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Jan82024 by Scott PelkeyNo Comments
NWS Issues Watches Ahead of Heavy Rain, Wind, Flooding Risk Tuesday

NWS Issues Watches Ahead of Heavy Rain, Wind, Flooding Risk Tuesday

Weather
ASHEBORO N.C. – Ahead of expected heavy rain, strong winds, and the threat of flash flooding on Tuesday the National Weather Service office in Raleigh has issued a Flash Flood Watch and Wind Advisory for much of central N.C. including Randolph County. According to forecasters, a strong storm system will bring widespread heavy rain, gusty to damaging winds, and the threat of a few tornadoes to central N.C. on Tuesday January 9th, 2024. Severe weather is expected to begin to arrive in Randolph County starting as soon as noon on Tuesday and is expected to continue until late into the night. WIND - South or southeasterly winds will increase to 15 to 25 mph, with gusts between 35 and 45 mph expected during the afternoon and evening Tuesday. Gusty winds could blow around unsecured...
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Jan52024 by Scott PelkeyNo Comments
Winter Weather Advisory – What to Expect in Randolph County

Winter Weather Advisory – What to Expect in Randolph County

Weather
ASHEBORO N.C.  – The National Weather Service in Raleigh has issued a Winter Weather Advisory for portions of central North Carolina, including Randolph County. Here is what you can expect. A period of light freezing rain is set to impact the northern Piedmont, mainly along and north of I-85, from 3 a.m. to 9 a.m. Saturday morning. Here in Randolph County, forecasters are predicting around 0.02” of ice accumulation. Temperatures will remain right near the freezing point through the morning hours on Saturday and any freezing rain is expected to transition to rain by 4 a.m. Total rainfall for Saturday is expected to be around half to three quarters of an inch. The risk of isolated flash flooding cannot be ruled out from Saturday morning through early afternoon. Combined with...
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Jan42024 by Scott PelkeyNo Comments
North Carolina Zoo Set to Temporarily Close for Staff Training and Safety Drills

North Carolina Zoo Set to Temporarily Close for Staff Training and Safety Drills

NC Zoo
Emergency Services Vehicles near Junction Plaza at the NC Zoo. (Scott Pelkey / Acme News Archive) ASHEBORO N.C.  – The North Carolina Zoo along will all its public walking trails will be closed to the public from Monday January 8th through January 12th for staff training, including required safety drills and maintenance. As an accredited Zoo through the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, the North Carolina Zoo is required to conduct various safety drills involving its staff. These drills cover a wide range of scenarios, from protocols for handling animal escapes to responding to diving incidents, to fires, animal bites, and more. “Employees need to drill and practice their responses so that they are prepared in the event of an actual situation,” said Diane Villa, the Zoo’s D...
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Dec292023 by Scott PelkeyNo Comments
North Carolina Zoo Sets Record Attendance After Passing One Million Guests in 2023

North Carolina Zoo Sets Record Attendance After Passing One Million Guests in 2023

NC Zoo
ASHEBORO N.C. – With just a few days before the end of the year, the North Carolina Zoo exceeded one million guests in a calendar year for the first time in its history. On December 27th, 2023, Ran Liu and his family became the one millionth visitor to the North Carolina Zoo for the 2023 calendar year. The previous record for highest attendance in a calendar year was 930,002, set in 2022. The Liu family (Photo provided by NC Zoo) “Being recognized as the millionth guest was a pleasant surprise and an honor,” says Liu, a Zoo member according to a press release from the Zoo. “I look forward to the day when [the Zoo] celebrates two or three million guests in a year,” he explains. “Everyone should experience it for themselves. I encourage others to come, volunteer, or find a way to g...
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Dec142023 by Randolph News NowNo Comments
North Carolina Zoo Mourns Tragic Loss of Giraffe Calf

North Carolina Zoo Mourns Tragic Loss of Giraffe Calf

NC Zoo
(Acme News Archive) ASHEBORO, N.C. (NC ZOO)-– The North Carolina Zoo is heartbroken to announce the untimely death of Fenn, the beloved six-month-old giraffe calf, whose birth and presence at the Zoo delighted individuals around the world. A grief counselor has been brought in to support staff members as they navigate the emotions associated with this tragic loss. Fenn was nursing when he became unexpectedly startled by another giraffe. He bolted, colliding with a nearby gate and falling to the ground.  Unfortunately, Fenn sustained head and neck trauma from the fall and passed away late evening Dec. 13 despite receiving rapid medical intervention from veterinary staff.  Fenn was born at the North Carolina Zoo on May 20, 2023, to a first-time mother, Leia (14), and fath...
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Dec142023 by Scott PelkeyNo Comments
Coastal Low to Bring Heavy Rain and Winds Sunday

Coastal Low to Bring Heavy Rain and Winds Sunday

Weather
(irontrybex / Adobe Stock) ASHEBORO N.C. - A strong coastal low system will sweep across central North Carolina Sunday bringing torrential rain and strong winds.  A coastal low-pressure system will begin to move up from the gulf through the southeast coast of the United States, across Florida and Georgia on Saturday and through South Carolina and North Carolina on Sunday.  Impacts According to the National Weather Service Office in Raleigh the storm will bring areas of heavy rainfall with the potential for localized flooding, especially in urban and poor drainage areas. Rainfall amounts of two to three inches are expected from Saturday night through Sunday night. Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around light unsecured objects such as holiday decorations...
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Dec132023 by Scott PelkeyNo Comments
Community Rallies to Support Family after Child Seriously Injured in House Fire

Community Rallies to Support Family after Child Seriously Injured in House Fire

Local
(Photo via Facebook) See upcoming events to support the Burroughs family and how you can help out by clicking here. ASHEBORO N.C. - The community is coming together to support a local family after their 10-year-old son was seriously injured in a house fire that destroyed the family home.  On December 8th, 2023, at 2:50 a.m. the Burroughs’ family home on Mountain Creek Rd. caught fire. At the time, Kevin and Shauna Burroughs were home asleep with their two children, 15-year-old daughter, Kamdyn and 10-year-old son, Chevy.  According to stories shared by family and friends with local media outlets, Shauna was able to pull Kamdyn out through a window. Kevin, the father, was pushed back by heavy smoke and fire trying to reach Chevy and ended up breaking through a wall to...
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Dec72023 by Randolph News NowNo Comments
North Carolina Zoo Announces Call for Artists: Artwork for New Asia Region

North Carolina Zoo Announces Call for Artists: Artwork for New Asia Region

NC Zoo
"Elephant Group," by Peter Woytuk located at the NC Zoo Entrance (Acme News Archive) ASHEBORO, N.C. (NC ZOO) — The North Carolina Zoo and North Carolina Zoo Society announce a new public art opportunity for artists and artist teams to design art for the new continent of Asia. With a budget of $250,000 provided through the Zoo Society, this project will join the more than 150 works of art in and around the Zoo. The first step of the process, the Request for Qualifications, has begun and calls for artists (and artist teams) to submit their qualifications for the design, fabrication, and installation of a permanent outdoor public art project for installation within Asia. The request will run through Feb. 2, 2024. The art collection at the Zoo includes monumental works rang...
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Nov302023 by Scott PelkeyNo Comments
Solar Storms Expected to Impact Tonight, Could bring Auroras to North Carolina

Solar Storms Expected to Impact Tonight, Could bring Auroras to North Carolina

Weather
A coronal mass ejection bursting from the edge of the Sun on May 1, 2013. (NASA) ASHEBORO N.C. - Four explosions on the surface of the sun have sent waves of charged particles flying through space resulting in a geomagnetic storm and auroras tonight. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA) operates the Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) which is tasked with providing space weather forecasts and alerts. On Wednesday, November 29th, 2023, the Space Weather Prediction Center issued an alert that a fast moving coronal mass ejection (CME) could combine with three other CMEs already headed towards Earth, resulting in one larger geomagnetic storm, which is expected to impact the Earth in the tonight and into the early morning hours on December 1st, 2023. According...
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Nov202023 by Scott PelkeyNo Comments
Much Needed Rain on the Way, Bringing Threat of Severe Weather

Much Needed Rain on the Way, Bringing Threat of Severe Weather

Weather
Fire fighters on the scene of an out building fire on Oakland Ave on Sat Nov 18th, 2023. [Scott Pelkey | North State Journal] ASHEBORO N.C. - Fire crews have been dealing with brush and forest fires locally and across the state this month and much-needed rain in the forecast should bring some relief, along with the threat of severe weather.  A local weather station, part of the Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network (CoCoRaHS), recorded only 0.06” of rainfall since the beginning of November. Going back to October 1st, only around 1.5” of rainfall has been recorded in Randolph County. Those dry conditions have kept local firefighters busy. According to officials at Randolph County Emergency Services, as of Nov 13th, firefighters in Randolph County had responded to ove...
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