North Carolina Now; North Carolina Now Episode from 09/01/1994

The TONIGHT Wow a great way to pass a Native American culture. Good evening everyone I'm with Bailey so glad you joined us. Marilou heart Charka is taking some time off but she will be back next week Hooray. Now if you joined us last night you saw a terrific interview that we had with Lance Simpson of the Red Clay Ramblers Well it was so it was so interesting we thought we'd share some more talk with him so we'll have him in our newsmaker segment

again this evening. And we're going to take you to the North Carolina Zoo to see some behind the scenes work of how they create those terrific desert environments. And of course we will show you how wonderful Native American culture is passed on from generation to generation. But first the North Carolina Zoo is truly a state treasure. It's been called one of the best natural habitat zoos in the world. Animals live in environments modeled to resemble their native habitats as closely as possible. And the new North American continent exhibits continue that tradition. Tonight reporter Maria Lundberg and producer Jim Bramlett take us on a visit to the zoo's unique exhibit on the desert Southwest tells me. The plants and animals around me are right at home here in the warm climate of Arizona. But this is not Arizona it's Asheboro North Carolina.

This amazing building perfectly recreates the climate of the Sonora Desert replicating the Sonora Desert two thousand miles east of its actual location was quite a challenge. It's taken 10 years of planning by designers architects and curators to develop this exhibit. The four million dollar project is the first habitat to open zoos new North American continent. The 14000 square foot domed building contains a diverse population of desert animals and plants. And we also have Colorado River toads for the world. Well it's one of six zookeepers in the Sonora Desert. A typical day involves caring for quite a variety of animals. You're going to see all sorts of snakes all sorts of lizards. You're going to find birds. You're going to find different types of mammals. Just basically everything that you like speck to encounter in the desert. The exhibit meets the environmental needs of the animals using state of the art technology. Each lizard exhibit has a heating pad that creates the heat for them that they can lay

on it and bask and they'll get heat from underneath that you know get the life from above and similar to what they would be doing during the day and in their normal time. A popular bird in the exhibit is the Road Runner which moves just about as fast as its cartoon counterpart. The prehistoric looking human monster is also right at home in this environment. It's the only known poisonous lizard nearby you'll see the box turtle which is similar to those found in North Carolina in the Ocelot exhibit. Laura puts out crickets to stimulate a foraging behavior for the cats. Since we provide their diet they're not spending a majority of their time out foraging for their food. As most animals in the wild do so we try to give them added activities to kind

of make it seem like they're still doing that even though this isn't part of any nutritional need whatsoever. These 18 month old oss allots belong to an endangered species one of many which are represented at the zoo. Of course it wouldn't be the desert without snakes. And this exhibit has several varieties including the rattlesnake winding through the desert canyon leads to a nocturnal area with animals which come out when the sun sets. Then usual side is watching the vampire bats at feeding time. Their diet cow's blood not zookeepers. But animals aren't the only attraction in the Sonora Desert. This exhibit contains more than 130 species of desert plants were imported from the southwest to members of the zoo's

horticultural staff take care of them. You have quite a few different types of plants and it's it's as much of a draw as the animal so people like to see the different types of plants something that they would normally encounter in North Carolina. The cactus is most commonly associated with the Sonoran Desert its long roots soak up rainwater like a huge spawn. When the cactus can weigh up to 20000 pounds imagine trucking these all the way from Arizona. But how do they maintain desert life in the humidity of North Carolina. The building is climate controlled so they have a system that pulls humidity out of the exhibit. It's kept at set temperatures. It's a very elaborate computerized system that does certain temperatures during the day certain temperatures at night. So there's a lot of care being taken to make sure that this is the exact conditions of that those are part of the sophisticated heating and ventilation system is the roof.

It's made up of hundreds of glass panels designed to filter sunlight and ultraviolet rays. It takes a lot of time and money to go to Arizona but you can enjoy this beautiful desert just a few hours from home right here in North Carolina. So come on out to visit. The Sonora desert was the first part of the ongoing expansion at the zoo. And just a few weeks ago more exhibits in the North American region opened featuring polar bears sea lions cougars and alligators. Now if you'd like to visit the zoo it's located on Highway 1 59 six miles south east of Asheboro. The zoo is open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Mission a $6 for adults and four dollars for children and senior citizens. For more information call 1

800 4 8 8 0 4 4 4 and to receive a beautiful color brochure about the zoo. Just send a self addressed stamped on to North Carolina now. Post Office Box 1 4 9 0 0 RTP NC 2 7 7 0 9. Forty nine hundred and we would be more than happy to mail one out to you. Several months ago hundreds of Tar Heel Native Americans blazed a trail to the North Carolina School of Science and math in Durham. They were attending a powwow. And as Michel Louis tells us the powwow is a way to celebrate preserve and teach their culture. When we hear the words such as this one from the movie Dances With Wolves come to mind taking us back to a time when Native American cultures still are still alive and well even today. This power line a school of science

and math is a celebration of Native American family traditions such as dancing singing and most of all respect for these young people. Fundies feel good good good prophet will bring up the family. And this is something all American Native Americans blacks were Norlander have good family values. Family Eunice that's our support Al Green they've got away from all of us. Now we've got kids hanging out on the corner and we're trying to save them from themselves. That's when there's a big heart of the powwow. Nearly 40 tribes were on hand to strike traditional steps while others favored the fancy dance which is a freestyle type of movement. The ceremony has a head of male and female dancers. Richard Seneca Hari Indian from the Clinton area sees dancing as an interesting way to pass on the customs of her people to the younger generation to follow and listen to the elders.

To get there to learn about their heritage. So I think this is a good way to keep the youngsters active and busy and they don't get bored because they can and they can write their heritage along with power. Richardson is keeping that philosophy alive through her 22 year old son why Yosh to who happens to be the head male dancer at this event. They are believed to be the only mother and son head dancer combination on the East Coast. Yes a pony called Hari Indian began dancing at 18 months old. He says the dances give him a sense of belonging. These dances have been passed down from generation to generation. And as you see in my outfits in my design all of it is a traditional designs. But it's made out of modern materials but the traditional designs brings out what was a long time ago. My steps on my own steps but my ancestors or their spirits were coming through me and they're telling me what I should do when I'm out there

dancing and the feeling I should have the power to have a dual purpose. It gives Native Americans and chance to showcase its rich heritage. It also gives the North Carolina School of Science and math the chance to show Native Americans what was going on over there. Carla Locklear a student at the school and full blooded Lumbee Indian hopes the powwow can help boost Native American in Rome and there's power everywhere are all over North Carolina and only because we have this in my here at the St.. Let's give them the chance to go to the school and look at it in such a story that it's unfair. At least until the coming years every year. We have a handful of their remarkable story. I think this year we might have made before. Oh I know you'd like to bring it up the whole way Native American sleeper oh wells as a link from the past that builds pride and there are future leaders not just young Native Americans but all young Americans especially now when family values seem threatened. Greg Sebastian radiothon respect for elders as they dance with them.

Respect for the old song saying by many many many years ago by the old me. So it is a matter of preaching respect you know action with other people or twinship and it's just good for you. And what size that the month for the war in Iraq today. We're going to save the world. There are 30 powwows held each year in North Carolina powwow. Organizers say a push is on to share a Native American culture throughout the country even in places where Native Americans do not live. To Lewis will have our state wide news report in just a moment. And later in the show part two of my talk with red clay Rambler bland Simpson. Don't go away. Good

evening I'm Michel Louis. Here's what's happening across the state. Nearly 400 inmates who are not eligible for parole will be released from North Carolina's overcrowded prisons in the next few weeks. Secretary of corrections Franklin Freeman says he's ordered the nonviolent inmates released before violent offenders who are eligible for parole under a new law enacted this July. Freeman says the state's prisons are still so crowded that inmates are sleeping in day rooms and hospital beds. About 800 prison inmates are being held in local jails until space opens up for them in the state system. A construction program designed to adequately house the prison population by 1996 is running seven million dollars over budget construction bids were higher than expected

because of the economic recovery and the building industry. Secretary Freeman says he may also ask the legislature to extend the unpopular practice of sending inmates to out of state prisons as a stopgap measure. Let's talk of 10000 American troops joining a coalition force to invade Haiti. There is more attention being paid these days to urban training by U.S. troops in North Carolina. Marines from Cherry Point took part in such urban training at a city style training camp at camp in June. Yesterday Marines say that type of training is routine but that there is more of a feeling of urgency about it as the crisis in Haiti continues to heat up. A Shelby food processing company is recalling about 2000 pounds of its chicken salad because the product may be contaminated. The U.S. Department of Agriculture says that Jenkins food is voluntarily recalling the chicken salad which may be contaminated with a bacteria causing the rare but potentially dangerous disease listeriosis the chicken salad was distributed to stores within a 60 mile

radius of Shelby cities where it was sold include Asheville Boiling Springs Hickory Morgantown North Wilkesboro and Statesville. The product is packaged in resealable plastic tubs and have the number 1 1 0 9 stamped on the bottom healthy people rarely catch listeriosis but pregnant women entrance the elderly and the chronically ill are more at risk. Signs of the illness include the sudden onset of flu like symptoms such as fever chills backache headache and sometimes abdominal pain. Consumers with questions may call the USDA at 1 800 5 3 5 4 5 5 5. A midnight basketball program has caused a jump ball situation for Charlotte officials. The basketball program to be developed with funds from the recently enacted federal crime bill allows youth to play and organize nighttime games in an effort to keep them off the streets and out of trouble. Republican Pat McCrory Charlotte city council member says the money earmarked for

Midnight Basketball should be rejected. However Mayor Richard Vinroot also a Republican says he and the Charlotte Mecklenburg County Parks Department support midnight basketball and hope to use the federal money for evening recreation programs. Last year Parks officials opened several facilities from 10:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m. for a month. As an experiment they reported few problems and strong participation. The man who's been serving as the chief lobbyist for the University of North Carolina system was elected today as chairman of North Carolina State Board of Education. Jay Robinson of Wilmington is a former math teacher school principal and superintendent. He was appointed to the state school board last year by Governor Jim Hunt who appoints most of the members. Robinson was also Hunt's choice for board chairman. Robinson will share responsibility for North Carolina schools with the elected state superintendent Bob Etheridge. The governor and the General Assembly. Robinson replaces can Harris who was appointed by former Governor Jim Martin.

Today it was cloudy throughout the state highs range from the low 70s in the northern mountains to the low 90s on the coast. Late this afternoon there was some strong thunderstorms in the Pamlico Sound area. Tonight it'll be mostly cloudy with a chance of rain and possible thunderstorms for the majority of the state. Those in the mountains will drop into the 50s while the rest of the state will see temperatures in the 60s tomorrow in the mountains and much of the Piedmont. It will be partly cloudy but in the Triangle area and in eastern North Carolina skies will be mostly cloudy. There's a slight chance for rain for most of the state and the possibility of a thunderstorm in the Wilmington area. Tomorrow will be a cool one with highs in the 70s statewide. The global trans Park Authority has approved the four million dollar budget for the coming year. That figure includes two million dollars for an environmental impact study which is crucial to the future of the proposed air cargo and industrial park authority members are

also trying to downplay criticism over special license plates being issued in the 12 counties surrounding Kinston where the trans park would be located. The plates which carry the letters GTP were proposed by former state senator Henson Barnes who represents the trans park's Development Commission. But opponents of the trans park are angry because the GTP plates are the only ones being issued in the region. Officials with the State Department of Motor Vehicles have directed license plate agencies to issue regular tags for people who want them. A North Carolina bank is receiving high marks in a new book rating the performance of the nation's top publicly traded companies. America's finest companies rates the bank of granite based in Granite Falls third among the 19 top companies producing the most consistent returns for their investors. The firm was the only North Carolina company to make the list. The Bank of granite founded in 1906 is one of our state's oldest financial institutions and operates 10 offices in Burke Caldwell and Catawba County. The

stock market retreated today. The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost about 12 points to close at thirty nine a one point forty four declining stocks led advancing once by three to two as about two hundred eighty four million shares were traded on the New York Stock Exchange. The Standard Poor's 500 index was down over two points and the Nasdaq composite index lost over six and a half. Analysts say the market was due for some profit taking following its recent run up technology issues were especially hard hit in today's selling. And now for some stocks of North Carolina interest. If

you were lucky enough to join us last night you saw an interview we had with one of the stars and creators of king mackerel and the blues are running a musical being revived here in North Carolina on September 8th and 10th. Well bland Simpson is back. And tonight he'll talk about the Red Clay Ramblers and other things that you're doing now. So happy to have you back in there. Thank you once again. Red Clay Ramblers that I mean this group has such a wonderful reputation and you're so creative you've done so many things.

How did this group get together. The group formed in 1972 Tommy Thompson and Jim Watson and Bill Hicks set it up as an old time revival string band. The band got involved with Jim Watt and me and Vera variety of others from around here endowments and 74 and it's been going on ever since I was 22 years old this this fall old enough to vote and more. And I mean you've been involved in so many wonderful productions even some things that we've had here on U.S. TV thank you very much. Thank you. What are you doing now what's the regular members doing the band in the last two years has had a great amount of success. We did we shot a film with with Sam Shepherd in writing and directing out in New Mexico which came out early this year. Silent tongue is the name of the Alan Bates River Phoenix. Richard Harris in that and most of last year in the early part of this year we've been

involved with two clan moms who were in that movie we got to know through the film Dave shatter and Miller went on with a show called Fool fool moon is hard for Southerners fool moon which is on Broadway last year most of the year in L.A. early this year and right after right after we do king mackerel in Wilmington in Durham we have a September 17th Arts Center show in harbor with the ramblers and a week after that. The boys are off the rest the boys are off to Vienna and Munich to do food moon over there in Europe for between 1st of October and Christmas. But you won't be accompanying them. Somebody has to man those telephones back in the home office here. Let's go back to you. You mentioned Sam Shepard working on movies a bit that was kind of interesting. We got to play ourselves 100 years ago they made us slaves and grow your beards fully up your cheeks and we'll have a bunch of Hollywood dirt to throw all over you

and you can be a medicine show band and so it was really we were typecast and I just moved back in time and we're good we had a ball with a honky tonk a medicine show band working for Alan Bates and now someone wants to see your performance. This is a movie that they can see in the theaters are rented and play at home or it's theatrical release was restricted somehow to Los Angeles and New York the New York Times gave it a rave is back in February. But I know that it's a blockbuster video because people been telling me. So people can see it if they want to see your performance I want to. But in addition to to all of the music I mean you're an instructor over at you and say creative writing. And you you write yourself. I mean how do you have a favorite is is there something you enjoy the music obviously is is is the jewel but why get into things like creative writing and teaching. Because it's so different. It involves performing thinking being around attractive and intelligent people and it's a very nice job. I think any of the

writers who do that kind of work would tell you it's flexible and gives you a lot of time to do do your own stuff. It's nice and performing. It's interesting that you would say that teaching is also performing. Oh yeah you know you have to. Sometimes you have to sell Joseph Conrad just once and those long sentences you know they're not they sit there on the page sometimes unless you read them you know with some it's a move. Now Crapsey Tell me about that the mystery of Neil Crapsey though that is a true story that I thought I could. An old North Carolina mystery that I thought I could solve and spent fifty thousand words trying to do it but it's a great story. I heard about it from the John Arden trapping ground and other North Carolina mysteries and just turned it into a book. And someday it'll be on the stage. So you get music you get a book and now you tell me about your collaboration with Doug Marlette kudzu I believe Jack Eric the ramblers and I have been working with was

putting kudzu on the musical stage and of course we hope with the with the regular Ramblers being the central musical engine of the play and we're a minute sometimes. Probably during 95 for the money. 96 season. We're getting there with the duplicate this excess of Pump Boys in the den it say damn and onward and upward. Yeah well we won't quit. The world's going to have to expect we will. Well I'm curious I mean you've done so much what you see yourself doing maybe 10 years from now. Have you thought about it. Going to my twins school graduation that's more of a sign is all I can say. You really enjoy the way. Yeah its fun and we have had a a wonderful and fairly stable team of people for you Jim Juana and Tommy Thompson and Jack Herrick in the Ramblers we've been working together for over 20 years now in various collaboration and that makes it

easy and very familial and we like it so we change the arrangements for it depending on the project and and so forth but we've been working together for a long time. Having a lot of fun we want to remind people of that. They can see King that the Blues are running next Wednesday Thursday in Wilmington we say in Wilmington and Saturday in Durham to show that the Carolina theater. Thank you so much Brian Samson here. We want to hear from you. Simply call out your comment line at 9 1 9 5 4 9 7 8 0 8. Or write us at P.O. Box 1 4 9 0 0 RTP NC 2 7 7 0 9. You can. That's a message to 9 1 9 5 4 9 7 0 4 3 0 0 1. Try out Internet address. That's you and CTV at aol dot com.

And please give us a daytime phone number in case we need to follow up. And don't forget to write us at P.O. Box 1 4 9 0 0 address to get your own zoo brochure. Now tomorrow we're going to have a feature about Garden railroad their miniature railroads made to go through people's gardens in the park is going to have that and we'll have an interview with Tom Whitesides who has organized a future Arts Conference. And we'll also have Bob Timberlake. So join us tomorrow night for more terrific North Carolina now until then for the entire crew I'm watching Kate's Vallely tonight.