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North Carolina Zoo takes next steps for Asia exhibit

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NC Zoo director Pat Simmons, center, high-fives state Sen. David Craven Jr., who reaches over Randolph County commissioner Darrell Frye, during Wednesday’s groundbreaking. (Scott Pelkey/North State Journal)

ASHEBORO – North Carolina Zoo is moving closer to Asia after the groundbreaking for a new exhibit.

The 10-acre Asian expansion is a few years away from being opened, but the next steps were evident when regional and state officials gathered Wednesday for the ceremonial start to the process.

“Asia has been a long time coming,” said Walker Moffitt, chair of the North Carolina Zoo Council and Asheboro mayor pro tem.

This is the first expansion since 1994 when the North America exhibit was added. There’s an anticipated 2026 opening for the Asia exhibit.

While the addition is certainly a potential boost for NC Zoo, that should extend to Randolph County as well.

“It has been a team effort and we’re glad to be part of that team,” said Darrell Frye, chair of the Randolph County commissioners.

There’s $75 million approved from the state legislature for this expansion.

It should expose NC Zoo visitors to a wider range of animals.

“We really wanted to bring in tigers,” said NC Zoo director Pat Simmons said. “That is something that the public has asked us for for the longest time.”

One of the features of the expansion will include the tigers’ habitat that will allow tigers to walk across an enclosed bridge-like structure above zoo patrons. That part of the exhibit also will include a 300-seat indoor café overlooking the tigers.

In addition to tigers, there will be small-clawed otters, Chinese alligators, Chinese giant salamanders, Komodo Dragons and Visayan warty pigs.

“This is a critically endangered animal,” Jennifer Ireland, the zoo’s curator of mammals, said of the warty pig. “There is very, very few left in the wild.”

Birds will include wrinkled hornbills, red-crowned crane and cinereous vultures.

State Sen. David Craven Jr. praised the economic activity stemming from NC Zoo.

This expansion could make the zoo a multi-day destination, so that could spread the financial windfall.

“When they come, they eat at our restaurants,” Frye said. “They stay at our hotels, our campgrounds. They shop. They buy gas.”

Beloved lion dies

Earlier this month, there was a more somber mood for NC Zoo because of the death of its 23-year-old African lion, Reilly.

Zoo officials said Reilly dealt with renal disease for several years. Chief veterinarian Dr. Jb Minter said renal disease is common for a cat of Reilly’s age.

Reilly was euthanized because of his weakened situation. He was the oldest male lion at an Association of Zoos and Aquariums-accredited facility.

“He far exceeded the average lifespan for lions under human care,” said animal management supervisor Jodi Wiley, who worked with Reilly for seven years. “This speaks volumes of the amazing care the keepers have given him over the years.”

A lion’s average lifespan under human care is about 17 years. Reilly weighed up to 440 pounds, though he was down to 394 at the time of his death.

Reilly was born Feb. 7, 1999, at Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago. He came to NC Zoo in March 2001. He fathered three males and six females.

“He was so tolerant of his rambunctious offspring and was fiercely devoted to his lady lion, Mekita,” zookeeper Beth Malott said in a release from NC Zoo. “Reilly was a one-of-a-kind soul, and his morning roars will be greatly missed.”

Now, Mikita is the only lion at NC Zoo.

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NC Zoo hits new milestone for attendance

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Visitors celebrate the 48th birthday of C’sar, an African elephant, on Monday morning at North Carolina Zoo, where officials have reported record attendance during the past year. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record)

ASHEBORO — The North Carolina Zoo has been busier than ever this past year.

The NC Zoo announced for the fiscal year ending June 30 that more than 1 million visitors entered the gates. The previous high for a fiscal year was 879,990 in 2018-19, based on numbers listed in the announcement.

“We’re thrilled to welcome so many guests from North Carolina and around the world,” NC Zoo director Pat Simmons said in a statement. “We are constantly striving to build upon our success through growing our programs and making our guest experience better than ever.”

It potentially could become even busier for NC Zoo.

“We’re super excited for the Zoo,” said Linda Brown, president of the Asheboro/Randolph Chamber of Commerce. “The city (of Asheboro) and the Zoo are doing so much to enhance and improve the facilities.”

Repeated inquiries to NC Zoo for additional information regarding the attendance didn’t receive responses, or NC Zoo officials reached were unwilling to provide more insight earlier this week. 

Amber Scarlett, executive director of the Asheboro-based Heart of North Carolina Visitors Bureau, said tourism practically doubled from 2020 to 2021 in the region. She called NC Zoo the key tourism attraction in Randolph County.

“Bringing new and return visitors to our area to not only explore the extraordinary habitats of animals and plants, but also allowing families to affordably create memories,” Scarlett said. “We look forward to even more economic impact from the Zoo’s expansion in upcoming years.”

There could be several factors in the soaring attendance that has been announced by NC Zoo.

It apparently was a fast rise for NC Zoo, which closed operations to the public on March 17, 2020, because of Gov. Roy Cooper’s executive order based on the COVID-19 pandemic.

About two months later – June 15, 2020 – NC Zoo reopened to the public, but with new procedures in place. It wasn’t until July 1, 2021, that NC Zoo returned to normal operations with no capacity limits.

With a new Asia zone for NC Zoo in the works, that’s bound to increase traffic as a tourist attraction. Groundbreaking for that is expected later this summer, with that area opening in 2026.

“That makes the Zoo an overnight destination,” Brown said of the addition.

That Asia zone will be the first new continent added to NC Zoo since the North America continent opened in 1994.

On Monday, NC Zoo celebrated the 48th birthday of C’sar, an African elephant.

From April through October, entry to the zoo comes from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. The zoo closes at 5 p.m. From November through March, zoo entrance is permitted from 9 a.m.-3 p.m., with a 4 p.m. closing.

TCH 4 Leandro

NC judge drops price to cover school plan, omits spend order

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RALEIGH — A North Carolina judge cut the amount of money needed to comply through the middle of next year with a step-by-step plan to address state educational inequities. But he declined to leave in place the crux of another judge’s order that directed cash from government coffers be sent to state agencies to cover a fiscal gap.

Special Superior Court Judge Mike Robinson ruled in long-running public education spending litigation which he began presiding over last month. Judge David Lee had directed in November that $1.75 billion be moved from state coffers to three government agencies to carry out two years of an eight-year, $5.6 billion remedial plan that he also endorsed last June.

Robinson wrote that provisions within a two-year state budget — approved by the General Assembly and signed by Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper a week after Lee’s order — reduced the amount now needed to carry out the plan through June 2023 to $785 million. But since a panel of the state Court of Appeals had already blocked the portion of Lee’s ordering directing the transfer because it said only lawmakers can appropriate money, Robinson said he was obliged to remove that directive from his amended order.

That part of the ruling is a setback for school districts and parents of students who are plaintiffs in decades-long litigation over school funding. They say the state keeps falling short of its constitutional duties to help at-risk children and those in poor counties.

Still, Robinson wrote, Lee’s order should be amended to declare the state has failed to fully fund those two years of the remedial plan that Lee backed, and that additional money is “adjudged to be owed” to three state agencies.

The Supreme Court had ordered Robinson to review Lee’s order in light of the budget law and report back by April 20. The judge asked for and received an extra week, saying he needed more time to work through disagreements among state officials over how much money in the new budget law covered the remedial plan programs.

Landmark Supreme Court decisions in 1997 and 2004 declared there was a constitutionally protected right to obtain the “opportunity for a sound basic education” and that the state had not lived up to that mandate, especially for children in poor regions.

With Robinson’s ruling, the case now returns to the state Supreme Court, which could decide to what lengths the judicial branch can go to ensure schoolchildren have the opportunity to succeed when it determines the legislative and executive branches have fallen short of their duties. No date for oral arguments has been announced.

Lee said last year that the remedial plan — based on an outside consultant’s report and input from Cooper and the State Board of Education — could satisfy the rulings from the “Leandro” litigation, named for a plaintiff when the lawsuit was filed in 1994.

Lee wrote that other portions of the constitution addressing education access gave him the right to direct spending.

Lawyers for Republican legislative leaders — who only recently were added as formal parties in the case — had argued before Robinson that Lee’s order directing the transfer from state coffers should have been canceled altogether. But attorneys representing school districts, parents and state officials said Robinson’s job wasn’t to consider whether to throw out Lee’s order, but whether to adjust it in light of the budget provisions.

Robinson did write that it appeared that there would be enough unappropriated money — over $4 billion — in the state’s general fund to make a transfer like Lee ordered to cover the $785 million. That unspent balance would be sitting in a savings reserve that lawmakers say can’t be spent unless there is legislative approval.

Chief Justice Paul Newby named Robinson to review Lee’s order in light of the budget law on the same day the Supreme Court agreed to fast-track appeals over that order. In January, Lee had reached the mandatory retirement age for judges at 72. Newby had authority, however, to allow Lee to stay on the bench and perform the review. Lee had been monitoring the case since late 2016.

Obit Disputed Election Dowless

Dowless, key figure in NC absentee ballot fraud probe, dies

RALEIGH — Leslie McCrae Dowless Jr., the key player in a North Carolina absentee ballot fraud probe that led to a do-over congressional election, has died.

His daughter, Andrea Dowless Heverly, wrote that her father “passed away peacefully” Sunday morning, according to a social media post. He had been diagnosed with an advanced form of lung cancer and died at his daughter’s home in Bladen County, his friend Jay DeLancy told The Associated Press in a brief interview. Dowless was in his mid-60s.

The political operative was set to go on trial this summer on more than a dozen state criminal counts related to absentee ballot activities for the 2016 general election and the 2018 primary and general elections. A half-dozen others were also charged.

Witnesses told state officials that Dowless, with help of his assistants, gathered hundreds of absentee ballots from Bladen County in 2018. Those workers testified they were directed to collect blank or incomplete ballots, forge signatures on them and even fill in votes for local candidates.

The 2018 general election results for the 9th Congressional District were ultimately thrown out and a new vote for the seat was ordered by the State Board of Elections, following an inquiry.

Dowless was working in the 2018 congressional race for then-Republican candidate Mark Harris. No charges were filed against Harris, who didn’t run in the subsequent election.

Dowless was later accused of charges related to the 2016 elections and the 2018 primary.

Dowless’ health had become an issue while receiving a six-month prison sentence for federal crimes involving benefits fraud that was tangentially related to the broader state probe.

A federal judge delayed Dowless’ reporting date from last December to April 1 after his defense attorney said Dowless had a stroke in August and learned in the fall about a potential cancer diagnosis.

Dowless’ federal attorney filed another motion in March that she requested be sealed “due to the inclusion of sensitive health information.” The Federal Bureau of Prisons never reported Dowless as being in custody.

Dowless’ state and federal attorneys didn’t immediately respond to emails on Sunday seeking comment. But with Dowless’ death, the absentee ballot case against him is now moot.

Wake County District Attorney Lorrin Freeman said legal delays caused by COVID-19 contributed to the inability to bring Dowless to trial sooner.

While expressing condolences to Dowless’ family, Freeman said Sunday her office would move forward with the prosecution of other defendants, even though Dowless had been seen as the principal in the probe.

“All of the other cases to some degree were derived from what the state thought was his master plan and coordination,” Freeman told the AP. She said each individual case would be evaluated before deciding how to proceed.

Dowless declined to accept a plea agreement on the state charges in November. The charges against him included obstruction of justice, possessing absentee ballots and perjury.

DeLancy, who saw Dowless last week, said Dowless “wanted the chance to defend himself against the state’s indictments” and rejected the plea deal “in hopes of being given his day in court.”

Dowless was “a man who was quick to trust and even love others by his acts of service,” DeLancy said in a text message.

Dowless had pleaded guilty last June in federal court to obtaining illegal Social Security benefits while concealing payments for political work he performed.

nclottery-06-06

Archdale man claims lottery prize

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Malcolm Buchanan of Archdale turned up with the $1 million prize through the North Carolina Lottery.

Buchanan became the second winner of the new sweepstakes.

The 50X The Cash game launched in February with eight top prizes of $1 million. There are six unclaimed prizes in that mix among the $10 scratch-off tickets.

Buchanan purchased his ticket from Speedway on West Fairfield Road in High Point.

Upon claiming his prize, he had to choose between an annuity of $50,000 across 20 years or a lump sum of $600,000. He chose the lump sum, and after required state and federal tax withholdings he had $426,063, according to the NC Lottery.

Meanwhile, a Greensboro woman was the winner of a similar $1 million prize. Licette Griffin, 59, cashed in a $10 Jumbo Bucks ticket that was bought at Gate City Express. She also chose the lump-sum option.

Aviary

Zoo closes aviary habitat

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ASHEBORO — The North Carolina Zoo announced it would permanently close its aviary habitat.

First built in the early 1980s, the 40-year-old domed structure requires significant repairs due to the effects of high humidity and wet conditions, according to the NC Zoo. The decision to close and take down the habitat was made by the zoo leadership and the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.

“For 40 years, the Zoo’s aviary offered a special place to connect with nature,” NC Zoo director Pat Simmons said. “The free-flying birds and tropical plants served as an oasis for many people – guests and staff alike. It was a heart-wrenching decision to close the aviary; however, safety is our highest priority.”

There are 93 birds of 33 species that are in the process of being relocated to other parts of the Zoo or rehomed at other Association of Zoos and Aquariums facilities. More than 2,000 plants of 450 species currently live in the aviary, so zoo staff is working on logistics for removing the plant collections.

“It is truly an immersive habitat, and guests often remarked that they felt as though they were really in a tropical forest. To hear the swoosh of a Victoria Crowned Pigeon as it flies by is magical,” said Debbie Zombeck, the zoo’s curator of birds and a worker at the aviary since 1993. “To watch the birds’ natural behaviors as they forage for food, build nests and raise their young made the Aviary a must-see destination in the state.”

The Aviary has been closed since late January due to the threat of the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza. The HPAI virus is a highly contagious disease that can affect several species of birds. None of the Zoo’s birds have tested positive for the virus.

Simmons said the structure would have needed to be rebuilt as repair efforts wouldn’t have been practical.

The closure of the habitat won’t result in staff members losing jobs. Some staff might be reassigned elsewhere in the zoo as plans are developed for changes in the animal and plant collections.

SMB_1366

Community College report shows major economic impact

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RALEIGH — A comprehensive new economic impact analysis finds that North Carolina’s 58 Community Colleges have a $19 billion annual impact on the state’s economy and supports more than 320,000 jobs across the state.

The economic impact study found for every dollar the state invests in North Carolina’s Community Colleges, the state gains $7.50 in added incomes and social savings. The colleges generate nearly double the revenue from what they take in from the taxpayers. For every $1 the state invests, taxpayers get $1.90 back in added tax revenues and public sector savings, according to the study.

“The Community College System serves over half a million students each year and fuels North Carolina’s job engine,” said system president Thomas Stith. “Our strong partnerships with business and industry in our communities and around the globe are creating a demand for our community colleges to provide the unique and skilled workforce needed, and we are leading economic recovery efforts in North Carolina.”

The report was an exhaustive undertaking supported by the North Carolina General Assembly, leaders from the N.C. Association of Community College Presidents, N.C. State’s Belk Center for Community College Leadership and Research, and national research leader Emsi Burning Glass. 

“It’s been a privilege to have worked and supported our education partners on this study from the beginning as I was confident the results would blow us away. And it did. I think it’s fair to say not many government-funded programs generate more revenue than they take in from taxpayers,” said State Sen. Deanna Ballard (R-Watauga), who chairs the Senate Education Committee. “It’s critical that our high school graduates and adults looking to gain new skills take advantage of the incredible opportunities that their local community college provides.”

The report also says that community college graduates have higher incomes that contribute to a larger tax base and a growing state. For example, students who graduate with an associate degree from a N.C. community college will see an increase in earnings of up to $7,000 or more each year compared to a person with a high school diploma or equivalent. If the student builds upon their associate degree to then earn a bachelor’s degree, their annual income also doubles on average.

The report also assesses the economic impact of five programs that each college offers on the area economy, the return on investment for students, and the benefits generated for N.C. taxpayers.

In Randolph County, the report showed over $100 million in annual economic impact from Randolph Community College. Local programs measure in the report included radiography, computer-integrated machining, basic law enforcement training, agribusiness technology, and welding. Overall, the report attributed a $101.4 million economic impact for the county with alumni impact at $75.9 million. 

The report also highlighted the economic impact of students on the county. Students from Randolph County would have left for other educational opportunities without the existence of RCC, according to the report. The students contributed $3.3 million in spending to the local economy.  

The operations of the college also contribute significantly to the local economy. RCC employs 770 people full-time with $22.3 million in total economic impact when the day-to-day operating expenses of $10.3 million per year are included. 

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Rural areas aim for expanded internet service

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ASHEBORO — If the need arises and enough interest is generated, Randolph Communications will respond.

That’s the message from the telephone cooperative when it comes to providing fiber optics and expanded internet service.

“Once we see a high enough interest to make a business commitment, we will try to go to certain areas,” said Stephanie Gee, marketing director for Randolph Communications. “The need is widespread.”

The Asheboro-based group, which also has an office in Liberty, is looking for opportunities to increase its footprint, Gee said.  Randolph Communications serves parts of eight counties.

The key tends to come from community members who gather enough support to warrant expansion.

“It takes champions in areas,” Gee said. “It’s folks in a neighborhood, that’s what it takes. It helps us to determine future build-out areas. We try to meet those needs.”

Citizens interested in fiber optics coming to their areas are encouraged to visit the website myrandolphfiber.net. That site explains the perks of faster download and upload speeds.

On that web page, there’s an option on the site that allows a house number and zip code to be submitted for consideration as the company gages interest from various areas.

There’s also a disclaimer that “Completing an interest form does not guarantee we will bring service to your area.”

Residents in the Moore Road area have began a campaign to bring upgraded fiber optic cable service to their neighborhoods.

A flyer circulate from residents indicates: “We need as many as possible to sign up so they will know that we are interested. This will be our only option for higher speed internet.”

Gee said the grassroots approach can be effective.

“We have not committed to run fiber optics to this area,” Gee said. “People are trying to drum up interest, which is great.”

Gee said she works with groups who are seeking to bolster the service.

Additionally, grand funding for some form of expansion could be available. That’s something that Randolph Communications has explored. Gee said some of the decisions for grants might not be determined until autumn.

Trump North Carolina

Budd, McCrory still close in NC Senate campaign fundraising

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RALEIGH — North Carolina Republican U.S. Senate candidates Ted Budd and Pat McCrory remained neck-and-neck with their campaigns’ own fundraising entering the final full month before the May 17 primary.

Campaign finance reports for the first quarter show McCrory, the former governor, and current U.S. House member Budd collecting essentially the same level of contributions and other funds.

But Budd is separately benefiting from a political action committee that has already spent several million dollars on ads and mailers praising Budd and attacking McCrory. A pro-McCrory super PAC is trailing. Budd also has received former President Donald Trump’s endorsement.

Looking at candidate fundraising, however, McCrory had a slight advantage over Budd, according to reports that were due Friday with the Federal Election Commission. His campaign said it raised $1.13 million through March 31, compared to $1.125 million raised by Budd. McCrory also reported having more cash in his campaign coffers entering April — $2.2 million compared to $1.9 million for Budd.

Since early 2021 — before either candidate had entered the race — Budd has raised slightly more overall, FEC reports show. Budd has raised $4.24 million compared to $4.16 million for McCrory. Budd’s overall total contains $275,000 that he loaned his campaign.

Club for Growth Action, whose parent organization has endorsed Budd, has said it plans to spend $14 million on the North Carolina primary. An FEC filing by the super PAC said it had already incurred $4.7 million in independent expenditures in the race through February. The super PAC and Budd’s campaign are barred from coordinating activities.

Among other Republican Senate hopefuls, former Rep. Mark Walker’s campaign totals remain well behind those of Budd and McCrory. He was also outraised in the first quarter by first-time political candidate Marjorie Eastman of Cary, FEC reports show.

Walker reported collecting $105,000 in the first quarter and had $509,000 in cash available. Eastman, a combat veteran, raised $372,000 — of which $160,000 were in a personal loan — and had $441,000 in cash on hand, according to reports.

The four candidates are among 14 seeking the GOP nomination. The top vote-getter must receive more than 30% of the vote to avoid a late July runoff with the second-place finisher.

Former state Supreme Court Chief Justice Cheri Beasley — the frontrunner for the Democratic nomination in an 11-candidate field — raised $3.66 million in the first quarter and had $5.1 million on hand entering April, according to her FEC report. Beasley’s campaign had announced those totals earlier in the month, showing she is the most prolific fundraiser in the field to date.

All of the candidates, including Libertarian Party nominee Shannon Bray, are seeking to succeed retiring GOP Sen. Richard Burr.

Budd has said Trump’s endorsement — which was on full display during a rally by the former president in Johnston County on April 9 — has contributed to his recent surge in polls.

McCrory has accused Washington-based Club for Growth of essentially buying support for Budd. The ex-governor and other primary rivals have also criticized Budd for declining so far to participate in televised debates.

Carolina Senate Fund, a super PAC supporting McCrory and opposing Budd, reported last week that it had collected $478,500 in the first quarter and had $752,000 entering April. In a separate filing, the organization said it had spent $117,000 on campaign mailers.

Bird Flu

Highly pathogenic avian influenza update

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Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza has found its way into North Carolina’s commercial poultry industry after being found in wild waterfowl for the past several months. New updates have been provided recently from the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (NCDACS) including a suspension of poultry events until further notice.  This includes “exhibitions, farm tours, shows, sales, flea markets, auction markets, swaps and meets pertaining to poultry and feathered fowl in North Carolina.”

“This suspension is due to the continued spread of HPAI that has affected commercial and backyard flocks in numerous states, including North Carolina,” said State Veterinarian Mike Martin earlier this month. “We do not make this decision lightly. HPAI is a serious threat to our poultry industry and this is a precaution to help limit the introduction of the virus to backyard and commercial flocks.

Producers, both big and small, should continue to practice proper biosecurity protocols to keep commercial and domestic flocks away from areas frequented by migratory birds, all waterfowl, and other wild birds.  The main point here is that they do not need to have free access to the outdoors in a way that is unprotected.  HPAI could wipe out an entire flock when infected.  In addition to routine biosecurity protocols like having farm dedicated clothing and footwear, other things to consider at this time include: relocating flocks away from all natural bodies of water, covering the top of any open or screened runs with metal and/or plastic to prevent wild bird droppings from falling into the bird area, and removing wild bird feeders or distancing them from any backyard flocks as much as possible.  If your birds are more confined than usual, be sure to adjust ventilation as needed and consider adding forms of enrichment to discourage birds from pecking one another such as tree branches, cabbage, melons, pecking blocks, hanging aluminum pie pans, etc.  

The Department of Agriculture classifies warning signs of HPAI as reduced energy, decreased appetite, and/or decreased activity, lower egg production and/or soft-shelled or misshapen eggs, swelling of the head, eyelids, comb and wattles, purple discoloration of the wattles, comb and legs, difficulty breathing, runny nares (nose), and/or sneezing, twisting of the head and neck, stumbling, falling down, tremors and/or circling, and/or greenish diarrhea.  All flock owners are strongly encouraged to keep birds indoors without access to the outside and should report sick birds to your local veterinarian, the NCDA&CS Veterinary Division, 919-707-3250, or the N.C. Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory System 919-733-3986.

“This type of HPAI virus is considered a low risk to people according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. There are no cases to date of this strain of HPAI infecting a person. The virus is also not considered a food safety threat and infected birds do not enter the food supply. All properly cooked poultry products are safe to consume.” 

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