Burke County Fire Marshal and Emergency Manager Michael Willis says Burke Emergency Management has prepared for any threats posed by the remnants of Hurricane Irma, as it passes through the tip of WNC into the Tennessee Valley. Willis says plans were made last week and coordinated with local municipalities and State of NC. Willis says he feels Burke County is prepared and ready.

The U.S.Forest Service is closely monitoring Hurricane Irma and is temporarily closing all campgrounds and recreation areas in the Nantahala, Pisgah and Uwharrie National Forests. Here are the closings in the Grandfather Ranger District:
* Curtis Creek Road (NFSR #482)
* Table Rock Road (NFSR#99)
* Maple Sally Road(NFSR#187)
* Brown Mountain OHV Trails
* Brown Mountain Campsites
* Mortimer & Curtis Creek Campgrounds
All are expected to reopen by Thursday.

The Blue Ridge Parkway is issuing a road advisory from Milepost 217 to Milepost 469, all areas south of the NC/VA state line from this morning through Wednesday morning. Information related to the path of Hurricane Irma, from the National Weather Service, suggests preparedness for strong winds at high elevations, and isolated flash flooding over the foothills and mountains of the Southern Blue Ridge. Park visitors are encouraged to use extreme caution and be aware of the potential for falling rocks and downed trees.

The State, last week, released letter grades. In the Burke County Public Schools system, 24 schools eligible for a letter grade earned grades of C or better. In Burke County Public Schools, the cohort high school graduation rate is 86.4. Burke Middle College continues to have a 100% graduation rate. Freedom has the second highest graduation rate in the county at 92.3 and Draughn the third highest at 92%. Freedom continues to have a high percentage of students pass Advanced Placement (AP) tests. last school year, 57% of Freedom's students who took an AP test passed with a score of 3,4 or 5. Draughn led the way in WorkKeys assessment scores, which measures career readiness skills, with 76.1% of its students scoring a silver certificate or above. Countywide, students improved ACT scores by 2.2 percentage points with 61.7% of students making a 17 or higher composite score.

One of Burke County's Most Wanted has been nabbed. According to the Burke County Sheriff's Office, on Friday Rebecca Allendria McCloud, 36, of Connelly Springs was taken into custody by the Catawba County Sheriff's Office. McCloud had been on the Most Wanted list for 8 weeks for Felony Probation Violation. She was placed in the Burke Catawba District Confinement Facility under a $30,500 secured bond. A court appearance is scheduled for September 19th.