Q&A on the News

Q: What year did Rich’s move the Pink Pig from the toy department ceiling to go around the tree on top of Rich’s? —D. Wilson, Grayson

A: The monorail ride was moved to the Rich’s rooftop in downtown Atlanta in 1965.

The monorail began as the Snowball Express in 1956 in the Rich’s toy department, according to the Atlanta History Center and confirmed by a spokeswoman for Macy’s, which merged with Rich’s in 1994 and later replaced the Rich’s nameplate, The ride was renamed the Pink Pig in 1959.

In 1965, the pig cars— named Priscilla and Percival—debuted on the rooftop with views of the Great Tree. The downtown store closed in 1991.

Q: Are there still people in the shelters in Texas because of Hurricane Harvey? —Alice Lewis, Marietta

A: Families staying in American Red Cross evacuation shelters in Houston have transitioned to more permanent living arrangements, a spokesperson with the Red Cross told Q&A on the News.

More than 414,800 overnight shelter stays were provided with partners for people impacted by Hurricane Harvey in Texas and Louisiana, according to Red Cross data. Immediate financial assistance was provided for more than 573,000 severely affected households.

The Red Cross has raised $493.3 million, as of Nov. 25, to help those impacted by the hurricane, it reported. Fast Copy News Service wrote this column. Do you have a question? We’ll try to get the answer. Call 404-222-2002 or email q&a@ajc.com (include name, phone and city).