According to the Morganton News Herald, Three people were rescued on Monday morning after a kayaking incident left them stranded on an island just downstream from Bridgewater Dam. Linda Bayer said they started at that part of the river because of all of the rescues they read about at the spillway near the Morganton Water Treatment plant. Bayer and Karen Cheek weren’t seriously injured, but they were shaken up. When Bayer, her son and Cheek were on the river, both turbines at Bridgewater Dam were turned on, according to the Duke Energy website. In June, Burke County Tourism Director Ed Phillips warned of the dangers both turbines pose to inexperienced paddlers. Glen Alpine Fire Department and Burke County EMS responded along with the Burke County Rescue Squad.
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