Ranger Earl Weaver will be guiding a free 'Loon and Waterfowl Boat Tour' at Lake James State Park on Tuesday and Wednesday, at 10a.m.

The park suggests that you bring water, binoculars, camera and either a towel or cushion to sit on. Passengers must be age 7 or above.

Admission is free. 

For reservations, call the Park Office at (828) 584-7728.

Officials say cleanup has finished after a discharge of untreated wastewater in Morganton.

Foothills Correctional Institution had a discharge of an estimated 2,500 gallons of untreated wastewater on Sunday, October 7, through a manhole near the prison.

A debris clog in a sewer line caused the wastewater to overflow for approximately 30 minutes, officials said.

Some of the wastewater did reach nearby Hunting Creek, but no fish kill was reported.

Cleanup operations were completed by Wednesday.

CONNELLY SPRINGS, NC (WBTV) - Assisted by a N.C. Forest Service youth program, the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission and the N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation will conduct a prescribed burn of some 1,600 acres in Burke and Rutherford counties during the month of March when appropriate weather conditions occur.

The prescribed burn of 631 acres on South Mountains State Park and 1,007 acres on South Mountains Game Land will aid in ecosystem restoration of the land, wildlife habitat improvement and reduce brush and debris that can cause dangerous wildfires. The carefully planned and maintained fire could last two to three days.