Runners take o at the start of the Boone & Sean Good Samaritan Memorial 5K during Chatham County’s Recovery Celebration at Chatham Middle School in Siler City on Sept. 13. The substance abuse awareness event, which honored two students who died, featured races for both youth and adults, along with recovery resources, live music and free lunch for the community.
N.Y. judge tosses terrorism charges against Mangione, murder count stand
A judge has dismissed terrorism charges against Luigi Mangione in New York state’s case over the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, but he kept the state’s second- degree murder charges against him. Judge Gregory Carro ruled Tuesday that although there is no doubt that the killing was not an ordinary street crime, New York law doesn’t consider something terrorism simply because it was motivated by ideology. The ruling came as Mangione made his rst court appearance in the state case since February. The 27-year-old Ivy League graduate has attracted a cult following as a stand-in for frustrations with the health insurance industry after Thompson was fatally shot in December.
Trump deploys National Guard to Memphis, says it’s “replica” D.C. crackdown
Washington, D.C.
President Donald Trump has announced the deployment of the National Guard to Memphis to combat crime, testing the limits of presidential power by using military force in cities.
Trump made Monday’s announcement with Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee, calling it a “replica” of e orts in Washington, D.C. Last month, Trump deployed National Guard troops to the nation’s capital, claiming it reduced crime. Lee supports the deployment, while Memphis Mayor Paul Young opposes it.
$2.00
The district ranked rst in the entire state in academic growth
By Ryan Henkel Chatham News & Record
PITTSBORO — Chatham County Schools has been enjoying steady academic growth.
At its Sept. 8 meeting, the board was presented with the district’s 2024-25 accountability results.
The state provides districts with school performance grades, which are based on each school’s achievement score and academic growth.
The breakdown within the district was 5.3% of schools re-
ceived an A-rating (8% is the state average), 52.6% received a B (21%), 36.8% received a C (40%) and 5.3% received a D (26%). Chatham County Schools (CCS) did not have an F-rated school this year, as Chatham Middle rose to a D-grade. Part of the state’s performance
See SCHOOLS, page A3
“One-hundred percent of our schools met or exceeded growth, which is a fantastic celebration.”
Darlene Reap-Klosty, director of accountability
Appeals court rules felony o enders can’t be prosecuted for voting unlawfully by mistake
The law targeted black voters disproportionately, according to judges
By Gary D. Robertson
The Associated Press
RALEIGH — A federal appeals court has ruled that a North Carolina law that made it
a crime for felony o enders who vote before they have completed their sentences without knowing they were breaking the law is unconstitutional.
A panel of the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals last Friday unanimously upheld a trial judge’s decision that found the law was discriminatory and harmed black ex-defen-
The governor says additional help is needed from Washington
The Associated Press
FLAT ROCK — North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein on Monday requested $13.5 billion more from Congress in recovery aid for Hurricane Helene almost a year after the historic storm, saying additional help is needed from Washington to address record amounts of damage and to get funds to the region quicker. The proposal also asks the
federal government to distribute an additional $9.4 billion in federal funds that the state has already requested or is expecting but rst needs additional action from U.S. agencies.
Stein’s administration says $5.2 billion in federal funds have already been allocated or obligated to western North Carolina for Helene relief, in contrast to the estimated $60 billion damage and costs incurred from the September 2024 storm and related ooding. O cials said there were more than 100
dants disproportionately.
At issue was a law against voting by felony o enders who were still serving sentences. In 2023, lawmakers updated the law so that, starting in January 2024, a person convicted of a felony had to know it was against the law to vote for it to be considered a crime.
But the old law wasn’t re-
“We are grateful for every federal dollar that we have received because it brings us closer to recovery. But we need more help.”
Gov. Josh Stein
pealed and became the focus of the lawsuit originally led in 2020. The plainti s — groups representing poor residents and black union members — said people could still be subject to prosecution for voting before 2024 under the old rules. Melvin Montford, executive
See VOTING, page A2
Sept. 8
• John Patrick Mcpherson, 45, of Siler City, was arrested for possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia.
• Jorge HernandezMartinez, 22, of Raleigh, was arrested for assault by strangulation, domestic violence, and assault on a female.
• Jason Charles Holmes, 50, of Pittsboro, was arrested for exploiting a disabled or elderly person, obtaining property by false pretenses, attempting to obtain property by false pretenses, and possession of cocaine.
• Braysen Zachary Mcleod, 18, of Staley, was arrested for misdemeanor larceny.
Sept. 9
• Jamael Rafael Sellars, 36, of Sanford, was arrested for statutory rape of a child under 15 and contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile.
• Duane Daniel Riddle, 51, of Pittsboro, was arrested for possession of a rearm by a felon.
• Charles Raymond Hart Jr., 57, of Goldston, was arrested for violating a domestic violence protective order.
director of the North Carolina A. Phillip Randolph Institute, praised the ruling, saying it con rms “that this law was born out of racism and has been wielded to intimidate and disenfranchise black voters.”
The decision means “this remnant of Jim Crow can no longer be used as a weapon against our communities,” he added.
The state constitution says a person convicted of a felony can’t vote until their rights of citizenship are restored “in the manner prescribed by law.” A felony o ender can’t vote again until they complete their punishments, which include incarceration, probation, parole and other close supervision. Their rights are then automatically restored, but a person must reregister to vote.
U.S. District Judge Loretta Biggs sided in April 2024 with the plainti s and blocked en-
forcement of the pre-2024 law. The State Board of Elections, a lawsuit defendant, appealed, and oral arguments at the 4th Circuit were held in Richmond, Virginia.
The 4th Circuit panel found as credible arguments by the plainti s that the pre-2024 law requires them to use time and resources to educate people eligible to vote but remain fearful about reregistering again for fear of prosecution.
Evidence was presented showing the law had originated in 1877, placing harsh penalties on disenfranchised felony o enders. State attorneys acknowledged the state’s racially biased history. But they contended the rati cation of a new North Carolina Constitution in the early 1970s — with several race-related provisions eliminated — created “a legally signi cant historical break” from the original 1877 statute and a reenactment in 1899.
But U.S. Circuit Judge De-
Andrea Gist Benjamin, writing the opinion, still found that the law retained a discriminatory taint — its origins dating to the decade after the Civil War when black voting had initially been expanded. There’s been no substantive change to the pre-2024 law since 1899, and the elections board has conceded the 1899 law is “indefensible,” Benjamin wrote. “The fact that prosecutions under the Challenged Statute could not be brought for future conduct is of no consequence,” she added. Circuit Judges Jim Wynn and Pamela Harris joined Friday’s opinion. The three 4th Circuit judges were nominated to their current positions by Democratic presidents. A state Department of Justice spokesperson said Monday the agency is reviewing the decision. Appeals to the full 4th Circuit or U.S. Supreme Court are possible.
Share with your community! Send your birth, death, marriage, graduation and other announcements to community@chathamnewsrecord.com
The weekly deadline is Monday at Noon.
Here’s a quick look at what’s coming up in Chatham County:
Sept. 18
Opening Night of the 75th Annual Chatham County Fair
5-10 p.m.
Main attractions will include games, rides, concessions, a petting zoo and an antique car exhibition. Adult tickets are $6, children 6-12 are $4 and children 5 and under get in free.
191 Fairgrounds Road Pittsboro
Bynum Community Game Night
6-9 p.m.
Board and card games along with snacks. Join the fun to make a community connection.
Front Porch, Bynum General Store 950 Bynum Road Bynum
20
Chatham Mills Farmers Market
8 a.m. to noon
Producers-only farmers market o ering a wide variety of goods from fresh produce to other groceries, including eggs, cheese, meat, health and wellness items and crafts. Everything is created by the vendors themselves.
Lawn of the historic Chatham Mills
480 Hillsboro St. Pittsboro
Sanford Farmers Market
8:30 a.m. to noon
It creates the ideal place for local food producers to build connections within the community while giving the public a place to sample and purchase foods and crafts made by their neighbors. Experience the ultimate in food, fun and fellowship in the Sandhills region.
115 Chatham St. Chatham
24
Jazz Night at The Sycamore at Chatham Mills
6-9 p.m.
Every Wednesday night, The Sycamore hosts live Jazz Nights. The series features a rotating list of local musicians. Visitors can order their choice of appetizers from the Lounge Menu in the dining room each night. Reservations are highly recommended.
480 Hillsboro St. Suite 500 Pittsboro
Siler City loose leaf collection will begin Monday, October 20, 202 Persons living on the south-side of aleigh Street will receive a leaf pick-up on Monday through Friday in the first week and persons living on the north-side of Raleigh Street will receive a leaf pick-up starting the next week on Monday, October 27, 25. We will continue to rotate from the south-side of town to north-side of town throughout the oose-leaf collection process.
Siler City loose leaf collection will begin Monday October 20, 202 Persons living on the south-side of Raleigh Street will receive a leaf pick-up on Monday through Friday in the first week and persons living on the north-side of Raleigh Street will receive a leaf pick-up starting the next week on Monday, October 27, 2025. We will continue to rotate from the south-side of town to north-side of town throughout the loose-leaf collection process.
The town will rotate weekly collections between neighborhoods north and south of Raleigh Street
Loose leaf collection will run until February 13 2026. After this date any leaves that are not bagged will not be collected.
Loose leaf collection will run until February 13, 2026. After this date any leaves that are not bagged will not be collected.
Chatham News & Record sta
Residents should place leaves in neat piles at the edge of the street — not in the street itself — where the vacuum machine can access them. All foreign objects — including sticks, rocks and trash — must be removed from leaf piles and placed separately for later collection.
Please Note: Pick up will take place on one side of town for a week then move to the other side the following given that the route has been completed. If the route has not been completed, staff will resume collection where they left off then move to the other side of the town upon completion.
Please Note: Pick up will take place on one side of town for a week then move to the other side the following given that the route has been completed. If the route has not been completed, staff will resume collection where they left off then move to the other side of the town upon completion.
SILER CITY — The Town of Siler City will begin its annual loose leaf collection program on Monday, Oct. 20, with crews rotating weekly between neighborhoods on either side of Raleigh Street through Feb. 13. Residents living south of Raleigh Street will receive leaf pickup during the rst week, from Oct. 20-24. Those liv-
ing north of Raleigh Street will have their leaves collected beginning the following Monday, Oct. 27. The town will continue alternating between the south and north sides throughout the collection period. If crews don’t complete a route within the scheduled week, they’ll resume where they left o before moving to the other side of town.
Leaves should be placed in neat piles at the edge of the street (not in the street) where they will be accessible to the vacuum machine. Foreign objects such as sticks, rocks and trash must be removed from the loose leaves and piled separately for later collection. To avoid damage to the leaf vacuum, leaves containing foreign objects will not be picked
Leaves should be placed in neat piles at the edge of the street (not in the street) where they will be accessible to the vacuum machine. Foreign objects such as sticks, rocks and trash must be removed from the loose leaves and piled separately for later collection. To avoid damage to the leaf vacuum, leaves containing foreign objects will not be picked up
“To avoid damage to the leaf vacuum, leaves containing foreign objects will not be picked up,” the town’s notice states. The town will not collect bagged leaves while the loose leaf collection program is running. After Feb. 13, any leaves not in bags will not be collected.
On the left is the correct way to pile leaves, according to the city. The right photo is incorrect because the leaves are in the street, rather than o the roadway.
Bagged Leaves Will Not Be Picked UP While Loose Leaf Collection Program is in Progress. our cooperation will make our leaf collection program a success. For questions, please call 919-742-4732.
Bagged Leaves Will Not Be Picked UP While Loose Leaf Collection Program is in Progress.
Loves Creek Baptist Church in Siler City would like to invite everyone to their 200th Anniversary Celebration. It will be held on Sunday, Sept. 21 at 10:30 a.m. with a memorial service as well as the homecoming celebration. A covered dish lunch will be held at noon following the service. There will be photos, memorabilia and more so come join the celebration! The church is located at 1745 East 11th St. (Highway 64) in Siler City. Please note there will be no Sunday School to allow for this time of celebration. Everyone is welcome!
Your cooperation will make our leaf collection program a success. For questions, please call 919-742-4732.
Thank you, Dillon Dispennette
Thank you,
Dillon Dispennette
Town of Siler City Public Works Superintendent ddispennette@silercity.org
Three programs provide nancial assistance to address water issues
Town of Siler City Public Works Superintendent ddispennette@silercity.org
Chatham News & Record sta PITTSBORO — The Chatham Soil and Water Conservation District is accepting applications for three voluntary cost share programs designed to help landowners address water quality and conservation issues.
The North Carolina Ag Cost Share Program, Ag Water Resources Assistance Program (AgWRAP) and Community Conservation Assistance Program o er technical and nancial assistance
SCHOOLS from page A1
grades also accounts for academic growth, which Chatham County excelled at.
“One-hundred percent of our schools met or exceeded growth, which is a fantastic celebration,” said Director of Accountability Darlene Reap -Klosty. “In fact, only three districts in the entire state had all schools within its district meet or exceed growth, and we are one of those three and we’re the largest of those three.”
RECOVERY from page A1
storm-related deaths in the state.
“We are grateful for every federal dollar that we have received because it brings us closer to recovery. But we need more help,” Stein during a news conference at Blue Ridge Community College in Henderson County, about 30 miles south of Asheville. “The next stage of recovery is going to require a new commitment from Congress and from the administration to not forget the people of western North Carolina.”
Stein, who said he plans to take his request to Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, has tried to nd a balance between building rapport with President Donald Trump’s administration on recovery activities and criticizing delays. On Monday, he cited “extra layers of bureaucratic review” slowing down reimbursements to local governments. More relief money has been permitted for distribution in recent weeks.
“Recovery costs money, more
for installing best management practices to address nonpoint source pollution.
The Ag Cost Share Program is available to owners and renters of agricultural operations who have water quality issues on their farms and have been in business for three years. The program covers installation of practices for waste management, stream protection, erosion management or agrichemical pollution prevention.
AgWRAP helps agricultural operations increase water use e ciency, availability or storage through practices such as wells, irrigation ponds or conversion to microirrigation systems. Eligible participants must
In total, 68.4% of Chatham County schools exceeded growth, which is the highest percentage in the state out of all 115 districts.
The board was also presented with some of the district’s all test level pro ciency trends, which accounts for every test taken in the district.
The data shows that CCS has increased its scores every year since 2021 and currently sits ve percentage points above the state average.
The district is also above the
be owners or renters of agricultural operations. The Community Conservation Assistance Program extends beyond agricultural land, helping urban, suburban and rural landowners install water quality improvement practices on nonagricultural property. Businesses, schools, churches, homeowners, parks, municipalities and community groups can apply for funding for waste management, stream protection or erosion management.
All applications will be evaluated and ranked according to district priorities concerning water quality or quantity.
Visit the SWCD website at chathamcountync.gov/swcd.
state average in testing for biology, English 2, fth and eighth grade science, grades 3-8 reading, grades 3-8 math, math 1 and ACT, WorkKeys and Grad Rate. Third through eighth grades all testing was ranked 12th in the state.
“It’s interesting that we’re starting to outperform (pre-pandemic testing levels),” Klosty said. “That means all of the work we’ve put into ESSER and recovery from learning loss and all the tutoring and all the things we’ve tried to put in has helped
money than any city or county in western North Carolina can manage even from a cash ow standpoint,” Asheville Mayor Esther Manheimer, who co-chairs an Helene recovery advisory commission, said Monday. The Democratic governor
and his Helene recovery ofce has often cited a bar chart they say shows relatively meager nancial assistance received so far from the federal government as a percentage of total storm-related costs compared to what was provided for
us and helped our students.”
Last year, the district also had a 90.4% graduation rate, which was above the state average of 87.7%.
“This is the highest ever in Chatham County,” said Chris Poston, senior executive director for excellence and opportunity.
According to Poston, CCS students also had 921 college acceptances, $33.5 million in total scholarships and earned 4,056 college credits last year.
“Though we are extremely excited by all the progress our dis-
other recent U.S. hurricanes.
“Western North Carolina has not received anywhere near what it needs, nor our fair share,” he said.
About $8.1 billion of the $13.5 billion that Stein is requesting would go to the state’s already approved disaster recovery block grant program. More than one-third of that portion would help rebuild or replace thousands of homes and businesses, provide rental assistance and perform storm mitigation activities.
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development already has awarded $1.65 billion of these block grants to the state and to Asheville. Other block grant money requested Monday would go to fund forgivable loans for small business, the construction of private and municipal bridges, and support for homeless individuals.
Other newly requested funds would include nearly $1.6 billion to increase reimbursements to rebuild major roads, including Interstate 40 and I-26; and $1.75 billion toward “Special
trict has made, we still will continue to work hard and do the things we know are right for all kids,” Poston said. Areas of focus that were pointed to were progress for multilanguage students, raising the Hispanic graduation rate, increasing scores for eighth grade math, math 3 and third grade reading, as well as just focusing on overall reading score growth.
The Chatham County Schools Board of Education will next meet Oct. 6.
Community Disaster Loans” to help local governments provide essential services.
The state legislature and state agencies already have provided another $3.1 billion toward Helene recovery since last fall.
It’s unclear how Monday’s broad proposal — addressed to Trump and North Carolina’s congressional delegation — will be received by the president and Congress in full. When Stein made a pitch for supplemental recovery funds from the federal government earlier this month, a White House spokesperson said the request was evidence that he is un t to run a state.”
Meanwhile, the region’s tourist economy received a boost on Monday when the National Park Service announced that a 27-mile stretch of a popular scenic route has reopened with the completion of two projects that repaired damage from a landslide. The opening also provides transportation access to the adjoining Mount Mitchell State Park that features the tallest peak east of the Mississippi River.
Trip Ho end, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor
I know that con icts can be productive, but the question about nding hope referred to things, especially people, that break when they are struck together.
AFTER CHURCH, I am asked, “What gives you hope in our con icted world?” I am often asked some form of this question, which is no knock against this particular questioner or the question itself. My short answer is I nd hope in the e orts of “the helpers,” meaning everyone from EMS to re ghters, from church volunteers to Doctors Without Borders, and especially children. Children are fountains of hope, and I gladly watch and learn from them.
But thinking about the speci c question — the “con icted” part — I looked up that word and discovered “con ict” literally means “to strike together.” I know that con icts can be productive, but the question about nding hope referred to things, especially people, that break when they are struck together.
This de nition made me wonder about the opposite of striking things together. I suppose the opposite could involve staying apart, such as retreating to separate corners of a room or even di erent parts of the planet. Switzerland is neutral or
COLUMN | BOB WACHS
tries to be. When my son was very young, he would tell people, “Give me space!” And an elderly woman marveled, “It’s taken me a lifetime to learn that.” Again, the wisdom of kids.
But there is not always opportunity for space. The planet is increasingly smaller; we are increasingly reliant upon one another. There are times to engage, question and also challenge those who think and act di erently, including confrontations about dangerous behavior and hurtful beliefs.
I started thinking about the hope I nd in situations of con ict, and I came up with two answers. The rst is silence. Con ict may escalate into shouting. During shouting, no one is listening. However, the same cannot be said for silence, speci cally attentive silence. That silence is a form of prayer, Mary Oliver claimed, “into which another voice may speak.” This observation strikes me as a hopeful step toward resolution of a con ict, possibly reconciliation of two nations, parties or people.
Keep your words soft and sweet in case you have to eat them
I’ve learned “never” is a word never to be used. The biggest example I got of that came one night some few years ago after I had resisted for years paying a dollar for a bottle of water.
THERE ARE LOTS of big words in the world today.
For instance, there’s “encyclopedia.” I learned to spell that one from watching the Mickey Mouse Club — the original one — long around 1956 or so. Jimmy, the oldest Mousketeer other than Roy, who was 111 or so at the time, the same Jimmy whose last name I can’t recall but who went on later to dance his way through the Lawrence Welk Show, the TV program my mama wouldn’t miss come Saturday night, had a little dance and song number about those books, namely how important they were to learning stu , and how to learn to spell it.
You must remember that this was way before you could look up stu online and before “Google” became a verb, as in “why don’t you just Google that?” One time when we were boys, my boyhood friend and chief adviser on all matters from the heart to the pocketbook, Bobby Joe High, said a word that sounded like “Google” and his mama washed his mouth with soap and made him sit in the corner while his family had squirrel and brown gravy for supper.
Then there was my school classmate who showed up one morning in the sixth grade telling us she could spell “Czechoslovakia,” which was impressive because most of us couldn’t have found it on the map if we’d needed to. And then there’s “antidisestablishmentarianism,” supposedly the longest word in the
whole world. I’ve never used it in a sentence; only thing I’ve ever done with it is tell folks it’s the biggest word in the world. Had to look up what it means, and according to the dictionary, it’s a political philosophy opposed to the separation of a religious group (“church”) and a government (“state.”) Jimmy’s encyclopedia might have been useful here.
There are lots of other big words oating around, and sometimes folks try to use one or another to impress one another. But I have decided of all the words ever created, the biggest is not the longest.
The biggest word in the world is “never.”
How do I know? Because it has a ected me.
When I was a mere lad and my mama was in charge of my nourishment, other than what I got at school and Sam White’s store, she at times would prepare meals other than my standing order of hot dogs or bologna, cheese, peanut butter and catsup sandwiches (seriously).
Those meals might include something I could or would eat — her fried chicken comes to mind — but more often than not, they included dishes such as boiled cabbage or turnip greens. On such occasions, I would omit those o erings if possible and boldly declare to my mama, “When I get older, I’m never going to eat cabbage … or whatever.” Sometimes I would say, “I’m not ever going to eat this
Secondly, I’ve witnessed humor miraculously defuse a con ict. Whoever believes that silence is for cowards likely believes that bravery is bloody serious. While humor can be bent and mangled into a harmful weapon to bludgeon an opponent, the best humor is rooted in humility. We are dust, and to dust we shall return. Acknowledging that, one day, our bodies will be the culinary delight of terrestrial worms might be a grim prospect, or it might help us not to take ourselves too seriously. Like silence, a laugh might represent a holy pause into which another voice may speak and perhaps halt the con ict, if only momentarily, by preventing two things from striking each other. Maybe that pause is then an opening for the sacred. At least, that’s what gives me hope.
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, co ee drinker and student of joy.
or that,” and where I’m from “not ever” means the same thing as “never.”
On occasions, I have applied that same line of conversation to activities, such as, “I’m never going to mow the yard again” or “I’m never going to have a garden,” a sentiment I often expressed after following Mama through hers, picking up rocks as she turned them up with her garden tiller.
Now that I have advanced well beyond those tender preteen years, I’ve learned “never” is a word never to be used. The biggest example I got of that came one night some few years ago after I had resisted for years paying a dollar for a bottle of water. “I’m never going to pay for a drink of water,” I often loudly boasted to anyone who would listen.
Then one hot summer night I found myself at intermission of a locally produced play. Concession stand void of Pepsis. Time running out. My throat doing an imitation of the Sahara Desert. So, forced by factors bigger than me, I caved in, paid the dollar and didn’t even get the big-sized bottle.
So what’s the moral? I think it’s probably this: Watch what you say. Say what you do say nicely. And you’ll avoid eating crow, which I’ve never literally done … and never plan to. Never.
Bob Wachs is a native of Chatham County and emeritus editor at Chatham News & Record. He serves as pastor of Bear Creek Baptist Church.
Is that my role as a normal human being?
Shedding light on others?
Seems like a really big ask, if you must know.
HEY, BRING ON the light!
What light?
You know, the stu that ies out of a magic wand. Assuming, of course, you have one. A magic wand, I mean.
Is this a fond look back at the magic of childhood? Okey-doke, going along with you for the moment.
Tinker Bell, the fairy from the Disney- ed version of “Peter Pan,” had a magic wand. Magic wand-equipped, she could light up people’s lives (and as a bonus, help them y).
Thanks for reminding me. But why is there mention of a magic wand at all. I’m confused.
Because of the light it brings to folks’ lives (no promises about the ying, however). Shedding light on folks so they feel seen or cared about. You know, en-lightened (a pun too good to pass up).
Is that my role as a normal human being? Shedding light on others? Seems like a really big ask, if you must know. Excuse my French, as it were, but damn right! You’re a spreader of light. Allowing your fellow humans the gift of being seen. How does it feel when the world, and the people inhabiting it, don’t see, or barely acknowledge your existence? A super-major ouch, right? (Got a bit hot under the collar there, didn’t I?)
Don’t mean to be rude, but I wonder what universe you’ve been living in? Read or listen to the news? See the chasms that separate so many good people? Are you beginning to see where talk of sharing light enters this picture?
I probably avoid thinking about the
situation because I feel powerless (I hate feeling powerless). I don’t mean to be impudent (well, maybe I do), but “Whatcha gonna do? Call Ghostbusters?” No I am not. Enough of that!
Sorry. Standing on my high horse, now. (I just love to declaim!)
So we have darkness in our world? What the heck am I supposed to do about it aside from not seeing, or hearing, the daily news? Come on!
Returning to our putative magic wand and choosing, when able, to share light with others. Simple: just acknowledging other humans. At the grocery store, pharmacy, neighborhood, bank, on the phone — all those pedestrian places where we live our lives. Nothing fancy required. I’m already feeling tired reading this screed. I’m betting a lot of folks feel the same way. You’re really suggesting we wear the yoke of shedding light on others?
Yep, but try this one on for size: “The marketplace of being only becomes less toxic from the bottom up.” (Arthur Brooks) We’re the bottom up! That’s us! Shedding whatever light we can, in our own personal measure. Takes microseconds to say “Howdy,” compliment others, wave. Just microseconds. Even better (ta-dah), you, yourself, have then morphed into our much-remarked-upon magic wand, spreading light. How’s that for magic?
Jan Hutton, a resident of Chatham County and retired hospice social worker, lives life with heart and humor.
Good, both sides, which is the only way to approach tragedies like this.
FROM THE GET-GO, President Donald Trump blamed the “radical left” for Charlie Kirk’s death, even though the shooter’s identity and motive were not yet known. Trump called for “all Americans and the media to confront the fact that violence and murder are the tragic consequence of demonizing those with whom you disagree.” Good, both sides, which is the only way to approach tragedies like this. But he then called out “radical left political violence” without paying tribute to any Democratic politicians who have been targeted, including in Minnesota, this year.
“From the attack on my life in Butler, Pennsylvania, last year — which killed a husband and father — to the attacks on ICE agents, to the vicious murder of a health care executive in the streets of New York, to the shooting of House Majority Leader Steve Scalise and three others, radical left political violence has hurt too many innocent people and taken too many lives,” Trump said.
On Friday, he piled on some more. In an hourlong interview on “Fox and Friends” reported in The New York Times, Trump built on the case he had made last Thursday evening to reporters that “we have radical left lunatics out there and we just have to beat the hell out of them.” He dismissed on Friday a suggestion from one of his interviewers that there were extremists on both the left and the right, saying his biggest concern was those on the left. “The radicals on the right oftentimes are radical because they don’t want to see crime,” he said. “The radicals on the left are the problem, and they’re vicious and they’re horrible and they’re politically savvy.”
Excuse me, but who’s stirring the pot for political violence in this country but the president of the United States calling
BE IN TOUCH
the political left vicious and horrible?
What would it do for him to ask everyone to take responsibility for the overheated tenor of political rhetoric, starting with him?
Reports of Kirk’s killing sent shock waves around Capitol Hill, whose members are the face of politics in America and who were already subject to increasing numbers of threats. The U.S. Capitol Police is reportedly on track to work through 14,000 threat assessment cases involving its 535 members, up from 9,000 last year.
House Speaker Mike Johnson has been noticeably restrained in promising protection. “There are many security measures in place for members of Congress, at their homes, at their o ces and when they go about. But we live in a dangerous society, and it’s di cult to cover even the president of the United States from every angle,” Johnson said. “The problem, ultimately, at the end of the day, is the human heart, that’s what we got to address.”
I wonder: Does it ever occur to the president that addressing the human heart is ultimately his problem as well as ours? Trump’s rst instinct is to feed the beast, not seek to tame it. Why is there so much free- owing anger in this Trump - de ned world? I know, why should there be anything less than white-hot anger that motivates an administration built on vengeance and retribution? It’s just so tiresome and so small, con ning especially for Trump in what should be his glory days and not his get-even ones.
I wonder: If they stop feeding the beast, will there be nothing left for it to feed on?
Susan Estrich is a lawyer, professor, author and political commentator.
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The media’s demonization of the right has consequences
CHARLIE KIRK wasn’t just a colleague. He was a friend. He was someone who showed up, worked hard, and cared deeply about his family and his country. His life mattered. As I process the tragic circumstances of his death, I can’t help but turn to a deeper, more uncomfortable truth: the climate that enabled it.
For decades, America’s media institutions have cultivated a narrative that paints conservatives as dangerous, regressive, even subhuman. Every nightly newscast, every editorial page, every so-called “analysis” drips with disdain for anyone who dares to challenge the progressive orthodoxy. You don’t just disagree with the left anymore; you’re smeared as a bigot, a fascist or worse.
This relentless demonization isn’t harmless rhetoric. It creates an atmosphere where hostility toward the right feels not only acceptable but righteous. When the press treats millions of Americans like villains, it should not shock us when some unhinged individual takes that narrative literally and turns it into violence.
Words have consequences. The media knows this when it lectures conservatives about “dangerous speech” and “dog whistles.” It never looks in the mirror. When major outlets tell audiences day after day that Republicans are a threat to democracy, when they equate conservative beliefs with extremism, they are not just engaging in biased journalism. They are laying kindling for hatred, and sometimes that hatred combusts.
Consider the language used in mainstream coverage of the right. If you oppose open borders, you are “anti-immigrant.” If you defend parental rights in schools, you are “anti-LGBT.” If you worry about election integrity, you are a “conspiracy theorist.” When media elites atten every conservative principle into a caricature of cruelty, they strip away the humanity of people like Charlie. Once someone is dehumanized, it becomes easier to justify targeting them.
That’s what the press has done to the right: It has turned millions of good, law-abiding Americans into cartoon villains in a morality play. For years, conservatives have been warning: When you keep telling people that a whole class of citizens are monsters, don’t be surprised when someone believes you — and acts accordingly. The hypocrisy is staggering. If the roles were reversed, if left-wing activists were being attacked in the streets, the media would frame it as a national crisis of hate.
We’d see around-the-clock coverage, solemn declarations about “the soul of America” and endless op-eds about the dangerous climate of conservative rhetoric. When conservatives are the victims, silence. Or worse — justi cations.
“They had it coming,” the subtext suggests, because daring to hold the wrong political beliefs apparently makes you complicit in oppression.
That double standard doesn’t just warp the narrative, it fuels division. Millions of Americans see that bias and conclude, rightly, that the press doesn’t value their lives or their freedoms. That perception breeds alienation. Alienation breeds anger. Anger, left unchecked, can erupt in violence.
No individual act of violence can ever be excused. Personal responsibility matters. Yet individuals do not commit violence in a vacuum. They act within a culture shaped by institutions, none more in uential than the media. When leading outlets tell the public that conservatives are existential threats to democracy, they normalize hostility against us. When commentators sneer that half the country is made up of racists, misogynists and extremists, they legitimize rage against us.
In this climate, the media is complicit. Its hands are not clean.
Conservatives have been calling for a return to fairness, civility and honest debate. We do not expect journalists to agree with us. We do expect them to recognize our humanity and stop painting us as villains in every story. If this cycle of demonization continues, tragedies like Kirk’s will not be the last.
Kirk deserved far better. He was not someone who kept his head down or played it safe. He stood up for what he believed in, he defended people who were silenced, and he never hesitated to call out injustice. His courage came with a cost, but it also inspired those around him to be braver, stronger and truer to their convictions.
Now there is a gaping void where his voice once was. That loss is not only personal — it is national. We cannot a ord to lose people like Kirk, who put principle above comfort, who saw through the lies of a corrupt media and refused to be cowed. His absence leaves all of us with a responsibility: to speak louder, stand taller and demand an end to the demonization that is tearing this country apart. Kirk’s life was a testament to conviction. His death must be a wake-up call.
Adam Weiss is the CEO of AMW PR, publisher of Impact Wealth magazine and the host of “Media Exposed” on Real America’s Voice News. This article was rst published by Daily Caller News Foundation.
Sept. 13, 1957 –Sept. 6, 2025
Billy Joe, 67, of Siler City went to his heavenly home on Saturday, September 6, 2025.
Born in Chatham County to
Aug. 27, 1942 –Sept. 11, 2025
Linda A. Dowdy, of Pittsboro, passed away peacefully at her home on September 11. She was born Betty Linda Arnold on August 27, 1942 to Owen Robert and Lilly Mae Arnold of Lee County. She was a graduate of Lee Senior High School. She was employed for several years as an administrator for Blue Cross and Blue Shield before working for Chatham Mills in Pittsboro.
Linda married her husband, Oren (Butch) Dowdy in 1960. They were married for 35 years, until his death in 1995. While working and raising their two children, she also helped operate the family farm.
In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her brothers, Raymond (Belle) Arnold and Rufus (Priscilla) Arnold, both of Cameron, and
Billy Gene Scott & Jo Ann Fields Scott. He loved sports and was a diehard Duke fan. He loved people & never met a stranger. He loved spending time with his family and cherished his grandkids.
He was preceded in death by his parents, nephew Luke Fields and great great niece Landrie Scott. Left to cherish his memories: Sons – Cale Scott (Amber) of Siler City & Dylan Gaines (Meredith) of Bennett Grandchildren – Tysen, Emersen, Layla & Lydia Sisters – Donna Fields of Siler City & Penny Mitchell (Timmy) of Goldston & Several Nieces & Nephews whom he loved a lot! Special friends – Mark Chambers of Siler City & Ricky “Peanut” Smith of Carthage.
great-granddaughter Madison Dowdy of Pittsboro. She is survived by her sister Hazel (Jack) McBride of Sanford, daughter Laura Dowdy, and son Dennis Dowdy, both of Pittsboro, granddaughters Brandi (Travis) Dowdy of Cameron, and Candice (Julius) Dowdy of Pittsboro, and adopted grandson Richie (Jasmine) Sanchez-McKenzie of Greenville, several greatgrandchildren and her beloved cat Toby.
Visitation will be held on Wednesday, September 17 from 6-8pm at Donaldson Funeral Home in Pittsboro. A memorial service will be held Thursday, September 18 at 11am, also at Donaldson Funeral Home. A private interment will be held at a later date.
The family wishes to express their deepest thanks to employees of Piedmont Health SeniorCare in Pittsboro and the many Certi ed Nurses Aides who have cared for Linda in the past few years. Your assistance has been invaluable.
Visitation will be held at Donaldson Funeral Home & Crematory on Wednesday, September17, 2025 from 6-8PM and the service will be on Thursday, September 18, 2025, at 11:00AM in Gri n Chapel at Donaldson Funeral Home & Crematory 396 West Street Pittsboro, NC 27312. Donaldson Funeral Home & Crematory is honored to serve the Dowdy family.
Celebrate the life of your loved ones. Submit obituaries and death notices to be published in Chatham News & Record at obits@chathamrecord.com
Jan. 23, 1942 – Sept. 13, 2025
James Dewitt Staley, age 83, of Seagrove, passed away on September 13, 2025, at FirstHealth Hospice House. Mr. Staley was born on January 23, 1942, in Randolph County to John and Mary Kime Staley. He was an active member of Acorn Ridge Baptist Church He is survived by his wife Doris Anne Brown Staley, daughters Paula Glorisco (Sal) of Brunswick, GA; Doris McCrary (Ronnie) of Asheboro; Milissa Cavalier (Steve) of Asheboro; sons, James Staley Jr. (Mary) of Siler City, Jesse Staley (Dawn) of Apex and brother Walter Staley (Christy) of Bennett, aunt Florence Boettcher
CAROL KUCINIC WELCH
MARCH 13, 1947 – SEPT. 10, 2025
Carol Kucinic Welch transitioned to her heavenly home on September 10th, 2025, at Randolph Hospice House.Carol was born on March 13, 1947, to the late Joe and Kate Kucinic. She spent many years working for Kellwood Hosiery Mill and ended her working career at Siler City Wal Mart, where she could be found in the garden center, walking around talking to everyone. Besides her parents, she was proceeded in death by her husband, James Robert (JR) Welch along with her sister, Patti Justice.Left to cherish her memories are her children, Dianne Edwards (Charlie), Sandra Studer (John) and Randy Welch (Sara). Her grandchildren, Chris Josey, Katie Josey, Cyrena Welch, Meredith Gaines (Dylan) and Bergin Welch, along with her grand dog William Edwards. Carol also leaves behind four great grandchildren, and a special nephew Jon Matthews (Lisa). A graveside service will be held on Friday, September 19th, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at Chatham Memorial Park – 13260 US Hwy 64 East Siler City, NC.The family would like to thank Dunmore Assisted Living and Randolph Hospice for the loving care of their mother.
JACONNA “CONNIE” GRAE LAWRENCE
DEC. 29, 1960 – SEPT. 10, 2025
Jaconna “Connie” Grae Lawrence, age 64 of Cameron, NC formerly of Moncure, NC passed away at her home on Wednesday (9/10/2025) surrounded by her family. Connie was born in Wake County, on December 29,1960 daughter of Tommy Lawrence and Nancy Taylor Davis Lawrence. Connie was preceded in death by her mother and one brother William Arnold Lawrence. Funeral Services will be conducted at 2 PM Saturday (9/12/2025) at the Haywood Bible Church with the Rev. Greg Little, O ciating. Burial will follow in the Merry Oaks Baptist Church Cemetery, Moncure, NC. Connie is survived by her father, Tommy Lawrence of Cameron, NC. Three sisters, Nancy Dawn Jacobs of the home. Vanessa L. Barnhill, of Winnabow, NC and Debi Lawrence of New Hill, NC. One brother, Martin Lawrence (Kathy) of New Hill, NC. Connie is also survived by several Aunts, Uncles, Nieces, Nephews and Cousins. Connie had a passion for rescue dogs. She said, “they were like her kids”. In lieu of owers, Connie request that memorial donations be made to the ASPCA of your choice. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service on Saturday (9/13/2025) at the Haywood Bible Church in Moncure.
CARL FERMAN PHILLIPS JR. JULY 15, 1959 – SEPT. 13, 2025
Carl Ferman Phillips Jr. age 66 of Moncure passed away at his home on Saturday (9/13/2025). Carl was born in Lee County on July 15,1959 son of Carl Ferman Phillips, Sr and Dora Sue Long Phillips. Carl was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, William Alfred Burke and John Walter Burke. A celebration of life service will be conducted at 2 PM on Friday (9/19/2025) at the Haywood Bible Church with the Rev. Terry Pleasants, o ciating. Carl is survived by his sisters; Patsy Phillips Moreno of the home and Linda Boyle (Martha) of Sanford, NC. Carl is also survived by his nieces and nephews.
We offer an on-site crematory with many options of Celebration of Life services, Traditional, and Green Burials. Call us to set an appointment to come by and learn more.
and sister-in-law Jane Dark Staley of Siler City.
A visitation will be held on Friday, September 19, 2025, at Phillips Funeral Home from 5:007:00 pm A memorial service will be held on Saturday, September 20, 2025, at 3:00 pm at Acorn Ridge Baptist Church with Rev. Johnny Williamson o ciating. In lieu of owers, memorial donations can be made in James’s memory to Acorn Ridge Baptist Church at 288 Acorn Ridge Road, Robbins, NC 27325. The Staley family is being served by Phillips Funeral Home in Star.
RUBY LEE TYNDALL MOTE
MAY 23, 1941 – SEPT. 15, 2025
Ruby Lee Tyndall Mote, 84, of Siler City, went to her Heavenly home on Monday, September 15th, 2025, at The Laurels of Chatham. Ruby was born on May 23rd, 1941, in Duplin County to the late John T. and Virsey Estelle Outlaw Tyndall. She is preceded in death by her parents; her daughter, Connie Mote; two sisters and two brothers; daughter-in-law, Kathy Gail Mote; and her son-in-law, Frank Frazier. Ruby worked for Chatham Foods for many years. She resided at Braxton Manor for 22 years. She loved reading, watching game shows on TV, and feeding the birds. She loved babies and never met a stranger. Ruby was a member of Calvary Holiness Church in Liberty, NC. Ruby sang in the Church of God choir and loved talking about the Lord. Left to cherish her memory are her two sons, James David Mote Jr. of Asheboro, and Vander Ray Mote of Coleridge; her two daughters, Tammy Marie Frazier of Asheboro, and Sue Lee Bayles and her husband, Steve of Siler City; one brother, John William Tyndall of Warsaw, NC; one sister, Helen Mote of Siler City; seven grandchildren; ve great grandchildren; and her special friend, Rachel Carter. The family would like to give a special thank you to The Laurels of Chatham and Transition Life Care of Raleigh.
JUNE 18, 1965 – SEPT. 21, 2025
Rodney Thomas O’Quinn, 60, of Gulf, passed away on Wednesday, September 10, 2025, at his home surrounded by his loving family. A memorial service will be held on Sunday, September 21, 2025 at 3:00 p.m. at Bethany Baptist Church with pastor Patrick Daniel presiding. The family will receive friends at Kelly and Cari’s home. Rodney was born in Lee County on June 18, 1965 to Jerry and Barbara Jean Kelly O’Quinn. He worked as a forklift operator at Cherokee/General Shale for 40 years. He loved going to the beach, shing, hunting and four-wheelers. He enjoyed watching sports, especially Carolina. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his sister, Paula Stone. Rodney is survived by his life partner of 40 years, Kim Holshouser, of the home; son, Kelly Thomas O’Quinn (Carie), of Bear Creek; sister, Renee Gibson, of Sanford; brother, Robin O’Quinn (Jennifer), of North Myrtle Beach, SC; his fur baby, Caesar and a host of family and friends.
ALTON WAYNE “DUD” OLDHAM
MAY 13, 1937 – SEPT. 20, 2025
Alton Wayne “Dud” Oldham, 88, passed away on Monday, September 15, 2025. The funeral service will be held on Saturday, September 20, 2025 at 2:00 p.m. at Antioch Baptist Church in Goldston, where he was a member, with Pastor Mike Garner o ciating. The family will receive friends in the fellowship hall following the committal service. Joyce-Brady Chapel will be open on Friday, September 19, 2025 from 1:005:00 p.m. for friends to sign the register. Wayne was born in Chatham County on May 13, 1937 to Carl and Bertha Hancock Oldham. He owned and operated Oldham House Movers. He loved his work. He liked traveling with his family to the beach and to the mountains. He enjoyed meeting up with his friends at Harper’s Crossroads. He loved his family and spending time with them. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by an infant son and 8 siblings. Wayne is survived by his wife of 60 years, Jeanette Riddle Oldham, of the home; sons, Daryle Oldham (Penny), of Siler City and Anthony Oldham (Wendy), of Thomasville; sister, Lucy Eastwood (Johnny), of Richmond, VA; grandchildren, Brittany Oldham, Breana Kirsch and Chyanne Oldham and a host of family and friends.
Democratic governors are challenging the FDA’s
By Geo Mulvihill
The Associated Press
THE GOVERNORS OF Arizona, Illinois, Maine and North Carolina on Friday joined the growing list of Democratic ocials who have signed orders intended to ensure most residents can receive COVID-19 vaccines at pharmacies without individual prescriptions.
Unlike past years, access to COVID-19 vaccines has become complicated in 2025, largely because federal guidance does not recommend them for nearly everyone this year as it had in the past.
Pharmacy chain says shots available in most states without individual prescriptions
CVS Health, the biggest pharmacy chain in the U.S., says its stores are o ering the shots without an individual prescription in 41 states as of midday Friday.
But the remaining states — Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Maine, North Carolina,
Oregon, Utah and West Virginia, plus the District of Columbia — require individual prescriptions under the company’s interpretation of state policies.
Arizona, Maine and North Carolina are likely to come o that list as the new orders take e ect there.
“I will not stand idly by while the Trump Administration makes it harder for Maine people to get a vaccine that protects their health and could very well save their life,” Maine Gov. Janet Mills said in the statement. “Through this standing order,
we are stepping up to knock down the barriers the Trump Administration is putting in the way of the health and welfare of Maine people.”
Democratic governors taking action
At least 14 states — 12 with Democratic governors, plus Virginia, where Republican Glenn Youngkin is governor — have announced policies this month to ease access.
In some of the states that have expanded access —
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including Delaware and New Jersey earlier in the week and Illinois on Friday — at least some pharmacies were already providing the shots broadly. Friday’s orders are expected to change the policy in all three states where they were put into place.
North Carolina’s orders were narrower than most. They apply to everyone age 65 and over and people who are at least 18 and have a risk factor. Other adults would still need prescriptions.
O cials said the order takes effect immediately but that all pharmacies might not have supplies on hand right away.
While most Republican-controlled states have not changed vaccine policy this month, the inoculations are still available there under existing policies.
In addition to the round of orders from governors, boards of pharmacy and other o cials, four states — California, Hawaii, Oregon and Washington — have announced an alliance to make their own vaccine recommendations. Of those, only Oregon doesn’t currently allow the shots in pharmacies without individual prescriptions.
Vaccines become politically contentious
In past years, the federal government has recommended the vaccines to all Americans above the age of 6 months.
This year, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved them for people age 65 and over but said they should be used only for children and younger adults who have a risk factor such as asthma or obesity.
“I will not stand idly by while the Trump Administration makes it harder for Maine people to get a vaccine that protects their health and could very well save their life.”
Maine Gov. Janet Mills
That change came as U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy red the entire Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices in June, accusing of them of being too closely aligned with the companies that make the vaccines. The replacements include vaccine skeptics.
Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs, a Democrat, framed her order Friday as “protecting the health care freedom” of people in the state.
One state takes another stance on vaccines
Florida’s surgeon general, Dr. Joseph Ladapo, announced this month that the state could become the rst to eliminate requirements that children have a list of vaccinations.
Since then, though, the state health department said that the change likely wouldn’t take effect until December and that without legislative action, only some vaccines — including for chickenpox — would become optional. The measles and polio shots would remain mandatory.
Charlie Kirk, in uential conservative activist, dead at 31
He was assassinated while talking to students at a college in Utah
By Nicholas Riccardi and Ali Swenson
The Associated Press
CHARLIE KIRK , who rose from a teenage conservative campus activist to a top podcaster and ally of President Donald Trump, was shot and killed last Wednesday during one of his trademark public appearances at a college in Utah. He was 31. Kirk died doing what made him a potent political force — rallying the right on a college campus, this time Utah Valley University. The event was kicking o a planned series of Kirk college appearances from Colorado to Virginia dubbed “The American Comeback Tour.”
His assassination was one of an escalating number of attacks on political gures, from the assassination of a Democratic state lawmaker and her husband in Minnesota to last summer’s shooting of Trump, that have roiled the nation.
Kirk personi ed the pugnacious, populist conservatism that has taken over the Republican Party in the age of Trump. An unabashed Christian conservative who often made provocative statements about gender, race and politics, Kirk launched his organization, Turning Point USA, in 2012, targeting younger people and venturing onto liberal-leaning college campuses where many GOP activists were nervous to tread.
Center of the right- of- center universe
A backer of Trump during the president’s initial 2016 run, Kirk took Turning Point from one of a constellation of well-funded conservative groups to the center of the right-of-center universe.
Turning Point’s political wing helped run get- out-the -vote e orts for Trump’s 2024 campaign, trying to energize disa ected conservatives who rarely vote.
Trump won Arizona, Turning Point’s home state, by ve percentage points after narrow-
ly losing it in 2020. The group is known for its events that often feature strobe lighting and pyrotechnics. It claims more than 250,000 student members.
Trump last Wednesday praised Kirk, who started as an uno cial adviser during Trump’s 2016 campaign and more recently became a condant. “He was a very, very good friend of mine and he was a tremendous person,” Trump told the New York Post.
Kirk showed o an apocalyptic style in his popular podcast, radio show and on the campaign trail. During an appearance with Trump in Georgia last fall, he said Democrats “stand for everything God hates.” Kirk called the Trump vs. Kamala Harris choice “a spiritual battle.”
In uencing new generation of conservatives
Kirk was a regular presence on college campuses. Last year, for the social media program “Surrounded,” he faced o against 20 liberal college students to defend his viewpoints, including that abortion is murder and should be illegal.
The author of several books, including one on the Second Amendment, Kirk was a staunch supporter of gun rights.
“I think it’s worth to have a cost of, unfortunately, some gun deaths every single year so that we can have the Second Amendment to protect our other God-given rights,” Kirk said during a Turning Point event in Salt Lake City in 2023, adding that gun deaths can be reduced but will never go away.
Admirers stressed that, for all of Kirk’s confrontational rhetoric, he relished debate and the free exchange of ideas.
“His entire project was built on reaching across the divide and using speech, not violence, to address and resolve the issues!” William Wolfe, executive director of the Center for Baptist Leadership, posted on X. Kirk was married to podcaster Erika Frantzve. They have two young children.
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NOTICE
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA NOTICE TO CREDITORS COUNTY OF CHATHAM
THE UNDERSIGNED, having quali ed on the 13th day of August, 2025, as Co-Executors of the
ESTATE OF GRETCHEN R. BRUCE, Deceased, of Chatham County, North Carolina, does hereby notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against said Estate to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before the 29th day of November, 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, the 28th day of August, 2025. Christopher Bruce and Robin Bruce CO-EXECUTORS
ESTATE OF GRETCHEN R. BRUCE
c/o Richard G. Long III, Attorney Walker Lambe, PLLC Post O ce Box 51549 Durham, North Carolina 27717
NOTICE
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY
Proposed Flood Hazard Determinations for Chatham County, North Carolina and Incorporated Areas
The Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency has issued a preliminary Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM), and where applicable, Flood Insurance Study (FIS) report, re ecting proposed ood hazard determinations within Chatham County, North Carolina and Incorporated Areas. These ood hazard determinations may include the addition or modi cation of Base Flood Elevations, base ood depths, Special Flood Hazard Area boundaries or zone designations, or the regulatory oodway. Technical information or comments are solicited on the proposed ood hazard determinations shown on the preliminary FIRM and/or FIS report for Chatham County, North Carolina and Incorporated Areas. These ood hazard determinations are the basis for the oodplain management measures that your community is required to either adopt or show evidence of being already in e ect in order to qualify or remain quali ed for participation in the National Flood Insurance Program. However, before these determinations are e ective for oodplain management purposes, you will be provided an opportunity to appeal the proposed information. For information on the statutory 90-day period provided for appeals, as well as a complete listing of the communities a ected and the locations where copies of the FIRM are available for review, please visit FEMA’s website at https://www. oodmaps.fema. gov/fhm/BFE_Status/bfe_main.asp or call the FEMA Mapping and Insurance eXchange (FMIX) toll free at 1-877-FEMA MAP (1-877-336-2627).
NOTICE
NORTH CAROLINA IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE DISTRICT COURT DIVISION CHATHAM COUNTY FILE NO. 15CvD000063-180 COUNTY OF CHATHAM Plainti , NOTICE OF SERVICE OF vs. PROCESS BY PUBLICATION ADA NOBLE a/k/a ADA NOBLES, et al Defendants.
TO: The HEIRS, ASSIGNS, and DEVISEES of JOHNNY MCKINNEY a/k/a JOHN RAY MCKINNEY a/k/a JONNY MCKINNEY and spouse, if any, which may include JOHNNY MCKINNEY, JR. and spouse, if any, or any other person or entity claiming thereunder; The HEIRS, ASSIGNS, and DEVISEES of ERNEST MCKINNEY and spouse, if any, or any other person or entity claiming thereunder; The HEIRS, ASSIGNS, and DEVISEES of PATRICIA A. MCKINNEY and spouse, if any, or any other person or entity claiming thereunder; The HEIRS, ASSIGNS, and DEVISEES of JAMES THOMAS MCKINNEY and spouse, if any, or any other person or entity claiming thereunder; and The HEIRS, ASSIGNS, and DEVISEES of WILLIE DAVIS a/k/a DELORES DAVIS a/k/a DELORIS DAVIS and spouse, if any, which may include MALCOLM L. DAVIS and spouse, if any, and EBONY M. DAVIS and spouse, if any, or any other person or entity claiming thereunder A pleading seeking relief against you has been led in the above-entitled action and notice of service of process by publication began on September 4, 2025. The nature of the relief being sought is as follows: Foreclosure on tax parcel(s) more completely described in the Complaint, to collect delinquent ad valorem taxes (assessments). Plainti seeks to extinguish any and all claim or interest that you may have in said property. You are required to make defense to such pleading not later than forty (40) days after the date of the rst publication of notice stated above, exclusive of such date, being forty (40) days after September 4, 2025, or by October 14, 2025, and upon your failure to do so, the party seeking service of process by publication will apply to the Court for relief sought.
This the 26th day of August, 2025.
ZACCHAEUS LEGAL SERVICES
Mark D. Bardill/Mark B. Bardill
Attorney for Plainti NC Bar #12852/56782 310 W. Jones St. P. O. Box 25 Trenton, North Carolina 28585 Telephone: (252) 448-4541 Publication dates: September 4, 2025 September 11, 2025 September 18, 2025
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Estate of Karen Bruck, Deceased
Date of Death: August 14, 2025 • Chapel Hill, North Carolina First Publication Date: September 18, 2025
Claims Deadline: December 18, 2025 All persons, rms, and corporations having claims against Karen Bruck, deceased, are hereby noti ed to present them to the undersigned Personal Representative of the Estate of Karen Bruck on or before December 18, 2025, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to the estate are requested to make immediate payment. Submit claims to: Personal Representative for: Karen Mary Bruck
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 97
City/State/ZIP: Flagsta , AZ 86002 Email:
NOTICE
NORTH CAROLINA IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE DISTRICT COURT DIVISION
CHATHAM COUNTY FILE NO. 11CvD000961-180 COUNTY OF CHATHAM Plainti , NOTICE OF SERVICE OF vs. PROCESS BY PUBLICATION
GERRARD LEWIS GRADY, et al
Defendants.
TO: GERRARD LEWIS GRADY and ANY HEIRS, ASSIGNS and DEVISEES of GERRARD LEWIS GRADY or any other person or entity claiming thereunder, and The HEIRS, ASSIGNS and DEVISEES of ED DEGGRAFFENDREIDT a/k/a EDDIE
DEGRAFFENREAIDT and spouse, if any, which may include KATHERINE MARIE FOUSHEE and spouse, if any, COLUMBUS SHERMAN FOUSHEE and spouse, if any, and IRA FOUSHEE or any other person or entity claiming thereunder
A pleading seeking relief against you has been led in the above-entitled action and notice of service of process by publication began on September 4, 2025.
The nature of the relief being sought is as follows:
Foreclosure on tax parcel(s) more completely described in the Complaint, to collect delinquent ad valorem taxes (assessments). Plainti seeks to extinguish any and all claim or interest that you may have in said property.
You are required to make defense to such pleading not later than forty (40) days after the date of the rst publication of notice stated above, exclusive of such date, being forty (40) days after September 4, 2025, or by October14, 2025, and upon your failure to do so, the party seeking service of process by publication will apply to the Court for relief sought.
This the 26th day of August, 2025.
ZACCHAEUS LEGAL SERVICES Mark D. Bardill/Mark B. Bardill Attorney for Plainti NC Bar #12852/56782 310 W. Jones St. P. O. Box 25 Trenton, North Carolina 28585 Telephone: (252) 448-4541
Publication dates: September 4, 2025 September 11, 2025 September 18, 2025
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
All persons, rms, and corporations having claims against Nancy H Dixon, deceased, of Chatham County, North Carolina, are noti ed to present their claim to Rebecca Morley at 1330 Songbird Ct, Boulder CO 80303 on or before December 20, 2025.
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY
25E000267-180 ALL persons having claims against William Davis Brown, deceased, late of Chatham County, North Carolina, are noti ed to exhibit the same to the undersigned on or before Nov 28 2025, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of recovery. Debtors of the decedent are asked to make immediate payment.
This the 28th day of August, 2025.
LINDSAY BROWN, Administrator CTA C/O F. Timothy Nicholls, Nicholls & Crampton, P.A. PO Box 18237 Raleigh, NC 27619 A28, 4, 11 and 18
NOTICE
NORTH CAROLINA
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
CHATHAM COUNTY
HAVING QUALIFIED, as Executrix of the Estate of Floyd Teague, Jr., late of Chatham County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against the estate of said deceased to present them to the undersigned on or before October 15, 2025, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. This the 3rd day of September, 2025. Diane T. Campbell, Executrix 1982 Epps Clark Road Siler City, North Carolina 27344 (919) 663-2533
NOTICE
NORTH CAROLINA
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
CHATHAM COUNTY
HAVING QUALIFIED as Executor of the Estate of Lewis Keith Kidd late of Chatham County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against the estate of said deceased to present them to the undersigned on or before the 27th day of November, 2025, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery.
This the 21st day of August, 2025. Kayla Kidd Humphries, Executor of the Estate of Lewis Keith Kidd 313 Sanctuary Way, Apt. 105 Pittsboro, North Carolina 27312 MOODY, WILLIAMS, ATWATER & LEE ATTORNEYS AT LAW BOX 629 SILER CITY, NORTH CAROLINA 27344 (919) 663-2850 4tp
NOTICE
NORTH CAROLINA NOTICE TO CREDITORS
CHATHAM COUNTY
HAVING QUALIFIED as Executor of the Estate of Frankie C. Mueller late of Chatham County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against the estate of said deceased to present them to the undersigned on or before the 4th day of December, 2025, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery.
This the 28th day of August, 2025.
Je Mueller, Executor of the Estate Of Frankie C. Mueller 170 Dewitt Smith Road Pittsboro, North Carolina 27312
MOODY, WILLIAMS, ATWATER & LEE
ATTORNEYS AT LAW BOX 629 SILER CITY, NORTH CAROLINA 27344 (919) 663-2850 4tp
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
All persons having claims against Nanette Swift Melcher, of Chatham County, North Carolina, are noti ed to present them to Mathew Melcher, Executor of the Estate of Nanette Melcher, to Brittany N. Porter of NextGen Estate Solutions, 1340 Environ Way, Chapel Hill, NC 27517 or before November 28th, 2025. Failure to present a claim in timely fashion will result in this Notice being pleaded in bar of recovery against the estate, the Personal Representative, and the devisees of Nanette Melcher. Those indebted to Nanette Melcher are asked to make prompt payment to the Estate. Matthew Melcher, Executor of the Estate of Nannette Melcher
Brittany N. Porter, Attorney NextGen Estate Solutions 1340 Environ Way, Chapel Hill, NC 27517
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Having quali ed as Executor of the Estate of James Denson Jones, late of Chatham County, North Carolina, the undersigned does hereby notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against the estate of the decedent to exhibit them to the undersigned at the o ce of Ivey & Eggleston, Attorneys at Law, 111 Worth Street, Asheboro, North Carolina 27203, on or before December 13th, 2025, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons, rms or corporations indebted to said estate should make immediate payment to the undersigned.
This 11th day of September, 2025. Rebecca Fields Jones Executor of the Estate of James Denson Jones
BENJAMIN SCOTT WARREN, Attorney IVEY & EGGLESTON, ATTORNEYS AT LAW 111 Worth Street Asheboro, NC 27203 (336) 625-3043
PUBL/DATES: 09/11/25 09/18/25 09/25/25 10/02/25
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
NORTH CAROLINA
CHATHAM COUNTY
25E000415-180
ALL persons having claims against Patricia Byrne Terry, deceased, late of Chatham County, North Carolina, are noti ed to exhibit the same to the undersigned on or before Dec 04 2025, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of recovery. Debtors of the decedent are asked to make immediate payment. This the 4th day of September, 2025. Christina T. Morris, Executor C/O Privette Legacy Planning 1400 Crescent Green, Suite G-100 Cary, NC 27518 S4, 11, 18 and 25
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
NORTH CAROLINA
CHATHAM COUNTY
25E000463-180
ALL persons having claims against John Charles Angelillo, Jr., deceased, late of Chatham County, North Carolina, are noti ed to exhibit the same to the undersigned on or before Dec 04 2025, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of recovery. Debtors of the decedent are asked to make immediate payment. This the 4th day of September, 2025.
JOSEPH A. ANGELILLO, Administrator C/O Howard Stallings Law Firm PO Box 12347 Raleigh, NC 27605 S4, 11, 18 and 25
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
NORTH CAROLINA
CHATHAM COUNTY
25E000473-180
ALL persons having claims against Stephen Earl Rosenthal, deceased, late of Chatham County, North Carolina, are noti ed to exhibit the same to the undersigned on or before Dec 18 2025, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of recovery. Debtors of the decedent are asked to make immediate payment.
This the 18th day of September, 2025.
JOAN SOBEL ROSENTHAL, Executor C/O Lenfestey, Maxie & Burger, PLLC 5640 Dillard Drive, Suite 101 Cary, North Carolina 27518 S18, 25, 2 and 9
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
NORTH CAROLINA
CHATHAM COUNTY
25E000417-180 ALL persons having claims against Harold Fredric Terry, deceased, late of Chatham County, North Carolina, are noti ed to exhibit the same to the undersigned on or before Dec 04 2025, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of recovery. Debtors of the decedent are asked to make immediate payment.
This the 4th day of September, 2025.
Christina T. Morris, Administrator CTA C/O Privette Legacy Planning 137 Highpointe Drive Pittsboro, NC 27312 S4, 11, 18 and 25
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
NORTH CAROLINA
CHATHAM COUNTY
FILE#2023 E 000668
The undersigned, JEFFREY HOLDER, having quali ed on the 8TH Day of APRIL, 2024 as ADMINISTRATOR of the Estate of BETTY GUNTER HOLDER, deceased, of Chatham County, North Carolina, does hereby notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against said Estate to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before the 18TH Day DECEMBER 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, the 18th DAY OF SEPTEMBER 2025.
JEFFREY HOLDER, ADMINISTRATOR 1321 ASBURY CHURCH RD. SANFORD, NC 27330 Run dates: S18,25,O2,9p
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
NORTH CAROLINA
CHATHAM COUNTY
FILE#25E000455-180
NOTICE
ALL PERSONS, rms and corporations holding claims against Stephanie Ramos, deceased, of Chatham County, NC are noti ed to exhibit same to the undersigned on or before December 7, 2025, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of recovery. Debtors of the decedent are asked to make immediate payment. This 4th day of September 2025. Nilda Ramos, Admin., c/o Clarity Legal Group, PO Box 2207, Chapel Hill, NC 27515.
CREDITOR’S NOTICE
Having quali ed on the 15th day of August, 2025, as Administrator CTA of the Estate of Frances Dowd Payne, deceased, late of Chatham County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against the decedent to exhibit the same to the undersigned on or before the 28th day of November, 2025, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons, rms and corporations indebted to the estate should make immediate payment. This is the 20th day of August, 2025. Martin Payne, Administrator CTA of the Estate of Frances Dowd Payne 3531 Mill Run Raleigh, NC 27612 Attorneys: Law O ces of Doster & Brown, P.A. 206 Hawkins Avenue Sanford, NC 27330 Publish On: August 28th, September 4th, 11th and 18th 2025.
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY
FILE#25E00187-180 The undersigned, STEPHEN THOMAS WILLETT, having quali
undersigned on or before the 28TH Day NOVEMBER 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, the 28TH DAY OF AUGUST 2025. STEPHEN THOMAS WILLETT, EXECUTOR 2010 EDWARDS HILL CH RD SILER CITY, NC 27344 Run dates: A28,S4,11,18p
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY FILE#25E000464-180 The undersigned, CRAIGORY DUNN AND STEPHANIE DUNN, having quali ed on the 22ND Day of AUGUST, 2025 as CO-ADMINISTRATORS of the Estate of GWENDOLYN BRYANT DUNN, deceased, of Chatham County, North Carolina, does hereby notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against said Estate to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before the 11TH Day DECEMBER 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, the 11TH DAY OF SEPTEMBER 2025. CRAIGORY DUNN, CO-ADMINISTRATOR PO BOX 37 SILER CITY, NC 27344 STEPHANIE DUNN, CO-ADMINISTRATOR 2530 KINGFISHER RD., APT.207 GRAHAM, NC 27253 Run dates: S11,18,25,O2p
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY
FILE#25E000470-180
The undersigned, CINDY S. STUYVESANT, having quali ed on the 25TH Day of AUGUST, 2025 as EXECUTOR of the Estate of GERALD K. STUYVESANT, deceased, of Chatham County, North Carolina, does hereby notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against said Estate to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before the 4TH Day DECEMBER 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, the 4TH DAY OF SEPTEMBER 2025. CINDY S. STUYVESANT, EXECUTOR 6320 N KOLMAR AVE. CHICAGO, IL 60646 Run dates: S4,11,18,25p
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
All persons having claims against Shelly Ray Skalicky, of Chatham County, North Carolina, are noti ed to present them to Daniel Long, Executor of the Estate of Shelly Ray Skalicky, at NextGen Estate Solutions, 1340 Environ Way, Chapel Hill, NC 27517 or before December 18th, 2025. Failure to present a claim in timely fashion will result in this Notice being pleaded in bar of recovery against the estate, the Personal Representative, and the devisees of Shelly Ray Skalicky. Those indebted to Shelly Ray Skalicky are asked to make prompt payment to the Estate. This this 18th day of September, 2025. Daniel Long, Executor of the Estate of Shelly Ray Skalicky Brittany N. Porter, Attorney NextGen Estate Solutions 1340 Environ Way, Chapel Hill, NC 27517
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
25E000480-180 NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY The undersigned, Christopher Solow, having quali ed
undersigned, SUSAN BOND TAYLOR, having quali ed on the 5TH Day of SEPTEMBER, 2025 as ADMINISTRATOR CTA, of the Estate of JANET BOND DEWITT, deceased, of Chatham County, North Carolina, does hereby notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against said Estate to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before the 18TH Day DECEMBER 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, the 18TH DAY OF SEPTEMBER 2025. SUSAN BOND TAYLOR,
Run dates: S18,25,O2,9p
The undersigned, KENNETH A HENDERSON, having quali ed on the 18TH Day of AUGUST, 2025 as EXECUTOR of the Estate of DEBRA LYNN HENDERSON, deceased, of Chatham County, North Carolina, does hereby notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against said Estate to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before the 28TH Day NOVEMBER 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, the 28TH DAY OF AUGUST 2025. KENNETH A HENDERSON, EXECUTOR 2294 US 64 BUSINESS W. PITTSBORO, NC 27312 Run dates: A28,S4,11,18p
Tolbert Matthews gets a Gatorade bath after winning his rst game as Seaforth’s head coach.
Tolbert Matthews earned his rst win as the Hawks’ coach
By Asheebo Rojas Chatham News & Record
PITTSBORO — Seaforth was going to overcome eventually.
In the fourth edition of the “Battle of the Boro” at the Hawks’ nest, junior quarterback Duncan Parker threw for four touchdowns and rushed for one to lead the Seaforth (1-3) to its rst win over Northwood (1-3), 34 -13 on Friday.
The victory also marked the rst win for rst-year head coach Tolbert Matthews.
“It feels great,” Matthews said. “0 -3 to start it o . Bumpy
rides. Close games. The guys kept ghting. That’s something that we talked about in practice. Again, nishing, competing and responding.”
Both teams had their fair share of adversity to respond to in an emotional rivalry duel.
To start the game, Northwood junior Raje Torres received the opening kicko and sprinted 95 yards to the house. But as it looked like the start of what could have been an ugly night for the Hawks, the score, which was erased due to an illegal substitution, quickly became the rst of Northwood’s trials.
“They called us for illegal substitution for my PAT team getting on the eld too early,” Northwood coach Dalton Brown said.
To make matters worse, Seaforth recovered the ball on the ensuing rekick, taking over from the Northwood 40. The Chargers stood tall, and with the help of early Seaforth penalties, they forced the Hawks into a too -familiar turnover on downs deep in enemy territory at the Northwood 24 -yard line.
“I was proud of how our defense responded with the crazy swing of emotions on the start, and I thought that helped us settle in,” Brown said.
Except for a blocked eld goal by Seaforth at the end of the rst quarter, which led to a 1-yard touchdown run for Parker, Northwood controlled the rst half. The Chargers rushed for a little over 100 yards in the rst two quarters, including a
JordanMatthews coach Kermit Carter coaches from the sideline in a game earlier this season. Carter has led his alma mater to its rst 4-0 start since 2010.
By Asheebo Rojas Chatham News & Record
Jordan-Matthews 42, Wheatmore 6
Jordan-Matthews is 4 - 0 for the rst time since 2010 after running all over Wheatmore on Friday.
Senior running back Jakari Blue rushed for 112 yards and three touchdowns on sev-
en carries (16 yards per carry), while his running mate, senior quarterback Kamarie Hadley, rushed for 98 yards and two scores on six carries (16.3 yards per rush).
The Jets took a 26 -
“We just kept connecting on the passes and got the job done.”
Duncan Parker
10 -yard touchdown run by senior quarterback Grayson Cox early in the second quarter to give Northwood a 7- 6 lead. Execution issues continued to stunt both team’s ability to cash in on solid drives, though. In Seaforth’s nal drive of the half, Parker threw an interception at the goal line to senior linebacker Aiden Hohenwarter. Deep in Seaforth territory on the ensuing Northwood drive, Cox, looking to ex-
tend the Chargers’ lead before halftime, threw up a pass near the goal line that was tipped by senior corner Noah Williams and picked o by senior safety Patrick Miller.
“I saw him trying to hit that single receiver on the side,” Miller said. “A couple of plays in a row, he didn’t throw it. That nal play, I saw his eyes light up, and I just broke on it.” Matthews recalled saying probably “two to three words” to his team at halftime. He left it up to his players to x the penalties and the mistakes that gave Northwood life.
“We talked about getting it together,” Miller said. “We had a lot of sloppy mistakes in the
will look to reach ve wins for the rst time since 2013 and the rst 5- 0 start since 2010. Competition will ramp up for the Jets as Providence Grove (2-2) is their rst opponent with a winning percentage of at least .500. See SEAFORTH, page B3 See FLAG, page B2 See FOOTBALL, page B4
Girls at three Chatham schools are hitting the gridiron this fall
By Asheebo Rojas Chatham News & Record
CHATHAM COUNTY — The rapidly growing sport of girls’ ag football has made its way to Chatham County’s high schools.
Seaforth, Northwood and Jordan-Matthews are elding girls’ ag football teams this fall. They’ve joined Southeast Alamance and Eastern Alamance in a league organized by Eastern Alamance athletic director Brad Costa. Each team will play a total of 12 games on Wednesdays (except Sept. 22) until the playo s and championship on Oct. 29. All three of the local schools received a $2,500 grant and equipment ( ags, balls, cones and wristbands) from the Carolina Panthers.
The teams played their rst games at Eastern Alamance on Wednesday.
Seaforth is coached by Kimberly Brower, who’s an assistant with the girls’ basketball team. Fred Whitaker Sr., who was once an assistant for the Northwood boys’ basketball team and a former girls’ basketball coach at Pollard Middle, coaches the Chargers, and Chris Williams leads the Jets.
Each team had between 20 -30 girls come out to participate.
“It’s really been the talk of the school these past few weeks,” Jordan-Matthews player Michayla McNeill said. “I’ve been hearing talk of girls saying they’re going to come out next year for reasons that they can’t this year, but they’re really excited to.”
At Seaforth, garnering interest for ag football started with very early e orts from players Sophia Potter and Shayla Cork.
“It’s really been the talk of the school these past few weeks.”
Michayla McNeill
Woods Charter, swimming
Woods Charter junior Daisy Collins earns athlete of the week honors for the week of Sept. 8.
Collins was named to the USA Swimming National Team roster that was released on Sept. 8, joining the nation’s best aquatic athletes, like nine-time Olympic gold medalist Katie Ledecky. The star swimmer from the North Carolina Aquatic Club is one of six female open water athletes on the roster and one of ve North Carolinians, men or women, to make the team.
Collins’ career highlights include being a World Junior Championships individual nalist, a two-time U.S. Junior Open Water national champion and a U.S. National Championships quali er.
“Me and my friend Shayla actually founded the ag football team here at Seaforth,” Potter said. “At the beginning, we had a lot of people help out and ll out the form of who’s interested. And then over the summer, we had workouts. Had about 15, 20 people show up to those, so that was a really good start to the season.”
But for most of the other girls, they’ve had to learn the sport on the y. Since the teams were o cially formed earlier in the school year, they’ve only had one to two weeks to prepare for the rst game.
Practices are a mix of learning skills, such as throwing a ball and running routes, and learning concepts like o ensive plays, reads and defensive coverages.
Alyia Roberts, who’s been practicing as Northwood’s quarterback, said learning football vocabulary and techniques for how to throw and catch a ball have been challenging.
“It’s been a little nerve-wracking just trying to know where everyone is going,” Roberts said about playing quarterback. “It’s like being a point guard.”
Some players have prior football experience through family members that played.
Kelis Watson, who’s expected to play multiple positions for Northwood, said she learned “everything” she knows about the game through her late brother Monte Thomas, who
played football at Northwood. Roberts’ brother, AJ Wolfe, also played at Northwood, and he taught her how to throw the ball using the stiches. For others, this is their introduction to the sport. Juanita Perez at Jordan-Matthews went to her rst high school varsity football game this month when the Jets played North Stokes to get a better understanding of the game. She learned how yardage worked and experienced the ow of the game.
“I learned that visually,” Perez said. “When they explained it, it was kind of di cult to understand.”
Coaches are learning, too, especially the rules.
The league is playing by USA Football’s 7v7 high school rules. There’s plenty of unique rules in ag football that don’t apply to the 11-on-11 game, like the speci cs of rushing the passer, ag pulling and who can receive a pass.
“I don’t know all the rules,” Brower said. “So I have to go back and keep reading the rules to make sure what the rules are. Some of the rules, when I see it on the eld, then I know it. But I’m still learning. I’m still processing.” According to USA Football, games consist of two 15-minute halves with a running clock and a ve-minute halftime. The eld dimensions are 30 -by-70 yards with two 10 -yard end zones and 50 yards of play. There are two ve-yard no-run zones before each goal line.
Touchdowns are six points with a one-point PAT being attempted from the 5-yard line and a two-point try starting at the 10 -yard line. Safeties and defensive touchdowns on PATs will be two points. Ties are resolved by alternating one-play attempts from the 5-yard line until a winner is determined.
The North Carolina High School Athletic Association has been in discussions to sanction girls’ ag football, and in December, commissioner Que Tucker said she’s “sure” the sport will have an NCHSAA state championship in the future.
Beyond high school, opportunities to play ag football in college and on bigger stages are expanding. Conference Carolinas, an NCAA Division II conference, will sponsor women’s ag football this spring, and the sport will make its Olympic debut in the 2028 Los Angeles Games.
Right now, a lot of the girls in Chatham County are just playing ag football for fun and to take part in a new experience. Many are balancing ag football and their sanctioned sports, which are the priority, but if the opportunity presents itself, some aren’t opposed to playing on the next level.
“I could de nitely see myself doing it in college,” Seaforth player Lyla Jacobs said. “I also do basketball and track and stu , so if those two don’t work out, I’d de nitely try to go for ag football.”
By Asheebo Rojas Chatham News & Record
Volleyball
SEAFORTH WON back-toback games over conference foes
J.F. Webb (Sept. 9) and South Granville (Sept. 11) in straight sets. Freshman Naomi Stevenson and senior Josie Valgus combined for 25 kills against South Granville, which pushed the Hawks to extra play in the second set.
Woods Charter’s win streak grew to seven with a dominant 3-0 win over Southern Wake Academy on Sept. 11. The Wolves have won eight games this season in straight sets as of Sunday.
Northwood picked up its rst conference win over Jordan-Matthews in straight sets. Before that game, the Chargers fell to Eastern Randolph 3-2 (15-12 in thenal set), and the Jets opened conference play with a 3-0 loss to North Moore on Sept. 9.
Sophomore Addison Goldston landed a team-high 10 kills to help Chatham Central snap a two-game skid in a 3-0 win over South Davidson on Sept. 11.
Chatham Charter sophomore Summer Blanton and junior Aaliyah Walden combined for 25 kills to help the Knights edge Ascend Leadership 3-2 (15-13 in the nal set) on Sept. 11. Conference standings as of Sunday (overall, conference)
Four Rivers 3A/4A: 1. Uwharrie Charter (11-3, 2-0); T2. Northwood (2-9, 1-1); T2. North Moore (7-2, 1-1); T2. Southwestern Randolph (6-7, 1-1); T2. Eastern Randolph (3-6, 1-1); 6. Jordan-Matthews (4 -9, 0-2)
Central Tar Heel 1A: 1. Woods Charter (9-1, 6-0); 2. Clover Garden School (8-3, 5-1); 3. River Mill (6-6, 4 -3); 4. Chatham Charter (4 -8, 3-3); 5. Ascend
SEAFORTH from page B1
rst half. Sloppy drives. Defense played a little sloppy. Just get it together and do what we do.” Seaforth wasted no time righting the wrongs of the rst half. Less than two minutes into the third quarter, Parker connected with a wide - open Max Hinchman for a 20 -yard touchdown and a 14 -7 lead.
On Seaforth’s next o ensive possession, Parker once again
The last time Woods Charter’s boys’ soccer team won at least three of its rst four games
Leadership (4 -5, 3-4); 6. Southern Wake Academy (2-8, 1-5); 7. Central Carolina Academy (1-10, 0-6)
Greater Triad 1A/2A: 1. Bishop McGuinness (9-2, 4 -0); 2. South Stokes (8-5, 4 -1); 3. Chatham Central (4 -7, 3-1); 4. North Stokes (3-7, 3-2); 5. South Davidson (4 -10, 2-3); T6. Winston-Salem Prep (2-9, 0-4); T6. College Prep and Leadership (1-9, 0-5)
Big Seven 4A/5A: 1. Cedar Ridge (11-0, 5-0); T2. Seaforth (8-4, 4 -1); T2. Orange (6-5, 4 -1); 4. Carrboro (5-7, 2-3); 5. Durham School of the Arts (6-7, 2-4); 6. South Granville (3-9, 1-4); 7. J.F. Webb (6-7, 0-5)
Boys’ soccer
Jordan-Matthews’ stretched its win streak to four with back-to-back shut outs over Phoenix Academy (9-0 on Sept. 8) and Central Davidson (6-0 on Sept. 10). The Jets have allowed one goal since Aug. 27. Woods Charter’s hot start continued with a 7-1 win over River Mill on Sept. 8 and a 4 -0 victory over Chatham Charter on Sept. 11. The Wolves are o to their best start since 2014. After a 1-1 tie with Eastern Alamance on Sept. 8, Northwood defeated the Eagles in a rematch two days later 3-2. The Chargers followed that with a 3-0 win over Southern Lee on Sept. 11. They haven’t lost a game since Aug. 21.
found Hinchman for a 5 -yard score. The Chargers, who hurt themselves with multiple personal fouls and procedural penalties, had no answer for the Hawks’ passing attack in the second half. Seaforth completed big play after big play, including a 34 -yard catch and run to the end zone by senior Nick Gregory and an 83 -yard bomb to Hinchman that set up a 10-yard touchdown pass to Miller.
“Tonight, they left the mid-
Seaforth took a two-game slide during the week with losses to Southeast Alamance (9-0 on Sept. 8) and East Chapel Hill (2-0 on Sept. 10).
Conference standings as of Sunday (overall, conference)
Four Rivers 3A/4A: 1. Southwestern Randolph (8-1, 0-0); 2. North Moore (3-1-1, 0-0); 3. Northwood (4 -1-3, 0-0); 4. Jordan-Matthews (5-3, 0-0); 5. Uwharrie Charter (1-1, 0-0); 6. Eastern Randolph (2-2-2, 0-0) Central Tar Heel 1A: T1. Woods Charter (3-1, 2-0); T1. Clover Garden School (6-1, 2-0); 3. Southern Wake Academy (4 -2, 1-1); T4. Chatham Charter (0-3-1, 0-1); T4. Central Carolina Academy (1-5, 0-1); T6. River Mill (2-6, 0-1); T6. Ascend Leadership (3-3, 0-1)
Big Seven 4A/5A: 1. J.F. Webb (4 -2, 0-0); 2. Cedar Ridge (4-3, 0-0); 3. Orange (5-4, 0-0); 4. Seaforth (2-5-1, 0-0); 5. South Granville (2-5-1, 0-0); 6. Carrboro (1-6-1, 0-0); 7. Durham School of the Arts (0-7-1, 0-0) Girls’ tennis
Seaforth defeated South Granville 9-0 on Sept. 9 and Orange 8-1 on Sept. 10 to extend its win streak to three. Cary Academy ended it on Sept. 11 after beating the Hawks 7-2.
Northwood snapped a four-game losing streak with a 7-2 win over Jordan-Matthews on Sept. 8. The Chargers followed that with a 5-4 win over North Moore. Sophomore MJ Shoup won her individual match, and she joined sophomore Dilyn Evans in winning the Chargers’ only double over the Mustangs 8-0.
After two straight 8-1 wins over Southern Wake Academy (Sept. 8) and Clover Garden School (Sept. 10), Chatham
dle pretty open, so we attacked there” Parker said. “De nitely attacked the soft spots in their defense. We just kept connecting on the passes and got the job done.” Parker nished the night with more than 300 yards passing. Hinchman caught six passes for 145 yards. For Northwood, the loss felt like a setback after a spirited performance and win in Week 3. Not only did the Chargers miss out on a chance to
Charter took its second loss of the season to Leadership Academy 5-4 on Sept. 11. Conference standings as of Sunday (overall, conference)
Four Rivers 3A/4A: T1. Northwood (2-4, 2-0); T1. Uwharrie Charter (1-0, 1-0); T3. North Moore (2-5, 1-1); T3. Southwestern Randolph (6-3, 1-1); 5. Jordan-Matthews (2-9, 0-3)
Central Tar Heel 1A: 1. Chatham Charter (5-2, 3-0); T2. Clover Garden School (2-4, 0-2); T2. Southern Wake Academy (1-3, 0-1)
Greater Triad 1A/2A: 1. Bishop McGuinness (3-3, 3-0); 2. South Davidson (5-2, 2-1); 3. North Stokes (7-1, 1-1); 4. South Stokes (1-7, 1-2); 5. Chatham Central (0-6, 0-3)
Cross-country
Chatham Charter junior Tor-
climb back to .500, they will now have to work around the absence of senior running back and linebacker Robert Tripp, who left the game due to injury in the third quarter.
For Seaforth, the rst win of the season and the rst over its crosstown rival are no longer “almosts.” In the losses to three good teams to start the season, the Hawks were a few plays from di erent outcomes, but they couldn’t yet make the winning plays.
ris Price clocked in at 18 minutes, 33.16 seconds and cruised to a rst-place nish in the boys’ race of the Central Tar Heel Conference meet at the Lake Cammack XC course on Sept. 10. Adam Reese (Chatham Charter) nished fourth, while Aidan O’Neil (Woods Charter), Holton Mody (Woods Charter) and Andrew Bednar (Chatham Charter nished fth, sixth and seventh respectively. Chatham Charter nished second and Woods Charter nished third in the team results. In the girls’ race, Woods Charter junior So a Rodriguez edged out a victory with a time of 24:34.10. Emily Scheidt (Chatham Charter), Grace Murphy (Woods Charter), Sonia Messick (Woods Charter) and Leah Marshall (Woods Charter) also nished in the top 10. The Wolves nished rst in the girls’ team results.
Seaforth’s o ense, although still looking for better production in the run game, has continued to improve its passing attack week by week. Now the Hawks are a long way from last year’s 9 - 6 loss to Northwood in which scoring was a struggle.
“We have to continue to get better,” Matthews said. “We’re not satis ed with today’s win. We have to get better. We’re trying to take this 0 -3 to a 7-3. The only way to do that is continue to work.”
Joe Gibbs Racing completed a rst-round sweep in the Cup playo s
The Associated Press
BRISTOL, Tenn. — Joe Gibbs Racing completed a clean sweep of the rst round in the NASCAR Cup Series playo s as Christopher Bell charged to a victory Saturday at Bristol Motor Speedway.
Bell went from fourth to rst on the nal restart and led the last four laps at the 0.533 -mile oval, ending a 24 -race winless streak with his fourth victory of the season.
“It wasn’t pretty there at the end, but we got her done,” said Bell, who led only 12 laps in his 13th career victory. “We just know that any given week, it could be us, and it hasn’t been for a long time. But Bristol, baby, tonight it’s us.”
He joined JGR teammates Denny Hamlin and Chase Briscoe as playo winners with the rst round concluding at Bristol. Alex Bowman, Austin Dillon, Shane van Gisbergen and Josh Berry were eliminated from the 10 -race championship run.
“Just so excited about the start to the playo s,” team owner Joe Gibbs said.
Bell nished 0.343 seconds
ahead of Brad Keselowski, who was trying to end a 51-race winless streak.
“Just the story of our season,” Keselowski said. “Just a 50 -50 shot on the restart, and I got the lane that couldn’t launch. Just frustrating. We had a great car, great strategy, and on the last restart, we just rolled the dice and didn’t get anything good.”
Zane Smith nished third, followed by Ryan Blaney and Joey Logano. There were a season-high 14 caution ags for 137 laps as drivers and teams struggled to get a handle on a new rightside tire with excessive wear that required more pit stops.
The playo drama spiked with 40 laps remaining when a re erupted under Austin Cindric’s No. 2 Ford. His team was able to extinguish the ames, but Cindric lost several laps in the pits and reemerged outside the top 30.
His 30th-place nish still was good enough for the 12th and nal transfer spot into the second round.
“Moving on,” Cindric said staying in the championship hunt. “I believe in this team. I believe in myself. I have not been driving as well as I am now in the Cup Series.”
Bowman ran as high as second after rebounding from a spin on the 100th lap. He
would have bumped Cindric with a victory but nished eighth and came up 10 points short of advancing.
“I don’t think you can really point at something that cost us,” said Bowman, who bene ted from a pit crew overhaul after su ering through some disastrous stops in the past two races. “Our back was against the wall coming in here. We knew it was going to be a tough thing to do.”
Seeking his rst Cup victory, Ty Gibbs led a race -high 201 of
500 laps but bungled while trying to reach the pits for hisnal green- ag stop, losing major time in his No. 54 Toyota.
First out
With smoke billowing from the cockpit and ames shooting out from his right-front tire, Berry made an eye - catching exit as the rst driver eliminated. The Wood Brothers Racing driver quali ed 10th and ran as high as third before a re erupted on his No. 21 Ford.
“Man, just so disappointing,” Berry said. “That was going to be a lot of fun. We were moving forward. It’s been a tough couple of weeks, but it hasn’t been because of performance. We executed well and ran well, just haven’t had the nishes.”
Berry, whose playo debut began with a crash on the rst lap of the Southern 500, nished last in all three races of the rst round. “I don’t think you could ever script three last-place nishes in the ways that we’ve gotten them,” he said.
The former Wolfpack playmaker now sparks the Aggies
By Kristie Rieken Associated Press
COLLEGE STATION, Texas
— After KC Concepcion scored two touchdowns to help No. 16 Texas A&M to a win over Utah State last weekend, he condently strode to the podium, warmly greeted the assembled media and ashed a huge smile before answering questions for almost 10 minutes.
It’s a scene the receiver couldn’t have imagined as a kid when a severe stutter led to bullying in school.
Now 20, Concepcion still stutters and admitted that speaking publicly remains challenging for him.
“I’m really still kind of getting comfortable with it,” he told The Associated Press after practice this week.
He recalled how some kids treated him as a child and that the classes meant to help him only made him feel more self- conscious about his stuttering. He was picked on.
“It kind of used to be real-
FOOTBALL from page B1
The Patriots are coming o a 41-3 loss to Eastern Randolph. In its two wins over Morehead (0 - 4) and Southwestern Randolph (2-2), Providence Grove rushed for over or near 200 yards with contributions from multiple rushers. Seniors Andrew Thomas and Jackson Lawver have led the Patriots’ rushing attack.
With both teams relying on the run, this game will be decided in the trenches. Whichever team controls the line of scrimmage will control the game. Jordan-Matthews may even be able to diversify its attack with quick screens and short passes to its speedy receivers.
North Moore 48, Chatham Central 14
Chatham Central struggled to protect sophomore quarterback Brooks Albright in a 48-14 loss to North Moore. The Mustangs came away with numerous sacks in the rst half, including a sack, fumble and recovery on the Bears’ rst play from scrimmage.
The negative plays continuously backed Chatham Central deep into its own territory,
after
ly, really bad when I was a kid,” he said. “But, you know, just just taking my little speech classes here and there, I really didn’t like going to them because I kind of felt like I was a little weird. ... Just being taught how to try to like speak uently and and not stutter or anything.”
16
Yards per carry for Jordan-Matthews’ Blue and Hadley against Wheatmore
setting up favorable eld position for the Mustangs’ o ense. North Moore took a 28 - 0 lead in the rst quarter and never looked back. Albright nished the night 13 of 28 with 184 yards and two touchdowns, both to sophomore Gavin Williams.
Week 5: North Stokes at Chatham Central (Friday at 7 p.m.)
Chatham Central (1-3) has a good chance of getting back on track against an 0 - 4 North Stokes team in Friday’s conference opener. For the Bears, this game will be a shot at revenge for a 20 -8 loss to North Stokes in last season’s opener. The Vikings are coming o a 55 -7 loss to Patrick County (Virginia) in which they only mustered 95 yards of o ense.
Senior receiver Aiden Bennett and junior receiver Jack-
Those times were di cult, but he was helped by his father, Kevin Concepcion. Stuttering is often hereditary, and that is the case with Concepcion, whose father also stutters.
“As a little kid, it’s kind of tough having, having kids pick on you for your talking,” he said.
son Bodenhamer are focal points for the Vikings’ o ense. They’ll look to complete short to medium passes to those targets to move the ball. The key for Chatham Central, other than slowing down Bennett and Bodenhamer, will be to give Albright time to make throws. The Bears have been as good as their offensive line this season, and if they can improve on last week’s performance, Chatham Central shouldn’t have problems putting points on the board.
Week 5: Seaforth at North Moore (Friday at 7 p.m.)
Seaforth (1-3) will look to win two games in a row for the second time in school history when it travels to former Mid- Carolina 1A/2A conference foe North Moore (2 -2) on Friday.
North Moore is 3 - 0 all-time against Seaforth.
The Hawks are coming o an impressive second-half offensive performance against Northwood in which junior quarterback Duncan Parker hit numerous receivers for big gains. Seaforth is averaging 29 points per game while North
“Just just seeing him deal with it also it helped me out, you feel me. And it made me feel like I wasn’t the only one.”
Concepcion abandoned his speech classes in middle school and decided the only way to improve his speech was to practice. That meant not shying away from talking in any situation. The receiver from Charlotte likened it to getting reps on the football eld.
“It’s literally just exactly like football,” he said. “Sometimes you know it it comes from the heart, but sometimes I can just sit down and and go over it and just make sure that I know what I’m saying in the back of my mind sometimes and that can also help me to where I’m not trying to nd the words and it’s just coming out weird.”
Concepcion is in his rst season at Texas A&M after a transfer from NC State. Despite being one of the newer faces on the team, he’s already made his mark with the Aggies. He had a touchdown reception and returned a punt 80 yards for a score in Texas A&M’s opener before his two -touchdown performance in Week 2.
He’s the rst Texas A&M receiver to score two or more
Moore has allowed 30 points per outing. However, the Mustangs’ defensive line, led by senior DJ Morehead and junior Cruz Moore, proved to be very disruptive against Chatham Central.
As Seaforth has struggled to run the ball this season, keeping a clean pocket for Parker will be crucial against the Mustangs. Defensively, the Hawks will have to keep their eyes disciplined for North Moore’s misdirection and the moving parts of its run-heavy o ense.
Week 5: Northwood at North Surry (Friday at 7:30 p.m.)
Northwood (1-3) will make a long trip to North Surry (3-1) Friday in pursuit of it second win of the season.
North Surry is on a three-game winning streak, including a 37-14 win over North Wilkes in Week 4. The Greyhounds rushed for 224 yards and four touchdowns in the win. Senior running back Zamarri Sweatman has been the focus of North Surry’s o ense as he’s rushed for 414 yards and ve scores this season. The Grey-
touchdowns in consecutive games since Ainias Smith did it in 2021.
“He’s got a tremendous work ethic,” coach Mike Elko said. “I really enjoy the way he competes day in and day out, that really showed itself in the o -season as well. So there’s a maturity about him that I really like. He wants to be great and that shows every day, which is a really cool characteristic in a kid. And I think he’s a kid that rises to moments.”
Concepcion said realizing that everyone is dealing with something made him be less hard on himself when it comes to his stutter.
“Everybody has their own aws, and it’s just about how you embrace those aws and that makes you you,” he said.
And he had a message for kids who are having a tough time or feeling down because they stutter.
“I’ve been stuttering since I’ve been a little kid,” he said. “It’s de nitely been a long journey from growing up with the horrible stuttering problem to kind of not growing out of it but, you know, getting better at it. So I would just say: You guys aren’t alone. I stand with you.”
hounds have been solid defensively as well, allowing 15.5 points per game.
Northwood has struggled to stop run-heavy teams this season, and they’ll be without a key linebacker in Robert Tripp. Tripp’s absence will also change the Chargers’ rushing attack, which has been their best option this year. Senior Leo Mortimer will likely carry a larger load on both sides of the ball to replace his production.
Power Rankings (after Week 4)
1. Jordan-Matthews 2. Seaforth 3. Northwood 4. Chatham Central Last week’s rankings: 1. Jordan-Matthews; 2. Northwood; 3. Chatham Central; 4. Seaforth
Week 4 score predictions
Jordan-Matthews 22, Providence Grove 20 Seaforth 36, North Moore 24 North Surry 35, Northwood 21 Chatham Central 32, North Stokes 20 Prediction record (since Week 2): 9 -1
Virginia Tech res coach Pry after program’s 1st 0-3 start since 1987
Blacksburg, Va.
Virginia Tech has red football coach Brent Pry after the program stumbled to its rst 0 -3 start since 1987. The school announced the move Sunday. That came a day after the Hokies fell behind 31- 0 on the way to a 45-26 loss to Old Dominion. In a statement, Pry said “Blacksburg will always hold a special place in our hearts.” O ensive coordinator Philip Montgomery will serve as interim coach.
BOXING
Crawford makes history with victory over Alvarez Las Vegas Terence Crawford made history by becoming the rst male boxer to capture three uni ed division titles. He defeated Canelo Alvarez by unanimous decision to win the super middleweight championship. Two judges scored the match 115-113 and the third 116 -112 in Crawford’s favor. The ght took place at Allegiant Stadium before a record crowd of 70,482. It was Alvarez’s rst defeat since May 2022. The event, broadcast on Net ix, attracted signi cant attention and marked a shift from traditional pay-per-view models. The co -main event saw Callum Walsh defeat Fernando Vargas Jr.
MLB Kurtz hits 493-foot grand slam, longest MLB homer of season Sacramento, Calif.
Nick Kurtz launched a 493-foot grand slam — the longest home run in the majors this season — and the Athletics hammered Hunter Greene early in an 11-5 victory over the Cincinnati Reds. Kurtz, the No. 4 overall pick in last year’s MLB Draft out of Wake Forest, has 31 home runs in his rookie season. Kurtz’s 493-foot drive was the longest by an A’s player since Statcast tracking began in 2015. It surpassed Mike Trout’s 484-foot homer April 19 with the Angels for the longest in the majors this year.
FanDuel agrees to pay Jaguars roughly $5M to o set losses from ex-employee’s theft Jacksonville, Fla.
FanDuel has agreed to pay the Jacksonville Jaguars roughly $5 million to help o set the nearly $20 million that a former employee stole from the NFL franchise and deposited at the sportsbook. ESPN rst reported the deal, which was nalized earlier this year. It came a year after nancial manager Amit Patel pleaded guilty to stealing $22 million through a virtual credit card system the team used for expenses. Patel is serving a 61⁄2-year sentence in federal prison. He sued FanDuel last year.
UCLA head coach DeShaun Foster watches as his team plays UNLV.
after national signing day and relatively late in the recruiting process.
By Beth Harris Associated Press
LOS ANGELES — UCLA red second-year football coach DeShaun Foster after the school’s rst 0-3 start since 2019.
Athletic director Martin Jarmond announced the move two days after the Bruins lost to New Mexico 35-10, their second straight loss to a Mountain West Conference opponent.
“It’s not a decision I made lightly, but it was important to take decisive action,” Jarmond said on a Zoom call with media. “This serves as a message to our fans that the results we’ve seen so far are simply not acceptable.”
Tim Skipper will serve as interim coach for the rest of the season. Skipper had been special assistant to Foster, and he served as Fresno State’s interim coach last year.
Foster, a Charlotte native and Carolina Panthers running back from 2002-07, was 5-10 since taking over the program from Chip Kelly in February 2024,
“I regret putting DeShaun in that position as we were going into the Big Ten,” Jarmond said. “Getting a start so late really disadvantaged the start of his coaching career.”
Last year, the Bruins nished 5-7 after a 1-5 start in the school’s rst season in the Big Ten. Foster had been the program’s running backs coach from 2017-23 and added the title of associate head coach in 2023 before being promoted to the top job by Jarmond. Foster spent one season on the sta at Texas Tech.
The Bruins were beaten by Utah in their opener and by UNLV a week ago. They trailed at halftime in all three losses, two of them coming at the Rose Bowl, where attendance was sparse and tarps are used to cover wide swaths of seating.
Foster was asked Friday if he was still the person for the job, and he replied: “Most de nitely. Because I can get these boys to play.”
However, even the arrival of highly touted quarterback Nico Iamaleava via the transfer portal couldn’t save Foster.
“I regret putting DeShaun in that position as we were going into the Big Ten.”
Martin Jarmond, UCLA athletic director
The sophomore left Tennessee after leading the Volunteers to the College Football Playo last season and didn’t participate in spring camp. Iamaleava defended Foster after Friday’s loss, saying: “We’re not executing as players. It all falls back on the players.”
Iamaleava is among 55 new players in Westwood this season, along with eight new assistants. Over half the defensive line is made up of transfers. Foster hired Tino Sunseri from Indiana as o ensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, but the Bruins’ o ense ranks 127th nationally (14.3 points per game) and got outscored 30-0 in the rst quarter of each game this season. The Bruins repeatedly shot themselves in the foot with penalties in the losses, too.
“Serving as the head coach at UCLA, my beloved alma mater, has been the honor of a lifetime,” Foster said in a statement. “While I am deeply disappointed that we were unable to achieve the success that our players, fans, and university deserve, I am grateful for the opportunity to have led this program.”
The school said the terms of Foster’s contract will be honored by UCLA Athletics, exclusively using department-generated funds.
Kelly’s teams had 0-3 starts in 2018 and 2019, but the losses included Oklahoma and Cincinnati, schools with better football reputations than UNLV and New Mexico.
Foster’s ring opens an immediate 30-day window in which players can enter the transfer portal. Jarmond said he met with the entire team and has not heard from anyone who is considering leaving.
“The team is very focused on really turning this around,” he said. “This is a clean slate. We’re 0 - 0 in the Big Ten, and this is about getting better. They’re ultimately going to write this season.”
Hatton, former world champion, dies at
The popular British ghter was planning a comeback
By James Robson
The Associated Press MANCHESTER, England
— Ricky Hatton, the former boxing world champion who rose to become one of the most popular ghters in the sport, died at 46.
Hatton was found dead at his home in Greater Manchester. Police said they were not treating the death as suspicious.
Friends of Hatton were quick to pay tribute Sunday morning.
“Today we lost not only one of Britain’s greatest boxers, but a friend, a mentor, a warrior, Ricky Hatton,” former world champion Amir Khan posted on X.
“Rip to the legend Ricky Hatton may he rip,” former heavyweight champion Tyson Fury said in an Instagram post, with photos of the pair together. “There will only ever be 1 Ricky Hatton. can’t believe this so young.” News of Hatton’s death comes two months after the surprise announcement he would make a return to boxing in December in a professional bout against Eisa Al Dah in Dubai.
He hadn’t fought since losing for the third time in his career, against Vyacheslav Senchenko in 2012.
Hatton won world titles at light-welterweight and welterweight, and at the height of his career he shared the ring with the best boxers of his generation, including Kostya Tszyu, Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao.
“He was not only a great ghter inside the ring but also a brave and kind man in life,” Pacquiao posted on X. “Ricky fought bravely, not just in the ring, but in his journey through life. He truly had a good ght, and we are all blessed to have been part of his wonderful journey.”
Hatton rose through amateur and domestic levels, building up an army of passionate fans who followed him to America for his biggest ghts.
His down-to-earth charm, as well as his tendency to dramatically gain and lose weight between ghts, endeared him to fans across the world.
Hatton was open about the mental health issues he endured upon his retirement from the ring.
“As ghters, we tell ourselves we’re strong — we train, we sweat, we take hits, we get up. But sometimes the hardest ght
happens in silence, in the mind,” Khan added on X. “Mental health isn’t weakness. It’s part of being human. And we must talk about it. We must reach out. We must lean on each other.”
Top of the sport
Hatton’s all-action style added to his popularity. He built up a passionate following in the UK before truly announcing himself on the world stage with his epic victory against Tszyu for the IBF world super lightweight (light welterweight) title in 2005.
Pound-for-pound great Tszyu had only lost twice before, but was forced to retire on his stool in front of 22,000 fans in Manchester.
Hatton later described it as his greatest win, but it was just the start of a period when he fought at the top of the sport, with thousands of fans following him to America for huge ghts. In a post on X, his former
manager, Frank Warren, described him as a “superbly talented ghter who inspired a generation of young boxers and fans in a way very few had done before,” adding he will “rightly go down as one of the modern greats of this sport.”
Hatton lost for the rst time in his career against Mayweather at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas in 2007.
After a sold- out homecoming at Manchester City’s stadium a year later, he worked his way back to the top of the sport to take on Manny Pacquiao in 2009, losing inside two rounds. Hatton retired after that defeat but made a remarkable comeback four years later after piling on weight and enduring issues with depression and drinking, as well as allegations of drug use.
While he lost to Senchenko, the very fact he managed to return to the ring was seen as a personal triumph.
“Even though we’re old and gray / This feels like starting over.”
By Jim Pollock The Associated Press
THE OSTENSIBLY ctitious hard-rock band Spinal Tap has been together, o and on, slightly longer than Katy Perry has been alive, and as of Friday, has released four studio albums and two feature lms. Their latest album, “The End Continues,” continues to do what they’ve always done best: delightfully walk the ne line between clever and stupid. Its release coincides with the sequel lm, “Spinal Tap ll: The End Continues.”
When the mockumentary
“This is Spinal Tap” and the accompanying debut album were released in 1984, the idea of a band rocking into middle age still felt mildly ridiculous. Lead vocalist David St. Hubbins (Michael McKean), lead guitarist Nigel Tufnel (Christopher Guest) and bassist Derek Smalls (Harry Shearer) captured the majestic silliness of perpetual rock ’n’ roll adolescence.
The act has endured through the decades because the core trio remains ercely committed to the bit. McKean, Guest and Shearer’s lyrics are still ridicu-
Spinal Tap
lous, but plausibly so, and their musical craft and songwriting skills are legitimate. As Spinal Tap, their earnest belief in the everything-ness of rock ’n’ roll is at times riotously funny but ultimately endearing.
With members now in their 70s and 80s, the band no longer goes quite all the way to 11, but the album rewards fans with crisp comedic writing, interesting collaborations with rock royalty, and surprisingly direct confrontation with mortality and the ravages of time.
The 13-track release revisits four favorites from the original album with a little help from their rock-legend friends. Elton John o ers vocals on a straightforward remake of “Stonehenge.” As a pioneer of outrageous rock pageantry, John is the right vehicle to take the song right over the top.
Paul McCartney ttingly takes the lead on the Beatles-inspired remake of “Cups and Cakes.” His chuckle early in the song is a little gift to fans, harking back to a similar laugh
on the Beatles’ “Maxwell’s Silver Hammer.”
Husband-wife duo Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood o er the album’s biggest surprise with a raucous country reimagining of their 1984 track “Big Bottom.” Yearwood gamely serves as the butt of half a dozen cheekily o ensive couplets. When Brooks calls out, “Talkin’ ’bout mud aps,” Yearwood gleefully responds, “Yeah, I got ’em.”
Age and mortality gure prominently in the nine new songs with titles such as “Rockin’ in the Urn.” The Survivor-inspired synth-rock “Let’s Just Rock Again” opens with the line, “Even though we’re old and gray / This feels like starting over.”
On “The Devil’s Just Not Getting Old,” the band ri s on aging with the relentless energy they once devoted to goofy sexual innuendo. They muse on Satan’s immortality in a few lyrical lines: “He’s not starting to lose his teeth / He’s not starting to eat less beef,” goes one. “He’s not complaining of shooting pains / He’s not having varicose veins,” is another.
Though “The End Continues” lacks some of the raunchy charms of their original release, it will bring joy to many who have laughed and grown older together with the band.
“The End Continues” by Spinal Tap coincides with the release of Christopher Guest’s mockumentary “Spinal Tap II: The End Continues.”
Jim Hendrix dies at 27, Ole Miss blocks James Meredith, Tolkien’s “The Hobbit” published
The Associated Press
SEPT. 18
1850: Congress passed the Fugitive Slave Act, which created a force of federal commissioners charged with returning escaped slaves to their owners.
1970: Rock star Jimi Hendrix died in London at age 27.
2020: Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a towering champion of women’s rights who became the court’s second female justice, died at age 87.
SEPT. 19
1796: President George Washington’s farewell address was published. In it, America’s rst chief executive advised, “Observe good faith and justice toward all nations. Cultivate peace and harmony with all.”
1881: The 20th president of the United States, James A. Gar eld, died 2½ months after being shot by Charles Guiteau. 1957: The United States
conducted its rst contained underground nuclear test, code-named “Rainier,” in the Nevada desert.
SEPT. 20
1519: Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan and his crew left Spain on ve ships to nd a western route to the Spice Islands. Magellan was killed en route, but one ship completed the rst circumnavigation of the globe.
1962: James Meredith, a black student, was blocked from enrolling at the University of Mississippi by Democratic Gov. Ross R. Barnett.
1973: In their so-called “Battle of the Sexes,” tennis star Billie Jean King defeated Bobby Riggs in straight sets, 6-4, 6-3, 6-3.
SEPT. 21
1922: President Warren Harding signed the Lodge -Fish Resolution, a Congressional resolution endorsing the creation of a Jewish state.
1937: “The Hobbit,” by J.R.R. Tolkien, was rst published by George Allen & Unwin Ltd. of London.
1981: The Senate unanimously con rmed Sandra Day O’Connor as the rst female justice on the Supreme Court.
Richard Nixon, Republican candidate for the vice presidency, explains a $18,000 expense fund on national television on Sept. 23, 1952. The appearance was nicknamed his “Checkers” speech because of his reference to the family dog.
1989: Hurricane Hugo crashed into South Carolina; the storm was blamed for 56 deaths in the Caribbean and 29 in the United States.
SEPT. 22
1776: During the Revolutionary War, Capt. Nathan Hale, 21, was hanged as a spy by the British in New York. 1862: President Abraham
Lincoln issued the preliminary Emancipation Proclamation, stating enslaved people in Confederate states would be freed as of Jan. 1, 1863, if the states did not rejoin the Union.
1975: Sara Jane Moore red two shots in a failed attempt to assassinate President Gerald R. Ford outside a San Francisco hotel.
SEPT. 23
1806: The Lewis and Clark expedition returned to St. Louis more than two years after setting out for the Paci c Northwest.
1952: Sen. Richard M. Nixon (R-Calif.) salvaged his vice presidential nomination with a televised “Checkers” speech, denying fundraising allegations and referencing his family’s cocker spaniel.
1955: A jury in Sumner, Mississippi, acquitted two white men, Roy Bryant and J.W. Milam, of killing black teenager Emmett Till.
SEPT. 24
1869: Thousands were ruined in a Wall Street panic known as “Black Friday” after Jay Gould and James Fisk tried to corner the gold market.
The lm will be in theaters this weekend ahead of the actor’s 100th birthday this December
By Lindsey Bahr The Associated Press
MOVIE THEATERS across the country are pulling out the stops for Dick Van Dyke’s 100th birthday in December. A new documentary about the song and dance man’s life, “Dick Van Dyke: 100th Celebration,” will be in theaters over his birthday weekend on Dec. 13-14.
“It’s wonderful; a total surprise for me,” Van Dyke said in a statement the lmmakers provided to The Associated Press. “If you don’t think luck has a lot to do with it, then you’re mistaken.”
The feature length lm has been in the works for over three decades. In telling the story of Van Dyke’s 80-plus years in entertainment, the lm weaves together clips from classic lms, like “Mary Poppins,” “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” and “Bye Bye Birdie,” and television shows, including “The Dick Van Dyke Show” and “Diagnosis: Murder,” as well as new interviews with Van Dyke in which he shares never-before-heard stories from his time in Hollywood.
The portrait is bookended with a trip to his hometown of
“It’s wonderful; a total surprise for me. If you don’t think luck has a lot to do with it, then you’re mistaken.”
Dick Van Dyke
Danville, Illinois, where he visits his childhood home, the radio station where he started his career as a DJ at age 16 and his old high school where he took the stage once more to join in with the students performing songs from some of his most beloved lms.
“He couldn’t help himself,” lmmaker Steve Boettcher said. “He got out of the seat and went up on stage and sang and danced with them. It’s really a sweet coming home. Danville built him in so many ways.”
Over the past 30 years, Boettcher also spoke many of his closest Hollywood friends and collaborators, including Mary Tyler Moore, Carl Reiner, Rose Marie, Morey Amsterdam, Etty White, Tim Conway and Chita Rivera, all of whom have since died.
“We just wanted people who were there at the scene, on set with him and working with him,” Boettcher said. The lmmakers didn’t plan
Dick Van Dyke attends the 43rd annual
in 2021. A new documentary about the actor’s life and
birthday.
on waiting for Van Dyke’s 100th birthday to release the lm, but when the landmark moment started coming into focus it seemed tting for a rollout.
“Dick Van Dyke: 100th Celebration” will have its premiere
in early December at Danville’s Fischer Theatre, where Van Dyke fell in love with the movies and the idea of being an entertainer watching Laurel and Hardy on the big screen on Saturdays.
“We’re really excited about the lm,” Boettcher said. “It’s very much in the style of Dick Van Dyke. It’s got laughter and music and touching moments. It’s pure entertainment, much like Mr. Van Dyke.”
Rosemary Harris turns 98, Sophia Loren is 91, Bill Murray hits 75, Stephen King turns 78
The Associated Press THE CELEBRITIES have birthdays this week.
SEPT. 18
Hockey Hall of Fame coach Scotty Bowman is 92. Singer Frankie Avalon is 85. Actor Anna Deavere Smith is 75. Neurosurgeon-author-politician Ben Carson is 74. Basketball Hall of Fame coach Rick Pitino is 73. Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) is 71. Comedian-actor Jason Sudeikis is 50.
SEPT. 19
Actor Rosemary Harris is 98. Singer-songwriter Paul Williams is 85. Singer Bill Medley (The Righteous Brothers) is 85. Actor Jeremy Irons is 77. TV personality Joan Lunden is 75. Musician-producer Nile Rodgers is 73. Musician Jarvis Cocker (Pulp) is 63. Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) is 60.
SEPT. 20
Actor Sophia Loren is 91. Author George R. R. Martin is 77. Actor Gary Cole is 69. TV news correspondent Deborah Roberts is 65. Actor Maggie Cheung is 61. Actor Kristen Johnston is 58. Rock singers Gunnar and Matthew Nelson are 58.
SEPT. 21
Producer Jerry Bruckheimer is 82. Musician Don Felder is 78. Author Stephen King is 78. Basketball Hall of Famer Artis Gilmore is 76. Actor-comedian Bill Murray is 75. Filmmaker Ethan Coen is 68. Musician Liam Gallagher (Oasis) is 53.
SEPT. 22
Singer-choreographer-actor Toni Basil is 82. Musician King Sunny Adé is 79. Football Hall of Famer Harold Carmichael is 76. Rock singer David Coverdale (Deep Purple, Whitesnake) is 74. Singer Nick Cave is 68.
SEPT. 23
Singer Julio Iglesias is 82. Ac-
tor/singer Mary Kay Place is 78. Rock star Bruce Springsteen is 76. Director/playwright George C. Wolfe is 71. Actor Rosalind Chao is 68. Actor Jason Alexander is 66. Singer Ani DiFranco is 55.
SEPT. 24
Football Hall of Famer Joe Greene is 79. Actor Gordon Clapp is 77. Actor Harriet Walter is 75. Filmmaker Brad Bird is 68. Actor Kevin Sorbo is 67. Actor-screenwriter Nia Vardalos is 63. Celebrity chef Robert Irvine is 60.
“Lilith Fair: Building a Mystery” captures the essence of female musicians in the late ’90s
The Associated Press
CARDI B releasing her long-awaited sophomore LP, “Am I the Drama?” and Lily James playing the founder of the popular dating app Bumble in the new biographical drama “Swiped” are some of the new television, lms, music and games headed to a device near you. Also among the streaming offerings worth your time: Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon’s “The Morning Show” debuting its fourth season on Apple TV+., Ariana Madix heading back to Fiji to host “Love Island Games” on Peacock and a Hulu documentary seeks to tell the story of the music festival Lilith Fair in new detail.
MOVIES TO STREAM
James plays the founder of the popular dating app Bumble, Whitney Wolfe Herd, in the new biographical drama “Swiped” which streams on Hulu on Friday. The lm, directed by Rachel Lee Goldenberg, traces Wolfe Herd’s trajectory from college and beyond. In 2012, she co-founded Tinder and two years later started Bumble, which would put her on a path to becoming the youngest female self-made billionaire. “Swiped,” which premiered at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival, also stars Dan Stevens and “Industry’s” Myha’la. And for something completely di erent, and silly, Net ix has the Liam Neeson action pic “Ice Road: Vengeance” available now. Neeson plays an ice-road truck driver who wants to scatter his brother’s ashes on Mount Everest but nds himself having to ght mercenaries. It got terrible reviews when it was released in theaters this summer, but that’s probably beside the point.
NEW MUSIC TO STREAM
She’s back and bigger than
ever. On Friday, Cardi B will release her long-awaited sophomore LP, “Am I the Drama?” — seven years after the release of her landmark debut, 2018’s “Invasion of Privacy.” What has been released so far sounds like freedom: the sexy empowerment anthems “Up” and “WAP” with Megan Thee Stallion from years past, and the bravado of “Outside” and smooth ow of “Imaginary Playerz.”
Fans of jangly guitar tones and power pop, listen up. Philadelphia’s Golden Apples, led by singer-songwriter Russell Edling, will release an addictive new album on Friday titled “Shooting Star.” Start with “Noonday Demon,” the cheeriest-sounding song about depression you’ll hear this year. It’s a charmer.
It was radical then and now. In the summers of 1997 through 1999, a music festival founded by Sarah McLachlan shined a light on women musicians — both bands and solo artists. Streaming on Sunday, a new documentary seeks to tell the story of Lilith Fair in new detail. “Lilith Fair: Building a Mystery” premieres on Hulu and Hulu on Disney+ and features a long list of incredible talent, from those who performed to those whose music takes obvious in uence from the events. That includes McLachlan, Bonnie Raitt, Sheryl Crow, Erykah Badu, Natalie Merchant, Mýa, Jewel, Indigo Girls, Emmylou Harris, Brandi Carlile and Olivia Rodrigo.
SERIES TO STREAM
“Dancing with the Stars” returns for its millionth, er, 34th season on ABC and Disney+.
Contestants learning the paso doble and foxtrot include Olympian Jordan Chiles, Hilaria Baldwin, actor Corey Feldman, comedian Andy Richter, former NBA star Baron Davis and Robert Irwin, the son of late wildlife conservationist Steve Irwin and. Whitney Leavitt and Jen A eck from “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” will also compete. Jan Ravnik, one of the dancers from Taylor Swift’s “The Eras Tour,” also joins the show as a pro. All episodes are streaming
Jeremy Irons attends the Apple TV+ premiere of “The Morning Show” Season 4 at the Museum of Modern Art on Sept. 9 in New York. The hit show’s new season is now streaming on Apple TV+.
on Hulu and Disney+.
Just as the dust has settled on season 7 of “Love Island USA,” host Ariana Madix is headed back to Fiji to host “Love Island Games” on Peacock. The show brings back fan-favorite Islanders from “Love Island” iterations across the globe to partake in competitions and get a second chance at love. Fans will recognize Chris Seeley, Andreina Santos and Charlie Georgiou from season 7 and Kendall Washington and Andrea Carmona from season 6 as part of the new cast. Aniston and Witherspoon’s “The Morning Show” debuted its fourth season on Apple TV+.
The two play TV news anchors at a ctional news network called UBN. Each season features topical themes, and this one is no di erent, addressing AI, deepfakes and conspiracy theories in the media. Additional series regulars include Billy Crudup, Mark Duplass, Karen Pittman and Nicole Beharie, along with adding new characters played by Marion Cotillard, Jeremy Irons, Aaron Pierre and William Jackson Harper to the mix. Hulu’s legal soap “Reasonable Doubt” returns Thursday for its third season. Emayatzy Corinealdi stars as Jax Stewart, a successful criminal defense lawyer
“Love Island USA”
in LA who in the new episodes, is defending a former child actor accused of murder. Jax’s standing at her ashy law rm is also in jeopardy when a new hire is determined to take her position.
Starz’s steamy “The Couple Next Door” is back on Friday with a new season and a new cast that includes Sam Palladio (“Nashville”), Annabel Scholey (“The Split”), and Sendhil Ramamurthy (“Never Have I Ever”). Scholey and Palladio play Charlotte and Jacob, a seemingly solid couple living in a well-to-do neighborhood whose marriage gets threatened by a new colleague in their workplace. The tangled web only grows from there.
Over the years, Lego video games have featured the likes of Batman, Indiana Jones and Luke Skywalker. Annapurna Interactive’s Lego Voyagers may have the most versatile hero of all: a simple Lego brick. It’s a cooperative game in which each player is a 1x1 piece — one red, one blue — that can attach itself to other chunks and build bridges, vehicles and other devices. Red and Blue need to work together to solve puzzles as they try to rescue an abandoned spaceship. It’s the sort of game that parents with young kids may appreciate, and things start clicking now on PlayStation 5, Xbox X/S, Switch and PC.