The National Weather Service at GSP has confirmed that a tornado touched down in Catawba County earlier this week. Catawba County and State Emergency Management officials, along with the NWS surveyed the damage that occurred just SE of Newton Monday. They discovered many trees downed, uprooted, or snapped due to the storm. Officials say most building damage was caused by fallen trees; while roof, siding, and some window damge also occurred in the area. Reports say the NWS rdar indicated circulation in two places following damage reports by Catawba Emergency Management and eyewitness accounts. The EF-zero tornado touchdown damaged 5 structures; leaving two residences uninhabitable.

The March unemployment rate in the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton area was 4.4%, in Asheville 3.9%. Area county rates include Avery at 5.1%, Burke, Catawba & McDowell 4.4%, Caldwell 4.6 and Lincoln 4.2%. Buncombe County had the lowest unemployment rate in March at 3.7%.

In his budget proposal earlier this week, Governor Cooper proposed adding $15 million to the Smart Start program, a public private partnership focused on early childhood health and education. Additional funding allocated in some area counties include:
Alexander - $59,354
Burke - $207,204
Caldwell - $173,328
Catawba - $273,363
Lincoln/Gaston - $395,730
Watauga - $44,577

The City of Morganton wants the public's input on parks and recreation programs. There will be a Pop-Up Event on the Greenway Saturday, May 13th, from 9-Noon, and Wednesday May 17th, staff will be at 116 West Union Street. The public can drop by and give input on the Parks and Recreation Master Plan and the Downtown Master Plan. There will be a Public Input/Steering Committee meeting Thursday June 8th, at 6PM at the Mountain View Recreation Center, and staff also plan to have a booth at the July 4th Independence Day Celebration at Catawba Meadows Park where citizens can provide input and fill out a survey.