CTE Presidential Scholar nominees were recognized and board members were given the Gold Bell award in Monday night's regular Burke County Board of Education meeting. Each high school is asked to nominate for US Presidential Scholar programs. Some requirements are for students to have completed four CTE classes in field of study, have classes of academic rigor and show problem solving skills. There were four nominees for the program, one from each county high school. These students are Gaomong Lo of Draughn, Malachi Curtis of East Burke, Hailey Ward of Freedom, and Megan Elizabeth Martin of Patton with the overall county winner, Gaomong Lo. Each year, students in elementary and middle school participate in the school bus poster safety contest. Burke County had a state winner in the bus safety poster contest, Blake Branch of Heritage Middle. The Gold Bell Award recognizes boards where every member earned 12 hours of training between July 1 and June 30 of the school year. The whole Burke County board was recognized with Bell Awards for their achievement.

Catawba County has confirmed the fourth case of rabies in the county this year. According to a news release from Catawba County, Animal Services received a call October 9th from a citizen in Claremont whose dog was found chewing a deceased raccoon in his backyard. The raccoon was sent to the State Public Health Lab in Raleight, which notified Catawba County on October 11th that the raccoon tested positive for rabies. The best way to protect your pets from rabies is to have them properly vaccinated for rabies.

The McDowell County Sheriff's Office reports a Nebo man was sheltering a woman by authorities. Deputies have charged Patrick Ryan Kelley, 41, with harboring a fugitive. Investigators received that Michelle Frady - wanted on federal probation warrants - was at Kelley's residence. When officers went to the home, they were unable to get anyone to answer the door. Minutes later, detectives reportedly spotted Kelley and Frady exit the home.