Burke County Public Schools is reducing its grab-and-go meal sites from

eight schools to six, and the number of distribution days from five days a week

to two days a week – Tuesdays and Fridays. The change will start the week of

April 20^th. The same of number of meals will be available to ensure students are

fed breakfasts and lunches seven days a week. Extra meals will be handed out

on Tuesdays and Fridays so families can stockpile the meals for children 18

and younger. Hillcrest Elementary and Ray Childers Elementary will no

longer serve as feeding sites. The school site locations will be: Table Rock

Middle, Liberty Middle School, Mountain View Elementary, Valdese

Elementary, East Burke Middle, and George Hildebrand Elementary. For the

most up-to-date bus stop times and locations visit bit.ly/BCPSGrabLunch

Due to recent precipitation and decreased fire danger, the N.C.Department of

Agriculture announced Monday that they have rescinded the restriction on

open burning for 32 Western Region counties. Also on Monday, McDowell

County lifted their burning ban within 100 feet of an occupied residence.

As of April 5^th, North Carolina’s online response rate continues to lag behind

the nation, According to Carolina Demography, the state’s overall response

rate is 42%. By the start of the third week of Census reporting, North

Carolina’s self-response rank had risen 6 spots from the first reporting date

to 37 out of 50 states and DC. Nationally, 45% of households had responded

to the 2020 Census.