Masks Mandatory in BCPS  

The Burke County Board of Education voted Monday night to make face

coverings universal indoors for all teachers, staff and students in K-12

schools, regardless of vaccination status. This vote rescinds the board’s

previous decision that had made face coverings optional in schools.

The board also voted to give Burke County Public Schools administration

the authority to implement universal masking indoors. Due to current

federal mandate, face coverings also are required on yellow school buses

and activity buses.

In other business at Monday night’s meeting, Dr. Karen Auton was selected

as assistant superintendent of Burke County Public Schools effective

September 1^st. According to a news release from the school system, Auton

is the first female assistant superintendent in Burke Public Schools history.

McDowell State of Emergency  

A State of Emergency has been declared by McDowell County, Marion

and Old Fort due to flash flooding and wind damage associated with the

remnants of Fred. Emergency personnel across McDowell responded to

calls for downed power lines and trees, mudslides and other calls for

assistance. Please call your utility company to report a power outage

not 911.

Earthquake  

An earthquake hit Western North Carolina just before 9:30 Tuesday

morning. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the 2.7 magnitude

quake was located 3.5 miles north of Morganton and had a depth

of 7 kilometers.

EMS Program  

Burke County Emergency Medical Services has been selected to join

the Pediatric Emergency Care Coordinators Plus Program, an advanced

pediatric training and education program developed by researchers at

the UNC Chapel Hill School of Medicine in partnership with the NC Office

of EMS and funded by the EMS for Children Innovation and Improvement

Center. Twelves EMS agencies throughout the state, including Burke and

Caldwell, were selected following an application and interview process.

The Program begins September 1^st and runs for 2 years. 

Caldwell Vaccine Clinics  

The Caldwell County Health Department will hold two mobile vaccine

clinics this week. On Thursday, the Health Department, in partnership

with JBS and Lenoir Parks and Rec, will host a clinic from 3 till 5 at the

Martin Luther King Jr. Center in Lenoir. On Sunday, beginning at 1 p.m.

the Health Department, along with West Caldwell Health Council, will

hold a vaccine clinic at Hudson Methodist Church, 383 Main Street.

Appointments are not needed for the mobile vaccine clinics, however,

the department requires appointments for vaccines during its regularly

scheduled hours. To schedule an appointment, call 828-426-8400.