Earlier today (August 28), the Burke County Sheriff’s Office, the Morganton Department of Public Safety, the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation Bomb Squad, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Burke Emergency Management responded to Patton High School after two suspicious items were found.

A Patton staff member noticed one item in the front of the school at approximately 7 a.m. and notified the school resource officer. Students arriving at school were assembled at a safe location. The bomb squad accessed and cleared the scene, deeming the items not dangerous.

The school system says out of an abundance of caution, school was released for the day. A deciding factor in that decision involved food preparation and the fact that it was too late in the morning for cafeteria staff to prepare food for lunch.

Officers continue to investigate the items and are reviewing video footage. Anybody with information is asked to call the Burke County Sheriff’s Office at 828-438-5500. School is expected to continue as scheduled Tuesday (August 29).