Good News Friday: An adorable NC bunny is auditioning to be Cadbury Creme Egg’s star

Our weekly roundup of the good news from all over NC includes a seriously ambitious rabbit in Onslow County. Plus: A high school basketball star from Sanford is tops in the nation.

Hey NC! We’re here with a new installment of Good News Friday, where we bring you happy-go-lucky news from around the state. Because it’s not all bad news out there, regardless of what the TV’s telling you.
Let’s hop into it. 

The NC Zoo Opens the Africa Entrance 

The NC Zoo is celebrating an early spring by opening the Africa entrance and plaza! The zoo’s hours are 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. until October. Other attractions like the carousel, Treehouse Trek, and Air Hike are open too.

The NC Zoo in Asheboro is the world’s largest natural habitat zoo, and has more than 1,700 animals in its care. They also lead national and international conservation efforts to protect wildlife and nature’s diversity. 

 

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NC Bunny is the “Creme” of the Crop

Sheldon, from Jacksonville, NC, is an adorable bunny gunning for the star role of Cadbury Creme Egg’s starring role.

He was adopted from the Onslow County Animal Shelter and his companion, Sophie Peterson, told WECT that she sees this as an opportunity to “show off the experience of adoption and how it’s a positive experience and how all animals deserve a forever home.”

The competition features bunnies, guinea pigs, lizards, and even horses. Sheldon has made it into the “Eggcellent 8.” Public voting will be Monday, March 18 to see if he advances.

To keep up with Sheldon’s progress check out @cadburyusa on Instagram, and cast your vote on their story.

 

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Sanford Senior Wins Prestigious Basketball Award

Sarah Strong, a senior at Grace Christian School in Sanford, is the first person from North Carolina to win the Naismith High School Player of the Year Trophy. The award recognizes the most outstanding high school basketball players in the country.

Strong is ESPN’s no. 1 ranked prospect in the 2024 class, and is considering offers from around the country, including states like North Carolina, South Carolina, Louisiana, and Connecticut. 

“Pub it Forward” at this Concord Restaurant 

Afton Pub and Pizza Village in Concord is bringing its community together through food. 

They’ve introduced a new program “Pub it Forward” where people can donate to a meal and someone in need can redeem it later. Contributing $20 covers any item on the menu, $6 covers any kids’ menu item, and Afton Pub will match every donation.

In a Facebook post, the pub’s owner, Jared Kolod, shared that if a person getting a meal with the program didn’t have transportation to the restaurant, the pub would find a way to deliver it to them.