As filing draws to a close, Board of Election officials are seeing a significant number of Republican candidates coming to the table. Election officials from Caldwell, Catawba and McDowell Counties report all filings have been Republican. Catawba and McDowell are both looking to fill two seats; while Caldwell has three. The Burke County Board of Commissioners has three seats to fill - to date, 7 Republicans have filed; 3 of which are incumbents Johnny Carswell, Jeff Brittain, and Jack Carroll. Four others have filed for the commission seats - those being Democratic filings. Filing officially ends Monday at Noon.

A Burke County registered sex offender, missing since October 30th, has been located in Vermont. The Burke County Sheriff's Office reported Thursday, that 48 year old Robert Kenneth LaValley Jr. of Morganton, was found at the Canadian Border by the U.S.Border Patrol. LaValley is currently being held without bond in Vermont pending extradition.

Liberty Middle School has received a $4000 grant from bestselling author James Patterson to support its' media center. In addition, the Scholastic Reading Club will match each dollar of Patterson's donation to allow teachers to obtain books and other classroom materials. Liberty was selected from nearly 28,000 applicants. Along with the Scholastic Reading Club, Patterson has made a commitment to help save school libraries as part of an ongoing effort to keep books and reading a priority. Reports state that Patterson has donated $1.75 million dollars to school libraries this year.