HAYWOOD COUNTY, N.C. (FOX Carolina) – The North Carolina Department of Transportation said new damage will delay the reopening of Interstate 40. The interstate was heavily damaged during Hurricane Helene.

A large chunk of asphalt fell away in an eastbound lane of I-40 near the Pigeon River Gorge. Officials said wet and freezing weather contributed to the slide.

Crews initially hoped to reopen the interstate during the first week of January, but it will remain closed until it is deemed safe.

“It is an unfortunate situation,” NCDOT Division 14 Engineer Wanda Payne said. “It’s a new hurdle that we have to overcome in order to provide a safe facility for the traveling public.”

Engineers are working to stabilize the damage with additional soil nails.

Drivers are reminded about the designated detours in place to drive.

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The Arkansas Razorbacks (9-2, 0-0 SEC) have just two non-conference matchups left before they start SEC play, and they can’t look past the North Carolina A&T Aggies (3-9, 0-1 CAA), who will visit Bud Walton Arena on Saturday.

Arkansas’ penultimate non-conference matchup looks like an easy game on paper, but another wire-to-wire win would help the Razorbacks in the metrics and analytics. Right now, the Hogs sit at No. 40 in KenPom and No. 48 in the NET rankings.

The Aggies are led by second-year head coach Monte Ross. He was an assistant at Temple for four years and spent 10 years as the head coach at Delaware prior to that. Last season, NC A&T finished 7-25 and 5-13 in the Coastal Athletic Association.

This season, it hasn’t gone much better. The Aggies are at 3-9 with wins over Cheyney University of Pennsylvania, The Citadel and Morgan State University. They’ve lost seven games in a row, with the most recent game a 73-68 loss to Coastal Carolina.

There are several interesting ties between the Aggies and the Razorbacks in Saturday’s matchup. NC A&T junior guard Jordan Martin is the son of Arkansas assistant coach Chuck Martin. North Carolina A&T’s leading scorer, Landon Glasper, is a Fayetteville native and was at Fayetteville High School while Arkansas staff member Ronnie Brewer was on staff.

The Aggies’ second-leading scorer, Ryan Forrest, is also an Arkansas native and hails from Marion. He and Glasper played AAU ball for Brewer while in high school.

Here’s HawgBeat’s preview of what you need to know about the North Carolina A&T Aggies ahead of Saturday’s contest, including analytics, players to watch for and more…

GARNER, N.C. (WTVD) — It’s another lunch rush at Angie’s Restaurant in Garner, as servers whir by tables, dropping off dishes and filling up drinks. And while every restaurant has their regulars, there may be no couple whose more at home here than the Potter’s.

“Most of it is the love that they show for the people. And on top of that, the food is extra good,” said Vernon Potter.

They’ve been coming here since 1968 when it was under previous ownership. However, they started coming more often after moving closer to the restaurant, once it was opened by current owner Angie Mikus in 2011. Ultimately, it’s become a daily stop, often twice a day, including Thursday. By the time we sat down with them, it was the second time they’d eaten here today.

“I had three eggs over light, piece of lean fatback and potatoes,” said Vernon of his breakfast order.

Their orders and tables change, but what draws them out of the house does not.

“It’s one of the most important assets that we have is that we can mingle with people. You can talk to people, and find out what they’re thinking, (of what) you’re thinking and a lot of times it’s compatible. And by doing that, we have our little family we call it at Angie’s,” said Vernon.

The couple met in 1948, when Vernon was 18 and Margaret was 17.

“I fell in love the minute I saw her. And six months later, I married her,” said Vernon.

“We liked singing, and we sang well,” said Margaret.

The pair have continued singing together for years, often in church, even showing off their skills inside the restaurant Thursday; the performance drew applause from other diners.

One estimate from population experts states there are currently 1,000 couples in the United States that have reached 75 years of marriage.

“They just have a level of commitment that just isn’t prevalent in our culture today. It just shows me that people can be committed to each other. But it takes love and it takes understanding and patience,” said Pat Zimmerly, one of the Potter’s four children.

Zimmerly said their relationship has served as an important example to model after, valuable for the Potter’s twenty-two grandchildren, and now the next generation of great-grandchildren.

“Daddy held her, my mom held her. We just cried. My son and I, my daughter-in-law because the legacy that they bring through me, to my son, to Isla, it’s going to impact her life in a positive way,” said Pat, referring to her first grandchild who was born earlier this year.

Vernon spent more than 40 years in the North Carolina National Guard, with the family living in New Bern, Rocky Mount, and Raleigh before the couple ultimately retired in Garner. Margaret served as President of the Volunteer Auxiliary at WakeMed, a role that led her to travel the country. Her efforts were recognized in 1999 when she was honored by the Governor’s Office.

“Their whole life is just social. And that goes along with church and everything. They just need people in their lives,” said Zimmerly.

Now in their nineties, a lot has changed from when they first met.

“A hamburger was 10 cents. A Pepsi-Cola was a nickel, a Baby Ruth Bar was a nickel,” said Vernon.

But what’s bonded them together – a shared love of family, faith, and helping others – has remained the same.

“Her beauty and her love for me has never changed,” said Vernon.

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