By Holly Hodges
Watauga High School’s Pioneer Playmakers won Judges Choice for Distinguished Play during the NC Theatre Conference State Play Festival. According to the Watauga Democrat, the group won the award for their play about relationships called “Our Place.” Additionally, students Sage Park and Elias Evans received Excellence in Acting awards. Students began working on “Our Place” at the end of August in 2021 and started reading the script in May. The Pioneer Playmakers will represent Watauga County Schools and the state at the Southeastern Theatre Conference in March 2023.
In North Carolina news, a non-profit has found a creative way to raise money to preserve Pilot Mountain after it caught fire a year ago. According to WXII 12, Friends of Sauratown Mountains helped create license plates after a resident approached them about it in October 2020. For each purchase, 20 dollars goes to preserving its trails and creating educational programs about the mountain and preventing wildfires. The organization has sold more than 350 license plates and raised over 7,000 dollars. If you are interested in supporting the fundraiser, you can visit the DMV’s website for more information.
In national news, Hawaii’s largest active volcano, Mauna Loa, started to spew ash and debris from its summit today. According to the Associated Press, the eruption caused civil defense officials to warn residents to make preparations in case lava flows toward communities. The eruption began late Sunday evening which was followed by a series of closely-spaced large earthquakes. As of noon, no evacuation orders have been issued. Shelters have started to pop up in Kailua-Kona and Pahala in response to reports of people self-evacuating.
Today’s weather is brought to you by Ray’s Weather Center at Booneweather.com. Unfortunately, it is going to be mostly cloudy today with possible scattered rain showers. Today is going to be slightly cooler. The high is 47 degrees and the low is 33, although wind gusts may make it feel much cooler.