Quick hits: Mountains-to-Sea trail gets aid and college students are (happy to work with) pigs

Mountains-to-Sea Trail gains land in three counties

"North Carolina's Mountains-to-Sea Trail grew a bit in the past two months," says the AP.

"In December and January, the trail acquired land in Guilford, Orange and Johnston counties. Trail executive director Kate Dixon says the acquisitions are especially helpful because groups have been working hard to acquire land in the heavily populated Triangle and Triad areas.

"The acquisitions are 250 acres in Guilford County; 65 acres in Orange; and 330 acres in Johnston.

"The trail is a state park that eventually will stretch about 1,000 miles from Clingmans Dome in the Great Smoky Mountains to Jockey's Ridge on the Outer Banks. About half the trail is completed. ..."

At this college, students toil in pig sty

"At most colleges, a new semester starts with students buying books, getting ready for new classes and attending a party or two," says the AP.

"But at Warren Wilson College, a small liberal arts college in North Carolina's mountains, some students also welcomed a litter of eight piglets.

"Warren Wilson requires each of its 900 students to work on campus; for some, it's on the college's farm.

"Between 300 and 600 piglets are born each year to 25 sows at Warren Wilson's farm. About 25 students work on the farm, where about 10,000 pounds of naturally raised meat worth about $150,000 is produced each year. Meat is sold by students and some is used in the college dining hall. ..."

(Photo from Warren Wilson's website)

North Carolina basketball report (4)

Game of the Week: BC at N.C. State women, Thursday at 7 p.m.
Kay Yow always wanted more fans at women’s basketball games. Attending this game would be a fitting tribute.

Game of the Week II: Duke at Wake Forest, Wednesday at 7 p.m.
The Blue Devils defend their No. 1 (RPI) ranking against the No. 12 Demon Deacons.

Game of the Week III: UNC at N.C. State, Saturday at 3:30 p.m.
This game will have to be State’s Super Bowl.

Joe Lunardi’s Bracketology: Bracket | Story

Rankings (results through Sunday’s games)
RPI rankings, team (overall record, record vs. North Carolina teams)

1. Duke (18-1, 3-0)
Last week: 1
Bracketology: No. 1 seed in the Midwest, vs. Southland champion
beat UNC Asheville, Davidson, N.C. State

7. North Carolina (16-2, 1-1)
Last week: 7
Bracketology: No. 2 seed in the South, vs. Ivy League champion
beat UNC Asheville
lost to Wake Forest

Tyler Hansbrough: 22.7 points, 7.9 rebounds, .537 2-point percentage and .842 free throw percentage

His brother — Ben Hansbrough, Notre Dame: is sitting out this season after transferring from Mississippi State.

Tyler: 10th in the country in scoring.

Ty Lawson: fifth in assists (6.7).

12. Wake Forest (16-1, 5-0)
Last week: 11
Bracketology: No. 1 seed in the West, vs. Big Sky champion
beat N.C. Central, UNC Wilmington, Winston-Salem State,
East Carolina, North Carolina

37. Davidson (15-3, 3-1)
Last week: 31
Bracketology: No. 8 seed in the East, vs. Virginia Tech
beat N.C. State, Appalachian State, Elon
lost to Duke

Stephen Curry: 29.3 points, 6.4 assists, 2.95 steals, .553 2-point percentage, .385 3-point percentage and .854 free throw percentage

Curry: first in scoring, ninth in assists and seventh in steals.

His brother — Seth Curry, Liberty: 20.7 points, .506 2-point percentage, .386 3-point percentage and .781 free throw percentage

110. N.C. State (10-7, 4-2)
Last week: 117
beat High Point, UNC Greensboro, Winston-Salem State, East Carolina
lost to Davidson, Duke

166. East Carolina (7-8, 3-2)
Last week: 174
beat Campbell, UNC Wilmington, UNC Greensboro
lost to N.C. State, Wake Forest

Brock Young: first in assists (8.2).

180. Gardner-Webb (6-10, 2-1)
Last week: 193
beat Western Carolina, High Point
lost UNC Asheville

193. UNC Charlotte (6-12, 1-1)
Last week: 206
beat UNC Greensboro
lost to Appalachian State

203. UNC Asheville (6-11, 3-3)
Last week: 189
beat Western Carolina, Gardner-Webb, High Point
lost to Campbell, North Carolina, Duke

234. Western Carolina (7-9, 2-3)
Last week: 219
beat UNC Greensboro, Elon
lost to Gardner-Webb, UNC Asheville, Appalachian State

255. Appalachian State (6-10, 4-3)
Last week: 272
beat UNC Charlotte, Campbell, Elon, Western Carolina
lost UNC Wilmington, UNC Greensboro, Davidson

270. UNC Wilmington (5-16, 2-2)
Last week: 289
beat Appalachian State, N.C. Central
lost to Wake Forest, East Carolina

280. N.C. A&T (5-11, 1-0)
Last week: 273
beat Winston-Salem State

Thomas Coleman: ninth in blocks (2.89).

281. Elon (3-11, 0-4)
Last week: 288
lost to Appalachian State, Western Carolina, Davidson,
UNC Greensboro

305. Campbell (5-12, 1-2)
Last week: 301
beat UNC Asheville
lost to East Carolina, Appalachian State

322. UNC Greensboro (2-14, 2-4)
Last week: 317
beat Appalachian State, Elon
lost to UNC Charlotte, N.C. State, East Carolina, Western Carolina

330. Winston-Salem State (2-13, 1-3)
Last week: 315
beat N.C. Central
lost to Wake Forest, N.C. State, N.C. A&T

333. High Point (2-14, 1-3)
Last week: 337
beat N.C. Central
lost to N.C. State, Gardner-Webb, UNC Asheville

Cruz Daniels: ninth in blocks (2.89).

338. N.C. Central (1-20, 0-4)
Last week: 334
lost to Wake Forest, UNC Wilmington, High Point,
Winston-Salem State

Nine of the 19 North Carolina teams (47 percent) rank in the bottom 26 percent of the sport.

Kay Yow (1942-2009)

RALEIGH (AP) | N.C. State’s Kay Yow, the Hall of Fame women’s basketball coach who won more than 700 games while earning fans with her decades-long fight against breast cancer, died on Saturday. She was 66. | ESPN.com

Yow coached the U.S. Olympic women’s basketball team to a gold medal in 1988, won four ACC tournament championships, earned 20 NCAA tournament bids and reached the Final Four in 1998.

But for many fans, Yow was best defined by her unwavering resolve while fighting cancer, from raising awareness and money for research to staying with her team through the debilitating effects of the disease and chemotherapy treatments. In her final months, Yow was on hormonal therapy as the cancer spread to her liver and bones.

She never flinched or complained, relying on her faith as the disease progressed. She commonly noted there were other patients with “harder battles than I’m fighting” and said it was inspiring for her to stay with her team.

“Almost everybody is dealing with something,” Yow said in a 2006 interview.

Yow’s story touched players, fans | The News & Observer

Yow’s considerable efforts will live on | ESPN.com

ESPN videos: Remembering Yow | Yow’s Legacy

WRAL video: Yow: 38 years of coaching, inspiration

Halls of Fame: Basketball | N.C. Sports

'Beach Kudzu' is outlawed

Don't even think of transporting vitex across state lines; you will be brought to justice.

Known as "beach kudzu," vitex has now been outlawed by state officials.

"Rules to ban the sale, transport and possession of beach vitex by nurseries, garden shops and private property owners passed their final regulatory hurdle on Thursday.

"The plant will be officially added to the state’s 'noxious weed' list on Feb. 1," says the Star-News of Wilmington.

Fast-growing, salt-tolerant, disliked by animals and sporting a beautiful purple flower during the summer, vitex was marketed as a coastal landscaping plant by N.C. State University in the 1980s.

But vitex started worrying researchers earlier this decade when it began overtaking dunes, crowding out the native sea oats and sea grasses. ...

Beach vitex, beside being a prolific seed producer, also can grow up to 15 feet a year – a characteristic that has earned the plant the moniker of “kudzu of the coast.”

Former N.C. Gov. Scott & oldest living MLBer Werber pass away

Rob Christensen has penned a nice piece about the passing of former Gov. Bob Scott, who died today at age 79.

"Scott served as the state's chief executive from 1969 to 1973, a time of social unrest arising from racial divisions and the Vietnam War. Scott was instrumental in unifying the state's university system and helped push through the legislature the first tax on tobacco -- then a political sacred cow. ...

" 'North Carolina has lost one of our greatest governors today, and many of us have lost a friend,' Gov. Beverly Perdue said in a statement.

"Scott, she said, 'always believed that North Carolina could be a better place, with wider doors of opportunity for all our people, and he worked to make it so.' She ordered state flags to be flown at half-staff until sunset Tuesday. ..."

Across the Piedmont, in Charlotte, Bill Werber, the oldest living Major League Baseball player, died at age 100.

Werber was also the first basketball All-American at Duke.

"Werber had lived in Charlotte since 1998 at the Carriage Club retirement community to be near daughter Pat Bryant, who closely supervised his day-to-day care.

"Even into his late 90s, Werber would stay up past his normal 9 p.m. bedtime to watch Duke basketball games on TV.

"He often wore a Duke golf shirt and usually kept a Duke blanket wrapped around his legs."

Ski season in full swing

I haven't been able to do it in years, but perhaps my favorite pasttime is snow skiing. And it's a shame I can't, since apparently right now is THE best time to go skiing (or learn to ski) in western North Carolina, what with the recent snow and all.

"The recent cold has given the region's ski areas the best snowmaking opportunity of the 2008-09 season," says the News & Observer's Joe Miller on his blog. "So good, that the following areas are all completely open: Appalachian, Cataloochee, Sapphire Valley, Sugar Mountain, Bryce, Massanutten, Homestead, Wintergreen — even tiny Cloudmont in Alabama, with it's two, thousand-foot-long slopes and 150-foot vertical, is operating at 100 percent. ...

"Sugar Mountain has all six lifts and all 20 runs open; with temperatures expected hover around freezing, Sugar could make snow during the day but promises it won't. Great news for skiers and boarders who despise whiteout conditions (and the accompanying snow glaze, on a cloudless day). Meanwhile, up the road at Ski Beech, 11 of 15 runs are open and the resort is reporting packed powder (which its Live Web cam would see to support)."

Darn. I'm jealous.

I must admit, my N.C. ski experience is pretty much limited to Sugar; I have fond memories of church youth retreats and the fear-turning-to-elation of zipping down a too-steep-for-comfort slope. I know North Carolina doesn't have the ski opportunities of some spots in the northeast or the west, but it ain't half-bad either -- and it ain't that far away.

I really need to go skiing again. And soon.

Any good thoughts/memories/suggestions about N.C.'s ski resorts? Got a recommendation for a place to stay and dine?

(Photo from SkiNC.com)

Thoughts with Yow

Goes without saying, but our thoughts and prayers are with N.C. State women's basketball coach Kay Yow as she is in a local hospital battling stage 4 cancer as her Wolfpack prepares to take on Miami.

"Yow's longtime oncologist, Dr. Mark Graham, recommended that she enter the hospital," said the N&O. "Graham said that the overall complexity of Yow's care prompted him to make that decision. ...

"Yow, who has coached with metastatic breast cancer since 2004, is said to have not felt well while resting at her Cary home. She had not been hospitalized during the four games she missed earlier in the season.

"Yow, in her 34th season with the Wolfpack, missed her first game this season on Dec. 22 and would miss four before taking a leave of absence. Graham advised that it was best for Yow to 'focus on her disease and its treatment, which she will need to do for the foreseeable future.'

"Graham said Wednesday that Yow's status for in-home care or hospital care would be determined 'day to day.' He would not disclose the name of the hospital or speak directly about Yow's care."

I had the pleasure of interviewing Coach Yow as a student reporter years ago, and she went above and beyond giving me the time and attention I deserved for a piece on which I was working. Keep fighting, Coach Yow. We're all with ya.

North Carolina basketball report (3)

This week’s schedule:

Tuesday
N.C. State at Duke, 8 p.m.

Saturday
Western Carolina at Appalachian State, 5 p.m.
N.C. A&T at Winston-Salem State, 6 p.m.

Joe Lunardi’s Bracketology: Bracket | Story

Rankings (results through Sunday’s games)
RPI rankings, team (overall record, record vs. North Carolina teams)

1. Duke (16-1, 2-0)
Last week: 2
Bracketology: No. 1 seed in the Midwest, vs. SWAC champion
beat UNC Asheville, Davidson

7. North Carolina (15-2, 1-1)
Last week: 9
Bracketology: No. 2 seed in the East, vs. Big South champion
beat UNC Asheville
lost to Wake Forest

Tyler Hansbrough: 22.9 points, 7.8 rebounds, .534 2-point percentage and .853 free throw percentage

11. Wake Forest (16-0, 5-0)
Last week: 16
Bracketology: No. 1 seed in the South, vs. Ohio Valley champion
beat N.C. Central, UNC Wilmington, Winston-Salem State,
East Carolina, North Carolina

No. 1 in the Associated Press poll.

No. 1 in the coaches poll.

The only undefeated team in college basketball.

No. 11 in the RPI.

Clemson wasn’t impressed either. | Video

Notice the headline on that video is “Wake Forest-Clemson Fan Interference.”

The fan didn’t interfere. The player fell into the stands.

31. Davidson (13-3, 3-1)
Last week: 28
Bracketology: No. 8 seed in the East, vs. Kansas
beat N.C. State, Appalachian State, Elon
lost to Duke

23,000 Stephen Curry fans can’t be wrong.

Curry: 29.1 points, 6.5 assists, .543 2-point percentage,
.359 3-point percentage and .854 free throw percentage

117. N.C. State (10-5, 4-1)
Last week: 119
beat High Point, UNC Greensboro, Winston-Salem State, East Carolina
lost to Davidson

174. East Carolina (6-7, 3-2)
Last week: 149
beat Campbell, UNC Wilmington, UNC Greensboro
lost to N.C. State, Wake Forest

189. UNC Asheville (5-10, 3-3)
Last week: 146
beat Western Carolina, Gardner-Webb, High Point
lost to Campbell, North Carolina, Duke

193. Gardner-Webb (5-9, 2-1)
Last week: 192
beat Western Carolina, High Point
lost UNC Asheville

206. UNC Charlotte (5-11, 1-1)
Last week: 172
beat UNC Greensboro
lost to Appalachian State

219. Western Carolina (6-7, 2-2)
Last week: 188
beat UNC Greensboro, Elon
lost to Gardner-Webb, UNC Asheville

272. Appalachian State (5-9, 3-3)
Last week: 253
beat UNC Charlotte, Campbell, Elon
lost UNC Wilmington, UNC Greensboro, Davidson

273. N.C. A&T (4-10, 0-0)
Last week: 270

288. Elon (2-10, 0-4)
Last week: 258
lost to Appalachian State, Western Carolina, Davidson,
UNC Greensboro

289. UNC Wilmington (4-15, 2-2)
Last week: 297
beat Appalachian State, N.C. Central
lost to Wake Forest, East Carolina

301. Campbell (4-10, 1-2)
Last week: 286
beat UNC Asheville
lost to East Carolina, Appalachian State

315. Winston-Salem State (2-11, 1-2)
Last week: 293
beat N.C. Central
lost to Wake Forest, N.C. State

317. UNC Greensboro (2-12, 2-4)
Last week: 324
beat Appalachian State, Elon
lost to UNC Charlotte, N.C. State, East Carolina, Western Carolina

334. N.C. Central (1-18, 0-4)
Last week: 330
lost to Wake Forest, UNC Wilmington, High Point,
Winston-Salem State

337. High Point (2-12, 1-3)
Last week: 336
beat N.C. Central
lost to N.C. State, Gardner-Webb, UNC Asheville

Nine of the 19 North Carolina teams (47 percent) rank in the bottom 21 percent of the sport.

Quick hits: Bad news for Myrtle Beach bikers, the anti-smoking campaign and people who like water

Myrtle Beach declares no more Bike Weeks
"The city of Myrtle Beach and the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce have launched Web and print information letting visitors know that from the city's perspective, the May motorcycle rallies are over," says the Sun News.

"Myrtlebeachbikerinfo.com launched last week, and brochures are available for distribution primarily through local hotels.

" 'We have new laws, and we'd rather not surprise visitors,' city spokesman Mark Kruea said. 'We'd rather they have some idea of what to expect when they come here.' ..."


Bad grade for N.C. on smoking
"When the legislative session starts at the end of the month, health advocates will have a new way to prod lawmakers to raise cigarette taxes and expand smoking bans," says the News & Observer.

"North Carolina received failing grades in a new report card by the American Lung Association that surveyed state laws and spending on anti-smoking initiatives. ...

"With the state facing a budget crisis, anti-smoking advocates say it is again time to seriously consider increasing the cigarette tax because it raises money and reduces smoking. ..."


Drought enters third year
"While 2009 got off to a wet start with several inches of rain and flash flooding, Western North Carolina remains in a serious drought that is entering its third year," says the Citizen-Times in Asheville.

" 'This drought has been pretty significant for its longevity. We have limited records with good data from WNC only, but we can't find another three-year record like this,' said the state climatologist Ryan Boyles.

"Only 28.64 inches of rain fell on downtown Asheville last year, making 2008 the sixth driest year on record going back to 1902, according to the National Climatic Data Center in Asheville. The previous year, 2007, ranked third driest with 23.53, behind 1988 and 1925.

"But adding up the shortfall in rain for the past two years marks this drought as the worst for WNC in more than a century, said Richard Heim of NCDC. Averaging rainfall of all the mountain counties showed last year as the 10th driest on record, while 2008 was the second driest since 1895. The driest year on record is 1988. ..."

North Carolina basketball report (2)

This week’s research — the best shooters in ACC history (1985-94):

1. Mark Price
2. Jeff Lebo
3. Rodney Monroe
4. Kenny Smith
5. Hubert Davis

Joe Lunardi’s Bracketology is included as part of each team’s resume. Bracket | Story | Video

Rankings (results through Monday’s games)
RPI rankings, team (overall record, record vs. North Carolina teams)

2. Duke (14-1, 2-0)
Last week: 2
Bracketology: No. 1 seed in the East, vs. MEAC champion
beat UNC Asheville, Davidson

9. North Carolina (13-2, 1-1)
Last week: 11
Bracketology: No. 2 seed in the West, vs. Big South champion
beat UNC Asheville
lost to Wake Forest

Tyler Hansbrough is averaging 22.4 points and 7.5 rebounds and shooting 55.0 percent from 2-point range and 84.6 percent from the free throw line.

16. Wake Forest (14-0, 5-0)
Last week: 31
Bracketology: No. 1 seed in the South, vs. Ohio Valley champion
beat N.C. Central, UNC Wilmington, Winston-Salem State,
East Carolina, North Carolina

28. Davidson (11-3, 2-1)
Last week: 22
Bracketology: No. 7 seed in the Midwest, vs. Saint Mary’s
beat N.C. State, beat Appalachian State
lost to Duke

Bob Knight on Stephen Curry: “Take a good look at him, because he’s as good a passer as has ever played college basketball.” | Video

Curry is averaging 28.5 points and 6.7 assists and shooting 53.7 percent from 2-point range, 36.1 percent from 3-point range and 85.1 percent from the free throw line.

119. N.C. State (9-4, 4-1)
Last week: 133
beat High Point, UNC Greensboro, Winston-Salem State, East Carolina
lost to Davidson

146. UNC Asheville (4-9, 2-3)
Last week: 140
beat Western Carolina, Gardner-Webb
lost to Campbell, North Carolina, Duke

149. East Carolina (6-6, 3-2)
Last week: 148
beat Campbell, UNC Wilmington, UNC Greensboro
lost to N.C. State, Wake Forest

188. Western Carolina (6-5, 2-2)
Last week: 166
beat UNC Greensboro, Elon
lost to Gardner-Webb, UNC Asheville

192. Gardner-Webb (3-9, 2-1)
Last week: 170
beat Western Carolina, High Point
lost UNC Asheville

172. UNC Charlotte (5-9, 1-1)
Last week: 182
beat UNC Greensboro
lost to Appalachian State

253. Appalachian State (5-7, 3-3)
Last week: 198
beat UNC Charlotte, Campbell, Elon
lost UNC Wilmington, UNC Greensboro, Davidson

258. Elon (2-8, 0-0)
Last week: 209
lost to Appalachian State, Western Carolina

270. N.C. A&T (3-10, 0-0)
Last week: 214

293. Winston-Salem State (2-10, 1-2)
Last week: 239
beat N.C. Central
lost to Wake Forest, N.C. State

297. UNC Wilmington (4-13, 2-2)
Last week: 290
beat Appalachian State, N.C. Central,
lost to Wake Forest, East Carolina

286. Campbell (2-8, 1-2)
Last week: 322
beat UNC Asheville,
lost to East Carolina, Appalachian State

330. N.C. Central (0-18, 0-4)
Last week: 332
lost to Wake Forest, UNC Wilmington, High Point,
Winston-Salem State

324. UNC Greensboro (1-11, 1-4)
Last week: 335
beat Appalachian State
lost to UNC Charlotte, N.C. State, East Carolina, Western Carolina

336. High Point (2-10, 1-2)
Last week: 338
beat N.C. Central
lost to N.C. State, Gardner-Webb

Nine of the 19 North Carolina teams (47 percent) rank in the bottom 27 percent of the sport.

Economy effecting Harrah's, Old Salem

Not that this should surprise anyone, but one of the state's oldest tourist attractions and one of its newest are being severely impacted by the national economic crisis.

The Citizen-Times reports that Harrah's Casino in the mountains is "facing job cuts for the first time in its 11-year history."

The casino will reduce its work force this year by 5 percent, or about 100 jobs. The company is making the cuts voluntary at first, with offers of severance to workers based on years of service.Harrah's managers told employees about the plan in a meeting Monday.

General manager Darold Londo said in a statement the casino would turn to layoffs if the reduction isn't achieved voluntarily. He said the weak economy has meant fewer customers.

The casino has enjoyed steady growth since it opened in the fall of 1997, becoming one of the region's largest private employers, with about 1,800 workers. ...

In addition, the payments to the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, which owns the casino, were also down for the first time.

"The tribe's 13,500 members receive a check twice a year from casino profits. The last check of the year, issued Dec. 1, was $4,473 for each member, an 11 percent drop from June."

A little further east and north, Old Salem announced it will lay off workers and "change the way it tells its story to tourists," according to the News & Record of Greensboro.

The museum will trim its staff from 120 to 95 full-time workers and from 103 to 79 part-time workers through voluntary retirements and layoffs, said Lee French, the president of Old Salem Inc. ...

Some of the positions have been vacant for some time and will not be filled. A few full-time positions will be converted to part time. ...

Old Salem's management and its board of directors have worked on the plan for about six months, French said. ...

But laying people off and cutting costs can't be the end of the story, he said. Old Salem needs new ideas and new energy to attract visitors.

''I don't think you can just lay off and expect the world to get better," French said. ...

The museum is changing the way it does its tours, starting next Tuesday. Currently, people pay $21 for a one-day ticket that gives them admission to buildings in the village and a history of life there.

Under the reorganization, visitors would pay $21 for a two-day ticket. The history of the village in the 18th and 19th century would be presented on alternate days.

Quick hits: The Smokies are one of 29 'Places to Go' in '09, and the Coastal Federation nears its goal

29 Places to Go in 2009
"The most visited national park in the U.S., the Great Smoky Mountains (a western segment of the high Appalachians) boast over 500,000 acres of pristine forest and diverse wildlife that includes foxes, deer, elk and some 1,500 resident black bears," says ShermansTravel. "Nestled between North Carolina and Tennessee, park visitors have access to 800 miles of hiking, biking and horseback riding trails; scenic campsites; historic cabin museums that serve to recount pioneer history; and popular auto-tour loops, like those along Cades Cove — all of which are shrouded in the misty-blue haze that gave name to 'The Smokies.'

"Why go in 2009: With American travelers forecasted to plan more trips to national parks this year, the Great Smoky Mountains offer one of the country’s most cost-efficient vacations in the great outdoors. Admission to the park is always completely free, and as this year marks the 75th anniversary of its founding (www.greatsmokies75th.org), many additional complimentary activities are planned, including musical performances and special ranger-led programs. ..."



Coastal Federation nears its $3 million goal
"A $3 million goal is within reach as the North Carolina Coastal Federation wraps up a two-year capital campaign to help the organization increase staff and expand programs along the coast," says the Jacksonville Daily News.

"The Turning the Tide: Friends of the Coast Campaign will come to a close at the end of January. As of Dec. 29, a little more than $2.9 million had been raised.

" 'We still have one month to go and a little bit more to raise,' said Development Director Sally Steele. ...

"Steele said the $3 million has three purposes.

"One million is for an endowment to ensure the Federation's work continues into perpetuity, providing ongoing income for the organization's operations.

"Another $1 million will be dedicated to a reserve fund, which could be used to withstand unexpected challenges or put the Federation in better position to take advantage of opportunities such as land purchases or new initiatives. ...

"The final $1 million goes directly to expanded programs and staff. ..."

North Carolina basketball report

Game of the Week: Davidson at Duke, Wednesday at 7 p.m. Everybody’s All-American Stephen Curry (29.2 points, 7.0 assists) comes to Cameron Indoor Stadium.

Game of the Week II: UNC at Wake Forest, Sunday at 8 p.m.
The Demon Deacons are ranked fourth in the Associated Press poll but just 31st in the RPI. They have played the 217th toughest schedule, with wins over N.C. Central, UNC Wilmington, Winston-Salem State, Cal State Fullerton, UTEP, Baylor, Indiana, Bucknell, Wright State, Richmond, East Carolina, Radford and BYU.

Rankings (results through Monday’s games)
RPI rankings, team (overall record, record vs. North Carolina teams)

2. Duke (12-1, 1-0)
beat UNC Asheville

The Greg Paulus Experience is over. Paulus, who turned down the quarterback job at Notre Dame to play basketball at Duke, has started just one game this season.

11. North Carolina (12-1, 1-0)
beat UNC Asheville

Insert Tyler Hansbrough comment — good or bad — here.

22. Davidson (9-2, 1-0)
beat N.C. State

Curry’s shooting percentages are down, but he’s averaging three more points and four more assists than last season.

31. Wake Forest (13-0, 4-0)
beat N.C. Central, UNC Wilmington, Winston-Salem State,
East Carolina

There are only four North Carolina teams in the top 100. The new Big Four, I guess.

133. N.C. State (9-3, 4-1)
beat High Point, UNC Greensboro, Winston-Salem State, East Carolina
lost to Davidson

140. UNC Asheville (3-8, 1-3)
beat Western Carolina
lost to Campbell, North Carolina, Duke

148. East Carolina (5-5, 3-2)
beat Campbell, UNC Wilmington, UNC Greensboro
lost to N.C. State, Wake Forest

166. Western Carolina (4-5, 0-2)
lost to Gardner-Webb, UNC Asheville

170. Gardner-Webb (2-8, 1-0)
beat Western Carolina

182. UNC Charlotte (5-7, 1-1)
beat UNC Greensboro
lost to Appalachian State

198. Appalachian State (4-5, 2-1)
beat UNC Charlotte, Campbell
lost UNC Wilmington

209. Elon (2-5, 0-0)

214. N.C. A&T (3-8, 0-0)

239. Winston-Salem State (2-8, 1-2)
beat N.C. Central
lost to Wake Forest, N.C. State

290. UNC Wilmington (3-11, 2-2)
beat Appalachian State, N.C. Central,
lost to Wake Forest, East Carolina

322. Campbell (2-8, 1-2)
beat UNC Asheville,
lost to East Carolina, Appalachian State

332. N.C. Central (0-16, 0-4)
lost to Wake Forest, UNC Wilmington, High Point,
Winston-Salem State

335. UNC Greensboro (0-10, 0-3)
lost to UNC Charlotte, N.C. State, East Carolina

338. High Point (1-9, 1-1)
beat N.C. Central
lost to N.C. State

Unique ways to ring in the New Year

Yes, I know: New Year's Eve has come and gone. The confetti has (hopefully) been all cleared, and the hangovers are over.

Nonetheless I wanted to highlight the unique ways that several North Carolina places ring in the New Year.

Here in Raleigh, we like to lower a giant acorn down from a crane on Fayetteville Street. It's a strange mix of appropriateness (the acorn), urban (the setting) and hokey (the crane). In short, I love it.

But according to this report, there are some traditions that are even more, um, interesting.

"Mount Olive has the pickle drop. ... The pickle drop features a 3-foot lighted pickle replica lowered down the flagpole of Mt. Olive Pickle Co. for the 10th year. ...

"Brasstown has a possum drop" where a live animal, "in a cage, is gently lowered" from atop a country store's roof.

Another N.C. New Year's tradition is Cherryville's shooters. "The New Year's Shooters preserve the area's German heritage by honoring the custom of beginning each year with a chant and the shooting of muskets," according to Wikipedia. There is even a statue in "Chirville" recognizing the event.

Know of some other interesting New Year's traditions?

Quick hits: Character actor Hingle dies at the coast and state parks now take online reservations

Actor Pat Hingle dies at 84
"Actor Pat Hingle died Saturday night after a battle with blood cancer. He was 84," according to the Wilmington Star-News.

"The veteran of stage, television and film acting passed away at 10:45 p.m. Saturday at his Carolina Beach home, according to family spokesperson Lynn Heritage. He suffered from myelodysplasia, with which he was diagnosed in November 2006. He was survived by his wife, Julia, two sisters, five children and 11 grandchildren.

"Born Martin Patterson Hingle in Miami on July 19, 1924, Hingle had a long career that took him around the country until he settled in the Wilmington area in 1986 after filming the big-screen thriller 'Maximum Overdrive.' More recently, while living in Carolina Beach, Hingle continued to work in commercial productions, including 'Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby,' which filmed in Charlotte, as well as local independent productions 'The List' and 'Undoing Time.' He also appeared on Wilmington stages in plays such as 'Tuesdays With Morrie' and 'Our Town.'

"When most people think of Hingle, any number of iconic images emerge. He is known as much for his role as a cantankerous judge opposite Clint Eastwood in 'Hang ‘em High' (1968) as he is for the role as Sally Field’s father in 'Norma Rae' (1979). Younger generations know him better as Commissioner Gordon from the late ’80s and early ’90s Batman movies. ..."


State parks to take reservations online
"Planning a camping trip to a state park during a popular time of the year will become less of a gamble for North Carolina residents beginning in April," says the AP.

"The Winston-Salem Journal reports that a reservations system will replace the state's first-come, first-served system of assigning campsites, cabins and shelters at its 37 parks. The system will go online on April 22.

"Most of the state's 3,000 campsites will be assigned through the new reservations system. However, a few sites at some parks will be reserved for walk-in registration. ..."