home for the arts
and artist
Jones said she, too, looks
for great things to con-
tinue to happen in the
countys art world.
In this year alone, she
said, we have two new
artist studios downtown. I
think that will continue as
the artists realize the sup-
port that exists from the
business community and
from city government. Its
a very nurturing environ-
ment from the artists
perspective and that will
help to attract more studio
spaces and galleries.
She pointed to the resur-
gence in art crawls, held
the third Thursday of May,
June, July and August, and
new art events going on
the calendar.
She said a studio crawl,
an art on the square event
and a ne art show are in
the works as is the second
annual glass artists
exhibition.
We can build on this
energy and become the
destination in the foothills
for the arts by creating an
environment where artists
can work, thrive and feel
supported in their craft,
Jones said.
All of which will impact
the economy.
This all leads up to
job creation and an
improved economy,
Jones said. In the state of
North Carolina, employ-
ment in the arts make
up nearly 300,000 jobs
thats more than 5.5
percent of the states work-
force. In any city/county,
a robust arts industry pro-
duces a creative, vibrant
community, one that
attracts visitors, compa-
nies and good workers. Its
going to take commitment
and hard work, but I think
we are on the right track
here in Morganton and
Burke County.
She said while some
school arts programs, arts
organization and muse-
ums have taken hits in the
down economy and it may
take some time to fully
rebound, shes happy to be
where she is.
I am fortunate to work
with an amazing group of
passionate people, Jones
said, dedicated to pro-
moting a strong cultural
tourism industry in this
state.
An artists story
Artist HamiltonWilliams
is looking to move his
studio HamiltonWilliams
ClayWorks fromValdese
to Morganton, as soon as
he can get the OK from the
city building inspector to
add a kiln.
The 42-year-old moved
to Burke County in 1997
and said for a small mar-
ket, the area is friendly to
artists.
Hamilton sees Morgan-
ton becoming a center for
ceramics and pottery.
His new studio will be a
working studio where he
creates and sells his wares,
and also he is looking to
become a clay supplier.
He said that is needed,
as there is not one be-
tween Asheville and Char-
lotte, and with more pot-
ters coming on the scene,
especially withWestern
Piedmont Community
College graduating them
through its professional
crafts clay program.
Williams said the reces-
sion impacted his busi-
ness some, but he has
been able to work harder,
produce more and seek
out more ways to get his
product to the people.
Social media, especially
Facebook, has helped
him tell his story about
his craft and connect
with those buyers seeking
handmade pieces.
The slow economy also
weeded out the competi-
tion as there are fewer
hobbyists in the market,
Williams said.
Williams, though, is
condent about the future
of his craft.
I wouldnt be expanding
and moving if I werent,
he said.
Morgantons
momentum
Eliot Lytle of MESH
Design Group and MESH
Gallery moved back to
Morganton 12 years ago
and opened the business
with Joe Carey in
downtown in 2009.
Their business model
is unique as it has the
graphic design section to
make money and the art
gallery to interface with
the community
Morganton is halfway
there in becoming a
vibrant arts and artist at-
traction, Lytle said, and he
likes the momentum the
city has going for it.
We have a long way
to go, but we have made
progress in the last four to
ve years, Lytle said. We
are headed in the right
direction.
He pointed to ceramics
artist Jenny Mastins move
to Morganton fromAshe-
ville andWilliams planned
move to downtown as well
as the opening of Kala Gal-
lery and the atmosphere at
the Grind Caf as evidence
that Morganton is
becoming an art hub.
He said where Morgan-
ton can compete with the
bigger cities, such as Ashe-
ville, is in cheaper rent for
artists to open studios here
and still be in the region.
That can have an impact
on the local economy by
artists and galleries open-
ing and lling up empty
buildings, he said, and
having more artists and/or
galleries in a cluster is
more of a drawto get
people off the interstate
and to downtown.
Lytle said Morganton has
the potential to add ve
to 10 more galleries in the
coming years.
Diner and a show
In addition to bringing
live productions to the
county, the City of Mor-
ganton Municipal Audito-
rium is home to a perma-
nent piece of art history: a
Ben Long fresco.
CoMMA also hosts art
events, such as quilt
hangings.
But its main attractions
are onstage.
Director Bill Wilson
said CoMMASs annual
ticket and rental revenue
is between $255,000 and
$300,000.
We have gone as high
as $400,000 in good years,
he said.
While he was hesitant
to put a price tag on the
impact a CoMMA show
has on restaurants, gas
and lodging, he said about
33 percent of audience
members come from out
of town to catch a show.
So I am sure some eat
here and buy fuel, Wilson
said.
Wilson said while
CoMMA has been consis-
tent in striving for quality
of events and services,
he is not afraid to tweak
the process and nd new
visitors.
Adding online ticketing
and website have realized
new audiences, he said.
Community theater
While CoMMA brings in
a variety of professional
plays and musical acts, it
also opens its curtains to
local school band perfor-
mances, dance recitals
and church dramas.
InValdese the Old Rock
School offers a similar
venue and is home to
the Old Colony Players, a
community based theater
company that puts on
several productions a year
plus the annual outdoor
summer drama From
This Day Forward. It was
rst performed in 1967
and tells the story of the
Waldenses and their jour-
ney from Italy to settle in
Valdese.
8F SUNDAY, MAY 5, 2013 THE NEWS HERALD www.morganton.com
BURKE 20TWENTY
Art a big part of countys culture
WHERE THE ARTS AT
IN BURKE COUNTY
Burke Arts Council and
Jailhouse Gallery
115 Meeting St.,
Morganton. 828-433-7282.
www.burkearts.org
CoMMA
401 S. College St.,
Morganton. 828-433-7469.
www.commaonline.org
Kala
100W. Union St.,
Morganton. 828-437-1806.
www.kalagallery.com
MESH Gallery
114-BW. Union St.,
Morganton. 828437-1957.
www.meshgallery.com
Morganton City Hall,
Art in the Hall
305 E. Union St.,
Morganton. 828-438-5256.
www.ci.morganton.nc.us
Downtown murals
Kimbrells, corner of West
Union and King Street,
Morganton
Village Park Mural, Main
Street, Valdese
Old Colony Players
400 Main St. W., Valdese.
828-879-2129.
www.visitvaldese.com
Raymond B.
Goodfellow Gallery,
Western Piedmont
Community College
1001 Burkemont Ave.,
Morganton. 828-438-
6000. www.wpcc.edu
Rock School Arts Foun-
dation and Rock School
Art Galleries I & II and
Studio 101
400 Main St. W.,
Valdese. 828-879-2129.
www.visitvaldese.com
Signature Studio XI
106 W. Union St.,
Morganton. 828-437-6095
Valdese Heritage Arts
Center
146 W. Main St., Valdese.
828-874-1849.
www.valdeseheritage
artcenter.com
Main Street director: Impact of thriving art community is huge
Metal sculpting is just one
of the arts that is popular
with artists in Burke
County.
ABOVE: During a
dress rehearsal for
Cinderellamembers
of the cast enact one
of the rst scenes.
LEFT: This wooden
toy by Bill Burns Jr.
is part of the Rock
School Arts annual
holiday show. Burke
County is host to a
variety of artists who
specialize in different
mediums.
THE NEWS HERALD FILE PHOTO
Home Decor
Purses
Jewelry
Clothing
Shoes &Boots
Toys
And Much More
www.highcountrymorganton.com
Open 7 Days
116 N. Sterling St.
Downtown Morganton
BYTRACY FARNHAM
tfarnham@morganton.com
MORGANTONMoving
images display across the
screen, live music keeps
the congregation on its
feet and toes tap in unison
to the beat of the drum.
Theres no steeple above
this church meeting, and
the standard tools of wor-
ship hymnbooks are rarely
seen and even the Bible is
becoming scarce.
At Journey Church,
thought provoking images
are used with the words to
worship choruses on pro-
jector screens throughout
the auditorium at Table
Rock Middle School, where
the congregation holds
Sunday morning services.
Journey Churchis a church
plant from Biltmore
Baptist in Asheville.
Hymn books are a thing
of the past, which leaves
hands free to raise in wor-
ship or clap in praise.
We do not use hymn
books. We dont have
them, said John Setter-
lind, pastor of music and
worshipat JourneyChurch.
We are trying our hardest
to stay relevant to the next
generation and hold onto
the tradition of the great
hymns of the faith.
Setterlind said he uses
movie and video back-
grounds including images
froma city scene to nature,
to candles. They are mov-
ing images and we use 95
percent during the middle
of worship.
Speaking of how he still
utilizes the older hymns of
the faith, Setterlind said,
We change the accompa-
niment to be more rele-
vant to today. He pointed
how instrumentation has
evolved and commonly
heard instruments are gui-
tars and drums rather than
a piano or organ.
A more palpable wor-
ship style is used to reach
into the next generation.
We want to try and have
the doctrinal teaching of
the hymns, which is won-
derful, put to palpable mu-
sic, he said. We want to re-
tain the doctrinal richness
of the hymns, Setterlind
added.
Biblical instruction
Sharing the message on
a broader scale has never
been more accessible than
today. Utilizing techno-
logical advances, opportu-
nities ranging from online
sermons, to availability
through podcasts, how
does the church keep pa-
rishioners in the pew?
With tablets carried
in place of the Bible
and Smart phones re-
maining on to tweet re-
sponses during the wor-
ship experience; todays
church congregation is
technologically tuned in.
The Bible is available on
YouVersion which is ac-
cessible on either a smart
phone or tablet, Setterlind
told. The preacher uses a
tablet and I do as well. I
have seen 15 or 20 people
using tablets, he added.
Using these devices can
connect those in the pew
to the person in the pulpit.
You can use these to be
strategic and creative
keep them engaged, Set-
terlind said. I have seen
(not here) people tweet
back to the pastor ques-
tions. This is a way to ac-
tively involve everyone
that has a Smart phone,
Setterlind said.
Speaking positively
about the utilization of
electronic devices within
the worship experience,
Setterlind said, When you
do something like this it
ties a bow around every-
one and helps to get them
involved in what you are
doing.
One downfall to these
devices may create a hand-
icap for scripture memori-
zation. I have a sense this
has already happened,
Setterlind said.
Memorization has al-
ways been a struggle in
society in children and
adults, he said. Yet, it
is always good to hide
Gods word in your heart
and memorize the true
meaning.
Five years from now,
Setterlind said the meth-
ods may change, but not
the message. I want our
church to be so relevant
and be preaching the word
of God from the Bible
the method may very well
change, he said.
The church which
planted this one already
has an online church, he
said. Throughout the ser-
mon, there are six or seven
pastors taking questions.
Looking ahead, Setterlind
said, Many churches may
end up being online the
traditional getting dressed
up and going to Sunday
school and church may
change in the future.
With an online accessi-
ble church, Setterlind pro-
jected this outlet reaching
into homes across the U.S.
and across the community
through an online service.
A lot can be reached.
Ontheother hand, Quak-
er Meadows Presbyterian,
one of Burke Countys
oldest churches presently
does not have an Internet-
capable sanctuary.
The churchs history
dates back to the late
1700s and the congrega-
tion is presently working
to get plans underway for
a building project.
We have a dream of
building a new fellowship
hall and a committee is
working on that, pastor
Yvonne Thurmond said.
She hopes a newbuilding
will provide greater out-
reach capabilities for the
future of Quaker Meadows.
Im using a computer
and a projector to access
YouTubevideosandDVDs,
Thurmond said as a means
of Bible study helps. I have
denitely piqued their
interest, she added.
Her vision for the facility
is, how to use that to draw
people.
Thurmond hopes a new
building would provide
not only a greater seat-
ing capacity, especially for
chicken pie suppers, but
the opportunity to add
programs. She said, We
could do a program before
that as a way to drawthem.
This is a way we could ex-
pand what has already
been done for decades.
Describing her ock
and how the church has
remained historically for
centuries, Thurmond said,
They are proud of their
heritage, and they are
determined folks, a resil-
ient people. I admire this
and will nd ways to use
that energy in a forward
moving way.
They have a sustained
determination and a be-
lief that God will help keep
them here, she said.
With future planning un-
derway, Thurmond said,
We will look around our
community to see what are
the needs and how does
this building help us meet
them.
Deaf ministry evolving
In 2008, Sally Dixon was
new to Catawba Valley
Baptist Church when ap-
proached by a deaf man
requesting for her to in-
terpret. With more than 40
years experience interpret-
ing, she said, I knew that
God was up to something,
she said.
This ministry continues
to evolve; Dixon reported
that God has brought both
hearing and deaf people
who have the ability to
assist in this ministry to
CVBC. The church offers a
multi-age adult class and
special needs adult class,
along with interpreters for
worship services and Bible
study.
The ministry includes
ministry to the deaf mem-
bers children in school
out of town, a monthly
ministry to NCSD stu-
dents in conjunction with
First Baptist Church deaf
mission, weekly Bible story
training at the Catawba
River Baptist Association
center along with hosting
an annual deaf conference.
Dixon said the local deaf
ministry goes abroad, to
support missionaries to
the deaf in three foreign
countries, and to share Je-
sus Christ withdeaf people
in Burke County, South Af-
rica, South America and
Long Island in NewYork.
Since 2010 CVBC deaf
members and members
of other deaf ministries in
Burke County and other
counties have beenonsev-
eral missiontrips toforeign
countries and within the
United States with more
trips planned.
Going forth into the fu-
ture, Dixonsaid, Theinter-
action of the deaf ministry
members with the entire
CVBC church body has
heightenedtheir awareness
that each member, deaf or
hearing, is vitally impor-
tant to the body (church).
God does not separate us;
He connects us.
She emphasized statis-
tics, It is estimated that
750 deaf people die daily
without Jesus Christ as
their Lord and Savior, and
when members of the
CVBC Deaf Ministry have
a true burden for the souls
of deaf people around the
world, and then God will
use these members in
mighty ways.
Dixon explained how the
visual/videocomponent of
technologydevices bridges
the gap between manually
presented information.
She said, The use of
these devices has allowed
for a rapid connection of
deaf church members with
each other and with other
deaf ministries, causing
the development of re-
lationships, of networks,
and of organizations that
foster spiritual growth and
training.
Dixon said, Deaf people
trained as servants of Jesus
Christ can alter the num-
ber of deaf people dying
daily without Christ in
their hearts!
Linking ministry
opportunities
Flip through most any
magazine, circular or ad-
vertising material and
a QR (quick response)
barcode though small in
detail, offers abundant
information.
QR codes are now mak-
ing their way onto minis-
try materials and provide a
greater capacity to reach a
broader network.
Marlene Houk, Admin-
istrative Assistant for Ca-
tawba River Baptist Asso-
ciation (CRBA) has found
using QR codes to be a
valuable tool. They are a
veryeffectivewaytospread
the gospel, she said.
Houk has been using
the codes for the past two
years and is spreading the
word about their use. I
feel like a missionary, she
said. They started in Japan
in 1994. It is about time we
use them, Houk added.
It takes about 30 sec-
onds to create and it can
include something as sim-
ple as contact information
or more complicated as in
a video link, Houk said.
Smart phone users can
download an app to access
details when they scan the
bar code. A lot depends
upon the reception, she
said. Houkrecommends ei-
ther three or four gigabytes
for the best reception rate.
Driving the point across,
Houk gave an example of
a story printed in a maga-
zine about a ministry in
Kenya. Click on the code
and a video incorporates
more senses than words,
you can actually see the
village in Kenya.
To create them, she uti-
lizes a link that is free to
access through Google. At
CRBA, Houk said she uses
the code with newsletter
distribution.
Houk has seen the codes
popping up everywhere.
They can be put on T-
shirts, birthday cards,
banners and yers.
She recently created a
yer for the National Day of
Prayer womens prayer lun-
cheon, with extra informa-
tion available on the key-
note speaker and soloist.
I use them, when I see
a need for it, she said. If
I were doing the bulletin,
I would put them in the
church bulletin.
They are a very effective
way to spread the gospel,
she said.
Youth ministry
First Advent Christian
Church just nished up-
dates to its youth room.
Pastor Patrick Bradshaw
said, they used a contem-
porary color scheme and,
lime green chairs. They
dont appeal to me at all,
but the youth really like
them, he added.
We wanted to transfer
this intoanarea where kids
want to come by making it
an inviting environment,
he said. The numbers
have picked up already,
Bradshaw added.
Filling the room with
a caf, sitting area and
game systems like the Wii
and Playstation 3, a foos-
ball and air hockey tables,
Bradshaw said, We are se-
lective on what games they
are allowed to play.
Pointingout arecent arti-
cle that he read, Bradshaw
told if churches continue
on the route they are pres-
ently going, Christianity
could be obsolete within
the next 50 years.
Thats scary, he said.
In planning this new
room, Bradshaw said they
incorporated ideas from
the youth. We have to be
relevant to this upcom-
ing generation. We added
a very nice sound system
and we hope in the future
to establish our own praise
band.
Bradshaw strives to keep
the youthengagedthrough
drama. First of all, it gets
the youth involved and it
gives more emphasis to
the message.
THE NEWS HERALD www.morganton.com SUNDAY, MAY 5, 2013 9F
BURKE 20TWENTY
SUBMITTED PHOTO
Journey Church congregation members sing along with words displayed on the overhead screen and use their free hands for raising during worship.
TRACY FARNHAM/THE NEWS HERALD
A tablet is quickly becoming the new standard in nding
Scripture text as compared to the traditional Bible.
Churches aim to stay relevant, hold on to tradition
Evolving Ministry
302 College Street Morganton 437-4361