North Carolina
Task Force 10 reflects on rescue efforts in western North Carolina
GREENVILLE, N.C. (WITN) – A team of eastern Carolina first responders are reflecting on their humbling experience in the western part of the state, as homes and lives were forever transformed by Tropical Storm Helene.
North Carolina knows all too well the impacts of natural disasters. Teams like NC Task Force 10, which is made up of first responders from Greenville and New Bern’s Fire/Rescue departments, also know distance doesn’t matter when it comes to helping fellow North Carolinians out.
After thirteen days of extensive search and rescue efforts were made on land, on mountains and through coursing waters, the 20 members of NC Task Force 10 made it home on October 8, changed and humbled by the experience.
“When you get a chance to slow down and relax and understand what people have lost, that does start taking a toll on you,” said Capt. Brad Johnston.
The team helped with emergency operations and life-saving missions in Polk, Rutherford and McDowell counties.
Capt. Brad Johnston from Greenville Fire and Rescue looked back on his team’s work, saying one challenge they encountered was western North Carolina’s terrain.
“We’re very familiar with a lot of flood water in eastern North Carolina, but we weren’t very familiar with mudslides,” said Johnston. “That’s what we encountered at the beginning of navigating through mudslides and then navigating on mountain roads.”
The task force teamed up with several fire and rescue departments from North Carolina and beyond to rescue, evacuate and search for people trapped by the storm’s devastation including some that helped in eastern North Carolina when Florence hit in 2018.
“Florence hit New Bern years ago, and for us, we had so many outside units come help us out,” said Capt. Stephen Jasset. “So for us to go to the western part of the state to help them out it was kind of rewarding for the rescuers to be able to give that back.”
A full circle moment of help repaid, as the mission to aid others continues in western North Carolina.
The task force said they were able to assist four people, evacuate eleven and rescue four individuals. They also were called to more than 30 shelter-in-place missions to make sure people who stayed in their homes were safe.
According to Governor Roy Cooper’s office, more than 1,600 responders from 38 state and local agencies conducted missions in the western part of the state in the wake of Helene’s devastation.
Copyright 2024 WITN. All rights reserved.
North Carolina
2024 photo galleries: Businesses hit hard by Helene in Western North Carolina
Businesses in Western North Carolina took a hit after Helene hit on Sept. 27, causing unemployment to skyrocket. For example, before Helene, only around 5,000 were unemployed in the Buncombe County, but after the storm over 13,000 people out of work, according to a report from the North Carolina Department of Commerce.
Fraser fir farmers
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US Reps. tour Asheville’s River Arts District
North Carolina
NC Lottery Powerball, Lucky For Life results for Dec. 25, 2024
The NC Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2024 results for each game:
Winning Powerball numbers from Dec. 25 drawing
15-26-27-30-35, Powerball: 03, Power Play: 3
Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Lucky For Life numbers from Dec. 25 drawing
04-10-35-42-45, Lucky Ball: 02
Check Lucky For Life payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 3 numbers from Dec. 25 drawing
Day: 8-0-0, Fireball: 3
Evening: 7-3-2, Fireball: 2
Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 4 numbers from Dec. 25 drawing
Day: 9-0-3-0, Fireball: 7
Evening: 9-3-8-4, Fireball: 7
Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Cash 5 numbers from Dec. 25 drawing
03-09-28-39-40
Check Cash 5 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Double Play numbers from Dec. 25 drawing
01-11-15-18-22
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize
All North Carolina Lottery retailers will redeem prizes up to $599.
For prizes over $599, winners can submit winning tickets through the mail or in person at North Carolina Lottery Offices. By mail, send a prize claim form, your signed lottery ticket, copies of a government-issued photo ID and social security card to: North Carolina Education Lottery, P.O. Box 41606, Raleigh, NC 27629. Prize claims less than $600 do not require copies of photo ID or a social security card.
To submit in person, sign the back of your ticket, fill out a prize claim form and deliver the form, along with your signed lottery ticket and government-issued photo ID and social security card to any of these locations:
- Asheville Regional Office & Claim Center: 16-G Regent Park Blvd., Asheville, NC 28806, 877-625-6886 press #1. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes up to $99,999.
- Greensboro Regional Office & Claim Center: 20A Oak Branch Drive, Greensboro, NC 27407, 877-625-6886 press #2. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes up to $99,999.
- Charlotte Regional Office & Claim Center: 5029-A West W. T. Harris Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28269-1861, 877-625-6886 press #3. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes up to $99,999.
- NC Lottery Headquarters: Raleigh Claim Center & Regional Office, 2728 Capital Blvd., Suite 144, Raleigh, NC 27604, 877-625-6886 press #4. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes of any amount.
- Greenville Regional Office & Claim Center: 2790 Dickinson Avenue, Suite A, Greenville, NC 27834, 877-625-6886 press #5. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes up to $99,999.
- Wilmington Regional Office & Claim Center: 123 North Cardinal Drive Extension, Suite 140, Wilmington, NC 28405, 877-625-6886 press #6. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes up to $99,999.
Check previous winning numbers and payouts at https://nclottery.com/.
When are the North Carolina Lottery drawings held?
- Powerball: 10:59 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
- Mega Millions: 11 p.m. Tuesday and Friday.
- Lucky for Life: 10:38 p.m. daily.
- Pick 3, 4: 3:00 p.m. and 11:22 p.m. daily.
- Cash 5: 11:22 p.m. daily.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Carolina Connect editor. You can send feedback using this form.
North Carolina
Santa Claus swaps reindeer for alpacas at farm in Waynesville
WAYNESVILLE, N.C. — At Winchester Creek Farm, Santa Claus traded in his traditional reindeer for alpacas during the farm’s Santa Tour on Monday.
The event offered visitors a unique opportunity to pose for photos with Santa and interact closely with the farm’s animals.
The farm also featured a large mailbox for children to send their letters to Santa. Luanna Baldwin, a mother from Canton, expressed her delight with the experience.
“This was a great outing to take the girls for some Christmas magic,” Baldwin said. “They’ve been asking to see Santa, write a letter specifically, so that was super fun.”
In addition to the alpacas, the tour allowed guests to feed and pet various other farm animals. Farm Manager Ashley Edwards highlighted the joy the event brings to visitors of all ages.
“We have people come in who are in their 60s, 70s, and above who have never touched a chicken before, and I’m able to provide that kind of happiness to their hearts to their soul, and I think it’s great,” Edwards said. “This is a memory people aren’t going to forget.”
Winchester Creek Farm has been hosting the Santa Tours for the past six years. Although this year’s event has ended, the farm offers tours throughout the year.
Winchester Creek Farm operates as a year-round working farm, raising animals primarily for the fiber produced by their coats.
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