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Screenshot 2023-07-25 at 9.07.51 AM

NC Zoo working to secure funding to rebuild aviary

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ASHEBORO — The Aviary at the North Carolina Zoo is set to be demolished, but the Zoo is working on securing funds and putting together plans to rebuild.

With its 93 species of birds, hundreds of tropical plants, and an environment that mimics the tropical rainforest, the Aviary has been a guest favorite since it first opened in 1982.

In January 2022, the Zoo announced that the Aviary would be closing due to a potential threat of Avian Flu, leaving many guests with the impression that this closure would be temporary. However, during the closure, a team of engineers was brought in to conduct an inspection of the building, and their findings were not promising.

“The aviary is a very humid environment; it’s a very rough environment,” said Debbie Zombeck, the chief curator of birds at the N.C. Zoo and the aviary’s supervisor, in an interview last year.

After 40 years, it seems that the building has reached the end of its lifecycle.

Engineers found drainage, foundation, and HVAC issues and ultimately concluded that renovations would not be financially viable for the Zoo. Fears surrounding aviation flu at the time, coupled with the engineers’ assessment, led to the unpopular decision to permanently close and take down the habitat in April 2022.

Because the response from the public was overwhelmingly negative, the Zoo administration and the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources quickly began working secure funding to both demolish the old aviary and, in the future, rebuild.

The Zoo has hired REI Engineers to work on demolition drawings.

“Once the demolition drawings are complete, Zoo staff will work next on the bid process for a contractor to remove the building,” said Diane Villa, Director of Communications and Marketing.

In March 2023, Governor Roy Cooper introduced his 2023-25 budget proposal, which includes $60 million for the “Zoo Aviary replacement,” but the budget has not been passed.

“The aviary has been an integral part of the N.C. Zoo for decades,” said Senator David Craven, Jr. “It was a unique experience that provided an experience that provided visitors an up-close-and-personal look at birds and tropical plants.

While no timeline has been announced, sources familiar with the Zoo say a new aviary may not open until at least 2030.

“Should the funding come through, the new aviary design process will begin,” said Villa. “It will take time, noting that the North Carolina Zoo is in the process of building the Asia region as a priority, but staff are excited to begin establishing criteria for the birds and the guest experience. As it is early in the planning and funding phases, it is difficult to set a timeline for when the new aviary will be completed.”

Franklinville church demolition July2023

Spirits up as Franklinville church building comes down

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Demolition crews were working at the site of Franklinville United Methodist Church last week. (PJ Ward-Brown/North State Journal)

FRANKLINVILLE – Members of the Franklinville United Methodist Church are saving what they can as the church is demolished following a wall collapse July 6.

Emergency crews responded to the Franklinville United Methodist Church on South Main Street after a report of a commercial fire. The arriving units didn’t find a fire but did find that one of the walls of the church had collapsed.

Initial reports from fire crews were that the collapse may have been caused by an explosion from a gas leak, but the explosion theory was quickly ruled out as the cause as the gas leak was believed to have been triggered by an air-conditioning unit falling onto a gas line during the wall collapse.

The next day, two additional sections of the wall also collapsed.

“This was expected to happen,” said Rev. Michele Hill in an email. “Those falls opened the gaping hole more and took two very old and beautiful stained-glass windows with them.”

The congregation isn’t letting not having an available building keep them from their usual worship services.

“(On July 9) we worshiped in the local park with members from several other United Methodist Churches joining us for support, as well as people from the community,” Hill said. “We shared Holy Communion, and it was a lovely experience.”

In upcoming weeks, the church will be meeting at the Franklinville Diner, just a short walking distance from the church.

Many early records for the church have been lost to time, but according to the Town of Franklinville website the church’s history dates to 1839, when Elisha Coffin deeded 1.64 acres to “Trustees for the Methodist Episcopal Church … who shall erect thereon a house or place of worship.”

That’s old enough to pre-date the town itself which was incorporated from a village to a town by the state legislature in 1847. The organs and chimes were added in 1953.

With that much history in one building the entire town is affected by the church’s demolition.

“This church held memories for all: baptisms, recitals, confirmations, weddings, graduations, funerals and so much more. The church was used by the townspeople in many ways through the years,” Hill said.

Crews have been able to demolish the entire sanctuary, but not before Franklinville firefighters were able to save the baptismal font, the Bible, the church bell (which they rang one last time before taking it down), the cross from the steeple, and several stained-glass windows.

A time capsule exists under the steeple that dates to the late 1800s, but church officials aren’t sure if they will ever be able to retrieve it.

Hill continues to express her gratitude to the first responders as well as the community.

“We are so grateful for all the first responders who were there that night, specifically the Franklinville Fire Department who has gone was beyond the call of duty,” she said.

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Asheboro High School unveils new renovations

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ASHEBORO — After almost five years of construction, Asheboro High School’s renovations are finally complete.

On Wednesday, May 3, Asheboro City Schools held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to officially unveil the new and improved home of the Blue Comets for a crowd of elected officials, school system leadership and members of the media. 

“This is a culmination of years of work with partners, with the Randolph County Board of Commissioners, with the City of Asheboro and their City Council members, with the Central Office and their staff, and the staff at Randolph County,” said Michael Smith, Chair of City of Asheboro Board of Education. “This renovation is part of the largest capital improvement even undertaken by our school system. This state-of-the-art facility will allow us to continue to serve Asheboro High School students for years to come.”

Students from Asheboro High School give a tour city and county elected officials. [Scott Pelkey | North State Journal]

Construction of Asheboro High School first began in 1949 and was later opened for students to attend during the 1950-1951 school year. The building has since become something of a historical icon in Asheboro.

In November 2018, Asheboro City Schools held a groundbreaking ceremony to launch the construction and renovation project. During renovations, the school had to find ways to work around having a construction site inside the high school. Sports teams were able to continue their season by playing at the City of Asheboro’s Recreational Center, and local churches and organizations opened their buildings to the school for various school-related activities.

The new common area at Asheboro High School is a part of 37,670 additional square feet added during renovations. [Scott Pelkey | North State Journal]

Now, after almost five years and $55 million in construction costs, the work is finally complete. Construction and renovations include adding 37,670 additional square feet, which gives the school fourteen new classrooms and state-of-the-art band and chorus spaces. In addition to these new spaces built onto the school, renovation of 200,000 square feet of the historical main building brought with it upgrades to the auditorium and two gymnasiums, a new-multipurpose commons area, modern technology, safety improvements, and additional ADA compliance.

Following the ribbon-cutting ceremony, the school hosted an open house event this past Sunday to allow members of the public to come see the renovations for themselves.

Renovations at AHS included several new ADA compliance features like this lower sink in one of the classrooms which is wheelchair accessible.[Scott Pelkey | North State Journal]

“The design of this school has truly captured the historical integrity of Asheboro High School while also exalting and emphasizing the future,” said Dr. Aaron Woody, District Superintendent.

An ADA compliant wheelchair elevator was added durring the renovations. [Scott Pelkey | North State Journal]