A total lunar eclipse rewarded those who stayed up — or were up early — last Friday morning. Photographed from Pinehurst between 1:50 and 4 a.m., a lunar eclipse occurs when the moon moves into the Earth’s shadow, causing the moon to be darkened.
NASA astronauts return to Earth after 9 months in space
Cape Canaveral, Fla.
NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams have returned to Earth after being stuck in space for more than nine months. Their SpaceX capsule parachuted into the Gulf of Mexico early Tuesday evening, just hours after departing the International Space Station. The splashdown brought their space saga to an end. It all began with a bungled Boeing test flight last year.
The two expected to be gone a week or so after launching on Boeing’s new Starliner capsule. So many problems cropped up that NASA ordered Starliner back empty and reassigned Williams and Wilmore to SpaceX for the ride home.
AG, N.C. Turnpike warn of toll payment scam text messages
Raleigh Attorney General Jeff Jackson and the N.C. Turnpike Authority are warning residents about a surge in fraudulent text messages falsely claiming to be from NC Quick Pass. The random texts demand payment for supposed unpaid tolls. “These scam texts are targeting a massive number of people — including me,” said Jackson in a press release. “Don’t fall for them.” Clicking links can expose victims to financial fraud.
The Department of Justice is working with federal and international partners to track the source, which officials believe originated in Canada before moving operations to the U.S.
The move sets guidelines for affordable housing within the planned development
By Ryan Henkel Chatham News & Record
PITTSBORO — The Town of Pittsboro approved another step in the process for the continued
development of Chatham Park.
At its March 10 meeting, the board OK’d the updated Chatham Park Affordable Housing Element, which addresses affordable housing and workforce housing that will be provided within the development.
The element — which is one of 12 included with the Chatham Park Master Plan and which provides greater details and guidelines on various as-
pects of development — was brought back before the board last month for approval.
However, it was tabled due to questions about how “project” was defined and how it was then utilized within the document to potentially impact density credit allotments.
The updated element removed language which expanded the definition of “project” to include land within all proposed phases of a subdivision or site plan and now simply defines it as, “the land included in a subdivision plan or site plan approved by the Town.” Commissioner John Bonitz, who initially led the charge against the document last month, was still not in support of the updated element however. “I again commend our staff See HOUSING, page A2
Kevin Howell will succeed Randy Woodson
By Makiya Seminera The Associated Press
RALEIGH — The University of North Carolina Board of Governors has chosen the next person to lead the state’s largest public university by enrollment after its longtime chancellor is set to retire soon.
Kevin Howell was named the next chancellor of NC State — and the first black person to lead the institution in its 138-year history — at the public university governing board’s Tuesday meeting. He will succeed Randy Woodson, who has served in the role since 2010 and is one of the university system’s longest-serving chancellors. Howell is the chief external affairs officer for the UNC School of Medicine and UNC Health,
See CHANCELLOR, page A2
Howell is the chief external affairs officer for the UNC School of Medicine and UNC Health. He also previously served in various leadership roles at NC State.
Constituents sparred with Rep. Chuck Edwards during last week’s meeting in Asheville
By Makiya Seminera The Associated Press
ASHEVILLE — Before answer-
ing an attendee’s question about President Donald Trump’s “destructive and disastrous trade war,” U.S.
Rep. Chuck Edwards made a plea to the rowdy crowd at his town hall last Thursday in Asheville. “Let me answer, and then if you don’t like it, you can boo or hiss or whatever you’d like to do,” Edwards said, visibly exhausted.
As he expanded on Trump’s use of tariffs as a negotiating tactic, it took less than a minute for the crowd to
break out in outrage. He continued to plow ahead in his response and eventually punctuated it by telling attendees he would “stop there and you can yell.” The crowd gladly took him up on the offer.
For about an hour and half, Edwards endured a constant barrage of jeers, expletives and searing questions on Trump administration policies. About 300 people crammed inside a college auditorium for the town hall, while the boos from more than a thousand people outside the building rumbled throughout the event.
House Speaker Mike Johnson told GOP representatives last week to skip out on town halls, saying demonstrations outside of them were the work of “professional protesters.”
We stand corrected
To report an error or a suspected error, please email: corrections@nsjonline.com with “Correction request” in the subject line.
March 8
• Christopher Lee Davis, 30, of Siler City, was arrested for unauthorized use of a motor vehicle.
Pamela Marie Goodman, 70, of Pittsboro, was arrested for simple assault and misdemeanor crime of domestic violence.
• Kenneth Lee Goodman, 68, of Pittsboro, was arrested for simple assault and misdemeanor crime of domestic violence.
March 14
Travis Eugene Foust, 47, of Liberty, was arrested for assault on a female, communicating threats, and crime of domestic violence.
March 16
• Georion Niquan McDougald, 22, of Cameron, was arrested for possession of marijuana up to ½ ounce and possession of marijuana paraphernalia.
CHANCELLOR from page A1
according to the school’s website. He also previously served in various leadership roles at NC State, including as vice chancellor for external affairs, partnerships and economic development. As an NC State undergraduate student, Howell was student body president. “I know from experience that effective diplomacy in contentious times requires patience, humility and a genuine respect for the voices and opinions of others,” UNC System President Peter Hans said during the meeting. “These are all qualities that Kevin Howell possesses in abundance.”
Howell will begin in his new role May 5, according to an NC State news release. His
HOUSING from page A1
for dramatic and significant improvements to the text since the 2021 version,” Bonitz said.
“It really is a much improved policy. That said, even with the changes, I think it’s even more clear to me that the intention is to make it easier to achieve those eight additional density bonus units.”
According to the element, Chatham Park is able to receive density credits for each affordable housing unit that they build so long as those units are within a certain proximity to stores where fresh fruits and vegetables are sold, public schools, transit stops and/or
RESIDENTIAL
• 2930 Wayne White Road (Climax), 7.60 acres, 3 bed/2.5 bath, $250,000
• 389 Dewitt Smith Road (Pittsboro), 9.109 acres, 3 bed/2 bath, $500,000
• 298 E. Salisbury Street (Pittsboro), 0.40 acres, 3bed/2 bath, $600,000
• 9550 Silk Hope Liberty Road (Siler City), 73.740 acres, 3 bed/3bath, $1,450,000
• 557 Olives Chapel Road (Apex), 12.802 acres, 3 bed/3 bath, $2,500,000 LAND
• 37 E Cotton Road (Pittsboro), 0.996 acres, $100,000
• 170 Cherokee Drive (Chapel Hill), 1.150 acres, $100,000
RESIDENTIAL
• 5515 Rives Chapel Church Road (Siler City), 2.607acres, 3 bed/2 bath, $295,000
• 1115 Manco Dairy Road (Pittsboro), 14 acres, 3 bed/1 bath, $500,000
salary as chancellor will be $600,000. Woodson announced his retirement during the university’s trustees meeting last July as his contract was slated to end this summer. Woodson, 67, told reporters then that it was “just a good time” to step away from the chancellorship.
Under Woodson’s leadership, the university increased its graduation and retention rates, as well as its research funding. Enrollment also expanded, growing to more than 38,000 students as of Fall 2024.
“I feel good about leaving the institution better than I found it, but I also feel good that the next leader has plenty to do at NC State,” Woodson said after announcing his retirement in July.
There will be a lot on How-
employment centers and those density credits can be in a ratio as high as 8-to-1 if at least three of those four provisions are met.
The project was originally approved for a maximum of 22,000 units with a 7.5% guarantee of affordable housing (or 1,650 units), but due to the density credits that the developer can receive, the project is capable of ballooning to as high as 35,000 residential units in total, more than a 60% increase.
“I’m convinced that, if market conditions allow, we will have a 35,000 residential unit Chatham Park,” Bonitz said. “I simply can’t vote to support this policy. The impacts are going to be decadal, and it’s real-
ell’s plate when he assumes his position this summer, including navigating a nationally turbulent time for higher education as institutions prepare for potential massive losses of funding from the National Institutes of Health. NC State is an R1 research institution — the highest tier for research universities under the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education — and received more than $48 million from the NIH last fiscal year.
NC State also paused most of its hiring activities — including for faculty — in February, partially due to uncertainty on federal funding, according to a memo from executive vice chancellor Warwick Arden. The memo did not specify when the hiring freeze would end.
ly those later year impacts that concern me the most.”
Bonitz was the only commissioner to vote against approval of the updated element.
Chatham Park is a more than 7,000-plus-acre planned development district that includes a variety of land uses such as residential, commerce, entertainment, parks and open space.
The Chatham Park master plan was originally approved in 2015, and the project continues to develop today with companies such as Disney even planning a 4,000-unit residential community within the district.
The Town of Pittsboro Board of Commissioners will next meet April 14.
Here’s a quick look at what’s coming up in Chatham County:
Anime, Ramen and Sake Watch Party
6-8 p.m.
Join Koshu Sake every Thursday, 6-8 p.m. for an Anime, Ramen and Sake Watch Party! Movie selections are announced a few days before each event on their Facebook page. You must be 21 with an ID to consume sake. Part of the Chatham County Craft Beverages & Country Inns Trail.
The Plant 220 Lorax Lane Pittsboro
Opinionation Trivia at House of Pops
6-8 p.m.
Join House of Hops every Thursday, 6-8 p.m. for Opinionation Trivia. This Family Feud-style trivia game is so much fun! Play at 6 p.m. and again at 7 p.m. for two chances to win $15 or $25 House of Hops gift cards. More events at House of Hops; part of Chatham County’s Craft Beverages and Country Inns Trail. 112 Russet Run Suite 110 Pittsboro
Aqua Mania 2025
12-3 p.m.
• 188 Cherokee Drive (Chapel Hill), 1.150 acres, $100,000
• 327 Poplar Trail (Siler City), 5.022 acres, $150,000
• 9311 NC Highway 87 (Pittsboro), 4.602 acres, $225,000
• Tract 1 Robedo Road (Mount Gilead), 15.123 acres, $227,000
• 9231 NC Highway 87 (Pittsboro), 5.630 acres, $250,000
• Tract 3 Robedo Road (Mount Gilead), 17.029 acres, $256,000
• Tract 2 Robedo Road (Mount Gilead), 17.425 acres, $262,000
• 323 Wagon Trace (Pittsboro), 10.255 acres, $295,000
• 1834 Dewitt Smith Road (Pittsboro), 30.49 acres, 3 bed/2.5 bath, $850,000 LAND
• 0 JB Morgan Road (Apex), 21 acres, $825,000
• 00 Hamlets Chapel Road (Pittsboro), 118.742 acres, $4,250,000
Share with your community! Send us your births, deaths, marriages, graduations and other announcements: chathamcommunity@ northstatejournal.com Weekly deadline is Monday at Noon
WEEK’S VIDEO
Why is Bear Creek NC a Great Place to Live?
• 639 Hills of the Haw Road (Pittsboro), 5.2470 acres, $450,000
• 0 Chatham Church Road (Moncure), 15.94 acres, $750,000
• 0 Pasture Branch Road (Rose Hill), 29 acres, $1,250,000
• 8636/8710 Johnson Mill Road (Bahama),182.888 acres, $3,240,000
• 0 US 64 W (Siler City), 9.670 acres, $4,500,000
• 0 Olives Chapel Road (Apex), 75.4330 acres, $17,000,000 COMMERCIAL IMPROVED
• 140 & 148 East Street (Pittsboro), 1.49 acres, $1,350,000
COMMERCIAL UNIMPROVED
• 10681 US Hwy 64 E (Apex), 3.97 acres, $1,000,000
• 1700 Hillsboro Street (Pittsboro), 29.79 acres, $4,500,000
This is a one-of-a-kind Aquatic Show. Our focus is to provide a fun-filled, family-friendly event for the community. This exciting event will exhibit amazing premier freshwater and marine aquarium vendors, contests, educational presentations, music, food, an aquascaping contest and so much more.
1192 U.S. 64 West Business Pittsboro
Free Screening of “The Courthouse” 7:30 p.m.
Locals and visitors to Pittsboro will gather at the Chatham County Courthouse and Historical Museum for a free screening of “The Courthouse,” hosted by PBS North Carolina in partnership with Haw River Films. This Emmy-nominated half-hour documentary chronicles the destruction and reconstruction of the historic courthouse and its rich cultural history.
Chatham County Courthouse and Historical Museum 9 Hillsboro St. Pittsboro
Jazz Night at The Sycamore at Chatham Mills
6-9 p.m.
Every Wednesday night from 6-9 p.m., The Sycamore at Chatham Mills hosts live Jazz Nights. The series features a rotating list of local musicians. The Sycamore also offers their Lounge Menu in the dining room on Wednesday nights. Reservations are highly recommended.
480 Hillsboro St. Suite 500 Pittsboro
The county explains how to challenge property values
Chatham News & Record staff
CHATHAM COUNTY property owners receiving their 2025 reappraisal notices this month have until May 19 to appeal if they disagree with their new assessed values.
The reappraisal, which occurs every four years in Chatham County, appraises all real property at its current market value as of Jan. 1, 2025.
The process redistributes the property tax burden equitably based on current market values, though the final tax
bills won’t be determined until county officials set the tax rate later this year.
“Many areas of the county have seen an increase in market value, while a few have experienced a decrease in value,” said a county press release. “Some areas are staying about the same.”
Property owners who want to challenge their assessments are encouraged to first compare their property values to recent similar sales in their market area by visiting chathamcountync.gov/comper. If the assessed value still seems unreasonable after review, property owners can begin the appeal process at cha-
Local residents have until April 11 to apply for vacancies in four key groups
Chatham News & Record staff
THE COUNTY is seeking applications for several vacancies on its advisory committees, with positions available on four boards that help shape local policy.
The county announced Monday that openings exist on the Board of Equalization and Review, Community Adviso -
TOWN HALL from page A1
Edwards addressed the Republican leader’s advice, saying he didn’t want to “shy away” from conversations with the people of western North Carolina — even if they disagreed.
But less than 30 minutes into the town hall, Edwards started to change his tune as a majority of attendees interrupted him with vitriolic disruptions. Asheville is a deep-blue dot amid a sea of red in North Carolina’s mountains. North Carolina went for Trump in the 2024 election.
“And you wonder why folks don’t want to do these town halls,” Edwards said over shouting.
Edwards kicked off his town hall discussing western North Carolina’s recovery from Hurricane Helene. Asheville is still rebuilding after the devastating storm, which killed more than 100 people in North Carolina and caused a record-shattering amount of damage —
ry Committee for Nursing and Adult Care Homes, Planning Board and Transportation Advisory Committee. Applications will be accepted through April 11 at 5 p.m.
Applicants must be Chatham County residents at least 18 years old. Some positions are assigned to specific commissioner election districts.
The Board of Equalization and Review has three alternate seats available with terms ending Dec. 31, 2027. Applicants should have lived in Chatham County for at least two years, own real estate in the coun-
about $59.6 billion in damages and record needs, according to the state.
But as Edwards touted the work he said the Trump administration has been doing for the region’s recovery — which could include the president’s proposal to dissolve the Federal Emergency Management Agency — attendees shouted him down and demanded he address questions immediately. One person was escorted out of the venue after hurling expletives at the congressman.
“Listen to us now!” several people screamed from various parts of the room.
Edwards fielded scathing questions on a variety of topics, ranging from sweeping cuts to various government agencies at the hand of Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency to the future of health care programs such as Medicare and Medicaid. Questions on slashing jobs at the Department of Veterans Affairs and
thamcountync.gov/appraisal.
Online appeal filings are encouraged. Once received, a tax office representative will contact the property owner to discuss the assessment.
If disagreements persist, residents may then file an appeal with the Chatham County Board of Equalization and Review. Supporting evidence can include comparable sales reports, photographs showing the property’s features and condition, or a copy of a recent fee appraisal. Tax relief programs are available for low-income, elderly or disabled residents at chathamcountync.gov/taxrelief.
ty and understand real estate matters.
The Community Advisory Committee for Nursing and Adult Care Homes has three at-large vacancies. This committee fosters community involvement in care facilities and protects residents’ rights.
The Planning Board has a District 3 vacancy expiring Dec. 31, 2026. This board advises commissioners on planning, zoning and subdivision issues.
The Transportation Advisory Committee has a District 4 seat expiring June 30, 2026, and an at-large position expiring June 30, 2028. Residents can find commissioner district maps on the county website. Applications are available on the county’s website.
whether the U.S. will continue to support Ukraine in its war with Russia received standing ovations from most in the crowd.
The representative mostly stayed in line in supporting the Trump administration’s policies, reiterating that part of his job was seeing what decisions his constituents disagreed with so the federal government could “go back and look” at what it could improve on.
Edwards kept good humor throughout the raucous town hall, telling attendees at the end that he enjoyed hearing the crowd’s “passion” and “patriotism.” In a news conference afterward, Edwards said Trump and Musk were “over the target” in what they set out to accomplish.
“I take away from what I heard today that we’re doing exactly what the American people sent us to Washington, D.C., to do,” Edwards said as several protesters pounded on the doors nearby.
9204 Center Church Road/Green Hill Road Off 87 South | Snow Camp COUNTRY BREAKFAST
6:30 a.m. – 10 a.m. Saturday, March 22 Donations Accepted
Sausage/Bacon Country Ham Homemade Biscuits Country Gravy Grits/Eggs Stewed Apples Coffee And Drinks
Everyone Welcome And We Thank You For Your Support!
Neal Robbins, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor
COLUMN | ANDREW TAYLOR-TROUTMAN
I’m a pastor, which means I often find myself making connections between modern art and ancient texts — call it an occupational hazard.
I LOVE THE CHATHAM Rabbits’ new album, including the lyrical brilliance of the husband and wife songwriting duo, Sarah and Austin McCombie. As the album title, “Be Real with Me,” suggests, these songs explore authentic emotions. Authenticity often entails vulnerability. The first track, “Facing 29,” addresses the theme of becoming an adult, the age of 29 being described as “the last year of our youth.” Clearly, these songwriters are millennials.
While age may serve as an arbitrary measure of maturity, many of the subsequent songs highlight the complexity and tension inherent in life’s transitions.
“Collateral Damage” begins with the striking paradox, “I want my freedom / I want a baby.” The apparent contradiction of a profound truth may, in fact, reveal another profound truth.
“Did I Really Know Him” suggests that we are all strangers, even to ourselves. Like the singer, one might claim, “I know who he loves / I know what he’s proud of,” yet still feel like an imposter when gazing into the mirror. The depth of this truth is far older than the millennial generation: “For now we see as through a glass, darkly” (1 Corinthians 13:12). We know ourselves, including our desires and motivations, only in part.
I’m a pastor, which means I often find myself making connections between modern art and ancient texts — call it an occupational hazard. I do not mean to insinuate that the Chatham Rabbits are evangelistic; rather, I believe they tap into the spiritual wells of truth that emerge when vulnerability fosters
community through empathy. What we can know of one another, we learn through open, honest sharing.
“Be Real with Me” grapples with fundamental spiritual struggles related to vocation and identity. Like all great writers, these talented lyricists understand that to glimpse the universal, even if only dimly or “darkly,” such revelations must emerge from the particular — a little big moment. “One Little Orange” tells the story of Sarah McCombie’s grandfather, whose larger-than-life personality was known to her only by reputation, as he died from addiction when she was very young. She holds onto one core memory of sharing an orange with him. In the hands of a lesser writer, this narrative could easily become saccharine or trite. However, the lyrics are nourishing: “That one little orange has fed me forever.”
Likewise, much of the material on this album prompts me to reflect on my impact on others and how people have influenced my life in small, delicious ways through simple and profound connections. Such memories are like a tiny mustard seed that grows and flourishes until the birds of the air find shelter in its branches (Luke 13:18–19). If that sounds too preachy, listen to the Chatham Rabbits. As any preacher knows, music moves our hearts, even more than words.
Andrew Taylor-Troutman’s newest book is “This Is the Day.” He serves as pastor of Chapel in the Pines Presbyterian Church as well as a writer, pizza maker, coffee drinker and student of joy.
The poets tell us we ought to run barefoot in the rain often. That sounds like something that could hurt your feet, depending on where you frolic.
SUNDAY NIGHT, I sat at my desk beside the window and listened to the rain. Actually, it was impossible not to hear it, as it was coming down with great gusto.
But it was nice, especially at least at my place, as there was a lot of rain but not much storm ... and listening to the rain beats $80 an hour for a therapist.
I like rain. I like to hear it hitting the windows, to smell the air when it first starts, to feel it ... except when I’m having a bad hair day or have just washed the car, which isn’t all that often, at least as far as washing the car.
When I was a child, I wasn’t all that crazy about too much rain because it made the grass grow, and mowing the yard was under my jurisdiction. Simply put, the more rain, the more the grass grew, and the more I had to cut it. Now that my son is trying to feed a few cows, I like it because the more it rains, the more the grass grows, and the more there is for the cattle to eat.
Funny how things change through the years, isn’t it?
The poets tell us we ought to run barefoot in the rain often. That sounds like something that could hurt your feet, depending on where you frolic, as in the gravel driveway. But I think I get the point. We might do better, he’s saying, if we were a bit more spontaneous, a bit less wound too tightly. So what if your hair gets wet? Dry it when you come in. Just don’t run around outside when the lightning is about.
Lately, as I’ve become more conscious of my age and the fact I am not immortal — at least on this
side of the Great Divide — I’ve wondered why it took this long for me to get this smart. Lest you think that last statement was too much ego, let me explain by saying what I mean is that finally, I’ve learned some life lessons, things I think I would have liked to have known, say, about 47 years or so ago.
Of course, upon further reflection, I think the reality is I — and maybe all of us — had to go through the learning experiences to gain the insight and wisdom and understanding. But, still, I think it would have been nice. The old adage “We get too soon old and too late smart” fits more and more.
So what do we do? We can’t turn back the clock to those thrilling days of yesteryear. And we can’t stop the world and get off. Dropping out is also not really an option.
The answer, it seems to me, is multifold. First of all, it behooves us to keep on trucking. And secondly, as we truck or run or whatever, to take those insights and bits of wisdom with us, partly so we can apply them and learn some more in the process. And thirdly, as we go, resolve to do better, to take more risks but not stupid ones like lying on a railroad track, to love more deeply, to say one more kind word or do one more good deed.
And last, but certainly not least, to keep on working at it all by running — or at least jogging or even standing — in the rain.
What’s the forecast for the next few days?
Bob Wachs is a native of Chatham County and emeritus editor at Chatham News & Record. He serves as pastor of Bear Creek Baptist Church.
Idle chatter all ’round? A waste of time? No way! Building Communiteeeee!
DUMP CONSCIOUSNESS? What the heck is that?
The short answer to your question is that dump consciousness generally overtakes me when I go to, of all places, yep, you guessed it, the dump. In its most formal context, the dump is also known as the County Recycling Center. No one I know calls it that. It’s just the … dump. The dump’s particulars are as follows: a sometimes odiferous, tennis court-sized fenced-in area, off the beaten track, but nonetheless, nearby. The county staffs it six days a week, with a day of rest on Sunday for the staff and all of us DIYers. A welcoming place that opens its arms to those of us with too little, or too much, garbage and recycling to pay for home pick-up on a weekly basis. (I’m cheap.)
OK, now you have the dump’s concrete particulars. My curious state of dump consciousness, which generally overtakes me when I drive through its gates, is less explicable. Much less. I mean, who gets happy about putting several (or more), usually quite odiferous, plastic bags of garbage in the car and rumbling down the back roads to said dump? Me! It certainly isn’t the garbage, I can tell you that.
(She’s really going to say it.) As I line up behind other cars to divest myself of garbage and recyclables, something comes over me. It’s Communiteeeee! I’m suddenly just gabbing away with the men (mostly) who staff the dump. I really, really appreciate what they do, including, occasionally, helping me, as well as
others, unload. I want them to know they are valued!
My Chatty Cathy modality (a pullstring talking doll popular in the early 1960s) just pops out. Yeah, often just idle chatter, but it’s also a way of my saying, “I see and acknowledge you.” No matter what their job is, who the heck doesn’t like being seen and acknowledged?
Granted, my Chatty Cathy persona is not just limited to those who staff the dump. No way. I’ve usually entered a positive fugue at that point and am just bubbling over with Chatty Cathy-ness.
A man with a white ponytail parked in front of me last week. He was wearing shorts in the early afternoon of a morning that had been in the 30s. I commented that he was brave for donning shorts today He, however, apologized for not wearing his usual Hawaiian shirt. I told him he was forgiven.
Idle chatter all ’round? A waste of time? No way! Building Communiteeeee!
“Casual connections in the course of daily life can give people a feeling that they belong to a community, a basic human need.” ’Tis the wellspring of dump consciousness.
Dump consciousness pervades outside the environs of the real dump, too. You need not be a Chatty Cathy to build Communitteeee! That’s simply my way. What’s yours?
Jan Hutton, a resident of Chatham County and retired hospice social worker, lives life with heart and humor.
DEI is not about giving extra advantages to women and minorities.
THEY CALL IT “Cancer Alley.”
It’s an 85-mile stretch of the Mississippi River that connects Baton Rouge and New Orleans. The name stems from the fact that the area’s residents have a 95% greater chance of developing cancer than the average American.
Some 200 petrochemical and fossil fuel operations are located in the area. About 25% of the petrochemical production in the United States takes place in the area. Want to move there? Its residents are disproportionately poor and black.
The Biden administration Environmental Protection Agency launched a pioneering effort to advance environmental justice by targeting plants that pollute low-income neighborhoods that people can’t afford to flee. One of those plants was the Denka Performance Elastomer chemical plant, a Japanese company whose plant in LaPlace, Louisiana, produces neoprene, a kind of synthetic rubber that is used in laptop sleeves and wetsuits.
In a case referred to the Justice Department by the EPA, the United States in early 2023 sued Denka, claiming the plant emitted forbidden levels of chloroprene, a cancer-causing chemical that is particularly dangerous for children. The government alleged in the suit that air monitoring showed that long-term concentrations near the Denka plant are as high as 15 times the amount recommended for long-term exposure to chloroprene. The plant was located near an elementary school, which was finally closed. A trial was supposed to begin in April.
Last week, the Justice Department, at the request of the Trump administration EPA, dropped the two-year-old case. No more DEI means no more environmental justice. All of the employees of that division of the EPA — some 170 people — have been fired, and its cases are being dropped. According to The Associated Press, the Justice Department “celebrated” the decision to drop the lawsuit, claiming that it showed that they were “delivering
BE IN TOUCH
on President (Donald) Trump’s promise to dismantle radical DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) programs and restore integrity to federal enforcement efforts.”
In a statement, the Justice Department went on to say that the dismissal of what was a signature example of the Biden environmental justice initiative signified the Trump administration’s commitment to “eliminate ideological overreach and restore impartial enforcement of federal laws.” For its part, the EPA hailed its formal withdrawal of the referral of the case to the Justice Department as an example of EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin’s pledge to end the use of “environmental justice” as an enforcement tool that Zeldin has said was too often used to advance liberal ideological priorities.
Sometimes, I would say most of the time, DEI is not about giving extra advantages to women and minorities. It’s about reversing a long history of disadvantaging them. Environmental justice is a clear example of that. The air that these black children are breathing makes them 95% more likely to develop cancer later on than white children.
Chemical plants aren’t located in the fancy parts of town. Air this dirty next to a school isn’t something affluent white parents would put up with.
Black families have been putting up with it because they had no choice and because government didn’t adequately protect them. President Joe Biden, rightly, tried to do something about it. In the name of impartiality and integrity, this administration is telling black children to take a deep breath.
Saving the lives of black children who breathe the dirtiest and most dangerous air in the country — and whose health has been too often ignored — should not be dismissed as a “liberal ideological priority.” There is nothing “radical” about it. That it’s being treated that way, and tossed on the DEI trash heap, is my winner for the outrage of the week.
Susan Estrich is a lawyer, professor, author and political commentator.
DICTATORS CRAVE power. President Donald Trump is using his power to give Americans more freedom. That’s a massive difference.
Desperate to find an effective attack against Trump, some Democrats are recycling an old one. They claim he’s an authoritarian. Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.) invited laid-off federal workers to attend Trump’s recent speech to Congress. She said she was standing “shoulder to shoulder with people in defiance to a dictator.” That type of defiance led Democrats to callously withhold applause from a 13-year-old brain cancer survivor simply because Trump introduced him. Shameful.
Former Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams recently called Trump a “petty tyrant.” The Associated Press claimed that Trump “has embarked on a dizzying teardown of the federal government and attacks on long-standing institutions in an attempt to increase his own authority.”
These accusations aren’t new. Former President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris frequently labeled Trump a threat to democracy. Last year, historian Jon Meacham called Trump a “tyrant” who would cause the downfall of the American Republic.
Trump has fed into this. After he attacked congestion pricing in Manhattan, the White House posted a picture of him wearing a crown. Trump said, “Long live the king.” While that was obviously not a serious claim to monarchical authority, it sent the propaganda press into a tizzy.
Many Americans believe the worst about Trump. Forty-one percent of Americans say Trump is a dictator, according to a February YouGov poll. Those people aren’t just wrong — they have it backward. Trump is doing the one thing dictators never do — reduce their own power.
It’d help to define some terms. Merriam-Webster says a dictator is “one holding complete autocratic control.” An autocracy is a “government in which one person possesses unlimited power.” Tyrant has a similar meaning — “an absolute ruler unrestrained by law or constitution.”
Therefore, by definition, you can’t be a dictator while increasing freedom and shrinking the size and scope of government. It’s a contradiction. That’s what Trump is doing. He rolled back Biden’s target for electric vehicle sales. He’s unshackled the energy industry. He wants to undo Biden administration restrictions on dishwashers, shower heads and light bulbs.
He’s ordered agencies to eliminate 10 previous regulations for every new one they put in place. He’s increasing freedom.
He’s also pushing for a significant tax cut. Dictators aren’t known for wanting to let you keep more of your own money.
He’s laid off tens of thousands of federal workers. Another 75,000 federal workers took buyouts. DOGE is attempting to reduce federal spending by more than $100 billion. He’s shrinking the government he runs.
The Trump administration is even gearing up to eliminate the Department of Education. In early March, Education Secretary Linda McMahon laid out “our department’s final mission.” She wants “to send education back to the states and empower all parents to choose an excellent education for their children.”
Indoctrinating a nation’s children is a powerful tool for any would-be dictator. Communist dictators wanted kids’ primary loyalty to be to the government. They sought to drive a wedge between children and their parents. Trump wants to give parents more control of their children’s education. Now, Trump is governing aggressively. The executive orders have been fast and furious. He’s closed the border. He’s clearing out the deep state. He’s rooting out DEI in the government. He’s recognized that men are not women.
But an elected official changing government policy isn’t tyranny. That’s the point of having an election. It’d be tyrannical if an unelected, unaccountable bureaucracy could stop a democratically elected president from running the executive branch as he sees fit. Just look at the obstacles Trump faced in his first term.
Trump is one of the most successful men in the world, but he’s a complete failure at being a dictator.
Victor Joecks is a columnist for the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
Letters to the editor may be sent to letters@nsjonline.com or mailed to 1201 Edwards Mill Rd., Suite 300, Raleigh, NC 27607. Letters must be signed; include the writer’s phone number, city and state; and be no longer than 300 words. Letters may be edited for style, length or clarity when necessary. Ideas for op-eds should be sent to opinion@nsjonline.com.
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June 6, 1943 –March 13, 2025
Alice Crabtree, age 81, of Pittsboro, passed away peacefully on Thursday, March 13, 2025, at her home in Chatham County, NC.
Alice was born in Gaston County, North Carolina on June 6, 1943, to the late Jones Westbrook and Ruth Smith Westbrook. She was also preceded in death by one granddaughter, Sidney Nicole Crabtree.
Surviving relatives include her husband, Frank Crabtree, two sons, Jon Crabtree of Pittsboro, Tim Crabtree and wife Jill of Starr, South Carolina, four grandchildren, Christopher Jordan “CJ” Crabtree of Pittsboro, Dr. Stephanie Crabtree Koplitz and husband Trevor of Oxford, Mississippi, Dalton Crabtree of Starr, South Carolina, Hannah Crabtree of Starr, South Carolina, one great-granddaughter, Aurora Koplitz of Oxford, Mississippi,
June 14, 1925 –March 14, 2025
Barbara “Bobbie” Lou Brooks Rives, 99, of Siler City, died Friday, March 14, 2025, at her home surrounded by her family.
Bobbie was born June 14, 1925, to the late Lewis Brock and Maggie Sanford Brooks. She was a member of Meroney Methodist Church for over 70 years where she taught Sunday School and sang in the choir. As a young girl she was a member of First United Methodist Church in Siler City. She and Gerald loved traveling with their friends to the mountains of North Carolina. Hobbies were crocheting, making sourdough rolls, reading and spending time with her family and friends. She was a people person. She loved music and loved to sing. Bobbie attended Elon College and worked for 42 years at Clapp
one sister, Sherry Hamrick of Kings Mountain, North Carolina, and several nieces and nephews.
Alice in addition to being a homemaker was for a time the business manager of Chapel-Hill/Carrboro YMCA in addition she worked in the telephone billing department at UNC Chapel Hill.
In 1961 Alice graduated from Ashley High School in Gastonia, NC. (She was also an honorary member of the Pittsboro High School class of 1961.)
The family will receive friends Monday, March 17, 2025, from 1:00PM to 1:50/ PM in the fellowship hall at Browns Chapel UMC. The funeral service will at 2:00PM with Rev. Bill Negron, Rev. Ray Gooch, and Rev. Danny Berrier presiding. Burial will follow at Cedar Grove United Methodist Church cemetery.
In lieu of flowers the family asks for memorial contributions to be made in Alice’s memory to Browns Chapel UMC Cemetery Fund c/o Teresa Farrell P.O. Box 1048 Pittsboro, NC 27312 and/or Cedar Grove UMC Cemetery Fund 2791 Jones Ferry Road Pittsboro, NC 27312.
Condolences may be made at donaldsonfunerals.com Donaldson Funeral Home & Crematory is honored to serve the Crabtree family.
Brothers Implement and Truck Company. She enjoyed helping Gerald in the chicken houses and in the garden.
Bobbie is survived by her children: Ann Rives Poe and husband, Dexter and Mitchell B. Rives, all of Siler City; grandchildren: Jessie Moore and husband, Zach of Siler City; Ryan Mashburn and wife, Sabra of Bear Creek, Maggie Poe of Siler City, and Elisabeth Rogers and husband, Jim of Oklahoma; and great grandchildren: Abbey, Gauge, Reagan, Mia, Brock, Hudson, Zoey, and Wynslee.
In addition to her parents, Bobbie was preceded in death by her husband: Kenneth Gerald Rives, brothers: Leon, Cecil and Hubert Brooks; and sisters: Mary George Brooks and Mildred “Mimmie” Brooks.
The funeral service will take place at Meroney Methodist Church at 3:00 p.m., Tuesday, March 18, 2025; with Rev. Linda Yow and Jim Whittaker officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery with a visitation afterwards in the church fellowship hall.
The family request memorials be made to Meroney Methodist Church or to Liberty Home Care and Hospice. Smith & Buckner Funeral Home is serving the Rives family. Online Condolences may be made at smithbucknerfh.com
July 20, 1955 –March 14, 2025
Cheryl Lynn Rouse Fields, 69, of Goldston, died Friday, March 14, 2025.
Cheryl was born in Sanford, NC on July 20th, 1955, to Sherwood and Mary Elizabeth Woody Rouse. She attended Beulah Baptist Church. Cheryl always loved to travel especially
going to the beach. Spending time at the ballpark watching her son play baseball was one of her favorite things to do. She also enjoyed reading and coloring.
Cheryl is survived by her husband of 33 years, Mike Fields; two children, Terrie Elizabeth Fields of Raleigh, and Mickey Fields and spouse of Goldston; and one grandson. She is also survived by her mother, Lib Woody of Sanford; two sisters, Karen Garner and her husband, Mike of Whispering Pines, and Angie Brewer and husband, Eric of Goldston; two brothers, Jeff Woody and wife, Pam of Sanford, and Andy Rouse and wife, Colleen of Michigan; sister-in-law, Becky gunter of Goldston; brother-in-law, Buddy Fields and wife, Angie of Goldston; special friend, Debbie Catrini of Dunwoody,
GA; and many nieces and nephews.
She is preceded in death by her father, Sherwood Rouse; brother, Mark Rouse; and stepfather, Elmer Woody.
A visitation will be held Wednesday, March 19th, 2025, from 7-9 pm, at Smith & Buckner Funeral Home Chapel. Funeral service will be Thursday, March 20th, 2025, at 11 am, at Beulah Baptist Church. Burial will follow at Antioch Baptist Church Cemetery. Reverend Neil Jackson and Reverend Dallas Street will be officiating the service.
The family request memorials be made to Beulah Baptist Building Fund. Smith & Buckner Funeral Home is serving the Fields family. Online condolences can be made at smithbucknerfh.com
Celebrate the life of your loved ones. Submit obituaries and death notices to be published in Chatham News & Record at obits@chathamrecord.com
ROBERT LEE AKERS MARCH 13, 2025
Robert Lee Akers, of Carthage, passed away on March 13th, 2025, at his home. There will be a memorial celebration Monday March 17th from 6-8pm at Joyce Brady Chapel. Robert was born in Tuscon Arizona to Jackie and Edna Akers. He was a member of Pine Mountain Church in Bennett. He worked in textiles as a plant manager for Arauco. He loved riding motorcycles and playing music. He owned and operated Carolina Vibez DJ service and karaoke. He was very hardworking and dedicated to his job. He loved going to the beach with his friends and family. He was preceded in death by his mother, Edna Akers and brother, Lee Akers. Robert is survived by his wife Vicky Akers of the home, Father, Jackie Akers of Vass, Children, Amber Knutzen (Jeremiah) of Adel Iowa, Stephanie Peoples (Brandon) of Carthage and son Jeremy of Robbins, sisters; Tammi Agatone (Dave) of Burgaw, Shelley Akers (Rob) of Vass, 7 grandchildren and a host of family and friends. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested memorials to be sent to Tom Miller Souls of Service Charity Fund, 257 Angel Road Sanford NC, 27330 or a charity of one’s choice.
CLARENCE RODNEY CAMERON MARCH 11, 2025
Clarence Rodney Cameron, age 73 of Sanford passed away on Tuesday, (3/11/2025) at the Jim and Betsy Bryan Hospice Home in Pittsboro. He was born in Lee County, son of the late Clarence Cameron and Velma Saunders Cameron. He was preceded in death by his parents and brother-in-law, Chuck Kelly. Rodney loved to spend time with his family and friends. He retired with fifty-one years of service as a volunteer fire fighter and dove hunting, rabbit hunting and fishing were some of his favorite pastimes. He was a skilled mechanic, and working on his John Deere Farm Equipment was one of his greatest joys. He was a friend to many in the community and will be missed by all who knew him. Surviving is his wife, Mary Sue Howard Cameron of the home; daughters, Wendy C. Strickland (Sted) of Moncure, NC, Dorothy Denise Cameron of Sanford, NC and Stephanie Brown McRae (Craig) of Sanford, NC; sisters, Sue Kelly of Sanford, NC, Gail Holder (Tommy) of Broadway, NC, Delores Greene of Lillington, NC and Kay Angell (Jim) of Greensboro, NC; brother, Ronald Cameron (Agnes) of Broadway, NC; grandchildren, Britt McRae (Chelsey), Brice McRae, Cameron Williams (Austin), Abbey Marsh, Hunter Stickland and great-grandson, Fletcher Williams.
SARAH ELIZABETH JACKSON BROOKS
MARCH 12, 2025
Sarah Elizabeth Jackson Brooks, age 81, of Sanford, passed away on Wednesday, March 12, 2025 at her home surrounded by family. She was born in Lee County to the late Vivion Jackson and Helen Spivey Jackson. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her brother Frank Jackson and sisters Louise Harris and Donna White. Sarah worked many years at J.T. Davenport. She was known for her love of family and cherished meals together with Johnny. She also enjoyed watching wrestling on Friday evenings with Eduardo, getting her hair done every Saturday morning. She loved attending the dances at Lee County Enrichment Center where she forged friendships and attending Journey Church of Sanford on Sunday morning when she was able. She also looked forward to annual family beach trips. Sarah was a proud breast cancer survivor of over 20 years proving that with strength and perseverance, anything is possible. She also devoted much of her time to volunteering at Westfield Rehabilitation & Nursing Center, where she brought comfort and joy to those in need. Sarah is survived by her loving daughter Juanita Brownlee; former husband Johnny Hayes; grandchildren Jennifer (Eduardo), Ashley and Kourtney (Oh’Sha); great-grandchildren Liliana, Diego, Kammie, Mason and Ivey; great-great-grandchildren Alexandria and Jeffery; sister Ann Thomas and several special nieces and nephews.
VIRGINIA LYNN (GINNY) BURGESS
DEC. 28, 1942 – MARCH 12, 2025
Virginia Lynn (Ginny) Burgess of Pittsboro, NC died peacefully at home on March 12, 2025. She was preceded in death by her husband of 54 years, Laron Clifton (Clif) Burgess Jr. She is survived by sons Christopher Lynn Burgess and wife Lori of Southern Pines; Mark Clifton Burgess of Siler City; William Arthur Burgess and wife Nancy of Pittsboro; and daughter
Kelly Sue Penny and husband Charlie. Ginny also leaves behind grandchildren Cory Lynn Burgess, Kaitlin Haley Burgess, and McKinney Lynn Burgess and a greatgranddaughter Charlie Jane Burgess. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Hospice. Per her request, there will be a gathering of family and friends at a date to be determined later.
Monday, March 24 Pittsboro Center for Active Living
8:15 a.m. - Total Body Conditioning Exercise
10 a.m. - Arthritis Foundation Exercise Program
10:30 a.m. - Choir to Siler City
Noon - Reading Out Loud with Gaines
1:15 p.m. - Mahjong
2 p.m. - Storytelling Event Featuring Chatham County Historians
3 p.m. - Caregiver Support Group (via Zoom) Siler City Center for Active Living
9 a.m. - Strong & Fit
10 a.m. - Cornhole
10:30 a.m. - Gospel Choir
2 p.m. - Strength & Tone Tuesday, March 25 Pittsboro Center for Active Living
8:30 a.m. - Balance & Stretch Mat Exercise
9 a.m. - 3G’s Men’s Group
10 a.m. - Woodcarvers; Cardio Drumming
10:30 a.m. - Gym Orientation; Healthy Eating with Ann Clark
1 p.m. - Rummikub
2 p.m. - Zumba Gold Siler City Center for Active Living
8 a.m. - Quilting and Sewing Time
9 a.m. - Cardio Drumming
9:30 a.m. - A Matter of Balance
10 a.m. - Chair Exercises
1 p.m. - Rook, Phase 10 & Rummikub Wednesday, March 26 Pittsboro Center for Active Living
8:15 a.m. - Cardio & Lower Body Exercise
10 a.m. - Chair Yoga with Liz; Music Jam
11 a.m. - The Chosen with discussion
1:15 p.m. - Bowling Trip to Buffaloe Lanes
2 p.m. - Chess Siler City Center for Active Living
9 a.m. - Strong & Fit
10 a.m. - Bible Study
10:30 a.m. - Health Education with Ashley Brewer
1 p.m. - Crafts; Pickleball & Cornhole Thursday, March 27 Pittsboro Center for Active Living
8:30 a.m. - QiGong
10 a.m. - Hooks & Needles;
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Friday, March 28 Pittsboro Center for Active Living
8:15 a.m. - Cardio & Upper Body Exercise
9 a.m. - Bocce/Horseshoes
10 a.m. - Arthritis Foundation Exercise Program; Movie: Remember the Titans
11:30 a.m. - French Conversation Lunch
Noon - Lunch Bunch to Mrs. Lacy’s
1 p.m. - Euchre; Table Tennis; Acrylic Painting with Ruth Parks Siler City Center for Active Living
9 a.m. - Zumba Gold
10 a.m. - Quilting and Sewing Time
10:15 a.m. - March Madness
Noon - Table Tennis
7 p.m. - Friday Night Dance
Riggs Griffin
A three-judge panel on the Court of Appeals will hear the case
By Gary D. Robertson The Associated Press
RALEIGH — A panel from North Carolina’s intermediate-level appeals court will hear arguments Friday about a still-unsettled November election for a seat on the state’s Supreme Court.
The March 21 hearing by three judges on the Court of Appeals was announced last Friday, the same day the court rejected a request by incumbent Supreme Court Associate Justice Allison Riggs to have the entire Court of Appeals consider the matter now instead.
After recounts and election protests, the registered Democrat Riggs leads Republican challenger Jefferson Griffin by 734 votes out of more than 5.5 million ballots cast in their race for an eight-year term on the highest court in the ninth-largest state.
While The Associated Press declared over 4,400 winners in the 2024 general election, the North Carolina Supreme Court election is the only race nationally that is still undecided.
Griffin, himself a Court of Appeals judge, filed challenges to more than 65,000 early or absentee ballots cast that his lawyers have said should be removed from the tally. The State Board of Elections dismissed his protests in December, and a trial judge upheld the board’s decisions last month — prompting Griffin’s appeal. Lawyers for Riggs said in a recent legal brief that the case should first be heard “en banc” — meaning by the full Court of Appeals — in part to save time, given that a losing party in any decision by the three judges would still have the right to rehearing by the full court.
But Griffin’s attorneys said having a thorough review of more than 30 issues presented by legal parties in the protests by a smaller panel first was warranted, especially because the trial judge issued bareboned orders affirming the board’s rulings.
The Court of Appeals has 15 judges, but Griffin has recused himself from deliberations in the case before the court. Last week’s unsigned order denying initial en banc review said that only three of the court’s judges agreed with Riggs’ request. The order did not say how the judges voted. Of the 14 remaining judges, 11 are registered Republicans.
The court did reveal last Friday which judges are hearing the case — two Republicans in John Tyson and Fred Gore and registered Democrat Toby Hampson.
Most of the ballots challenged by Griffin were cast by voters whose registration records lacked either a driver’s license number or the last four digits of a Social Security number. Other votes being challenged were cast by overseas voters who have never lived in the U.S., and military or overseas voters who did not provide copies of photo identification with their ballots.
Whatever the Court of Appeals result, the case likely will head to the state Supreme Court, where Riggs has recused herself from the case. Five of the six remaining justices are registered Republicans. Majorities on the court have rejected efforts for it to rule on the challenged ballots without the election protest appeals first going through lower courts. And should Riggs lose in state court and the removal of ballots flip the race to Griffin, a federal appeals court already has told Riggs she can return to federal court to challenge decisions on federal elections and voting rights laws.
The Court of Appeals has 15 judges, but Griffin has recused himself from deliberations in the case before the court.
Our Volunteer Tax Assistance Program is open to taxpayers of all ages!
To see if you qualify, call our appointment line at 919-545-8427. You may qualify and not even know it!
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Griffin’s lawyers have argued that counting the challenged ballots violates state laws or the state constitution. Lawyers for Riggs and the board have said the ballots were cast lawfully and that Griffin failed to comply with formal protest procedures.
Riggs’ allies have held rallies in the state demanding that Griffin concede. They have offered as speakers voters whose choices in the race could be removed from tallies if Griffin’s arguments are successful.
Also last Friday, Court of Appeals Judge Tom Murry ordered that Riggs’ motion to have him recused from participating in Griffin’s appeal be dismissed as moot because he is not on the three-judge panel hearing the case. Riggs’ attorneys had cited Griffin’s legal defense fund receiving in December a donation from a Murry campaign committee as grounds for recusal.
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NOTICE TO CREDITORS
NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY
FILE#25E000100-180 The undersigned, PAMELA BARTH JACOBS, having qualified on the 24TH Day of FEBRUARY, 2025 as EXECUTOR of the Estate of GEORGIA RUTH HUDSON BARTH, deceased, of Chatham County, North Carolina, does hereby notify
Public Notice
Chatham County Schools’ federal projects under Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) of 2015 are presently being developed. Projects included:
Title I (Helping Disadvantaged Children Meet High Standards)
Title II (High Quality Teachers and Principals)
Title III (Language Acquisition)
Title IV A (Student Support and Academic Enrichment)
Migrant Education Program (MEP) Career and Technical Education (CTE) High school students can enroll, without cost, in college credit classes through the Career and College Promise program. This includes Career and Technical Education pathways of study. IDEA (Students with Disabilities) The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEAPart B, Public Law 108.446) Project is presently being amended. The Project describes the special education programs that Chatham County Schools proposes for Federal funding for the 2025-2026 School Year. Interested persons are encouraged to review amendments to the Project and make comments concerning the implementation of special education under this Federal Program. All comments will be considered prior to submission of the amended Project to the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction in Raleigh, North Carolina These projects describe the programs that Chatham County Schools proposes for federal funding for the 2025-2026 school year. Non-profit private schools and interested persons are encouraged to review these federal guidelines for the above listed projects and indicate their interest in participation in the projects if qualified. These projects are being developed during April and May and are due to the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction on June 30, 2025. The initial Equitable Services for Private Schools meeting will be held on March 25, 2025, at 2:00 PM, in person, at the address listed below. Interested parties are encouraged to contact the office of Carol Little, Executive Director Federal Programs and School Improvement, at Chatham County Board of Education, P.O. Box 128, 468 Renaissance Dr, Pittsboro, N.C. Spanish Version below: NOTICIA PUBLICA Los proyectos federales de las Escuelas del Condado Chatham bajo la Ley Cada Estudiante Triunfa (ESSA) de 2015 están en proceso de planificación. Los proyectos incluidos son:
Título I (Ayuda a los niños desfavorecidos a alcanzar altos estándares)
Título II (Maestros y directores de alta calidad) Título III (Adquisición del Lenguaje) Título IV A (Apoyo al Estudiante y Enriquecimiento Académico) Programa de Educación para Familias Migrantes (MEP, por sus siglas en Inglés) Carreras y Educación Técnica (CTE, por sus siglas en Inglés) Los estudiantes de preparatoria pueden inscribirse, sin costo, en clases de créditos universitarios a través del programa Career and College Promise. Esto incluye vías de estudio de Educación Técnica y Profesional.
IDEA (Estudiantes con Discapacidades)
Actualmente se encuentra en proceso de modificación el Proyecto de Ley de Educación para Personas con Discapacidad (IDEA-Parte B, Ley Pública 108.446). El Proyecto describe los programas de educación especial que las Escuelas del Condado Chatham proponen para financiamiento federal para el año escolar 20252026. Se anima a las personas interesadas a revisar las enmiendas al Proyecto y hacer comentarios sobre la implementación de la educación especial bajo este Programa Federal. Todos los comentarios serán considerados antes de la presentación del Proyecto modificado al Departamento de Instrucción Pública de Carolina del Norte en Raleigh, Carolina del Norte. Estos proyectos describen los programas que las Escuelas del Condado Chatham proponen para financiamiento federal para el año escolar 20252026. Se anima a las escuelas privadas sin fines de lucro y a las personas interesadas a revisar estas pautas federales para los proyectos enumerados anteriormente e indicar su interés en participar en los proyectos si califican. Estos proyectos se están desarrollando durante abril y mayo y deben entregarse al Departamento de Instrucción Pública de Carolina del Norte el 30 de junio de 2025. La reunión inicial de Servicios Equitativos para Escuelas Privadas se llevará a cabo el 25 de marzo de 2025 a las 2:00 PM, en persona en la dirección listada abajo. Se anima a las partes interesadas a comunicarse con la oficina de Carol Little, Directora Ejecutiva de Programas Federales y Mejoramiento Escolar, en la Junta de Educación del Condado de Chatham, P. O. Box 128, 468 Renaissance Dr, Pittsboro, N.C.
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
All persons, firms and corporations having claims against Betty Mae Fields Nall aka Betty Fields Nall aka Betty F. Nall aka Betty Nall, deceased of Chatham County, North Carolina, are hereby notified to present them to Sharon N. Cagle, Administrator of the Estate of Betty Mae Fields Nall aka Betty Fields Nall aka Betty F. Nall aka Betty Nall, Estate File Number 25E000125-180, on or before June 20, 2025, in care of the undersigned attorney at her address, or this notice will be pleaded in a bar of recovery. All persons, firms and corporations indebted to Betty Mae Fields Nall aka Betty Fields Nall aka Betty F. Nall aka Betty Nall, please make immediate payment to the Estate of Betty Mae Fields Nall aka Betty Fields Nall aka Betty F. Nall aka Betty Nall. This is the 20th day of March, 2025. Pamela E. Whitaker Attorney at Law 4145 Randolph Church Road Liberty, NC 27298 (336) 622-3553 telephone (336) 622-3240 facsimile pwhitakerlaw@gmail.com PUBLICATION DATES: March 20, 27, April 3, 10, 2025
Notice to Creditors
Estate of Steven
of recovery. Debtors of the decedent are asked to make immediate payment. This the 27th day of February 2025. Zelda Harlean Botha, Limited Personal Representative, in c/o Kellie M. Corbett, Attorney, at Carolina Family Estate Planning, 201 Commonwealth Court, Suite 100, Cary, NC 27511. Publication Dates: February 27, 2025 March 6, 2025 March 13, 2025 March 20, 2025
NOTICE
NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY NOTICE TO CREDITORS The undersigned, having qualified on the 28th day of February 2025, as Executor of the Estate of John B. Baer a/k/a John Balfour Baer, deceased, of Chatham County, North Carolina, does hereby notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against said Estate to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before the 13th June, 2025, or this Notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate, please make immediate payment to the undersigned. This 13th day of March, 2025. Alison Baer Arter, Executor of the Estate of John B. Baer a/k/a John Balfour Baer c/o Candace B. Minjares, Kennon Craver, PLLC 4011 University Drive, Suite 300 Durham, North Carolina 27707
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
ESTATE OF IRIS SHIPP STOUTT
CHATHAM COUNTY FILE NO. 25E000097-180
All persons, firms, and corporations having claims against Iris Shipp Stoutt, deceased, of Chatham County, North Carolina are notified to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before June 8th, 2025 or be barred from their recovery. Debtors of the decedent are asked to make immediate payment. This 6th day of March, 2025. Dawn Byrd Andrews, Executor c/o Attorney, Walter Brodie Burwell, Jr. Envisage Law 2601 Oberlin Road, Suite 100 Raleigh, NC 27608
PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT
The United Way of Chatham County will hold its annual meeting Thursday, March 27, at 11 a.m. at the Central Carolina Community College Health Sciences Center, 75 Ballentrae Ct., Pittsboro, NC 27312.
The public is invited to attend
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Having qualified as Executor of the Estate of Julie L. Schwab, deceased, of 804 Harsworth Drive, Cary, Chatham County, NC, the undersigned does hereby notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against the estate of said decedent to exhibit them to the undersigned c/o Brady Cobin Law Group, PLLC, 4141 Parklake Avenue, Suite 310, Raleigh, NC 27612, on or before the 10th day of June, 2025, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons, firms and corporations indebted to the said estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned. This the 6th day of March, 2025. Kristin Pantiga, Executor Estate of Julie L. Schwab, Deceased c/o Brady Cobin Law Group, PLLC 4141 Parklake Avenue, Suite 310 Raleigh, NC 27612
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
The undersigned, Tina Victoria Darden, having duly qualified as Executrix of the Estate of Miotzi Eugenia Darden, deceased, late of Chatham County, North Carolina, hereby notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against the Estate to present them to the undersigned in care of Ronald G. Coulter, Attorney for the Estate, 3400 Croasdaile Dr., Ste 205, Durham, NC 27705, within ninety (90) days of the first publication of this Notice or it will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons and legal entities indebted to the Estate will please make immediate payment. This the 27th day of February, 2025. Tina Victoria Darden, Executrix C/O Ronald G. Coulter, Attorney 3400 Croasdaile Drive Ste 205 Durham, NC 27705 1-919-246-5775 Publication Dates: 2/27, 3/6, 3/13, 3/20/2025
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY
FILE#25E000082-180
The undersigned, SHERRIE HATFIELD, having qualified on the 14TH Day of FEBRUARY, 2025 as EXECUTOR of the Estate of PATSY KING BLACK, deceased, of Chatham County, North Carolina, does hereby notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against said Estate to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before the 4TH Day of JUNE 2025, or this Notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned. This is the 6TH DAY OF MARCH, 2025.
SHERRIE HATFIELD, EXECUTOR 2129 SANDY BRANCH CHURCH ROAD BEAR CREEK, NC 27207 MAIL AFFIDAVIT TO: THE LAW OFFICE OF LEWIS FADELY 119 N FIR AVE. SILER CITY, NC 27344 Run dates: FM6,13,20,27p
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY FILE#25E000095-180 The undersigned, RANDALL L. HOLT, having qualified on the 18TH Day of FEBRUARY, 2025 as EXECUTOR of the Estate of PEGGY HOLT ROSENBERGER, deceased, of Chatham County, North Carolina, does hereby notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against said Estate to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before the 27TH Day of MAY 2025, or this Notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned.
This is the 27TH DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2025.
RANDALL L. HOLT, EXECUTOR 175 EDWARDS HILL CHURCH RD. SILER CITY, NC 27344 Run dates: F27,M6,13,20p
NOTICE
NORTH CAROLINA Chatham COUNTY NOTICE TO CREDITORS
The undersigned, having qualified on the 18th day of February , 2025, as Executor of the Estate of Eddie S. Williams aka Edward Silas Williams aka Edward S. Williams, deceased, of Chatham County does hereby notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against said Estate to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before June 12, 2025, or this Notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned.
This 6th day of March, 2025. Carol B. Williams Executor of the Estate of Eddie S. Williams aka Edward Silas Williams aka Edward S. Williams c/o J Alan Campbell Law PO Box 850 Hillsborough, NC 27278
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
The undersigned, having qualified as Executrix of the Estate of Jeffrey Paul Fahlikman, Deceased, late of Chatham County, North Carolina, does hereby notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against the estate to exhibit them to the undersigned at the offices of Tillman, Whichard & Cagle, PLLC, 501 Eastowne Drive, Suite 130, Chapel Hill, NC 27514, on or before the 20th day of June, 2025, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to the estate will please make immediate payment. This 20th day of March, 2025. LISA FISHER, EXECUTRIX ESTATE OF JEFFREY PAUL FAHLIKMAN
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
All persons, firm and corporations having claims against Toni Goodyear, late of Chatham County, North Carolina are hereby notified to present them to Margaret Pumphrey, as Executor of the decedent’s estate in care of Kendall H. Page, Attorney, 210 N Columbia Street, Chapel Hill, NC 27514 on or before the 20th day of June, 2025, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons, firms and corporations indebted to the said estate will please make immediate payment to the above named Executor.
Kendall H. Page 210 N Columbia Street Chapel Hill, NC 27514 Bar # 14261 Notice to Run: 3/20/2025,3/27/2025, 4/3/2025 & 4/10/2025
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
NORTH CAROLINA
CHATHAM COUNTY
FILE#25E000043-180 The undersigned, KAITLIN HOLDER, having qualified on the 24TH Day of JANUARY, 2025 as ADMINISTRATOR of the Estate of MICHAEL CLARK HOLDER, deceased, of Chatham County, North Carolina, does hereby notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against said Estate to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before the 11TH Day of JUNE 2025, or this Notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned. This is the 13TH DAY OF MARCH, 2025.
KAITLIN HOLDER, ADMINISTRATOR 122 STEEL SPRINGS LANE ANGIER, NC 27501 Run dates: M13,20,27,A3p
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
NORTH CAROLINA
CHATHAM COUNTY
FILE#25E000101-180
The undersigned, YVONNE M STEWART, having qualified on the 24TH Day of FEBRUARY, 2025 as ADMINISTRATOR of the Estate of THOMAS VINCENT MORLEY, deceased, of Chatham County, North Carolina, does hereby notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against said Estate to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before the 4TH Day of JUNE 2025, or this Notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned. This is the 6TH DAY OF MARCH, 2025.
YVONNE M STEWART, ADMINSTRATOR 793 ROSSWOOD RD. CHAPEL HILL, NC 27516
Run dates: FM6,13,20,27p
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
25E000105-180
NORTH CAROLINA
CHATHAM COUNTY
The undersigned, Karen Howard, having qualified as Administrator of the Estate of Ralph A. Howard Jr., deceased, late of Chatham County, this is to notify all persons having claims against said estate to present them to the undersigned on or before the day of June 4, 2025, or this notice will be plead in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned.
This the 6th of March, 2025.
Karen Howard Administrator
Marie H. Hopper
Attorney for the Estate Hopper Cummings, PLLC Post Office Box 1455 Pittsboro, NC 27312
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
25E000063-180 NORTH CAROLINA
CHATHAM COUNTY
The undersigned, Marcus Crossman, having qualified as Administrator CTA of the Estate of Daniel G. Crossman, deceased, late of Chatham County, this is to notify all persons having claims against said estate to present them to the undersigned on or before the day of June 3, 2025, or this notice will be plead in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned.
This the 27th of February, 2025.
Marcus Crossman
Executor
Marie H. Hopper
Attorney for the Estate Hopper Cummings, PLLC Post Office Box 1455 Pittsboro, NC 27312
NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND DEBTORS OF DEBORAH KALISH COPLIN
All persons, firms and corporations having claims against DEORAH KALISH COPLIN, late of Chatham County, North Carolina, are notified to exhibit them to Laurie A. Coplin as Limited Personal Representative of the decedent’s estate on or before June 6, 2025, c/o Brittany N. Porter, Attorney at Law, 1414 Raleigh Rd., Ste. 203, Chapel Hill, NC 27517, or be barred from their recovery. Debtors of the decedent are asked to make immediate payment to the above-named Executor.
This the 6th day of March, 2025.
Laurie A. Coplin c/o Brittany N. Porter, Atty. TrustCounsel 1414 Raleigh Rd., Ste. 203 Chapel Hill, NC 27517
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Jannell Hanood qualified before the Chatham County Clerk of Court on February 14, 2025, as the Executor of the Estate of JOHNNY DAVIS BUTLER, 140 Brookstone Lane, Room 317, Pittsboro, NC 27312.
This is to notify all persons, firms and corporations, as required by N.C.G.S. 28A-14-1, having claims against the estate of said decedent to exhibit them to the attorney designated below on or before the 27th of May, 2025 or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons, firms and corporations indebted to the said estate will please make immediate payments to the undersigned. Payments and claims should be presented to Deirdre M. Stephenson, Attorney at Law, 1518 Elm Street, Sanford, NC 27330.
NOTICE NORTH CAROLINA NOTICE TO CREDITORS CHATHAM COUNTY
HAVING QUALIFIED as Co-Executors of the Estate of James C. Brooks, late of Chatham County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against the estate of said deceased to present them to the undersigned on or before the 12th day of June, 2025, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. This the 5th day of March, 2025. Theresa B. Varner, Co-Executor of the Estate of James C. Brooks 7809 Ferguson Road Liberty, North Carolina 27208 James R. Brooks, Co-Executor of the Estate Of James C. Brooks 408 Eden Hills Road Siler City, North Carolina 27344 MOODY, WILLIAMS, ATWATER & LEE ATTORNEYS AT LAW BOX 629 SILER CITY, NORTH CAROLINA 27344 (919) 663-2850 4tp
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
22E000720-180 ALL PERSONS, firms and corporations having claims against Joseph Stroud, of Chatham County, N.C., are notified to exhibit the same to the undersigned on or before June 13, 2025 or this notice will be pleaded in bar of recovery. Debtors of the decedent are asked to make immediate payment. This the 13th day of March,
NOTICE
the undersigned on or before the 11TH Day of JUNE 2025, or this Notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned. This is the 13TH DAY OF MARCH, 2025. SARAH GOYEA, EXECUTOR 103 BLUERIDGE ROAD CARRBORO, NC 27510 Run dates: M13,20,27,A3p
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY FILE#25E000123-180 The undersigned, MATTHEW G. DAVIS, having qualified on the 6TH Day of MARCH, 2025 as EXECUTOR of the Estate of DIANNE GAINES DAVIS, deceased, of Chatham County, North Carolina, does hereby notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against said Estate to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before the 11TH Day of JUNE 2025, or this Notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned. This is the 13TH DAY OF MARCH, 2025. MATTHEW G. DAVIS, EXECUTOR PO BOX 233 GOLDSTON, NC 27252 Run dates: M13,20,27,A3p
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
NORTH CAROLINA Chatham COUNTY
24E001587-180 All persons, firms, and corporations having claims against Richard Henry Amlung, deceased, late of Chatham County, NC, are notified to exhibit the same to the undersigned on or before the 28th day of May, 2025, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of recovery. Debtors of the decedent are asked to make immediate payment. This the 27th day of February 2025. Susan Rubin, Administrator CTA c/o Hemphill Gelder, PC PO Box 97035 Raleigh, NC 27624-7035 Publication Dates: 2/27, 3/6, 3/13 and 3/20/2025
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY
FILE#24E001267-180 The undersigned, JOE LEE WAGONER, JR., having qualified on the 13TH Day of MAY, 2024 as ADMINISTRATOR of the Estate of EMELDA PAYNE WAGONER, deceased, of Chatham County, North Carolina, does hereby notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against said Estate to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before the 11TH Day of JUNE 2025, or this Notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned. This is the 13TH DAY OF MARCH, 2025. JOE LEE WAGONER, JR. 111 TURTLE CREEK FARM RD. APEX, NC 27523 ADMINISTRATOR Run dates: M13,20,27,A3p
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY
FILE#25E000020-180
The undersigned, DORIS P. HOLT, having qualified on the 5TH Day of FEBRUARY, 2025 as ADMINISTRATOR of the Estate
Notice to Creditors
All persons, firms and corporations having claims against Dale Harold Bochenek, deceased, of Chatham County, North Carolina, are notified to exhibit the same to the undersigned on or before June 25, 2025, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of recovery. Debtors of the decedent are asked to make immediate payment. This the 20th day of March, 2025.
Laura B. Smith, Executor c/o W. Thomas McCuiston 200 Towne Village Drive Cary, NC 27513
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Having qualified as Executor of the Estate of James H. Lazenby, late of Chatham County, North Carolina, the undersigned does hereby notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against the estate of said decedent to exhibit them to the undersigned, c/o Jill L. Peters Kaess, Post Office Box 4548, Wilmington, North Carolina 28406, on or before the 23rd day of June, 2025, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons, firms and corporations indebted to the said estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned. This the 20th day of March, 2025. Robert George Lazenby, Executor of the Estate of James H. Lazenby Jill L. Peters Kaess Lee Kaess, PLLC P. O. Box 4548 Wilmington, NC 28406
March 20, 27, April 3, 10
Civil War reenactors from across the United States gathered to stage the annual recreation of the Battle of Bentonville near Newton Grove on March 15. This year’s event marked the 160th anniversary of the state’s largest and most significant engagement of the Civil War, a fierce clash that unfolded over three days, from March 19-21, 1865. The original battle brought together more than 80,000 Union and Confederate troops in a brutal struggle that left a lasting mark on the region’s history. The reenactment drew enthusiasts and historians alike, who donned period-appropriate uniforms and employed authentic tactics to honor the soldiers who fought and the legacy of the conflict.
NOTICE
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY
FILE#25E000145-180 The undersigned, JOAN P. ROBERTS, having qualified on the 17TH Day of MARCH, 2025 as EXECUTOR of the Estate of JAMES DREXEL ROBERTS, deceased, of Chatham County, North Carolina, does hereby notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against said Estate to exhibit them to the undersigned on
825 E CARDINAL ST. SILER CITY, NC 27344 Run dates: M20,27,A3,10p
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY
FILE#25E000083-180 The undersigned, MATTHEW WILLIAM FOUSHEE,
Run dates:
of
SHEARON STROUD, EXECUTOR 376 GARDNER RD. APEX, NC 27523
Run dates: M20,27,A3,10p
The Chargers lost to defending champions Reidsville 71-54
By Asheebo Rojas Chatham News & Record
WINSTON-SALEM — Despite junior Cam Fowler leading all scorers with 27 points and a solid defensive showing in the first half, the state crown remained elusive for the Northwood boys’ basketball team Saturday.
In front of a packed lower bowl for the high school basketball finale at Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Northwood got outscored 21-10 in the third quarter and fell to Reidsville 71-54 in the North Carolina High School Athletic Association 2A state championship game.
The Rams, who capped off their year with a 31-0 record and 60 straight wins since the start of the 2023-24 season, won their second consecutive 2A state title. Northwood, ending the year with a 30-3 record, finished as the state runner-up for the third time in the past five seasons.
“As you saw on the court, they did not give up,” Northwood coach Matt Brown said.
“They fought till the very, very end, and I’m OK with that. I’m
OK with leaving it on the court, and I know it stinks right now. I know it hurts. But they’re going to be better people for it in the long run.”
Northwood didn’t shoot well the entire night, hitting shots at just a 36% clip, however, the Chargers also made it hard for Reidsville to get into an early offensive groove.
Starting in its stifling 1-3-1 zone, Northwood limited inside touches and forced the Rams into tougher outside shots. Reidsville shot 25% from the floor (1-for-8 from 3) in the first quarter. For the entire first half, Northwood held junior Dionte Neal (Reidsville’s leading scorer), who finished the night as the Rams’ Most Outstanding Player with a teamhigh 24 points, to just three points.
“I thought we were containing him really well on any type of penetration,” Brown said. “That was our game plan to not let him get as many paint touches as possible, and I thought we did a really good job in the first half.”
But limiting Neal’s impact only did so much considering the Chargers couldn’t keep junior forward Chad Graves on the floor to contain Reidsville junior Kendre Harrison, a five-star Oregon commit and the No. 1 tight end in the country.
Graves, the 6-foot-9 rim protector, picked up three fouls in the first half, resulting in a tough task for Graves’ replacement, Camden Miller, as Harrison anchored the Rams with 10 first half points. Graves eventually fouled out in the fourth quarter.
“It hurt,” Brown said about Graves’ foul trouble. “It definitely hurt, but I thought Camden Miller did a great job coming off the bench and really just giving us an extra boost.”
Said Brown, “It was unfortunate for Chad. I thought he played really hard. He was trying to battle Kendre, which is a hard task, but I’m proud of Chad.”
Thanks to two early 3s from senior Beau Harvey and a gritty eight-point second quarter from Fowler, the Chargers only trailed 23-20 at the half.
“We just had to keep fighting and doing what we were doing,” senior Isaiah Blair said. “At halftime, we were telling each other that we had to keep containing everybody like we were and keep hitting shots.”
The Hawks fell to the eventual state champions 48-45
By Asheebo Rojas Chatham News & Record
WINSTON-SALEM — No. 12
Southeast Alamance got the final say in a season-long feud with conference foe No. 2 Seaforth, defeating the Hawks 48- 45 in the North Carolina High School Athletic Association girls’ 2A East regional final at Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum on March 13. Entering the fourth quarter up one, Seaforth went cold in the final period (2 for 8 from the floor and 1 for 5 from 3) while Southeast Alamance, the eventual 2A state champions, delivered on both sides of the floor when it needed to.
“I think it was a hard-fought game both ways,” Seaforth coach Charles Byrd said. “When you’re playing against a team
Seaforth’s Mia Moore (2) plays defense while Southeast Alamance’s Inysia McIver passes the ball during the regional final. SE Alamance got the win, 48-45.
four times, especially when all our games are fairly close, it’s anybody’s game. They just ended up making more shots than us today.”
Southeast Alamance junior Clara LaChapelle led all scorers with 16 points and juniors Inysia McIver and Shaniya Paylor poured in 11 and 10 respectively.
Seaforth also had three double-digit scorers, with junior Katie Leonard scoring a team-high 14 points, junior Mia Moore contributing 11 and senior Gabby White pouring in 10, but their efforts, highlighted by an 11-point outburst by Leonard in the third quarter, weren’t enough. The Hawks’ shooting woes showed up in the first quarter when they started the game 2 for 7 from the 3-point line. And while its offense hummed on the back of LaChapelle’s eight first quarter points, Southeast Alamance didn’t allow Seaforth
However, Reidsville wasted no time finding its offensive rhythm coming out of the break. The Rams started the second half on a 7-0 run, and Neal started to heat up in See SEAFORTH, page B2
See NORTHWOOD, page B5
The Jordan-Matthews star will jump and possibly run for the Eagles
By Asheebo Rojas Chatham News & Record
PEOPLE ARE OFTEN a re-
flection of those around them.
While being surrounded by her family at her signing day, Jordan-Matthews track and field standout Rachael Woods followed right in their footsteps. Woods, a senior, signed to North Carolina Central Friday. She will participate in the triple jump, long jump and possibly the 400-meter dash for the Eagles. During her high school career, Woods has hit personal bests of 18 feet, 1 inch in the long
jump (18-3.75 personal record in AAU competition) and 36 feet in the triple jump (36-3 personal record in AAU competition).
But before high school, Woods didn’t know that she’d even be a track and field athlete, let alone compete at the Division I level.
“I cheered my whole life,” Woods said. “I did competitive cheer, all-star cheer, rec cheer. So that was the only thing I really knew. I wasn’t really good at any other sports.”
In a close-knit family with four other siblings and tight relationships with extended members, Woods was somewhat the odd one out.
Track was in her blood. Along with her parents, Ricky and
See WOODS, page B5
The Blue Devils freshman becomes the 19th Duke first-teamer
By Dave Skretta
The Associated Press
ONE IS A FIFTH-YEAR senior who began his career at a mid-major, the other a first-year wunderkind recruited by everyone. The first is a now leading a program on the rise, while the other is the unmistakable star for a traditional power.
Johni Broome of Auburn and Cooper Flagg of Duke do have something in common, though: The forwards were unanimous first-team picks for The Associated Press men’s college basketball All-America teams released Tuesday.
They were joined on the first team by Alabama star Mark Sears, Purdue’s Braden Smith and Walter Clayton Jr. of Florida.
Only Broome, a third-team pick a year ago, and Flagg were among the first five on the ballots of all 61 national media members who vote for the weekly AP Top 25. Broome becomes the Tigers’ fourth All-American and first to make the first team, while Flagg is the 19th different Blue Devils player to earn first-team recognition.
“He’s doing things nobody really has ever done before,” Duke coach Jon Scheyer said. “And he’s not about numbers. I’m telling you, when this dude goes home, somebody says to him, ‘Man, you had 42, six and seven,’ he’ll say, ‘OK, cool.’ That’s not what he’s about, which to me makes it even better because you can get caught up with that, especially as a young player.”
Maybe that is something else that Broome and Flagg have in common: Both are eyeing a national championship. Auburn spent eight weeks at No. 1 this year, while Duke ascended to the top spot when the Tigers stumbled down the stretch.
Now, the two programs head to the NCAA Tournament as the No. 1 seed in their respective regions.
“I’ve proved a lot individually through my career, but my main goal is a team goal, which is to win the national championship,” said Broome, who played two seasons at Morehead State
NCHSAA regional final against Southeast Alamance.
White scored 10 for the Hawks, whose season ended with a three-point loss in the game.
before spending the past three with the Tigers. “When the team shines, everyone shines individually. Coming from where I came from, it means a lot to me.”
Sears was a second-team pick last season, when he helped to lead the Crimson Tide to their first Final Four. He initially declared for the NBA Draft but withdrew in late May, choosing instead to return to Alabama for another run at a national title.
He’s the Crimson Tide’s second first-team All-American after Brandon Miller two years ago.
Smith was an honorable mention pick last year, when Purdue teammate Zach Edey was a unanimous first-team pick for the second straight season. With Edey off to the NBA, Smith became the go-to player for a bunch of Boilermakers who will be trying to return to the national championship game after losing to UConn there a year ago.
Florida had never had a first-team All-American before Clayton, who helped the Gators climb as high as No. 2 in the Top 25 this season. He’s also their first All-American since 2007, when second-teamer Joakim Noah and third-team choice Al Horford led the Gators to their second consecutive national championship.
Perhaps the versatile Clayton will be able to lead Florida back to the top in March Madness.
“Whatever path, I like my guys,” he said. “Me and my guys against whoever.”
to establish much of an inside game, especially in transition.
“Gabby, again, she’s great going coast to coast,” Southeast Alamance coach Amy Sarratt said. “We just wanted to be back on defense. We’ll give up an extra rebound if we have to.”
The Stallions held a 15-12 lead at the end of the first quarter before hitting their own rough patch in the second. Both teams combined to shoot 7 for 30 from the field in the second quarter which ended with Seaforth trailing 24-23 at halftime.
“The biggest thing for us has always been dealing with adversity and continuing to stick with the gameplan,” Byrd said. “Keep playing hard, keep playing hard. Eventually things are going to fall our way, and they did.”
Leonard found the hot hand in the third quarter, hitting three 3s and leading the Hawks to their largest lead of the game at 37-29. For her final bucket of the quarter, Leonard stole a pass from R’reanna Johnson and finished the play with a layup on the other end, capping off an 8-0 run with just under three minutes to play in the period.
“My teammates were finding me when I was open, and I was fortunate enough to knock them down,” Leonard said. “I
got a steal. I was just trying to give us energy and get us back into the game.”
But while deep in what’s usually a demoralizing run by the Hawks, Southeast Alamance didn’t lay down. Coming out of a timeout after the run, Southeast Alamance switched from zone to man defense. The adjustment resulted in two turnovers leading to huge buckets from sophomore Natalie Lopez and a one-point deficit for the Stallions heading into the fourth quarter.
“When a team switches to man, they’re trying to muddy up the game,” Byrd said.
“Times like that, we have to be poised. We didn’t get poised until after that quarter. Once we got out of the quarter, the girls settled down and they started to get back to the flow, but they threw a change up at us and it kind of shocked us a little bit.”
Both teams slugged it out in the first few minutes of the fourth quarter, trading buckets and turnovers down the stretch. Tied at 43 apiece with just over three minutes left to play, Lopez hit another huge 3 to put Southeast Alamance back on top.
After a floater from Peyton Collins brought the Hawks within one with two minutes left, Southeast Alamance held the ball and forced Seaforth to
foul. The Stallions hit two of their final four free throws to seal the win.
Seaforth and Southeast Alamance ended their season series tied at 2-2 with three matchups finishing within one possession.
Outside of its bouts with the Stallions and a season-opening loss to Apex Friendship, Seaforth’s run to the Final Four was nothing short of dominant. The Hawks, who finished 28-3 overall and 14-1 in conference play, went on a 19-game win streak and played in only four games decided by 10 points or fewer all season. Seaforth also beat each of its first three playoff opponents by more than 40 points.
The loss also marked the final flight for the Hawks’ 2025 class (White, Collins and Elizabeth Johnson). Those seniors, the program’s first four-year class, went to three straight regional finals, including a state title appearance in 2023. Since starting the program in the 2021-22 season, that class amassed a 102-19 record.
“They’ve accomplished a lot,” Byrd said. “When you get to this stage of the season, you know it’s anybody’s game. So, at the end of the day, I’m super proud of these ladies. They fought hard. They worked hard every single day. They’re great leaders.”
By Asheebo Rojas Chatham News & Record Baseball
CHATHAM CHARTER
dominated Southern Wake Academy in a two-game conference-opening series, winning 26-0 on March 11 and 10-0 on March 13. In game one, the Knights put up 23 runs in the first inning, and four different Knights went 3 for 3 from the plate.
Hits were much harder to come by in Chatham Charter’s 12-inning, 6-1 loss to South Stanly on Friday. Down 1-0 in the top of the seventh, South Stanly tied the game with after a fly out from senior Gavyn Miller sent senior Braylon Tyson home. Following a four-inning stalemate, South Stanly scored five runs in the top of the sixth and retired three straight Chatham Charter batters in the bottom of the inning to clinch the win.
Northwood swept Jordan-Matthews in a two-game battle this week, winning 3-0 on March 11 and 15-0 Friday. Junior Camden Miller went 4 for 4 at the plate and knocked in a team-high five RBIs in game two.
Mid-Carolina 1A/2A conference standings (as of Sunday) (overall, conference): 1. Southeast Alamance (6 -1, 6-0); T2. Northwood (3-4, 3-3); T2. Chatham Central (3-5, 3-3); 4. Bartlett Yancey (2-3, 1-1); 5. North Moore (2-4, 1-3); 6. Jordan-Matthews (0-7, 0-4); 7. Seaforth (2-6, 0-0) Central Tar Heel 1A conference standings (as of Sunday): 1. Chatham Charter (3-3, 2-0); 2. River Mill (3-1, 3-1); 3. Clover Garden School (2-5, 1-1); T4. Triangle Math and Science (1-4, 0-2); T4. Southern Wake Academy (0-3, 0-2) Softball
Chatham Central scored five runs in the seventh inning to beat rival Jordan-Matthews 7-3 on March 13. Up 2-1 entering the seventh, the Bears notched seven straight hits (three doubles, two triples and two singles) to extend their lead.
Seaforth rolled to a 13-3 win over North Moore on Friday. Up 6-2 through five innings, the Hawks scored seven runs in the sixth inning to put the game out of reach. Annika Johansson knocked in a team-best four RBIs for the Hawks, while Emma Grace Hill threw 10 strikeouts and allowed just one earned run.
Chatham Charter started conference play on the right foot with two routs over Ascend Leadership (24-5 and 20-2) on March 11. After beating Cornerstone Charter 16 -10 the next day, the Knights finished the week with their fourth straight win with a 16-0 victory over River Mill Friday. Mid-Carolina 1A/2A conference standings (as of Sunday): 1. Chatham Central (61, 4-0); 2. Seaforth (4-3, 4-1); 3. Jordan-Matthews (5-2, 3-1); 4. North Moore (5-2, 3-2); 5. Southeast Alamance (3-3,
2-2); 6. Northwood (2-6, 2-4); 7. Bartlett Yancey (1-4, 1-4); 8. Graham (0-6, 0-5)
Central Tar Heel 1A conference standings (as of Sunday): T1. Chatham Charter (4-2, 3-0); T1. Clover Garden School (3-2, 2-0); 3. River Mill (3-2, 1-2)
Girls’ soccer
Seaforth lost to Apex Friendship 2-0 Friday, dropping its first game since March 11, 2024 (a 3-1 loss to Western Alamance). It’s also the first time the Hawks were shut out in a loss since April 3, 2023 (a 1-0 loss to Riverside-Durham). Seniors Briella Boetcher and Ariana Stille scored the goals for the Patriots in the first half.
Northwood beat Southeast Alamance 1-0 on March 12, winning its second conference game of the season.
After back-to-back losses, Woods Charter bounced back with a 9-0 win over Ascend Leadership on Friday.
Mid-Carolina 1A/2A conference standings (as of Sunday): T1. Seaforth (2-1, 2-0); T1. Northwood (3-4, 2-0); T1. Bartlett Yancey (3-2, 2-0); T4. Southeast Alamance (2 - 4, 1-1); T4. Jordan-Matthews (3 - 4, 1-1); T6. Cummings (0-5, 0-3); T6. Graham (0-4, 0-3); 8. North Moore (3-0, 0-0)
Central Tar Heel 1A conference standings (as of Sunday): T1. Woods Charter (2-2, 1-0); T1. River Mill (2-1-1, 1-0); T3. Clover Garden School (1-2, 0-1); T3. Ascend Leadership (1-2, 0-1); T5. Chatham Charter (0-3, 0-0); T5. Southern Wake Academy (0-1, 0-0); T5. Triangle Math and Science (0 - 4, 0-0)
Boys’ lacrosse
Seaforth beat Orange 11-6 on March 13 behind five goals from junior Ivan Grimes, winning its fourth straight game and snapping Orange’s 47-game winning streak against conference opponents in the regular season. After trailing 5-2 in the second quarter, Seaforth allowed only one goal for the rest of the game, outscoring Orange 7-1 in the second half.
Central/Mid-Carolina conference standings (as of Sunday): 1. Seaforth (4-1, 4-0); T2.
Chatham Charter’s Torris Price races in the 1,600. He won the 800 and 1,600 at a recent meet.
Orange (6-2, 4-1); T2. Southern Alamance (6-1, 4-1); T4. Williams (4-4, 2-2); T4. Eastern Alamance (3-2, 2-2); 6. Northwood (3-6, 3-4); 7. Cedar Ridge (1-5, 1-4); 8. Southeast Alamance (1-7, 1-5); 9. Western Alamance (0-3, 0-2)
Girls’ lacrosse
Northwood opened its season with a 6-5 win over Jordan on March 12. Seaforth dropped its third straight game to Chapel Hill 20-7 on March 12. DC 6/Northern Lakes Athletic/Central/Mid-Carolina conference standings (as of Sunday): 1. Chapel Hill (4-0, 1-0); 2. Seaforth 0-3, 0-1); T3. Carrboro (1-0, 0-0); T3. East Chapel Hill (5-0, 0-0); T3. Jordan (0-3, 0-0); T3. Northwood (1-0, 0-0); T3. Riverside-Durham (0-3, 0-0)
Track and field
Woods Charter’s Ezra Roebuck ran personal bests in the boys’ 200- (23.82 seconds) and 400-meter dashes (52.19) to win both races at the Seaforth High School Meet No. 1 on March 10. Seaforth’s Dylan Watkins did the same at the same meet, but for the throwing events, winning the boys’ discus and shot put competitions with personal-best marks of 128 feet, 6 inches and 42-0.25, respectively. Seaforth’s Natalia Davis ran her best times in all three of her events (800, 1,600 and 3,200) and won the 800 with a time of 2:32.87.
Chatham Charter’s Torris Price won the boys’ 800 and 1,600 at the Asheboro NonCon meet on March 13 with personal-best times of 2:11 and 4:58, respectively.
Boys’ golf
Seaforth shot a nine-hole team score record with a score of 141 (-3) and won at the Mid-Carolina 1A/2A Conference Match No. 3 (at Preserve at Jordan Lake) on March 11. Seaforth’s Ty Willoughby (32, -4), Griffin Ching (34, -2) and Campbell Meador (34, -2) filled out the top three finishers in order. Chatham Central finished fourth (185, +41), and Northwood finished fifth (186, +42).
Northwood’s Cam Fowler earns athlete of the week honors for the week of March 10.
Fowler was a force for the Chargers during their regional final and state championship bouts in Winston‑Salem last week. In the 57 38 win over West Bladen for the 2A East regional title, Fowler recorded team highs of 19 points, 11 rebounds, five assists and two blocks. He also shot 7 for 16 from the floor. Against Reidsville, Fowler led all scorers with 27 points. He scored 14 points in the fourth in an effort to will the Chargers back into the game. Fowler finished the season as the Chargers’ leading scorer, averaging 20 points per game.
NFL Patriots announce deals with Hollins, 3 others
Foxborough, Mass.
The New England Patriots continued to add to their growing list of free agent signings, announcing deals last Friday with safety Marcus Epps, receiver Mack Hollins, tight end Austin Hooper and defensive tackle Khyiris Tonga. Epps’ new pact is for one year and $4.4 million. Hooper is back in New England on a reported two-year, $5 million deal. Hollins, a former Tar Heel, has a two-year deal worth up to $8.4 million. He spent last season in Buffalo and has played for five teams over his seven NFL seasons.
Clemson Brownell “disappointed” team was locked out of locker room
Charlotte The Clemson Tigers trailed Louisville in the ACC semifinals and needed some halftime adjustments. But the Tigers found themselves locked out of their locker room. Clemson players sat on the cement floor outside the locker room while coach Brad Brownell addressed his team. Eventually the door was unlocked by building security and the Tigers were able to get in. The ACC added two minutes to halftime as a result.
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Curry announced as investor in Unrivaled 3-on-3 women’s basketball league
Stephen Curry has been announced as an investor in Unrivaled, adding to a long list of high-profile stars to align with the startup 3-on-3 women’s basketball league. The four-time NBA champion’s investment was included in Unrivaled’s oversubscribed Series A investment round in December, in which the league said it secured more than $28 million in funding to go along with the $7 million raised during the league’s seed round, which was announced in May 2024, totaling $35 million for the league to date.
Vitale tears up on ACC Championship broadcast talking about cancer battle
Charlotte Dick Vitale became emotional Saturday night while talking about his most recent cancer battle while announcing top-ranked Duke’s 73-62 victory over No. 13 Louisville in the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament championship. The 85-year-old ESPN college basketball analyst announced in December he was cancer-free. It was his fourth battle in just more than three years with the disease. Vitale teared up as he looked into the camera while sitting between fellow announcers Dave O’Brien and Cory Alexander.
The U.S. national team player was acquired in the offseason
By Anne M. Peterson The Associated Press
THERE’S BEEN lots of turnover among National Women’s Soccer League teams this season, with a couple of marquee players bolting for Europe, a few notable retirements and some dramatic trades.
San Diego Wave defender
Naomi Girma went to Chelsea for a record $1.1 million transfer fee. Fellow defender and U.S. national team player Jenna Nighswonger headed to Arsenal after two seasons with Gotham FC.
Within the league, Jaedyn Shaw was traded from the Wave to the North Carolina Courage, and Lynn Biyendolo, formerly Williams, went from Gotham to the Seattle Reign. There are plenty of players to keep an eye on this season in the NWSL.
Temwa Chawinga, Kansas City Current
In Chawinga’s first NWSL season last year, she was named
13
the league’s most valuable player. A Malawi native, she led the league with an NWSL single-season record of 20 goals to also win the Golden Boot award.
Barbra Banda, Orlando Pride
Banda scored in the 37th minute to give the Orlando Pride a 1-0 win the league championship game against the Washington Spirit last season. Banda earned the championship MVP award and became the first player in the NWSL to score in each round of the playoffs.
Marta, Orlando Pride
The Brazilian great has played for the Pride since 2017 and captained the team last season to both the NWSL
A look at some of the unique characters we’ll meet in March
By John Raby The Associated Press
FANS NAVIGATING the dozens of schools in the NCAA men’s and women’s basketball tournaments might become as attached to the mascots as the athletes themselves.
Furry, animated characters used as rallying points for teams with unique nicknames have been around for decades, and this year’s March Madness will have some dandies. Here’s a look at some of the participating schools and the stories behind their mascots and monikers.
St. Francis Red Flash
Tiny St. Francis University in Loretto, Pennsylvania, joined the list of two dozen men’s teams ever to make the NCAA Tournament with a losing record, earning an automatic berth by winning the Northeast Conference tournament.
With its grinning, bald-domed Frankie the Friar mascot, the Red Flash reached the Big Dance for the first time since 1991. The school of about 2,000 students is sure to gain more
fans if it can make some tournament noise.
Habit-wearing Frankie debuted in 1983 and underwent a makeover in 2009. The Catholic-Franciscan school’s student newspaper first referred to the football team as “The Red Flashes” in 1927.
UC San Diego Tritons
King Triton will be busy. The mascot of UC San Diego is making his debut in both the men’s and women’s tournaments in the school’s first year of eligibility after moving up from Division II in 2020 to join the Big West Conference.
The bearded, beaming King Triton wears a crown and carries a three-pronged trident. The Scripps Institution of Oceanography is part of UC San Diego, whose campus in La Jolla is next to the Pacific Ocean, hence the Triton nickname.
Akron Zips
Akron’s nickname originally was the Zippers, named after popular 1925 rubber galoshes with metal fasteners sold by tire manufacturer B.F. Goodrich. The school’s athletic director shortened the nickname to the Zips in 1950.
A few years later, a contest
Shield and the league championship. She has 42 goals in 128 career appearances with the Pride. Last season was one of her best, with 11 goals in all competitions. A six-time world player of the year, the 38-year-old signed an extension in January that will keep her with the Pride through the 2026 season.
Trinity Rodman, Washington Spirit
Toward the end of last season she was hampered by a lower back injury, but Rodman still finished with eight goals and six assists. She’s been with the Spirit since 2021. Rodman has established a role on the U.S. women’s national team and scored three goals at the Paris Olympics.
Lynn Biyendolo, Seattle Reign
Formerly known by her maiden name of Williams, Biyendolo was traded from Gotham FC to the Reign in one of the biggest moves of the offseason. Biyendolo is the NWSL’s all-time leading scorer with 80 goals after surpassing Sam Kerr (77) last season. She has
played on four NWSL championship teams. She is also a regular on the U.S. women’s national team and won the gold medal at the Paris Olympics.
Jaedyn Shaw, North Carolina Courage
The 20-year-old midfielder played in her first game with the Wave when she was 17 and appeared in 52 games with 13 goals before her offseason trade to the Courage. Shaw has made 21 appearances with the national team, scoring eight goals, and was named the U.S. Young Player of the Year for 2022. She was on the roster for the United States at last year’s Paris Olympics but was limited because of a leg injury.
Christen Press, Angel City Press, Angel City’s first signing ahead of its inaugural 2022 campaign, signed a one-year deal as a free agent for this season after returning from a serious knee injury. Press scored two goals in eight games in her Angel City debut before tearing the ACL in her right knee. After four surgeries, she played in nine games for the club last season.
was held to create a mascot. The winner was a kangaroo called Mr. Zip with boxing gloves and a zipper. However, since only female kangaroos have pouches, Mr. Zip would eventually become a she, named Zippy.
Grand Canyon Lopes
Thunder the Antelope seemingly can do it all, posing for photos with Grand Canyon University fans, rappelling to the arena floor from the ceiling and jumping off a trampoline to dunk a basketball. And to think there was a time when it didn’t have a name — and wasn’t even Grand Canyon’s first mascot. Arizona’s Grand Canyon, also playing in the men’s and women’s NCAA tournaments, started its Antelope nickname in 1949, later shortened to the Lopes. A hairy mascot known as the “Purple People Eat-
er” was replaced in 1981 with the antelope mascot, which didn’t get its current name until Thunder stuck in 2008.
South Dakota State Jackrabbits
The only U.S. college known as the Jackrabbits, South Dakota State has had the moniker for so long that it’s not exactly clear how the nickname came about. It either occurred in 1905, after a newspaper cartoon said the South Dakota football team “was as quick as Jackrabbits,“ or in 1907 after a school yearbook poem changed the publication’s name to Jackrabbits, and the athletic teams followed suit. It wasn’t until 2010 that the mascot’s name, Jack, was selected. The state of South Dakota has two species of jackrabbits, which are actually hares and have longer ears and bigger bodies than rabbits.
transition. At the same time, Northwood suffered its worst shooting quarter of the game, going 2 for 9 from the field and 0 for 3 from beyond the arc.
“The shots didn’t fall,” Brown said. “They had a couple of turnovers, and that led to run outs, which we wanted to limit as much as possible. I thought we did a good job with that throughout the game. Just that little run.”
Northwood entered the fourth quarter trailing 44-30, and although Reidsville held all the momentum, the Chargers continued to fight.
In fact, the game somewhat turned into a Neal and Fowler duel. Neal continued his big night in transition with layups and free throws, tallying 15 points in the final peri-
“They fought till the very, very end, and I’m OK with that.”
Matt Brown
od. Meanwhile, Fowler continued to attack the rim as he tried to will Northwood back into the game with 14 fourth quarter points.
Despite the standout performance from Neal, Reidsville senior Johnniyus Sharpe was named the game’s Most Valuable Player with 18 points (11 in the second half). Even with the disappointing finish, Northwood has plenty of positives to take away from this season. In the first year since the graduation of former five-star
Drake Powell, the Chargers maintained their dominance in the Mid-Carolina 1A/2A conference with a 16-0 regular season conference record. They entered the state championship game on a season-best 19-game win streak and picked up some impressive wins along the way, including double-digit victories over South Granville, Southwest Onslow and West Bladen in the playoffs.
Northwood will graduate four seniors, including Hayes Burleson, Jaylen Scurlock, Blair and Harvey. In two seasons together on the varsity level, that group went 57-7 overall and 32-0 in regular season conference play.
“I couldn’t be more proud of these guys and the senior leadership that we had,” Brown said. “This journey was fantastic. I was just along for the ride.”
Central Electric sponsoring two youth to attend basketball camp this summer
Central Electric awards two Touchstone Energy Sports Camp Scholarships annually to local students in Chatham, Harnett, Lee, Moore, or Randolph counties. A young man will be selected to attend the Carolina Basketball School at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a young woman will be selected to attend the Wolfpack Women’s Basketball Camp at N.C. State University in Raleigh.
To be eligible to apply, the student must be in the sixth or seventh grade during the upcoming school year, have permission from a parent or guardian to attend the overnight camp and must provide their own transportation if selected to attend.
Scan the QR code or visit CEMCPower.com for more information or to apply. The deadline for applications to both camps is March 31.
Camia, sharing interest in the sport, her older brother Xavier ran track at Jordan-Matthews, her younger sister Khamya also runs for the Jets, her cousin Jordan McNair-Martin jumps at Charlotte and before coaching track, her great uncle DeNeal McNair jumped at Asheboro High School (inducted into the school’s athletics Hall of Fame in 2021) prior to playing football at Wake Forest and North Carolina A&T.
“It was just something I didn’t think I was going to do,” Woods said.
Even if it was shown on the mat and not the rubber, there was no doubt Woods was a talented athlete. But thanks to McNair, the track and field genes kicked in just before she went to high school.
Going into her freshman year, McNair took her under his wing on his summer AAU team, the Mid-City Xpress Track Club.
“Well, she’s family,” McNair said. “And if you’re part of our family, track’s a part of your family. We have to bring you through that family tradition.” Said McNair, “Track is a hard sport to fall in love with, and when you start them out early and get them hooked on that, you see them grow, and we saw that early with Rachael.”
Woods said it was a “shock” jumping into track with her uncle because of how hard he pushed her to succeed.
“He’s my family, so the way he talks to me is not the other way other people can talk to me or the way my school coach can talk to me,” Woods said. “He definitely pushed me. I remember he had me outside until maybe 9 o’clock, and he was like, ‘We’re gonna sit out here until we get it right.’ And that’s exactly what we did.”
Once it got pushed, the legacy continued to roll. After coaching her older brother, Jordan-Matthews track coach Lamont Piggie approached her
JordanMatthews track and field star
Rachael Woods prepares to sign with NC Central at a ceremony at the school.
months after her introduction to track about running for the school.
“I just knew the family, and Xavier was fast,” Piggie said. “She has the body type. Normally, cheerleaders have strong legs, so just give it a chance. So I told her to come out and run. I told her give me one week. If she didn’t like it, she can quit, and if she did like it, she can stay. She fell in love with it and just took off from there.”
Said Woods, “After I got out there, after seeing how happy it made me and how it made me feel, I just realized maybe it was time to probably put down the pompoms and the all-star shoes and try something different.”
Woods turned into one of the Jets’ most successful track and field athletes over the years, reaching state championship meets for the outdoor 400 in 2022 (10th-place finish), indoor long jump in 2024 (11th-place finish), outdoor triple jump in 2024 (sixth-place finish) and outdoor long jump in 2024 (12th-place finish).
But after not hearing back from college coaches she emailed for her recruitment months ago, Woods almost put track down for good.
“I thought I was going to just let it go and be a regular student and stop wasting my time,” Woods said. “But then NC Central finally reached out to me. It was around November that they reached out to me, and we scheduled an official visit from there.”
Even her college recruitment received a boost from her family. Her sister Khamya was the one who pushed her to email the coaches, reminding her that she’s at the point in life where it’s time to take risks.
“Having them around me, just pushing me, and getting me to this point has definitely been a lot,” Woods said. “And I don’t think I would’ve got to this point or believed in myself as much without them.”
Her “The Art of Love & War” peaked at No. 11 on the Billboard 200
By Jeff Martin The Associated Press
AUSTELL, Ga. — Musical artists and loved ones last Friday mourned Grammy-nominated R&B singer Angie Stone, who was killed in a car crash earlier this month.
Mourners filed into the massive Word of Faith Cathedral west of Atlanta, taking their seats around a silver-and-gold casket surrounded by a sea of red roses.
“In her song ‘No More Rain (In This Cloud),’ she says my sunshine is coming, and I’m all cried out,” filmmaker and entertainment executive Tyler Perry said last Friday’s service.
“There’s no more rain in this cloud,” he said. “The beauty of what she was talking about is when a cloud has no more tears, it dissipates, it’s gone.”
The song, like so many of Stone’s hits, found great success. It reached No. 1 for 10 weeks on Billboard’s Adult R&B airplay chart.
The cargo van she was riding in flipped over and was then hit by a truck on March 1 near Montgomery, Alabama, music producer and Stone’s longtime manager Walter Millsap III said. Everyone else in the
“There’s no more rain in this cloud. The beauty of what she was talking about is when a cloud has no more tears, it dissipates, it’s gone.”
Tyler Perry
van survived except Stone, who was 63. Online tributes from fans and fellow artists poured in after her death.
“God is good even when life is not, and so we celebrate the life of our sister that has been well-lived,” said Bishop Dale Bronner, the church’s senior pastor.
Many acclaimed musical artists performed at the service, including Keke Wyatt, Anthony Hamilton and Kirk Franklin.
Before Wyatt sang, she recalled how Stone would call her in the middle of the night to pray with her or give her encouragement.
“She was so beautiful,” Wyatt said. “Like seriously, I love her music, and I love her voice and all that. But her as a person trump all of that.”
The church-grown singer was born in Columbia, where music was always in her life since she was a child, Stone
told The Associated Press in a 1999 interview. Her mother would sing around the house, and her father sang gospel and blues at establishments around Columbia.
Another service ws held Saturday in Columbia, at First Nazareth Baptist Church. Stone was a member of the all-female hip-hop trio The Sequence and known for the hit song “Wish I Didn’t Miss You.” She helped form The Sequence, the first all-female group on the hip-hop trailblazing imprint Sugar Hill Records, becoming one of the first female groups to record a rap song.
The group recorded “Funk You Up,” which has been sampled by numerous artists, including Dr. Dre.
After finding success in the early 1980s, Stone later joined the trio Vertical Hold before launching her solo career. Stone created hits like “Baby” with legendary soul singer Betty Wright, another No. 1 hit; and “Wish I Didn’t Miss You” and “Brotha.”
She found a sweet spot in the early 2000s as neo-soul begin to dominate the R&B landscape with the emergence of singers like Erykah Badu, Jill Scott, Maxwell and D’Angelo. Her 2001 album “Mahogany Soul” reached No. 22 on the Billboard 200, while 2007’s “The Art of Love & War” peaked at No. 11.
“Uncle Tom’s Cabin” published, Patty Hearst convicted, Exxon Valdez’s oil spilled in Alaska
The Associated Press
MARCH 20
1815: Napoleon Bonaparte returned to Paris after escaping his exile on Elba, beginning his “Hundred Days” rule.
1852: Harriet Beecher Stowe’s influential novel about slavery, “Uncle Tom’s Cabin,” was first published in book form; it would become the best-selling novel of the 19th century.
1976: Kidnapped newspaper heiress Patricia Hearst was convicted of armed robbery for her part in a San Francisco bank holdup carried out by the Symbionese Liberation Army.
MARCH 21
1952: The Moondog Coronation Ball, considered the first rock ’n’ roll concert, took place at Cleveland Arena.
1963: The United States closed Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary; more than 1,500 inmates had been jailed at the island prison off the coast of San Francisco.
death.”
1965: Civil rights demonstrators led by the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. began their third attempt to march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama.
MARCH 22
1765: The British Parliament passed the Stamp Act to raise money from the American colonies, which fiercely resisted the tax.
1894: Ice hockey’s first Stanley Cup championship game was played, with the Montreal Hockey Club defeating
the Ottawa Hockey Club, 3-1.
1963: The Beatles’ debut album, “Please Please Me,” was released in the United Kingdom.
MARCH 23
1775: Patrick Henry delivered an address to the Virginia Provincial Convention in which it is said he declared, “Give me liberty or give me death!”
1919: Benito Mussolini founded his fascist political movement in Milan, Italy.
1942: The first Japanese Americans incarcerated by the U.S. Army during World War II arrived at the internment camp at Manzanar, California.
MARCH 24
1882: German scientist Robert Koch announced in Berlin that he had discovered the bacillus responsible for tuberculosis.
1980: Catholic Archbishop Óscar Arnulfo Romero of El Salvador was shot to death by a sniper as he celebrated Mass in San Salvador.
1989: The supertanker Exxon Valdez ran aground on a reef in Alaska’s Prince William Sound and began leaking an estimated 11 million gallons of crude oil.
MARCH 25
1894: Jacob S. Coxey began a march from Massillon, Ohio, leading an “army” of as many as 500 unemployed workers to Washington, D.C., to demand help from the federal government.
1931: In the so-called “Scottsboro Boys” case, nine young black men were taken off a train in Alabama and accused of raping two white women. After years of convictions, death sentences and imprisonment, the nine were eventually vindicated.
1965: The Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. led 25,000 people to the Alabama state capitol in Montgomery, completing a five-day march from Selma to protest the denial of voting rights to black Americans.
MARCH 26
1812: An earthquake devastated Caracas, Venezuela, causing as many as 30,000 deaths.
1917: The Seattle Metropolitans became the first American ice hockey team to win the Stanley Cup, defeating the Montreal Canadiens 9-1 to win the championship series, three games to one.
Coins are available in a range of precious metals
By Pan Pylas The Associated Press
LONDON — John Lennon is being honored in a specially minted British coin collection to mark the year the Beatles great and peace advocate would have turned 85, the Royal Mint said last Friday.
The coin, which went on sale Monday, features a portrait of Lennon that is based on a famous image taken by music industry photographer Bob Gruen in 1974.
It depicts a side profile of Lennon, taken on the roof of his penthouse in New York. Lennon was shot dead by Mark David Chapman in the city on Dec. 8, 1980, at the age of 40.
Lennon’s name appears to the left of the portrait, while the word “Imagine” features on the right side of the design in a reference to his single and album, released in 1971, the year after the Fab Four — Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr — effectively went their own way, having left their indelible mark at the heart of the 1960s.
“Arguably one of the greatest singers and songwriters of all time, Lennon’s achievements as an artist, activist and advocate for peace continue to live on and will now be forever remembered
“Though legal tender, but with the price differential, it’s unlikely — if not irrational — for anyone to use the coin to buy, say, “The White Album.”
on a coin,” said Rebecca Morgan, director of commemorative coin at the Royal Mint.
The Royal Mint, which has struck the coins of monarchs from Alfred the Great in the 9th century through to King Charles III, has an ongoing “music legends” coin series, celebrating singers and songwriters. Lennon follows the likes of McCartney, David Bowie, Queen, the Rolling Stones and Shirley Bassey in being honored on a Royal Mint coin.
Lennon fans and coin collectors will be able to buy the coins from the Royal Mint’s website from Monday. They will be available in a range of precious metals, including gold, as well as different colors.
Prices will start at 18.50 pounds ($24) for a five-pound denominated coin up to 6,420 pounds ($8,330) for a 200-pound denominated coin.
Though legal tender, but with the price differential, it’s unlikely — if not irrational — for anyone to use the coin to buy, say, “The White Album.”
Spike Lee is 68, William Shatner turns 94, Elton John hits 78, Diana Ross celebrates 81
The Associated Press THESE CELEBRITIES have birthdays this week.
MARCH 20
Basketball Hall of Fame coach Pat Riley is 80. Hockey Hall of Famer Bobby Orr is 77. Guitarist Jimmie Vaughan is 74. Film director Spike Lee is 68.
MARCH 21
Football Hall of Fame coach Tom Flores is 88. Actor Gary Oldman is 67. Actor Matthew Broderick is 63.
MARCH 22
Actor William Shatner is 94. Writer James Patterson is 78. Composer Andrew Lloyd Webber is 77. Sportscaster Bob Costas is 73. Actor Matthew Modine is 66. Actor-comedian Keegan-Michael Key is 54. Actor Reese Witherspoon is 49.
MARCH 23
Singer Chaka Khan is 72. Actor Amanda Plummer is 68. Actor Catherine Keener is 66.
MARCH 24
Actor Kelly LeBrock is 65. TV personality Star Jones is 63. Guitarist Patterson Hood of Drive-By Truckers is 61.
MARCH 25
Musician Elton John is 78. Actor-comedian Mary Gross is 72. Actor Marcia Cross (“Desperate Housewives”) is 63. Actor Sarah Jessica Parker is 60.
MARCH 26
Singer Diana Ross is 81. Singer Steven Tyler of Aerosmith is 77. Actor Martin Short is 75. Actor Jennifer Grey is 65. Actor Michael Imperioli (“Life on Mars,” “The Sopranos”) is 59. Country singer Kenny Chesney is 57. Actor Leslie Mann (“Knocked Up,” “This Is 40”) is 53.
‘Wicked’
What if your dad was a convicted serial killer?
The Associated Press
“Wicked” landing on Peacock for home sing-alongs and Ellen Pompeo starring in her first big role since stepping back from ABC’s “Grey’s Anatomy” are some of this week’s new streaming entertainment releases are some of the new television, films, music and games headed to a device near you.
Also, among the streaming offerings worth your time: Selena Gomez and her fiancé, producer and songwriter Benny Blanco, will release a joint album, Dennis Quaid stars in Paramount+’s true-crime series “Happy Face” about a serial killer, and Assassin’s Creed Shadows brings Ubisoft’s globetrotting, time-hopping gaming epic to feudal Japan.
MOVIES TO STREAM
There’s plenty of Oscar winners and contenders coming to streaming services now that the show is over, starting with best picture winner “Anora,” which is streaming on Hulu. Filmmaker Sean Baker’s odyssey of a Brooklyn sex worker whose whirlwind affair with the wild son of a Russian oligarch goes very wrong also won best director, best editing and best actress for Mikey Madison. Baker devoted most of his Oscar’s speech to the importance of making movies for and seeing movies on the big screen, but don’t worry — we won’t tell if you decide to watch this one on the small screen first. Just put the phone down: It’s a ride worth taking.
Another big Oscar player, perhaps “Anora’s” complete opposite as a big, lavishly expensive studio musical, “Wicked” starts streaming on Peacock on Friday. There will also be a sing-along version available and some bonus content for the super fans. Filmmaker Jon M. Chu took on the gargantuan task of adapting the Broadway musical for the big screen, and he went all out. In her review, Jocelyn Noveck wrote, “If it feels like they made the best “Wicked” movie money could buy — well, it’s because they kinda did.” The film won two Oscars, for costume and production design. And finally, a gem which got a little lost in the mix, “Sing Sing” arrives on Max on Friday. This inspired-by-real-life film about inmates who find a creative outlet through acting and performance earned three Oscar
nominations: for Colman Domingo’s lead role, for the adapted screenplay and for best original song. But don’t let its 0-for-3 result detract you from a watch. “It’s a cinematic high-five to all arts programs behind bars and, in particular, the power of theater,” AP’s Mark Kennedy wrote in his review. “The movie’s most affecting scenes are the ones that follow the inmates doing the craft — tender auditions, reciting their lines while doing chores and working on their characters. Watching them giddy backstage in costume before a show is all of us.”
MUSIC TO STREAM
At the end of last year, the Grammy- and Emmy-nominated multihyphenate Selena Gomez announced her engagement
to hit producer and songwriter Benny Blanco. Music is their shared language, and on Friday, the couple will release a joint album, “I Said I Love Your First.” Haters of romance, turn away: This is a celebration of their affection, but not without introspection. That’s evident in the acoustic ballad “Scared of Loving You” and the pop rock single “Call Me When You Break Up,” featuring Gracie Abrams. In the fall, the Grand Ole Opry will celebrate its milestone 100th anniversary. But the festivities are starting much earlier. The party kicked off with a television special, “Opry 100: A Live Celebration,” which is ready to watch on Peacock. Performers include Garth Brooks, Trisha Yearwood, Reba McEntire, Carrie Underwood, Alan Jackson, Post Malone, Jel-
ly Roll, Eric Church and more.
Now that’s stacked. SHOWS TO STREAM
With “Good American Family” on Hulu, Ellen Pompeo stars in her first big role since stepping back from her series regular status on ABC’s “Grey’s Anatomy.” “Good American Family” fictionalizes the true story of Natalia Grace, a Ukrainian-born orphan with dwarfism, adopted as a child by an American family — who later accused her of lying about her age with sinister intentions. The wild tale became well known after it was the subject of a docuseries that debuted in 2023 on Investigation Discovery. In “Good American Family,” Pompeo and Mark Duplass play the adoptive parents of Natalia (Imogen Faith Reid). “Good
(“Sing Sing”) is a cinematic high-five to all arts programs behind bars and, in particular, the power of theater.”
Mark Kennedy, AP film reviewer
American Family” is streaming now on Hulu.
What if your dad was a convicted serial killer? That horrific thought is a reality for TV producer and podcaster Melissa G. Moore, whose father is Keith Jesperson, now serving multiple life sentences in prison for a string of murders in the early 1990s. Moore had a loving relationship with her father until learning of his crimes as a teen. Jesperson was called the Happy Face Killer because he drew happy faces on confession letters boasting about his killings. Moore’s story is played out in “Happy Face,” debuting Thursday on Paramount+ starring Annaleigh Ashford and Dennis Quaid.
As public interest in women’s sports has surged, a new weekly talk show coming to The Roku Channel is dedicated to female athletes. “Women’s Sports Now” is hosted by former WNBA player Renee Montgomery, comedian Sarah Tiana and sports reporter Suzy Shuster. The show will follow women’s sports teams at the college and professional level. Reese Witherspoon is an executive producer. It debuts Thursday.
VIDEO GAMES TO PLAY
Assassin’s Creed Shadows brings Ubisoft’s globetrotting, time-hopping epic to feudal Japan. This chapter tells the story of Naoe, a ninja who’s out to avenge her father’s death, and Yasuke, a former slave from Africa who went on to become a renowned samurai. (He’s based on a real historic figure.) The dual protagonists mean you can take a different approach on each mission: Do you want to pick off your foes with stealth or rush in with swords swinging? It all takes place during the late Sengoku period of the 1500s, a turbulent era when various warlords were fighting to control Japan. But the real question for AC fans, as always, is: Where will Naoe and Yasuke come down in the eternal struggle between the freedom fighters of the Assassin Brotherhood and the repressive Templar order? Grab your katana Thursday on PlayStation 5, Xbox X/S and PC.