The Burke County Board of Education meeting Monday, saw students recognized for MathCounts, All-State Honor Band, State Science Fair, AJROTC Leadership Bowl Championship, State 3A Wrestling Champion and Governor's School. Glen Alpine won 1st in the elementary MathCounts while Forest Hill was 2nd and Valdese 3rd. Eight top Mathletes were recognized: Karson Ingram, Douglas Fissinger, Logan Masencup, Ethan Winebarger, Ashton Mears, Sammy Ramirez, runnerup Avery Fraley and 1st place Morgan Cargill. Three Liberty Middle students were name to the All-State Honor Band, Ranson, Owen Streppa and Daniel Chandler. Cora Hunt of Heritage Middle was recognized for the State Science Fair in the Junior Engineering category. She was an honorable mention, given the NASA Award and US Air Force Award. Jack Swanson of Freedom earned a perfect score on the ACT. He and fellow Freedom student Randy Whitehead, were chosen for Governor's School in the social science program. Clay Beach of Freedom was the State 3A wrestling champion in the 106-pound category, the first Patriot wrestling champion in 32 years.

The Dobson Knob Fire in McDowell County has grown to hundreds of acres with 0% containment. An closures now include all U.S.Forest Lands north of Mountains to Sea Trail amd Dobson knob Road, east of North Fork of Catawba River, south Old Linville Road, and west of Overmountain Victory Trail. Closures are also in place for the Mountains to Sea Trail from the North Fork of the Catawba River to Old NC 105 and Dobson Knob Road. North Cove, Woodlawn and Linville Falls Communities as well as areas to the north of the fire may experience smoke. Travelers along 221N should expect to smoke along the roadway.

A Morganton woman is charged with felony child abuse and felony invluntary manslaughter. The Burke County Sheriff's Office reported the charges Monday, on 23-year-old Jamie Lyn Basinger. The charges were in connection with a investigation of a 3-year-old child found dead on the front porch of a Hopewell Road residence on March 15th. A Burke County Grand Jury returned a True Bill of Indictment on Basinger on those charges. Bond was set at $100,000 with a court appearance scheduled for May 15th.