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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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Oct302023 by Randolph News NowNo Comments
NWS Warns of Freezing Conditions in Randolph County for Tuesday Night

NWS Warns of Freezing Conditions in Randolph County for Tuesday Night

Alerts, Weather
ASHEBORO N.C. - The National Weather Service Office in Raleigh has issued a Freeze Watch for Randolph County for Late Tuesday night into Wednesday morning with temperatures expected to dip into the low 30's. According to forecasters at the National Weather Service Office in Raleigh, a cold front will move through the region tonight, followed by light rain from an upper disturbance overnight through Tuesday evening. High pressure will then build into the area behind the cold front, bringing the coldest air so far this season. Sub-freezing temperatures as low as 30 possible in Randolph and surrounding counties late Tuesday night through Wednesday morning. Frost and freeze conditions could kill crops, other sensitive vegetation and possibly damage unprotected outdoor plumbing. ...
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Oct272023 by Scott PelkeyNo Comments
NC Zoo to Investigate Death of Polar Bear While being Transported

NC Zoo to Investigate Death of Polar Bear While being Transported

NC Zoo
Photo provided by N.C. Zoo ASHEBORO N.C. - The North Carolina Zoo says they will investigate what led to the death of a male polar bear during a transfer to another zoo earlier this week. In a press release, the North Carolina Zoo announced that on October 25th, 2023, Payton, the Zoo’s male polar bear, had died while being transported to the Louisville Zoo in Kentucky. According to the N.C. Zoo, an experienced care team, left the North Carolina Zoo with Payton, performing routine checks on the 1,000-pound polar bear during the trip. “On the second check, less than two hours away from the North Carolina Zoo, the care team found Payton non-responsive. He was immediately transported to a nearby large animal veterinarian, who confirmed that Payton had passed,” said the Zoo in the ...
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Oct132023 by Scott PelkeyNo Comments
Central Carolina to see Partial ‘Ring of Fire’ Solar Eclipse this Saturday

Central Carolina to see Partial ‘Ring of Fire’ Solar Eclipse this Saturday

Weather
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LlY79zjud-Q Watch the Solar Eclipse live on YouTube on NASA's live stream. ASHEBORO N.C. - On Saturday, October 14th, 2023, an annular solar eclipse will cross western North America, and while only a few cities will see the 'ring of fire,' here in North Carolina we may still have something neat to witness. The 2023 solar eclipse is what's known as an annular, or partial, solar eclipse. The moon will pass between the orbit of the Earth and the Sun casting a shadow on the Earth across its path. Due to the distance between the Earth, moon, and Sun, the moon will not fully cover the Sun in the sky, creating a “ring of fire” around the moon when it lines up directly with the sun. Credit: Michael Zeiler, GreatAmericanEclipse.com To see the 'ring of ...
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Sep202023 by Scott PelkeyNo Comments
Survivor of April Plane Crash Returns Home from Hospital

Survivor of April Plane Crash Returns Home from Hospital

Local
LEVEL CROSS N.C. - After surviving a plane crash in April of this year and spending 5 months in the hospital, Jimmy Foecking was greeted by friends and members of the community as he returned home today. On April 11th, 2023, Foecking was one of two people in a single-engine Vans RV-12 aircraft that crashed into a hill on the side of US Hwy 421, south of Greensboro Executive Airport in Guilford County just after 11 a.m. According to a preliminary report by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the pilot had taken off at 11:03 a.m. and conducted a touch-and-go landing before landing back at the airport and picking up a passenger. At 11:27 a.m. The aircraft took off again and climbed for around 30 seconds, until video surveillance showed the airplane immediately stopped ...
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Sep202023 by Scott PelkeyNo Comments
One Year In, Construction on Asia on Schedule

One Year In, Construction on Asia on Schedule

NC Zoo
Construction is underway on the new Asia expansion at the NC Zoo. [Scott Pelkey | North State Journal] ASHEBORO N.C. - One year after breaking ground, construction on the Asia expansion at the North Carolina Zoo is on track, but with the planned opening still years away there is still a lot of work to be done.  General construction on Asia is halfway complete with Rodgers Builders, the general contractor for the project, reporting no significant delays thus far. Work constructing the buildings and infrastructure is expected to be completed by fall of 2024. Once Asia’s construction is complete, the work of turning ten acres of gravel, dirt, and concrete buildings into a new continent is where the Zoo’s work will really start, says Diane Villa, Director of Communications & Mark...
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Sep192023 by Randolph News NowNo Comments
REMC Invites Public to Drive Electric Event at North Carolina Zoo

REMC Invites Public to Drive Electric Event at North Carolina Zoo

Events, NC Zoo
A Chevy Volt electric vehicle sits on display at the Drive Electric Event held in the NC Zoo's North America parking lot on October 1st 2021. (Acme News / Archive Photo) ASHEBORO N.C. (REMC) – On Friday, September 29, from 9 am to noon at the North Carolina Zoo, Randolph Electric Membership Corporation will sponsor “It’s Electric,” a public education event showcasing electric vehicles (EVs). This outdoor event, planned during National Drive Electric Week (September 22 to October 1), draws attention to the positive aspects of driving all-electric and plug-in hybrid automobiles. Local and state dignitaries will welcome the crowd at 10 am. Vehicles from various automobile dealerships, an electric school bus and EV chargers will be on display for REMC members and guests of...
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Sep82023 by Scott PelkeyNo Comments
Tropic Watch – Hurricane Lee

Tropic Watch – Hurricane Lee

Weather
ASHEBORO N.C. - Forecasters will be keeping a very close eye on Hurricane Lee over the weekend to see if forecast models predicting the storm will make a turn out to sea will be accurate. Current Location / Strength Over less than 24 hours, Lee intensified from a tropical storm into a category 5 hurricane with reported winds of 160+ mph. That rapid intensification is the quickest any system has gone from a tropical storm to a category 5 hurricane in Atlantic hurricane season history. (NOAA / NWS - National Hurricane Center) Lee is currently located around 750 miles to the east of San Juan, Puerto Rico (18.2N 54.5W), and is moving WNW at 13 mph. This morning Lee encountered some wind shear resulting in sustained winds falling below 160 mph dropping Lee back down to a cate...
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Aug292023 by Scott PelkeyNo Comments
Tracking Hurricane Idalia [UPDATED]

Tracking Hurricane Idalia [UPDATED]

Weather
Last Update: 8/30/23 1:30pm ASHEBORO N.C. - Idalia made landfall around 7:45 a.m. Eastern time along Florida's Big Bend, near Keaton Beach, and is currently moving at 30 mph up the southeast coast. Here is everything you need to know about local impacts. Confidence / Expected Changes As of Aug 30th, 11:30 a.m. briefing by the National Weather Service Office in Raleigh there have been no significant changes to the forecast for Randolph County. Forecasters say confidence is HIGH that the event will occur and MODERATE regarding impacts. Timeline Impacts in central North Carolina, including Randolph County, are expected to start as soon as Wednesday afternoon and continue through Friday afternoon. Local Impacts Heavy rainfall and gusty winds wil...
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Aug222023 by Scott PelkeyNo Comments
NC Zoo to Say Farewell to Flamingos

NC Zoo to Say Farewell to Flamingos

NC Zoo
Flamingo at the NC Zoo [Acme News Archive Photo] ASHEBORO N.C. - The North Carolina Zoo is planning to say farewell to its flock of Flamingos who are leaving for South Carolina at the end of September. The North Carolina Zoo announced yesterday that they will be transferring their flock of 15 Chilean flamingos to the Greenville Zoo in South Carolina sometime at the end of September. "While it is sad to see the flamingos leave the Zoo, we are happy to know they will join a flock of 19 Chilean flamingos already at the Greenville Zoo," said the Zoo on Facebook. "Flamingos are social birds that live in large flocks in the wild. We are very thankful to the Greenville Zoo for accepting the entire flock, as several of these birds have been together for over 25 years." View ...
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