Good as Gold -- Jose A. Benitez, of Reaves Nursery near Aberdeen, examines his variegated privet for cold damage Feb. 28. (Glenn M. Sides)

Published on March 5, 2013

Susan Holmes peers at the rain through her car window at the Southern Pines post office Feb. 26. (Glenn M. Sides)

Published on March 5, 2013

Viking junior Lexie Coxe swipes second in the first inning Feb. 27 after reaching with an infield single. Pinecrest sophomore shortstop Brenna Barbra is trying to make the tag. Pinecrest won the intra-county matchup against Union Pines 9-8. (Philip Taylor)

Published on March 5, 2013

A Seussian Celebration -- Moore County Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Patrick Coughlin gives a dramatic reading of "Green Eggs and Ham" March 1 to children at the Boys and Girls Club of the Sandhills in honor of Dr. Seuss' birthday. (Glenn M. Sides)

Published on March 5, 2013

Fourth-graders Joshua Smith and Blaise Teal work together to complete a ceramic bowl in Jennifer Mattison's art class at Carthage Elementary School Feb. 28. Students at the school have been making ceramic bowls for their "Empty Bowls, Full Hearts" fundraiser March 19, where people may purchase the bowls with their meal. Proceeds from the event will benefit a food pantry in Carthage. (Hannah Sharpe)

Published on March 5, 2013

The Southern Pines Gators, a local high school rugby club, lost their first game 38-0 against an experienced Triad team. (Courtesy of Southern Pines Gators)

Published on March 5, 2013

Tristan Helms (12) is about to be mobbed by his Pinecrest teammates after hitting a three-run homer in the decisive 10-run fifth inning for the Patriots' matchup against Union Pines High School Feb. 27. (Donna Ford)

Published on March 5, 2013

An aggressive Felecia Painter tries to rip the ball away from an Apex player during Pinecrest High School's first-round playoff loss Feb. 25. (Donna Ford)

Published on March 5, 2013

John Ward, of Applied Services and Information Systems, spreads fire during a prescribed burn March 1 at Rassie Wicker Park in Pinehurst. (Glenn M. Sides)

Published on March 5, 2013

With a grimace, Aberdeen Primary School teacher Mary Wannall kisses Gingerbread the pig during the school's annual "Hoedown Dance" Feb. 25. Wannall, along with Lindsay Garner and Dawn Vang puckered up to the delight of their students as a part of the Pennies for Piggy's fundraiser. (Courtesy of Aberdeen Primary School)

Published on March 5, 2013

Third-grader Mikel Dorsey keeps an eye on his pieces during a chess match against second-grader Mark Theume during the Southern Pines Elementary School chess social Feb. 26. Students from Southern Pines Elementary and Southern Pines Primary School's chess clubs met in the school's cafeteria to play. (Hannah Sharpe)

Published on March 5, 2013

Harry Neely, of Southern Pines, spends a rainy day Feb. 26 painting at the Artists League of the Sandhills in downtown Aberdeen. (Glenn M. Sides)

Published on March 5, 2013

For the second year in a row, the Sandhills Community College Flyers have claimed the Region X tournament title. (Courtesy of Karen Manning)

Published on March 7, 2013