By Andrew Rice & Nick Goodman
In local news, Dr. Bonnie Smith, the principal of Valle Crucis Elementary School was named Watauga County Schools 2023-24 Principal of the Year. According to the Watauga Democrat, Smith was presented with the award by a group of family, peers and Watauga County Schools staff in a surprise visit to her school on Monday. Smith was named principal of Valle Crucis in August 2019. Before that she served as an assistant principal at Shelby Intermediate School and Springmore Elementary School in Cleveland County. With the award, Smith will be in the running to receive the regional Northwest North Carolina Principal of the Year award.
In state news, Republican state lawmakers are moving ahead with a bill to change how Wake County elects its Board of Commissioners. According to WRAL, House Bill 99 would change the law so that only residents of each district could vote for their district’s commissioners race instead of being able to vote for each commissioner, regardless of where one lives in the county. The bill would also make the election a nonpartisan race. The bill could be up to a vote on the House floor later this week.
In national news, residents in 22 states are under winter weather alerts this week with a huge storm expected to bring heavy snow and high winds. According to NPR, the winter storm will begin in California with heavy snow accumulating in high-elevation areas such as the Sierra Nevada mountains. Heavy snow is expected to expand to Wyoming, Montana, South Dakota, Iowa and Minnesota. There is also a chance of heavy rain and flash flooding in parts of Missouri, Illinois, Indiana and Michigan. Near Minneapolis, the National Weather Service reported the potential for historic snowfall.
Now onto sports.
App State men’s basketball will be playing their final two games of the regular season this week. They will first play at Atlanta against Georgia State tonight at 7pm, then will finish the regular season at Georgia Southern on Friday at 7pm. App State unfortunately can not get a double bye in the Sun Belt tournament, but they still need to play well to earn a better seed. The USFL is starting their second season, and a couple teams will have help from former mountaineers. Quarterback Chase Brice was picked third overall by the Houston Gamblers, and offensive tackle Anderson Hardy was picked by the Philadelphia Stars. Both players are likely going to play big roles for their teams this spring.
The American Athletic Conference released their football schedule for this coming season. Former Conference USA members Charlotte, Florida Atlantic, North Texas, Rice, UAB, and UTSA will join the conference while Cincinnati, UCF, and Houston will depart the conference for the Big 12.
Now for a special weather report powered by Booneweather.com! Today will be a beautiful day with partly cloudy skies and warmer temperatures with a high of 66 and low of 54 so make sure to enjoy it!