North State Journal Vol. 10, Issue 25

Three cheers for football

The TopCats, the Carolina Panthers’ cheerleading squad, take the eld before last Friday’s preseason game against the Cleveland Browns at Bank of America Stadium. The NFL season is set to kick o Sept. 4, but college teams will begin play in just over a week.

Nilsson ends Senate bid after Whatley joins race

Raleigh

Republican Andy Nilsson ended his bid for the North Carolina U.S. Senate seat to be vacated by Sen. Thom Tillis in 2026 after Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley entered the race with President Donald Trump’s support. Nilsson, a former furniture company owner who once ran unsuccessfully for lieutenant governor, said in a news release that he had decided to suspend his campaign. Nilsson said Trump’s endorsement of Whatley “played a central role in my decision. I respect the President’s desire to go in a di erent direction, even if I have questions about his choice.” Republican Don Brown, a writer and former Navy o cer, remains a candidate for the GOP nomination. O cial candidate ling occurs in December.

U.S. national debt reaches record $37T Washington, D.C.

The U.S. government’s gross national debt has surpassed $37 trillion, a record number that highlights the accelerating debt on America’s balance sheet and increased cost pressures on taxpayers. The $37 trillion update is found in the latest Treasury Department report, which logs the nation’s daily nances, issued Tuesday. The national debt eclipsed $37 trillion years sooner than pre-pandemic projections. The Congressional Budget O ce’s January 2020 projections had gross federal debt eclipsing $37 trillion after scal year 2030, but the debt grew faster than expected because of the multiyear COVID-19 pandemic.

Boliek releases pair of DMV audits

The reports cover long wait times, sta ng shortages, employee burnout and recommended xes

By A.P. Dillon North State Journal

RALEIGH — The North Carolina O ce of the State Auditor released two audits of the state’s Division of Motor Vehicles last week. One report is a 435-page performance audit, and the other is a 159-page information systems audit.

“I pledged to audit the DMV to get to the root cause of its failure, and the reports dealing with licensing procedures and information systems are now complete,” N.C. State Auditor Dave Boliek said in a press statement. “Our audit team has worked hard to nd opportunities where the DMV can course correct and e ectively serve North Carolina citizens.”

The North Carolina O ce of the State Auditor’s (OSA) performance audit shows customer and DMV employee

Duke facing government investigations

The government is probing racial discrimination claims against the university

By A.P. Dillon North State Journal

RALEIGH — Duke University, Duke Law Journal and Duke University School of Medicine are facing investigations from two federal agencies over alleged racial discrimination violations of Title IV of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Section 1557 of the A ordable Care Act.

The U.S. Department of Education’s (USDOE) announcement and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ announcement were made July 28. A day later, $108 million in research funding to Duke was frozen by the National Institute of Health.

According to both press releases, Education Secretary Linda McMahon and Health and Human Services Secre-

NSJ publisher to join Trump’s ag department

Neal Robbins was named deputy undersecretary for rural development

By A.P. Dillon North State Journal

RALEIGH — North State Journal publisher Neal Robbins has been appointed deputy under secretary for Rural Development at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, a role that will place him in senior leadership over tens of billions of dollars in housing, utility and community development programs serving rural America. His appointment was part of a broader leadership announcement by U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins at last weekend’s Iowa State Fair,

which included President Donald Trump’s nominations for several top USDA positions.

tary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. sent a joint letter to Duke University leadership about their concerns over the school’s use of racial preferences in “hiring, admissions, and scholarship decisions.”

The USDOE investigation into the university and its law journal was prompted by a recent Washington Free Beacon article that reported the Duke Law Journal provided a special packet exclusively to “a nity groups,” instructing minority students to emphasize their race and gender in personal statements for the journal’s competitive editor selection process for which they could be awarded “extra points.”

The USDOE alleges Duke discriminates based on race, color and/or national origin by using these factors to select law journal members.

“If Duke illegally gives preferential treatment to law journal or medical school applicants based on those students’

Neal Robbins

NSJ PHOTO

Neal Robbins

BRIAN WESTERHOLT / AP PHOTO

the word | The wider life

We should never be content with a narrow life. We are made for breadth and fullness, and we rob God when we fail to reach our best. Some people assert that Christianity’s ideal for life is narrow, that it cramps and limits us, making no room for physical or intellectual development, or for art, music, science, and the many phases of human activity. They say it presents only the moral side — conscience, obedience to heavenly laws, spiritual attainments, and achievements.

The answer is that while Christianity may not name the things of the intellect, or call men directly to noble achievements in art, exploration, invention, research, or the culture of the beautiful — it includes everything that will add to the fullness and completeness of life and character. It excludes only what is sinful: disobedience to law, impurity, sel shness, and uncharity. These do not broaden and enrich life — they narrow and debase it.

Our Christian faith places no limitation on life except what would mar, blot, or debase character. The call of Christianity is always for whole men — men reaching up to their best and out to their broadest in every way. Jesus Christ, our pattern, would have us become full-grown men. As leaders, teachers, and followers of Christ, our in uence should be toward the enriching and broadening of lives.

A recent book was dedicated to a distinguished scholar and teacher, called an enlarger of human lives. There is no better friendship than to make another’s life fuller, truer, more loving, and more helpful. Yet many people’s lives are small. Michael Angelo, visiting Raphael’s studio, saw a human gure outlined on canvas — beautiful, but too small. Taking a brush, he wrote beneath it the word “Larger.” That word could be written under many lives. They may be good and beautiful, but they are too small.

Some people live in only one room, so to speak, though meant to dwell in a great house — with rooms of mind, heart, taste, imagination, and feeling. A Scotch nobleman built better homes for his tenants, but they continued to live in one room, letting out the rest. They had not learned to live in larger

burdens: illness, discomfort, uncongenial surroundings, and long discouragement. Yet the message is still: “Enlarge the place of your tent.” No matter the reasons for discouragement, a Christian should not let bitterness blind him to the blue sky and shining stars.

Look at Christ’s life. Could any life have been narrower in outward conditions? Yet He was never discouraged or embittered. The secret was love. The world hated Him, yet He loved on. Love is the only secret that saves from bitterness.

One woman, embittered by sickness and wrong, reluctantly took in a motherless child. With the child came Christ, and the narrowness began to enlarge. She welcomed other needs, and in blessing others, she was blessed.

Some are limited by opportunity, health, or failure. But the gospel brings hope: “Enlarge the place of your tent.” Sometimes we overdo our contentment, accepting obstacles meant to inspire courage. Many barriers are meant to be overcome. Di culties are not intended to stop us, but to rouse us to our best.

Hard conditions do not necessarily mean failure. In New England, when asked, “What do you raise from these rocks?” the answer was, “We raise men!” If there can be no physical victory, there can still be moral victory. The spirit may be free though the body is bound.

ways. The true way to help is from within — in mind and heart.

It is not a larger house a man needs, but a larger man in the house. He is not enlarged by money, furniture, or luxuries, but by knowledge, wisdom, good principles, strength of character, and love. A vine kept in a cold climate for ten years grew only three feet and never blossomed. Moved to a warmer place, it thrived and bore fruit. Many lives live in a chill atmosphere and amount to little. Give them the warmth of love and hope, and they will expand into beauty and fruitfulness.

Some lives are narrowed by circumstances. Poverty does not always cause this — many poor live as wide as the sky in gladness, while some wealthy live narrowly. Some carry heavy

An English writer tells of two birds caged side by side. The starling beat against the bars; the canary accepted its captivity and sang, lling the air with joy. Which do we resemble when shut up in narrow conditions?

Life should never cease to widen. People speak of a “dead line” after which a man cannot do his best. It is not true. A man ought to be at his best in his last years, always enlarging the place of his tent — until its curtains are nally pushed out into the limitless spaces of immortality.

J. R. Miller (1840-1912) was a pastor and former editorial superintendent of the Presbyterian Board of Publication from 1880 to 1911. His works are now in the public domain.

NC Community Colleges president to retire in 2026

Je Cox announced his 2026 retirement earlier this month

By A.P. Dillon North State Journal

RALEIGH — North Carolina Community Colleges President Je Cox announced he will retire at the end of the 2026 scal year, according to an Aug. 1 press release by the community college system.

“Serving as president of the North Carolina Community College System has been one of the greatest honors of my career,” Cox said in the release. “As a rst-generation college student from rural Alleghany County, I could nev-

experiences have steadily worsened over the years, but the report cited the “dysfunctional” relationship between the N.C. Department of Motor Vehicles (NCDMV) and North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) as a factor.

According to the ndings of the performance audit, the average NCDMV wait time is 1 hour and 15 minutes, a 15.5% increase since 2019. Additionally, upward of 14% of NCDMV visits went beyond 2½ hours in scal year 2025, a 79% increase from 2019.

“I’m a dog with a bone on this,” Boliek said when asked what he would say to people waiting in long NCDMV lines. “And that we are going to continue to shine a light on the DMV and put this forward front and center on the front burner until it’s xed.”

Another key point in the report says NCDMV’s performance metrics fail to capture total customer wait times and lack a robust measurement system, a continuing issue from a 2018 audit.

Lack of training, low salaries and employee burnout were also detailed in the report, with some NCDMV employees facing threats from customers while on the job. Sta ng shortages were identi ed as a serious problem, and sta hiring has not kept up with the state’s population growth.

The data showed 505 out of 721 driver’s license examiner positions are currently lled with

er have imagined that one day I would lead the state’s community college system. “Our colleges play a pivotal role in changing the lives of

160 position vacancies. Haywood County was given as an example, where only one examiner is serving more than 56,000 residents.

During an Aug. 4 press conference, Boliek said the NCDMV had limited strategic input, limited budget autonomy, not enough performance data, and the NCDOT excluded the agency from certain modernization initiatives.

Underscoring the budgetary point, Boliek noted that 30% of NCDMV revenues go to the NCDOT, but the DMV is “only 2.8% of DOT’s expenditures.” Between 2019 and 2025, the NCDMV requested 130 new sta positions, but only 40 (31%) were included in NCDOT budget requests. Boliek laid out the audit’s ve recommendations during the press conference, including making the NCDMV an autonomous agency with direct control over budgeting, strategic planning and operations.

“The impetus behind the DMV being pulled out from under the DOT, it involves accountability,” Boliek said when asked about making the NCDMV its own agency. “The commissioner should report directly to the governor; it’s that important.”

Other OSA recommendations included in-depth sta ng analysis, a centralized performance dashboard and partnering with industry experts to improve customer service.

600,000-plus students every year. I’m so proud of the impact our colleges make every day, and I am honored to be a part of this system. I look forward to continuing this important work over the next year.”

According to the press release, Cox wanted to give his notice early so the state board would have ample time to do an appropriate search for his replacement.

Ciox’s successor will have to be con rmed by the General Assembly, according to the 2023 Appropriations Act, which was enacted after Cox took up his current role.

Over the past decade, there has been one acting president, three interim presidents and four full presidents of the North Carolina Community Colleges (NCCC), including Cox, who has been

in the role since June 1, 2023.

After Cox, the next longest serving full president was Peter Hans, who was installed in May 2018 and served for two and a quarter years before becoming president of the UNC System during the summer of 2020.

While president of the NCCC, Cox was instrumental in raising more than $40 million over the last year for the 58 schools in the system, as well as aligning its programs with labor market needs.

Cox also oversaw aspects of Propel NC, the NCCC’s new business model focused on connecting students and aligning the system’s program funding with high-demand jobs and workforce priorities.

“Dr. Cox stepped up at a critical moment and brought

“Our

Dave

The recommendations also included delivering a draft strategic plan with goals and performance metrics to the General Assembly and the Governor’s O ce “within 9 months,” followed by “annual public reporting on progress and updates.”

The information systems audit ndings show that from 2014 through the audit date,

46 modernization projects were initiated that cost approximately $42 million, yet they did not produce “meaningful customer service improvements.” Additionally, the NCDMV’s mainframe systems are outdated and need to be replaced.

During the press conference, Boliek also discussed issues with teens obtaining their licenses and said driver’s education instructors should be able to certify road tests, stating, “This will save 35 minutes per examiner.”

Erin Van Dorn, the mother of a teen driver in Wake County, highlighted how di cult it is for a teen to get a license. She said she and her son crisscrossed the state to get her son his road test, making four trips to multiple NCDMV o ces outside of Wake County — some of

much-needed stability and experience to the system, serving with heart,” said Tom Looney, chair of the State Board of Community Colleges. “We thank him for his service and unwavering commitment to our colleges, students, and communities across North Carolina.”

Before serving as NCCC president, Cox was the president of Wilkes Community College for nine years, during which time the student completion rate more than doubled.

Cox, who is from Sparta, has spent his life in education. His early years were in K-12 schools, working as an English teacher, an assistant principal in a Union County school and ending as the superintendent of Alleghany County Schools.

which were up to three hours away.

“Currently, the general statute requires students under the age of 18 applying for a permit or license to possess a driving eligibility certi cate that is dated within 30 days of the application for the permit,” said Boliek. “This, just quite frankly, needs to be eliminated.

“If you can’t get an appointment, there’s no way for that in a 30-day time period. It’s just too short. Also, individuals should not really have to go in person three times before turning 18 to get a driver’s license. We’ve got to reform that.”

Boliek added that NCDMV Commissioner Paul Tine and NCDOT Secretary Joey Hopkins were “hard at work on that right now.” He also mentioned a Senate bill to expand remote service options for driver’s licenses had passed the House but needs action by the Senate to be sent to the governor.

A legislative hearing last spring highlighted families across the state frustrated with the NCDMV’s teen driver process, as well as being dissatis ed with driver’s education courses o ered by school districts.

The auditor also mentioned the failure of the self-service kiosk program rolled out by former NCDMV Commissioner Wayne Goodwin. He said the kiosks placed in grocery stores were not meeting the 500-user-a-month threshold and should be moved to NCDMV o ces.

PUBLIC DOMAIN

“Wanderer Above the Sea of Fog” by Caspar David Friedrich (1818) is a painting in the collection of The Hamburger Kunsthalle in Hamburg, Germany.

COURTESY

Je Cox

State treasurer shares report on OpenAI pilot program

The review found a daily time savings of between 30 and 60 minutes

By A.P. Dillon North State Journal

RALEIGH — North Carolina State Treasurer Brad Briner issued an independent study report on his agency’s OpenAI pilot program.

The report was rolled out at a joint press conference Aug. 1 with NC Central’s Siobahn Day Grady, founding director of the university’s Institute for Articial Intelligence and Emerging Research (IAIER), which conducted the study.

“Adopting this innovative technology has helped us deliv-

er improved results to our constituents and to taxpayers,” Briner said in a press release. “This important analysis clearly shows that adding the power and speed of arti cial intelligence to the talent, experience and judgment of our state employees is the key to unlocking greater workplace achievements.”

The pilot program began in March, and the 48-page report covered various user experiences with ChatGPT. It included how AI saved workers time but also illustrated some of AI’s limitations and how it did not replace human judgment but was used to re ne the work being done.

ChatGPT was used in the areas of unclaimed property and state and local government nance.

“The 2025 ChatGPT Pilot engaged a diverse group of public sector employees to explore how generative AI could support day-to-day operations,” the report states. “Feedback from pre- and post-pilot surveys showed broad enthusiasm, with 85% of participants reporting a positive experience.”

While 85% of participants reported a positive experience using ChatGPT, some users found it sometimes gave inaccurate information. In particular, the program didn’t handle phrasing well, there were issues with data comparisons, or ChatGPT had “hallucinations,” a situation where the AI produced nonsensical or misleading information as fact.

“The technology is not per-

fect,” Grady noted. “We always need to do our due diligence, and when using the technology, making sure that things are factual and not rely 100 percent on it to do our jobs, because we are the subject matter experts.”

According to the ndings, time savings averaged 30 to 60 minutes per day, and “real-world usage evolved signi cantly beyond initial expectations.”

“We estimate that it improved the productivity of our employees by about 10 percent in the early phases of the trial, and it kept improving,” Briner said during the press conference. The treasurer also said the partnership on the program did not cross the “bright red-line” and “we did not touch personal and private data.”

Gri n emerges at lawyers’ event

The Court of Appeals judge handed out awards at a meeting of the National Republican Lawyers Association

By A.P. Dillon North State Journal

RALEIGH — In one of his rst appearances since conceding the 2024 North Carolina Supreme Court race, Court of Appeals Judge Je erson Gri n bestowed awards to fellow legal colleagues who volunteered during the 2024 election at a meeting of the North Carolina chapter of the Republican National Lawyers Association.

North State Journal was given exclusive access to the meeting, which was held at the Reagan Ranch in Raleigh earlier this month.

Wes Jones, state chair of the North Carolina chapter of the Republican National Lawyers Association (RNLA), led portions of the meeting along with Phil Thomas, a past N.C. RNLA chair and a lawyer with the rm hosting the event, Chalmers, Adams, Backer, & Kaufman, LLC. Senate Leader Phil Berger (R-Eden) and Rep. Mike Schietzelt (R-Wake) also spoke at the event.

Gri n presented RNLA awards for Excellence in Volunteering during the 2024 election cycle to Andrew Marcus, a past candidate for state Insurance commissioner, and Alton Absher, the elected general counsel for the NCGOP.

“A lot of great things were accomplished, and I will always be thankful for your willingness to step up and help,” Gri n said.

He also commented on remarks by a previous speaker about how the state, during certain times, had a low number of Republican lawyers.

“And so, I thought about it, and I was thinking about our

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immutable characteristics, that is an a ront not only to civil rights law, but to the meritocratic character of academic excellence,” said McMahon.

“Blatantly discriminatory practices that are illegal under the Constitution, antidiscrimination law, and Supreme Court precedent have become all too common in our educational institutions. The Trump Administration will not allow them to continue.”

The Department of Health and Human Services said in its press release that its investigation is over “serious allegations of systemic racial discrimination permeating the operations of Duke University School of Medicine and other components of Duke Health.”

“We are making it clear that federal funding must support excellence — not race — in medical education, research, and training,” Kennedy said. “Today, Secretary McMahon and I

court system as well from the judiciary standpoint and what we’ve been able to do,” said Grifn. “All of you in this room and our state are really putting conservatives on the bench; it’s been transformational.”

During the 2020 and 2022 election cycles, Republicans swept the statewide judicial races for the Court of Appeals and Supreme Court. The GOP wins for state judicial seats since 2020 currently stands at 17 out of 18 races.

That streak was broken when Democratic Associate Justice Allison Riggs won the Supreme Court race by a narrow margin of 734 votes (0.02%) after a lengthy series of legal challenges by Gri n. Riggs was appointed to the Court of Appeals by former Gov. Roy Cooper, who then elevated her to the Supreme Court less than a year later. She is the for-

are calling on Duke to address serious allegations of racial discrimination by forming a Merit and Civil Rights Committee to work with the Federal government to uphold civil rights and merit-based standards at Duke Health.”

Issues with Duke University’s health systems were revealed in February 2024 by Daily Wire’s Ben Shapiro, who reported on recordings from an “internal DEI lecture” by Duke surgical resident Vignesh Raman. In Shapiro’s initial thread on X, he provided a clip from the lecture and wrote, “Raman adds that post-George Floyd, Duke made a concerted e ort to stop hiring so many “walls of white men.” He says the team is now “abandoning ... all sort[s] of metrics” and adopting a “completely holistic” application practice in order to recruit more women and non-white surgeons.”

Similarly in 2022, the watchdog group Do No Harm released records it had obtained showing “anti-racist” and DEI

mer business partner of Supreme Court Associate Justice Anita Earls, who will face Rep. Sarah Stevens (R-Surry) in her reelection bid for the seat in 2026.

Before the awards were handed out, Gri n spoke brie y with North State Journal about returning to regular life after the race. He noted that his workload had continued while he ran for the Supreme Court and said his case load was continuing as usual.

“We usually author close to 100 (opinions) a year, so I’ve had a full spring calendar with my sta ,” Gri n said. “And so, we’re on pace to hit that by the end of the year again.”

Gri n declined to answer questions related to the 2024 election but o ered to follow up in the future.

“I’ve always had faith and condence in our judiciary,” Grifn said in a text to North State

“Blatantly discriminatory practices that are illegal under the Constitution, antidiscrimination law, and Supreme Court precedent have become all too common in our educational institutions.”

Linda McMahon, Education secretary

training had permeated medical schools and health care services in North Carolina. One given by Do No Harm included a racial justice task force at Duke University’s School of Nursing. The USDOE’s investigation into Duke University is part of a broader scrutiny of educational institutions for potential violations of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, which prohibits

“Adopting this innovative technology has helped us deliver improved results to our constituents and to taxpayers.”

Brad Briner, state treasurer

There were 26 participants divided into two cohorts and four user types: sporadic users who made up 48% of participants, super users (37%), specific users (12%), and nonusers (4%) who had limited use due to constraints or discomfort.

Some users found the training adequate, but some reported a steep learning curve that will need to be addressed.

“Some pilot participants found it di cult to get started with ChatGPT because they were overwhelmed by the new technology, hesitant to change established work habits, or simply too busy to experiment,” the report says.

lots and that you must be a resident of North Carolina to vote in North Carolina elections. These holdings are very signi cant for securing our state’s elections.” Gri n had led three election challenges over certain ballots:

• Incomplete Voter Registrations: 60,273 ballots from voters who did not provide a driver’s license number or the last four digits of their Social Security number as required by the Help America Vote Act (HAVA).

• Lack of Photo Identi cation for Overseas Voters: 5,509 ballots from military and overseas voters lacking photo ID or an exception form.

• Never Residents: 267 ballots from overseas voters who never resided in North Carolina and have no intent to do so.

On April 11, the N.C. Supreme Court issued a ruling keeping the 60,273 votes in place, tossing the 267 Never Resident votes, and requiring 5,509 overseas voters with no photo ID to provide their info within 30 days for the ballot to be valid.

Since then, the N.C. State Board of Elections (NCSBE) has changed from a Democratic majority to a Republican majority and has a new executive director, Sam Hayes.

“I’ve always had faith and con dence in our judiciary.”

Je erson Gri n, Court of Appeals judge

Journal that was accompanied by his May 7 concession statement, which included a reference to the N.C. Supreme Court upholding part of a ruling by the state’s Court of Appeals.

“I am thankful that our Supreme Court a rmed the holding from our Court of Appeals, recognizing that the North Carolina State Board of Elections failed to follow our Constitution and the laws enacted by our General Assembly,” Gri n wrote in his May 7 statement. “The courts have a rmed that Voter ID is required for all absentee bal-

discrimination based on race, color or national origin in programs receiving federal nancial assistance. Violations of Title VI can result in the loss of federal funding.

A similar Title VI investigation was launched in April against Harvard University and its Law Review, also for alleged race-based discrimination in journal operations. The investigations stem from concerns that institutions may be engaging in practices that contravene federal guidelines or judicial rulings on race-based policies.

A USDOE “Dear Colleague” letter issued in mid-February directed educational agencies across all 50 states to eliminate DEI programs by Feb. 28 or risk losing federal funding.

In March, the USDOE announced that 15 schools, including Duke, were under investigation for noncompliance with the directive. The document does not provide specific details about the nature of

Under the new NCSBE, voter registrations lacking the required data have been addressed, with the board rolling out a “Registration Repair” website for citizens to correct their information. The changes were prompted by state court rulings, but also due to a U.S. Department of Justice lawsuit led over the missing registration data.

Riggs’ parents were both on the list of voters missing registration data, and she publicized their ballots being challenged during the legal ght. As of publication, the NCSBE repair site shows neither of her parents has corrected their records.

The NCSBE also unanimously approved changes prohibiting “never resident” voters from participating in state and municipal elections, as well as requiring overseas and military voters to provide photo ID in municipal elections starting this year.

Duke’s alleged noncompliance beyond the Law Journal’s practices but indicates the university was noti ed of the investigation. Additionally, the investigations tie into a broader legal context involving the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in the case of Students for Fair Admissions (SFFA) v. Harvard. The ruling, which addressed race-based admissions, e ectively ended such practices with “narrow restrictions” remaining. In the fall of 2024, SFFA sent a letter to Duke’s vice president and general counsel, Kim Taylor, accusing the university of circumventing the Supreme Court’s decision. The letter highlighted Duke’s admissions data for the Class of 2028, the rst class admitted post-ruling, noting a 6% decrease in Asian American students compared to the Class of 2027, when racial preferences were explicitly given to African American and Hispanic applicants. Duke did not respond to requests for comment.

DUKE

COURTESY NZINGA HARRIS / CAPTURED MEDIA

Court of Appeals Judge Je erson Gri n, left, speaks at the North Carolina chapter of the National Republican Lawyers Association’s summer event in Raleigh.

THE CONVERSATION

Neal Robbins, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor

VISUAL VOICES

EDITORIAL | FRANK HILL

That $50M bounty on Venezuela’s Nicolas Maduro

There are not enough security o cers in America to defend every prominent elected o cial to begin with.

IN A YEAR ALREADY crammed with unusual, ground-breaking actions politically and by our government, one thing really popped out of the news recently: The Trump administration announced a $50 million reward for the arrest of Venezuelan strongman President Nicolas Maduro.

It is one thing to issue a bounty for any of the leaders or eld men of South American narcoterrorists who have caused so much havoc importing narcotics and fentanyl to the United States and damaging the lives and health of so many of our citizens. However, it is entirely another thing to go after the leader of another country, who, whether we like it or not, was elected by the citizens of a particular country and try to arrest him in the course of bringing him to justice.

I had several friends in Washington, D.C., who worked in the CIA and foreign a airs who regularly reminded me that the last thing we want to do on the world stage is get into surreptitious clandestine shooting wars with leaders of countries who like this sort of thing and who are very good at it. They have the people and resources in their country who would like

EDITORIAL | STACEY MATTHEWS

nothing more than to be the ones who took out a leader of the United States or any European democracy in broad daylight on cable TV.

It is hard enough to protect the life of a U.S. president without there being any added impetus such as retribution for arresting their elected president or government o cial, despite any accusation of their involvement in any heinous activity, such as those for which Maduro is being accused.

There are far better ways to react to such actions, such as trade sanctions and other diplomatic actions. One way that has been seldom used to great e ect, mainly because it has not been fully exercised, would be to withhold all direct foreign aid by the U.S. government to the country of Venezuela starting immediately. Such a withdrawal of billions of dollars of U.S. federal direct aid or guaranteed loans would throw Maduro and his administration into turmoil. It would force them to make the tough decisions no elected politician ever wants to make to maintain their government, namely raise taxes on the people and narcoterrorists in Venezuela or cut spending in other programs and shift it

The redistricting wars

It’s hard to feel too much sympathy for Democrats.

A REDISTRICTING WAR is currently playing out between red states and blue states following the call by Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott for a special session of the state legislature last month, in part to debate the possibility of mid-decade redistricting. Typically, state legislatures (or their “independent” commissions) redraw maps every 10 years after census counts are taken. But in early July, Texas received a letter from the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division regarding four Congressional districts they say “are vestiges of an unconstitutional racially based gerrymandering past, which must be abandoned, and must now be corrected by Texas.”

A week later, President Trump signaled he’d like to see Texas redraw its Congressional maps before the 2026 midterms.

Trump’s call and Abbott’s ordering of the special session prompted outrage from California Gov. Gavin Newsom and other Democratic governors like New York’s Kathy Hochul and Illinois’ J.B. Pritzker, all of whom have accused Republicans of “cheating” ahead of a critical midterm election year where control of Congress is at stake.

Some Democrats in the Texas legislature have ed to those states in order to deny Texas Republicans the necessary quorum needed to pass legislation. Because California has a voter-approved

independent commission that is only supposed to redraw its maps every 10 years, Newsom has called for a special election in November in hopes of temporarily changing the rules so that they can play “payback” with Texas.

Hochul has said she’s tired of having her hands tied behind her back on this issue and is looking into “legal options” as her state has a similar voter-approved independent commission in place.

Despite these commissions, California is one of the most heavily gerrymandered states in the country. New York is another, with Democrats under Hochul’s watch pressing for gerrymanders after the 2020 Census in a process that ultimately played out in the courts for several years.

It is Illinois, however, that perhaps is the worst among them. The Princeton Gerrymander Project’s report card rating for the Democrat-controlled state on the Congressional maps that were enacted in 2021 was “F” across the board on the categories of “partisan fairness,” “competitiveness” and “geographic features.”

Left out of a lot of the reports about the redistricting wars is the fact that it was revealed in 2022 that 14 states had “signi cant” miscounts from the 2020 Census, with red states bearing the brunt of the errors.

NPR reported at the time that, “A follow-up survey the bureau conducted to measure the national tally’s accuracy found signi cant net undercount rates

to more important priorities in Venezuela. They will then be judged by the people who elected them, either harshly by voting them out of o ce or with reelection because they approve of their harsh antics against the U.S. and the rest of the free world.

There are not enough security o cers in America to defend every prominent elected o cial to begin with. The day after I became chief of sta to North Carolina Sen. Elizabeth Dole in November 2002, I was escorting her from the Capitol to the Russell Senate O ce Building across Constitution Avenue. This was almost exactly one full year since the 9/11 attacks, and all I can remember was watching the tra c jam of taxicabs forming before us and me standing beside her as perhaps her only protection against an attack against one of the most visible and recognizable female politicians in the world. The next morning, I almost ran to the Capitol Police o ce to beg them to assign an o cer to protect her. They said they only do so for the Senate majority leader and the speaker of the House.

There is no need to put any more of a target on the back of any U.S. elected o cial than already exists.

in six states: Arkansas (5.04%), Florida (3.48%), Illinois (1.97%), Mississippi (4.11%), Tennessee (4.78%) and Texas (1.92%).”

Most of those are, of course, red states. The states that were overcounted were mostly blue: “Delaware (5.45%), Hawaii (6.79%), Massachusetts (2.24%), Minnesota (3.84%), New York (3.44%), Ohio (1.49%), Rhode Island (5.05%) and Utah (2.59%).”

As Kristin Tate, an Independent Women’s Voice visiting fellow, noted at the time, “With the possible exception of Illinois not losing a seat, the likely e ects of an accurate count would have overwhelmingly aided red states.”

So, yeah, it’s hard to feel too much sympathy for Democrats at present seeing that Republicans presumably were just supposed to sit back and wait until 2030 to (hopefully) rectify the issues that stemmed from the 2020 Census counts in their states.

Here in North Carolina, we’re very familiar with Democratic gerrymandering, and we’re also familiar with how Democrats have continued to try to control the process here through the courts, even in the aftermath of losing control of the General Assembly in 2010 after being in the majority for over 100 years.

So I’m not a purist on this issue. If Republicans in Texas or any other red state choose to play hardball on this issue, more power to them.

North Carolina native Stacey Matthews has also written under the pseudonym Sister Toldjah and is a media analyst and regular contributor to RedState and Legal Insurrection.

Spain’s ‘Digital Sovereignty’ ends in Beijing

In July, the ministry awarded Huawei 12.3 million euros to maintain the country’s wiretap and surveillance system.

IN SPAIN, “digital sovereignty” now means putting up barriers to restrict American tech companies while outsourcing the country’s networks to the Chinese Communist Party.

Across the EU, governments claim to be building independent systems to counter foreign dominance. But in practice, that often entails punishing the success of U.S. rms via regulations and taxes while deepening reliance on CCP-linked suppliers to back ll demand unmet by European companies.

Now Spain has taken this playbook to its extreme.

Chinese telecom giant Huawei has partnered with every major wireless carrier in Spain, including Telefónica, Vodafone and MásMóvil.

Vodafone and Telefónica, Spain’s partially state-owned carrier, have relied on Huawei equipment for years. Even now, Huawei remains a core provider of 4G and 5G infrastructure across Spanish networks.

Despite public claims of a pivot to Western vendors, the Chinese rm is still building smart transformer stations, ber systems, and enterprise storage systems throughout the country. In 2023, Huawei launched its rst cloud acceleration project in Spain, and in 2019, it collaborated with the municipal government of Rivas-Vaciamadrid to help achieve its goal of becoming a “smart city.”

Chinese President Xi Jinping has referred to Spain as a close partner, with China opening new “innovation centers” in Madrid and strengthening its workforce in the country.

The most troubling case, however, may be Huawei’s recent contract with Spain’s Ministry of the Interior. In July, the ministry awarded Huawei 12.3 million euros to maintain the country’s wiretap and surveillance system. This system processes highly sensitive intercepted calls, messages and digital communications obtained by court order. In other words, Huawei will now help operate the technical infrastructure for the most critical law enforcement and intelligence data in Spain.

It is unthinkable that a NATO ally would entrust its domestic surveillance to a company controlled by the CCP, even as the U.S. and its allies have spent years warning of Huawei’s ties to espionage, covert data collection and cyber exploitation. Spanish authorities might as well hand over all sensitive personal and government information directly to Beijing.

In fact, Spain’s own police and security services have reportedly raised concerns over this arrangement. Spain’s National Police and Civil Guard have expressed apprehension about “strategic incongruity” in security matters, noting that even as foreign programs are treated with extreme caution, critical national data is entrusted to a rm with links to the Chinese Communist Party. But Madrid is ignoring its own security services.

Nonetheless, Madrid has proceeded with the agreement anyway, partnering with a CCP-linked rm accused of spying on U.S. military bases through telecom equipment, violating U.S. sanctions against Iran and North Korea, and supplying surveillance and targeted repression tools to authoritarian regimes.

Meanwhile, Spain continues to extract revenue from American tech companies through discriminatory taxes and regulations.

In 2021, the country enacted a 3% digital services tax targeting revenues from online advertising, user data and intermediary services. Nearly all the companies caught in the crosshairs — Google, Meta, Amazon, Apple — are American.

A U.S. Trade Representative investigation found that only two Spanish rms met the criteria for the tax, calling it a “proxy for nationality.” In 2023, U.S. companies paid nearly $300 million under this scheme.

The Trump administration has been clear that these unfair measures will not go unanswered. In February, President Donald Trump ordered a new investigation into digital services taxes imposed by Spain and other EU states, calling them violations of U.S. sovereignty that undermine competitiveness and expose American companies to hostile regulatory regimes. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent similarly labeled Europe’s model a “shakedown” designed to weaken U.S. tech leadership while making room for geopolitical adversaries.

Spain cannot continue to penalize U.S. rms under the guise of “sovereignty,” tax U.S. companies to subsidize its digital sector, and then recklessly wire its systems to Beijing. Spain is essentially taxing its largest ally to pay for Chinese services that are a direct threat to NATO security.

If Spain wants to build a truly sovereign digital future, where its citizens enjoy quality, freedom and security in the digital marketplace, it should disentangle itself from Huawei and the CCP and embrace American companies and fair competition. Meanwhile, if the EU continues to penalize American innovation while opening its arms to Beijing, it should expect the U.S. to respond accordingly.

Sovereignty cuts both ways. The United States has made clear that the days of subsidizing those who work against our shared prosperity and security are over.

Michael Lucci is founder and CEO of State Armor. This column was published by Daily Caller News Foundation.

Hamas understands the myopia and moral imbecility of the West

German newspapers Bild and Suddeutsche Zeitung reported this week that the media featured manipulated and staged photos from Palestinian photographers.

GERMAN NEWSPAPERS Bild and Suddeutsche Zeitung reported this week that the media featured manipulated and staged photos from Palestinian photographers.

Just a few weeks ago, it was widely thought that Israel and the terrorist group Hamas were nearing a deal to end the war in Gaza. In that deal, Hamas leadership would agree to go into exile, Israeli hostages would be freed from their hellish captivity and surrounding Arab nations could help fund the rebuilding of a more peaceful Gaza Strip.

That, at least, was the hope.

And then it all fell apart.

It fell apart for one simple reason: Hamas understands the West far better than the West understands Hamas. Hamas understands that if it forces the su ering of its own people, if it maximizes and even falsi es media coverage of that su ering, then the West will rehabilitate Hamas and grant it its demands.

Hamas understands that Westerners are utterly ignorant to the true evil of Hamas, their willingness to multiply the su ering of Palestinians and Israelis alike, to starve their own citizens as well as Israeli hostages, to sacri ce Palestinian children by placing them in the line of re, all for the cameras; Hamas understands that myopic and self-centered Westerners will simply project their own biases and values onto Hamas, thus granting them unearned innocence and sympathy; Hamas understands that the media would facilitate all of this, elevating a false oppressor/oppressed narrative above the truth.

And so it has gone. Over the past three weeks, international institutions like the United Nations, which has become a front group for Hamas, began announcing that mass starvation was a ecting the Strip. Instead of then facilitating the entry of aid, the U.N. refused to allow in any aid accompanied by the Israeli military, speci cally so that Hamas could loot it. Meanwhile, the media began blasting out pictures of starving Gazan children — many

of whom were not su ering from malnutrition in the main, but from genetic diseases; the German newspapers Bild and Suddeutsche Zeitung reported this week that the media featured manipulated and staged photos from Palestinian photographers.

As a result, last week, the U.K., France and Canada, in an e ort to demonstrate their supposed moral rectitude and to placate their large radical Muslim minorities, announced that they would forthwith support the creation of a Palestinian state. That announcement immediately scuttled the impending deal between Israel and Hamas, giving Hamas what it wanted on a silver platter. This conclusion was openly touted by Hamas o cial Ghazi Hamad, who bragged, “The initiative by several countries to recognize a Palestinian state is one of the fruits of October 7.”

How untouchable does Hamas feel, thanks to the moral imbecility of the media, international institutions and politicians in the West? Last week, they released a video of hostage Evyatar David, worn down to skin and bones, digging his own grave. They knew that their friends in the international institutions would say nothing, that the media would bury its coverage and that politicians would utter empty words while continuing to pressure Israel. And they were right.

Hamas has the West’s number. And the West continues to fall for their every trick because too many in the West, on a fundamental level, do not understand their enemies — or, worse, believe that the only true enemy is Western chauvinism or intransigence. For now, this witlessness may have seemingly mild consequences. But stupidity always comes at a price. And for stupidity on a scale this grand, the price will be bloody.

Ben Shapiro is a graduate of UCLA and Harvard Law School, host of “The Ben Shapiro Show” and co-founder of Daily Wire+.

MICHAEL BARONE

Learning from America’s immigrant past

WHEN DEBATING current issues, it’s helpful to avoid inaccurate depictions of past policy, especially on immigration, in which both opponents and advocates of President Donald Trump’s policies have views based on not altogether accurate renditions of the past.

Many opponents of Trump’s policies seem to believe the president wants to cut o legal immigration altogether, to shut America’s gates. But in recent times, around 800,000 individuals have taken the oath to become American citizens. In addition, about 1 million people have been granted green cards each year, making them eligible for citizenship. That’s not a closed gate.

You may argue that we should open the gate wider. I’m inclined to take that view, with the proviso that we reduce the number of extended family members eligible and increase the number of skill-based slots.

You may also argue, as some Trump backers do, that we should reduce legal immigration, with some even calling for cutting it down to zero. But I’m not aware that there’s any realistic prospect for drastic reductions even with a Republican-controlled Congress. Current debate revolves around how, or if, to enforce the law against those not legally here.

One error made by critics on both sides is to say that the United States, until the passage of the restrictive Immigration Act of 1924, had open borders. And that the bulk of immigrants in those years were, in the words of the Emma Lazarus poem inscribed on the base of the Statue of Liberty, “your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of your teeming shore.” Lazarus’ poem was published posthumously. It was an earnest attempt by an a uent New Yorker to seek tolerance for her fellow Jews and for other immigrants that accounted for the vast and apparently unanticipated ow of immigration in the years after the dedication of the Statue of Liberty in 1886 and the opening of the Ellis Island screening station in 1892.

But as Vincent Cannato points out in “American Passage,” his de nitive history of Ellis Island, America had never had unrestricted immigration even before the federal government took over the function from inspecting states in the 19th century. State and then federal authorities inspected arrivals for infectious disease, particularly tuberculosis, and for being unable to be self-supporting — in the language of the day, “likely to become public charges.” After Ellis Island opened in 1892, Cannato writes, “Congress’s list of reasons immigrants could be excluded at the nation’s gates (grew) longer as the years passed.” Policy became marginally more restrictive even before 1924.

Even so, the vast majority of those arriving were admitted. The main reason: The steamship companies refused to carry those who couldn’t a ord steerage fares and refused to board those who appeared likely to be rejected on arrival because rejectees would have to be returned to their home port free of charge. (The same principle obtains today. Airline gate agents demand to see your passport and visa before allowing you on a ight to destinations requiring visas.)

How this worked out in practice is depicted vividly in Steven Ujifusa’s recently published “The Last Ships from Hamburg: Business, Rivalry, and the Race to Save Russia’s Jews on the Eve of World War I,” which tells the story of Albert Ballin, himself Jewish, who rose to become managing director of the Hamburg-American Line and became a friend of Kaiser Wilhelm II.

Under Ballin’s leadership, the company set up an inspection station of its own in Brest, on the western border of Czarist Russia, even as that regime was sanctioning violent pogroms against Jews. Those who passed Hamburg-American’s standards were sent by rail to the busy port of Hamburg and then to New York.

Jews were just part of the ow of immigrants from the multiethnic Russian, German and Austro -Hungarian empires in the Ellis Island era from 1892 to 1914. Interestingly, that ow included relatively few ethnic Russians, Germans, Austrians and Hungarians but vast numbers of people who, in an era of rising nationalist sentiment, were from minority ethnic groups — Poles, Czechs, Slovaks, Slovenes, Serbs and Croats.

One of the things that attracted these second- caste people to America was the civic equality it promised and largely practiced, at least in the North (almost no immigrants settled in the racially segregated South). These were people, it turned out, who were eager to work and ready to learn English, who sought not to undermine American culture but adapt to it and to participate in America’s sometimes rough-and-ready civic politics.

Michael Barone is a senior political analyst for the Washington Examiner, resident fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and longtime co-author of “The Almanac of American Politics.”

COLUMN | BEN SHAPIRO

Murphy to Manteo Jones & Blount

Mix, match and taste NC

The 2025 North Carolina Restaurant and Lodging Association’s Chef Showdown marked the ninth season of North Carolina’s premier culinary and mixology competition, celebrating the state’s top culinary talents and locally sourced ingredients. Held earlier this month, the Grand Finale featured an immersive tasting experience where attendees sampled dishes, desserts, cocktails and mocktails crafted by the state’s top chefs and mixologists. Finalists advanced through statewide preliminaries and semi nals, showcasing North Carolina’s diverse culinary scene. The event highlighted partnerships between chefs, distilleries, and regional farmers, reinforcing a strong “Got to Be NC” identity. The NCRLA is a nonpro t trade organization that represents and supports North Carolina’s hospitality industry, including restaurants, hotels, bars, caterers and other food service and lodging businesses. Organizers say the Chef Showdown continues to serve as a powerful platform for culinary innovation, collaboration and celebration with its members across the state.

2025 Winners

• Chef of the Year: Mauricio Huarcaya (Gustu Peruano, Wilmington)

• Runner-up Chef of the Year: Kevin Stratton (The Depot on First, Knightdale)

• Pastry Chef of the Year: Luis Rojas (Charlotte Marriott City Center, Charlotte)

• Runner-up Pastry Chef of the Year: Josh Dobson (Peppervine, Charlotte)

• Mixologist of the Year: Sarah McCabe (The Longleaf Hotel / Cook’s Mill Whiskey, Raleigh)

• Distillery of the Year: Cook’s Mill Distillery (Raleigh)

• Mocktail of the Year: Travis James (Julep Contemporary Kitchen, Greenville)

PIEDMONT

Winston-Salem charter school to have 4-day school week

a tributary of Boone Creek after the demolition of a theater at Appalachian State University on Saturday. The spill happened on Hardin Street at the site of the former Legends entertainment venue, which was being torn down due to the formation of a nearby sinkhole following Hurricane Helene. Town crews implemented mitigation measures by midnight Sunday, installing temporary pumps to divert untreated wastewater around the breach while repairs are planned for the damaged sewer line. Town o cials said the breach was directly linked to demolition activities at the former theatre site, though speci c details about how the construction work damaged the sewer line were not immediately available. Legends opened in the 1980s and hosted concerts, comedians and other entertainers. Luke Combs, John Mayer and The Dave Matthews Band are among the artists to have performed at the venue.

NSJ

Forsyth County Quality Education Academy announced its transition to a four-day school week model this week, with instruction taking place Monday through Thursday. School o cials said Fridays will be reserved for optional after-school care for families who need it. CEO Tamara Turner said the decision was in response to federal funding cuts impacting educational programs. The charter school began exploring the idea in April and implemented the new schedule this week, with the school day running from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

WFMY

Man accused in fatal hit-and-run faces new charges

Randolph County

A man accused of driving while impaired during a fatal hit-and-run in High Point last month faces additional charges, including misdemeanor death by vehicle, according to a High Point Police Department news release. Police said four children and an adult were involved in a hit-and-run crash on July 3, injuring three children and one adult and resulting in the recent death of a 6-year-old child. The suspect, Tristan L. Wiles, 34, of Colfax, initially faced multiple felony tra c and drug charges.

NSJ

Amber Alert for 10-day- old baby fails due to “programming error”

Guilford County

An Amber Alert for a missing baby in Greensboro failed last week, prompting questions about the service’s reliability.

The Greensboro Police Department said it responded around 2 a.m. at Calumet Place about a missing 10-day-old baby.

An Amber Alert was issued and then inadvertently canceled. The family of the child said that after an argument, the baby’s father took the baby, and they didn’t know where he went. The baby was returned to the home Friday by an unknown woman whom the family says the father gave the child to. The child was taken to the hospital to be checked out and is safe with family.

The North Carolina Center for Missing Persons explained that a programming error with a vendor for their messaging service caused the alerts not to be sent. The state was able to trigger a backup plan to send the alert.

WGHP

EAST

Teen indicted in fatal Avalon Pier shooting

Dare County A 16-year-old was indicted Monday for the deadly shooting at the Avalon Pier last month. Henry Hargis, of Kill Devil Hills, was indicted on one count of rst-degree murder and one count of assault with a deadly weapon with the intent to kill in icting serious injury. Zane Hughes, 19, was fatally shot at the popular tourist spot in Kill Devil Hills. Hargis will have his next court date on Oct. 13.

WITN Wawa to open N.C. travel center, rst in nation

2 arrested after kilo of cocaine found during tra c stop

Craven County Two people have been arrested after deputies said they

Cumberland County Wawa has chosen North Carolina for its rst travel center and hopes to invest more than $675 million in the state, according to a press release. Wawa o cials said the travel center will be built in Hope Mills, and a special grand opening is planned for Aug. 28 at 8 a.m. at 630 Chicken Foot Road. Wawa describes the travel center as a place for smaller passenger vehicles and professional semitrailers. “With over 8,000 square feet of space, the travel center will o er Wawa’s signature fresh food and beverage, fuel for passenger vehicles and a high-speed diesel fuel court for

WILMINGTON

“Either

NATION & WORLD

Whitmer meets with Trump about auto tari s

The Michigan governor said the president’s actions are negatively impacting her state

By Joey Cappelletti and Josh Boak

The Associated Press

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer met privately in the Oval O ce with President Donald Trump to make a case he did not want to hear: The automotive industry he said he wants to save was being hurt by his tari s.

The Democrat came with a slide deck to make her points in a visual presentation. Just getting the meeting last Tuesday with the Republican president was an achievement for someone viewed as a contender for her party’s White House nomination in 2028.

Whitmer’s strategy for dealing with Trump highlights the conundrum for her and other Democratic leaders as they try to protect the interests of their states while voicing their opposition to his agenda. It’s a dynamic that Whitmer has navigated much di erently from many other Democratic governors.

The fact that Whitmer had “an opening to make direct appeals” in private to Trump was unique in this political moment, said Matt Grossman, a Michigan State University politics professor.

It was her third meeting with Trump at the White House since he took o ce in January. This one, however, was far less pub-

lic than the time in April when Whitmer was unwittingly part of an impromptu news conference that embarrassed her so much she covered her face with a folder.

On Tuesday, she told the president that the economic damage from the tari s could be severe in Michigan, a state that helped deliver him the White House in 2024. Whitmer also brought up federal support for recovery e orts after an ice storm and sought to delay changes to Medicaid.

Trump o ered no speci c commitments, according to people familiar with the private conversation who were not authorized to discuss it publicly and spoke only on condition of anonymity to describe it.

Whitmer is hardly the only one sounding the warning of the potentially damaging consequences, including factory job losses, lower pro ts and coming price increases, of the import taxes that Trump has said will be the economic salvation for American manufacturing.

White House spokesman Kush Desai said no other president “has taken a greater interest in restoring American auto industry dominance than President Trump.” Trade frameworks negotiated by the administration would open up the Japanese, Korean and European markets for vehicles made on assembly lines in Michigan, Desai said.

Whitmer’s two earlier meetings with Trump resulted in gains for Michigan. But the tari s represent a signi cantly broader request of a president

who has imposed them even more aggressively in the face of criticism.

Materials in the presentation brought by Whitmer to the meeting and obtained by The Associated Press noted how trade with Canada and Mexico has driven $23.2 billion in investment to Michigan since 2020.

General Motors, Ford, and Stellantis operate 50 factories across the state, while more than 4,000 facilities support the auto parts supply chain.

The heads of General Motors, Ford and Stellantis have repeatedly warned the administration that the tari s would cut company pro ts and undermine their global competitiveness. Their efforts have resulted in little more than a temporary, monthlong pause intended to give companies time to adjust. The reprieve

did little to blunt the nancial fallout.

In the second quarter alone, Ford reported $800 million in tari -related costs, while GM said the import taxes cost it $1.1 billion. Those expenses could make it harder to reinvest in new domestic factories, a goal Trump has championed.

“We expect tari s to be a net headwind of about $2 billion this year, and we’ll continue to monitor the developments closely and engage with policymakers to ensure U.S. autoworkers and customers are not disadvantaged by policy change,” Ford CEO Jim Farley said on his company’s earnings call.

Since Trump returned to the White House, Michigan has lost 7,500 manufacturing jobs, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Netanyahu defends new military o ensive in Gaza

The Israeli prime minister denied there was a “policy of starvation”

The Associated Press

JERUSALEM — Israeli

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday defended a new military o ensive in Gaza that’s more sweeping than previously announced, declaring in the face of growing condemnation at home and abroad that Israel “has no choice but to nish the job and complete the defeat of Hamas.”

Even as more Israelis express concern over the 22-month war, Netanyahu said the security Cabinet last week instructed the dismantling of Hamas strongholds not only in Gaza City but also in the “central camps” and Muwasi.

The camps — sheltering well over a half-million displaced people, according to the U.N. — had not been part of Israel’s announcement last Friday. It was

ROBBINS from page A1

“America’s farmers and ranchers have a ghter and a friend in the White House and we have announced a top-notch team at USDA who have hit the ground running and are executing President Trump’s America rst vision,” Rollins said in the announcement.

Other selections included Glen R. Smith of Atlantic, Iowa, nominated as under secretary for Rural Development; Dr. Mindy Brashears, nominated as under secretary for Food Safety; and Yvette Herrell of New Mexico, nominated as assistant secretary for Congressional Relations, along with several additional senior sta appointments in U.S. Department of Agriculture agencies. Rural Development administers programs that nance housing, improve water and waste systems, expand broadband, develop electric infrastructure, and provide grants and loans to rural businesses and community facilities.

not clear why, though Netanyahu faced criticism this weekend within his ruling coalition that targeting Gaza City was not enough. Netanyahu said there would be “safe zones,” but such designated areas have been bombed in the past.

Netanyahu’s o ce late Sunday said he had spoken with U.S. President Donald Trump about the plan and thanked him for his “steadfast support.”

Rejecting starvation in Gaza as well as a “global campaign of lies,” Netanyahu spoke to foreign media just before an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council, a platform for outrage but little action on the war.

“Our goal is not to occupy Gaza, our goal is to free Gaza,” Netanyahu asserted. The goals, he said, include demilitarizing the territory, the Israeli military having “overriding security control” and a non-Israeli civilian administration in charge.

Israel wants to increase the number of aid distribution sites

Robbins, a native of Asheboro, holds a degree in chemical engineering from NC State, where he was a Park Scholar, and business and law degrees from Wake Forest University. His career includes work in manufacturing, law, rural economic development and nancial transactions, as well as service in the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality.

“Rural Development is at its best when it delivers affordable, accessible and commonsense solutions that truly change lives,” Robbins said. “We will focus on outcomes, not optics — ensuring that every dollar produces lasting value for rural families, businesses and communities while being good stewards of the taxpayer’s investment.”

Robbins also re ected on his work leading North State Journal.

“North State Journal was created with a North Carolina- rst attitude, and I have enjoyed the past decade of work as we grew

in Gaza, he said, but in a later brie ng to local media, he asserted: “There is no hunger. There was no hunger. There was a shortage, and there was certainly no policy of starvation.”

Netanyahu also said he has directed Israel’s military to “bring in more foreign journalists,” which would be a striking development, as they haven’t been allowed into Gaza beyond military embeds during the war.

He again blamed many of Gaza’s problems on the Hamas militant group, including civilian deaths, destruction and aid shortages.

“Hamas still has thousands of armed terrorists,” he asserted, adding that Palestinians are “begging” to be freed from them.

Hamas responded with a lengthy statement that summed up Netanyahu’s remarks as “blatant lies.”

The United States defended Israel, saying it has the right to decide what’s best for its security. It called allegations of genocide in Gaza false.

the only statewide newspaper,” Robbins said. “Now my focus will turn to President Trump’s America First agenda by supporting rural Americans and the businesses and communities where they work and live.”

Asked why he chose to take the position, Robbins said, “Now is the time to accomplish the goals of the American people evidenced by President Trump’s historic victory in November. I am from a rural area in North Carolina, and I cannot pass up the opportunity to help make an impact on those communities. I look forward to working with Secretary Rollins and Under Secretary designee Glen Smith, who are both national leaders in agriculture.”

Regarding the future of North State Journal, Robbins said the publication remains “in the capable hands of a great leadership team.”

Robbins cited senior editor Cory Lavalette and the paper’s subject-level editors on the editorial side, and noted that Charlotte Publishing president

La. to pay $9M to man shot by trooper Baton Rouge, La. Louisiana authorities have agreed to pay $9 million to a man who was partially paralyzed from the waist down after a trooper shot him in the back during a 2018 tra c stop in Baton Rouge and then falsely reported it as a Taser discharge. The settlement reached last month is among the largest of its kind in state history and resolves a federal lawsuit by Clifton “Scotty” Dilley, whose injuries con ned him to a wheelchair when he was 19. The shooting was mentioned in a U.S. Justice Department report this year that found Louisiana State Police used excessive force during arrests and vehicle pursuits.

4 children, 2 adults killed in Maryland house re Waldorf, Md.

The U.S. has veto power at the council and can block proposed actions there.

Other council members and U.N. o cials expressed alarm. China called the “collective punishment” of people in Gaza unacceptable. Russia warned against a “reckless intensi cation of hostilities.”

“This is no longer a looming hunger crisis; this is starvation,” said Ramesh Rajasingham with the U.N. humanitarian o ce. “Humanitarian conditions are beyond horri c. We have frankly run out of words to describe it.”

Israel faces growing action even by its closest allies. Netanyahu said Chancellor Friedrich Merz of Germany had “buckled under” the growing international criticism by stopping exports of military equipment to Israel that could be used in Gaza. Merz, for his part, told public broadcaster ARD that Germany and Israel were talking “very critically” but Berlin’s overall policies of friendship haven’t changed.

Trip Ho end, North State Media vice president Jim Sills and Charlotte Publishing chief operating o cer William King will lead the business operations. Robbins said more details about the transition will be announced in the coming weeks.

USDA’s Rural Development programs operate in partnership with state and local governments, tribal entities, nonpro ts and private lenders. In many cases, these programs address infrastructure needs in sparsely populated areas where the cost of delivery is higher and private investment is limited. Projects nanced by the agency range from water treatment facilities and rural hospitals to distance learning programs and renewable energy installations. Robbins will join USDA leadership as the department works to implement its current budget priorities and oversee a nationwide portfolio of loans, grants and guarantees intended to support the long-term viability of rural communities.

A re ripped through a house in Charles County, Maryland, on Sunday, killing four children and two adults, authorities said. One person managed to escape the blaze, which was reported around 8:40 a.m. at the home in Waldorf, about 55 miles south of Baltimore, WTOP-TV reported. It took about 70 re ghters more than an hour to control the ames. One re ghter was hospitalized, and another rst responder was treated for unspeci ed injuries. The cause of the re was under investigation. O cials said the blaze originated on the right side of the home within an enclosed porch.

6.1 earthquake in Turkey kills 1 Istanbul

A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck Turkey’s northwestern province of Balikesir on Sunday, killing at least one person and causing more than a dozen buildings to collapse, o cials said. At least 29 people were injured. The earthquake, with an epicenter in Sindirgi, sent shocks that were felt 125 miles to the north in Istanbul. An elderly woman died shortly after being pulled out alive from the debris of a collapsed building in Sindirgi, o cials said. Four other people were rescued from the building. A total of 16 buildings collapsed in the region, most derelict and unused.

Greek police seize cocaine valued 5.5M euros, 3 arrested Thessaloniki, Greece Greek police said Sunday they seized more than 595 pounds of cocaine with an estimated value of over $6.5 million and arrested three men. The cocaine was hidden inside a container of bananas imported from Ecuador, they said. Police had been informed by the United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency that the cocaine would be carried by a ship headed to the northern Greek port of Thessaloniki. Police o cers found the cocaine and removed most of the drug contained in brick-sized packages from the container before it was loaded into a truck.

CARLOS OSORIO / AP PHOTO

Ford F-150 trucks are assembled at the Dearborn Truck Plant in Michigan in 2024.

Dierks Bentley lights up Raleigh with stop on ‘Broken Branches’ tour

By James Jackson North State Journal

RALEIGH — Coastal Cred-

it Union Music Park was alive with the sights, sounds and spirit of country music Friday night as Dierks Bentley brought his “Broken Branches” tour to Raleigh. Fans from across the region lled every seat and patch of lawn for a night of sing-along hits, high-energy performances and the kind of stage presence that has made Bentley one of the genre’s most enduring stars.

After a pair of opening acts, Bentley launched into the open-

ing medley with an infectious energy that never let up for the rest of the evening. His setlist was a carefully curated mix of longtime fan favorites and fresh tracks from the recently released “Broken Branches” album. In true Bentley fashion, the performance wasn’t just about playing songs; it was about connecting with the people who came to hear them. At various points, Bentley leaned into the crowd, high- ving fans, sharing laughs and exchanging quick banter that made the show feel spontaneous and intimate despite its large scale. He spoke warmly about his love for performing in North Carolina, noting past shows in the state and the loyal fan base that always shows up in force.

“We’re the never stood a chancer’s / hanging out in the breeze / a bunch of broken branches / o the family tree.”

Dierks Bentley

The show’s production value added to the experience, with dynamic lighting, crisp sound and a stage setup that allowed Bentley and his band to move freely and interact with the audience on both sides of the amphitheater. Each member of his band brought their own air, from ery guitar solos to play-

ful onstage exchanges that showed a group of musicians enjoying the moment as much as the crowd was.

By the time Bentley closed the night with a rousing encore, the Coastal Credit Union Music Park was still buzzing.

Zach Top, the rising country music powerhouse whose traditional-meets-modern style is winning over fans nationwide, performed just before Bentley. Dressed in sharp Western wear and armed with an easygoing charisma, he delivered a set packed with twangy guitars, authentic storytelling and a voice that seemed tailor-made for ’90s country. The Band Loula kicked o the night with a set that was equal parts charm and craftsmanship. Known for their intricate harmonies and tight musicianship, the band lled the amphitheater with a sound that was both rich and inviting. Their set was lled with upbeat numbers and more tender moments that primed the crowd for the night.

The Band Loula and rising country sensation Zach Top opened

JAMES JACKSON FOR NORTH STATE JOURNAL

Ben Helson, guitarist for Dierks Bentley, performs a solo during last Friday’s show in Raleigh.

PHOTOS BY JAMES JACKSON FOR NORTH STATE JOURNAL

Left, from left, Dierks Bentley and guitarists Charlie Worsham and Ben Helson take center stage last Friday at Coastal Credit Union Music Park. Top right, North Georgia duo the Band Loula, composed of vocalists Malachi Mills and Logan Simmons, opened last Friday’s concert with their swampy, haunting acoustic sound and raw harmonies. Middle right, Singer-songwriter Zach Top opened for Dierks Bentley last week at Coastal Credit Union Music Park. Bottom right, country sensation Dierks Bentley made a tour stop at Raleigh’s Coastal Credit Union Music Park last Friday.

Notice to Creditors

CUMBERLAND NOTICE

NORTH CAROLINA CUMBERLAND COUNTY IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION BEFORE THE CLERK FILE NUMBER:

25E001107-250 In the Matter of the Estate of:

WILLIAM ELIJAH AUTRY

Deceased. ))))) EXECUTOR’S NOTICE

The undersigned, having quali ed as Executor of the Estate of William Elijah Autry, deceased, late of Cumberland County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against said Estate to present them to the undersigned on or before November 14, 2025 (which is three (3) months after the day of the rst publication of this notice), or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons, rms and corporations indebted to said estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned. THIS the 14th day of August, 2025. William Craig Autry, Executor of the Estate of William Elijah Autry, Deceased c/o J. Thomas Neville Yarborough, Winters & Neville, P.A. P.O. Box 705 Fayetteville, NC 28302-0705

Publish: 08/14/2025, 08/21/2025, 08/28/2025 and 09/04/2025

Administrator’s / Executors’ Notice

The undersigned, having quali ed as Byron Cousin of the Estate of James Eltion Barlow Jr., Deceased, late of Cumberland County, herby noti es all persons, rms, and corporations having Claims against said estate to present their claim to the undersigned on or before the 30th day of November, 2025, (which date is three months after the day of the rst publication of this notice) or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All Debtors of the decedent are requested to make Immediate payment to the undersigned.

This 1st day of August, 2025 Byron Cousin 5117 Queensdale DR Fayetteville, NC 28304

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

ESTATE OF OPHELIA RUTH BOZEMAN Cumberland County Estate File No. 25E000550-250

All persons, rms and corporations having claims against Ophelia Ruth Bozeman, deceased, of Cumberland County, North Carolina, are noti ed to present their claims to Davis W. Puryear, Administrator, at 4317 Ramsey St., Fayetteville, NC 28311, on or before the 8th day of November 2025 (which date is three months after the day of the rst publication of this notice), or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. Debtors of the Decedent are requested to make immediate payment to the Administrator named above.

This the 1st day of August, 2025. Davis W. Puryear Administrator of the Estate of Ophelia Ruth Bozeman Davis W. Puryear Hutchens Law Firm Attorneys for the Estate 4317 Ramsey Street Fayetteville, NC 28311 Run dates: August 7, August 14, August 21 and August 28, 2025 NOTICE

In the General Court of Justice Superior Court Division Before the Clerk Estate File # 23 E1963 STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA CUMBERLAND COUNTY

ADMINISTRATOR NOTICE

The undersigned having quali ed as executor of the estate of Lillie Mae Campbell, deceased, late of Cumberland County North Carolina, this is to notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against the estate of said decedent to present them to the undersigned on or before the 14th day of November, 2025, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons, rms, and corporations indebted to said estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned. This the 14th day of August 2025. Maxine McNeill Johnson 1 634 Joye Street West Columbia SC 29169 Executor of the Estate of Lillie Mae Campbell

NOTICE TO CREDITORS IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION ESTATE FILE NO. 25E000848-250 STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF CUMBERLAND Having quali ed as Executor of the Estate of Jose Joaquim D’Arruda, late of Cumberland County, North Carolina, the undersigned does hereby notify all persons, rms, and corporations having claims against the estate of said decedent to exhibit them to the undersigned at 2517 Raeford Road, Fayetteville, NC 28305, on or before November 7, 2025, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons, rms, and corporations indebted to the said Estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned. Dated this 7th day of August, 2025. Dorothy Ann D’Arruda, Executor of the Estate of Jose Joaquim D’Arruda NICOLE A. CORLEY MURRAY & CORLEY, P.A. N.C. BAR NO. 56459 2517 RAEFORD ROAD FAYETTEVILLE, NC 28305 – 3007 (910) 483 – 4990 COUNSEL FOR EXECUTOR

The undersigned , having quali ed as Administrator of the Estate of Alvin Henry Hill, deceased, late of Cumberland County, hereby noti es all persons, rms, and corporations having claims against said estate to present their claim to the undersigned on or before the 24-day of October, 2025 or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All debtors of the descendent are requested to make immediate payment to the undersigned.

This 24 day of July , 2025. Jacqueline Hill, 3305 Lake Bend Drive,, Fayetteville, NC 28311 of the estate of Alvin Henry Hill, Deceased.

NOTICE

STATE OF NORTH CROLINA In The General Court of Justice County of Cumberland Superior Court Division Estate File 25E000012-250 Administrator’s/Executor’s Notice

The undersigned, having quali ed as Executor of the Estate of Nervin J. DeDeaux, deceased, late of Cumberland County, hereby noti es all persons, rms, and corporations having claims against said estate to present their claim to the undersigned on or before the 24th day of October, 2025, (which date is three months after the day of the rst publication of this notice) or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All Debtors of the decedent are requested to make immediate payments to the undersigned.

This 24th day of July, 2025. Nicole DeDeaux Administrator/Executor 3207 Barksdale Rd. Fayetteville, NC 28301 Of the Estate of Nervin J. DeDeaux, Deceased

NOTICE OF CREDITORS

Decedent: Donald Leon Ferebee IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION ESTATE FILE 24E000882-250 STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF CUMBERLAND Having quali ed as Executor of the Estate of Donald Leon Ferebee Late of Cumberland County, North Carolina, the Undersigned does hereby notify all persons, rms, and corporations having claims against the estate of said decedent to exhibit them to the undersigned at 405 Southwick Dr., Fayetteville, NC 28303, not later than November 07, 2025, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons, rms, and corporations indebted to the Estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned. Dated this 7th day of August 2025. Viola Ferebee, Executor of the Estate of Donald Leon Ferebee, 405 Southwick Rd., Fayetteville, NC 28303.

NOTICE

STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF

CUMBERLAND IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION ESTATE FILE

25E001099-250 IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF: MARIAN JACQUELYN HARGIS

ADMINISTRATOR’S NOTICE

The undersigned, having quali ed as the Administrator of the estate of Marian Jacquelyn Hargis, deceased, late of Cumberland County, this is to notify all persons, rms, and corporations having claims against said estate to present them to the undersigned on or before the 10th of November , 2025, (which is three months after the the day of the rst publication of this notice) 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 25th of July, 2025. David Hargis 933 E. Winds Ln, Fayetteville, NC 28311

Administrator of the estate of Marian Jacquelyn Hargis, deceased.

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

ESTATE OF LARRY HURLEY, SR. Cumberland County Estate File No. 23E001988-250

All persons, rms and corporations having claims against Larry Hurley, Sr., deceased, of Cumberland County, North Carolina, are noti ed to present their claims to Davis W. Puryear, Administrator, at 4317 Ramsey St., Fayetteville, NC 28311, on or before the 8th day of November, 2025 (which date is three months after the day of the rst publication of this notice), or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. Debtors of the Decedent are requested to make immediate payment to the Administrator named above. This the 4th day of August, 2025. Davis W. Puryear Administrator of the Estate of Larry Hurley, Sr. Davis W. Puryear Hutchens Law Firm

Attorneys for the Estate 4317 Ramsey Street Fayetteville, NC 28311 Run dates: August 7, August 14, August 21 and August 28, 2025

NOTICE

STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA

COUNTY OF CUMBERLAND

IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE

SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION FILE NO. 25CV005318-250

MidFirst Bank, Plainti , v. Unknown Heirs of Linda A. Kirk; Maurice Alexander Kirk; Dontae Alonza Kirk; Herman Anthony Kirk; Secretary of Housing and Urban Development; Foundation Finance Company LLC; Servhl Underlying Trust 2019-1, Defendants.

NOTICE OF SERVICE OF PROCESS BY PUBLICATION

TO: Dontae Alonza Kirk and Herman Anthony Kirk

Please take notice that a pleading seeking relief against you has been led in the above-captioned action. The nature of the relief being sought is judicial foreclosure of real property located in Cumberland County, North Carolina. You are required to make defense to the pleading no later than September 23, 2025. If you fail to do so, the party seeking relief may apply to the court for the relief requested.

This the 7th day of August, 2025.

Grady Ingle The Ingle Law Firm, P.A. 13801 Reese Blvd West, Suite 160 Huntersville, NC 28078

Phone: (980) 771-0717

Publication Dates: August 14, 2025; August 21, 2025; August 28, 2025

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

ESTATE OF DANIEL VERNON KINLAW

CUMBERLAND County

Estate File No. 25E000967-250

All persons, rms and corporations having claims against Daniel Vernon Kinlaw, deceased, of Cumberland County, North Carolina, are noti ed to present their claims to Daniel Watson Brown, Executor, at 1500 Old Lamplighter Way, Wilmington, NC 28403, on or before the 25th day of October, 2025 (which date is three months after the day of the rst publication of this notice), or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. Debtors of the Decedent are requested to make immediate payment to the Executor named above. This the 15th day of July, 2025. Daniel Watson Brown Executor of the Estate of Daniel Vernon Kinlaw Davis W. Puryear Hutchens Law Firm Attorneys for the Estate 4317 Ramsey Street Fayetteville, NC 28311

Run dates: July 24, July 31, August 7 and August 14, 2025

NOTICE TO CREDITORS IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION ESTATE FILE NO.

24E002857-250 STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF CUMBERLAND Having quali ed as Administrator of the Estate of Raymond Joseph Ortega, late of Cumberland County, North Carolina, the undersigned does hereby notify all persons, rms, and corporations having claims against the estate of said decedent to exhibit them to the undersigned at 2517 Raeford Road, Fayetteville, NC 28305, on or before November 14, 2025, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons, rms, and corporations indebted to the said Estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned. Dated this 14th day of August, 2025. Gina Gentry, Administrator of the Estate of Raymond Joseph Ortega NICOLE A. CORLEY MURRAY & CORLEY, P.A. N.C. BAR NO. 56459

2517 RAEFORD ROAD

FAYETTEVILLE, NC 28305 – 3007 (910) 483 – 4990

COUNSEL FOR ADMINISTRATOR

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION ESTATE FILE NO. 25E001219-250 STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF CUMBERLAND Having quali ed as Administrator of the Estate of Ronald Edward Gordy, late of Cumberland County, North Carolina, the undersigned does hereby notify all persons, rms, and corporations having claims against the estate of said decedent to exhibit them to the undersigned at 2517 Raeford Road, Fayetteville, NC 28305, on or before November 14, 2025, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons, rms, and corporations indebted to the said Estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned. Dated this 14th day of August, 2025. Diana Vogel, Administrator of the Estate of Ronald Edward Gordy NICOLE A. CORLEY

MURRAY & CORLEY, P.A.

N.C. BAR NO. 56459 2517 RAEFORD ROAD FAYETTEVILLE, NC 28305 – 3007 (910) 483 – 4990

COUNSEL FOR ADMINISTRATOR NOTICE

STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF CUMBERLAND IN THE MATTER OF THE ) ESTATE OF MARK D. LEVINE, ) DECEASED. ) The undersigned, having heretofore quali ed as Ancillary Executor of the Estate of Mark D. Levine, deceased, late of Cobb County, Georgia, hereby noti es all persons, rms and corporations having claims against

by George W. Simpson, PLS Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 6901 Oxbow Lane, Monroe, North Carolina. Trustee may, in the Trustee’s

delay the sale for

to

provided in N.C.G.S. §45-21.23. Should the property be purchased by a third party, that party must pay the excise tax, as well as the court costs of Forty-Five Cents ($0.45) per One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) required by N.C.G.S. §7A-308(a)(1). The property to be o ered pursuant to this notice of sale is being o ered for sale, transfer and conveyance

“AS IS, WHERE IS.” Neither the Trustee nor the holder of the note secured by the deed of trust/security agreement, or both, being foreclosed, nor the o cers, directors, attorneys, employees, agents or authorized representative of either the Trustee or the holder of the note make any representation or warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on,

of

JAY TUCKER MARION “BETH”MCQUAID, Attorney IVEY & EGGLESTON, ATTORNEYS AT LAW 111 Worth Street Asheboro, NC 27203 (336) 625-3043 PUBL/DATES: 07/31/25, 08/07/25, 08/14/25, 08/21/25 NEW HANOVER NOTICE

NORTH CAROLINA NEW HANOVER COUNTY NOTICE TO CREDITORS THE UNDERSIGNED, Joseph Alan Baggett, Jr., having quali ed on the 26th day of June 2025,

PLLC, 9111

Street, Suite A, Wilmington, North Carolina, 28411, on or before the 3rd day of November, 2025, or the claims will be forever barred thereafter, and this notice will be pleaded in bar of recovery. All persons, rms, and corporations indebted to said Estate will please make prompt payment to the undersigned at the above address. This 31st day of July 2025. Joseph Alan Baggett, Jr. Administrator ESTATE OF JOSEPH ALAN BAGGETT David Anderson Attorney at Law 9111 Market St, Ste A Wilmington, NC 28411 Publish: July 31, 2025, August 7, 2025, August 14, 2025, August 21, 2025

NOTICE NORTH CAROLINA NEW HANOVER COUNTY NOTICE TO CREDITORS THE UNDERSIGNED, Ricky Johnson, having quali ed on the 9th day of July, 2025, as Executor of the Estate of Thomas Preston Barham (25E001877-640), deceased, does hereby notify all persons, rms, and corporations having claims against said Estate that they must present them to the undersigned at DAVID E. ANDERSON, PLLC, 9111 Market Street, Suite A, Wilmington, North Carolina, 28411, on or before the 17th day of November, 2025, or the claims will be forever barred thereafter, and this notice will be pleaded in bar of recovery. All persons, rms, and corporations indebted to said Estate will please make prompt payment to the undersigned at the above address. This 14th day of August 2025. Ricky Johnson Executor ESTATE OF THOMAS PRESTON BARHAM David Anderson Attorney at Law 9111 Market St, Ste A Wilmington, NC 28411 Publish: August 14, 2025, August 21, 2025, August 28, 2025, September 4, 2025 NOTICE

STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF NEW HANOVER NOTICE TO CREDITORS The undersigned,KAREN SELZ, having quali ed as the Executor of the Estate of WAYNE RICHARD CHALMERS, Deceased, hereby noti es all

JR. 219 RACINE DR., SUITE #A6 Wilmington, NC 28405

Notice to Creditors

To All Creditors: Having quali ed as Executor of the Estate of Maria Ross, deceased, late of New Hanover County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons, rms, and corporations having claims against the Estate of said Maria Ross to present them to the undersigned on or before the 1st day of November, 2025 (this date being 3 months from the rst publication date of this notice) or same will be pleased in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate, please make immediate payment. This the 31st day of July, 2025. Julia Ross 540 Calvin Lane Rockville, MD 20851 Executor of the Estate of Maria Ross

NOTICE

NORTH CAROLINA NEW HANOVER COUNTY NOTICE TO CREDITORS

THE UNDERSIGNED, Susan Leemhuis, having quali ed on the 23rd day of June 2025, as Executor of the Estate of Elisa M. Strong (25E001829-640), deceased, does hereby notify all persons, rms, and corporations having claims against said Estate that they must present them to the undersigned at DAVID E. ANDERSON, PLLC, 9111 Market Street, Suite A, Wilmington, North Carolina, 28411, on or before the 27th day of October, 2025, or the claims will be forever barred thereafter, and this notice will be pleaded in bar of recovery. All persons, rms, and corporations indebted to said Estate will please make prompt payment to the undersigned at the above address. This 24th day of July 2025. Susan Leemhuis Executor ESTATE OF ELISA M. STRONG David Anderson Attorney at Law 9111 Market St, Ste A Wilmington, NC 28411

Publish: July 24, 2025, July 31, 2025, August 7, 2025, August 14, 2025

NOTICE

NORTH CAROLINA NEW HANOVER COUNTY NOTICE TO CREDITORS THE UNDERSIGNED, Lisa C. Johnson, having quali ed on the 4th day of August, 2025, as Ancillary Administrator of the Estate of Ernesteen Bar eld Bradley (25E001934640), deceased, does hereby notify all persons, rms, and corporations having claims against said Estate that they must present them to the undersigned at DAVID E. ANDERSON, PLLC, 9111 Market Street, Suite A, Wilmington, North Carolina, 28411, on or before the 10th day of November, 2025, or the claims will be forever barred thereafter, and this notice will be pleaded in bar of recovery. All persons, rms, and corporations indebted to said Estate will please make prompt payment to the undersigned at the above address. This 7th day of August 2025. Lisa C. Johnson. Ancillary Administrator ESTATE OF ERNESTEEN BARFIELD BRADLEY David Anderson Attorney at Law 9111 Market St, Ste A Wilmington, NC 28411

Publish: August 7, 2025, August 14, 2025, August 21, 2025, August 28, 2025

NOTICE

NORTH CAROLINA NEW HANOVER COUNTY NOTICE TO CREDITORS THE UNDERSIGNED, Malin Wrenn, having quali ed on the 23rd day of June, 2025, as Executor of the Estate of Per Ake Svensson (25E001815-640), deceased, does hereby notify all persons, rms, and corporations having claims against said Estate that they must present them to the undersigned at DAVID E. ANDERSON, PLLC, 9111 Market Street, Suite A, Wilmington, North Carolina, 28411, on or before the 17th day of November, 2025, or the claims will be forever barred thereafter, and this notice will be pleaded in bar of recovery. All persons, rms, and corporations indebted to said Estate will please make prompt payment to the undersigned at the above address. This 14th day of August 2025. Malin Wrenn Executor ESTATE OF PER AKE SVENSSON

David Anderson Attorney at Law 9111 Market St, Ste A Wilmington, NC 28411

Publish: August 14, 2025, August 21, 2025, August 28, 2025, September 4, 2025

NOTICE

STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF NEW HANOVER NOTICE TO CREDITORS The undersigned, PATRICIA

THIEMAN HALLMAN having quali ed as the Executor of the Estate of JANET L.

THIEMAN A/K/A JANET LARKIN THIEMAN, Deceased, hereby noti es all persons, rms or corporations having claims against the Decedent to exhibit same to the said PATRICIA THIEMAN HALLMAN, at the address set out below, on or before October 25, 2025, or this notice may be pleaded in bar of any payment or recovery of same.

All persons indebted to said Decedent will please make immediate payment to the undersigned at the address set out below.

This the 17th day of July, 2025 PATRICIA THIEMAN HALLMAN Executor of the Estate of JANET L. THIEMAN A/K/A JANET LARKIN THEIMAN c/o ROBERT H. HOCHULI, JR. 219 RACINE DR., SUITE #A6 Wilmington, NC 28405

RANDOLPH

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Having quali ed as Executor of the Estate of ALLEN RITTER MCNEILL, late of Randolph 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 October 24, 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 24th day of July, 2025 ALLEN RAY MCNEILL Executor of the Estate of ALLEN RITTER MCNEILL S. SCOTT EGGLESTON, Attorney IVEY & EGGLESTON, ATTORNEYS AT LAW 111 Worth Street Asheboro, NC 27203 (336) 625-3043 PUBL/DATES: 07/24/25 07/31/25 08/07/25 08/14/25

ATTENTION ITEMS FOR SALE

Two Cemetery Plots for sale at Randolph Memorial Park in the Grandview Section. Cemetery charges $3979 for one plot. We are selling two plots for $5000. Selling because we no longer need plots as we are going to be cremated. Contact Joyce Tucker at 336-963-3471 if you are interested.

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Having quali ed as Executor of the Estate of MARK LEWIS PAGE, late of Randolph 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 November 06, 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 7th day of August 2025. JORDAN LEIGH PAGE aka JORDAN PAGE BEASON Executor of the Estate of MARK LEWIS PAGE S. SCOTT EGGLESTON, Attorney IVEY & EGGLESTON, ATTORNEYS AT LAW 111 Worth Street Asheboro, NC 27203 (336) 625-3043 PUBL/DATES: 08/07/25, 08/14/25, 08/21/25, 08/28/25

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Having quali ed as Executor of the Estate of Robert L. Wheeler, late of Randolph County, North Carolina, the undersigned does hereby notify all persons, rms, and corporations having claims against the estate of said decedent to exhibit them to the undersigned at P.O. Box 5994, Greensboro, North Carolina 27435, on or before the 31st day October 2025, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons, rms, and corporations indebted to the said estate will

WAKE

Notice to Creditors

Having quali ed as Executor of the Estate of TAMMY LEIGH BAKER, late of Wake County, North Carolina (25E002711-910), the undersigned does hereby notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against the estate of said decedent to

Having

WAKE

NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF WAKE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION BEFORE THE CLERK FILE NO. 25SP000970-910 IN THE MATTER OF THE FORECLOSURE UNDER THAT POWER OF SALE. GRANTED IN THE DECLARATION OF COVENANTS RESTRICTIONS AND EASEMENTS, RECORDED AT BOOK 2206, PAGE 284, AND AS AMENDED WAKE COUNTY REGISTRY CONCERNING JULIUS STEVENSON AND SPOUSE, IF ANY NOTICE OF SALE NOTICE OF ASSOCIATION’S SALE OF REAL ESTATE Under and by virtue of the power and authority contained in the Declaration of Covenants Restrictions and Easements recorded at Book 2206, Page 284, as amended Wake County Registry; and because of default in the payment of the indebtedness secured by said Declaration and failure of performance of the stipulations and agreements therein contained, and pursuant to the Order entered in 25SP000970-910, Superior Court of WAKE County, North Carolina, the undersigned Trustee will expose for sale at public auction to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate located in WAKE County, North Carolina: Legal Description: Lot 31, Block C, Williamsburg Manor Subdivision, Phase II, according to a plat recorded at Book of Maps 1973, Page 468, Wake County Registry. ALSO BEING that property described in that deed recorded at Deed Book 12311, Page 568 in the O ce of the Register of Deeds of Wake County, North Carolina. Present Legal Owners: Julius Stevenson and spouse, if any Property Address: 1232 Donaldson Court Cary, NC 27511 A Certi ed Check ONLY (no personal

The preason All-NC college football team, B4

the Thursday SIDELINE REPORT

AUTO RACING

Driver dies at Bowman Gray Stadium after midrace incident

Winston-Salem

Robbie Brewer, a 53-year- old veteran of several decades of racing at Bowman Gray Stadium, died following a midrace incident during a Saturday night event at the track. Brewer is believed to have su ered a medical emergency, which led to a crash into the wall. Track personnel removed the roof of his car, and he was taken to an area hospital. A statement from Bowman Gray Stadium said, “We are saddened by the passing of Robbie Brewer after he was transported to an area medical facility following an on-track medical incident during last night’s event at Bowman Gray Stadium. Robbie was a talented and passionate racer, and highly respected competitor among his peers. Our thoughts and prayers are with Robbie’s family and friends at this time.”

NCAA BASKETBALL

Judge dismisses

NC State’s ‘Cardiac Pack’ lawsuit for name, image, likeness compensation

A North Carolina judge dismissed a lawsuit led by the 1983 N.C. State men’s basketball team. The team, known as the “Cardiac Pack,” sought compensation for the use of their names, images and likenesses, claiming the NCAA misappropriated them for more than 40 years. Judge Mark A. Davis ruled the claims were untimely and preempted by federal copyright law, leading to the case’s dismissal.

Pitt County falls short in bid for repeat at Little League Softball World Series

The team posted a 3-2 mark while defending its 2024 crown

By Jesse Deal North State Journal

GREENVILLE — Pitt County Girls’ Softball’s attempt at back-to-back Little League Softball World Series titles came to an end over the weekend at Elm Street Park in Greenville.

Making its fourth straight appearance at the LLSWS, the Winterville-based host team fell 2-0 in extra innings to Central Region (Indiana) in an elimination game on Saturday in front of more than 3,000 fans.

Despite the tough loss, Pitt County still had a chance to come away with bronze.

However, in Sunday’s third-place consolation matchup, the North Carolina all-stars from Pitt County came up

short in a 3-2 loss to Southwest Region (Oklahoma), nishing fourth overall out of 12 teams with a 3-2 tournament record.

“I’m proud of the girls,” coach Gerren Brown said after the game. “Pitt County Girls’

Softball, that league pours into these girls starting when they are 5 and 6. This was something we said we wanted to set out and do a long time ago. Just to see that we did it is just a huge accomplishment.

And next week they’ll realize, ‘Wow, I was on TV. I was signing autographs at 12 years old.’ Just a lot of kids don’t get that opportunity.”

In the LLSWS championship game on Sunday, the Mid-Atlantic Region team (Pennsylvania) emerged victorious, narrowly defeating Central by a score of 1–0. With the win, Pennsylvania captured its rst title since 1978, becoming only the second team from the state to do so.

Pitt County entered the 2025 tournament with momentum from last year’s title run, which made it the rst team from North Carolina to win the championship since

See SOFTBALL, page B4

NC State goes all in on defense ahead of 2025

The Wolfpack hope for more back eld control with its o season moves

By Asheebo Rojas North State Journal

CHARLOTTE — NC State found itself in a control crisis in last season.

The o ense got hit with the uncontrollable. No one could’ve predicted former quarterback Grayson McCall’s midseason injury and medical retirement, and it forced a freshman CJ Bailey to put out a re he wasn’t yet equipped to extinguish. Meanwhile, the defense mostly dealt with the uncontrolled. Despite boasting a 2024 preseason All-ACC selection in cornerback Aydan White and an eventual third-team All-ACC rusher in Davin Vann, the Wolfpack defense simply didn’t perform. The unit nished near the bottom of the ACC in points and total yards allowed per game, and it was exposed early in the season against elite opponents in Tennessee (44 points al-

“Anytime we go out on the eld as an NC State defense, we expect to dominate.”

Caden Fordham

lowed) and Clemson (52 points allowed).

This o season, NC State did just about all it could to change that.

After last year’s defensive coordinator Tony Gibson took the Marshall head coaching job in December, the Wolfpack hired DJ Eliot as his replacement. Eliot, who was a senior analyst at Baylor in 2024, has more than two decades of college coaching experience and coached linebackers for the Philadelphia Eagles in 2023.

“DJ, he’s like me,” NC State coach Dave Doeren said. “Been through a lot. Through his different stops and learning, it’s been fun because I’ve known him over 20 years but never worked with him. Just sitting

down and talking football. He’s a great translator of the changes that we’re making.”

Doeren said the unit expects to run di erent looks than its traditional 3-3-5, and senior defensive lineman Brandon Cleveland, who played nose tackle last season, said he looks to be “versatile” in his alignment and technique this fall. While getting players adjusted to his system, Eliot has been letting his NFL

experience do a lot of talking.

“We’re always watching NFL tape,” Cleveland said. “We’re in college, but you want to prepare like you’re in the pros. And that’s where we’re trying to get to. You have to get an elite level of coaching. So that’s great.” As the scheme gets tweaked, Doeren’s also wants to see a transformation of the pass rush. Last year, NC State ranked

KARL B. DEBLAKER / AP PHOTO NC State defensive tackle Brandon Cleveland celebrates a stop against Western Carolina last season.

COURTESY LITTLE LEAGUE

Pitt County’s Gemma Braxton surveys the action from her spot in the out eld during the Little League Softball World Series in Greenville. The N.C. team reached the Final Four but just missed its goal of repeating as champions.

COURTESY PITT COUNTY GIRLS’ SOFTBALL LEAGUE

The Pitt County Girls’ Softball Little League team came in fourth place in the 2025 Little League Softball World Series event in Greenville.

“I’m proud of the girls.”

Coach Gerren Brown

TRENDING

Connor Zilisch:

The NASCAR points leader broke his collarbone after a hard fall in Victory Lane at Watkins Glen International After his series-leading sixth victory the Charlotte native was climbing onto the roof of his Chevrolet to celebrate when he apparently got his left foot caught in the driver’s side window netting and tumbled to the asphalt He was taken away on a backboard

Alex Wood: The left-handed pitcher and Charlotte Ardry Kell alum announced his retirement after 12 major league seasons that included a World Series title The 34-year-old was an All-Star in 2017 and reached the postseason seven times Wood s retirement comes after he went 1-3 in nine starts last season with the Oakland Athletics He went 77-68 with a 3 78 ERA over 278 games split

Carson Bolemon: The Greenville South Carolina native and Wake Forest commit was chosen for the 2025 High School All-American Game at Dodger Stadium on Tuesday The 6-foot-4 left-hander went 10-0 with a 0.00 ERA at Southside Christian School and is the top southpaw in the class of 2026 He struck out 116 in 48 innings, allowing just six hits, all singles

Beyond the box score

POTENT QUOTABLES

Jen Pawol after woman to umpire in

“It’

ll g ive a ll the Jets fans something to throw their beers at ” Tom Brady when a statue of him was unveiled outside New England’s stadium

NASCAR

Shane van Gisbergen set a Cup Ser ies rook ie record w ith his four th v ictor y this sea son, blow ing out the competition at Watk ins Glen The Track house R acing dr ivers to w in four consecutive Cup races on road or street courses The New

Carolina Panthers cornerback Jaycee Horn escaped serious injur y af ter a car accident on the way to the stadium Horn injured his lef t thumb and didn’t play in the preseason opener against the Brow ns He’s expected back this week Horn was alone when the accident happened Team medical personnel evaluated him

A kshay Bhatia got his PGA Tour postseason star ted right, closing eagle-birdie-birdie for a career-low St Jude Championship Af ter leading by a stroke on day one, the 23-yearfor six th w ith a 10-under 270, six shots behind w inner Justin Rose

Combined years of NFL exper ience on at Colorado They also have 27 Pro Bowls and of Famers Warren Sapp and Marshall Faulk are a ssistants, a s is former NC State lineman G eorge Hegamin

Nor th Carolina Courage spor ting director Cer i Bowley said there were a “multitude of factors” that Sean Naha s la st Wednesday The team relea sed a terse statement say ing Naha s’ contract had been terminated. Bowley said the team considered a multitude of factors and felt it needed to change to uphold the standards of the Courage A ssistant Nathan Thackeray took over a s acting coach

Predicting the college football season with award watch lists

Duke looks like a contender, while it could be a long season for other area teams

By Shawn Krest North State Journal

LAST SEASON, East Carolina went from a 2-10 season to a 7-5 record and a bowl bid. Meanwhile, ACC newcomer SMU, picked for middle of the pack in the preseason media poll, won the regular season and posted a 10-2 regular season record. As the old saying goes, that’s why they play the games. You never can tell how a team will perform on the eld once the ball is kicked o . Unless, of course, you look at our annual August season prediction, which calculates the win-loss record for every team in the ACC and the state, based on preseason award watch lists.

Every summer, college football’s 16 major awards — from the Butkus and Bednarik to the Biletniko and Thorpe — lists the few dozen players expect-

ed to contend for their award. More than 300 players receive watch list mentions each oseason, from the playmakers at quarterback and the uglies on the line to the punters and kickers. It makes sense that the more good players a team has, the better the team should be. And sure enough, watch list mentions can be very accurate in gauging a team for the upcoming year.

For example, NC State and ECU open the season with a rematch of their bowl game, won by the Pirates. But the Pack have seven watch list mentions, while ECU has only four. So we’re predicting an NC State win based on an edge in top-level talent. Do that for every game and every team, and things get interesting.

Does the model work? After tracking it for years, we can answer that question with an unquali ed “sometimes.” We had ECU with a 7-4-1 record last year (the “tie” or “toss-up” comes from both teams in a game having the same number of watch-listers). And we projected an 11-1 mark for SMU.

Other hits for last year’s predictions include:

The other four teams in the state may want to make alternative holiday travel plans.

Closer to home, the model wasn’t quite up to snu last year.

So what can we expect for 2025? After poring over the watch lists, it could be a long year across the state. Just two teams appear bowl bound with a third having a shot, depending on the results of toss-up games.

TEAM NO. OF WATCH-LISTERS PROJECTED RECORD

Looking at the ACC, here’s how the entire league shakes out:

Not all schedules are created equal. Like UNC, Syracuse has three watch-listers. But while the model projects the Heels with 4 wins and a toss up for a fth, the Orange are expected to go 1-9-2. That’s because Cuse has Tennessee and Notre Dame as nonconference foes and plays Clemson, Miami, SMU, Pitt and Duke — the ACC’s ve most watch-list heavy teams — in conference. The Tar Heels have just two of those ve teams on the league schedule.

Here’s a look at the strength of schedule for the teams in North Carolina. The number is the total watch-listers on opponents’ rosters, so higher means a tougher schedule.

It’s easy to understand the disparity in UNC and Syracuse’s projections with the strength-of-schedule metric. While UNC faces 68 watch-listers, the Orange face 116 — the highest total in the league and, compared to the Heels, an average of four extra watch list players a week lining up on the other side. TEAM STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE

Miami and Clemson are expected to run through the league unbeaten and meet in the ACC Championship Game. Duke, Pitt and SMU will be on the tier just below, with State in the third grouping, hovering around a .500 ACC mark.

STATE from page B1

14th in the ACC in sacks with 23, which was 18 less than UNC and 20 less than Duke.

“We had a lot of third downs that I think are winnable third downs where we didn’t get o the eld,” Doeren said. “And as a former defensive coordinator, pressure on the quarterback is a great x.” With the Wolfpack losing their top rusher in Vann to graduation while returning graduate end Travali Price (3.5 sacks in 2024) and redshirt sophomore end Isaiah Shirley, they went in

search for more. Elliot helped with the recruitment of a haul of edge rushers in the transfer portal, including Joseph Adedire from Texas Tech, Sabastian Harsh from Wyoming (8.5 sacks last year), Cian Slone from Utah State (7.5 sacks last year) and Tra Thomas from Temple. NC State also grabbed a few linebackers in AJ Richardson from Norfolk State, Sterling Dixon from Alabama, Bailey Benson from Wake Forest and Kenny Soares Jr. from Northwestern. “I’m looking forward to see Kenny, Cian, Sabastian, all

The league can expect eight bowl bids, with two more toss-up chances to expand the ACC’s postseason footprint. It will be top-heavy, with four 10-win teams. There will also be three one-win teams at the opposite extreme.

those guys we added in,” Cleveland said. “It’s going to make my job easier. Those guys rushing o the edge, quarterback steps up and I’m pushing the pocket, get me a little sack in there.”

While trying to improve its presence in o ensive backelds, NC State’s defense also welcomed new faces to its own back eld.

With starting corner Brandon Cisse and starting safety Bishop Fitzgerald transferring out of the program this o season, the Wolfpack reloaded with corner Brian Nelson from North Texas (four interceptions in 2024),

safety JJ Johnson from Georgia State and corner Jaren Sensabaugh from Mizzou.

“Brian Nelson, a guy that got a lot of accolades as a true freshman, tested really well for us last week at corner,” Doeren said at the 2025 ACC Kicko . “A safety that’s played every position in the back end in JJ Johnson is just a really consistent and good communicator.”

As they’ve controlled what they can so far in turning the defensive unit around, the Wolfpack also had an uncontrollable factor bounce in their favor. Standout graduate linebacker

Caden Fordham is set to return after su ering a torn ACL in the middle of last season.

Fordham, who recorded 49 tackles, four tackles for loss and two sacks in six games last year, will add a voice of leadership for the new look unit on top of being a key piece in the run defense.

As someone who’s seen the old and the new, he has high expectations for this season.

“Anytime we go out on the eld as an NC State defense, we expect to dominate,” Fordham said. “We expect to play physical and tough, and I believe this oseason was big for us.”

BEN MCKEOWN / AP PHOTO

Duke’s Chandler Rivers (0) runs o the eld. Rivers was named to the preseason watch lists for the Nagurski, Thorpe and Bednarik awards, three of Duke’s state-high 12 mentions.

2025 All-North Carolina Preseason Team

A roster composed of players from all over North Carolina

By Ryan Henkel North State Journal

IT’S NEARLY time for the return of college football.

North Carolina boasts more than a dozen FBS and FCS programs, and North State Journal has our picks for the 2025 All-N.C. Preseason Team.

OFFENSE

Quarterback

Darian Mensah (Duke)

After a standout rst season at Tulane, sophomore quarterback Darian Mensah entered the transfer portal and chose to join the Blue Devils. Mensah threw for 2,700 yards and 22 touchdowns last season.

Another potential quarterback to keep an eye on is Western Carolina’s Taron Dickens. The sophomore was named as the 2025 Preseason Southern Conference O ensive Player of the Year and as a Stats Perform FCS Preseason All-American.

Running Backs

Demond Claiborne (Wake), Mari Adams (Davidson)

After a big season with the Demon Deacons last year where he had more than 1,300 all-purpose yards and 13 touchdowns, Wake Forest senior running back Demond Claiborne is back.

Davidson’s Mari Adams, a returner to North State Journal’s Preseason All-N.C. Team, had 1,232 yards and 15 touchdowns last season for the Wildcats, marking consecutive seasons in which he had at least 1,000 -plus rushing yards and 15 touchdowns.

After nishing as a 2024 Pioneer All-Conference player, Adams was named to the 2025 Pioneer Preseason Team.

Wide Receivers Anthony Smith (ECU),

season’s game against Georgia Tech.

Dalton Stroman (App State), Chris Culliver (UNC)

ECU’s Anthony Smith nished last season with 799 yards and six touchdowns for the Pirates. Appalachian State senior receiver Dalton Stroman nished last season with 307 yards and ve touchdowns on 20 receptions. He was named a 2025 Preseason All-Sun Belt second-team selection.

UNC’s Chris Culliver rounds out the list, more so for his ability as a kick returner. Last season, the junior receiver had ve returns totaling 242 yards and two touchdowns. As such, he’s been named to the 2025 Preseason Jet Award Watchlist.

Tight End Justin Joly (NC State)

After transferring to NC State last season, senior tight end Justin Joly found a lot of chemistry with quarterback CJ Bailey.

Joly nished last season with 661 yards and four touchdowns

and has been named to the Preseason All-ACC First Team.

O ensive Line

Brian Parker (Duke), Austin Blaske (UNC), Jonny King (Charlotte), Korion Sharpe (A&T), Trevon Humphrey (Central)

Duke junior Brian Parker started all 13 games for the Blue Devils last season.

Austin Blaske is a sixth-year senior at UNC. He started 12 games at center last year.

Charlotte senior Jonny King started all 12 games at center last season, allowing just one sack and nine total pressures, according to PFF.

Korion Sharpe is a fth-year senior at NC A&T. He started 12 games for the Aggies at right guard and was a Preseason All-CAA Conference Team selection.

NC Central’s Trevon Humphrey was an All-MEAC honoree last season after anchoring the MEAC conference’s best

scoring and rushing o ense. The sophomore is a Preseason All-MEAC First-Team selection as well as a Stats Perform HBCU Player of the Year Award Watch List honoree.

DEFENSE

Defensive Line

J.D. Lampley (ECU), Caleb Fisher (WCU), Antonio O’Berry (Gardner-Webb), Kahmari Brown (Elon)

ECU senior J.D. Lampley played in all 13 games last season and had 25 tackles, ve tackles for a loss and 2.5 sacks. He was named to the Preseason All-AAC Second Team.

Senior Caleb Fisher is a third-year starter for the Catamounts and was named to the Preseason All-Southern Conference rst team. He had 37 tackles, seven for a loss and 2.5 sacks, last season. Gardner-Webb graduate starter Antonio O’Berry had 37 tackles, seven sacks and nine quar-

terback hurries last season. Sophomore Kahmari Brown played in all 11 games for the Phoenix last season, totaling 33 tackles, nine for a loss and 4.5 sacks. He was named a Freshman All-American last year.

Linebackers

Caden Fordham (NC State), Sean Brown (NC State), Andrew Simpson (UNC)

NC State senior linebacker Caden Fordham was NC State’s leading tackler last year before a season-ending injury.

Another Wolfpack senior, Sean Brown, ranked ninth in the league in tackles per game (7.4) and led the team in total stops (96).

UNC senior Andrew Simpson, a transfer from Boise State, had three sacks, three forced fumbles and an interception last year.

Defensive Backs

Chandler Rivers (Duke), Terry Moore (Duke), Malcolm Reed (Central), Brandon Guzman (Campbell)

Duke senior cornerback Chandler Rivers is anticipated to be one of the top corners in the nation this season. Rivers is a Preseason All-ACC rst-team selection. Duke also has a second standout in the secondary in graduate safety Terry Moore. Moore is also a preseason All-ACC rst-team selection.

Central defensive back Malcolm Reed was a MEAC rst-team selection last season after ranking second in the conference in pass breakups (11) and eighth in interceptions (2). He was named as a Preseason MEAC rst-team selection, as well as a Stats Perform HBCU Player of the Year Award Watch List honoree. Campbell defensive back Brandon Guzman was named an honorable mention for the All-CAA Preseason Team. In 2024, he had two interceptions, a forced fumble and 34 tackles in 11 games.

Three PFL champions will be crowned in Charlotte

A trio of pro MMA tournaments will have their nals on Friday

By Shawn Krest North State Journal

MIXED MARTIAL arts returns to Charlotte on Friday when three champions will be crowned. The Professional Fighters League makes its rst trip to the Queen City and will hold the nals of three of its 2025 single-elimination tournaments at Bojangles Coliseum topping a 10- ght card that will air on ESPN.

It’s the rst major MMA event held in the state since UFC came to town in May 2023. Bellator, a competing ghting organization that was purchased by the PFL last year, held an event at Charlotte Motor Speedway in 2017.

The main event will be thenals of the eight-man lightweight tournament. Gadzhi Rabadanov (26-4-2) will look to repeat as lightweight champion against Al e Davis (19-5-1) Rabadanov is riding a 12- ght winning streak dating back to 2021. The Russian southpaw went 4-0 in last year’s tourna-

from page B1

the event moved to Greenville in 2021. This summer, they once again carried the North Carolina Region ag into Stallings Stadium, earning the berth with a perfect 3-0 mark in regional play.

Pitt County opened the World Series on Aug. 3 with a 4-3 win over Latin America. The following day, it edged Central Region 5-3, setting up a quarternal meeting with Asia-Paci c. That game proved to be another nail-biter, as the N.C. squad pulled out a 3-2 victory to stay in the winner’s bracket.

ment, with knockout wins in the semi nals and nal to take home the million-dollar prize. This year, he ran his knockout streak to four in a row, stopping Marc Diakiese in 32 seconds in the quarter nals and Kevin Lee in 2:37 in the semis.

Davis, a British kickboxing specialist, knocked out former UFC ghter Clay Collard and then took a decision over former Bellator champion Brent Primus to earn his spot in the nals.

The women’s yweight division will also crown a champion as Liz Carmouche (24-8) faces Jena Bishop (9-2).

Carmouche, a 41-year-old former Marine, had been Bellator’s reigning yweight champion for two years when the organization was acquired by PFL. She missed weight before her PFL semi nal match last year, then dropped a decision. This year, she made short work of Ilara Joanne (2:25 knockout), then won a decision over Elora Dana to earn a berth in the championship match.

Carmouche is perhaps best known for her time in the UFC, which included a title challenge against Ronda Rousey.

The 39-year-old Bishop has

In a twist of fate, the seminal stage brought the squad face to face with the same Central Region team it beat earlier in the week. This time, Indiana’s pitching silenced Pitt County’s bats, and a run-scoring hit in the eighth inning sealed the extra-innings defeat. Pitt County’s return to the World Series marked its third consecutive appearance as the host-region champion. Its superb run last season ended with a 4-1 win over Southwest in the title game, a victory that energized the local softball community and set expectations high for this year’s

signi cantly less pro MMA experience. She also lost in last year’s tourney semis before using a decision and second-round tap out to reach the title bout.

“Liz is a veteran,” Bishop said of the matchup. “She’s been doing this a long time. She’s so well-rounded.”

Bishop, a black belt in Brazilian jujitsu, is not as versatile and will look to take the ght to theground, where she has the edge.

“Jujitsu is everything for me,” she said. “If I take her down, it’s where I want to be. If I get taken down, it’s still where I want to be.”

The third championship to be decided is at bantamweight, where Marcirley Alves (14-4) faces Justin Wetzell (12-2).

Alves, a 26-year-old Brazilian, has had a Cinderella run to the nal. He entered the tournament expecting to ght for the right to be an alternate should one of the eight entrants get injured. Before he even got to ght his alternate bout, however, he found himself in the bracket.

Josh Rettinghouse, himself a late replacement for Magomed Magomedov, was pulled from the opening-round ght

roster. The rst and only previous team from North Carolina to win the LLSWS before 2024 was Rowan Little League, which captured championships in 2015 and 2019.

With a strong core returning, including several players who were part of last year’s championship squad, Pitt County entered the 2025 series among the favorites. Many games turned into low-scoring a airs, showcasing the team’s pitching depth and defensive skill.

“Today you played on the last day of the season and once again showed ght, grit, and a love for this game,” Pitt Coun-

Veteran Liz Carmouche will ght for the PFL championship in Charlotte.

against Leandro Higo after weigh-ins due to a medical issue. That left Alves, who had already weighed in for his alternate bout, less than 24 hours to prepare for Higo, a seven-year Bellator veteran.

Alves won a decision and then beat Jake Hadley on the scorecards to ght for the big prize. Wetzell, a 33-year-old from

ty Girls’ Softball said in a statement on Sunday afternoon. “To say the community is proud would not do it justice. You inspired the younger generations and reminded the older generations to never give up. I hope you never forget the summer you showed everyone what you were made of on and o the eld. Thank you for giving us this ride!” Although it couldn’t match last year’s championship nish, Pitt County’s 2025 run added another chapter to the program’s growing legacy. The team has compiled a 12-4 record at the World Series since

Colorado, won a pair of decisions to earn his spot. He was also a short-notice replacement in the rst round, as well as a plus-700 underdog. He pulled upset wins in both rounds.

The ESPN broadcast also has one nontournament bout. Mads Burnell (20-7) faces Robert Watley (15-3) in a lightweight scrap. Burnell lost in the quarter nals of the lightweight tourney and is a veteran of three UFC ghts and seven in Bellator.

The 35-year-old Watley was a PFL lightweight quarter nalist in 2018. He returned to the cage in 2023 after a four-year absence during which he considered retirement. He’s fought three times since then.

The six- ght preliminary card will air on ESPN+. It features former Bellator yweight champion Juliana Velasquez as well as unbeaten prospects Sabrina de Sousa (3-0), Renat Khavalov (9- 0) and Isaiah Diggs (5-0). Velasquez will ght Ekaterina Shakalova (9-3), who eliminated her from the yweight tourney in April. Diggs battles Damion Nelson (8-4) at featherweight, Khavalov takes on Vilson Ndregjoni (11-4) at bantam, and de Sousa faces Saray Orozco (8-7) at y.

2023 and has become a perennial contender on the sport’s biggest youth stage.

“Pitt County Girls’ Softball is a family,” Brown added. “Those guys helped me a lot this summer. I’ll be ready next summer to go out to practices, pour into the coaches who coach that team, let them know what we saw, what we didn’t see, what to work on, what to be ready for, and probably take our girls out there to scrimmage them just to get them ready.”

For Pitt County players eligible to return in 2026, the mission will once again be to bring the trophy back to Winterville.

GREGORY PAYAN / AP PHOTO

CHRIS SEWARD / AP PHOTO

North Carolina o ensive lineman Austin Blaske (58) prepares to snap the ball during last

SOFTBALL

A lifetime of service

North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey presented the Guardian Award to Jerry Ward for 60 years in the re service. Ward served the Siler City Fire Department as captain and re chief, and spent years training the next generation of re ghters.

the BRIEF this week

Chatham elections

o ce launches redesigned website

Pittsboro

The Chatham County Board of Elections has launched a redesigned website to enhance accessibility and simplify navigation for voters, poll workers and candidates. The updated site at chathamcountync. gov elections features improved organization with distinct pages for voter registration, early voting, Election Day and accessible voting options. “With critical elections on the horizon, we recognized the need for a more user-friendly and accessible platform,” said Pandora Paschal, Chatham County elections director. Key improvements include streamlined content, enhanced mobile responsiveness, prominent links to voter lookup tools, an election countdown clock and expanded frequently asked questions sections. The site also includes information for prospective poll workers.

U.S., China extend trade truce for an additional 90 days

President Donald Trump extended a trade truce with China for another 90 days Monday, at least delaying once again a dangerous showdown between the world’s two biggest economies. The previous deadline was set to expire at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday. Had that happened the U.S. would have ratcheted up taxes on Chinese imports from an already high 30%, and Beijing would have responded by raising retaliatory levies on U.S. exports to China.

$2.00

School superintendent turns down bonus pay

Anthony Jackson was due a 5% bonus but declined it in light of the district’s tough nancial state

By Ryan Henkel Chatham News & Record

PITTSBORO — In a rare act of humility, Chatham County Schools Superintendent Anthony

Jackson turned down his most recent bonus.

At the Chatham County Schools Board of Education’s Aug. 11 meeting, Board Chair Gary Leonard said Jack-

son declined the 5% bonus payment o ered to him by the Board of Education based on his performance.

“We evaluated Dr. Jackson’s performance — and we do this yearly — and the board was very pleased with the job that he is doing,” Leonard said. “According to his contract, Dr. Jackson has a

Pittsboro Commissioners wish well to outgoing assistant city manager

Assistant Town Manager Kent Jackson worked for Pittsboro for ve years

By Ryan Henkel Chatham News & Record

PITTSBORO — The Town of Pittsboro Board of Commissioners met Aug. 11 for its regular business meeting.

The board recognized outgoing Assistant Town Manager and Engineering Director Kent Jackson, who is moving on to a new opportunity. Jackson joined town sta in 2020 as town engineer and en-

gineering director and earned the promotion to assistant town manager in 2023.

“Obviously as a town manager, you need support from the elected board and the sta , and Kent has been probably the most supportive assistant town manager I’ve ever had,” said Town Manager Jonathan Franklin.

2 charged with murder in Harris Lake boating death

A 10-year-old girl died and a woman lost her leg after an allegedly intoxicated boat operator struck them while they were swimming Aug. 2

Chatham News & Record sta

A 10-YEAR-OLD girl is dead and her elementary school social worker lost a leg after a boat operator allegedly drove his vessel while intoxicated into three swimmers at Harris Lake on Aug. 2, striking two of them. Both the boat operator and the boat’s owner now face second-degree murder charges following a grand jury indictment on Aug. 11, according to court records. The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, which

is leading the investigation, identi ed the deceased victim as Brooklyn Mae Carroll, a fth-grade student at West Lake Elementary School in Cary. The injured woman, Jennifer Stehle, 41, worked as a social worker at the same school, according to media reports. Stehle’s left leg was amputated above the knee, and she su ered severe injuries to her right leg, according to court testimony. A family statement reported by ABC11 on Aug. 11

See

The DA said the severity of evidence, including the extensive alcohol consumption, failure to watch where the boat was traveling and Kight’s prior criminal history, warranted the enhanced charges.

5% bonus based on performance. There’s some money issues going on at the federal and state level, but the board felt that he was deserving of that. However, Dr. Jackson asked that we waive that bonus for this year due to thenancial issues that are going on everywhere.” Jackson has a base annual salary of $205,000, which is set by the state salary schedule for superintendents. The 5% bonus would have paid him an additional $10,250.

The board did, however, extend Jackson’s contract by another year, which will keep

See JACKSON, page A7

During his tenure, Jackson played a key role in the award-winning Granular Activated Carbon advanced ltration system, the TriRiver Water Merger, the growth and advancement of Public Works, the expansion and improvement of the town’s multimodal transportation infrastructure, and the awarding of millions of dollars in state and federal funding.

“It’s been a great ve years, probably the most rewarding of my career,” Jackson said. “Great organizations and teams, they don’t withdraw from change,

See PITTSBORO, page A3

THE CHATHAM COUNTY EDITION OF NORTH STATE JOURNAL

THURSDAY 8.14.25

Chatham shelter sends 41 pets to other states for adoption

The dogs and cats were transported to Pennsylvania and Virginia shelters where families are waiting

Chatham News & Record sta FORTY-ONE adoptable animals from the Chatham County Sheri ’s Animal Resource Center began a journey to new homes last week through a national rescue initiative designed to ease shelter overcrowding.

The Bissell Pet Foundation’s Bissell Transport program coordinated the move, with Rescue Riders Pet Transport picking up three dogs and 38 cats from the ARC. The animals — all healthy, vaccinated and ready for travel — were transported to two partner shelters where adoptive families are waiting.

The cats headed to Brandywine Valley SPCA in Pennsylvania, while the three dogs went to Norfolk SPCA in Virginia.

“We work hard to make sure every animal that comes through our doors has the best possible chance at a happy future,” said Kate Reardon, ARC program coordinator. “Programs like Bissell Transport

COURTESY CHATHAM COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE

Sta from the Chatham County Sheri ’s Animal Resource Center help load dogs and cats onto a Rescue Riders transport van last week as part of a nationwide e ort to connect adoptable pets with forever homes.

open doors we wouldn’t have access to otherwise and allow us to reach families far beyond our local area who are ready and eager to adopt.”

The Bissell Transport program assists shelters overwhelmed by rising intake

numbers and limited local adoptions by moving animals to areas where they’re more likely to nd homes. Rescue Riders Pet Transport, a USDA-licensed service, ensures pets are transported safely and comfortably.

CHATHAM happening

Here’s a quick look at what’s coming up in Chatham County:

Aug. 14

Opinionation Trivia at House of Pops

6-8 p.m.

Two sessions of this “Family Feud”-style game are held each Thursday evening, rst round at 6 p.m. and the second at 7 p.m., o ering contestants two opportunities to win House of Hops gift cards worth $15 and $25 each.

12 Russet Run Suite 110 Pittsboro

Aug. 15

Lego Club

4-5 p.m.

Weekly free Lego building session for children aged 2 and above, with Duplo blocks provided for very young children. Contact 919-545-8085 for more details.

Chatham Community Library Holmes Meeting Room 197 N.C. Highway 87 N. Pittsboro

We stand corrected

To report an error or a suspected error, please email: corrections@nsjonline.com with “Correction request” in the subject line.

CRIME LOG

August 4

• Billy Tanner Gray, 33, of Pittsboro, was arrested for second-degree trespassing, attempted rst-degree murder, communicating threats, assault in icting serious injury in the presence of a minor, assault with a deadly weapon, assault with a deadly weapon to in ict serious injury and resisting a public o cer.

• Marcos Emmanuel Benitez, 24, of Pittsboro, was arrested for allowing animals to run at large.

August 9

• Theodore Eugene Amzen, 51, of Apex, was arrested for assault by strangulation and misdemeanor crime of domestic violence.

August 11

• Tina Lynn Smith, 37, of Siler City, was arrested for larceny of a motor vehicle and possession of stolen goods/ property.

• Shannon Hawkins, 31, of Morrisville, was arrested for simple assault.

• Christopher Lee Davis, 30, of Siler City, was arrested for resisting a public o cer.

• Quinten Gregory Kight, 40, of Vass, was arrested for second-degree murder.

• Johnny Ray Greenwood, 52, of High Point, was arrested for driving while impaired.

• Leonel Salvador IbarraTerrones, 42, of Siler City, was arrested for driving while impaired, open container after consuming alcohol and possession or manufacture of fraudulent identi cation.

The 8:59’s at Bynum Front Porch

7-8:30 p.m.

Free musical performance by The 8:59’s. Donations are welcome. This is a family-friendly event with food and beverages available for purchase on-site.

Front Porch, Bynum General Store 950 Bynum Road Bynum

Aug. 16

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

Aug. 20

Jazz Night at The Sycamore at Chatham Mills

6-9 p.m.

Every Wednesday night, from 6-9 p.m., The Sycamore at Chatham Mills hosts live Jazz Nights. The series features a rotating list of local musicians. The Sycamore also o ers its Lounge Menu in the dining room on Wednesday nights. Reservations are highly recommended.

480 Hillsboro St. Suite 500 Pittsboro

Iconic NC tourist attraction damaged by Helene to be demolished

The Lake Lure Flowering Bridge is beyond repair after the hurricane

By Makiya Seminera and Allen G. Breed

The Associated Press

NEARLY A YEAR after Hurricane Helene’s devastating pathway through western North Carolina, a vibrant tourist attraction o ering visitors a serene escape in the Blue Ridge Mountains is being torn down.

Like many other beloved sites in the region, the Lake Lure Flowering Bridge in Rutherford County crumpled from the relentless oods and winds from remnants of Helene last September. Now, the town of Lake Lure said last Thursday it will start its demolition of the historic structure later this month.

While the three-arched bridge dates back to 1925, it didn’t become the Lake Lure Flowering Bridge until almost a century later. Once the bridge was decommissioned, a group of local volunteers, Friends of the Lake Lure Flowering Bridge, worked to enhance it by adding its iconic gardens in 2013, according to the group’s website. The bridge attracted more than 150,000 visitors annually, said Linda Reandeau, a master gardener

“To see it destroyed as it was in the storm was very emotional and heartbreaking for me, along with all the other volunteers and so many people who have visited.”

Linda Reandeau, chair, Friends of the Lake Lure Flowering Bridge

and the group’s marketing chair. But then Helene brought destruction to western North Carolina last year, with the Lake Lure area — which served as a backdrop for a few scenes in “Dirty Dancing” — sustaining some of the worst damage. The town of Lake Lure and Chimney Rock Village, as well as the lake itself, were covered in a layer of dis gured debris. The area still hasn’t recovered, but tourist attractions such as Chimney Rock State Park have reopened.

In the Flowering Bridge’s case, one end of the structure collapsed. Several other points also buckled from the damage, and its lush greenery was swept away in the storm. Over the past 11 months, the bridge has only continued to deteriorate, Reandeau said.

“It would have been 100 years old this year,” she said. “To see it destroyed as it was in the storm was very emotional and heart-

breaking for me, along with all the other volunteers and so many people who have visited.”

The decision to demolish the bridge came after two engineering rms concluded it couldn’t be restored, according to the town’s website. Demolition is expected to start Aug. 18.

While the bridge will no longer remain, Reandeau said the landmark’s volunteer group is in the planning process for how to move forward. The nonprofit is waiting for occupancy certi cation to reopen its relatively unscathed education center, where it can hold gardening and art classes — and hopefully install new gardens nearby, Reandeau said.

“We haven’t gone away, we’re still here, and we really look forward to the day we can welcome back visitors to the gardens,” she said. “We fully intend to make another magical space. It’s just not going to happen immediately.”

the heavily damaged

Nilsson ends US Senate bid after Trump backs RNC’s Whatley

The eld is clearing for a matchup of Whatley and former Gov. Roy Cooper

By Gary D. Robertson

The Associated Press

RALEIGH — A Republican candidate for U.S. Senate in North Carolina next year said last Friday that he’s ending his bid now that Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley has entered the race with President Donald Trump’s support.

Several months ago, Andy Nilsson revealed his candidacy for the Senate seat currently held by GOP incumbent Thom Tillis. Tillis announced in late June, after clashing with Trump, that he wouldn’t seek a third term.

Last week, Whatley, a North Carolina native and resident, entered the race for the GOP nomination, already holding what Trump wrote on social media as his “Complete and Total Endorsement.”

Nilsson, a former furniture company owner who once ran unsuccessfully for lieutenant governor, said in a news release that he had decided to suspend his campaign.

Nilsson said Trump’s endorsement of Whatley “played a central role in my decision. I respect the President’s desire to go in a di erent direction, even if I have questions about his choice.”

Whatley’s campaign launch July 31 appeared to set the stage for a possible general election showdown between him and former Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper, who announced his candidacy three days earlier.

The seat in the highly competitive state could decide whether

Trump’s endorsement of Whatley “played a central role in my decision. I respect the President’s desire to go in a di erent direction, even if I have questions about his choice.”

Andy Nilsson

Democrats regain a majority in the chamber. Democrats need a net gain of four seats in the November 2026 elections. Similar to Nilsson’s departure, Cooper’s candidacy prompted ex-U.S. Rep. Wiley Nickel to suspend his monthslong campaign for the Democratic nomination. Wiley endorsed Cooper. Nilsson, who helps coach

football and teaches at a Winston-Salem high school, did not mention any endorsement from him in his statement but said he would “work hard to keep this Senate seat in the hands of a conservative.”

Nilsson highlighted his effort to unseat Tillis, whom he said “had lost touch with his base,” and that “mine was the rst campaign to call him out.” Nilsson’s political career has also included working as a campaign sta er for gubernatorial candidate Richard Vinroot and then-congressional candidate Richard Burr.

Winnowing the eld won’t necessarily prevent Cooper or Whatley from avoiding March primary elections for their respective nominations. Republican Don Brown, a writer and former Navy o cer, remains a candidate for the GOP nomination. O cial candidate ling occurs in December.

HARVESTER’S QUARTET

Rocky River Baptist Fellowship Hall

4436 Siler City – Snow Camp Road Siler City

Sunday Evening, Aug. 17 at 6 p.m.

Everyone Is Welcome! A Love O ering Will Be Taken

GUM SPRINGS BAPTIST CHURCH

Revival Services Aug. 18-20

Monday -Wednesday night at 6:30 p.m.

Pastor Brian Parker, Sanford will speak Monday and Pastor Brian Parker, formerly of New Hope, Sanford will be Tuesday’s speaker. Wednesday night will be a time of Congregational Praise and Worship.

Join us each Sunday for Sunday School – 9-9:30 a.m. Worship Service – 10-11 a.m. And Wednesday for Bible Study at 6:30 p.m.

We have room for you!

SANDY BRANCH BAPTIST CHURCH

You are invited to our annual Homecoming service on Aug. 17. Sunday School will begin at 10 a.m. and the worship service at 11 a.m. Rev. Jason Golden, the Associational Missionary for the Sandy Creek Baptist Association, will be guest speaker.

We will also be remembering those we have lost since last year’s Homecoming.

Following the service there will be a potluck lunch, so you are invited to bring your favorite dishes and stay and enjoy the food and fellowship. We would love to have you join us at 715 Sandy Branch Church Road, Bear Creek.

PITTSBORO from page A1 they adapt to it and they look to capitalize on it and I’m really glad that that’s the approach the Town is taking. I look forward to the great work that my coworkers are going to do going forward.”

“I’d like to personally thank Kent for all that he’s done and I do appreciate your service to the commissioners, the mayor, our town manager and to all the citizens of Pittsboro,” said Mayor Pro Tem Pamela Baldwin.

The board had just three action items on its agenda, including two public hearings related to voluntary, contiguous annexation petitions submitted by Chatham Park Investors (CPI).

The total amount of property annexed totaled around 28 acres, was undeveloped and was located along Hillway Road, North Village Parkway, east of Chatham

Park Way and north of Business 64 East. The board also held a hearing for the permanent closure of a 1.3 acre portion of Suttles Road that connects Chatham Park Way to U.S. Highway 64 Bypass.

The property was conveyed by CPI to the Town of Pittsboro, who subsequently dedicated it to the North Carolina Department of Transportation for a public right-of-way.

NCDOT has since abandoned the subject portion of road in anticipation of a new right of way for a street that will connect Chatham Park Way to the remaining portion of Suttles Road that is within the U.S. Highway 64 Bypass right-of-way. Following each hearing, the board approved the requests.

The Town of Pittsboro Board of Commissioners will next meet Sept. 8.

ALLEN G. BREED / AP PHOTO

A tattered ag stands in the oodplain near

Flowering Bridge in Lake Lure in May.

ERIK VERDUZCO / AP PHOTO

Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley speaks during his campaign launch for North Carolina’s open U.S. Senate seat July 31 in Gastonia.

THE CONVERSATION

Neal Robbins, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor

A di erent sort of political animal

Perhaps folks on both sides of the fence and aisle could listen appreciatively, even if they could not agree.

IN 1968, ABBIE HOFFMAN proposed that a pig run for president of the United States. Pork is not a positive term in politics, but what if other creatures of the animal kingdom were in elected o ce?

Of course, cats have no interest in democracy since they know they are royalty. While felines would hiss at the mere suggestion, a loyal dog would never betray our interests to foreign adversaries, even for a gravy-soaked bone.

But what about wild creatures? Speaking of loyalty, few creatures are as protective of their young as a mother bear. One might argue against them due to their winter hibernation, but is it really so detrimental for legislators to take a long break? They can’t mess anything up if they are asleep!

Fish have a vested interest in clean water — a vital resource for all life on this planet. Maybe a cat sh for governor; she gets to the bottom of things; she lives on the river bottom.

If

| BOB

you

Airplane food once was — hold your breath — good.

For all the talk today about grassroots, what about a candidate who eats grass? Rabbits seem a bit too jumpy for the public eye, but deer already canvas most neighborhoods. Their platform of eating owers does not endear them to certain members of the voting public, but they remain committed to road safety in the interest of the common good.

Turning to the skies, an eagle is an obvious choice. Personally, I aspire to be more like the blue heron, who is a model of patience. Not only would such patience serve us well in our high-speed, reactionary culture, but anyone who can spend that much time on only one leg will bring a proper sense of balance to Washington, D.C.

I am aware that the male cardinal holds the title of the state bird. He’s certainly dapper in his bright coat and adept at tweeting. But I would prefer to hear a State of the Union

address delivered by a Carolina wren. If Keats is correct, beauty is truth, so the wren’s gorgeous song would not need fact- checking. Perhaps folks on both sides of the fence and aisle could listen appreciatively, even if they could not agree. My favorite animal is the river otter. At home on land, they are also powerful swimmers. While oating on their backs, they hold hands with their pups — talk about exhibiting family values! Plus, they slide down muddy banks on their bellies. Politicians who possess a healthy sense of wonder and play would serve us better. Besides, as my young children say, otters rule.

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.

have to fly, go some other way

LONG AGO and far away in another galaxy, I had a job that required me to travel somewhat extensively around this great land of ours.

Times were good then. I wore a younger man’s clothes, my energy level had not slipped below neutral, all the parents in my family were living, my children were small and at home, gas was 35 cents a gallon and Washington had not yet outgrown its britches.

And ying was fun.

All of that has now changed. That young man has run o , now even neutral looks pretty good sometimes, my folks and my in-laws are precious memories, my children are no longer teenagers who live at my house, a ll-up of gas requires a bank loan, and only Heaven knows how much more intrusive Big Brother is going to get unless and until someone not only clips his wings but pulls the dang things out by their roots. And ying is not fun anymore.

Granted, not all of America ies, has ever own or even wants to. The reasons are plentiful — don’t need to get to Zimbabwe, costs too much for the ol’ family budget or just plain don’t want to. And for some folks, it’s like my boyhood friend Bobby Joe High’s grandma’s rst cousin twice removed Katherine (Kitty) Litter used to say to us children (when we were children), “If God had wanted you to y, you’d have wings.”

Still, there were times I needed to take advantage of Orville and Wilbur’s best day’s work and needed the Great Silver Bird. Several times it fell my lot to travel to Chicago when that was still a reasonably safe thing to do. Much quicker that way than, say, thumbing. Fortunately, speed of life has come to mean something di erent for me in these Golden Years. It’s no longer the most important thing going, especially when it comes to going somewhere.

There are, I think, many reasons ying is no longer fun. The seats are smaller and closer than they once were. That means plenty of leg room for a grasshopper but not much for any adult taller than 3-foot-2. Airplane food once was — hold your breath — good. It was plentiful and complimentary (although no doubt the price of your ticket included your meal) and tasteful and most of the folks who served it were gracious. Ditto for soft drinks and snacks. The only noticeable expense was if Bobby Joe’s uncle Benjamin (Ben) Dover wanted George or Jack to accompany him from one of those little bottles the airlines used to have.

And recent news reports have been full of accounts of confrontations between passenger and crew because some folks are just downright disagreeable.

But of all the reasons it’s not fun anymore, I think the biggest one is the e ort it takes to get on the plane. Actually, it’s more a matter of getting “in” (or really, to use good English, getting “into”) the plane, but that’s another day, story and column.

It’s been my experience that most of the folks who are employed by Big Brother’s Transportation Security Administration (TSA) have either unked out of Dale Carnegie’s course on How To Be Nice or never bothered to sign up. I know they’ve got that speech memorized about “Step this way … you may be subject to a body search … etc.” I think there are more words to their speech but they just don’t say them, words like “I’m in a bad mood — again” or “I’m going to touch you in places even your doctor doesn’t and I may invite some of my buddies to do the same, and it’ll be out here in the general public where everybody can see” and such.

I once went through a screening and, before walking through the metal detector, after taking o my belt and emptying my

pockets, told Mr. Congeniality, “I’ve had hip replacement surgery and have a foot of metal in my leg and I’m going to make your little machine go crazy.”

I might as well have told him my grandfather’s dog ran away since he ignored me. As soon as I walked through the detector and the bells started clanging and lights started ashing and the SWAT team showed up, he stuck me in the taped o area while everyone else moved far away so I wouldn’t blow them up when my fanny bomb went o .

Then he started Part Two of the o cial TSA harassment. “Sir, are you carrying any concealed weapons?” If I were a criminal and had been guilty of such, did he really think I’d admit to it?

“Do you remember eight seconds ago,” I asked, “I told you I had a stainless steel rod in my leg? Would you like to see the 6-inch scar on my hip since you folks love your naked body scan machine so much?” Reluctantly he let me pass, ensuring that I would almost miss my ight and that my luggage and I would be on separate planes — another reason not to love ying the “friendly skies” anymore.

Maybe I look like a terrorist; I don’t know. I do know I’ve been known to terrorize the bu et at Kentucky Fried Chicken from time to time. All I do know is I tend to agree with something ol’ Ben Franklin said years ago, namely, more or less, “Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both.”

Quite a prophet, Ben was. Take the train … unless you need to get to Zimbabwe.

Bob Wachs is a native of Chatham County and emeritus editor at Chatham News & Record. He serves as pastor of Bear Creek Baptist Church.

COLUMN

WACHS

Where’s my paddle? Where’s my paddle!

Once my focus turned to selfcompassion rather than condemnation, the dream’s capacity to feel toxic drained away. Literally.

I HAD THIS DREAM. An embarrassing and mortifying one. Truly mortifying. A dream in which my behavior was seriously o the charts of my waking values system. Just o the charts … I was startled — OK, stunned — remembering the dream. This is not the “me” I am now. I mean, when I was much, much younger, perhaps, but after all the years of therapy and working hard to be accountable to myself? No!

I still dreamed that dream. Even more scary was my concern that, perhaps, I’m not the person I think I am, today. Nope, not an idyllic morning. Waking up startled, followed by a boatload (and I mean, a boatload) of self-criticism. If there had been any wooded hills hereabouts, I would have headed straight for them to soothe my judging heart with a deep dunk in nature. No hills. Anywhere nearby. Just paddling away in my own little sea of churning self-criticism. Wait, is that a shark n I see heading in my direction? Stop!

Do I need to do this to myself? (And sharks, to boot! Give me a break.) For the most part, I’m a caring human being and, like the rest of us, fallible and imperfect. (Come on, don’t tell me you’re not fallible and imperfect.) Nonetheless, trying to take some responsibility for those untoward,

| MARC DION

To the moon, Alice!

You know what they say: di erent times, di erent ways of terrorizing your wife.

“TO THE MOON, ALICE!”

That was how ctional television character Ralph Kramden used to threaten his wife, Alice, on the old TV show “The Honeymooners.”

He never actually hit her. That wouldn’t have been funny, not if he hit her really hard, anyway. Threatening to hit her was hilarious, however.

You know what they say: di erent times, di erent ways of terrorizing your wife. Nowadays, you take her cellphone away so she can’t call the police. Technological progress is everywhere.

And it’s not just the ghost of poor Alice. Pretty soon, we may all be going to the moon.

NASA, which increasingly stands for “Not A Serious Agency,” recently announced the United States may well build a nuclear reactor on the moon.

NASA’s had its funding cut, so look for the rst seven or eight attempts to fail with huge explosions and much death. My advice is to begin the e ort using women, members of racial and ethnic minorities, and drag queens. This way, when something goes wrong, you can blame the “DEI hires.”

So that’s what we’re gonna start with?

A nuclear reactor? Not a cozy suburb, a library, a Target or even a Chipotle.

I guess the idea is that once you get the reactor built, you can open a Wendy’s and build some tiny houses for America’s moon pioneers.

Who are gonna be white and probably wealthy, except for convicts shipped up there to do the landscaping.

Better scrap the tiny houses and build some mansions. “Moon-a-Lago” has a nice sound.

This could be our last, best chance at rebuilding America in an airless, sterile environment.

Once the reactor is up and dangerously humming, ship some rich guys in their 40s up there, along with some 14-year- old

dream-based images, streaming through my kind and, yet, foible-based mind.

I don’t understand dream dynamics. Not well, anyway. I am accountable, though, for how I treat myself after remembering that damn dream. My current value system, breached in this dream, doesn’t embrace “let’s beat up Jan because she’s human and has foibles!” Even in a dream. I don’t know if it was the several bites of dark chocolate or (yes, I lied about no nearby nature) looking at the mama deer and her two babies in my backyard. Whichever. Something ipped inside me. I could do the healthy thing and o er myself some semblance of self-kindness. Yep, because, like you, I’m human and unpredictable, even to myself.

Once my focus turned to self-compassion rather than condemnation, the dream’s capacity to feel toxic drained away. Literally. Oh, yeah, that ol’ self-compassion contingency. It’s a cheap date, and I continually forget about it, much to my regret. A much preferred option to paddling in my own, self-created, shark infested waters. You know?

Jan Hutton, a resident of Chatham County and retired hospice social worker, lives life with heart and humor.

LETTERS

wife prospects. It’s OK. There is no age of consent on the moon. There’s also no minimum wage, no unions and no business regulations. It’s a sterile paradise.

Build a golf course. You can use those big craters for sand traps. There’s no gravity, so even if you’re 80 and out of shape, you’re gonna drive the ball maybe six miles. That’ll send you running home to your teenage wife like a bull elephant. More white kids!

The Earth’s never really been livable in a social sense, and it’s getting much worse. You can never get the degree of control you need. You got one whole continent of black people, people with names like “Ernesto” can just walk into your country, and women won’t shut the hell up like they used to. What you want is a place where you can start from scratch, do things right. You de nitely want a place that isn’t on a bus line. If you can take a bus from downtown Cleveland to the moon, the moon’s gonna be a mess in a couple months. Restricting access has always been the key to quality living, high real estate values and good schools.

Ideally, the moon will become the “good neighborhood,” and the Earth will be a combination ghetto/factory/town/farm.

It’s gonna be expensive to build, though. The rich people launched a few rockets with their own money, but they blew up, or they didn’t really get that high up, and none of them made it to the moon. They wanna go any further with this “make our own world” project, they’re gonna need your money.

I’m old enough to remember when they told us kids the moon was made of green cheese, back before it was made of green money.

Marc Dion is a Pulitzer Price-nominated columnist for The Herald News in Fall River, Massachusetts.

Dear Editor,

On Aug. 5, State Auditor Dave Boliek released two audits of the NC DMV, delivering on a key campaign pledge only six months after taking o ce. These reports are about 600 pages in total and represent a big achievement for the State Auditor’s O ce. And while the ndings show the DMV is in worse shape than expected, the reports are a positive rst step in xing the headache that every North Carolinian endures when lining up outside the DMV doors.

Both customer and employee experience at the DMV has gotten worse over the years. Wait times are up 15.5% since 2019, and nearly half of DMV customers are traveling past the o ces closest to them, some traveling hours away for services. Employees interviewed cited burnout, lack of support and inadequate training.

The DMV wasn’t given the attention it deserved these past eight years, but Boliek has made it a front-and-center issue. The biggest recommendation included in the audit is the separation of the DMV and the Department of Transportation. Other key recommended actions straight from Boliek are:

• The DMV should conduct an in-depth sta ng analysis to implement a multiyear, phased sta ng plan that addresses examiner shortages and ensures service equity statewide.

• The DMV should build and maintain a centralized performance dashboard to track and report key service metrics.

• The DMV should partner with an industry expert to develop and implement evidence-based improvements to customer experience and service delivery.

This will be a big haul, but I’m going to do my part in studying the reports and delivering the best outcomes for the people of Robeson County and North Carolina. We’ll need the governor, DOT and DMV to assist as well, but we can all agree that the most customer-facing service in North Carolina must o er fewer headaches and better. Rep. Jarrod Lowery represents District 47 in the NCGA, which includes Robeson County.

COLUMN | STEPHEN MOORE

Delivering campaign pledges Ensuring US

dominance of 21st-century telecommunications

PRESIDENT DONALD Trump’s announcement and executive order to ensure that the U.S. dominates the arti cial intelligence revolution was a welcome America First policy directive. That mostly means keeping the government out of the way.

But an equally vital industry for our economic and national security interests is telecommunications — which is also going through warp-speed technology changes. Here too, the government needs to keep its hands o . No subsidies. No lawsuits. Minimal regulations.

This is why the latest $34.5 billion blockbuster merger between telecom titans Charter Communications and Cox Communications should get the green light from federal regulators.

Some antitrust lawyers at the FCC and the Justice Department worry this marriage would give Charter-Cox too much market share, allowing them to raise prices on consumers.

But companies like Cox that provide internet and TV services over cable transmissions are soon to be outdated by the next generation of ber, satellite, xed wireless and mobile broadband services.

Customers are already “cutting the cable cord” in favor of more e cient and less expensive streaming video services and other digital alternatives.

The synergies and economies-of-scale advantages driving the Charter-Cox merger, which will lead to a company with more than 37 million cable and internet subscribers, make sense.

Is that too much market concentration?

Comcast, the nation’s second-largest cable provider, serves around 12 million cable subscribers. Verizon serves just under 3 million cable subscribers and approximately 146 million mobile subscribers.

AT&T, another big player in this market, has tens of millions of customers of its own. AT&T is moving aggressively into satellite technologies and 5G to deliver calls, data and video. AT&T and Verizon each have a market cap of well over $100 billion. That compares to less than $50 billion for the Charter-Cox union. In other words, competitors aren’t going to be bullied out of the market by Charter-Cox — especially in the lucrative mobile communications arena.

What is ironic is that back in the 1980s, AT&T was forced by the government to break itself up because of alleged market power, and now we could have federal regulators blocking a merger that would bring new competition to AT&T (and other big kids on the block, like Comcast and Verizon).

As for the Charter-Cox potential dominance in cable, sorry, but that’s a declining industry.

Within a decade or so, cable will be as outdated as Blockbuster.

Mergers like this one make U.S. companies more competitive, make money for millions of American shareholders, and make our companies scalable to compete with European, Japanese and Chinese rivals.

Gail Slater, the assistant attorney general for the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division, recently said she intends to focus on mergers that decrease competition.

“If you’re violating the antitrust laws, we’re going to take a hard look,” she said. “If you’re not violating the antitrust laws, we’re going to get the hell out of the way.”

Those are words to live by.

Stephen Moore is co-founder of Unleash Prosperity and a visiting fellow at the Heritage Foundation.

COLUMN

PUBLIC DOMAIN

Jackie Gleason and Audrey Meadows starred as the Kramdens in “The Honeymooners.”

obituaries

Lawrence “Talton” Dark III

Aug. 3, 2025

Lawrence Talton Dark III, “Talton” left this life on August 3, 2025, in his 72nd year to be with our Lord and Savior. He will be deeply missed until we are reunited at the resurrection.

Talton was born and raised in Siler City, NC, as the son of the late L.T. Dark Jr. and Christine W. Dark. After graduating from Jordan Matthews High School, Class of 1971, where he played football, he went on to Appalachian State University, where he received his BSBA in 1975. Following in his father’s footsteps, Talton went on to Wake Forest University Law School for his J.D. in 1979. While at Wake Forest, Talton was an active rugby player and an avid skier. Following law school and having passed

the bar exam, Talton held various legal positions until he found his calling as an assistant district attorney in Morganton from 1983 to 1994. In 1995, he opened his private practice in Morganton, from which he retired in 2020 to his home at Lake James.

Talton is survived by his sisters, Christina D. Grady of Richmond, VA and Marcia D. Coreth (Chuck) also of Richmond, VA.; his nieces, Kathryn Geitner (John) of Hickory NC, Anna Noell (Jay) of Conover, NC and Alex Coreth of Denver, CO.; his great-niece Ava Grace Noell of Conover, NC and greatnephews Will Noell of Ashville, NC and Jack Geitner of Hickory, NC.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his nephew, Christopher Coreth.

A graveside service will be held on Saturday, August 23, 2025, at 11:30 AM at Chatham Memorial Park in Siler City, NC.

In lieu of owers, memorials may be made in Talton’s memory to Friends for Animals Humane Society of Burke County.

Please sign the online guestbook at www. caringcremations.net. The Dark family has entrusted arrangements to Caring Cremations Life Celebrations and Funerals at 828-8553350.

Celebrate the life of your loved ones. Submit obituaries and death notices to be published in Stanly News Journal at obits@ chathamrecord.com

Ellen Dixon

June 1, 1950 –Aug. 10, 2025

Ellen Dixon, a beloved mother, grandmother, and friend, passed away on August 10, 2025, at the age of 75. Born on June 1, 1950, Ellen’s life was a beautiful blend of devotion and unwavering love for her family.

Ellen had a remarkable talent for crafts, particularly in creating stunning wreaths and beautiful tapestries. Her hands brought to life beautiful pieces that adorned her home and the homes of her loved ones, each crafted with care and a personal touch. Her creativity was not just a hobby; it was a way for her to express her love and share joy with those around her.

Joan Kay Underwood

Sept. 8, 1956 –July 7, 2025

Joan Kay Underwood, a devoted wife, daughter, aunt, and friend passed away unexpectedly on July 7th, 2025, in Siler City, NC at the age of 69. She was born on September 8th, 1956, in Raleigh, NC and lived a life full of warmth, creativity and service to others.

Joan graduated from

Family was the heart of Ellen’s world. She cherished every moment spent with her husband, her children, and grandchildren, who were the light of her life. Family gatherings were lled with laughter, warmth, and the delicious meals she lovingly prepared. Ellen’s home was a sanctuary of love, where her grandchildren would often nd her ready to enjoy each other’s company.

Ellen dedicated many years of her life to the school system as a Lunch Lady, where she played a vital role in nourishing the bodies and spirits of countless children. Her commitment to providing meals re ected her loving nature.

A woman of deep faith, Ellen loved Jesus and found great comfort in singing hymns. Her voice, often heard lifting praises to the Lord, was a source of inspiration to those around her. She believed in the power of Jesus heal and uplift, and her faith was a guiding light throughout her life.

Ellen was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Mike Dixon and grandson Parker Dixon, whose love she carried with her always. Ellen is survived by her loving children, Michael Dixon, wife Christy,

Millbrook High School and began her career at Logan’s Nursery, where her longlife love for owers rst blossomed. It was during her time there that she met Charles Odell Eliason, whom she later married. The two worked together for several years, building a life rooted in mutual support and shared purpose.

Joan had a gift for creating spaces where people could gather and feel at home. She owned and operated several beloved co ee shops in Chatham County, including Courtyard Co ee Shop and Peppercorn Co ee in Siler City, and Blue Dot Co ee Shop in Pittsboro. These shops became important community hubs, known for their welcoming atmosphere and personal touch.

In addition to her business ventures, Joan was dedicated to her community. She volunteered with several local

Becky Hall, husband Jimmy, her adored grandchildren, Jaxon Dixon, Addison Dixon, Lily Hall, Katie Hall, 5 sisters, 2 brothers, and a close circle of friends who will forever hold her memory dear.

A celebration of Ellen’s life will be held on Thursday, August 14th, 2025, at 12 pm, at Meroney Methodist Church 10568 NC-902, Bear Creek, NC, where family and friends are invited to share their memories and honor the remarkable woman she was. The service will be o ciated by Tony Bra ord and Jimmy Hall. Special Music by her granddaughter Lily Hall and nephew Keith Green. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, August 13th, 2025, from 6-8 pm, at Smith & Buckner Funeral Home Chapel, and other times will be at Becky’s home.

Ellen Dixon will be profoundly missed, but her spirit will live on in the hearts of all who were blessed to know her. Her legacy of love, family, and faith will continue to inspire those she leaves behind.

Smith & Buckner Funeral Home will be assisting the Dixon family.

Online condolences can be made at www.smithbucknerfh. com

programs, most notably the Siler City Community Meal, where she shared her time and heart with those in need.

After closing the co ee shops, Joan returned to her rst love - working with owers – at Rock Meadow Farm, the homeplace of her mother-inlaw. There, she found peace and ful llment in tending the land and creating beauty.

Joan was preceded in death by her father, Bobbie Bates Underwood and her sister, Sarah Virginia “Jenny” Underwood. She is survived by her husband, Charles Odell Eliason, her mother, Joyce Stevens Underwood, and her nephew, Daniel Bates Underwood.

Joan will be remembered for her generous spirit, creative soul, and the love she poured into every part of her life. She touched the lives of many and leaves behind a legacy of kindness and community.

Funeral held for Dr. Greg Brannon, tea party favorite and ex-Senate candidate

He ran for the U.S. Senate and House in the 2010’s

The Associated Press

CARY — A funeral was held earlier this month for Dr. Greg Brannon, a physician in North Carolina and past favorite of political conservatives who ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. Senate and House in the 2010s. Brannon, an early personality in the tea party movement, delivered babies over 27 years as an OB-GYN. He died July 27 at his home at age 64, according to an obituary posted by Wake Funeral & Cremation. Funeral home director Britt Paynter con rmed Brannon’s death but said he couldn’t provide information about a cause.

Brannon, from Cary, billed himself as a constitutional conservative when he sought the 2014 Republican nomination for Senate. He nished as the May 2014 primary runner-up to Thom Tillis with 27% of the vote. Tillis went on to defeat Democratic incumbent Kay Hagan that November.

Brannon also nished second to then-U.S. Sen. Richard Burr in the March 2016 GOP primary. Three months later, he ran for a Raleigh-area congressional seat but lost in the party primary.

senatorial candidate

during a televised debate at WRAL television studios in 2014.

Brannon’s funeral was held at Cross Assembly Church in Raleigh. Brannon became an evangelical Christian as a young adult.

“Greg’s goals were to teach people about the love of Jesus Christ, adore Jody, pour into his family, and make people’s lives healthier and happier,” his posted obituary read.

Survivors include his wife, Jody, seven children and two grandchildren, according to the obituary.

Born in a Los Angeles suburb to a single mother, Brannon attended the University of South California and ultimately nished medical school at a Chicago school. Eventually he moved to North Carolina and went into private practice in 1993. Later in life, Brannon was the medical director and founder of a hormone replacement therapy company called Optimal Bio. Messages from mourners on the funeral home website recalled his medical work, in particular during complicated and challenging pregnancies.

GERRY BROOME / AP PHOTO Republican

Greg Brannon responds

Apollo 13 moon mission leader James Lovell dead at 97

Hanks

By Don Babwin The Associated Press

CHICAGO — James Lovell, the commander of Apollo 13 who helped turn a failed moon mission into a triumph of on-the- y can-do engineering, has died. He was 97.

Lovell died last Thursday in Lake Forest, Illinois, NASA said in a statement Friday.

“Jim’s character and steadfast courage helped our nation reach the Moon and turned a potential tragedy into a success from which we learned an enormous amount,” NASA said. “We mourn his passing even as we celebrate his achievements.”

One of NASA’s most traveled astronauts in the agency’s rst decade, Lovell ew four times — Gemini 7, Gemini 12, Apollo 8 and Apollo 13 — with the two Apollo ights riveting the folks back on Earth.

Lovell and fellow astronauts Fred Haise and Jack Swigert received renewed fame with the retelling of the Apollo 13 mission in the 1995 movie “Apollo 13” where actor Tom Hanks — portraying Lovell — famously said, “Houston, we have a problem.”

In 1968, the Apollo 8 crew of Lovell, Frank Borman and William Anders was the rst to leave Earth’s orbit and the rst to y to and circle the moon.

They could not land, but they put the U.S. ahead of the Soviets in the space race. Letter writers told the crew that their stunning pale blue dot photo of Earth from the moon, a world rst, and the crew’s Christmas Eve reading from Genesis saved America from a tumultuous 1968.

But the big rescue mission was still to come. That was during the harrowing Apollo 13 ight in 1970. Lovell was supposed to be the fth man to walk on the moon. But Apollo 13’s service module, carrying Lovell and two others, experienced a sudden oxygen tank explosion on its way to the moon.

The astronauts barely survived, spending four cold and clammy days in the cramped lunar module as a lifeboat.

‘’The thing that I want most people to remember is (that) in some sense it was very much of a success,’’ Lovell said during a 1994 interview. ‘’Not that we accomplished anything, but a success in that we demonstrated the capability of (NASA) personnel.’’

A retired Navy captain known for his calm demeanor, Lovell told a NASA historian that his brush with death affected him.

“I don’t worry about crises any longer,” he said in 1999. Whenever he has a problem, “I say, ‘I could have been gone back in 1970. I’m still here. I’m still breathing.’ So I don’t worry about crises.”

Lovell had ice water in his veins like other astronauts, but he didn’t display the swagger some had, just quiet con dence, said Smithsonian Institution historian Roger Launius. He called Lovell “a very personable, very down-to-earth type of person, who says, ‘This is what I do. Yes, there’s risk involved. I measure risk.’”

But if historians consider Apollo 8 and Apollo 11 the most signi cant of the Apollo missions, it was during Lovell’s last mission that he came to embody for the public the image of

the cool, decisive astronaut.

The Apollo 13 crew of Lovell, Haise and Swigert was on the way to the moon in April 1970, when an oxygen tank from the spaceship exploded 200,000 miles from Earth.

That, Lovell recalled, was “the most frightening moment in this whole thing.” Then oxygen began escaping and “we didn’t have solutions to get home.”

“We knew we were in deep, deep trouble,” he told NASA’s historian.

Four- fths of the way to the

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him employed by the county through June 2029.

“I thought it was awfully gracious of Dr. Jackson to turn down the bonus,” Leonard said.

“I just want the public to know that.”

Chatham County Schools, much like most districts in the state, is dealing with tightening budgets as cuts continue to come down from the state and federal level.

The board was also given an update on the district’s Yondr Pouch program, which will be expanding to include Chatham Central and Northwood High School following their spring pilot.

Yondr Pouch is a device that helps create phone-free spaces by securely locking phones away during instructional hours. The pouch allows students to keep the devices with them on their person but prevents them from using it while inside the classroom.

With the expansion, all traditional 6-12 schools in the district will now be utilizing the pouches.

The expansion also coincides with the new state law which requires all public schools to adopt policies prohibiting the use of wireless devices during instructional time.

“The state has implemented a cellphone ban, but we’ve been ahead of the game,” Jackson said. “We have a tool to help us so that our teachers don’t have to be cellphone police or cellphone wardens so they can actually teach.”

According to sta surveys, teachers are reporting improvements in student behavior, engagement, academic performance and school climate due to the implementation of the Yondr Pouches.

The board was also given an update on the removal of AP exam funding from the state’s budget.

“In the spring, the North Carolina Senate proposed the reduction of $14 million from the next budget cycle, and this funding had covered the North Carolina AP Partnership,” said Executive Director of Secondary Education and CTE Michelle Burton. “This partnership not only covered the cost of AP exams but also scholarships to train teachers in a variety of AP courses.” AP courses o er high school

moon, NASA scrapped the mission. Suddenly, their only goal was to survive.

Lovell’s “Houston, we’ve had a problem,” a variation of a comment Swigert had radioed moments before, became famous. What unfolded over the next four days captured the imagination of the world.

With Lovell commanding the spacecraft, Kranz led hundreds of ight controllers and engineers in a furious rescue plan.

The plan involved the astronauts moving from the service module, which was hemorrhaging oxygen, into the cramped, dark and frigid lunar lander while they rationed their dwindling oxygen, water and electricity. Using the lunar module as a lifeboat, they swung around the moon, aimed for Earth and raced home.

“There is never a guarantee of success when it comes to space,” McClintock said. Lovell showed a “leadership role and heroic efforts in the recovery of Apollo 13.” By coolly solving the problems under the most intense pressure imaginable, the astronauts and the crew on the ground became heroes. In the process of turning what seemed routine into a life-and-death struggle, the entire ight team had created one of NASA’s nest moments.

“They demonstrated to the world they could handle truly horri c problems and bring them back alive,” said Launius.

“There’s some money issues going on at the federal and state level, but the board felt that he was deserving of that.”

Gary Leonard, board chair

students the opportunity to earn college credit, and prior to this year, the state had covered all of the costs for students to take those respective exams. However, that will no longer be the case with the newly adopted budget.

Last year in Chatham County, 1,485 AP exams were given to students at the district’s four high schools, accounting for more than $145,000 in exam fees.

Each test costs a student $98, and those who qualify for waivers can see that amount reduced down to around $36 per test.

“Students are eligible for waivers if they qualify for free or reduced lunch, and then they can petition for additional hardship waivers through the College Board,” Burton said. “However, none of the waivers cover the full cost of the exam. No $0 fee is eligible based on the waivers I have been able to nd.”

“This is, again, one of those decisions that’s been made outside of our purview that now we have to gure out,” Jackson said. “In years past, we probably could have just found the resources somewhere else, but we’ve been doing that year after year after year, and we just can’t do that this year.”

Finally, Jackson shared the district’s goals for the year, which included all schools earning a ‘C’ grade or better performance grade by the state, increasing composite scores by three to ve points, achieving at least a 92% graduation rate, having all schools meet or exceed Education Value-Added Assessment System (EVAAS) growth, reducing turnover by 15%, increasing parent/community engagement by 25% and implementing robust reteaching processes.

The Chatham County Schools Board of Education will next meet Sept. 8.

JACKSON

He was portrayed by actor Tom

WILFREDO LEE / AP PHOTO

President Bill Clinton, right, stands with Tom Hanks, left, and former astronaut James Lovell in the Oval O ce in 1995 after presenting Lovell with the Congressional Space Medal of Honor. Hanks portrayed Lovell in the movie “Apollo 13.”

REAL ESTATE

LEARN ABOUT LAND - Chatham Land Experts, www.learnaboutland.com - 919362-6999.

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FOR RENT

POWELL SPRINGS APTS. Evergreen Construction introduces its newest independent living community for adults 55 years or older, 1 and 2 bedroom applications now being accepted. O ce hours: Tuesday and Thursday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Call 919-533-6319 for more information, TDD #1-800-735-2962, Equal housing opportunity, Handicapped accessible.

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ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS now for onebedroom apartments, adults 55 years or older. Water included, appliances furnished, on-site laundry, elevator, keyless entry. Section 8 accepted. No security deposit. Application fee $25 per adult. Call Braxton Manor, 919-6631877. Handicap accessible. Equal Housing Opportunity.

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AUCTIONS

RICKY ELLINGTON AUCTIONEERSEquipment, business, liquidation, estates, land, houses, antiques, personal property, coins, furniture, consignments, bene ts, etc., NCAL #7706, 919-548-3684, 919663-3556, rickyellingtonauctions@yahoo. com.

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SERVICES

RAINBOW WATER FILTERED VACUUMS, Alice Cox, Cox’s Distributing - Rainbow - Cell: 919-548-4314, Sales, Services, Supplies. Serving public for 35 years. Rada Cutlery is also available.

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JUNK CARS PICKED UP Free of charge. Due to many months of low steel prices and unstable steel markets, we cannot pay for cars at this time. Cars, trucks, and machinery will be transported and environmentally correctly recycled at no charge. 919-542-2803.

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dishwasher are included in the rent. Rent starts at $630 and up.

Honeysuckle Dr., Pittsboro, NC 27312 919-542-5410 TDD 1-800-735-2962 Email: pittsborovillage@ECCMGT.com

LEGAL

NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY

25E000371-180

NOTICE TO CREDITORS Having quali ed as Executor of the Estate of James E Beatty late of Chatham County, NC this is to notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against the said decedent to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before October 27, 2025 or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons, rms and corporations indebted to said estate are noti ed to make immediate payment. This is the 27th day of July, 2025 James A Beatty 5200 Beechwood Road Milford, OH 45150 Send claims to: Wells Law, Attorneys at Law 380 Knollwood Street, Suite 710 Winston-Salem, NC 27103

336.793.4378 July 24, 31 Aug 7, 14, 2025

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Chatham County 25E000382-180 Having quali ed as Co-Executors of the Estate of Kaja Finkler aka Kay Finkler aka Kaile Nehame Dvora Finkler, late of Chatham County, North Carolina, the undersigned do hereby notify all persons, rms and corporations having claim against the estate of said decedent to exhibit them to the undersigned c/o Guido De Maere, P.A. at 100 Europa Drive, Suite 160, P.O. Box 3591, Chapel Hill, NC 27515 on or before the 31st day of October, 2025, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons, rms and corporations indebted to said estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned. This the 31st day of July, 2025.

Guido De Maere and Dan Oren, Co-Executors of the Estate of Kaja Finkler aka Kay Finkler aka Kaile Nehame Dvora Finkler Attorney for the Estate: Guido De Maere, P.A.

P.O. Box 3591 Chapel Hill, NC 27515-3591

To be published: July 31, August 7, 14 & 21, 2025

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

The undersigned, having quali ed as Administrator of the Estate of RICHARD JAMES MARION, Deceased, late of Chatham County, North Carolina, does hereby notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against the estate to exhibit them to the undersigned at the o ces of Munson Law Firm PLLC, P.O. Box 1811 Pittsboro, NC 27312, on or before the 24th day of October, 2025, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to the estate will please make immediate payment.

This 24th day of July, 2025.

LYNN MARION, ADMINISTRATOR ESTATE OF RICHARD MARION

NOTICE

NORTH CAROLINA WAKE COUNTY IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE DISTRICT COURT DIVISION

25CV014284-910 NOTICE OF SERVICE OF PROCESS BY PUBLICATION

Pursuant to N.C.G.S. §1A-1, Rule 4(j1) ULADA ANDREYEVNA HARANINA, Plainti , vs. NICHOLAS JAMES DANIEL, DEFENDANT. TO: NICHOLAS JAMES DANIEL, Defendant

Pursuant to N.C.G.S §50-6, take notice that a pleading seeking relief against you has been led in the above-entitled action. The nature of the relief being sought is an absolute divorce. You are required to make defense to such pleading not later than September 14, 2025, and upon your failure to do so, the party seeking service against you will apply to the Court for the relief sought. This the 31th day of July, 2025. Ulada Haranina Plainti 316 Fayetteville St, Raleigh, NC 27601 Telephone: 336-639-2817 July 31, August 7, 14; 2025

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

The undersigned, having quali ed as Executor of the Estate of Jacobus E. de Vries aka Jacobus Egbert de Vries, Deceased, late of Chatham County, North Carolina, does hereby notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against the estate to exhibit them to the undersigned at the o ces of Tillman, Whichard & Cagle, PLLC, 501 Eastowne Drive, Suite 130, Chapel Hill, NC 27514, on or before the 24th day of October, 2025, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to the estate will please make immediate payment.

This 24th day of July, 2025.

SARAH ELIZABETH TILLMAN, EXECUTOR ESTATE OF JACOBUS E. DE VRIES AKA JACOBUS EGBERT DE VRIES

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

The undersigned, having quali ed as Co-Executors of the Estate of Eleanor Joyce Moore, Deceased, late of Chatham County, North Carolina, do hereby notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against the estate to exhibit them to the undersigned at the o ces of Tillman, Whichard & Cagle, PLLC, 501 Eastowne Drive, Suite 130, Chapel Hill, NC 27514, on or before the 24th day of October, 2025, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to the estate will please make immediate payment.

This 24th day of July, 2025.

JENNIFER JOYCE MOORE AND SUSANNA MCHUGH MOORE, CO-EXECUTORS, ESTATE OF ELEANOR JOYCE MOORE

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Nina W. Moore quali ed before the Chatham County Clerk of Court on July 17, 2025 as The Executor of The Estate of Richard Devon Moore, 11229 Siler City Glendon Road, Bear Creek, NC 27207. This is to notify all persons, rms and corporations, as required by NCGS 28A-14-1, having claims against the estate of said decedent to exhibit them to the attorney designated below on or before the 31st Day of October, 2025 or this notice will be pled in bar of their recovery. All persons, rms and corporations indebted to the said estate will please make immediate payments to the undersigned. Payments and claims should be presented to M. Andrew Lucas, P.O. Box 1045, Sanford, NC 27331-1045. Please Publish: July 31st, August 7th, 14th, 21st, 2025

Notice to Creditors

Having quali ed as Executor of the Estate of Regina Pasterczyk, late of Chatham County, North Carolina, the undersigned does hereby notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against the estate of said decedent to exhibit them to the undersigned at the o ce of their attorney at 110 Oakwood Drive, Suite 300, Winston-Salem, NC 27103-1958, on or before the 14th day of November, 2025 or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons, rms, and corporations indebted to the said estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned. This 14th day of August, 2025. Kenneth Michael Pasterczyk, Executor Estate of Regina Pasterczyk c/o Craige Jenkins Liipfert & Walker LLP 110 Oakwood Drive, Suite 300 Winston-Salem, NC 27103 Craige Jenkins Liipfert & Walker, LLP

Published: August 14, 21, 28 and September 4, 2025

Notice to Creditors

All persons, rms and corporations having claims against William Charles Swan, deceased, of Chatham County, North Carolina, are noti ed to exhibit the same to the undersigned on or before November 10, 2025 or this notice will be pleaded in bar of recovery. Debtors of the decedent are asked to make immediate payment. This the 7th day of August, 2025. Susan Hodge, Administrator c/o W. Thomas McCuiston 200 Towne Village Drive Cary, NC 27513

NOTICE

ALL PERSONS, rms, and corporations having claims against Kevin Wayne Anderson , deceased, of Chatham County, N.C., are noti ed to exhibit the same to the undersigned on or before November 7, 2025, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of recovery. Debtors of the decedent are asked to make immediate payment. This the 7th of August, 2025. Kim McCullough Anderson , Administrator of the Estate of Kevin Wayne Anderson, c/o Amanda Honea, Attorney, 1033 Wade Avenue, Suite 104, Raleigh, NC 27605.

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

NORTH CAROLINA

CHATHAM COUNTY

25E000323-180 ALL persons having claims against Darrell Lloyd Cole, deceased, late of Chatham County, North Carolina, are noti ed to exhibit the same to the undersigned on or before Oct 24 2025, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of recovery. Debtors of the decedent are asked to make immediate payment. This the 24th day of July, 2025.

Alesia J Purvis, Executor C/O Bowen Law Firm PC 590 New Waverly Pl Ste 120 Cary, NC 27518 J24, 31, 7 and 14

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY

25E000390-180 ALL persons having claims against Matthew Gerard Cecil, deceased, late of Chatham County, North Carolina, are noti ed to exhibit the same to the undersigned on or before Nov 07 2025, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of recovery. Debtors of the decedent are asked to make immediate payment. This the 7th day of August, 2025. Stephen Gerard Cecil, Executor C/O Lenfestey, Maxie & Burger, PLLC 5640 Dillard Drive, Suite 101 Cary, North Carolina 27518 A7, 14, 21 and 28

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY FILE#25000253-180 The undersigned, JEROME LEE FORSTER, having quali ed on the 6th Day of MAY, 2025 as EXECUTOR of the Estate of ANDREA CLAUDINE FORSTER, deceased, of Chatham County, North Carolina, does hereby notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against said Estate to exhibit them to him on or before the 24TH Day OF OCTOBER 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 24TH DAY OF JULY 2025.

JEROME LEE FORSTER, EXECUTOR

261 JIM GILLILAND RD. SILER CITY, NC 27344 Run dates: Jy24,31,A7,14p

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY

FILE#25E000314-180 The undersigned, HOLLY MEREDITH O’NEILL, having quali ed on the 23RD Day of JUNE, 2025 as EXECUTOR of the Estate of JESSE KENNETH BOGGS, JR., deceased, of Chatham County, North Carolina, does hereby notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against said Estate to exhibit them to him on or before the 31ST Day OF OCTOBER 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 31st DAY OF JULY 2025. HOLLY MEREDITH O’NEILL, EXECUTOR 427 MILLINGPORT LANE NEW LONDON, NC 28127 Run dates: Jy31,A7,14,21p

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY

FILE#23E000694-180 The undersigned, ANGELA VENDEN WALKER, having quali ed on the 16th Day of JULY, 2025 as EXECUTOR of the Estate of JOYCE LILIAN BERRY, deceased, of Chatham County, North Carolina, does hereby notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against said Estate to exhibit them to him on or before the 31ST Day OF OCTOBER 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 31ST DAY OF JULY 2025.

ANGELA VENDEN WALKER, EXECUTOR 955 BEAVER DAM RD. CHAPEL HILL, NC 27517 Run dates: Jy31,A7,14,21p

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY

FILE#25E000401-180 The undersigned, MICHAEL ALFRED JAMES MOORE, having quali ed on the 28TH Day of JULY, 2025 as ADMINISTRATOR of the Estate of MICHAEL THOMAS MOORE deceased, of Chatham County, North Carolina, does hereby notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against said Estate to exhibit them to him on or before the 7TH 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 7TH DAY OF AUGUST 2025.

MICHAEL ALFRED JAMES MOORE, ADMINISTRATOR 1705 ELMER MOORE RD. SILER CITY, NC 27344 Run dates: A7,14,21,28p

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

NORTH CAROLINA

CHATHAM COUNTY

FILE#25E000412-180 The undersigned, JOHN MONROE WALTERS, having quali ed on the 30TH Day of JULY, 2025 as EXECUTOR of the Estate of PHALA DOROTHY LAMOUR WALTERS deceased, of Chatham County, North Carolina, does hereby notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against said Estate to exhibit them to him on or before the 7TH 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 7TH DAY OF AUGUST 2025.

JOHN MONROE WALTERS, EXECUTOR 119 CHATHAM DR. CHAPEL HILL, NC 27516 Run dates: A7,14,21,28p

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

NORTH CAROLINA

CHATHAM COUNTY

FILE#25E000306-180

The undersigned, RICHARD DAVID WOOD, having quali ed on the 2ND Day of JULY, 2025 as EXECUTOR of the Estate of RICHARD JOHN WOOD, deceased, of Chatham County, North Carolina, does hereby notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against said Estate to exhibit them to him on or before the 31ST Day OF OCTOBER 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 31st DAY OF JULY 2025. RICHARD DAVID WOOD, EXECUTOR 65571 AVENIDA CADENA DESERT HOT SPRINGS, CA 92240 Run dates: Jy31,A7,14,21p

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

NORTH CAROLINA

CHATHAM COUNTY

FILE#25E000228-180

The undersigned, AMY CRABTREE SEAGROVES, having quali ed on the 22ND Day of JULY, 2025 as EXECUTOR of the Estate of TERRY GENE SEAGROVES deceased, of Chatham County, North Carolina, does hereby notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against said Estate to exhibit them to him on or before the 7TH 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 7TH DAY OF AUGUST 2025. AMY CRABTREE SEAGROVES, EXECUTOR 744 LEWTER SHOP RD. APEX, NC 27523 Run dates: A7,14,21,28p

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

NORTH CAROLINA

CHATHAM COUNTY

FILE#25E000182-180

The undersigned, MICHAEL W. PAIGE, having quali ed on the 31ST Day of JULY, 2025 as EXECUTOR of the Estate of WILLIAM LEE PAIGE deceased, of Chatham County, North Carolina, does hereby notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against said Estate to exhibit them to him on or before the 7TH 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 7TH DAY OF AUGUST 2025.

MICHAEL W. PAIGE, EXECUTOR 18818 PIER TRAIL DIVE TRIANGLE, VA 22172

Run dates: A7,14,21,28p

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

25E000419-180 NORTH CAROLINA

CHATHAM COUNTY

The undersigned, Brooke Cole, having quali ed as Administrator of the Estate of David Perrell, deceased, late of Chatham County, this is to notify all persons having claims against said estate to present them to the undersigned on or before the day of November 5, 2025, or this notice will be plead in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned. This the 7th day of August 2025. Brooke Cole Administrator Marie H. Hopper Attorney for the Estate Hopper Cummings, PLLC Post O ce Box 1455 Pittsboro, NC 27312

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA

Chatham COUNTY IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION

25E000168-180 Having quali ed as Administrator of the Estate of Ronald Lee Ballard, deceased, late of Chatham County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against the Estate of said Ronald Lee Ballard to present them to the undersigned on or before the 11th day of November, 2025 (this date being 3 months from the rst publication date of this notice) or same will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate please make immediate payment.

This the 7th day of August, 2025.

Leonard L. Ballard 532 Stewart Ave Glen Burnie, MD 21061 Administrator of the Estate of Ronald Lee Ballard

PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE

A public hearing will be held by the Chatham County Board of Commissioners on Monday, August 18, 2025, beginning at 6:00 p.m. The hearing will be held in the courtroom of the Historic Courthouse in Pittsboro, North Carolina at 9 Hillsboro Street, Pittsboro NC 27312.

Additional information is available at the Chatham County Planning Department o ce. Speakers are requested to sign up at the meeting prior to the hearing. You may also sign up on the county website prior to the meeting at www.chathamcountync.gov by selecting the heading County Government, then Commissioner Meetings, then Public Input/Hearing Sign Up. The public hearing may be continued to another date at the discretion of the Board of Commissioners.

The purpose of the Public Hearing is to receive input, both written and oral, on the issues listed below: Legislative Request:

A legislative public hearing requested for a Conditional District rezoning from Residential R-1 to CD-IL (CD-Light Industrial) for a major utility, Wastewater Treatment Plant, to be located within the Conservancy at Jordan Lake subdivision, Parcel 97325, being approximately 21.417 acres, Cape Fear Township.

A legislative public hearing requested for a revision to an approved CD-CC (Conditional District – Compact Community), Vicker’s Village, to modify the phasing schedule for Condition Numbers, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 22 of the last modi ed phasing schedule approved in November 2024, located o US 15-501 N and Jack Bennett Road, Williams Township.

A legislative public hearing requested for a Zoning Ordinance text amendment to allow automobile and automobile accessory sales and service to the Table of Permitted Uses, Section 10.13 as “P” Permitted in the Light Industrial zoning districts.

Substantial changes may be made following the public hearing due to verbal or written comments received or based on the Board’s discussions.

Notice to people with special needs: If you have an audio or visual impairment, unique accessibility requirements or need language assistance, please call the number listed below prior to the hearing and assistance may be provided.

If you have any questions or comments concerning these issues, please call the Chatham County Planning Department at 919-542-8204 or write to P.O. Box 54, Pittsboro N.C. 27312. Please run in your paper: August 7th and 14th, 2025

PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE

Section 5311 (ADTAP), 5310, 5339, 5307 and applicable State funding, or combination thereof. This is to inform the public that a public hearing will be held on the proposed Chatham Transit Network Community Transportation Program Application to be submitted to the North Carolina Department of Transportation no later than October 3, 2025. The public hearing will be held on Thursday, August 21, 2025 at 3:00 pm before the Chatham Transit Network Board of

Chatham que se presentará al Departamento de Transporte de Carolina del Norte a más tardar el 3 de octubre de 2025. La audiencia pública se llevará a cabo el jueves 21 de agosto de 2025 a las 3:00 pm ante la Junta Directiva de Chatham Transit Network.

Aquellos interesados en asistir a la audiencia pública y que necesiten ayudas y servicios auxiliares bajo la Ley de Estadounidenses con Discapacidades (ADA) o un traductor de idiomas deben comunicarse con Anna Testerman el miércoles 20 de agosto de 2025 o antes, al número de teléfono 919-5425136 x102 o por correo electrónico al a.testerman@ chathamtransit.org.

El Programa de Transporte Comunitario brinda asistencia para coordinar los programas de transporte existentes que operan en el condado de Chatham, así como también brinda opciones y servicios de transporte para las comunidades dentro de esta área de servicio. Estos servicios se prestan actualmente mediante servicios bajo demanda y de suscripción. Los servicios son prestados por Chatham Transit Network. El monto total estimado solicitado para el período del 1 de julio de 2026 al 30 de junio de 2027. NOTA: El monto de la participación local está sujeto

Ousted FDA vaccine chief Prasad returning to position in agency

He’s back just weeks after departing

The Associated Press

WASHINGTON, D.C. — A Food and Drug Administration o cial is getting his job back as the agency’s top vaccine regulator, less than two weeks after he was pressured to step down at the urging of biotech executives, patient groups and conservative allies of President Donald Trump.

Dr. Vinay Prasad is resuming leadership of the FDA center that regulates vaccines and biotech therapies, a spokesperson for the Department of Health and Human Services said in a statement Monday.

Prasad left the agency late last month after drawing ire of right-wing activists, including Laura Loomer, because of his past statements criticizing Trump.

A longtime a critic of FDA’s standards for approving medicines, Prasad brie y ordered the maker of a gene therapy for Duchenne’s muscular dystrophy to halt shipments after two patient deaths. But that action triggered pushback from the

BOAT from page A1

said Stehle is now stable and “able to communicate brie y when awake” but remains in the early stages of a long recovery at UNC Hospitals.

A GoFundMe campaign for Brooklyn Carroll’s family has raised more than $75,000 to help her parents, Kim and Matt Carroll, cope with funeral expenses and take time away from work to grieve. “BB was a light in every room she entered, with an infectious smile, a loving heart, and a spirit that touched everyone who knew her,” the fundraising page states.

The campaign organizers noted that the funds will help cover living expenses and allow the family to plan meaningful ways to honor Brooklyn’s life. In an Aug. 9 update, the family expressed gratitude for the support: “Your contributions are helping cover living expenses, giving them time away from work, and making it possible to plan meaningful ways to honor Brooklyn’s life and keep her joyful spirit alive in the community she loved.” The family also has a surviving daughter, Ava, according to the fundraising page.

Investigators found dozens of empty beer cans inside the 22-foot Tige wake boat, according to court testimony from District Attorney Je Nieman. Nieman told the court that several cans appeared to have been “shotgunned,” a method of rapid alcohol consumption. The boat was carrying approximately 10 people, including two children, at the time of the incident near the Cross Point Access Area, according to reports.

Quinten Gregory Kight, 40, of Vass in Moore County, was operating the boat while it pulled a tuber around 4:30 p.m. that Saturday afternoon. According to court documents, Kight admitted to investigators that he and all passengers were looking backward at the person being towed — not forward at the water ahead. The boat struck Carroll and Stehle approximately 150 feet from shore and 100 feet from an anchored boat where they had been swimming with Carroll’s mother, court records show. A third swimmer dove clear and avoided injury.

NCWRC o cers reported in court documents that Kight exhibited a “strong odor of alcohol on breath, red glassy eyes, hard to understand speech” and failed eld sobriety tests, being “unable to follow instructions.”

Blood samples were taken for toxicology analysis, with results still pending. A child’s life jacket was found attached to the boat’s propeller after the crash, according to media reports.

Both Kight and the boat’s owner, AnneMarie Flanigan, 56, initially faced felony charges of death by impaired boating and serious injury by impaired boating under North Carolina’s Sheyenne’s Law, enacted in 2016 after 17-year-old Sheyenne Mar-

families of boys with the fatal condition and libertarian supporters of increased access to experimental medicines.

Prasad’s decision to pause the therapy was criticized by The Wall Street Journal editorial board, former Republican Sen. Rick Santorum and others. The FDA swiftly reversed its decision suspending the therapy’s use.

Loomer posted online that Prasad was “a progressive leftist saboteur,” noting his history of

Dr. Vinay Prasad is returning to head the FDA’s vaccine regulation center shortly after resigning under pressure from critics.

praising liberal independent Sen. Bernie Sanders.

But Prasad has had the backing of FDA Commissioner Marty Makary and health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who have both called for scrutinizing the use of COVID-19 vaccines. Under Prasad, the FDA restricted the approval of two new COVID-19 shots from vaccine makers Novavax and Moderna and set stricter testing requirements for future approvals.

shall was killed by an impaired boater on Lake Norman. The law made impaired boating resulting in death a felony punishable by 38 to 160 months in prison — previously, such incidents were only misdemeanors.

However, the Chatham County grand jury elevated charges against both defendants to second-degree murder on Aug. 11, requiring prosecutors to prove malice. District Attorney Nieman indicated in court that the severity of evidence — including the extensive alcohol consumption, failure to watch where the boat was traveling and Kight’s prior criminal history — warranted the enhanced charges.

Flanigan, described in court as a former Army nurse with four combat tours, owned the boat and was present during the incident. Prosecutors argue she allowed and enabled the dangerous behavior despite witnessing obvious intoxication.

“It is clear that the consumption was happening right there in front of her,” Nieman told the court, according to media reports. She assisted victims at the scene before emergency services arrived but was arrested three days later, on Aug. 5, court records show.

Court records reveal Kight was already out on $15,000 bond for a 2023 felony hit-and-run in Moore County when the Harris Lake incident occurred. In that December 2023 case, which is still pending, Kight allegedly struck motorcyclist Alex Myers while driving left of center and ed the scene, according to court documents. He also has a 2009 DUI conviction from New Mexico, where he pleaded no contest, and multiple speeding violations in North Carolina, records show.

Kight posted a $250,000 bond after his murder indictment, with conditions including continuous alcohol monitoring and a prohibition on operating any motor vehicle, according to court records. Flanigan’s bond remains at $500,000 after prosecutors

NOTICE

NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION BEFORE THE CLERK FILE # 22SP000062-180 NOTICE OF PUBLIC SALE NC Hwy 87 Major Lee road W. Woods Doster, Administrator of the Estate of Leo Campbell, Petitioner, vs. Ingrid Campbell; Corey Campbell; Golowis Freeman; Ingird Collette Campbell, Trustee of Trust Number “Tract D” Land Trust; and Ingird Collette Campbell, Trustee of Trust Number 3401 Hwy 87 North Land Trust; Respondents. Pursuant to the Order for Possession, Custody, Control, and Sale of Real Property led on June 23, 2022, in the above captioned proceeding, NOTICE is hereby given that the subject properties described below will be put up for public sale on August 26, 2025 at 10:00 a.m.; the sale will be held at the Chatham County Courthouse in the designated area for sale. The subject properties, which are being sold together, are commonly referred to as Major Lee Road, Pittsboro, NC 27312, Parcel #0080774, and NC 87 N, Pittsboro, NC 27312, Parcel #0005908 and are more particularly described as follows:

TRACT 1:

BEING ALL of that certain 1.50 acres, more or less, designated as “Tract D-1” on the plat hereinafter referred to, together with a perpetual right of way and easement over and upon that certain 30 foot wide access easement extending along the Eastern property line of said Tract D, all as shown upon that certain survey and plat entitled, “Survey for Ingrid C. Campbell, Trustee” dated 7/24/2003 by Dowell G. Eakes, PLS recorded at Plat-Slide 2003-250, Chatham County Registry.

Chatham County Parcel 0080774 Address: Major Lee Road, Pittsboro, North Carolina 27312

Brooklyn Carroll was about to start fth grade at West Lake Elementary in Cary.

deemed her a ight risk. Both defendants have court dates scheduled in September at the Chatham County Justice Center in Pittsboro.

“This was a heartbreaking accident, but one that was preventable,” Chatham County Sheri Mike Roberson said in a statement. “Alcohol was a factor, and the decision to operate a boat while impaired had devastating consequences. We urge everyone to think twice before mixing alcohol with watercraft operation. It only takes a moment for lives to be changed forever.”

North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission Sgt. Claude Smith told media that alcohol and drug-related boating incidents occur throughout each summer.

“This is obviously an extreme example of that. It’s a very tragic accident,” Smith said.

The incident has prompted renewed calls for increased law enforcement patrols on Harris Lake and stricter enforcement of boating while intoxicated laws. Under current North Carolina law, the blood alcohol limit for boat operators matches that for drivers at 0.08%, with basic violations carrying only misdemeanor charges unless injury or death occurs.

West Lake Elementary School has provided counseling resources for students and families processing the loss of a classmate and injury to a sta member, according to media reports. The tragedy struck particularly hard as both victims were integral parts of the same school community — Carroll as a student entering fth grade and Stehle as a social worker who supported students’ emotional wellbeing.

The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission is continuing its investigation, with toxicology results expected to provide additional evidence for prosecution. The sheri ’s o ce said it is assisting as needed and working closely with the District Attorney’s O ce as the case moves forward.

Town

The

Notice of Public Hearings

TRACT 2:

All that certain 7.44 acres, more or less, designated as “Tract D” on the plat hereinafter referred to, together with a perpetual right of way and easement over and upon that certain 30 foot wide access easement extending along the Eastern property line of said Tract D, all as shown upon that certain survey and plat entitled, “Survey For Ingrid C. Campbell, Trustee” dated 7/24/2003 by Dowell G. Eakes, PLS recorded at Plat Side 2003-250, Chatham County Registry.

Chatham County Parcel 0005908

Address: NC 87 N, Pittsboro, NC 27312

A cash deposit from the highest bidder equal to ten percent (10%) of the amount of the bid is required at the time of public sale. Said bid shall be reported to the Court and will remain open for the requisite upset bid period as required by law. The Court reserves the right to approve and reject all bids. THE PROPERTY IS SOLD AS-IS, WHERE-IS, WITH ALL FAULTS.

This is the 31st day of July 2025. Shelby L. Lennon, Attorney for Commissioner Law O ces of Doster and Brown, P.A. 206 Hawkins Avenue Sanford, NC 27330 919-842-5007

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

The undersigned certi es that she has this day served upon the below listed persons, a copy of the Notice of Public Sale by depositing a copy in a postpaid wrapper in the United States Postal O ce, properly addressed to each part as follows:

Ingrid Campbell 754 Warrenton Rd. Apt 113175 Fredericksburg, VA 22406 Golowis Freeman 849 Montgomery Street 1 Jersey City, New Jersey 07306 Corey Campbell 438 Cranbrook Court Orange Park, FL 32065

This is the 31st day of July 2025.

Shelby L. Lennon, Attorney for Commissioner Law O ces of Doster and Brown, P.A. 206 Hawkins Avenue Sanford, NC 27330 919-842-5007

PUBLIC NOTICE

LEASE OF COUNTY PROPERTY The Board of Commissioners of Chatham County intends to enter into a lease agreement for the following County-owned property: FIRSTHEALTH OF THE CAROLINAS, INC intends to lease o ce space located in a building located at 964 East Street, Suite 103, Pittsboro, in Chatham County, North Carolina, all as more de nitely described on the attached Exhibit A, which is by reference hereto made a part hereof (hereinafter “Premises”) under a lease agreement commencing July 1, 2025. The County intends to lease the property to the FIRSTHEALTH OF THE CAROLINAS, INC. for a period of ve (5) years to terminate on the 30th day of June, 2030 provided all conditions of the Lease have been properly complied with by Tenant. In consideration of the lease, Landlord has agreed to allow the Tenant to use property for the annual sum of $50,940.00. A copy of the Lease is available for review in the O ce of the County Clerk during regular business hours. All persons interested in this lease are invited to attend the meeting of the Board of Commissioners to be held at the Historic Courthouse, 9 Hillsboro Street, Pittsboro, NC, on Monday, September 15, 2025, at 6:00 P.M. At that time the Board intends to authorize the extension of the lease of the property described above. EXHIBIT A By reference to 6,200 square feet and a part of a building or buildings located at 964 East Street, Suite 103, Pittsboro, NC 27312 (“Premises”).

ensure that disabled persons are provided other accommodations, such arrangements may include, but are not limited to, providing interpreters for the deaf, providing taped cassettes of materials for the blind, or assuring a barrier-free location for the proceedings.

This information is available in Spanish or any other language upon request. Please contact Kimberly Pickard at 919-726-8620, 311 North Second Avenue, Siler City, North Carolina 27344, or kpickard@silercity.org for accommodations for this request. Esta información está disponible en español o en cualquier otro idioma bajo petición. Por favor, póngase en contacto con Kimberly Pickard al kpickard@silercity. org o 919-726-8625 o en 311 North Second Avenue, Siler City, North Carolina 27344 de alojamiento para esta solicitud.

NOTICE OF TAX FORECLOSURE SALE Under and by virtue of an order of the District Court of Chatham County, North Carolina, made and entered in the action entitled COUNTY OF CHATHAM vs. EMMETT W. CALDWELL and spouse, if any, and all possible HEIRS, ASSIGNS OR DEVISEES OF EMMETT W. CALDWELL and spouse, if any, or any other person or entity claiming thereunder, et al, 08CVD000616-180, the undersigned Commissioner will on the 27th day of August, 2025, o er for sale and sell for cash, to the last and highest bidder at public auction at the courthouse door in Chatham County, North Carolina, Pittsboro, North Carolina at 12:00 o›clock, noon, the following described real property, lying and being in State and County aforesaid, and more particularly described as follows: Beginning at an iron pipe which is located at the intersection of Jones Ferry and River Ave., running thence with the North side of that road 370 feet to an iron stake, the intersecting with the

U.S. FDA VIA AP

COURTESY

CHATHAM SPORTS

Players and coaches from all four of Chatham County’s public high school football teams gathered for the county’s preseason media day.

Northwood looks to replace production, not a coach, this fall

The Chargers will have some new faces making plays in 2025

By Asheebo Rojas Chatham News & Record

PITTSBORO — As Dalton Brown becomes Northwood’s rst returning head coach since 2021, the Chargers now have much to replace on the eld.

Some key pieces from last year are back. On the o ensive side, the Chargers are recalling senior quarterback Grayson

Cox, senior running back Robert Tripp, junior receiver Raje Torres and few linemen in Mickell Wilson, Ben Porter and Conner Clark. Defensively, they’re bringing back playmakers in senior linebackers Aiden Hohenwarter and Leo Mortimer, junior defensive lineman Jordan Brimm and junior defensive back Willie Boynton.

But the question remains of who will step into the shoes of last year’s productive senior class.

The most glaring hole is at the receiver position.

Last season, Northwood boasted three senior pass catchers in Isaiah Blair, Beau Harvey and Antoine Brewington, who combined for more than 1,100 receiving yards.

The only returning starter from the group was Torres, who added another 282 yards in the air and four touchdowns in 2024.

“We’re looking for big seasons from Willie Boynton and Nick Armstrong,” Brown said about his receiving corps. “Two guys that have committed to

See NORTHWOOD, page B4

Seaforth starts anew, raises bar for success

The new sta shakes things up and demands the best this o season

By Asheebo Rojas Chatham News & Record

PITTSBORO — At the Chatham County football media day held at Northwood on Saturday, teams were allowed to bring up to ve players to discuss their o seasons and expectations. Every team brought at least four representatives, including their starting quarterback.

Except for Seaforth.

The Hawks only brought two seniors in corner Nick Gregory and safety Patrick Miller — the “backend boys.” The other three seats that the two players moved away from the table at which every team sat were all question marks that even new coach Tolbert Matthews didn’t know how to ll.

That’s because, he said, the construction of his team isn’t up to him.

“It’s football,” Matthews said. “We compete. It’s what we do. Even in our scrimmage yesterday against Willow Springs, I benched our starting quarterback, on the, what, second drive or so? We don’t have any guys that are technically starters. Everybody has an opportunity to earn a position.”

Matthews said he’s looking to put the best guys on the eld, regardless of age and experience.

Knowing that players will make mistakes and come up short at times, he and the coaching sta are looking at how guys respond to the new culture and expectations implemented into the program.

“One thing that we’ve been focused on since my arrival is basically changing the See SEAFORTH, page B3

“Everybody has an opportunity to earn a position.”

Tolbert Matthews

Chatham Central hopes for better results with its best o season

More numbers and coaches have made for better preparation

By Asheebo Rojas Chatham News & Record

PITTSBORO — There hasn’t been more promise ahead of a Chatham Central football season under coach Derrin Little.

The spring and summer months have usually been a test of adaptation and uncertainty for the Bears. For the past two years, low numbers and a roster full of players with

little to no prior football experience have put Chatham Central behind leading up to week one, forcing the team to nd itself through the rough lessons of the regular season. However, in many ways, the buildup to this fall has told a di erent story.

“It’s de nitely the best oseason we’ve had since I’ve been here,” Little said. “When you look at it from the very rst year to now, you can see so much development. You can see our guys getting better. Guys are understanding the game itself. There’s not as

much teaching that we have to do now compared to year one and two.”

What has arguably helped the Bears’ development the most this o season was participation.

Chatham Central has a whole unit worth of spare bodies in practice segments now, and the team saw nearly 20 players consistently show up to team activities throughout the summer.

“When I rst got here, it was eight guys that were going to work out compared to

See CENTRAL, page B4

GENE GALIN FOR CHATHAM NEWS & RECORD

GENE GALIN FOR CHATHAM NEWS & RECORD

The Chargers hold a preseason practice in July.

GENE GALIN FOR CHATHAM NEWS & RECORD

Chatham Central coach Derrin Little (middle) is joined by Sayvion Burnette (12), Nick Glover (1), Bryson Alston (9) and Brooks Albright (10) at the Chatham County football media day.

Maddie Kaczmarczyk

Chatham County Post 292 , softball

Chatham County Post 292 pitcher Maddie Kaczmarczyk earns athlete of the week honors for the week of Aug. 4.

Against South Wake in the rst game of the North Carolina USA Heroes League Softball round-robin tournament, Kaczmarczyk led the team with four RBIs and earned the win in the circle. The pitcher went 2 for 4 at the plate and struck out seven batters in four innings to lead Post 292 to a 15-7 victory. She also walked ve batters and gave up six runs.

Kaczmarczyk is coming o a stellar sophomore season at Chatham Central. She was named the 2025 District 5 pitcher of the year for 1A, and she earned all-state honors (NCSCA 1A West pitcher of the year).

Jordan-Matthews adjusts for higher altitude in 2025

The Jets made a series of changes to improve on last season

By Asheebo Rojas Chatham News & Record

PITTSBORO — Jordan-Matthews is soaring to new heights of maturity in 2025.

Last season, the Jets, who won the most games (three) since 2015, had to grow up quickly. Injuries to crucial positions, including quarterback, receiver and corner, forced some inexperienced underclassmen to play signi cant roles and adjust to varsity football on the y.

In hopes to be better equipped to take on the demands of varsity football, the players have made the e ort to grow both mentally and physically.

“The guys have been putting in good work in the spring,” Jordan-Matthews coach Kermit Carter said. “We’ve had way better numbers than last year in the spring time as far as attendance at practice, weight room. A lot of guys have made a lot of gains in the weight room.”

Getting guys to take lifting seriously has been huge for the Jets. After previously having players skip workout reps and not work as hard as they could, Carter credits strength coach Darren Beasley with changing the narrative around the weight room.

“He is a vital part of our program,” Carter said. “He has created an environment where our players want to get in the weight room and get stronger rather than dreading it.”

Skill players like junior safety and receiver Namir Wiley, junior linebacker Omar Sanford

“A lot of guys have made a lot of gains in the weight room.”

Kermit Carter

and senior defensive lineman Deantaye Smith have gained weight in preparation for the season. Senior running back and linebacker Jakari Blue, who’s also a standout wrestler, even made the e ort to lose weight to play lighter this year.

“From last year and the years before, I would more so see the gaps and read them, but I couldn’t get there as fast as I wanted to,” Blue said. “So with me dropping weight, I’m reading gaps faster, moving a lot quicker and a whole lot shiftier.”

Mentally, the task has been once again adjusting to what works best for the team and learning new positions.

Last year, Wiley took on the quarterback role despite not playing the position before. He su ered an injury early in the season that forced freshman Nolan Mitchell to take over the o ense, but even he isn’t returning to the position this fall.

The Jets will instead let senior Kamarie Hadley, a leader on the basketball team, play quarterback after discovering his ability to throw the football in the spring.

“He didn’t want to do it at rst,” Carter said. “He wanted to play receiver, in which he is a great receiver. But again, like Namir, he’s doing the best thing for Jordan-Matthews, and he can throw the ball. I just know

Kamarie from — we have a history with basketball. He’s always level-headed. Never get too high, never get too low. He can process stu really well. He’s a quiet leader.”

Hadley said o ensive coordinator Christian Moon has been key in his development as a quarterback this o season.

“He helped me a lot through the process,” Hadley said. “Getting my feet set ready, better ways to throw the ball and reading the defense.”

Other players will take on different roles for the Jets. Mitchell will go from leading the o ense to catching passes as a receiver. He may also spend some time opposite of corner sophomore corner Lennox Mordecai with standout athlete Kenneth Dula transferring to Chapel Hill. Wiley will be featured in the defensive back eld as a safety this season, as well.

“My thing is I just want football guys,” Carter said. “If you’re a football guy, there’s a position for you.”

With their willingness to change and adapt in the team’s best interests, Carter said he feels his team is “hungry to do better” this fall. For the past two seasons, doing better has been adding a win to the nal record as the Jets went from 0-11 in 2022 and 2-8 in 2023 to 3-7 in 2024.

But before Jordan-Matthews starts a new win-loss column at Carrboro on Aug. 22 at 7 p.m., an improved season will depend on having a winning mindset.

“I would say for this year, we still have fun, but at the same time, we know when it’s time to get to work and get to practice. Then, it’s game on.”

PJ WARD-BROWN / CHATHAM NEWS & RECORD

GENE GALIN FOR CHATHAM NEWS & RECORD

JordanMatthews coach Kermit Carter talks about his team at the county media day with Namir Wiley (4), Jakari Blue (11), Omar Sanford (15) and Kamarie Hadley (6).

Graves announces commitment, new school for senior season

mindset,” Matthews said.

“Building that mentality. For me, these guys, we needed them to respond. Whether that was responding to being fussed at by the coach, respond to being the last guy when we’re running sprints, respond to making the wrong adjustment or lining up incorrectly when doing our drills. Those things of that nature. Nothing goes unnoticed.”

Several players have shown the potential to hit the eld and make an impact in week one. On o ense, Matthews highlighted seniors Cole Seder and Austin Ingram as a “solid foundation” for the o ensive line and senior running back Evan Minor as a “shifty” option at running back.

Junior Max Hinchman and sophomore Noah Fuller, who emerged as a big playmaker this o season, have stood out as receivers.

“It’s just going to be a lot of explosiveness coming from the offense,” Matthews said.

But who will fuel the re from the quarterback position?

Right now, Seaforth has a quarterback battle brewing between junior Duncan Parker, last year’s starter, and sophomore Mason Pooley.

“Both great kids and both great men of character,” Matthews said of his quarterbacks. “Strengths and di erences are just decision making right now. Both are still young. (I’m) trying to get them to see the eld

The standout forward will play in Detroit this winter

By Asheebo Rojas Chatham News & Record

CHAD GRAVES, Northwood basketball’s standout forward over the past three seasons, made some big decisions on his future last week.

Graves committed to Cal State Fullerton, a Division I program located in Fullerton, California. Cal State Fullerton gave Graves his rst Division I o er in July. The future Titan also announced his plans to play somewhere other than Northwood for his senior season. Graves posted on his X account on Aug. 4 that he will play his nal year at Chandler Park Academy in the Detroit area.

“This decision wasn’t easy because Pittsboro will always be home.”

Chad Graves

“This decision wasn’t easy because Pittsboro will always be home,” Graves said. “This town raised me, this school molded me, and this community supported me through it all. To Coach Poulos, Coach Brown and the entire Northwood community, thank you for the coaching, the care and the belief you showed me every step of the way.”

This past winter, Graves made a considerable jump in his second year as a starter, averaging 9.9 points, six rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game. Standing at 6-foot-10, he recorded two dou-

ble-doubles and scored at least 10 points in 15 games. Graves scored in double gures in six of seven games from Jan. 17 to Feb. 6, including a pair of 17-point performances against Southeast Alamance and Seaforth.

In the Mid-Carolina 1A/2A conference tournament championship game, Graves tied his season-high 18 points and recorded 10 rebounds to help the Chargers take down Southeast Alamance and sweep the conference titles.

As a sophomore, Graves averaged 5.9 points and 5.1 rebounds per game.

Before committing to Cal State Fullerton, Graves held an o er from Dean College.

Cal State Fullerton competes in the Big West Conference. They’ve made the NCAA Tournament four times, most recently in 2022.

the way I see it. I’m a defensive guy. So I read it very quickly, and I have the frustration with them because they’re not getting it as fast as I need them to. But they both can throw the ball. They both can run the ball. We’re going to be dangerous back there with our QB situation.”

As players, Miller and Gregory agree that both guys are “great leaders” and believe in both to elevate the team. On their side of the ball, Mat-

thews pointed to Alejandro and Jayden Riley as players who can make an impact at the linebacker position, one that will be a question after the graduation of key pieces in Jackson Powell and Alex Hinchman.

Seaforth’s defense, which was a strength last year, is looking to combine aggressiveness, speed and knowledge of the game to go to the next level. The unit will be under the leadership of new coordinator Travis Scales, who has

emphasized the importance of lm study and teaching schemes to his players.

“Our emphasis on defense, we really know what everybody’s doing,” Gregory said. “When we’re in the lm room, everybody is locked in. Notebook, piece of paper, eyes on coach.

There’s no looking o .”

Said Miller, “It’s very serious.

Coach Scales holds us accountable. If no one has a notebook or someone’s not paying atten-

tion, he’ll mark it down. We got punishments after that. From a football knowledge perspective, I thought I knew a decent amount of football this year. But with those two coming in, I don’t know anything compared to what they do.”

Everything has been shaken up at the Hawks’ nest, and the team has just one more week to respond to it all before starting the season at Chapel Hill on Aug. 22 at 7 p.m.

GENE GALIN FOR CHATHAM NEWS & RECORD

Chad Graves takes a free throw against Seaforth in January. Graves will wear a di erent jersey for his senior season.

SEAFORTH from page B1

GENE GALIN FOR CHATHAM NEWS & RECORD

Seaforth coach Tolbert Matthews was joined by Nick Gregory (1) and Patrick Miller (0) at the county media day.

Rookie van Gisbergen nabs 4th victory of Cup season

The win at Watkins Glen set a rookie record

The Associated Press

WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. — Shane van Gisbergen’s latest victory in NASCAR’s premier series was as historical as it was emotional.

With his father, Robert, on hand for the rst time this year, the Auckland, New Zealand, native set a Cup Series rookie record with his fourth victory, blowing out the competition again at Watkins Glen International.

“It’s just amazing to have him here,” said van Gisbergen, who last saw his father while visiting home over the Christmas break. “It’s been a very tough, tough year for dad, and he hasn’t been able to travel, so to have him here for the next three weeks and share this with him, it’s amazing.”

As amazing as van Gisbergen’s rookie season in the Cup Series.

The Trackhouse Racing driver joined 2020 champion Chase Elliott and NASCAR Hall of Famer Je Gordon as the only drivers to win four consecutive Cup races on road or street courses.

Unlike his prior wins at Mexico City, Chicago and Sonoma, van Gisbergen was unable to start from the pole position after being edged by Ryan Blaney. After qualifying second, van Gisbergen bided his time and took his rst lead on the 25th of the 90-lap race. He then settled into a typically awless and smooth rhythm on the 2.45 -mile road course.

“I’m just a very lucky guy to get to drive for an amazing bunch of people and just execute,” van Gisbergen said. “The day went awlessly.”

The 36-year-old rook-

NORTHWOOD from page B1

the process and have shown up every day and have put in the work.”

Boynton and Armstrong don’t have much varsity experience, but Torres has seen plenty of action going back to his days as a freshman at Jordan-Matthews.

For Torres, who will be stepping into a bigger role himself, a fresh start at the position has been an opportunity to exhibit leadership.

“Really just holding everybody accountable, making sure they’re running the right routes, right steps,” Torres said.

On the defensive side of things, the Chargers are looking to replace a back eld wrecker in AJ Rhone-Mason and another key lineman in Elijah Farrow. The two combined for 104 tackles, 21 tackles for loss and 11 sacks in 2024. Rhone-Mason alone accounted for 74 tackles, including 15 tackles for loss and eight sacks.

“This year, we’re looking at Jaxon Green, who’s a rising sophomore, to make some plays,” Brown said. “Mickell Wilson to continue to make some plays. He made some plays last year, but we need a 100% e ort this year. That’s been a huge message to him, which he’s responded well. And then Max Hohenwarter is another one.”

Even though that senior class

CENTRAL from page B1

now, we’ve got literally our two deep everywhere that we need to have them,” Little said.

“This is the rst time since I’ve been here that we actually have about eight to nine guys we can rotate as far as the O- and D-line. So having that depth will de nitely really help us as well.” The increased numbers have allowed for more productive practices. Players have more opportunities to split o into position groups and get live reps against each other, and they can eld fuller scout teams for 11-on-11 team periods.

It also helps that many of the underclassmen who were thrown into the re last season came back, giving the team some stability to build on.

“I’m just a very lucky guy to get to drive for an amazing bunch of people and just execute. The day went awlessly.”

Shane van Gisbergen

ie made his nal pit stop with 27 laps remaining and cycled into rst place on Lap 74 of a clean race with only three yellow ags. Cruising to a big lead while leading the nal 17 laps, van Gisbergen beat Christopher Bell by 11.116 seconds.

“I’m thrilled because we’ve

been struggling a little bit,” Bell said. “Just trying to execute the races has been tough for us, so really awesome to have a good day. Frustrated to get our butts kicked by (van Gisbergen). He’s doing such a really good job.”

With ve victories in only 38 career starts in NASCAR’s top series, van Gisbergen trails only Elliott (seven wins) and Kyle Larson (six) among active drivers on street or road courses. He also is the fastest to ve wins in Cup since the legendary Dan Gurney, who won his fth race in his 13th start in January 1968. The win validated the decision by Trackhouse to sign van Gisbergen to a multiyear con-

tract extension last week. Tied with Denny Hamlin for the series lead in victories, van Gisbergen holds the No. 2 seed in the playo s with two races remaining in the regular season.

The rst round will be held at three oval tracks, where the inexperienced van Gisbergen, who raced exclusively on road and street courses while winning three championships in the Australia-based Supercars, has an average nish of 26.9 this year.

“It ain’t going to be easy, that’s for sure,” van Gisbergen said of his playo outlook. “The rst round, it’s some very dicult left-handed tracks for me, but I’m getting better at it, and

I’m enjoying myself, and it’s a challenge. That’s why we’re here, and we’ll have a proper crack at it.”

Playo watch

Third-place nisher Chris Buescher improved to 34 points ahead of Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing teammate Ryan Preece in the battle for the nal playo spot.

Buescher outdueled van Gisbergen on the nal lap to win at Watkins Glen last year. His team tailored its strategy Sunday toward amassing stage points instead of following the win-oriented strategy used by van Gisbergen.

will be missed, the weight of this year’s success doesn’t all fall on the newcomers.

The returnees, especially the current senior class, have the opportunity to elevate this team and become the next memorable group to exit the program.

For starters, the experienced group gets the luxury of a returning head coach, which means there’s no longer a need to learn new terminology, calls and expectations.

“The consistency has been a really good thing,” Clark said.

Chatham Central went into this summer with a starting quarterback in Brooks Albright, a sophomore who took over at the position midway through last season. Last fall, the quarterback position was a bit of a mystery with a freshman in Reed Douglas getting his rst taste of varsity action, and he went down early with an injury.

It forced veteran athlete Nick Glover to step in at quarterback for a few games, but that only lasted so long as it limited his ability to get out in space and make plays in other positions. Now with a full o season to prepare to be the guy for this o ense, Albright has been working on the little things.

“Just making sure my feet are right, my stance is right and everything,” Albright said.

Said Cox, “Having a coach you can trust that’s coming back for two years after not having that for our entire high school (career), it’s just been di erent.”

For Cox, who endured some high highs and low lows throughout last season, he already has an idea of how he wants to improve on the eld and as a leader.

“I feel like last year there was also a lot of thinking in what I was doing,” Cox said. “I feel like I just need to play football. That’s what I came out here to do.

“It don’t seem big, but it is when you get in the game.”

Glover, a senior, and juniors Sayvion Burnette and Hance Ramirez return as main targets for Albright. Tyler Congrove, the standout sprinter, will have a bigger role at a running back. On both sides of the ball, the o season has looked di erent on the coaching level, too.

Chatham Central brought in co-defensive coordinators with Trevon Tapp and Duane Bland, two former college football teammates at Lenoir-Rhyne. Little described them as “good teachers,” which has been of utmost importance on a team that has players still learning the game.

“They teach us technique and stu , and they make us better by making us under -

There can’t be as much thinking because thinking will tear me down, and that happened last year. It’s just coming in and just playing football and just being con dent in my guys, being condent in myself.”

Tripp, who rushed for 1,128 yards and recorded 127 receiving yards, is looking to add more balance and a better ability to break tackles this fall.

For the whole defense, Hohenwarter wants the unit to embody defensive coordinator Derrick Lee’s emphasis on energy.

stand the game on a smaller level,” Burnette said.

Former athletic director Tommy Peele has also returned to the gridiron to help out the Bears’ o ense. He comes with more than a decade of coaching experience, including a 14 -year stint as an assistant at Lee County and some time as the Bears’ o ensive coordinator before becoming the school’s AD.

“When I was a high school quarterback, Coach Peele actually coached against me,” Little said. “He was the one who actually hired me, and now our running joke is, ‘Hey, I hired you, so make sure you don’t re me.’ Coach Peele just brings the experience. I’ve told all the guys he’s probably forgotten more football than all of us have learned so far. So just being able to have that sound-

“Last year and a lot of this oseason, we just don’t have a lot of energy,” Hohenwarter said. “We don’t have to be executing everything right, but if we don’t have energy, like, we’re not hitting hard, we’re not getting to the play fast, not everyone’s getting to the ball. So we’re really focused on bringing energy and giving 100% in everything.” Northwood will get to see how well the new blends with the old when it opens the season at Harnett Central on Aug. 22 at 7 p.m.

ing board for myself, as well as defensively — he’s going to be helping us just saying, ‘Hey, we used to this right here.’ It just brings us another set of eyes that have seen some stu that we haven’t seen.”

The Bears are hoping the new energy in the o season leads to unseen success in the games.

Chatham Central will open the season at Graham on Aug. 22 at 7 p.m., starting its goal to earn the 11th game instead of being guaranteed a playo spot due to a small classi cation.

“The feeling is di erent,” Little said. “We love where we are right now. We’re not content. We know we still got a long way to go. We know we’re still building. But for where we are right now, I won’t complain one bit.”

SETH WENIG / AP PHOTO

Shane van Gisbergen celebrates with his team in Victory Lane after winning Sunday’s Cup Series race at Watkins Glen.

GENE GALIN FOR CHATHAM NEWS & RECORD

Northwood coach Dalton Brown speaks at media day next to, from left, Raje Torres, Aiden Hohenwarter, Grayson Cox, Robert Tripp and Conner Clark.

SIDELINE REPORT

MLB Rivera tears Achilles in Yankees

Old-Timers’ Day game, needs surgery

New York

Mariano Rivera tore his Achilles while chasing a y ball at New York Yankees’ Old-Timers’ Day. The 55-year-old closer, baseball’s career leader in saves, will have surgery within a week. The Yankees brought back the Old-Timers’ Day game for the rst time since 2019. Rivera, a Hall of Famer, was playing in the event for the second time. He became the rst unanimous pick for the Hall of Fame in 2019 after helping the Yankees win ve World Series titles.

NFL Lamb takes big hit from sprinting o cial while in street clothes on sideline

Inglewood, Calif.

CeeDee Lamb took a big hit and committed a penalty in the Dallas Cowboys’ preseason opener even though the star receiver wasn’t in uniform. A sprinting o cial ran straight into Lamb’s back on the sideline during the second quarter of the Cowboys’ game against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium, resulting in a 15-yard penalty for making contact with an o cial.

Dressed in street clothes, Lamb was watching a deep pass when he wandered too far into the white paint on the sideline. The o cial didn’t see him and knocked him down.

NBA Celtics sign coach Mazzulla to multiyear contract extension

Boston The Boston Celtics signed coach Joe Mazzulla to a multiyear contract extension. Length and details of the new deal were not released. The 37-year-old Mazzulla is coming o his third season as Boston’s coach and has guided the team to the playo s each season, including the franchise’s 18th NBA title to cap the 2023-24 season. Under Mazzulla, the Celtics have won at least 57 games each of those seasons and topped 60 victories in each of the last two.

NCAA FOOTBALL

Notre Dame loses TE Bauman, RB Young to season- ending knee injuries

South Bend, Ind.

Notre Dame announced sixth-year tight end Kevin Bauman and second-year running back Kedren Young su ered season-ending knee injuries in practice. Bauman su ered an articular cartilage injury in his left knee, which will require surgery. He announced on social media this will be the end of his football career. Young tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee. Bauman was expected to play a key role for the Fighting Irish this season. Young was projected to add depth to Notre Dame’s already deep back eld.

Joint practices give coaches better way to evaluate starters

Workouts are replacing preseason games as the preferred way for coaches to evaluate players

By Rob Maaddi The Associated Press

TAMPA, Fla. — Baker Mayeld got in the middle of a scufe and injured All-Pro tackle Tristan Wirfs went onto the eld on crutches to join his teammates.

Welcome to joint practices. Players get an opportunity to hit opposing teams, which sometimes can lead to ghting, like the minor tussle between the Buccaneers and Titans.

“Everybody’s in the skirmish,” Bucs coach Todd Bowles said. “Nobody wants to throw a punch. It’s not necessary. We’re not trying to do that right there. They’re not trying to do it as well. If it’s hot and you got pads on, it’s going to happen.”

Patriots coach Mike Vrabel, a former All-Pro linebacker and two-time Coach of the Year in Tennessee, jumped into a pile of players and came out with a bloodied cheek at New

“I think the joint practices are great just because you get to go against another team, get to see, match up and just play football.”

Russell Wilson, Giants quarterback

England’s practice with the Washington Commanders.

But the main purpose of joint sessions is to give coaches a better way to evaluate starters in a more competitive environment than preseason games. Teams don’t want future opponents to see much of their playbook in exhibitions, and most coaches prefer to keep key starters out of harm’s way, so facing opponents within a controlled setting has become a priority for most teams.

Overall, 29 of 32 NFL teams are holding joint practices this summer, up from 27 in 2023 and 23 in 2022. Only the Kansas City Chiefs, Cincinnati Bengals, and New Orleans Saints aren’t doing them.

“These are all pretty standard in the sense that you’re going to get most situational work, you get some base down, some third down, some red

zone, a two-minute drill,” Titans coach Brian Callahan said.

The New York Giants and Jets have two days of joint practices, one at each team’s practice facility.

Veteran Giants quarterback Russell Wilson has played long enough to appreciate the evolution of joint practices and their importance. The NFL decreased the preseason schedule to three games when the regular season went to 17 games, and it may go down to two.

“I think the joint practices are great just because you get to go against another team, get to see, match up and just play football,” Wilson said. “Once again, everything’s about preparation, getting ready for the season.”

“I think it’s really valuable,” Niners coach Kyle Shanahan said. “Sometimes you can’t do it. I always would like to do it. ... It’s always good to go against

di erent schemes too. Di erent players. We’re going against each other every day. Same guys, same scheme. It gets a little bit old, and it’s a good way to switch it up.”

For a coach on a new team like Vrabel, facing another team in practice also helps build a foundation for his unit. The Patriots are coming o a terrible 4-13 season, and Vrabel is aiming to change the culture.

“The goal is just to be able to put the identity out on the eld against another team, to put the fundamentals that we put out there, the installation, to be able to do it against another defense, to be able to adjust to di erent play styles of players, players that maybe are longer or quicker or stronger, just different play styles of each player throughout this league,” Vrabel said.

The league embraces joint practices from a player health and safety perspective because fewer starters are playing in preseason games, and data has shown players are more susceptible to soft-tissue injuries early in the season if they don’t hit similar load, speed and exertion levels in training camp.

Bridgeman proved having PGA Tour card enough to earn way in golf’s top circuit

The former Clemson player is making progress on the tour

By Doug Ferguson The Associated Press

HIS ROOKIE year on the PGA Tour was challenging enough for Jacob Bridgeman.

He got in 20 tournaments, none of them majors or The Players Championship, $20 million signature events or the FedEx Cup playo s. He did just well enough to keep his heart rate down and his ranking inside the top 125 to keep his card.

And then the PGA Tour approved a plan during thenal week of 2024 to reduce the number of players keeping their cards to 100.

Gulp.

“I think it makes it tougher and tougher on the rookies,”

Bridgeman said. “I feel like my rookie year was really hard, and this one was probably harder because there were less cards.”

Bridgeman said he was neutral toward the change. The purpose was to make sure anyone who had a card could get into enough tournaments, and smaller elds in 2026 would keep rounds from not nishing because of darkness. And yes, it would be more competitive than ever.

Camilo Villegas was chair-

man of Player Advisory Council that proposed the changes and acknowledged it would be harder to keep a card.

“But if we perform, there’s an opportunity to make an unbelievable living,” Villegas said.

Bridgeman performed.

Bridgeman is No. 33 in the FedEx Cup, all but assured of staying in the top 50 to advance to the BMW Championship that will get him in all eight of the $20 million signature events next year.

The ultimate goal — the Tour Championship — is well within range.

Bridgeman began his sophomore season without assurances of being in any of the majors or the signature events.

He closed with a 64 at the Cognizant Classic for a runner-up nish, getting him into Bay Hill and The Players Championship. He slept on the lead the opening three rounds at the Valspar Championship and nished third, getting him into another signature event at the RBC Heritage.

He was among the last three players o the FedEx Cup to ll the eld at the Truist Championship and tied for fourth, and his standing also got him into the U.S. Open.

Bridgeman wound up playing ve signature events, two majors and The Players. He felt it was a disadvantage at the start. It turned into a

big year that isn’t over just yet.

“Not being in those at the beginning of the year was tough,” Bridgeman said. “I went through that last year. I knew how that was and played past all that and still kept my card. I felt like it was a disadvantage, for sure, but not that it was unattainable.

“I just knew if I played well I’d have a chance,” he said. “That was one my goals is playing a signature event early. I got in the Arnold Palmer and rode the wave all the way through.”

That’s how it has been for the 25-year-old Bridgeman. He was No. 2 in the PGA Tour University his senior year at Clemson, which got him Korn Ferry Tour status. He spent 2023 on the developmental circuit and graduated to the PGA Tour.

Being in all the signature events is an advantage, but not a guarantee. Fourteen players who nished in the top 50

last year failed to make it to the postseason.

Three players who were not among the top 50 last year — U.S. Open champion J.J. Spaun, Harris English and Ben Gri n — start the postseason in the top 10.

The turnover rate for those who quali ed for the FedEx Cup playo s was at 30% — 21 players nished in the top 70 who weren’t in Memphis last year. The signature events were a source of consternation when they were rst introduced, mainly the uncertainty of a level playing eld. J.T. Poston said it best.

“As long as there’s a way you still have to perform to stay in, and there’s an avenue for guys who aren’t in to play their way in, I don’t think there’s an issue,” he said. Turns out it wasn’t for Bridgeman.

CAROLYN KASTER / AP PHOTO

CHRIS O’MEARA / AP PHOTO

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker May eld throws a pass during a training camp practice.

Jacob Bridgeman tees o during the rst round of the U.S. Open in June.

Former Rolling Stone says MET has his stolen guitar

The museum denies guitarist Mick Taylor’s claim

By Jill Lawless The Associated Press

LONDON — It’s only rock ’n’ roll, but it’s messy.

A guitar once played by two members of the Rolling Stones is at the center of a dispute between the band’s former guitarist Mick Taylor and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

The 1959 Gibson Les Paul was donated to the Met as part of what the New York museum calls “a landmark gift of more than 500 of the nest guitars from the golden age of American guitar making.” The donor is Dirk Zi , a billionaire investor and guitar collector.

When the Met announced the gift in May, Taylor thought he recognized the guitar, with its distinctive “starburst” nish, as an instrument he last saw in 1971, when the Stones were recording the album “Exile on Main St.” at Keith Richards’ rented villa in the south of France.

In the haze of drugs and rock ’n’ roll that pervaded the sessions, a number of instruments went missing, believed stolen.

Now Taylor and his team believe it has reappeared. The Met says provenance records show

“Mick did tell me that the guitar solo that he became quite famous for, on ‘Can’t You Hear Me Knocking,’ was with the Les Paul that got stolen.”

Je Allen, publicist and manager

no evidence the guitar ever belonged to Taylor.

“This guitar has a long and well-documented history of ownership,” museum spokesperson Ann Bailis said.

Taylor’s partner and business manager, Marlies Damming, said the Met should make the guitar “available for inspection.”

“An independent guitar expert should be able to ascertain the guitar’s provenance one way or the other,” she said.

While its ownership is contested, there’s no disputing the instrument’s starring role in rock history. It was owned in the early 1960s by Keith Richards, who played it during the Rolling Stones’ rst appearance on “The Ed Sullivan Show” in 1964. The Met says that performance “ignited interest in this legendary model.”

The guitar — nicknamed the “Keithburst” — was also played

by guitar legends Eric Clapton and Jimmy Page. Taylor says he got it from Richards in 1967, two years before he joined the Stones, replacing original member Brian Jones. Jones died in 1969.

Taylor left the band in 1974, reuniting with them for the Stones’ 50th anniversary tour in 2012-13.

Je Allen, who was Taylor’s manager and publicist for decades from the 1990s, said Taylor “told me he got it as a present from Keith,” and also mentioned the theft.

“Mick did tell me that the guitar solo that he became quite famous for, on ‘Can’t You Hear Me Knocking,’ was with the Les Paul that got stolen,” Allen said.

The Met’s records say the Les Paul was owned by Richards until 1971, when it was acquired by record producer and manager Adrian Miller, who died in 2006.

The guitar was put up for auction by Christie’s in 2004, when it failed to sell. Zi bought it in 2016 and loaned it to the Met in 2019 for an exhibition titled “Play it Loud: Instruments of Rock & Roll.”

It’s unclear what will happen next. The Met, which plans to open a new gallery dedicated to its collection of American guitars, says it has not been contacted by Taylor or his representatives.

JOEL RYAN / INVISION / AP PHOTO

Mick Jagger, center, Ronnie Wood, left, and Mick Taylor of The Rolling Stones perform in Glastonbury, England, in 2013.

2nd

this week in history

King of Rock ’n’ Roll, Queen of Soul die; Woodstock begins; Roanoke Colony vanishes

The Associated Press

AUG. 14

1935: President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Social Security Act into law, ensuring income for elderly Americans and creating a federal unemployment insurance program.

1945: President Harry S. Truman announced that Imperial Japan had surrendered unconditionally, ending World War II.

1947: Pakistan gained independence from British rule.

1994: Ilich Ramirez Sanchez, the terrorist known as “Carlos the Jackal,” was captured by French agents in Sudan.

AUG. 15

1057: Macbeth, King of Scots, was killed in battle by Malcolm, the eldest son of King Duncan, whom Macbeth had slain.

1935: Humorist Will Rogers and aviator Wiley Post were killed when their airplane crashed in the Alaska Territory.

1947: India gained independence after nearly 200 years of British rule.

1969: The Woodstock Music and Art Fair opened in upstate New York; more than 460,000 people attended the three-day festival.

AUG. 16

1977: Elvis Presley died at his Graceland estate in Memphis, Tennessee, at 42.

2018: Singer Aretha Franklin, known as the “Queen of Soul,” died in Detroit at 76.

1777: American forces won the Battle of Bennington in what was considered a turning point of the Revolutionary War.

1948: Baseball legend Babe Ruth died in New York at 53.

AUG. 17

1807: Robert Fulton’s North River Steamboat made its rst voyage, heading up the Hudson River on a successful round trip between New York City and Albany.

1863: Federal batteries and ships began bombarding Fort Sumter in Charleston harbor during the Civil War.

1945: George Orwell’s novel “Animal Farm,” an allegorical satire of Soviet Communism, was rst published.

1920: The 19th Amendment to the Constitution, guaranteeing American women’s right to vote, was rati ed as Tennessee became the 36th state to approve it.

1963: James Meredith became the rst black student to graduate from the University of Mississippi.

AUG. 19

1692: Four men and one woman were hanged for witchcraft in Salem, Massachusetts Bay Colony; John Proctor’s story later inspired Arthur Miller’s “The Crucible.”

1959: Trumpeter Miles Davis released “Kind of Blue,” regarded as one of the most in uential jazz albums of all time.

AUG. 18

1590: John White, governor of the Roanoke Island colony in present-day North Carolina, returned after three years to nd it deserted; the fate of the “Lost Colony” remains a mystery.

1914: President Woodrow Wilson issued his Proclamation of Neutrality, aimed at keeping the United States out of World War I.

1812: The USS Constitution defeated the British frigate HMS Guerriere o Nova Scotia during the War of 1812: Earning the nickname “Old Ironsides.”

1854: Thirty-one U.S. soldiers were killed after one of the soldiers fatally shot Brule Lakota Chief Conquering Bear, sparking the First Sioux War.

AUG. 20

1858: Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution was rst published, in the “Journal of the Proceedings of the Linnean Society”.

1866: President Andrew Johnson declared the o cial end of the Civil War.

Emmylou Harris, Brad Paisley headed for Nashville Songwriters HOF

The inductees will be formally honored Oct. 6

By Maria Sherman The Associated Press

COUNTRY SUPERSTAR

Brad Paisley and Americana powerhouse Emmylou Harris will be inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, the organization announced last Wednesday. The new class also includes Steve Bogard and Tony Martin in the contemporary songwriter category, Jim Lauderdale in the contemporary songwriter/artist category and Don Cook in the veteran songwriter category. They will be formally inducted on Oct. 6 during the 55th Anniversary Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Gala held at the Music City Center.

Paisley, a three-time Grammy-winning country music superstar with a whopping 41 songs on the Billboard Hot 100, is known for writing many of his own hits. Those include “He Didn’t Have To Be,” “Alcohol,” “I’m Gonna Miss Her (The Fishin’ Song),” “Letter To Me,” and “Remind Me,” a duet with Carrie Underwood. Harris, one of the great American folk singer-songwriters with 13 Grammys to her name, is known for such hits like “Boulder To Birmingham,” “White Line” and “Heartbreak

“To these outstanding songwriters, we say — thank you for sharing your songs and your artistry with us.”

Rich Hallworth, Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame chair

Hill.” She was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2008. Bogard is known for radio staples like George Strait’s “Carried Away,” Rascal Flatts’ “Prayin’ For Daylight” and Dierks Bentley’s “Every Mile A Memory.” Martin also wrote for Strait — “Baby’s Gotten Good At Goodbye” — as well as Jason Aldean (“A Little More Summertime”) and Keith Urban (“You Look Good In My Shirt”). Urban himself was recently inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2023. Lauderdale is known for his own songs, like “I Feel Like Singing Today,” “She’s Looking At Me” and “Mighty Lonesome,” but also those he wrote for others, like Mark Chesnutt’s “Gonna Get A Life” and Patty Loveless’ “Halfway Down.” Cook is notable for T. Graham Brown’s “I Wish That I Could Hurt That Way Again,” Steve Wariner’s “Small Town Girl”

solutions

and Brooks & Dunn’s “Only In America.”

The chair of the organization’s board of directors, Rich Hallworth, and Mark Ford, its executive director, made the an-

nouncement at Nashville’s historic Columbia Studio A.

“Gathering as we do each year — to reveal and welcome the members of our incoming class — is truly one of the high-

lights of our calendar,” Hallworth said in a statement. “To these outstanding songwriters, we say — thank you for sharing your songs and your artistry with us.”

“ELVIS LIVE WITH SCOTTY MOORE AND BILL BLACK” VIA WIKIPEDIA Elvis Presley, the King of Rock ’n’ Roll, died Aug. 16, 1977. He was 42.

CHRIS PIZZELLO / INVISION / AP PHOTO Country singer Emmylou Harris performs at the All for the Hall Bene t in 2019.

famous birthdays this week

AUG. 14

Former

AUG. 15 Actor

AUG. 16

Ballerina

AUG. 17

Actor

AUG.

Actor-director

AUG. 19

AUG. 20

Boxing

Vanessa Kirby, Maroon 5, Madden NFL 26, Alicia

Silverstone and ‘The Chicken Sisters’

A new box set honors Cli ord Antone, owner of the storied Austin, Texas venue Antone’s

The Associated Press

VANESSA KIRBY starring in a gritty lm about the aspirations of home ownership, “Night Always Comes,” and Maroon 5 releasing their eighth studio album with songs featuring Lil Wayne and Blackpink’s LISA are some of the new television, lms, music and games headed to a device near you.

Also, among the streaming o erings worth your time: Alicia Silverstone leading a new TV crime drama called “Irish Blood,” the multigenerational, wholesome drama “The Chicken Sisters” rolls out its second season on Hallmark and EA Sports jumps aboard the arti cial intelligence bandwagon with Madden NFL 26.

MOVIES TO STREAM

Isaiah Saxon’s “The Legend of Ochi” (streaming Friday on HBO Max) is a handcrafted fantasy throwback seeking to conjure the kind of magic once found in movies like “The Never Ending Story.”

The A24 lm stars Helena Zengel as Yuri, a girl who runs away from the forest home she shared with her father (Willem Dafoe) and brother (Finn Wolfhard). She leaves with a baby Ochi; a creature hunted by her father. In her review, AP Film Writer Lindsey Bahr wrote that “(The Legend of Ochi) has the feeling of a lm you might have stumbled on and loved as a kid.”

Kirby may be one of the standout performers of the summer blockbuster “The Fantastic Four: First Steps,” but she also stars in a gritty new lm about the aspirations of home ownership. In “Night Always Comes” (Thursday on Net ix), Kirby plays a woman going to extreme lengths to secure a home for her family. The movie, directed by Benjamin Caron and adapted from Willy Vlautin’s best-selling novel, takes place over a single night.

MUSIC TO STREAM

Maroon 5 will release their eighth studio album, “Love is

“(The Legend of Ochi) has the feeling of a lm you might have stumbled on and loved as a kid.”

Lindsey Bahr, AP lm writer

Like,” on Friday via Interscope Records. Expect smooth, funky pop music — like the sultry “All Night.” Singer Adam Levine and Co. continue their trend of unexpected and delightful collaborations as well, with songs featuring Lil Wayne, Sexyy Red and Blackpink’s LISA. You read that correctly. Antone opened Antone’s, one of the most storied music venues in Austin, Texas, with an inaugural performance by the King of Zydeco, Clifton Chenier in 1975. In the decades since, Antone’s has become the stu of

mythology; a performance space that embraces its history and looks towards its future. On Friday, a new box set from New West Records seeks to celebrate Antone’s legacy with “Antone’s: 50 Years of the Blues.”

SERIES TO STREAM

The multigenerational, wholesome drama “The Chicken Sisters” rolls out its second season on Hallmark. The series stars Schuyler Fisk, Lea Thompson, Wendie Malick and Genevieve Angelson as family members in a small town divided over their rival fried chicken businesses. It’s based on a novel of the same name. The series is streaming on Hallmark+. Silverstone leads the new crime drama called “Irish Blood.” She plays Fiona, a woman who has been led to believe her father abandoned her as a child — and has carried around some heavy emotional baggage ever since.

When she learns the truth is more complicated — not to mention dangerous — she heads to Ireland to investigate. The premiere of the six-part show is streaming on Acorn TV. A new one for the kiddos is the Disney Jr. series “Iron Man and his Awesome Friends,” on Disney+. The rst 10 episodes are now available. The show follows besties and fellow geniuses, Tony Stark, Riri Williams and Amadeus Cho, who team up to solve problems.

Chris Hemsworth continues his quest to live a healthier, more present and longer life in a second season of “Limitless,” now called “Limitless: Live Better Now.” The three-part docuseries sees Hemsworth learn more about brain power (with help from his friend and recording artist Ed Sheeran), risk and pain. The three episodes stream on Hulu and Disney+ beginning Friday.

VIDEO GAMES TO PLAY

EA Sports is jumping aboard the arti cial intelligence bandwagon with Madden NFL 26, promising “a new AI-powered machine learning system trained by real play calls and game situations over nearly a decade.” The most intriguing additions are QB DNA and Coach DNA — so, for example, if you’re playing the Kansas City Chiefs, you’ll see the kind of moves you’d expect from Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid. As always, the goal is to get ever closer to real-life football, with more dynamic weather e ects, more details from pro stadiums and the return (at last!) of team mascots. The cover model this season is Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley, who’ll be ready to start leaping over defenders Thursday on PlayStation 5, Xbox X/S, Switch 2 and PC.

Alicia Silverstone stars in the series “Irish Blood” on AcornTV.

Helena Zengel plays Yuri in the new fantasy lm “The Legend of Ochi.”

Duplin Journal

South Raleigh Street undergoing roadwork

Wallace Over the next two weeks, crews in the town of Wallace will be replacing water lines along South Raleigh Street. On Monday, the town of Wallace announced that once the utility work is completed, paving will begin. Paving is scheduled to start in early September along the section from Boney Street to Wilmington Court Apartments. Town o cials are urging the public to exercise caution in the area and to be mindful of the construction crews as these important infrastructure improvements are made.

Duplin EMS director steps down Kenansville Brandon McMahon, director of Emergency Medical Services for Duplin County, announced he will step down from his role. In a message shared on social media, McMahon re ected on his time leading the department and expressed deep gratitude to his colleagues. “Serving alongside you has been the greatest honor of my career,” he wrote, acknowledging the dedication and resilience of the EMS team through “every late-night call, every life saved, every challenge overcome.” While he is stepping away from his role Aug. 15. McMahon said he plans to stay connected to the community and is proud of Duplin County EMS and its ongoing mission.

Charity Golf Tournament to bene t Duplin special needs students

Wallace Tee o for a great cause at the 17th annual Bill Lord Memorial Knights of Columbus Charity Golf Tournament on Aug. 29 at River Landing in Wallace. The four-person scramble is open to men and women of all skill levels and includes unlimited range balls, golf carts, refreshments, prizes and a luncheon on the terrace. Proceeds bene t Duplin County Schools’ Exceptional Children’s Program, supporting grants that positively impact students with special needs. For more information, call 910-271-4444.

New Hope Christian Academy announcement

Wallace Parent-Student Orientation will be held on Aug. 15. Orientation for new families begins at 6:30 p.m., followed by orientation for returning families at 7 p.m. The rst day of school is Monday, Aug. 18.

School spirit soars at Duplin’s back-to-school bash

Crowds gathered at the Duplin Event Center on Saturday for a fun- lled day. Families picked up backpacks sorted by grade and then explored vendor booths o ering giveaways and services. Kids enjoyed face painting, balloon animals and bounce houses, while volunteers served up delicious treats. Outside, the fun continued with in atable slides, axe throwing, roller ball and a dunking booth. See more photos on B6.

Public trust erodes as Mount Olive faces major scandal following audit

Mount Olive is under scrutiny after a state review highlighted nancial irregularities and misconduct

By Ena Sellers Duplin Journal

MOUNT OLIVE is at the center of a major municipal scandal after a sweeping state

audit exposed years of nancial mismanagement, fraud and oversight failures that have cost the town hundreds of thousands of dollars and eroded public trust. The North Car -

olina O ce of the State Auditor (OSA) uncovered practices involving the Mount Olive Municipal Airport and the Water Department, including fraudulent fee waivers, mismanaged contracts and unauthorized spending. The investigation began after misconduct allegations were reported

Mayor’s work with Villari sparks ethics concern at Warsaw meeting

A.J. Connors denied wrongdoing and called concerns “mudslinging”

By Mark Grady For Duplin Journal

WARSAW — Warsaw Board of Commissioners member Ebony Wills-Wells announced at Monday’s town board meeting that she had received a statement indicating that Mayor A.J. Connors’ employment with a local agriculture company presents a con ict of interest for the town.

via the State Auditor Tipline.

“The town is taking this seriously,” Interim Town Manager Glenn Holland told Duplin Journal. “We are looking in and doing reviews of all the nancial records and accounts. But outside of that, I

Warsaw identi ed Villari Food Group as a signi cant source of the Warsaw Wastewater Treatment Plant’s organic overload and indicated the town’s wastewater permit compliance will remain at risk until Villari reduces its organic load.

Wills-Wells pointed out the wastewater discharges and permit violations, raising questions about potential undisclosed discussions between Villari and Connors if the allegations are factual. She added that the alleged concerns were also communicated by the town manager.

Earlier in the year, the town of

Wills-Wells stated citizens, employees and town contractors have reached out to her about a circulating statement that highlights an ethical issue. She quoted, “Mayor Connors is working for Villari.” Wills-Wells expressed her concern not about whether Connors is working for Villari, but rather about the implications of those claims suggesting Connors is involved with an industry that has already cost the town thousands of dollars.

Wallace police chief tapped for FBI National Academy role

“This is a tremendous honor for him and a point of pride for our entire town.”

Jason Wells, Wallace mayor

Crayton begins a nine-year leadership journey representing Section III at the national level

By Ena Sellers Duplin Journal

WALLACE — Police Chief

Jimmy Crayton has been elected as the Section III representative for the FBI National Academy Associates (FBINAA), the town of Wallace announced last week.

milestone for both his career and the town of Wallace.

“Jimmy’s election to this national leadership role re ects not only his outstanding career and reputation but also the dedication and professionalism he brings to Wallace every day,” said Wells. “This is a tremendous honor for him and a point of pride for our entire town.”

Crayton’s election follows two years of campaigning across the region and re ects strong support from FBINAA members.

“I’m truly humbled by the trust and support from members across our region,” wrote Crayton in a social media statement.

The FBINAA is widely regarded as one of the most respected leadership networks in $2.00

Crayton’s election was conrmed during the 2025 FBINAA National Annual Training Conference held in Baltimore, Maryland, marking the start of a nine-year leadership journey within the organization. Mayor Jason Wells praised Crayton’s achievement as a signi cant

THE DUPLIN COUNTY EDITION OF NORTH STATE JOURNAL

REBECCA WHITMAN COOKE FOR DUPLIN JOURNAL

O ce Phone: 910 463-1240

To place a legal ad: 919 663-3232; Fax: 919 663-4042

CRIME LOG

August 4

• Hannah Rose Mobley, 31, was arrested by Duplin County Sheri ’s O ce for identity theft, nancial card fraud and nancial card theft.

• Darian Lewis Moore, 48, was arrested by DCSO for seconddegree trespassing.

• Isaiah Xavier Shaw, 24, was arrested by DCSO for possessing methamphetamine, breaking and entering and maintaining a vehicle or dwelling for controlled substances.

• Antwaun Lenard Cooper, 41, was arrested by DCSO for selling a Schedule II controlled substance and other drug charges.

• Giovanni Duran Guzman, 20, was arrested by Kenansville PD for driving while impaired, driving after consuming alcohol and driving with a revoked license.

August 5

• Joshua Blake Gross, 35, was arrested by DCSO for possessing a Schedule II controlled substance, possessing drug paraphernalia and possessing a Schedule VI controlled substance.

• Alex Blake Inman, 34, was arrested by DCSO for communicating threats, misdemeanor stalking and breaking or entering.

• Gerald Wayne Horne, 49, was arrested by DCSO for possessing a weapon of mass destruction and resisting a public o cer.

• Jassmy Yaaquelin Alfaro Melendez, 21, was arrested by DCSO for misdemeanor domestic violence.

• Larry Edbert Uzzell, 72, was arrested by North Carolina Highway Patrol for driving while impaired and reckless driving.

August 6

• Salomon Matthew Exume, 30, was arrested by DCSO for larceny of a motor vehicle.

• Angelica Vega, 26, was arrested by DCSO for causing aggravated felony serious injury by vehicle.

THURSDAY AUG.

FRIDAY AUG. 15

SATURDAY AUG. 16

DCS swears in new interim superintendent

By Rebecca Whitman Cooke For Duplin Journal

KENANSVILLE — A special meeting on Aug. 4 was called to appoint Daren Tyndall as interim superintendent of Duplin County Schools. He was sworn in the the next day at the school board’s regular meeting. Tuesday’s meeting began with a prayer from rising East Duplin freshman Cecilia Thigpen addressing the death of Tyndall’s predecessor, Austin Obasohan. Obasohan, who died July 24, was the school system’s superintendent for 15 years.

“This is just one more thing that Obasohan leaves with us,” Brent Davis, chair of the Board of Education, said of Thigpen’s prayer. Davis said Obasohan had been working for some time to have students come lead prayer at meetings.

“It is something that just started before he passed, and it is something we plan on continuing with,” Davis said.

Flowers and a white ribbon adorned Obasohan’s seat as the

WALLACE from page A1

law enforcement. It stands as a cornerstone for promoting professional excellence, inter-agency collaboration and advanced training standards throughout the policing community.

As the newly elected representative, Crayton will serve on the FBINAA National Executive Board, representing law enforcement agencies across a diverse region that includes North Carolina, South Carolina, Delaware, Maryland, Washington, D.C., Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Puerto Rico, and parts of

WARSAW from page A1

“These are all alleged statements, but they are major concerns that can a ect our entire town and cost us as an entire board if they are found to be true,” said the commissioner.

Connors did not immediately respond to the allegations made by Wills-Wells, but he did bring up the issue as his last item during the mayor’s comments portion of the meeting.

“If I can pose a question to the town attorney, is there a law that I cannot work for any particular people in the great state of North Carolina, if I choose to work for them, as mayor?” asked Connors.

“There is not a law a ecting that,” Town Attorney Ken Thompson responded.

“I have not broken any laws on working for Villari or any of the other companies I do business with throughout the great state of North Carolina and other parts of the country,” he added.

Connors concluded his response by thanking people for coming to the meeting and asking for a motion to adjourn.

In an interview with Duplin Journal following the meeting, Connors referred to the allegations as “mudslinging.”

“The reality is that every mayor that has been in this ofce worked somewhere and had a liations with somebody,” Connors said. “I’ve done nothing wrong. I don’t vote (on

meeting proceeded. With no public comments and an agenda approved, the board moved forward with swearing in the new interim superintendent.

Crystal Strickland from the Clerk of Court’s o ce administered the oath of o ce, swearing in Tyndall.

Tyndall has worked at Duplin County Schools for more than 34 years as a teacher, assistant principal, principal and executive director of human resources, along with his current role as assistant superintendent for human resources. He will take on the addition-

Latin and South America. He will address the unique challenges and innovations emerging from this region, helping to shape national strategies in law enforcement leadership.

Following his four-year term as Section III representative, Crayton is expected to move through a series of national leadership roles, culminating in the presidency and then a term as immediate past president — completing a nine-year commitment.

“This is an incredible opportunity to serve an organization that’s doing vital work for law enforcement professionals around the world,” he said.

al duties while the board begins its search for a permanent superintendent.

“We’ve had a wonderful man for the past 15 years,” Tyndall said of Obasohan, “and he’s established a foundation that puts children rst. We also have a wonderful board. I am honored and humbled to be able to serve.”

Following the swearing in, the board went into a closed executive session to discuss personnel issues. Once in open session, they approved the decisions made in closed session before adjourning.

Crayton believes his new role will directly bene t the Wallace Police Department and the broader community by expanding access to advanced training, resources and interagency collaboration. It will also provide the department with a voice in national discussions regarding law enforcement strategy, leadership development and public safety innovations.

“I’m proud to represent our agency, our state, and Section III on the national level. Thank you to everyone who supported me along the way,” said Crayton. “The real work begins now and I couldn’t be more ready.”

a statement

the board), so I can work anywhere that I want to.”

In other business

Town Manager Lea Turner said a text alert message system will soon be operational, which will allow citizens to sign up for speci c town alerts they can choose from. Connors added that two electronic message board signs in town will soon be activated that will display town information and upcoming events.

Turner also said the town is planning to hold a public hearing in September for Community Development Block grants for neighborhood revitalization. She encouraged residents to advise the town if they know anyone who is in need of revitalization work to their home and

DUPLIN happening

SPONSORED BY

that might qualify for these grants.

Turner introduced Cedric Brown, a recent graduate from the UNC School of Government, who will be working with the town of Warsaw for a year, thanks to a grant for a lead fellow through the school. Brown, who is originally from Fayetteville, will be working with the town on technological needs and economic development.

Brown told Duplin Journal he was drawn to helping smaller, rural communities reach their potential. He said these areas often are left out of opportunities given to larger communities like Raleigh.

The town is encouraging people to attend the National Night Out event Sept. 19. Vendors who wish to participate in the event have until Sept. 1 to apply for a space.

a

Aug. 14

Back-To-School

Vaccine Clinic

4-7 p.m.

It’s time to gear up for the new school year. Join the Annual Back-toSchool Vaccine Clinic and Resources on Aug. 14, from 4-7 p.m. at the Duplin County Health Department in Kenansville. Walk-ins are welcome. Vaccines available include Meningitis, Tetanus (Tdap), HPV and more to start the year strong. For more information, call 910-296-2130.

340 Seminary St., Kenansville

Aug. 16

Operation Giveback 2025

9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Operation Giveback 2025 will be on Saturday, Aug. 16 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Beulaville Town Hall. The public event will feature free backpacks, school supplies, gift giveaways, diabetes supplies, free groceries, free haircuts and a crisis center for urgent needs. For more information, call 910-554-1761.

508 E Main St., Beulaville

Aug. 23

Warsaw Day

Back-to-School Giveaway

Noon to 3 p.m.

Jsmoove and Brave Entertainment present their annual Warsaw Day Back-toSchool Giveaway. Come out for free school supplies, live music, fun activities and food trucks. For more information, call 910-271-5052.

309 Memorial Drive, Warsaw

Got a local event? Let us know and we’ll share it with the community here. Email our newsroom at community@duplinjournal. com. Weekly deadline is Monday at noon.

Daren Tyndall steps into the role following the death of Austin Obasohan

Here’s

quick look at what’s coming up in Duplin County:

REBECCA WHITMAN COOKE FOR DUPLIN JOURNAL

Crystal Strickland, right, swears in Daren Tyndall as interim superintendent of Duplin County Schools on Aug. 5 during the school board’s regular meeting.

MARK GRADY FOR DUPLIN JOURNAL

Warsaw Town Board Commissioner Ebony Wills-Wells read from

raising concerns about an alleged con ict of interest involving Mayor A.J. Connors as a result of his work for Villari.

Meth-smuggling guard sentenced to 5 years in prison

The former correctional o cer used his badge to bring meth, shrooms and contraband into Neuse Correctional Institution

By Ena Sellers Duplin Journal

KENANSVILLE — Dawan

Dontra McKinzie, a former correctional o cer at Neuse Correctional Institution in Goldsboro, was sentenced Tuesday to ve years in federal prison and

four years of supervised release after pleading guilty to conspiring to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute.

The 31-year-old Kenansville man admitted in May 2025 to smuggling drugs and contraband into the prison where he was employed, said the U.S. Attorney’s O ce, Eastern District of North Carolina, in a press release.

The case has drawn attention due to the breach of trust by a law enforcement o cial responsible

Kenansville weighs golf cart limits amid safety concerns

A proposed ordinance would restrict use to daylight hours, licensed drivers and low speed roads

By Mark Grady For Duplin Journal

KENANSVILLE — Con-

cerned over the growing number of golf carts being operated on town streets and complaints over their operation, Kenansville police chief Jackie Benton presented a proposed ordinance regarding their operation to the Board of Commissioners at their Aug. 6 meeting.

“We are having complaints from citizens about some of them being driven after dark and some almost getting struck,” Benton told the board. “They are operating up to Liberty Square Shopping Center frequently.”

Town Manager Anna West and Benton reported citizen complaints about golf carts operating after dark, using sidewalks and reckless driving.

Benton’s proposed ordinance would limit golf cart use in town to licensed drivers over 16 years old. They would also only be allowed to use roadways with a 25-mph speed limit but could cross roads with a 35-mph limit. The ordinance would also prohibit golf cart use after dark and on sidewalks.

In addition to restrictions, the proposed ordinance would require golf carts used on town roads to be registered at a cost of $25 a year. Benton said most municipalities he contacted in researching the proposed ordinance charged fees ranging from $50 to $100.

A few commissioners expressed concerns over placing limitations on golf cart usage in town. Commissioner Linda Tyson said she was concerned about how the ordinance would a ect one man in town who has no driver’s license and depends on a golf cart to get to the store.

“The more laws you make, the more restrictive everything is,” Tyson said. “To me, it gets overwhelming.”

Commissioner Kirk Bell asked Benton how the road speed limit restriction would a ect his use of a golf cart.

“You know where I live,” Bell said. “So I could not ride a golf cart from my house to the store because of the 35-mph speed limit (on my road)?”

“That is correct,” Benton responded. “If you allow them to be operated on 35-mph streets, on the state-maintained roads, we are putting golf carts at a disadvantage with the motoring public driving 45 mph. If they strike a golf cart, it can result in a lot more serious injury or worse.”

Benton added he was just concerned about the safety aspect of their operation.

Tyson added that the proposed ordinance limiting golf cart use between dawn and dusk would also a ect the man who depends on his golf cart.

“Personally, I don’t think golf carts should be out at night,” Benton said.

The board voted to table the consideration of the ordinance until their September meeting to explore all options.

In other business, the board voted to accept an amendment to an ordinance accepting an additional grant from the N.C. Division of Water Infrastructure for upgrades and improvements to the town’s sewage system. It also awarded the contract for the project to the Adams Company. The total cost of the project is just under $2.5 million, with the majority funded by state grants. The town’s contribution to the project’s cost is $25,000.

The board also voted to hold a public hearing at the next meeting of the board regarding a planning board recommendation to make a slight extension to the manufactured housing overlay district to allow a new mobile home to be placed on a lot owned by resident Sylvestor Carlton that is directly beside lots already containing mobile homes.

The board approved a request from the Kenansville Area Chamber of Commerce to close portions of Limestone Road and South Main Street, between Kenansville Elementary School and the Duplin Events Center, for the town’s Christmas Parade scheduled for Nov. 29. The request will now be presented to the N.C. Department of Transportation.

for maintaining safety inside a correctional facility.

“When those entrusted with public safety break the law, the damage runs deep — inside our prisons and throughout our communities,” Acting U.S. Attorney Daniel P. Bubar said.

McKinzie’s role as a correctional o cer gave him access and authority, which he used to bypass security and introduce dangerous substances into a controlled environment.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s O ce, court documents

revealed that McKinzie began smuggling drugs between July and October 2023, often hiding them on his person during entry into the facility. A federal investigation launched in November 2023 led authorities to confront McKinzie at his home, where he confessed to receiving a package from an inmate’s wife. He voluntarily showed agents where he kept the contraband, leading to the seizure of methamphetamine, psilocybin mushrooms, cocaine, Suboxone, tobacco, a cellphone and explicit photographs.

The investigation uncovered incriminating messages on McKinzie’s phone, o ering detailed insight into the conspiracy and communication with inmates. His actions not only violated the law but also compromised the safety and integrity of the correctional facility.

“Illicit drugs and contraband endanger the health, safety, and security of our employees, those in our custody and the public,” said Leslie Dismukes, secretary of the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction.

Carolyn Kenyon returns to Faison Town Board as commissioner

The former mayor returned to public service, lling a board vacancy

By Rebecca Whitman Cooke For Duplin Journal

FAISON — Former Mayor Carolyn Kenyon was sworn in at the Faison Town Board meeting on Aug. 6. She will ll the vacancy left by Commissioner Carlton Lee Kennedy and serve the remaining two years of his term. Kenyon expressed her happiness at returning to public service in Kennedy’s place.

“The queen has returned to the castle,” joked Executive Administrator Jimmy Tyndall.

With Kenyon stepping into the commissioner role, Mayor Billy Ward made adjustments to the duties of several commissioners. Commissioner Sandy McCarthy will now oversee the Personnel Committee and serve as a liaison to re and rescue. Kenyon will be responsible for the Adjustment Board, Work Achievement and will also act as a liaison to law enforcement.

Additionally, the board voted unanimously to approve Alane Brewer Floyd’s appointment to the Planning Board. The next meeting of the Planning Board is scheduled for Sept. 9 at the Recreation Center.

In other business

Parks and Recreation Director Matthew Scott gave updates concerning projects and the summer basketball season.

He invited everyone to come watch the games happening every Sunday night. After-school programs already have 30 kids registered, and there is room for as many as 24 more. When after-school programs begin, the Recreation Center will close from 3-6 p.m.

Tyndall gave an update concerning the sale and acquisition of a new backhoe. While all of the necessary funding had been approved through prior meetings involving budgeted funds and the sale of the existing backhoe, Tyndall explained that the purchase o er for the old backhoe came back at $3,000, signi cantly lower than the expected $8,000. The reduced o er was likely because of the extra wear on the equipment from its continued use. To resolve this issue, the board voted to amend the budget, allowing for a $5,000 increase to cover the cost of the new backhoe.

The cemetery committee discussed the removal of dead and dying trees in the town’s graveyard. The board approved hiring White’s Tree Service to remove approximately 16 trees for $3,100. The board also approved to increase the rate of pay for two Parks and Recreation employees who will be serving as after-school teachers.

The board brie y discussed upcoming events, including a re and rescue fundraiser in September and a World War II Ghost Walk in October. The board approved town assistance for the ghost walk, and

McCarthy promoted ticket sales for the fundraiser.

“The seventh annual Sportsman’s Giveaway is coming Sept. 20 at Tara Creek,” McCarthy said. “The drawing starts at 4:30 p.m. People have the opportunity to win all kinds of prizes, including money and guns; the grand prize is $5,000. Tickets are $20 for one or $100 for six. People can buy tickets from Faison Fire and Rescue or by contacting me.”

Tyndall discussed updates concerning business developments. The Everwoods subdivision, he said, has all the infrastructure in place for water taps, but there is no timeline for when that will be done. He also mentioned being in the early stages of talking to a company about bringing a truck stop to the area in 2028. The board also discussed grocery store updates and other properties sitting in disrepair in the town.

Tyndall has already spoken with the property owners, informing them of the required work that needs to be done, and he is committed to following up on these issues.

“They are going to get a very long letter with a lot of pictures and a lot of or elses,” Tyndall said. Businesses left in disrepair, especially on main streets through the town, make the town look bad as a whole.

“There will be more than one place addressed here because that’s the problem. How are we supposed to entice people into this area if the owners of the buildings aren’t keeping them up?” Tyndall said.

REBECCA WHITMAN COOKE FOR DUPLIN JOURNAL

Mayor Billy Ward, right, swears in Carolyn Kenyon as town commissioner at the Faison Town Board meeting on Aug. 6.

THE CONVERSATION

Neal Robbins, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor

VISUAL VOICES

Liberal machine backs

Roy Cooper’s bid to “Californicate” North Carolina

They want to turn North Carolina into California’s East Coast twin sister.

THE RACE FOR the North Carolina U.S. Senate seat is now set. And, once again, the rst headline we see pertains to the amount of money that will be pumped into this contest.

The rst “big” headline stated that Roy Cooper had set a record in raising over $3 million in the rst 24 hours. Wow! Give me a break. Anyone who thinks that amount of money was committed in just the rst 24 hours has the intelligence of a railroad rock. That money, and much more, has been earmarked for a long time by the left-wing ultra-liberals who want North Carolina to be like California. They want to turn North Carolina into California’s East Coast twin sister. North Carolina is most assuredly at the tip of the spear aimed at the heart of the traditional values that have made America the greatest nation on this earth.

Those liberal leaders are very smart, but they are also very devilish, power-hungry men. Their greed for money and power has blinded them from any ability to support our founding principles. They don’t feel or heed the promptings from any sources of good in uence. The commanders of today’s Democrat Party have picked Cooper to help them continue destroying traditional American values.

The former governor presents an image of one of the “good ol’ boys” down at the country store. That image has been groomed very well for many years now. His actual record tells a di erent story.

I am reminded of an old adage that gives good advice: “Don’t fear the enemies who attack you, fear the fake friends that hug you.” Misguided ambition has ruined many good men. Cooper has almost perfected the critical art of “keeping his head down.” He does not make rush statements. He has been very successful in disguising many of his actions in a matter-of-fact way that doesn’t pour raw fuel on the re.

He understands that starting res that smolder over time can be more e ective than noticeable, high-rising ames seen from far away. Over the long haul, as governor and as attorney general, he has supported policies more by inaction than by overt action. Southern border policies, sanctuary city policies, men playing in women’s sports issues, same sex marriage issues, marijuana issues and, very importantly, his lukewarm attitude regarding our Right to Farm laws come to mind.

Michael Whatley is the current frontrunner for the Republican Party’s pick to run for this critically important U.S. Senate seat. He is also the No. 1 pick of the leader of the national Republican Party, President Donald J. Trump.

So who do we want our next U.S. senator to be loyal to? That may be the perfect question for us to ask ourselves as we decide who to vote for in the November 2026 U.S. Senate race. Well, I think the answer to that question is clear to the people of North Carolina.

On the one hand, who will Cooper be absolutely lock-step loyal to? Answer: whoever rules the Democrat Party and controls the money machine. The current choices for Cooper to follow are Chuck Schumer, Hakeem Je ries, Bernie Sanders, Nancy Pelosi, Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez or Gavin Newsom.

On the other hand, Whatley’s choices to follow are Trump, Vice President JD Vance, Sen. John Thune, Sen. Ted Budd, and Speaker Mike Johnson.

We the people must understand that who a freshman senator will follow is the most important factor to consider as we cast our vote.

Rep. Jimmy Dixon represents Duplin and Wayne counties in the N.C. House of Representatives.

Ensuring US dominance of 21st-century telecommunications

Within a decade or so, cable will be as outdated as Blockbuster.

PRESIDENT DONALD Trump’s announcement and executive order to ensure that the U.S. dominates the arti cial intelligence revolution was a welcome America First policy directive. That mostly means keeping the government out of the way. But an equally vital industry for our economic and national security interests is telecommunications — which is also going through warp-speed technology changes. Here too, the government needs to keep its hands o . No subsidies. No lawsuits. Minimal regulations.

This is why the latest $34.5 billion blockbuster merger between telecom titans Charter Communications and Cox Communications should get the green light from federal regulators. Some antitrust lawyers at the FCC and the Justice Department worry this marriage would give Charter-Cox too much market share, allowing them to raise prices on consumers. But companies like Cox that provide internet and TV services over cable transmissions are soon to be outdated by the next generation of ber,

satellite, xed wireless and mobile broadband services.

Customers are already “cutting the cable cord” in favor of more e cient and less expensive streaming video services and other digital alternatives.

The synergies and economies-of-scale advantages driving the Charter-Cox merger, which will lead to a company with more than 37 million cable and internet subscribers, make sense.

Is that too much market concentration?

Comcast, the nation’s second-largest cable provider, serves around 12 million cable subscribers. Verizon serves just under 3 million cable subscribers and approximately 146 million mobile subscribers.

AT&T, another big player in this market, has tens of millions of customers of its own. AT&T is moving aggressively into satellite technologies and 5G to deliver calls, data and video. AT&T and Verizon each have a market cap of well over $100 billion. That compares to less than $50 billion for the Charter-Cox union. In other

Delivering campaign pledges

Dear Editor,

On Aug. 5, State Auditor Dave Boliek released two audits of the NC DMV, delivering on a key campaign pledge only six months after taking o ce. These reports are about 600 pages in total and represent a big achievement for the State Auditor’s O ce. And while the ndings show the DMV is in worse shape than expected, the reports are a positive rst step in xing the headache that every North Carolinian endures when lining up outside the DMV doors.

Both customer and employee experience at the DMV has gotten worse over the years. Wait times are up 15.5% since 2019, and nearly half of DMV customers are traveling past the o ces closest to them, some traveling hours away for services. Employees interviewed cited burnout, lack of support and inadequate training.

The DMV wasn’t given the attention it deserved these past eight years, but Boliek has made it a front-and-center issue. The biggest recommendation included in the audit is the separation of the DMV and the Department of Transportation. Other key recommended actions straight from Boliek are:

• The DMV should conduct an in-depth sta ng analysis to implement a multiyear, phased sta ng plan that addresses examiner shortages and ensures service equity statewide.

• The DMV should build and maintain a centralized performance dashboard to track and report key service metrics.

• The DMV should partner with an industry expert to develop and implement evidence-based improvements to customer experience and service delivery.

This will be a big haul, but I’m going to do my part in studying the reports and delivering the best outcomes for the people of Robeson County and North Carolina. We’ll need the governor, DOT and DMV to assist as well, but we can all agree that the most customerfacing service in North Carolina must o er fewer headaches and better.

Rep. Jarrod Lowery represents District 47 in the NCGA, which includes Robeson County.

words, competitors aren’t going to be bullied out of the market by Charter-Cox — especially in the lucrative mobile communications arena.

What is ironic is that back in the 1980s, AT&T was forced by the government to break itself up because of alleged market power, and now we could have federal regulators blocking a merger that would bring new competition to AT&T (and other big kids on the block, like Comcast and Verizon).

As for the Charter-Cox potential dominance in cable, sorry, but that’s a declining industry.

Within a decade or so, cable will be as outdated as Blockbuster.

Mergers like this one make U.S. companies more competitive, make money for millions of American shareholders, and make our companies scalable to compete with European, Japanese and Chinese rivals.

Gail Slater, the assistant attorney general for the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division, recently said she intends to focus on mergers that decrease competition.

“If you’re violating the antitrust laws, we’re going to take a hard look,” she said. “If you’re not violating the antitrust laws, we’re going to get the hell out of the way.”

Those are words to live by.

Stephen Moore is co-founder of Unleash Prosperity and a visiting fellow at the Heritage Foundation.

COLUMN | JIMMY DIXON

COLUMN | STEPHEN MOORE

Teacher brings agriculture to life at WRH

COURTESY UNIVERSITY OF MOUNT OLIVE

As an agriculture teacher at Wallace-Rose Hill High School, Danielle Trimbur is planting seeds of curiosity, con dence and career-readiness in her students.

From plant portfolios to drone technology, Danielle Trimbur is planting con dence in the next generation of farmers

By Ena Sellers Duplin Journal

TEACHEY — At Wallace-Rose Hill High School, ag teacher Danielle Trimbur is inspiring the next generation of ag leaders by combining hands- on learning with cutting-edge technology. From drone-based precision farming to student-grown plant portfolios, her classroom serves as a hub of innovation and engagement.

Raised among farms and elds in Oley, Pennsylvania, Trimbur’s interest in agriculture began at a young age. As a standout FFA student, she credits her high school agriculture teacher with igniting her passion for agricultural education — a spark that would ultimately shape her career path.

Trimbur graduated from the

“You don’t have

to

love everything, but you do have to try.”

Danielle Trimbur

University of Mount Olive in 2024, where she received accolades for both her academic and athletic achievements while majoring in agricultural education. In the classroom, Trimbur enriches her curriculum by incorporating eld trips, guest speakers and FFA competitions, helping students develop both technical skills and condence. The Wallace-Rose Hill teacher emphasizes the importance of student engagement and real-world relevance, highlighting the excitement among her students when their learning directly connects to the world around them.

“There’s something special about watching a student walk in every day excited to check on

the plant they’ve nurtured from a seed,” Trimbur said. “And now with drones, students who love technology are getting to see how it applies directly to agriculture. It’s a game-changer.”

Her success, she said, is thanks in large part to mentors and professors at UMO who helped her develop leadership skills and teaching strategies.

“By stepping out of my comfort zone and being willing to ask questions, I’ve been able to grow — for myself and for my students,” said Trimbur.

She wants her students, especially girls, to see that there’s a place for them in agriculture.

“It’s important that young women see female role models in agriculture. I want to be that example,” said Trimbur, who encourages young women to explore the eld of agriculture with an open mind and a willingness to try new things.

“Try it all. Go to the workshops, take the elective, attend the camp. You don’t have to love everything, but you do have to try. Every experience adds something valuable.”

Lodge members recognized at ceremony featuring DB Cooper investigation

By Mark Grady

For Duplin Journal

BEULAVILLE — Members and guests of Beulaville Masonic Lodge Number 618 gathered last Saturday evening for a dinner program that featured three awards for longtime members and a presentation on the North Carolina connection to an infamous airline hijacker who parachuted out of a plane in the Northwest carrying a large sum of money.

During the awards presentation, Eddie Ray Maready was given the Veteran’s Emblem in honor of his 50 years of membership and service to the Beulaville Lodge.

Two other lodge members, Terry Michael Williams and Arthur Edwards Jr., received 25-year service awards, presented by Deputy District

Grand Marshal Doug Turner.

A special guest speaker, retired N.C. Highway Patrolman Johnny Surles delivered a captivating presentation on D.B. Cooper that contained compelling evidence on who the infamous hijacker really was, as well as his direct connection to North Carolina.

On Thanksgiving eve in 1971, a man who identi ed himself as Dan Cooper at the Northwest Orient Airline ticket counter at the Portland, Oregon, airport, purchased a one-way ticket to Seattle. During the 30-minute ight in a Boeing 727, he handed a note to a ight attendant claiming to have a bomb on board. He demanded $200,000 in ransom, a large sum in 1971, and gave explicit instructions on what the crew was to do upon landing in Seattle. He also demanded four parachutes.

In Seattle, he allowed the passengers and their luggage to be removed, but he kept the ight crew, including two pilots and four ight attendants, hostage. He demanded the plane refuel and take o for Mexico City. He even gave explicit instructions about a refueling stop in Reno, Nevada.

Once back in the air, this time at night, Cooper used the rear door and steps that were prevalent on that model of 727 to parachute out of the plane near Vancouver, Washington.

Press coverage of Cooper’s exploits led to a cult following of him. There were two feature lms and a few documentaries produced about him, as well as a song titled “The Ballad of D.B. Cooper.”

Fast forward to April 1972 when a man by the name of Richard Floyd McCoy, originally from the Cove City area, boarded the same model aircraft that Cooper had jumped out of. McCoy used the exact same playbook to demand four parachutes

plus a $500,000 ransom. McCoy’s attempt failed, and he was arrested and placed in federal prison in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania. He attempted to escape and was recaptured.

McCoy made friends with three other prisoners. They began planning an escape, even creating a physical tness system to get in better shape for their plan. On Aug. 10, 1974, they climbed a prison fence and commandeered a garbage truck, crashing it through the prison gate. They ditched the truck and escaped the area.

The FBI sent notices to law enforcement agencies across the east to be on the lookout for the escapees, according to Surles.

“The FBI assumed they were going to Tennessee, so no law enforcement in North Carolina were noti ed,” Surles said.

On Tuesday morning, Aug. 13, 1974, Surles was patrolling along N.C. Highway 58 coming into Trenton around 9:15 a.m. when highway patrol dispatch alerted troopers in the area of

a bank robbery in Pollocksville. The call said to be on the lookout for four white males in a green Monte Carlo.

It was discovered that the robbers had switched cars. Eventually, putting local law enforcement and the highway patrol helicopter to work, the car the men were now using was spotted. Surles was able to track down two of the men and arrested them. The other two, including McCoy, escaped. McCoy was eventually located in a house out of state and killed after ring at an FBI agent. His last words were: “You got me.”

Using photos of McCoy and his family, as well as composite sketches of Cooper from FBI wanted posters, and other compelling circumstantial evidence, Surles made the case that McCoy of Cove City was actually D.B. Cooper, the hijacker who the FBI was convinced did not survive his parachute jump in Washington state.

Beyond the dramatic pursuit of a fugitive, the events of 1974 led to a signi cant personal milestone in Surles’ life. During the Pollocksville bank robbery, McCoy placed a gun to the back of a bank employee. That woman would later become Surles’ wife.

PHOTOS BY MARK GRADY FOR DUPLIN JOURNAL

Left, Terry Michael Williams, left center, and Arthur Edwards Jr., right, of the Beulaville Masonic Lodge Number 658 — pictured with by Doug Turner, left, and Dean Houston, right center — were recognized for their 25 years of membership and service to the lodge at a dinner program on Aug. 9. Right, Beulaville Masonic Lodge member Eddie Ray Maready, center, was presented the Veteran’s Emblem Honor by Dean Houston, left, and Doug Turner, right.

A guest speaker connects America’s most mysterious hijacker to a bank robbery, a prison escape and a personal love story

Preapprenticeship initiative aligns education, employer needs

for the program.

can’t comment because it is an ongoing investigation.”

Airport fuel, contract failures raise red ags

At Mount Olive Municipal Airport, investigators identi ed issues with aviation fuel management and contractual compliance.

Prior to the audit, there was no written agreement between airport operator Mike Bass and the town regarding the commission rate for fuel transactions. Following the investigation, an addendum con rming a verbal agreement was signed, establishing that Bass would receive 30% of fuel pro ts, while the town would keep 70%. Investigators also discovered that fuel purchases, which were Bass responsibility, were charged to the town’s bank account despite the town not being part of the fuel provider’s contract.

“It is unclear why and how a town bank account is being debited for fuel purchases,” stated the report, further noting that someone outside the town improperly authorized fuel purchases. Also, payment processes for customers lacked internal controls. Customers who did not pay by credit card were allowed to receive fuel on credit, with invoices sent informally by email to the town clerk. These transactions were not entered into the town’s accounting system.

Additionally, Finance Director Jamie Butler did not verify fuel commission invoices. According to investigators, after interviewing Butler, they believed she “did not fully understand the supporting documentation and did not have a process to con rm the invoiced amount was accurate.”

A review of fuel sales commissions for 2024 indicated that the town paid the opera-

tor a commission rate of 31%. According to the report, “OSA is reasonably assured that the 1% di erence occurred due to timing di erences in accounting reconciliation.”

The town also failed to record commission checks properly. Of the 10 checks issued to Bass in 2024, only three were recorded in the accounting system by the end of the year.

“The Finance Director’s failure to record checks in the town’s accounting system put the town at risk of fraud and/ or embezzlement,” the report warned.

In response, the town plans to clarify fuel purchasing and commission responsibilities through a new contract with the airport operator. Holland stated the town will implement monthly reconciliations of fuel commissions signed o by both parties and reviewed by the nance o cer and town manager. Additionally, semiannual reports detailing revenue, expenses, inventory and commissions will be required going forward. The town has also decided to stop paying for fuel, transferring the responsibility for purchases back to the operator.

Holland told Duplin Journal the town plans to “make sure that the contract is followed to the letter.”

Unpaid services, unveri ed charges

The investigation also revealed that the town continued to pay for airport Wi-Fi and telephone services, expenses contractually assigned to Bass between 2017 and 2024.

Although the town received $300 per month in Wi-Fi reimbursement from January to September 2024, it failed to consistently pay its internet provider due to a dispute. The report states that Butler reported the town issued a

$10,000 lump sum payment in September; however, records from the internet service provider during the investigation show this payment was not applied to the town’s account. Phone records were similarly murky. Of the seven phone lines billed to the town, only two could be traced back to airport operations. The remaining ve lines and various unexplained charges could not be accounted for by either Butler or Bass.

In response to the audit, the town has committed to a full review of all Wi-Fi and telephone invoices since the contract began in 2017. Holland stated the town will seek reimbursement from Bass for costs outside the town’s responsibility. The town has discontinued Wi-Fi service at the airport and terminated all unveri ed phone lines. A revised contract is being drafted to clearly outline scal responsibilities, with oversight measures to ensure compliance. Holland projected full implementation of corrective actions by Dec. 30.

Water Department audit exposes fraud, more than $210K in losses

The investigation also uncovered a culture of misconduct and gross negligence within the Mount Olive Water Department, resulting in a con rmed loss of $210,837 in utility revenue and evidence of fraud involving town employees.

Among the most serious ndings were the actions of Water Department sta who were accused of repeatedly abused their positions for personal gain. The department’s supervisor and billing clerk, Watia Best and Rashonte Pettit, routinely voided their cuto fees while continuing to receive uninterrupted water service, the audit found. The

The career exploration initiative equips youth with industry credentials and real-world job experience

By Ena Sellers Duplin Journal

MORE THAN 70 high school students in southeastern North Carolina, including 11 from Duplin County Schools, were recently recognized for completing the Southeastern Education and Economic Development (SEED) Program. The career exploration initiative focuses on agriculture and advanced manufacturing.

The registered preapprenticeship program provided participants with hands-on experience, industry-recognized credentials and real-world job training. In Duplin County, students took part in the summer Agricultural Academy hosted by James Sprunt Community College.

The recognition ceremony, held at the University of Mount Olive, celebrated the students’ accomplishments and included participants from ve community colleges: Wilson, Lenoir, Wayne, Sampson and James Sprunt. Each student received a certi cate of completion acknowledging their achievements.

Educators, industry partners

supervisor erased her fees in 11 out of 12 months, and the billing clerk did the same in nine out of 12 months. Those employees were suspended in January 2025 and ultimately red in March following the results of the investigation.

Investigators determined that from April to May 2024 alone, the employees voided hundreds of fees without proper documentation, a practice attributed to both intentional misconduct and the town’s lack of internal controls.

Delreese Simmons, a sitting town commissioner who is running for reelection, had his water cuto fee waived nine times in 2024.

According to the report, “The commissioner did not make a single payment on his utility bill until August 2024 — when OSA received the allegation — at which point his outstanding balance was $942.”

Billing errors cost town thousands

In addition to misconduct, the audit revealed critical billing errors stemming from improperly implemented rate increases. In 2023 and 2024, commercial water rates approved by the town board were entered incorrectly into the billing system, with minimum and maximum usage rates set identically.

As a result, commercial customers were billed only a at base charge, regardless of their water consumption.

Businesses that should have paid more than $1,000 a month were charged an average of $17. The mistake persisted until March, at which point e orts to correct the errors led to gross overcharges.

The OSA concluded that if proper review procedures had been in place, such critical mistakes could have been

Public Notice – Proposed Lease of Land

and community leaders gathered to honor the students and highlight the program’s role in preparing a skilled local workforce by aligning talent development with employer needs.

Funded by Smith eld Foods and supported by the North Carolina Business Committee for Education, SEED connects public schools, community colleges and local employers. This collaboration creates a talent pipeline to support future workforce needs.

“Smith eld is committed to investing in the future of agriculture and manufacturing by equipping young people with the skills and experiences they need to thrive,” said Jay Bennett, Smith eld Foods chief human resources o cer. “Through our support of the SEED program, we’re building meaningful partnerships with communities and helping students discover rewarding career paths that strengthen our industry and workforce.”

Through this collaborative effort, students gained vital exposure to future career pathways in agriculture, with the added support of stipends, transportation and supplies to reduce barriers to participation.

“Smith eld’s support helped bring this vision to life, giving students real-world experience in careers with long-term potential — right here in their home communities,” said Julia Wright, board chair of the North Carolina Business Committee for Education. “We’re proud to recognize their dedication and growth through this program.”

prevented. Overall, the town lost $210,837 in revenue due to the missteps, further straining municipal nances.

The town has agreed with the OSA’s ndings. Moving forward, the nance o cer will assume responsibility for forwarding rate tables to the billing software vendor and verifying updates. There will be no access to rate tables by water billing employees. Only the water billing supervisor will have access to void fees, and every void will require written justi cation, which will be reviewed and approved monthly by thenance o cer. Town manager approval will be required for any voided fee needed for a town employee, town commissioner or vendor. The town also plans to pursue collection of outstanding balances and update its utility billing policies.

“A recommendation will be presented to the town board to pursue the collection of outstanding balance of all inactive accounts, including the accounts referenced in the Audit Report. It is also recommended that voided fees, including disconnect fees and late fees, be collected on the accounts referenced in the Audit Report as well as all other accounts that can be justi ed.”

A spokesperson from OSA told Duplin Journal that the state auditor is required to report to law enforcement information that may be evidence of criminal misconduct. Also, OSA will be following up to check on the implementation of the recommended corrective actions.

As of press time, Butler and Simmons did not respond to Duplin Journal’s request for comment.

To report alleged incidents of fraud, waste or abuse in state government, contact the OSA’s Tipline at 800-730-8477.

COURTESY MURPHY FAMILY VENTURES

Crissa Weston and Madelyn Sawyer recently spent two days working with the marketing team at Murphy Family Ventures as part of the SEED program Ag Academy hosted by James Sprunt Community College. Weston and Sawyer were two of 11 students from Duplin County Schools chosen

SCANDAL from page A1

DUPLIN SPORTS

2025 FOOTBALL PREVIEW

READY TO RELOAD

RICHLANDS: The Wildcats are circling their wagons to prove 2024 wasn’t a uke

By Michael Jaenicke Duplin Journal

RICHLANDS — Bill Good got his rst glance of the Wildcats football team last Friday during a scrimmage against Pender.

Good, who coached at Richlands for a decade, has worn a number of different hats the past two months as a rst-year head coach.

His postgame analysis was hovered over “good” though swung below that mark.

“We did some good things, and we did some not-so good things that we can now go back and work on in the next two weeks,” Good said.

Yet Good may have found his starting quarterback in New York transfer CJ DiBenedetto.

His poise and play made Good think about ways to use Cale Wilges, who he felt would replace Caleb Simco.

“This could be really good in opening up the things Cale does on the eld, and it will allow us to move him around,” Good said.

Many more player decisions will be made before Richlands travels to Southwest Onslow on Aug. 22 for a season opener against perhaps its biggest rival.

“We’re going to have to play di erently on o ense this year,” Good said. “We have to be able to run to control the ball and the clock.

Running backs Darryl Jackson, Carson Littreal, Jackson Taylor and Good’s son Camden will work from various spots in the Wildcats’ option attack.

“We have four or ve running backs that will split time, and I see it as a positive,” Good said. “It’s a great group, and there’s also a few other players to

2025 Schedule

Aug. 22 at Southwest Onslow

Aug. 29 at White Oak

Sept. 5 vs. East Duplin

Sept. 12 vs. S. Brunswick

Sept. 19 vs. Havelock*

Sept. 26 at Northside*

Oct. 5 OPEN

Oct. 10 vs. Croatan*

Oct. 17 at West Carteret*

Oct. 24 at Dixon*

Oct. 31 vs. Swansboro**

*Coastal 5A/6A Conference games **CC 6A foe

plug in. Gabe Mentor and Jamar Watson can also help out as a lot of that group will play at linebacker or as defensive backs.”

Richlands lost more than 20 seniors after last season, many who were key players for the previous two or three years. Good replaces Duplin County native Pat Byrd, who guided the ’Cats to one of its best seasons in school history (9-2) before leaving to become the o ensive coordinator at Jacksonville.

Expectations are not high, though Good said his players are determined to prove that 2024 wasn’t a uke.

The possibility of getting solid play from DiBenedetto was refreshing. He’s replacing Simco, who ran, passed and willed the Wildcats to rst downs, touchdowns and wins.

Good’s o ense appears to be less complicated than the one Byrd used, though both stress taking care of the ball and making decisions that a ect plays and outcomes of a series.

DiBenedetto likely won’t throw the ball as much with an o ensive line led by center Dom Bergeaux and

See RICHLANDS, page B3

HARRELLS CHRISTIAN ACADEMY: The Crusaders’ back eld is loaded with weapons as the defense reboots

By Michael Jaenicke Duplin Journal

HARRELLS — Clayton Hall and the Harrells Christian Academy football sta enter the season with a few objectives.

Rebuilding the Crusaders defense is at the top of the list.

“We return a lot of kids in skill positions, but I thought our MVP last year was Hakeem (Murphy),” Hall said. “And we lost two really good linebackers (Coley Sasser and Eli Hardison).”

Murphy, a 6-foot-2, 265-pound roadblock and enforcer, was a four -year starter who played left tackle and defensive end, while Sasser, a guard and linebacker, and Hardison, a fullback and linebacker, played to a gold standard for HCA on defense the past two seasons.

Getting production to replace the threesome won’t be easy for a Crusaders team that went 6-4 and barely missed out nabbing a spot in the NCISAA playo s.

Two losses ring loudly

An opening night setback to Covenant Day (28-6) and a stinging 38-35 loss to Ravenscroft turned out to be playo killers.

The Crusaders started out 6-1 but dropped their nal three games and were not invited to the dance.

The HCA defense regroups around returned Landon Toler, Xander Garcia and Amir Moore.

Toler (6 feet, 216 pounds) is a four -year starter who will play center and defensive end.

The other defensive returnee is tack-

2025 Schedule

Aug. 22 vs South Wake

Aug. 29 vs. Wayne Christian*

Sept. 5 vs. North Wake Saints

Sept. 12 vs. High Point Chris.

Sept. 19 vs. Hickory Grove

Sept. 26 at Covenant Day

Oct. 3 vs. N. Raleigh Chris.*

Oct. 10 at Asheville Chris.

Oct. 17 OPEN

Oct. 24 vs. Ravenscroft*

Oct. 31 at Trinity Chris.*

*Big East Conference games

le Xavier Garcia (5-11, 302). The senior duo will get help from classmate Jesse Smith (5-11, 192). But HCA expects big things from defensive linemen Amir Moore (6-7, 280) and Drake Smith (6-0, 224). Smith will also play tight end while splitting time with Davis Bradshaw (5-11, 174). Moore is also working his way in at tight end, according to Hall.

Juniors Sam McKeithan (6-0, 182), Noah Tanner (6-1, 174) and Jarrod Miller (5-9, 200) take on the task of replacing Sasser and Hardison. While those two lines must be solid, the play of the secondary will be key as HCA plays a number of pass-orientated teams. HCA will use running backs as its cornerbacks and safety positions. Back eld loaded with talent

Hall, the longtime o ensive coordinator, should have a blast running the Wing-T since his back eld returns loaded and locked in.

Quarterback Reid Strickland, a three-year starter, will do work that is often not respected by fans in this

See HCA, page B4

PHOTOS BY MICHAEL JAENICKE / DUPLIN JOURNAL

Left, rst-year Richlands coach Bill Good, right, and defensive coordinator Matt Lovely said “game-planning for opponents” will be key this season. Right, seniors Xander Garcia (50) Dashaun McKoy (12), Landon Tyler (55), Reid Strickland, back row leftm, and Davis Bradshaw (20) will lead HCA as the Crusaders touch the statue of Will Johnson before each home game. Johnson died on the eld on Sept. 8, 2000.

ATHLETE

OF THE WEEK

Lucas Dail

North Duplin, football

Look for Lucas Dail to have a breakout season.

North Duplin head coach Hugh Martin said his linebacker has put in the o season work in the weight room ahead of his senior season.

The Rebels were 10-1 last season, and Dail is one of many returnees as North Duplin seeks its third Carolina Conference title in as many years.

Dail, who played basketball In the winter, devoted his spring and summer to gridiron training, and according to Martin, he is ready to make bigger contributions.

Panthers-Bulldogs prep for heated rivalry on opening night

WRH and ED, which usually play at the end of the regular season, open 2025 against each other

By Michael Jaenicke Duplin Journal

WALLACE — East Duplin is favored.

Wallace-Rose Hill doesn’t care.

The Bulldogs have won the last two matchups.

“So what?” say Panthers fans. “That will change.”

But the game is at Legion Stadium, one of the most unique venues in the state for a football game.

“Brian Aldridge Field is better and more modern, and the ghosts of Jack Holley and Thell Overman don’t scare us,” say the collective voice of the Panthers faithful.

“Our coach is Battle Holley, who is the last Duplin County coach to win a state title.”

“Yeah, then why do we lead the series against a school that is bigger than us and in a higher classi cation?” the ’Dawgs’ collective counter.

“We’re the team that stopped Javonte Williams before he went to UNC and the NFL. … I’m sure you recall that,” say the Panthers-proud community.

“You mean the 2017 season in which we were state champs under Kevin Motsinger at UNC and y’all lost the 2AA game before us? “snaps the voice from the Rose Hill Restaurant.

“Just a bump in the road as we won our fourth ’ship.”

“But it’s fullback Shawn Davis’ nal season in Beulaville, and the big man-child is going to bulldoze Bulldogs,” screams a woman from a booth at Du s.

“No way, no how,” says a man dressed in orange and black.

“Who is going to catch Jamarae Lamb when he breaks into the open eld?

And so goes the conversations in anticipation of the ED -WRH kicko next Friday.

The rivalry is one of, if not the best in eastern North Carolinam with the last 10 games being decided by eight points or less.

While WRH leads the all-time series 43-22-2, the Bulldogs have just a 16-15 edge since 1996 in a series that has four clear phases.

The Bulldogs went 13-1-1 against the Panthers from 1962 to 1977.

The Panthers swept the next four games, twice holding WRH to a touchdown and just two scores in a 26-13 win in 1981. Before the streak, WRH had whipped ED twice by a combined total of 42-0.

WRH owned ED in the ’80s and half of the ’90s, holding a 13-1 mark from 1982 to 1995.

All of this was fodder for a series that has been must-watch

for football fans in Duplin County.

But folks in the other end of the county want to argue that James Kenan-WRH is a better series, and this season they are both in the Swine Valley 3A/2A Conference, while ED is in the East Central 4A/3A Conference.

True. The Tigers and Bulldogs used to be the best rivalry, though WRH has a 50 -29 advantage. And that may change since JK beat WRH in overtime in the third round of the playo s last year to snap a 13-game skid. Motsinger, who coached JK for three seasons, is 10-1 against the Tigers.

But no one seems to know how to beat Motsinger quite like Holley, whose father Jack is WRH’s iconic coach. The younger Holley coached for a season at WRH before leading Kinston for three seasons and then taking over at ED in 2011.

He has a 6-4 edge on Motsinger.

Yet there are several interesting twists to the plot.

First, longtime WRH o ensive coordinator Adam Scronce left to be the head coach at Hobbton and his assistant in the booth — Graham Walker — is now at ED.

Motsinger takes over as the Bulldogs’ o ensive coordinator and will go head to head against Holley, who calls the plays for ED.

“We’ve changed our terminology and signals, and that’s been a little tough on the kids,” Motsinger said. “They’ve got a bunch of kids back, and we’re inexperienced and have depth issues.

“But I will say this: We’re going to be better than anyone thinks we will be.”

WRH will be riding on the wings of Lamb, who ran for 1,361 yards last season and is being recruited heavily.

And ED will look to Davis, who has ripped his way for 2,608 yards the previous two campaigns even though he was injured both seasons.

The Panthers also feel Aaron Hall (799 yards) and healthy reports from running back Keeshon Mckinnie (485 yards) and quarterback Branson Norris will be too much

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

for the Bulldogs defense led by former JK player and assistant coach Tyler Pugh.

“I don’t think they really know what I will do as the offensive coordinator,” Motsinger said in a hint to unexpected plays.”

Some WRH fans feel running back Jamari Carr (67-521), quarterback Matthew Wells (27-58 for 435 yards), split end Adrian Glover (27-302 and one of the fastest runners at the 2A track championships last spring) and running back Darrius McCrimmon will emerge as o ensive threats.

But the bottom line has always been that both schools run the Wing-T and know one another forward and backward. What could either team do di erently?

“It’s going to come down to turnovers and who takes care of the ball,” Holley said. “They know what we do, though they could have a bit di erent identity.”

Holley always seems to nd a wrinkle or two. And given the fact that Motsinger has known about this early rivalry game for months, he’s likely got a few cards up his sleeve.

Don’t’ expect a punt on fourth-and-short situations. Both are gunslinging play callers willing to take a chance.

And there will likely be an unsung hero.

In 2022, it was Kade Kennedy’s tackle on a two-point conversion that sealed ED’s 14-13 win. The Panthers beat WRH 28-26 in the East Region nal. ED held Kayne Roberts to 42 yards in 2021, but Robert Montgomery and Kaymond Farrier combined for 183 yards and two scores in a 21-17 Bulldogs win.

Roberts, who is now at Appalachian State, galloped for 196 yards in the regular season matchup that year, which was won by ED 24-21 as quarterback Nick Cavanaugh ran for 22 yards and passed for 66 as the top Panther producer, and ve ED running backs had 39 yards or more.

Former players from both schools have lifelong memories of this series.

Expect a packed house and plenty of noise from both sides of the Jack Holley Football Complex. It’s a money-maker that usually lives up to its advance billing.

“I don’t like that we’re playing this early, but I think it adds excitement and kicks o the season right,” Holley said. “It’s a game that means so much to both communities and to the players.

“They had (scheduled) games, and we had games, and this was the only place to t it. We’re always going to play Wallace and James Kenan, and for Wallace and James Kenan to play. It’s always good football and short trips. Why wouldn’t we?”

MICHAEL JAENICKE / DUPLIN JOURNAL

ED’s Battle Holly has a 6-4 edge in games against WRH coach Kevin Motsinger.

PHOTOS BY EDWARDO PUAC/ DUPLIN JOURNAL

for both WRH and ED.

AIDEN TOKONITZ FOR DUPLIN JOURNAL

Richlands’ Chase Boutwell (9) battles Pender’s Messiah

during last Friday’s scrimmage.

from page B1

guards Elijah White and Jayden Archibald.

“At our scrimmage, there were four players who were on the varsity last season,” Good said. “Right now, we’re running our tackles week to week, looking for answers and solutions.”

Yet Good’s biggest concern defensively is that the Wildcats will not have a line that will hold ground like Marcus Branthoover, Semaj Thompson and company did in 2024.

That’s almost a given, but the return of defensive end Tre’Vaun Flannigan is huge.

He’ll man one side of the line with Matt Storjohann on the opposite side with tackles Nick Herring and Joel Roberts in between Richlands’ two pillars.

Linebacker and returnee

JT Bratcher works alongside Beau Mills, Payton Hughes and Matt Stein.

Richlands’ best returnee could be split end Tyler Clouatre, who also played cornerback last season. He caught 17 passes for 613 yards and six touchdowns.

Another missing player is Noah LeBlanc, who ran for 877 yards and scored eight touchdowns. A family moved transferred him to East Duplin, but a serious knee injury will keep o the eld for at least a season. Good said Richlands won’t have another scrimmage before its opener.

“We’re turning our attention to cranking it up o ensively to nd out where we can go while also breaking it down to have individual time,” Good said.

Wildcats Football 2025

Coach: Bill Good

Career record: 0-0 (First year)

“Our numbers are down, and we have some who play only on o ense, some only defense, and some that will have to play both. So we want a controlled game where we can move the yard sticks and run the clock.”

Richlands has beaten Southwest Onslow the previous two seasons after breaking a three-decade curse against the Stallions. Game 2 is a road trip to play Coastal champ White Oak. The Wildcats return home the next Friday to face East Duplin, a school they whipped last fall to end a shorter but just as painful losing streak. Two weeks later, grid powerhouse Havelock comes to town.

Richlands, which is a 5A school following realignment and the addition of four more classi cations statewide, keeps league a liations with Swansboro, Dixon, West Cartertet and Croatan and adds Northside-Jacksonville and Havelock.

The Rams enter as the overwhelming favorite with the Vikings and Patriots as upset contenders should Havelock falter.

Richlands, Dixon, Croatan and Northside begin as second-tier teams in the Coastal 5A/6A Conference in which weakling Swansboro is the lone 6A school. The Pirates were 0-9 in 2023 and petitioned to stay in the league for fear of being completely overwhelmed in 6A. Good and the Wildcats are rebuilding and will be short on experience until midseason when newcomers adjust to the speed and contact at the varsity level.

Good replaces Pat Byrd, who left to be the OC at Jacksonville Coaching sta : Bill Good, DC Matt Lovely, Eddie Floyd, Adam Varner, Reed Schumann, Shayvon Kornegay, John Anderson, Tony Joiner, Matt Boutwell, Karl Jackson, Dave McGowan.

Record 2023: 9-2 and lost in rst round of 3A playo s, Went 7-4 for second-place in Coastal 3A in 2023.

Key losses: QB Caleb Simco (71-114 for 1,463 and 13 TDs; 90-614 running for 14 TDs), RB Noah LeBlanc (115-877, 8 TDs), WR Lenny Halfter-Hunter (27-456, 3 TDs), WR Tyler Clouatre (17-613, 6 TDs receiving), LB Julian Theil (9.0 tackles per game), WR Tyler Clouatre (17-613, 6 TDs receiving), DB Nate Mummert (2.8 tackles), CB Nate Elbinger (OL/DL Marcus Branthoover, (4.9), DT Semaj Thompson (6.8 tackles), S Jo’Nathan Kennon (5.8 tackles), LB Tristan Fogarty (3.7 tackles), Jr. LB/RB Tanner Brinson (4.9 tackles), RB Christian Diaz (65-472, 7 TDs running, 8-154, TD receiving)

Key returnees: Sr. WR Tyler Clouatre, Sr. (17-613, 6 TDs receiving), Sr. DL Tre’Vaun Flannigan (3.9 tackles), Sr. RB/ DB Darryl Jackson (2-114), Sr. WR/QB Cale Wilges, Sr, LB TJ Bratcher (4.5 tackles)

The skinny: The inexperienced Wildcats will have to step up quickly. They will be underdogs in their rst ve games. But if they show an ability to take and give hard hits, it will be a valuable lesson. The back half of the schedule is far more forgiving. Richlands had a great defense in 2024 and that could be the area in which needs the most bolstering. Teams were unable to put the ball in the end zone, and that gave the o ense more opportunities. The arrival of DiBenedetto could be the ticket the o ense needs to operate the option attack and spread the ball around. An open week on Oct. 5 might be needed for a run into the playo s.

Rookie van Gisbergen nabs 4th victory of Cup season

The win at Watkins Glen set a rookie record

The Associated Press

WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. —

Shane van Gisbergen’s latest victory in NASCAR’s premier series was as historical as it was emotional.

With his father, Robert, on hand for the rst time this year, the Auckland, New Zealand, native set a Cup Series rookie record with his fourth victory, blowing out the competition again at Watkins Glen International.

“It’s just amazing to have him here,” said van Gisbergen, who last saw his father while visiting home over the Christmas break. “It’s been a very tough, tough year for dad, and he hasn’t been able to travel, so to have him here for the next three weeks and share this with him, it’s amazing.”

As amazing as van Gisbergen’s rookie season in the Cup Series.

The Trackhouse Racing driver joined 2020 champion Chase Elliott and NASCAR Hall of Famer Je Gordon as the only drivers to win four consecutive Cup races on road or street courses.

Unlike his prior wins at Mexico City, Chicago and Sonoma, van Gisbergen was unable to start from the pole position after being edged by Ryan Blaney. After qualifying second, van Gisbergen bided his time and took his rst lead on the 25th

“I’m just a very lucky guy to get to drive for an amazing bunch of people and just execute. The day went awlessly.”

Shane van Gisbergen

of the 90-lap race. He then settled into a typically awless and smooth rhythm on the 2.45 -mile road course.

“I’m just a very lucky guy to get to drive for an amazing bunch of people and just execute,” van Gisbergen said. “The day went awlessly.”

The 36-year-old rookie made his nal pit stop with 27 laps remaining and cycled into rst place on Lap 74 of a clean race with only three yellow ags. Cruising to a big lead while leading the nal 17 laps, van Gisbergen beat Christopher Bell by 11.116 seconds.

“I’m thrilled because we’ve been struggling a little bit,” Bell said. “Just trying to execute the races has been tough for us, so really awesome to have a good day. Frustrated to get our butts kicked by (van Gisbergen). He’s doing such a really good job.”

With ve victories in only 38 career starts in NASCAR’s top series, van Gisbergen trails only Elliott (seven wins) and Kyle Larson (six) among active drivers on street or road courses. He also is the fastest to ve wins in Cup since the legendary Dan Gurney, who won his fth

race in his 13th start in January 1968.

The win validated the decision by Trackhouse to sign van Gisbergen to a multiyear contract extension last week. Tied with Denny Hamlin for the series lead in victories, van Gisbergen holds the No. 2 seed in the playo s with two races remaining in the regular season.

The rst round will be held at three oval tracks, where the inexperienced van Gisbergen, who raced exclusively on road and street courses while winning three championships in the Australia-based Supercars, has an average nish of 26.9 this year.

“It ain’t going to be easy, that’s for sure,” van Gisbergen said of his playo outlook. “The rst round, it’s some very dicult left-handed tracks for me, but I’m getting better at it, and I’m enjoying myself, and it’s a challenge. That’s why we’re here, and we’ll have a proper crack at it.”

Playo watch

Third-place nisher Chris Buescher improved to 34 points ahead of Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing teammate Ryan Preece in the battle for the nal playo spot.

Buescher outdueled van Gisbergen on the nal lap to win at Watkins Glen last year. His team tailored its strategy Sunday toward amassing stage points instead of following the win-oriented strategy used by van Gisbergen.

RICHLANDS

Darden

SETH WENIG / AP PHOTO

Shane van Gisbergen celebrates with his team in Victory Lane after winning Sunday’s Cup Series race at Watkins Glen.

offense that was brought to the area by the late Jack Holley, the second-winningest coach in NCHSAA history.

“That’s a misunderstood position in that o ense,” Hall said. “So much of the success comes from the quarterback. The footwork, ball-faking and di cult pivots are not easy. Reid knows the system well and does a great job making it look far easier than it is.”

The Crusaders back eld is more loaded than a machine gun.

Last season, injuries forced current seniors Chamani Newton (5 -10, 141) and Dashaun McKoy (6-3, 173) to the sidelines, yet both still had solid seasons.

They are keys as both can catch the ball and can make chunks of yardage after a reception in the open eld.

“Dashaun scored four di erent ways for us last year and is important to our team because of his versatility and what he brings,” Hall said. “When he gets the ball in his hands in some fashion, it’s good for us.

“It’s Newton’s third year with us, and while he may weigh 130 pounds, he’s a leader who can block, run the ball and he also takes care of it well.”

Fullback Miller is a bruiser, while wing back Demetrius Jones (5-6, 170) is fast and can take a hit.

“Jarrod is a big kid that can really pound the ball, and Demetrius is really quick and fast,” Hall said. “We’ve got a lot of moving parts to work with.”

Another back eld option is

Crusaders Football 2025

Coach: Clayton Hall

JAENICKE / DUPLIN JOURNAL

Head coach Clayton Hall is excited about the potential of HCA’s running game.

junior Jeremiah Davis (6-3, 175).

“We’re going to run a lot of bodies out of the back eld, and I’m excited about watching them do things,” Hall said. The o ensive line is built around center Toler, right tackle Garcia, guards Tanner and McKeithan and sophomore left tackle Lathan Cashwell (5-9, 160). Both guards were backups last fall, while Cashwell appeared in ve games.

HCA has won 12 NCISAA state titles and were Big East

Career record: 6-4. Took over two weeks before the season opener in 2024

Coaching sta : OC Clayton Hall, DC Steve Mallard, Tracey Thornton, Trey Fetterman, Jamael Moore, Jonathan Carr, Josh Rackley, Winfred Johnson, Nolan Hall Record 2023: 6-4, did not make the state playo s State titles: 12 in NCISAA (1971-73, 1977, 1986-89, 1993, 2003, 2005, 2008)

Key Returnees: Sr. QB Reid Strickland (26-677 for 408 yards, 4 TDs), Sr. WB/WR Chamani Newton (44-210, 2 TDs); Sr. RB/ SE Dashaun McKoy (29-280, 3 TDs; 7-235, 3 TDs receiving), Jr. WB Demetrius Jones (70-491, 9 TDs), Jr. FB Jarrod Miller (76-529, 8 TDs), Jr. WB Jeremiah Davis (35-235), Key Losses: LB Eli Hardison (4.5 tackles per game), Sr T/LB Cole Sasser (5.1 tackles per game), DE Hakeem Murphy, OL/ DL Bryson Lovette, The Skinny: HCA’s biggest losses came on the defensive side. The o ense has to replace two linemen, but the entire back eld from 2024 is back. Key dates include three consecutive road trips in four weeks in October against top NCISAA teams — Asheville Christian, Ravenscroft and Trinity Christian. Consecutive midseason tilts against High Point Christian, Hickory Grove and Covenant Day are also tough assignments. The Crusaders failed to make the playo s last fall and that was a shame since HCA wasn’t a pushover and more a victim of facing quality programs. The NCHSAA watered down its playo s this fall to make money. The NCISAA didn’t, and a lot of good teams were left at home. Hall has a group that should be in the playo s in November.

MLB

Rivera tears Achilles in Yankees Old-Timers’ Day game, needs surgery New York

Mariano Rivera tore his Achilles while chasing a y ball at New York Yankees’ Old-Timers’ Day. The 55-year-old closer, baseball’s career leader in saves, will have surgery within a week. The Yankees brought back the Old-Timers’ Day game for the rst time since 2019. Rivera, a Hall of Famer, was playing in the event for the second time. He became the rst unanimous pick for the Hall of Fame in 2019 after helping the Yankees win ve World Series titles.

champs and the 2A runner-up in 2020 and 2021.

Trinity (Fayetteville) went 10-2 last fall to capture the league title. They lost to Asheville (7-2) in the 2A semi nals. The Christ School lost ve times during the regular season but nearly beat Asheville, falling 26-25 in overtime to claim the title.

That, in a nutshell, says a lot about NCISAA schools. Coaches don’t look at records. They watch game lm and evaluate

Roster

players before facing a foe. And they always try to expect the unexpected.

Hall, the school’s longtime head basketball coach and athletics director, said his schedule changed numerous times in the past six months.

Trinity the favorite in Big East Conference

Trinity graduated a quarterback who threw for 2,768 yards and 35 touchdowns but return

Dontario Austin, who led the team in tackles (13.4 per game). Don’t expect the Fayetteville team to fall from grace. The program is rock solid and 14-4 all-time versus HCA, 8-3 against North Raleigh Christian and 4-1 against newcomer North Wake.

NRC, which is 19-4 against HCA, went 5-6 in 2025, but longtime head coach Chris Rivera retired in December. Ravenscroft went 4-6 and has beaten HCA 14 times in the past 18 games.

Two other Big East schools are not involved as Grace Christian dropped its program, while Wake Christian will play eight-man football, narrowing the conference to four schools.

Yet if home cooking, fan support and familiar surroundings mean anything, HCA has an edge as its rst ve games will be at Murphy-Johnson Field. Four of its last ve are on the road.

And yet another factor could come into play for the Crusaders: losing players to injury. HCA’s roster hovers around 30 (though it’s been much lower in recent years), yet losing any of its top players is cause for concern since players often play on both o ense and defense.

So, for example, if McKoy is hurt, HCA must ll two spots. He’s a heck of an athlete, and that’s hard to replace with a warm body. And often in replacing one position, it leaves a hole in another position that must be lled.

And until the defense comes around, it will be vital for the Wing-T to control the pace of a game by keeping the opposition’s o ense o the eld.

Lamb takes big hit from sprinting o cial while in street clothes on sideline

Inglewood, Calif.

CeeDee Lamb took a big hit and committed a penalty in the Dallas Cowboys’ preseason opener even though the star receiver wasn’t in uniform. A sprinting o cial ran straight into Lamb’s back on the sideline during the second quarter of the Cowboys’ game against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium, resulting in a 15-yard penalty for making contact with an o cial. Dressed in street clothes, Lamb was watching a deep pass when he wandered too far into the white paint on the sideline. The o cial didn’t see him and knocked him down.

NOTICES

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Having quali ed as Executors of the Estate of Glenda Kay Davis Brown, of Pink Hill, NC, Duplin County, deceased, the undersigned does hereby notify all persons, rms, and corporations having claims against the estate of said decedent to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before October 31st, 2025. This the 31st day of July, 2025. Je rey Lynn Davis

MICHAEL

Quieta Irene (Tipton) Willett

March 17, 1955 – Aug. 6, 2025

Quieta Irene Willett, 70, passed gently from her earthly life on Wednesday, Aug, 6, 2025, at Novant Health NHRMC in Wilmington surrounded by her loving family.

She was born on March 17, 1955, in Long Beach, California, the daughter of Everett Francis Tipton and Gaylene Joyce Hodgkins Tipton.

Quieta is survived by her husband, Emmett Keith Willett; children, James Miller (Stacy), John Jackson (Tracy), Daniel Miller, Teresa Wright, April Fels (John), Amanda Edwards (Tim), and Patrick Willett; seventeen grandchildren; twelve great grandchildren; brother, John Tipton; sister, Alice Friot and Teresa Willis; many nieces and nephews.

Quieta Irene Willett was a beloved daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother and friend to many. Her 70 years on this earth were spent caring for others. She was a skilled creator of sewing, crocheting, knitting and all things creative, for which she made loving and memorable keepsakes for those in need of comfort. Forever in our hearts!

A Celebration of Quieta’s life will be Oct. 5, 2025, from 1-4 p.m. at the Burgaw Community House at 102 E. Wilmington Street, Burgaw, NC 28425.

Ellis Edgar Turner

Aug. 17, 1942 – Aug. 5, 2025

Ellis Edgar Turner passed away on Aug. 5 at Kitty Askins Hospice Care in Goldsboro, NC.

He worked construction for many years before establishing Turner Auto Sales in 1995 and also running a North Carolina O cial Inspection Station until retiring in 2020.

Predeceased by his parents, Geneva Scott Turner and Ellis Jackson Turner, as well as Rupert Jackson Turner. Left to cherish his memory is his loving wife, Mary, of 60 years, Sister, Annie Taylor and Donnie of Pleasant Hill, Daughter, Kim T. Williams and Jimmy of Beulaville, Son, Ellis (Matt) Turner and Kim of White Lake, Grandchildren: Barry Bostic and wife Jamie, Jackson Turner and Taylor, Joseph Turner and Landry Turner. Three GreatGrandchildren: Lane Bostic, Jase Turner and Kasley Turner.

Visitation: Thursday, Aug, 7, 2025

6-8 p.m.

Community Funeral Home, Beulaville, NC

Graveside Service: Friday, Aug. 8, 2025

11 a.m. Oak Ridge Memorial Park, Pink Hill, NC Community Funeral Home of Beulaville is honored to serve the Turner family.

Lucille “Lucy” Horrell

Feb. 22, 1944 – Aug. 2, 2025

Lucille Balcombe Horrell, 81, of Hampstead, NC, passed away on Saturday, August 2, 2025, surrounded by the love of her family. Born February 22, 1944, in Wilmington, NC, she was the daughter of the late Sidney Clarence Balcombe and Evelyn McCall Irving Balcombe.

Lucille was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Harvel A. Horrell Jr. She is survived by her daughters, Martha H. Prosser and her husband, Warren, and Levrah “LeAnn” H. Hall and her husband, Larry; her grandchildren, Justin Hall and his spouse, Ashley, Jordan Prosser, Jami Hall, Jackson Prosser, Sarah Prosser, and Carisa Hall; her brother, Sidney Balcombe and his wife, Linda; numerous nieces, nephews, and extended family and friends.

A graduate of Burgaw High School and Wilmington College, Lucille earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education. For 17 years, she dedicated herself to teaching kindergarten and rst grade, leaving an indelible mark on the lives of countless students. She often spoke with fondness of the many former students who would stop her to share how much her guidance had meant to them. Her gift for teaching extended far beyond the classroom, and her ability to nurture young minds remains a cherished part of her legacy.

Lucille was also a faithful member of Faith Harbor United Methodist Church. Her life was a testament to love, encouragement and dedication to family. Whether o ering a warm embrace, listening with an open heart, or providing a word of wisdom, she was a constant source of strength and support to those who knew her.

“Memaw,” as she was lovingly known by her grandchildren, adored spending time with them, watching them grow into the kind, loving and respectful individuals she was so proud of. Her joy was in their smiles, their achievements and the relationships they built. Lucille also found peace and enjoyment in reading, crossword puzzles and word searches, activities that kept her mind sharp and her spirit content.

A graveside service to honor her life will be held at Sea Lawn Memorial Park, 17750 US Hwy 17, Hampstead, NC, on Friday, Aug. 8, 2025, at 11 a.m., with Rev. William Hill Pearsall o ciating. Family and friends are invited to gather to celebrate her life and the enduring love she shared with all. The family will visit with friends at the cemetery following the service.

Kristin Alisha Mann

Oct. 11, 1981 – Aug. 6, 2025

Kristin Alisha Mann, 43, of Warsaw, NC, answered the Master’s call on August 6, 2025, at her residence. A celebration of Kristin’s life will be held at 3 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 11, 2025, at Hines Chapel, Freewill Baptist Church, 320 Prospect Street, Warsaw, NC.

Mabel Bonham Thigpen

Sept. 23, 1938 – Aug. 5, 2025

Mabel Bonham Thigpen, 86, passed to her home in Glory on Tuesday, August 5, 2025, at Lower Cape Fear LifeCare in Wilmington with loving family at her side.

She was born in Duplin County and was the daughter of Henry Harlee Bonham and Fannie Williamson Bonham. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Johnnie Franklin Thigpen; granddaughter, Olivia Nicole Thigpen; sister, Faye Mobley; and brothers, Frank Bonham and David Earl Bonham.

Mabel is survived by her daughters, Donna Thigpen and Sonya Herring and her husband, Frank; son, Vance Thigpen and his wife, Jennifer; grandsons, Zachary Thigpen and Lucas Thigpen; brother, Bob Bonham and his wife, Sarah; many nieces, nephews and extended family members, all who dearly loved Mabel.

Mabel was a loving wife, mother, nanny and sister. She loved her family deeply. Her biggest blessings were her three children and her two grandsons, who were the apple of her eye. Mabel was the true de nition of strength. In the last several years, she continued to show just that as her health declined. Mabel knew her Lord and Savior, and today, we know she is healed and restored, rejoicing in Heaven.

A graveside service will be at 3 p.m. Friday, Aug. 8, 2025, at Riverview Memorial Park with Pastor Adam Kord conducting the service. The family will receive friends at the cemetery following the service.

In lieu of owers, to honor Mabel, the family suggests you consider a memorial gift to Lower Cape Fear LifeCare Foundation, 1414 Physicians Drive, Wilmington, NC 28401, or to Friendly Community Baptist Church, 1730 US Hwy 117 N., Burgaw, NC 28425.

A service of Quinn-McGowen Funeral Home, Burgaw, NC.

Mary Nolan Cole Taylor

Oct. 27, 1948 – Aug. 8, 2025

Mary Nolan Cole Taylor, 75, passed away on Friday, Aug. 8, 2025, in the Lower Cape Fear Lifecare Center, Wilmington, NC.

Funeral Service: Monday, Aug. 11, 2025, at 7 p.m. followed by visitation at Community Funeral Home in Beulaville, NC

Graveside Service: Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025, at 11 a.m. at East Duplin Memorial Gardens in Beulaville.

She is survived by her husband, Marcus Taylor of Beulaville; sons Philip Taylor (Kristie) and Eric Taylor (Theresa), both of Beulaville; brothers Billy ( Pee Wee) Cole (Patsy) of Beulaville, Ronnie Cole, (Alice) of Blounts Creek and Gary Cole (Regina) of Pin Hook. Community Funeral Home of Beulaville is honored to serve the Taylor family.

Rex Carpenter

Sept. 5, 1951 – Aug. 5, 2025

On Tuesday, August 5, 2025, Rex Kimble Carpenter, age 73, of Burgaw, North Carolina, left family and many friends deeply saddened as he unexpectedly left his earthly life for his eternal rest. If you ever heard one of Rex Carpenter’s stories, you probably wondered if it was true. (Fun trivia: most of them were!) He had a knack for turning even the smallest moment into an adventure — usually preceded by a grin that let you know something good was coming and a list of the precise steps you were going to take to help.

Born in Providence, Rhode Island, Rex lived a life that was never halfway. He served in the Marine Corps during Vietnam, spent time in the Army, and dedicated over 30 years to emergency medical services — saving lives, calming chaos and mentoring countless others along the way. At the same time, he was coaching soccer teams, leading Boy Scout troops, xing things that “couldn’t be xed” and showing up for his family, friends and even complete strangers. If Rex cared about you, you knew it — because he would give you his time, his e ort and sometimes the shirt o his back (whether you wanted it or not).

After retiring from EMS, he wasn’t the type to slow down. He started yet another business — this time pool repair — found any excuse to take his boat out, soaked up the beach whenever he could, and cranked classic rock loud enough to annoy the neighbors. His artistic side shone brightest every Halloween. Drawing on his art background, he created professional-grade decorations from scratch, turning his yard into something so spectacular that kids and adults alike made special trips just to see it.

Above all, Rex was happiest when he was doing something for the people he loved — especially his grandson, Theodore “Teddy” Woolever. Teddy quickly became the absolute light of his life, and Rex lit up every time he was around. He made it his mission to ll that little boy’s world with joy, adventure and stories worth telling.

Rex is survived by his wife, Tami Carpenter; his children, Mark Bussell Jr. (Whitsett, NC), Rachel Carpenter and her husband Paul Briggs (Whitsett, NC), and Kelsey Woolever and her husband Gus Woolever (Whiteman AFB); his beloved grandson, Theodore “Teddy” Woolever; his brother, Howie Carpenter and wife Nancy (Arlington, VA); and his sister, Rocky Morris and husband Riley (Columbus, GA). He also leaves behind his nieces and nephews — all of whom he loved and proudly bragged about at every opportunity — and a huge extended “family” of friends, former players, Scouts, and coworkers whose lives he touched. A Celebration of Rex’s life will be held at 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 14, 2025, at Quinn McGowen Funeral Home in Burgaw, followed by visitation. Rex chose to be cremated, so this will be a time to gather, share memories and celebrate his life rather than a traditional viewing. In true Rex fashion, please do not wear somber all-black — he was an artist who loved color, and he’d want the room to look alive, not like a raincloud. If you have a story about Rex (and chances are, you do), bring it. That’s how he’d want to be remembered — through laughter, shared memories, and a few unbelievable-but-true tales. We’ll also have a “Leave a Memory” box at the service so Teddy can grow up surrounded by his grandpa’s stories — in your words. You can write one in advance and bring it or ll out a card at the memory table during the service.

William “Nathan” Fusssell

July 25, 1956 – Aug. 7, 2025

William “Nathan” Fussell, 69, of Teachey, North Carolina, passed from this life to his eternal rest on Thursday, August 7, 2025, from Novant New Hanover Regional Medical Center. He was born on July 25, 1956, in Duplin County, the son of the late William Hubert and Pearlie Inez Pelt Fussell. He was also preceded in death by his siblings, Hubert Earl Fussell, Ella Mae Fussell and Joyce Fussell Teachey.

Mr. Fussell proudly served his country honorably in the United States Army.

Surviving to cherish his memory is his devoted wife of 13 years Mona “Misty” Evon Harding Fussell of the home; his children Brandy Carrol of Duplin County, Matthew Fussell and wife Bailey of Corpus Christi, Texas and Megan Pearlie Fussell of Willard; seven grandchildren; brother Joe Fussell and wife Hazel of Teachey; sister Deborah Fussell of Hampstead; brother-in-law Joe Teachey of Teachey; stepchildren Crystal, Karen, Torie and Taylor; numerous nieces, nephews, extended family and friends that loved Nathan dearly.

Nathan was a simple man who loved his family with all his heart. He was a hard worker who loved farming, gardening and his red tractor. With his outgoing personality, Nathan never met a stranger. He loved people and was loved in return. His favorite pastime was watching westerns, mostly Gunsmoke and shing when he had the time. He always had the best pig-picking gatherings ever. Nathan was a true patriot. He loved his country and despite its problems, he was very proud to be an American. Nathan will surely miss but never forgotten.

Funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025, at Quinn-McGowen Funeral Home, Wallace Chapel.

The family will receive friends between 10-11 a.m. on Tuesday, one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.

Burial will follow the service at Fussell Family Cemetery in Teachey.

Casket bearers will be Jason Fussell, Brian Frizzell, Ryan Fussell, Mike Peele, Noah Edwards and Cody Edwards.

Memorial gifts may be given in memory of Nathan to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.

Melvin

Randolph

May 18, 1948 – Aug. 6, 2025

Goldsboro- It is with deep sorrow and humble hearts that we announce the passing of Mr. Melvin Randolph, age 77, who entered eternal rest on Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2025, at UNC Health Wayne in Goldsboro, North Carolina. The arrangements are incomplete at this time. We extend our deepest condolences to the family, and please continue to keep the family in your prayers during their time of bereavement.

FAMILIES GATHERED AT the Duplin Event Center on Saturday for a day of free food, fun and school supplies. Attendees entered the venue to pick up free backpacks organized on tables by grade level. Various vendors were stationed throughout the arena to distribute additional items and share information about their services. ECU Health and the Duplin County Health Department provided free health checks, while fairy-themed makeup artists transformed children’s faces with colorful designs. Clowns entertained the kids by twisting balloons into fun shapes and animals. Young girls bounced joyfully in designated areas on inflatable unicorns. Volunteers served hot dogs, chips, snow cones and popcorn to long lines of guests. Outside the arena, attendees enjoyed several inflatable activities, including ax throwing, bouncy slides, bouncy houses and roller ball. Many also played small games of basketball on two open hoops. The Greenevers Fire Department and a mobile unit from Goshen Medical were present to assist the crowd and answer any questions.

David Williams Rouse Jr.

June 7, 1953 – Aug. 1, 2025

David Williams Rouse Jr., lovingly known as “Pops” by his family, passed away peacefully, surrounded by his close family, on August 1, 2025, at the age of 72. A lifelong resident of Rose Hill, North Carolina, he was born there on June 7, 1953, to the late David and Winifred Rouse.

Pops grew up on the family farm where they raised chickens, tobacco, and corn - a place that shaped his quiet strength and tireless work ethic. His career began working for his father as an electrician. After, he worked for many years in a factory plant as an electrical technician and later became the owner of his own business, constructing and wiring houses. Always handy and resourceful, he could build or x just about anything. He took pride in working with his hands and spent countless hours tinkering in his shop.

Some of his favorite days were spent shing on a riverbank or oundering on the sound. Pops loved animals, and in his later years, you would see him just driving around with his pup companion. He was a big fan of westerns: James Bond, Star Trek, the Beatles and the oldies. David was a man of few words, often keeping to himself, but his strong will and determined spirit left a lasting impression on those who knew and loved him. When he set his mind to something, he made it happen. When YouTube became popular, it also became his best friend. His grandchildren are all too familiar with visiting him and watching him go through an instructional repair video of some sort.

Although his last years on this earth were medically complex, Pops maintained an incredible will to live. If there were even a glimmer of hope or positivity, he would nd it. He fought with strength and determination until the very end. His unwavering spirit and optimistic outlook in his later years will forever be remembered by his family and those who cared for him.

He is preceded in death by his parents, David and Winifred Rouse. Left to cherish his memory are his son, Will Rouse, and his sisters, Patricia McGarty and Treva Simmons and his brother, Hugh Rouse. He is also survived by his grandchildren: Jessica Herrmann (husband, Nick), Olivia Rouse (husband, Errol), and Marisa Rouse (partner, Michael). He also leaves four great-grandchildren: Odin Rouse, Preston Herrmann, Connor Herrmann and Zoey Manley.

David “Pops” Rouse will be deeply missed and forever remembered by all who knew and loved him.

In lieu of owers, a contribution may be made to the ASPCA, The American Cancer Society, or a nonpro t organization of your choice. A graveside service will be held at Rock sh Presbyterian Church Cemetery. The date and time will be announced soon.

Family and friends are welcome to visit David’s home on Thursday, August 7, to pay their respects. Quinn-McGowen Funeral Home and Cremation Service of Wallace, NC.

Napoleon Smith

Feb. 7, 1938 – Aug. 5, 2025

Napoleon Smith, 87, of Warsaw, NC, transitioned to eternal rest on Aug. 5, 2025, at Warsaw Health & Rehabilitation Center. Graveside service will be at noon, Monday, Aug. 11, 2025, at Devotional Gardens in Warsaw.

Francis “Frankie” Matthews

March 31, 2001 – Aug. 7, 2025

On Aug. 7, 2025, Francis “Frankie” George Stephen Matthews, age 24, of Wallace, NC, passed away.

He is survived by his mother, Judi Matthews, and his niece, Olivia Stidd, of the home. His dog, Riley, was by his side. Cause of death is pending. Frankie was predeceased by his father, David Matthews of Rose Hill. Frankie was a graduate of Champions Educational Center in Beulaville, where he had great respect for Mr. Neil. Frankie was a memorable person, a font of all sorts of esoteric information with a sweet personality. He brought joy to his parents & his friends. Frankie loved animals & was very knowledgeable about their habitats. He loved to hunt, and one of his proudest moments was when he got his rst deer.

Funeral service will be held at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2025, at Quinn-McGowen Funeral Home, Wallace Chapel. The family will receive friends from 2-3 p.m. on Wednesday, one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.

Burial will follow the service at Rock sh Presbyterian Church Cemetery.

Celebrate the life of your loved ones. Submit obituaries and death notices to be published in NSJ at obits@ northstatejournal. com

PHOTOS BY REBECCA WHITMAN COOKE FOR DUPLIN JOURNAL

Stanly NewS Journal

Time for Tea in downtown Albemarle

WHAT’S HAPPENING

Norwood auctioning

vacant 0.4-acre Lake

Tillery property

The Norwood Town Commission has declared as surplus a 0.4-acre vacant property on South Strand Drive at Lake Tillery to go up for auction. As of Monday, the highest bid for the land was $30,000, and the town has announced a bidding process for the property. Sealed bids must be submitted to the town hall before Aug. 25 and have cash or a regular or certi ed check with the bid for 5% of the total bid. The minimum bid is $31,550.

U.S. in ation held steady as mild tari hit o set by cheaper gas, food

U.S. in ation was unchanged in July as rising prices for some imported goods were balanced by falling gas and grocery prices, leaving overall prices modestly higher than a year ago. The gures suggest that slowing rent increases and cheaper gas are o setting some impacts of President Donald Trump’s sweeping tari s. Many businesses are also absorbing much of the cost of the duties. Tuesday’s gures likely include some impact from the 10% universal tari Trump imposed in April, as well as higher duties on countries such as China and Canada.

U.S., China extend trade truce for 90 days

President Donald Trump extended a trade truce with China for another 90 days Monday, at least delaying once again a dangerous showdown between the world’s two biggest economies. The previous deadline was set to expire at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday.

Red Cross citizens receive report from town council on farm park

Mayor Lionel Hahn provided an update on the planned space

By Charles Curcio Stanly News Journal

RED CROSS – The town of Red Cross’ e orts to build a historic farm park have started to take root, according to a report last night at the town council’s monthly meeting.

Red Cross Mayor Lionel Hahn gave a report to citizens on the progress of the proposed park area on the land adjacent to the town hall building o N.C. Highway 24-27. Last week, Hahn, councilmember Andrew Smith and Mike E rd met with Chambers Engineering to go over the rst phase of the park. The park will rst have a parking lot located o of N.C. Highway 205, which will lead to a half-mile trail winding its way around the back portion of the park. Also included in the rst phase of the park plans is a shelter area. At Monday’s coun-

cil meeting, the board discussed various options for the shelter, with the consensus being it would like to have a shelter with restrooms, but it may not be possible initially with the money available for the project.

Red Cross’ town council also set a workshop with Chambers on Aug. 19 at 6 p.m. if representatives from the company are available. The need for the workshop, according to the board, is to determine what various features the park will have.

According to information the board received from Chambers, the bidding process will start in October, with groundbreaking estimated to begin in January. Completion of the rst phase of the park is estimated to be around December 2026.

Overall, the cost of the park has been estimated between $537,000 and $871,000, depending on the particular features of the shelter and area. The beginning costs are the low number, with an estimated $60,000 for the basic

shelter and a larger shelter with restrooms closer to $180,000.

In a Facebook post before Monday’s meeting, Smith wrote of his enthusiasm for the project, noting people have noticed some cleaning up of trees in the corner lot, which was the former location of the Hinson General Store building.

“With the help of a grant from the state, and a series of several fortunate events, the town was able to acquire this property and incorporate it into what will soon be a 30+ acre park,” Smith said online.

Recalling his time coaching West Stanly cross-country in 2013 and 2014, Smith said his grandfather would mow a one-mile track across the back part of the plot of land for the team to train.

“It is an absolutely beautiful place with the open green space, ponds, and rolling hills,” Smith wrote on Facebook. “At one particular spot on the back of the property, you can look out and see Morrow Mountain at the other end of the county.

“It is peaceful, tranquil, and

North Stanly High School names new principal

Kate Blazer was previously at Norwood Elementary

By Jesse Deal Stanly News Journal

NEW LONDON — Just in time for the beginning of the 2025-26 academic year, Kate Blazer has been hired as the new principal at North Stanly High School. Stanly County Schools announced last Thursday that the former Norwood Elementary School principal will take the same position at North Stanly High in New London.

“During her two years at Norwood Elementary, Ms. Blazer made a tremen-

dous impact on the school community, leading the shift from a low-performing status with a D school performance grade to a non-low-performing school,” Stanly County Schools said in a statement.

“Under her leadership, student achievement has shown continued growth. We are excited to welcome Ms. Blazer to the Comet family and look forward to the leadership, passion and student-centered focus she will bring to North Stanly High School.”

Since 2011, Blazer has held several roles across multiple grade levels and school settings, including high school science and math teacher

“Every decision I make is grounded in the belief that our work should open doors, not close them.”

Kate Blazer, North Stanly principal

“It is peaceful, tranquil, and full of nature. The kids always loved it, and I’m excited for our entire community to experience it for themselves. My hope is that the town will be able to keep it simple when it comes to building this park and do just enough to give people access to what is already a beautiful part of God’s creation.”

Andrew Smith, Red Cross Town Council member

full of nature. The kids always loved it, and I’m excited for our entire community to experience it for themselves. My hope is that the town will be able to

THE STANLY COUNTY EDITION OF NORTH STATE JOURNAL

Joan Eudy, left, and Paula Graham enjoy a cup of tea at the ribbon cutting Saturday for the grand opening of Lulu’s Teahouse in Albemarle.

CHARLES CURCIO / STANLY NEWS JOURNAL

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North State Journal (USPS 518620) (ISSN 2471-1365)

Neal Robbins, Publisher

Jim Sills, VP of Local Newspapers

Cory Lavalette, Senior Editor

Jordan Golson, Local News Editor

Shawn Krest, Sports Editor

Dan Reeves, Features Editor

Charles Curcio, Reporter

Jesse Deal, Reporter

PJ Ward-Brown, Photographer

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David Guy, Advertising Manager

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SUNDAY AUG. 17

Stanly Arts Guild o ers grant opportunities for artists

The Artists Support Grants program is accepting applications for local artists

Stanly News Journal sta

THE STANLY County Arts Guild is now accepting applications for the Artist Support Grants (ASG) for Region 12 of North Carolina, including Stanly, Anson, Montgomery, Moore, Richmond and Union counties.

Deadline for completed grant applications, which artists can receive online or through email and regular mail, is Oct. 10. Applications must be submitted to the Arts Council of Moore County at acmc@mooreart.org.

Funding for artists in visual art, crafts, music, lm, writing, dance and more are eligible to apply if they are 18 years old, a U.S. citizen or permanent resident alien, and reside for one year in a county in Region 12. Eligible projects include the creation of new work, purchase of equipment and supplies, development workshops, travel expenses for professional opportunities and development of promotional materials. Grant awards range from

$500-$3,000

The range of the Artist Support Grants

$500 to $3,000, and funded projects must occur between the dates of Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 2026. ASG is not a matching grant, and 50% of the funds may be used for artist fees.

Two grant workshops are currently being o ered, including a virtual workshop via Zoom on Aug. 26 at 5:30 p.m., and an in-person workshop Sept. 9 at 5:30 p.m. at the Arts Council Galleries in Southern Pines.

To reserve your space for either workshop, call

910-692-2787 no later than the day before each workshop. The virtual workshop will be recorded and available at MooreArt.org after Aug. 29.

For additional questions and information on how to apply for this grant, contact either Renee VanHorn, executive director of the Stanly County Arts Council, at stanlycountyartscouncil1974@gmail.com or the Arts Council of Moore County at 910-692-2787 or acmc@ mooreart.org. WEDNESDAY

STANLY COUNTY VETERANS

The Stanly County Veterans Meeting will be held Aug. 14 at 6 p.m. at VFW Post 2908 in Albemarle. All veterans are welcome to attend the meeting and voice any concerns. The Veterans Day Parade and the activities planned for the Veterans Weekend will be discussed. Any business, organization or clubs that wish to be in the parade can contact the council at 704-438-8286.

SEARCH. SEE. LOVE

WWW.KIMREYLASH.COM

(704) 984-8837

P h y l l i s K i m r e y & A d r i a n L a s h

August 4

• Robbie Lynn Mullis, 48, was arrested for failure to register as a sex o ender.

• Stephanie Jade Sides, 39, was arrested for felony possession of cocaine and possession of drug paraphernalia.

August 5

• Marquis Daquinn Bordeaux, 31, was arrested for felony possession of cocaine, possession of drug paraphernalia, driving while license revoked due to impaired driving, having unsealed wine or liquor in passenger area and possession with intent to manufacture, sell or deliver schedule II controlled substance.

REPORT from page A1

keep it simple when it comes to building this park and do just enough to give people access to what is already a beautiful part of God’s creation.”

Naming the park as a farm park to honor the traditions of the past was important to Smith. “The agricultural and entrepreneurial accomplishments of the Hinson family during that di cult time period were

August 6

• Nicki Leann Woody, 40, was arrested for driving while impaired, reckless driving to endanger, driving while license revoked, misdemeanor child abuse, resisting a public o cer and driving left of center.

• Joseph Heath Knotts, 55, was arrested for second degree trespass.

August 8

• Maverick Leedward Brooks, 60, was arrested for possession of rearm by felon and resisting a public o cer.

August 9

• James Kenneth Hartsell, 35, was arrested for obtaining

impressive and these structures stand today as a testament to what can be accomplished through innovation, ingenuity, community engagement, and plain-old hard work, despite the surrounding circumstances,” Smith said.

“There is a rich history to these buildings and they tell an important story. I am excited that the town has the opportunity to preserve the existence of these structures and allow them to continue to tell

property by false pretense, breaking and entering, injury to property obtaining nonferrous metal and rst degree trespass.

August 10

• Jecxon Javier Saravia, 24, was arrested for maintaining vehicle, dwelling or place for controlled substances, possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession with intent to manufacture, sell or deliver cocaine.

• Ruben Ochoa Arceo, 43, was arrested for possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, carrying a concealed gun and open container in motor vehicle.

that story for generations to come.”

The park was also a personal project to him, he added, with his father having grown up in Red Cross and raising him just ve miles down the road in Oakboro.

“He was involved in the planning and creation of Oakboro’s District Park and it has been meaningful to me to get to be part of the process to create the Red Cross Historic Farm Park,” Smith said.

Here’s a quick look at what’s coming up in and around Stanly County:

Aug. 18

Color & Connect: Drop In 9:30-11:30 a.m.

For those who need some relaxing “me” time. Come to the library and enjoy co ee or tea while you get a little creative. Supplies are provided, or feel free to bring your own.

Main Library 133 E. Main St. Albemarle

Needle Bugs, Knitting and Crocheting 10:30-11:30

Aug. 20

market, representing vendors from across Stanly County. Market Station 501 W. Main St. Albemarle

Aug. 21

Locust Farmers Market

9 a.m. to 1 p.m. This producers-only market o ers fresh produce, homemade foods and crafts by local creators. Conveniently located across the street from Locust Elementary School. Open May through September.

Corner of 24/27 and Vella Drive Locust

THE CONVERSATION

Neal Robbins, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor

VISUAL VOICES

Ensuring US dominance of 21st-century telecommunications

Within a decade or so, cable will be as outdated as Blockbuster.

PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP’S announcement and executive order to ensure that the U.S. dominates the arti cial intelligence revolution was a welcome America First policy directive. That mostly means keeping the government out of the way.

But an equally vital industry for our economic and national security interests is telecommunications — which is also going through warp-speed technology changes.

Here too, the government needs to keep its hands o . No subsidies. No lawsuits.

Minimal regulations.

This is why the latest $34.5 billion blockbuster merger between telecom titans Charter Communications and Cox Communications should get the green light from federal regulators.

Some antitrust lawyers at the FCC and the Justice Department worry this marriage would give Charter-Cox too much market share, allowing them to raise prices on consumers.

But companies like Cox that provide internet and TV services over cable transmissions are soon to be outdated by the next generation of ber, satellite, xed wireless and mobile broadband services.

Customers are already “cutting the cable cord” in favor of more e cient and less expensive streaming video services and other digital alternatives.

The synergies and economies-of-scale advantages driving the Charter-Cox merger, which will lead to a company with more than 37 million cable and internet subscribers, make sense.

Is that too much market concentration?

Comcast, the nation’s second-largest cable provider, serves around 12 million cable subscribers. Verizon serves just under 3 million cable subscribers and approximately 146 million mobile subscribers.

AT&T, another big player in this market, has tens of millions of customers of its own. AT&T is moving aggressively into satellite technologies and 5G to deliver calls, data and video. AT&T and Verizon each have a market cap of well over $100 billion. That compares to less than $50 billion for the Charter-Cox union. In other words, competitors aren’t going to be bullied out of the market by Charter- Cox — especially in the lucrative mobile communications arena.

What is ironic is that back in the 1980s, AT&T was forced by the government to break itself up because of alleged market power, and now we could have federal regulators blocking a merger that would bring new competition to AT&T (and other big kids on the block, like Comcast and Verizon).

As for the Charter-Cox potential dominance in cable, sorry, but that’s a declining industry.

Within a decade or so, cable will be as outdated as Blockbuster.

Mergers like this one make U.S. companies more competitive, make money for millions of American shareholders, and make our companies scalable to compete with European, Japanese and Chinese rivals.

Gail Slater, the assistant attorney general for the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division, recently said she intends to focus on mergers that decrease competition.

“If you’re violating the antitrust laws, we’re going to take a hard look,” she said. “If you’re not violating the antitrust laws, we’re going to get the hell out of the way.”

Those are words to live by.

Stephen Moore is co-founder of Unleash Prosperity and a visiting fellow at the Heritage Foundation.

Delivering campaign pledges

Dear Editor,

On Aug. 5, State Auditor Dave Boliek released two audits of the NC DMV, delivering on a key campaign pledge only six months after taking o ce. These reports are about 600 pages in total and represent a big achievement for the State Auditor’s O ce. And while the ndings show the DMV is in worse shape than expected, the reports are a positive rst step in xing the headache that every North Carolinian endures when lining up outside the DMV doors.

Both customer and employee experience at the DMV has gotten worse over the years. Wait times are up 15.5% since 2019, and nearly half of DMV customers are traveling past the o ces closest to them, some traveling hours away for services. Employees interviewed cited burnout, lack of support and inadequate training.

The DMV wasn’t given the attention it deserved these past eight years, but Boliek has made it a front-and-center issue. The biggest recommendation included in the audit is the separation of the DMV and the Department of Transportation. Other key recommended actions straight from Boliek are:

• The DMV should conduct an in-depth sta ng analysis to implement a multiyear, phased sta ng plan that addresses examiner shortages and ensures service equity statewide.

• The DMV should build and maintain a centralized performance dashboard to track and report key service metrics.

• The DMV should partner with an industry expert to develop and implement evidence-based improvements to customer experience and service delivery.

This will be a big haul, but I’m going to do my part in studying the reports and delivering the best outcomes for the people of Robeson County and North Carolina. We’ll need the governor, DOT and DMV to assist as well, but we can all agree that the most customer-facing service in North Carolina must o er fewer headaches and better.

Rep. Jarrod Lowery represents District 47 in the NCGA, which includes Robeson County.

Letters to the editor may be sent to letters@nsjonline.com or mailed to 1201 Edwards Mill Rd., Suite 300, Raleigh, NC 27607. Letters must be signed; include the writer’s phone number, city and state; and be no longer than 300 words. Letters may be edited for style, length or clarity when necessary. Ideas for op-eds should be sent to opinion@nsjonline.com.

Contact a writer or columnist: connect@northstatejournal.com

COLUMN | STEPHEN MOORE

Stanly County Sheri ’s O

Biko has vision loss from an autoimmune disease and is unable to work

By Jesse Deal Stanly News Journal

ALBEMARLE — The Stanly County Sheri ’s O ce has o cially retired K-9 Biko from active duty after seven years of serving the o ce’s patrol and narcotics divisions.

Biko has recently developed vision loss caused by an autoimmune condition known as pannus, prompting a retirement recommendation letter from a local veterinarian.

The dog will now be donated to his handler, Sgt. David Spivey.

At the Stanly County Board of Commissioners meeting on Aug. 4, Sheri Je Crisco spoke about Biko’s career before the board approved the retirement request.

“We just want to recognize K-9 Biko for what we all

PRINCIPAL from page A1

and

“As a principal and educator, my mission is to ensure that every student receives a high-quality education that equips them with the knowledge, skills, and opportunities to shape their own future,” Blazer said.

“I am committed to fostering a school environment where no student leaves at a disadvantage due to educational gaps. Every decision I make is grounded in the belief that our work should open

want to eventually achieve one day: retirement,” Crisco said.

“Throughout his career, Biko has recorded many successful free-air incidents, locating

doors, not close them. Education should empower every student with the freedom and con dence to pursue whatever path they choose in life.”

Blazer holds a bachelor’s degree in biology from Queens University of Charlotte, as well as master’s degrees in school administration and English as a second language from UNC Charlotte. She also holds an Advanced Placement teacher certi cation and a North Carolina principal license. Andrea Russell served as North Stanly High’s principal for three years before leaving to become the principal at Stanly County Virtual Education and Stanly Academy Learning Center in July.

over 1,000 grams of narcotics and helping keep the streets of Stanly County safe.”

On July 9, Dr. Amy Jor -

dan from Bear Creek Veteri-

nary Hospital wrote a letter to the sheri ’s o ce recommending the permanent retirement of Biko from his duties with the department. Per Jordan, the dog’s disease has been under control for several months but may have caused permanent vision loss due to the immune system attacking the cornea. The autoimmune condition is typically linked to genetics, UV light exposure and immune system triggers.

“This loss of vision will not allow K-9 Biko to perform his duties accurately and consistently and could pose a serious risk to himself and others,” Jordan wrote. “This disease is not currently fatal and could hopefully be managed to keep K-9 Biko comfortable and maintain his quality of life. Due to this, euthanasia is not recommended at this time.”

Spivey and Biko became a team in October 2018 prior to canine handler school and Biko’s

subsequent National Police Canine Association credentials.

After being certi ed in narcotics training, handler protection, obedience and area searches, Biko conducted his rst free-air sni on a vehicle on Dec. 7, 2018, indicating a positive alert for narcotics.

“Biko has protected his partner, Sgt. Spivey, every shift and at every o -duty event they’ve worked. In every situation, Biko has always been one button away,” Crisco said. “In his seven years, he has assisted all local municipality police departments, the Cabarrus and Montgomery county sheri ’s ofces, the DEA, U.S. Marshals Service, FBI, SBI patrol division and the sheri ’s o ce narcotics division.”

The sheri ’s o ce K-9 unit plays a vital role in law enforcement, assisting with routine patrols, responding to incidents, detecting illegal narcotics during searches, and locating missing persons or suspects.

Kate Blazer is the new principal of North Stanly High School.

COURTESY STANLY COUNTY SCHOOLS

Pop-up book event in Albemarle features new bookstore

Whatsit Books hosted a NYT Bestsellers List author for a book signing at the rst in-person event at Livi Bug’s Boutique

By Charles Curcio Stanly News Journal

ALBEMARLE — The literary community in Stanly County has been without an operating bookstore for some time.

With a local tradition of published writers like Fred T. Morgan and Ruth Moose, Stanly has been without a gathering place for book a cionados, save for the ve branches of the county’s public library system.

On Saturday in downtown Albemarle, one local merchant hosted a potential new bookstore owner for a pop-up event, which included a book signing from one member of a Stanly-based, New York Times Bestseller List writing duo.

Olivia Phillips, owner of Livi Bug’s Boutique and fashion inuencer with more than 25,000 followers on social media, hosted Whatsit Books and its owner, Mary Stokes, for a pop-up sales event.

Stokes also arranged to have Lea Robinson, one-half of the Alexa Riley romance novel team, to come into Livi Bug’s for a book signing.

Stokes said she closed this week on a building in Albemarle which will be the new home of her bookselling business, which has an online presence at bookshops.com. Recently, she gave clues on social media in the form of pictures to where the new location will be but has not ocially announced it yet.

On Saturday, Stokes brought a sample of the books she will be o ering to readers, with titles ranging from the latest edition of the Inheritance Games series by Jennifer Lynn Barnes to the rst two books of the Lights Out dark romance series by Navessa Allen.

Whatsit Books’ Mary Stokes, left, shares a light moment with local author Ruth Moose.

Stokes also had several books wrapped in covers in a recent “blind date” trend which describes the book on the cover but does not tell you the author or title. The books she had were part of a Blind Date with a Book of the Month Club promotion.

Since she was a child, Stokes said, she has wanted to own a bookstore for the sense of community and for “going into a place where it feels really magical and there is discovery around every corner.”

In her travels, she said, bookstores serve as hubs for community and can really identify a neighborhood.

“What I’m hoping to bring to Albemarle is not just a place to run in to buy a book, but a place where people can go and and nd something a little unusual,” Stokes said. “(People could) have a place where they feel like they can hang out, just linger a while, nding people that have similar interests and start a conversation.”

The range of books she plans to carry at Whatsits will be an

“What I’m hoping to bring to Albemarle is not just a place to run in to buy a book, but a place where people can go and and nd something a little unusual. (People could) have a place where they feel like they can hang out, just linger a while nding people that have similar interests and start a conversation.”

Mary

Stokes, owner of Whatsit Books

ecletic assembly of new and used books in various genres, from literary ction to non ction books that have a little political and social justice, to fantasy, romance, science ction and more.

“These are the things I will stock, the things I am interested in that I think introduce new ideas,” Stokes said. The name Whatsit Books references the beloved young adult sci- book “A Wrinkle In Time” by Madeline L’Engle. The book’s Mrs. Whatsit character is an eccentric neighbor who helps the children in the story in their

search to rescue their father.

The journey through space and time draws the kids into a battle between the forces of light and dark.

“It is one of my favorite books of all time. I read it when I was pretty young, and it just has always stuck with me,” Stokes said. “So many of these themes resonated in a world that feels very kind of dark sometimes. A lot of the things when this book was written in 1962 are some of the same things that we’re dealing with today still.

“When I was thinking about names, it was a long process of

trying to nd something that would feel personal to me but also kind of t the mood of I was trying to build in the shop.”

While she enjoys an audiobook while traveling, Stokes said she still loves to read the printed word.

“I love just holding a physical book and having that experience,” she said. “I think people are craving that too.

“You can buy books from anywhere, but I’m excited to o er that experience of browsing and not quite knowing what you’re looking for but being able to discover something.”

She plans for the bookstore to have a small bar area which could double as a small event space, like a literary salon, which would o er co ee, tea, beer, wine and nonalcoholic drinks, along with grab-and-go snacks.

Hopefully, books clubs and others will meet at the bookstore, Stokes added.

“I hope when people walk in they will feel warm and cozy.”

During Saturday’s event, Robinson signed copies and spoke with fans of the duo’s podcast, “Read Me Romance.” Robinson and her writing partner, who wishes to remain anonymous, started as book bloggers.

In the world of romance novels, Robinson said, the books they write are on the safe side of romance.

“There’s no cheating,” Robinson said. “There’s a happily ever after, those things that are guaranteed in a romance.”

The pair have written around 300 novels, which have been both self-published and published through traditional publishers. Both started writing while having full-time jobs and families, writing when they could.

“Toni Morrison has this beautiful quote. ‘Write at the edges of the day,’” Robinson said.

Now, rigorous time management has helped the pair produce their catalog of books, she said.

Robinson credited social media and book in uencers, saying, “following diverse book bloggers; it is people who promote all kinds of books, not just your mainstream most popular ones, but actual bloggers that are people of color that recommend all di erent genres and di erent kinds of books.”

NOTICE OF ALBEMARLE CITY COUNCIL PUBLIC HEARINGS

4198 from the existing split zoning of GHBD General Highway Business District and R-10 General Residential to R-10 General Residential

CHARLES CURCIO / STANLY NEWS JOURNAL

PHOTOS BY CHARLES CURCIO/STANLY NEWS JOURNAL

Left, Jen Robinson, left, talks with Leah Joyner during the book signing at Livi Bug’s Boutique. Right, Katie Bennett looks over the selection of books from Whatsit Books at Saturday’s pop-up event.

OBITUARIES

Herta Frances Dietrich

May 15, 1927 –Aug. 2, 2025

Herta Frances Dietrich, 98, of Little River, South Carolina, passed away on Saturday, August 2, 2025.

Born on May 15, 1927, in Bocholt, Germany, she was the daughter of the late Franz Karl Theodor Wiethold Jr. and Anna Katherina Jansen Wiethold.

A survivor of the World War II bombings, Herta endured severe injuries with strength and resilience that would de ne her life. She later moved to the United States and built a career as a dedicated medical secretary at Duke University before retiring. Herta was a woman of many passions. She was a proud Lutheran and an active member of her community, participating in the Garden Club and the Ka ee Klatch. She especially loved playing cards and board games, sewing, and indulging in her favorite sweets—apple strudel, ice cream, and chocolate.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Walter Otto Dietrich, and her daughter, Heike Hasenauer.

Herta is survived by her daughter, Angela D. Farrar and husband James of Sunset Beach, N.C.; her son, Glenn Mark Dietrich and wife Christina of Glen Allen, VA; and her son-in-law, Richard Hasenauer of Sunset Beach, N.C.

She leaves behind a loving legacy of grandchildren: Emily Hill (Mark) of Clemmons, N.C.; Amy Farmer (Todd) of Cypress, TX; Kyle Farrar (Stephanie) of Charlotte, N.C.; Eric Dietrich (Brenna) of Pittsboro, N.C.; Charlotte Keppler (Aiken) of Holly Springs, N.C.; Jason Hasenauer (Tammy) of Corona, CA; and Heidl Hasenauer of Paonia, CO.

Her joy extended to her greatgrandchildren: Holden Farmer, Tatum Farmer, Nolan Hill, Olivia Hill, Hudson Hill, Preston Dietrich, Paisleigh Dietrich, Kenzie Fassinger, Quest Keppler, Harper Keppler, Freylynn Keppler, Megan Hasenauer, Grant Hasenauer, and Ryder Farrar.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 16, 2025, at White Funeral and Cremation Service – Lou White Memorial Chapel, located at 3660 Express Drive, Shallotte, N.C. A reception will follow the service.

Herta will be remembered for her warmth, resilience, and love for her family and friends. She lived a full life marked by grace, strength, and the simple joys of everyday moments.

You may o er online condolences at www. shallottefunerals.com

White Funeral and Cremation Service, Shallotte

Melvin D. Watkins

Aug. 17, 1950

Hi Baby and Happy Birthday. I miss you so much. I’m very sad you are not here for us to do our special birthday celebration. It was a special time for us that I will never forget. I often feel your presence and a tear comes to my eyes. Especially when your favorite TV shows come on. You know I don’t love the westerns like you, but I nd myself watching them and wishing you were there ipping the remote between the di erent channels.

You left way too soon but I know “God” wouldn’t have called you home if he didn’t love you too. He called you so that you could rest and be at peace. I know you are in a better place and are fully healed.

I miss you, my sweet and loving husband, the next few days will be extremely hard, but I can imagine you celebrating with Jesus. I don’t know what everyone else is wearing but I know that you have on a beautifully tted suit and have completed the out t with a matching hat. In sickness and health, you were always well dressed.

I will always visit your grave and leave owers in your favorite color, so you’ll know I came by. I want you to know you’re still in my heart and my mind. We used to love to see the red birds and wonder who was stopping by. Now every time I see one, I feel your spirit close to me. So, I know it’s you stopping by to see about me. The old saying is “when a cardinal appears, an angel is near” and you are my Angel.

I love you always and forever my sweet husband.

Love, your wife, Deborah

Margaret Smith Byrd

May 21, 1939 –Aug. 7, 2025

Margaret Smith Byrd, 86, of Morganton, NC, passed away Thursday, August 7, 2025 while surrounded by her family. Born in Harnett County, NC on May 21, 1939, she was the daughter of the late Gayland Smith and Mary Buie Smith. Margaret was a member of New London United Methodist Church and was an avid reader and golfer. She enjoyed shopping and was a generous woman, always giving to others. She was a devoted wife and a wonderful mother, grandmother, and greatgrandmother. Those left to cherish her memory include her daughter, Monica Byrd Rogers (Dwight) of Morganton; son, Harvey Dwight Byrd, Jr. (Michelle) of Anderson, SC; grandchildren, William Garrett Gillison (Becca) of Hillsborough, NC, Mary Margaret “Maggie” Holder (Heath) of Blowing Rock, NC, Dylan Spenser Byrd (Kelsey) of Parkville, MD, and Devyn Perry Byrd (Kasey) of Charlotte, NC; great-grandson, William Henry Holder of Blowing Rock; brothers and sisters, Virginia Warren (W.O.) of Myrtle Beach, SC, Edward Smith (Becky) of Clayton, NC, Jimmy Smith (Terry) of Emerald Isle, NC, Tommy Smith (Barbara) of Florida, James “Tinky” Smith (Dana) of Raleigh, NC, Harold Smith (Pat) of Wade, NC, Debbie Carroll (Walt) of Yorktown, VA, Vicky Busch (Howard) of Edmond, OK, and Jennifer Godwin of Erwin, NC; and numerous nieces, nephews, and extended family.

In addition to her parents, Margaret was preceded in death by her husband of 65 years, Harvey Dwight Byrd, Sr.; daughters, Margaret Michelle Byrd and Millicent Hope Byrd; and a sister, Doris Strickland.

The family will receive friends from 2 to 3 p.m., Saturday, August 16, 2025 at Dunn Funeral Home in Erwin, NC with the funeral being held at 3 p.m. in the funeral home chapel. Burial will follow at Erwin Memorial Park.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Masonic Home for Children at Oxford (mhcoxford.org).

Sossoman Funeral Home and Crematory Center and Dunn Funeral Home are assisting the family with the arrangements. Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www. sossomanfh.com.

DAVID OWEN MONTAGUE, JR. APRIL 19, 1964 – AUG. 7, 2025

David Owen Montague, Jr., 61, of Holden Beach, NC, passed away on Thursday, August 7, 2025, at Novant Health New Hanover Regional Medical Center with his beloved family by his side. A visitation will be held on Tuesday, August 12, 2025, from 4-8 p.m. at Stanly Funeral and Cremation Care of Locust. A graveside service will take place at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, August 13, 2025, at United Love Baptist Church Cemetery, o ciated by Rev. Earl Bradshaw. The memorial service will follow at 11 a.m. at United Love Baptist Church, with Rev. Marty Barrett, Rev. Marvin Tyson and Rev. Jeaux Simmons o ciating.

David was born on April 19, 1964, in Cabarrus County to the late David Owen Montague and Patricia Davis Montague, who survives him. He is also survived by his devoted wife, Judy Montague of 37 years; his brother, Stephen Montague (Angelica) of Midland; his sister, Marty Barrett (Mike) of Concord; and a loving extended family of nieces and nephews: Emanuel Stephen Montague (Zandra), Rommel Craig Montague (Marissa), Jonathan Tyler Montague, Molly Hope Barrett and Christopher Estridge (Madeleine). He was also a proud great-uncle to Owen Gabriel Montague and Lukas Stephen Montague, and a brotherin-law to Ed Estridge (Karen) of Charlotte. David’s loyal canine companion, Drager, also remained by his side.

David’s career spanned more than three decades in emergency services, where he made a profound impact on the lives of countless individuals. He served in various roles, including EMS as a paramedic, re ghter, re investigator, re code enforcement o cer, law enforcement bomb technician and emergency manager. His dedication to helping others was matched only by his deep love for the beach, and after retiring, he and Judy made Holden Beach their home, where he enjoyed the ocean and pursued his passion for shing. David also found joy in birdwatching and never missed duck hunting season, where he could always be found in the duck blind with a smile.

Known a ectionately as “Big Dave,” David’s gentle giant personality was a perfect t for his life of service. His unwavering loyalty, compassion and colorful sense of humor made him a beloved husband, son, brother, uncle and friend. His all-or-nothing approach to life and his ability to connect with people left a lasting impression on everyone he met. He and Judy were faithful members of Sharon Methodist Church, where he held the position of Lay Leader. Memorial donations in David’s memory can be made to the Rose of Sharon Thrift Store (2060 Holden Beach Road SW, Supply, NC 28462), the United Love Baptist Church Piano Fund (PO Box 124, Midland, NC 28107), or to Gideon’s International Cabarrus South Camp (PO Box 5695, Concord, NC 28027-5695).

The family extends their heartfelt thanks to the sta at Novant Health Regional Medical Center for their exceptional care and support.

Stanly Funeral and Cremation Care of Locust is honored to serve the Montague family.

GLORETTA JEAN “JEANNIE” HARVELL MORGAN MARCH 12, 1946 – AUG. 7, 2025

Gloretta Jean “Jeannie” Harvell Morgan, 79, of Albemarle, passed away Thursday, August 7, 2025, at Atrium Health Stanly Hospital in Albemarle.

Jeannie was born March 12, 1946, in Stanly County, NC, to the late Wesley Shakespeare Harvell and the late Mary Ellen E rd Harvell.

She was also preceded in death by daughters, Latissua Hartsell and Angela Morgan; granddaughters, Amber-Lyn Morgan and Elizabeth Albertson; sister, Barbara Moody; and son-in-law, Billy Hartsell.

The family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m., Monday, August 11, 2025, at Hartsell Funeral Home of Midland. The funeral service will be held on Tuesday, August 12, 2025, at 2 p.m. at Hartsell Funeral Home’s Jack Hartsell Memorial Chapel in Midland, o ciated by Pastor Scott Vanderburg. Burial will immediately follow at the Oakboro Cemetery at 1397 North Main Street, Oakboro.

Survivors include husband of 52 years, Arnold Morgan of the home; son, Chad Morgan (Christy) of Millingport, NC; step-daughter, Tammy Wright (Danny) of Kannapolis, NC; grandchildren, Ti any, Erin, Nicole (Niki), Keely, Holly, Misty, Rocky, Zack, Cody, Hunter and Lilly; numerous greatgrandchildren and growing; and sister, Sherline Honeycutt.

Jeannie always appreciated a long car ride - listening to music or just talking. She loved her grandchildren and greatgrandchildren, and they were allowed to do anything they wanted to. Jeannie enjoyed camping and family get-togethers, and she loved to laugh.

Hartsell Funeral Home of Midland is serving the Morgan family.

Celebrate the life of your loved ones. Submit obituaries and death notices to be published in Stanly News Journal at

STANLY SPORTS

Comets volleyball prepares for 2025 season

North Stanly reached the regional nals last season, coming one win short of a shot at a state title

By Charles Curcio Stanly News Journal

NEW LONDON — The North Stanly Comets had one of the school’s most successful volleyball seasons in 2024. North was undefeated in con-

ference play and nished 25-7 overall, reaching the regionalnals of the NCHSAA 2A state tournament, the furthest any Stanly team has ever made it in the postseason since Albemarle lost in the 1A regional nals in 2009 to Rosman. The Comets’ 25 wins were the second-most wins in the program’s history, (North was 27-2 two seasons ago), including a 20-game win streak stopped by McMichael in the playo s. North

2

Consecutive conference titles North Stanly has won heading into 2025

had a win-loss set di erential last season of 77-26. North graduated four seniors

from last year’s team, including two All-State selections in Shalyn Bell, a two-time All-State selection, and Kylie Speight. Bell had 600 career kills, one of only seven players all time in the state to reach that many, while Speight led the state last year in assists.

Returning starters for the Comets this season include sophomores Landon Kimrey, Emmy Talbert, Reese Coble and Stella Marks.

“They all have improved in the

o season, and we are working now to prepare to try and win our conference for the third straight season,” head coach Daniel Galloway said.

Referring to last year’s success, Galloway said it has caused “increased excitement around the team. We had more girls try out for the team than ever in the past.”

He added, “Our returning players are motivated to work harder to try to replicate our success.”

Driver dies after medical emergency at Bowman Gray Stadium

Robbie Brewer crashed after a mid-race crisis

The Associated Press

WINSTON-SALEM — A veteran stock-car driver at a Bowman Gray Stadium died over the weekend after su ering a medical emergency while competing in a race, o cials said. Robbie Brewer’s car struck head-on a wall on the quarter-mile track in Winston-Salem and came to a stop near the start- nish line.

Track workers peeled away the roof to remove the 53-year - old Brewer, and an ambulance took him to Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist hospital, after which he died, the Winston-Salem Journal reported.

“We are saddened by the passing of Robbie Brewer after he was transported to an area medical facility following an on-track medical incident,” track o cials said Sunday in a statement. “Robbie was a talented and passionate racer, and highly respected competitor among his peers. Our thoughts and prayers are with Robbie’s family and friends at this time.”

Details of the medical emergency weren’t released.

Brewer was competing in a 20-lap Sportsman Division race at Bowman Gray, where thousands of racing fans turn out weekly on Saturday nights in the spring and summer for races across four divisions. Bowman Gray also was the locale for this year’s preseason NASCAR Cup Series exhibi-

tion event in early February. Brewer’s rst career start at the oval came in 1990, and he made nearly 260 starts in the Sportsman Division, winning the points championship in 2011, the newspaper reported. Fellow Bowman Gray driver Brad Lewis, whose race shop is near where Brewer

lived, said Brewer “was like a big brother to me even though we were not that far apart in age.”

“He was a wheelman through and through,” Lewis said. “I’m not only going to honor him the rest of the season but for as long as we race out there. He’ll be missed.”

WARD-BROWN / STANLY

North Stanly celebrates one of its 25 wins last season. The Comets cames within one win of a state championship in 2024.

Bowman Gray race fans stand in silence as track workers and emergency personnel work to remove Robbie Brewer from his car. Brewer died Saturday following a wreck triggered by a medical emergency.

Lewis

Rookie van Gisbergen nabs 4th victory of Cup season

The win at Watkins Glen set a rookie record

The Associated Press

WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. — Shane van Gisbergen’s latest victory in NASCAR’s premier series was as historical as it was emotional.

With his father, Robert, on hand for the rst time this year, the Auckland, New Zealand, native set a Cup Series rookie record with his fourth victory, blowing out the competition again at Watkins Glen International.

“It’s just amazing to have him here,” said van Gisbergen, who last saw his father while visiting home over the Christmas break. “It’s been a very tough, tough year for dad, and he hasn’t been able to travel, so to have him here for the next three weeks and share this with him, it’s amazing.”

As amazing as van Gisbergen’s rookie season in the Cup series.

The Trackhouse Racing driver joined 2020 champion Chase Elliott and NASCAR Hall of Famer Je Gordon as the only drivers to win four consecutive Cup races on road or street courses.

Unlike his prior wins at Mexico City, Chicago and Sonoma, van Gisbergen was unable to start from the pole position after being edged by Ryan Blaney. After qualifying second, van

Gisbergen bided his time and took his rst lead on the 25th of the 90-lap race. He then settled into a typically awless and smooth rhythm on the 2.45 -mile road course.

“I’m just a very lucky guy to get to drive for an amazing bunch of people and just execute,” van Gisbergen said. “The day went awlessly.”

The 36-year-old rookie made his nal pit stop with 27 laps remaining and cycled into rst place on Lap 74 of a clean race with only three yellow ags. Cruising to a big lead

“I’m

just a very lucky guy to get to drive for an amazing bunch of people and just execute. The day went awlessly.”

Shane van Gisbergen

while leading the nal 17 laps, van Gisbergen beat Christopher Bell by 11.116 seconds.

“I’m thrilled because we’ve been struggling a little bit,” Bell

said. “Just trying to execute the races has been tough for us, so really awesome to have a good day. Frustrated to get our butts kicked by (van Gisbergen). He’s doing such a really good job.”

With ve victories in only 38 career starts in NASCAR’s top series, van Gisbergen trails only Elliott (seven wins) and Kyle Larson (six) among active drivers on street or road courses. He also is the fastest to ve wins in Cup since the legendary Dan Gurney, who won his fth race in his 13th start in January 1968.

The win validated the decision by Trackhouse to sign van Gisbergen to a multiyear contract extension last week. Tied with Denny Hamlin for the series lead in victories, van Gisbergen holds the No. 2 seed in the playo s with two races remaining in the regular season.

The rst round will be held at three oval tracks, where the inexperienced van Gisbergen, who raced exclusively on road and street courses while winning three championships in the Australia-based Supercars, has an average nish of 26.9 this year.

“It ain’t going to be easy, that’s for sure,” van Gisbergen said of his playo outlook. “The rst round, it’s some very dicult left-handed tracks for me, but I’m getting better at it, and I’m enjoying myself, and it’s a challenge. That’s why we’re here, and we’ll have a proper crack at it.”

Playo watch

Third-place nisher Chris Buescher improved to 34 points ahead of Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing teammate Ryan Preece in the battle for the nal playo spot.

Buescher outdueled van Gisbergen on the nal lap to win at Watkins Glen last year. His team tailored its strategy Sunday toward amassing stage points instead of following the win-oriented strategy used by van Gisbergen.

Pawol breaks MLB’s gender barrier as rst female umpire

She worked the Marlins-Braves weekend series

By Charles Odum The Associated Press

ATLANTA — Jen Pawol felt love and support from fans, family, peers and players as she made history as the rst female umpire to work a regular-season game in the major leagues.

“It was amazing when we took the eld,” Pawol said. “It seemed like quite a few people were clapping and calling my name. That was pretty intense and emotional.”

Pawol’s much-anticipated debut came as the rst base umpire for Saturday’s rst game of a doubleheader between the Atlanta Braves and Miami Marlins. It was a smooth debut.

“She did a good job,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said. “You can tell she knows what she does.”

Pawol said she had a group of about 30 friends and family members, including her father, at the game, and she im-

mediately identi ed a major di erence of working in a major league stadium.

“When I looked up they weren’t in the lower tier like in the minor leagues,” Pawol said. “When I looked up it took me a while. Whoa, they’re up there! I’ll never forget that. That was just awesome.

“The dream actually came true today. I’m still living in it. I’m so grateful to my family and Major League Baseball for creating such an incredible

Umpire Jen Pawol, left, signals Miami Marlins’ Javier Sanoja out at rst base in the eighth inning of her rst MLB game.

work environment. … I’m just so thankful.”

Pawol’s rst real test came in the third inning of Atlanta’s 7-1 win when she called Braves catcher Sean Murphy safe on a close play. Marlins manager Clayton McCullough did not challenge the call.

Pawol also showed she will make animated calls. When Miami’s Xavier Edwards grounded into a double play in the third inning, Pawol pumped her st and lifted her leg

when she called Edwards out.

Pawol couldn’t help but notice her debut was being watched closely. Fans responded with a warm ovation when the video board focused on the umpire between innings, forcing her to take a quick glance at her image.

Pawol worked third base in the second game of the doubleheader and was behind the plate in Sunday’s game. As a rover, she’ll then be waiting for her next assignment.

While she waits, the umpire cap she wore in her rst game will be on the way to the Baseball Hall of Fame.

“This is one of the proudest moments in all my career,” crew chief Chris Guccione said. “I’ve been blessed with working playo s, I’ve worked two World Series, All-Star games, and this is right up there. It gives me chills even thinking about it. And the magnitude, it just hit me just now the magnitude of this thing and how hard she’s worked.

“This is just a great role model for girls and women out there, and I’m just so proud of her. This is a special moment. I’m so proud of her.” Pawol said she was “overcome

with emotion” when noti ed she would make her MLB debut. Pawol, 48, has been working in the minor leagues since she was assigned to the Gulf Coast League in 2016. She worked the Triple-A championship game in 2023 and spring training games in 2024 and this year.

“Any time anybody grinds their way through the minor leagues, I don’t care who it is, that’s a tough thing,” Snitker said. “I’m happy for anybody who grinds it out.” Pawol had only a few days to prepare. She said she was told of her promotion during a Wednesday conference call with director of umpire development Rich Rieker and vice president of umpire operations Matt McKendry. Pawol was a three-time all-conference softball selection pick at Hofstra. She worked as an NCAA softball umpire from 2010-16. Pawol’s rise to make MLB history came 28 years after the NBA gender barrier for game ofcials was broken and 10 years after the NFL hired its rst full-time female o cial. The men’s soccer World Cup rst hired a female referee three years ago. The NHL has not had any women as on-ice o cials.

SETH WENIG / AP PHOTO

Shane van Gisbergen celebrates with his team in Victory Lane after winning Sunday’s Cup Series race at Watkins Glen.

COLIN HUBBARD / AP PHOTO

17 Pfei er softball players named scholar-athlete All-Americans

The Falcons had the highest team GPA in the USA South

By Jesse Deal Stanly News Journal

MISENHEIMER — Pfei er University had a strong showing on a recent softball scholar-athlete list.

The Falcons are responsible for 17 players on the 2024 -25 Easton/National Fastpitch Coaches Association NCAA Division III All-America Scholar-Athlete list that was released last week.

“The rankings and honors recognize the academic prowess of softball teams across the Association’s membership categories.”

USA South Athletic Conference

win with a 3.58 GPA and Meredith with a 3.39 GPA, all earning recognition as team honorees for maintaining GPAs above 3.000.

The USA South Athletic Conference announced Aug. 6 that it is represented on the list by 76 student-athletes from ve of the conference’s 10 teams: Pfei er, Mary Baldwin, Meredith, Methodist and Southern Virginia.

The Falcons included are Cassidy Brinkley, Alyssa Broaddus, Emma Bullin, Reese Caranna, Emma Chopko, Jaci Cook, Charly Cooper, Micah

Felts, Gracie Gri n, Hailey Gri n, Anna Jordan, Camryn Kaminski, Peyton Lane, Kenzi Lyall, Skylar Price, Landry Stewart and Maddy Varner. Team GPAs and scholar-athletes are submitted by member head coaches.

Pfei er led the USA South with the highest team GPA of 3.629, followed by Mary Bald-

“The rankings and honors recognize the academic prowess of softball teams across the Association’s membership categories,” the conference said in a statement. “NCAA Division III led the way with 2,565 student-athletes earning a 3.5 grade-point average or higher for 2024-25.”

NCAA Division I followed with 2,544 and NCAA Division II with 2,179, while junior colleges and NAIA came in with 895 and 1,010 student-athletes, respectively.

Pfei er enjoyed a dominant 2025 campaign, nishing 37-9 overall and undefeated in USA South play at 18-0. The Falcons secured their third consecutive USA South Tournament crown, powered by Bullin’s dominant pitching, which featured back-to-back shutouts in the championship series against N.C. Wesleyan. Their season concluded at the NCAA Division III Regional in Salisbury, where Mount Union halted their 23-game win streak and the Falcons later came up short in the championship matchup against the regional host.

Pfei er coach Monte Sherrill earned his fourth consecutive USA South Coach of the Year honor, while several Falcons collected major accolades for the 2025 season. Bullin was named USA South Pitcher of the Year, and Stewart, a sophomore out elder, claimed the conference’s Overall Player of the Year award.

Albemarle Parks and Recreation announces adult softball league

New eld lights are set to debut as teams gear up for the fall season

By Jesse Deal Stanly News Journal

ALBEMARLE — Albemarle

Parks and Recreation is inviting adults ages 18 and older to sign up for its upcoming adult softball league played at Rock Creek Park.

The department announced last week that the league is set to return for another fall season beginning on Sept. 15.

With both men's and coed divisions, each division will play a

10-game regular season, followed by a double-elimination tournament to crown the league champion. Men’s games will take place on Monday and Thursday nights, while coed teams will play on Tuesday and Thursday nights.

Albemarle Parks and Rec will once again follow World Sports League (WSL) softball rules for the upcoming adult league. Founded in 1993, the WSL has expanded across the United States over the years as one of the largest adult softball organizations in the country, establishing standardized rules and consistent league structures.

WSL softball rules are based on standard amateur softball

regulations with adaptations to ensure fair and competitive adult play. Pitching can be underhand fast pitch or slow pitch depending on the division, featuring requirements for pitch height and speed.

Batters must use approved bats and follow a set batting order. Games typically last seven innings, with extra innings or tiebreakers used to decide ties. Standard elding positions apply, along with rules on stealing bases and bunting that vary by division.

Albemarle Parks and Rec also con rmed that new eld lighting at Rock Creek Park is scheduled to be installed during the rst

COURTESY CITY OF ALBEMARLE

Participants in last season’s Albemarle Parks and Rec adult softball league play at Rock Creek Park.

week of September to enhance evening play.

At a meeting in November, the Albemarle City Council unanimously approved a contract with Musco Sports Lighting to replace eld lights at Don Montgomery Park and Rock Creek Park. The contract allocated 40% of the funding ($287,178) for the Rock Creek Park project.

Musco will install its Light-Structure System featur-

ing Total Light Control, which includes a Control-Link system allowing remote modulation, dimming and performance monitoring.

Anyone interested in participating in the upcoming adult softball league must submit a nonrefundable $100 deposit at the time of registration. The full team registration fee is $375; teams can register online at albemarle.recdesk.com.

COURTESY PFEIFFER ATHLETICS

Alyssa Broaddus was one of the Pfei er softball players named a Division III All-America Scholar-Athlete.

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NOTICES

NOTICE

STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA ROWAN COUNTY N THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE DISTRICT COURT DIVISION 25 CVD 1133 LARRY WAYNE FURR, JR Plainti , Vs. HELEN MICHELLE THOMAS, Defendant, NOTICE OF SERVICE BY PROCESS OF PUBLICATION TO: HELEN MICHELLE THOMAS PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT A COMPLAINT AND SUMMONS HAVE BEEN FILED AGAINST YOU BY PLAINTIFF LARRY FURR FOR ABSOLUTE DIVORCE IN THE ROWAN COUNTY COURTHOUSE. YOU WILL HAVE UNTIL TO OCTOBER 08, 2025 TO ANSWER THIS COMPLAINT AT 210 N. MAIN STREET, SALISBURY, NORTH CAROLINA, 28144. THIS NOTICE IS SENT PURSUANT TO N.C. GEN STAT 1-597.

THIS IS THE 06 DAY OF AUGUST, 2025.

NOTICE

NORTH CAROLINA, STANLY COUNTY. IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION BEFORE THE CLERK 25SP000091-830 IN THE MATTER OF DELSIA MAE ALLEN Incompetent NOTICE OF SALE OF REAL PROPERTY

Pursuant to an order of the Honorable Ginger D.F. E rd, Clerk of Superior Court of Stanly County, North Carolina, entered on the 3rd day of July, 2025 in the special proceeding entitled in the Matter of Delsia Mae Allen, Incompetent, 25SP000091830, the undersigned Guardian of the Estate of Delsia Mae Allen, who by said Order was appointed Commissioner to sell the lands described in the petition will o er for sale to the highest bidder at public auction on the 20th day of August, 2025 at 10:00 AM at the courthouse door in Albemarle, Stanly County, North Carolina that certain parcel or tract of land lying and being in Albemarle, County of Stanly, State of North Carolina and being more particularly described as follows: Being all of Lot No. 3, in Block B, as shown on plat of Loftin Farms, recorded in Plat Book 5, page 199, O ce of the Register of Deeds of Stanly County, North Carolina, reference to which is hereby made for a more complete description hereof by metes and bounds. For reference see deed duly recorded in Deed Book 373, page 589, Stanly County Registry.

This property has a physical address of Hyman Drive, Albemarle, North Carolina 28001 and is vacant.

The sale shall be made subject to all unpaid ad valorem taxes, liens, easements and restrictions of record. The high bidder must deposit with the Clerk of Superior Court ve (5) percent of the high bid or $750.00, whichever amount is greater as by law required. The sale shall remain open for ten (10) days for a raised bid as by law required and the nal bid will be subject to the con rmation of the court. Any further announcements shall be made at the sale.

Lovie B. Reid, Sr., Guardian of the Estate of Delsia Mae Allen 235 Irby Street Salisbury, NC 28746

James A. Phillips, Jr. Attorney for the Estate of Delsia Mae Allen P.O. Box 1162 117 W. North Street Albemarle, NC 28002 704-983-2709

Publish: August 13, 2025 and August 19, 2025. Posted on: July 28, 2025.

NOTICE

NORTH CAROLINA STANLY COUNTY IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION BEFORE THE CLERK FILE NO. 25E000430-830

Having quali ed as Administratrix of the estate of Mark Lewis McGee, deceased, of Stanly County, North Carolina. This is to notify all persons having claims against the Estate of said Mark Lewis McGee to present them to the undersigned on or before Oct 31, 2025, or the same will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate please make immediate payment. This 30th day of July, 2025. Julie M. Crayton 707 North College Street Oakboro, NC 28129 Administratrix

NOTICE

NORTH CAROLINA STANLY COUNTY IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION BEFORE THE CLERK FILE NO. 22E000715-830 Having quali ed as Executor of the estate of Raymond Oliver Hall, deceased, of Stanly County, North Carolina, This is to notify all persons having claims against the Estate of said Raymond Oliver Hall to present them to the undersigned on or before Oct 23, 2025, or the same will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate please make immediate payment. This 23rd day of July, 2025 Rhonda H. Hill 11703 Edsel Drive Stan eld, NC 28163

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

was noti ed on Friday, August 8, 2025 of the incident and is reviewing the matter. No sh or environmental damage was reported as a result of the spill. Stanly County Utilities o ce (704) 9863686. The notice has been issued in compliance with North Carolina General

Vanessa Kirby, Maroon 5, Madden NFL 26, Alicia Silverstone and ‘The Chicken Sisters’

A new box set honors Cli ord Antone, owner of the storied Austin, Texas venue Antone’s

The Associated Press

VANESSA KIRBY starring in a gritty lm about the aspirations of home ownership, “Night Always Comes,” and Maroon 5 releasing their eighth studio album with songs featuring Lil Wayne and Blackpink’s LISA are some of the new television, lms, music and games headed to a device near you.

Also, among the streaming o erings worth your time: Alicia Silverstone leading a new TV crime drama called “Irish Blood,” the multigenerational, wholesome drama “The Chicken Sisters” rolls out its second season on Hallmark and EA Sports jumps aboard the articial intelligence bandwagon with Madden NFL 26.

MOVIES TO STREAM

Isaiah Saxon’s “The Legend of Ochi” (streaming Friday on HBO Max) is a handcrafted fantasy throwback seeking to conjure the kind of magic once found in movies like “The Never Ending Story.” The A24 lm stars Helena Zengel as Yuri, a girl who runs away from the forest home she shared with her father (Willem Dafoe) and brother (Finn Wolfhard). She leaves with a baby Ochi; a crea-

“(The Legend of Ochi) has the feeling of a lm you might have stumbled on and loved as a kid.”

Lindsey

Bahr, AP lm writer

ture hunted by her father. In her review, AP Film Writer Lindsey Bahr wrote that “(The Legend of Ochi) has the feeling of a lm you might have stumbled on and loved as a kid.”

Kirby may be one of the standout performers of the summer blockbuster “The Fantastic Four: First Steps,” but she also stars in a gritty new lm about the aspirations of home ownership. In “Night Always Comes” (Thursday on Net ix), Kirby

plays a woman going to extreme lengths to secure a home for her family. The movie, directed by Benjamin Caron and adapted from Willy Vlautin’s best-selling novel, takes place over a single night.

TO STREAM

MUSIC

Maroon 5 will release their eighth studio album, “Love is Like,” on Friday via Interscope Records. Expect smooth, funky pop music — like the sultry “All Night.” Singer Adam Levine and Co. continue their trend of unexpected and delightful collaborations as well, with songs featuring Lil Wayne, Sexyy Red and Blackpink’s LISA. You read that correctly.

Antone opened Antone’s, one of the most storied music venues in Austin, Texas, with an

inaugural performance by the King of Zydeco, Clifton Chenier in 1975. In the decades since, Antone’s has become the stu of mythology; a performance space that embraces its history and looks towards its future. On Friday, a new box set from New West Records seeks to celebrate Antone’s legacy with “Antone’s: 50 Years of the Blues.”

SERIES TO STREAM

The multigenerational, wholesome drama “The Chicken Sisters” rolls out its second season on Hallmark. The series stars Schuyler Fisk, Lea Thompson, Wendie Malick and Genevieve Angelson as family members in a small town divided over their rival fried chicken businesses. It’s based on a novel of the same name. The series is streaming on Hallmark+. Silverstone leads the new crime drama called “Irish Blood.” She plays Fiona, a woman who has been led to believe her father abandoned her as a child — and has carried around some heavy emotional baggage ever since. When she learns the truth is more complicated — not to mention dangerous — she heads to Ireland to investigate. The premiere of the six-part show is streaming on Acorn TV.

A new one for the kiddos is the Disney Jr. series “Iron Man and his Awesome Friends,” on Disney+. The rst 10 episodes are now available. The show follows besties and fellow genius-

es, Tony Stark, Riri Williams and Amadeus Cho, who team up to solve problems. Chris Hemsworth continues his quest to live a healthier, more present and longer life in a second season of “Limitless,” now called “Limitless: Live Better Now.” The three-part docuseries sees Hemsworth learn more about brain power (with help from his friend and recording artist Ed Sheeran), risk and pain. The three episodes stream on Hulu and Disney+ beginning Friday.

VIDEO GAMES TO PLAY

EA Sports is jumping aboard the arti cial intelligence bandwagon with Madden NFL 26, promising “a new AI-powered machine learning system trained by real play calls and game situations over nearly a decade.” The most intriguing additions are QB DNA and Coach DNA — so, for example, if you’re playing the Kansas City Chiefs, you’ll see the kind of moves you’d expect from Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid. As always, the goal is to get ever closer to real-life football, with more dynamic weather e ects, more details from pro stadiums and the return (at last!) of team mascots. The cover model this season is Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley, who’ll be ready to start leaping over defenders Thursday on PlayStation 5, Xbox X/S, Switch 2 and PC.

ADOPTABLE FRIENDS

A24 VIA AP Helena Zengel plays Yuri in the new fantasy lm “The Legend of Ochi.”

SZYMON LAZEWSKI / ACORNTV VIA AP

Alicia Silverstone stars in the series “Irish Blood” on AcornTV.

Solution to last week’s puzzle

Solution to this week’s puzzles

WHAT’S HAPPENING

Canada’s Gildan Activewear buying HanesBrands for $2.2B

Gildan Activewear is buying HanesBrands for $2.2 billion, giving the basic apparel maker access to brands including Hanes and Maidenform.

The companies put the transaction’s valued at about $4.4 billion when including debt. The combined company will maintain a strong presence in Winston-Salem

U.S. in ation held steady as mild tari hit o set by cheaper gas, food

U.S. in ation was unchanged in July as rising prices for some imported goods were balanced by falling gas and grocery prices, leaving overall prices modestly higher than a year ago. The gures suggest that slowing rent increases and cheaper gas are o setting some impacts of President Donald Trump’s sweeping tari s. Many businesses are also absorbing much of the cost of the duties. Tuesday’s gures likely include some impact from the tari s imposed in April.

U.S., China extend trade truce for 90 days

Driver dies after medical emergency during race at Bowman Gray Stadium

Robbie Brewer crashed after a midrace crisis

The Associated Press

WINSTON-SALEM — A

veteran stock-car driver at a Bowman Gray Stadium died over the weekend after su ering a medical emergency while competing in a race, o cials said.

Robbie Brewer’s car struck head-on a wall on the quarter-mile track in Winston-Salem and came to a stop near the start- nish line.

Track workers peeled away the roof to remove the 53-year- old Brewer, and an

ambulance took him to Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist hospital, after which he died, the Winston-Salem Journal reported.

“We are saddened by the passing of Robbie Brewer after he was transported to an area medical facility following an on-track medical incident,” track o cials said Sunday in a statement. “Robbie was a talented and passionate racer, and highly respected competitor among his peers. Our thoughts and prayers are with Robbie’s family and friends at this time.”

Details of the medical emergency weren’t released.

Brewer was competing in

Iconic NC tourist attraction damaged by Helene to be demolished

Lake

By Makiya Seminera and Allen G. Breed The Associated Press

“I’m not only going to honor him the rest of the season but for as long as we race out there. He’ll be missed.”

Brad Lewis

a 20-lap Sportsman Division race at Bowman Gray, where thousands of racing fans turn out weekly on Saturday nights in the spring and summer for races across four divisions.

Bowman Gray also was the locale for this year’s preseason

NASCAR Cup Series exhibition event in early February. Brewer’s rst career start at the oval came in 1990, and he made nearly 260 starts in the Sportsman Division, winning the points championship in 2011, the newspaper reported.

Fellow Bowman Gray driver Brad Lewis, whose race shop is near where Brewer lived, said Brewer “was like a big brother to me even though we were not that far apart in age.”

“He was a wheelman through and through,” Lewis said. “I’m not only going to honor him the rest of the season but for as long as we race out there. He’ll be missed.”

President Donald Trump extended a trade truce with China for another 90 days Monday, at least delaying once again a dangerous showdown between the world’s two biggest economies. The previous deadline was set to expire at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday. $2.00

NEARLY A YEAR after Hurricane Helene’s devastating pathway through western North Carolina, a vibrant tourist attraction o ering visitors a serene escape in the Blue Ridge Mountains is being torn down. Like many other beloved sites in the region, the Lake Lure Flowering Bridge in Rutherford County crumpled from the relentless oods and winds from remnants of Helene last September. Now, the town of Lake Lure said last Thursday it will start its demolition of the historic structure later this month. While the three-arched

bridge dates back to 1925, it didn’t become the Lake Lure Flowering Bridge until almost a century later. Once the bridge was decommissioned, a group of local volunteers, Friends of the Lake Lure Flowering Bridge, worked to enhance it by adding its iconic gardens in 2013, according to the group’s website. The bridge attracted more than 150,000 visitors annually, said Linda Reandeau, a master gardener and the group’s marketing chair.

But then Helene brought destruction to western North Carolina last year, with the Lake Lure area — which served as a backdrop for a few scenes in “Dirty Dancing” — sustaining some of the worst damage. The town of Lake Lure and Chimney Rock Village, as well as the lake itself, were covered in a layer of dis gured debris. The area still hasn’t recovered,

but tourist attractions such as Chimney Rock State Park have reopened. In the Flowering Bridge’s case, one end of the structure collapsed. Several other points also buckled from the damage, and its lush greenery was swept away in the storm. Over the past 11 months, the bridge has only continued to deteriorate, Reandeau said.

“It would have been 100 years old this year,” she said. “To see it

destroyed as it was in the storm was very emotional and heartbreaking for me, along with all the other volunteers and so many people who have visited.”

The decision to demolish the bridge came after two engineering rms concluded it couldn’t be restored, according to the town’s website. Demolition is expected to start Aug. 18.

See BRIDGE, page A2

WALT UNKS / THE WINSTON-SALEM JOURNAL VIA AP

Bowman Gray race fans stand in silence as track workers and emergency personnel work to remove Robbie Brewer from his car Saturday. Brewer died, 53, died at the hospital.

The

Lure Flowering Bridge is beyond repair after the hurricane

ALLEN G. BREED / AP PHOTO

A tattered ag stands in the oodplain near the heavily damaged Flowering Bridge in Lake Lure in May.

“Join the conversation”

North State Journal

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BRIDGE from page A1

While the bridge will no longer remain, Reandeau said the landmark’s volunteer group is in the planning process for how to move forward. The nonprofit is waiting for occupancy certi cation to reopen its relatively unscathed education center, where it can hold gardening and art classes — and hopefully install new gardens nearby, Reandeau said.

“We haven’t gone away, we’re still here, and we really look forward to the day we can welcome back visitors to the gardens,” she said. “We fully intend to make another magical space. It’s just not going to happen immediately.”

Nilsson ends US Senate bid after Trump backs RNC’s Whatley

The eld is clearing for a matchup of Whatley and former Gov. Roy Cooper

By Gary D. Robertson The Associated Press

RALEIGH — A Republican candidate for U.S. Senate in North Carolina next year said last Friday that he’s ending his bid now that Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley has entered the race with President Donald Trump’s support.

Several months ago, Andy Nilsson revealed his candidacy for the Senate seat currently held by GOP incumbent Thom Tillis. Tillis announced in late June, after clashing with Trump, that he wouldn’t seek a third term.

Trump’s endorsement of Whatley “played a central role in my decision. I respect the President’s desire to go in a di erent direction, even if I have questions about his choice.”

Andy

Nilsson

dorsement of Whatley “played a central role in my decision. I respect the President’s desire to go in a di erent direction, even if I have questions about his choice.”

Whatley’s campaign launch July 31 appeared to set the stage for a possible general election showdown between him and former Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper, who announced his candidacy three days earlier.

Share with your community! Send us your births, deaths, marriages, graduations and other announcements: forsythcommunity@ northstatejournal.com

Weekly deadline is Monday at Noon

Last week, Whatley, a North Carolina native and resident, entered the race for the GOP nomination, already holding what Trump wrote on social media as his “Complete and Total Endorsement.”

The seat in the highly competitive state could decide whether Democrats regain a majority in the chamber. Democrats need a net gain of four seats in the November 2026 elections.

Nilsson, a former furniture company owner who once ran unsuccessfully for lieutenant governor, said in a news release that he had decided to suspend his campaign.

Nilsson said Trump’s en-

Similar to Nilsson’s departure, Cooper’s candidacy prompted ex-U.S. Rep. Wiley Nickel to suspend his monthslong campaign for the Democratic nomination. Wiley endorsed Cooper.

Nilsson, who helps coach

football and teaches at a Winston-Salem high school, did not mention any endorsement from him in his statement but said he would “work hard to keep this Senate seat in the hands of a conservative.” Nilsson highlighted his effort to unseat Tillis, whom he said “had lost touch with his base,” and that “mine was the rst campaign to call him out.” Nilsson’s political career has also included working as a campaign sta er for gubernatorial candidate Richard Vinroot and then-congressional candidate Richard Burr. Winnowing the eld won’t necessarily prevent Cooper or Whatley from avoiding March primary elections for their respective nominations. Republican Don Brown, a writer and former Navy o cer, remains a candidate for the GOP nomination. O cial candidate ling occurs in December.

Keeping work from spoiling vacation takes planning, correct phone settings

Navigating the line between work time and personal time is tricky

By Cathy Bussewitz The Associated Press

NEW YORK — For their 15th wedding anniversary, Katie Walley-Wiegert and her husband decided to take a beach vacation with their young son. But the trip didn’t go as planned. Walley-Wiegert wound up needing to pack her computer because of a work assignment she couldn’t ignore.

The 38-year-old marketing professional had just landed a podcast interview for an executive she worked with, and he had a short window to prepare. As she labored away through most of the vacation, she regretted not being present for her toddler’s introduction to the ocean.

“I know my husband and my son are having this once-in-a-lifetime rst experience, and I am missing it,” Walley-Wiegert said. “And it’s heartbreaking in some regards because that rst will never come again.”

Navigating the line between work time and personal time is tricky for a lot of people. With laptop computers and smartphones making it possible to log in anytime to do work from anywhere, many nd it hard to disconnect even when they take vacations.

“It doesn’t take much to just quickly answer an email on your phone or just quickly open up the laptop whilst you’re lying next to the pool,” said Marais Bester, an occupational psychologist in the Netherlands, and senior consultant at SHL, a talent acquisition and management platform. “You get your company-issued phone, you get your company-issued laptop, and there is an expectation to some extent to respond as quickly as possible.”

The compulsion to keep working while on vacation can be so strong that some people carve out time by feigning illness as an excuse to skip group outings, said Amy Biedenstein, senior vice president at human resources software and services company Dayforce.

“You get your companyissued phone, you get your company-issued laptop, and there is an expectation to some extent to respond as quickly as possible.”

Marais Bester, occupational psychologist

“There’s starting to be some pressure from families, too, to say, ‘Hey, we need you to be focused and with us when we’re on vacation,’ so I think people are feeling increasingly like they have to hide it,” Biedenstein said.

With the Northern Hemisphere’s summer vacation season in full swing, experts offer practical advice for setting boundaries with work during your time o .

Getting ready for a vacation

Once you have your vacation dates set, let teammates know when you plan to be o . Make sure your time o is booked on your o ce’s electronic calendar, which can reduce the number of work requests you receive while you’re out, Biedenstein said. For many people, getting ready for vacation means working late the night before to nish time-sensitive tasks that can’t wait until they’re back. Try starting earlier. Assessing what needs to get done a week in advance may help reduce last-minute cramming. You can also block o the afternoon before you leave to tie up loose ends and your rst day back in the o ce to catch up, said time management and productivity coach Alexis Haselberger. Set the automatic replies on your email, Slack and other apps to say you’re not checking messages and will respond the week of your return instead of your rst day back, Haselberger advised.

If it’s not possible to be completely out of touch, schedule times to check in on work

and let coworkers know what those times will be. You also can share your preferred way to be contacted in the event of an emergency. When Biedenstein’s children were little, she sometimes used evenings to work when she had to during family vacations. The time on task made her mind churn to the point she had trouble sleeping. Biedenstein shifted to waking up early and getting in an hour of work before breakfast.

“Once the family was up and moving, that was my cue that work is over and now it’s family time,” she said.

Leaving work starts with your phone

Amanda Olsen, a reporter for the Times Review Newsgroup on Eastern Long Island, doesn’t mind answering occasional questions from work when she is taking a staycation to get things done around the house.

When she and her family take backpacking and multiday canoeing trips in the Adirondacks, Olsen, 47, turns o her cellphone’s alerts and noti cations. To further make the most of the time outdoors, Olsen sometimes camps in locations with no phone reception.

“Part of that is to disconnect more thoroughly from the world and work,” she said.

Some people recommend leaving work phones behind entirely during vacations. Others temporarily delete work apps such as Slack or email from their phones, although they may need help from tech support to reinstall the apps when they return.

If being unreachable is not an option, set a time to check work emails and noti cations once in the morning, and then leave the phone behind for the rest of the day.

“It’s really easy to take that work phone and set it down somewhere and walk away from it,” Biedenstein said.

Time o starts at the top

Pressure to perform turns work into an obsession for some people, especially if they’re concerned about getting a promotion, Bester said. One coping

strategy is a “quiet vacation” — traveling to a vacation destination discreetly but checking email regularly and doing some amount of work.

“You know you need to take a vacation, you know your body desperately needs the rest, but you still might keep up appearances ... or there’s a culture which expects you to always be on,” Bester said.

One way to improve the chances of vacationing without interruptions is to put a structured plan in place to hand o projects to colleagues, he said. Leaders can encourage those steps.

A manager or executive who immediately answers calls and emails, or checks in with employees instead of unplugging while on vacation, sends the message that the people working under them should do the same.

“When leadership models good behavior, when leadership can take a break and disconnect, then we see employees follow suit,” Biedenstein said.

Employers also can show a workplace that recognizes the importance of time o , as well as a commitment to workers who struggle to pay for vacations, by o ering corporate discount programs for airlines or cruises, Biedenstein said.

The bene ts of a pause

Taking a clear break to recharge, refocus and take your mind o the daily stresses of the workplace is extremely healthy, Bester said.

“Just to zone out, go into your sort-of nothing box or do something that’s pleasurable, you know, spending time with loved ones,” he said. “All of those things have major bene ts from a psychological well-being perspective.”

After work intruded on her wedding anniversary trip, Walley-Wiegert plans to go back to the same beach with her family. This time, as someone who now works as a freelancer, she’s setting her own rules. She let her current and potential clients know that she’d be o ine for a few days.

“This is my take two,” she said.

THE CONVERSATION

Neal Robbins, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor

VISUAL VOICES

Ensuring US dominance of 21st-century telecommunications

Within a decade or so, cable will be as outdated as Blockbuster.

PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP’S announcement and executive order to ensure that the U.S. dominates the arti cial intelligence revolution was a welcome America First policy directive. That mostly means keeping the government out of the way.

But an equally vital industry for our economic and national security interests is telecommunications — which is also going through warp-speed technology changes.

Here too, the government needs to keep its hands o . No subsidies. No lawsuits.

Minimal regulations.

This is why the latest $34.5 billion blockbuster merger between telecom titans Charter Communications and Cox Communications should get the green light from federal regulators.

Some antitrust lawyers at the FCC and the Justice Department worry this marriage would give Charter-Cox too much market share, allowing them to raise prices on consumers.

But companies like Cox that provide internet and TV services over cable transmissions are soon to be outdated by the next generation of ber, satellite, xed wireless and mobile broadband services.

Customers are already “cutting the cable cord” in favor of more e cient and less expensive streaming video services and other digital alternatives.

The synergies and economies-of-scale advantages driving the Charter-Cox merger, which will lead to a company with more than 37 million cable and internet subscribers, make sense.

Is that too much market concentration?

Comcast, the nation’s second-largest cable provider, serves around 12 million cable subscribers. Verizon serves just under 3 million cable subscribers and approximately 146 million mobile subscribers.

AT&T, another big player in this market, has tens of millions of customers of its own. AT&T is moving aggressively into satellite technologies and 5G to deliver calls, data and video. AT&T and Verizon each have a market cap of well over $100 billion. That compares to less than $50 billion for the Charter-Cox union. In other words, competitors aren’t going to be bullied out of the market by Charter- Cox — especially in the lucrative mobile communications arena.

What is ironic is that back in the 1980s, AT&T was forced by the government to break itself up because of alleged market power, and now we could have federal regulators blocking a merger that would bring new competition to AT&T (and other big kids on the block, like Comcast and Verizon).

As for the Charter-Cox potential dominance in cable, sorry, but that’s a declining industry.

Within a decade or so, cable will be as outdated as Blockbuster.

Mergers like this one make U.S. companies more competitive, make money for millions of American shareholders, and make our companies scalable to compete with European, Japanese and Chinese rivals.

Gail Slater, the assistant attorney general for the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division, recently said she intends to focus on mergers that decrease competition.

“If you’re violating the antitrust laws, we’re going to take a hard look,” she said. “If you’re not violating the antitrust laws, we’re going to get the hell out of the way.”

Those are words to live by.

Stephen Moore is co-founder of Unleash Prosperity and a visiting fellow at the Heritage Foundation.

Delivering campaign pledges

Dear Editor,

On Aug. 5, State Auditor Dave Boliek released two audits of the NC DMV, delivering on a key campaign pledge only six months after taking o ce. These reports are about 600 pages in total and represent a big achievement for the State Auditor’s O ce. And while the ndings show the DMV is in worse shape than expected, the reports are a positive rst step in xing the headache that every North Carolinian endures when lining up outside the DMV doors.

Both customer and employee experience at the DMV has gotten worse over the years. Wait times are up 15.5% since 2019, and nearly half of DMV customers are traveling past the o ces closest to them, some traveling hours away for services. Employees interviewed cited burnout, lack of support and inadequate training.

The DMV wasn’t given the attention it deserved these past eight years, but Boliek has made it a front-and-center issue. The biggest recommendation included in the audit is the separation of the DMV and the Department of Transportation. Other key recommended actions straight from Boliek are:

• The DMV should conduct an in-depth sta ng analysis to implement a multiyear, phased sta ng plan that addresses examiner shortages and ensures service equity statewide.

• The DMV should build and maintain a centralized performance dashboard to track and report key service metrics.

• The DMV should partner with an industry expert to develop and implement evidence-based improvements to customer experience and service delivery.

This will be a big haul, but I’m going to do my part in studying the reports and delivering the best outcomes for the people of Robeson County and North Carolina. We’ll need the governor, DOT and DMV to assist as well, but we can all agree that the most customer-facing service in North Carolina must o er fewer headaches and better.

Rep. Jarrod Lowery represents District 47 in the NCGA, which includes Robeson County.

Letters to the editor may be sent to letters@nsjonline.com or mailed to 1201 Edwards Mill Rd., Suite 300, Raleigh, NC 27607. Letters must be signed; include the writer’s phone number, city and state; and be no longer than 300 words. Letters may be edited for style, length or clarity when necessary. Ideas for op-eds should be sent to opinion@nsjonline.com.

Contact a writer or columnist: connect@northstatejournal.com

COLUMN | STEPHEN MOORE

Natasha Torkzaban stands outside Lawrence High School in Kansas, where she and other students have led a lawsuit against the school district’s use of digital surveillance software.

Students have been called to the o ce — and even arrested — for AI surveillance false alarms

Two-thirds of alerts were found to be nonissues

By Sharon Lurye

The Associated Press

LESLEY MATHIS knows what her daughter said was wrong. But she never expected the 13-year-old girl would get arrested for it.

The teenage girl made an offensive joke while chatting online with her classmates, triggering the school’s surveillance software.

Before the morning was even over, the Tennessee eighth grader was under arrest. She was interrogated, strip-searched and spent the night in a jail cell, her mother says.

Earlier in the day, her friends had teased the teen about her tanned complexion and called her “Mexican,” even though she’s not. When a friend asked what she was planning for Thursday, she wrote: “on Thursday we kill all the Mexico’s.”

Mathis said the comments were “wrong” and “stupid,” but context showed they were not a threat.

“It made me feel like, is this the America we live in?” Mathis said of her daughter’s arrest.

“And it was this stupid, stupid technology that is just going through picking up random words and not looking at context.”

Surveillance systems in American schools increasingly monitor everything students write on school accounts and devices. Thousands of school districts across the country use software like Gaggle and Lightspeed Alert to track kids’ online activities, looking for signs they might hurt themselves or others. With the help of arti cial intelligence, technology can dip into online conversations and immediately notify both school ocials and law enforcement.

Educators say the technology has saved lives. But critics warn it can criminalize children for careless words.

“It has routinized law enforcement access and presence in students’ lives, including in their home,” said Elizabeth Laird, a director at the Center for Democracy and Technology.

Schools ratchet up vigilance for threats

In a country weary of school shootings, several states have taken a harder line on threats to schools. Among them is Tennessee, which passed a 2023 zero-tolerance law requiring any threat of mass violence against a school to be reported immediately to law enforcement.

The 13-year-old girl arrested in August 2023 had been texting with friends on a chat function tied to her school email at

Fairview Middle School, which uses Gaggle to monitor students’ accounts. (The Associated Press is withholding the girl’s name to protect her privacy. The school district did not respond to a request for comment.)

Taken to jail, the teen was interrogated and strip-searched, and her parents weren’t allowed to talk to her until the next day, according to a lawsuit they led against the school system. She didn’t know why her parents weren’t there.

“She told me afterwards, ‘I thought you hated me.’ That kind of haunts you,” said Mathis, the girl’s mother.

A court ordered eight weeks of house arrest, a psychological evaluation and 20 days at an alternative school for the girl.

Gaggle CEO Je Patterson said in an interview that the school system did not use Gaggle the way it is intended. The purpose is to nd early warning signs and intervene before problems escalate to law enforcement, he said.

“I wish that was treated as a teachable moment, not a law enforcement moment,” said Patterson.

Private student chats face unexpected scrutiny

Students who think they are chatting privately among friends often do not realize they are under constant surveillance, said Shahar Pasch, an education lawyer in Florida.

One teenage girl she represented made a joke about school shootings on a private Snapchat story. Snapchat’s automated detection software picked up the comment, the company alerted the FBI, and the girl was ar-

rested on school grounds within hours.

Alexa Manganiotis, 16, said she was startled by how quickly monitoring software works. West Palm Beach’s Dreyfoos School of the Arts, which she attends, last year piloted Lightspeed Alert, a surveillance program. Interviewing a teacher for her school newspaper, Alexa discovered two students once typed something threatening about that teacher on a school computer, then deleted it. Lightspeed picked it up, and “they were taken away like ve minutes later,” Alexa said.

Teenagers face steeper consequences than adults for what they write online, Alexa said.

“If an adult makes a super racist joke that’s threatening on their computer, they can delete it, and they wouldn’t be arrested,” she said.

Amy Bennett, chief of sta for Lightspeed Systems, said the software helps understa ed schools “be proactive rather than punitive” by identifying early warning signs of bullying, self-harm, violence or abuse.

The technology can also involve law enforcement in responses to mental health crises.

In Florida’s Polk County Schools, a district of more than 100,000 students, the school safety program received nearly 500 Gaggle alerts over four years, o cers said in public Board of Education meetings. This led to 72 involuntary hospitalization cases under the Baker Act, a state law that allows authorities to require mental health evaluations for people against their will if they pose a risk to themselves or others.

“A really high number of children who experience involun-

“It was this stupid, stupid technology that is just going through picking up random words and not looking at context.”

Lesley Mathis, parent

tary examination remember it as a really traumatic and damaging experience — not something that helps them with their mental health care,” said Sam Boyd, an attorney with the Southern Poverty Law Center. The Polk and West Palm Beach school districts did not provide comments.

Analysis shows high rate of false alarms

Information that could allow schools to assess the software’s e ectiveness, such as the rate of false alerts, is closely held by technology companies and unavailable publicly unless schools track the data themselves.

Gaggle alerted more than 1,200 incidents to the Lawrence, Kansas, school district in a recent 10-month period. But almost two-thirds of those alerts were deemed by school o cials to be nonissues — including over 200 false alarms from student homework, according to an Associated Press analysis of data received via a public records request. Students in one photography class were called to the principal’s o ce over concerns Gaggle had detected nudity. The photos had been automatically deleted from the students’ Google Drives, but students who had

backups of the agged images on their own devices showed it was a false alarm. District ofcials said they later adjusted the software’s settings to reduce false alerts.

Natasha Torkzaban, who graduated in 2024, said she was agged for editing a friend’s college essay because it had the words “mental health.”

“I think ideally we wouldn’t stick a new and shiny solution of AI on a deep-rooted issue of teenage mental health and the suicide rates in America, but that’s where we’re at right now,” Torkzaban said.

She was among a group of student journalists and artists at Lawrence High School who led a lawsuit against the school system last week, alleging Gaggle subjected them to unconstitutional surveillance.

School o cials have said they take concerns about Gaggle seriously, but also say the technology has detected dozens of imminent threats of suicide or violence.

“Sometimes you have to look at the trade for the greater good,” said Board of Education member Anne Costello in a July 2024 board meeting.

Two years after their ordeal, Mathis said her daughter is doing better, although she’s still “terri ed” of running into one of the school o cers who arrested her. One bright spot, she said, was the compassion of the teachers at her daughter’s alternative school. They took time every day to let the kids share their feelings and frustrations, without judgment.

“It’s like we just want kids to be these little soldiers, and they’re not,” said Mathis. “They’re just humans.”

CHARLIE RIEDEL / AP PHOTO

KATIE ADKINS / AP PHOTO

A teenager uses ChatGPT at a co ee shop in Russellville, Arkansas, last month.

Forsyth SPORTS

Pawol breaks MLB’s gender barrier as rst female umpire

She worked the Marlins-Braves weekend series

By Charles Odum

The Associated Press

ATLANTA — Jen Pawol felt love and support from fans, family, peers and players as she made history as the rst female umpire to work a regular-season game in the major leagues.

“It was amazing when we took the eld,” Pawol said. “It seemed like quite a few people were clapping and calling my name. That was pretty intense and emotional.”

Pawol’s much-anticipated debut came as the rst base umpire for Saturday’s rst game of a doubleheader between the Atlanta Braves and Miami Marlins. It was a smooth debut.

“She did a good job,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said. “You can tell she knows what she does.”

Pawol said she had a group of about 30 friends and family members, including her father, at the game, and she immediately identi ed a major di erence of working in a major league stadium.

“When I looked up they weren’t in the lower tier like in the minor leagues,” Pawol said. “When I looked up it took me a while. Whoa, they’re up there! I’ll never forget that. That was just awesome.

“The dream actually came true today. I’m still living in it. I’m so grateful to my family and Major League Baseball for creating such an incredible work environment. … I’m just so thankful.”

Pawol’s rst real test came in the third inning of Atlanta’s 7-1 win when she called Braves catcher Sean Murphy safe on a close play. Marlins manager Clayton McCullough did not challenge the call.

Pawol also showed she will

make animated calls. When Miami’s Xavier Edwards grounded into a double play in the third inning, Pawol pumped her st and lifted her leg when she called Edwards out.

Pawol couldn’t help but notice her debut was being watched closely. Fans responded with a warm ovation when the video board focused on the umpire between innings, forcing her to take a quick glance at her image.

Pawol worked third base in the second game of the doubleheader and was behind the plate in Sunday’s game. As a rover, she’ll then be waiting for her next assignment.

While she waits, the umpire cap she wore in her rst game will be on the way to the Baseball Hall of Fame.

“This is one of the proudest moments in all my career,” crew chief Chris Guccione said. “I’ve been blessed with working playo s, I’ve worked two World Series, All-Star games, and this is right up there. It gives me chills even thinking about it. And the magnitude, it just hit me just now the magnitude of this thing and how hard she’s worked.

“This is just a great role model for girls and women out there, and I’m just so proud of her. This

is a special moment. I’m so proud of her.”

Pawol said she was “overcome with emotion” when noti ed she would make her MLB debut.

Pawol, 48, has been working in the minor leagues since she was assigned to the Gulf Coast League in 2016. She worked the Triple-A championship game in 2023 and spring training games in 2024 and this year.

“Any time anybody grinds their way through the minor leagues, I don’t care who it is, that’s a tough thing,” Snitker said. “I’m happy for anybody who grinds it out.”

Pawol had only a few days to prepare. She said she was told of her promotion during a Wednesday conference call with director of umpire development Rich Rieker and vice president of umpire operations Matt McKendry.

Pawol was a three-time all-conference softball selection pick at Hofstra. She worked as an NCAA softball umpire from 2010-16.

Pawol’s rise to make MLB history came 28 years after the NBA gender barrier for game ofcials was broken and 10 years after the NFL hired its rst full-time female o cial. The men’s soccer World Cup rst hired a female referee three years ago. The NHL has not had any women as on-ice o cials.

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

Ethan Barghout

West Forsyth, boys’ soccer

Ethan Barghout is a senior mid elder on the West Forsyth boys’ soccer team. The Titans went 21-2-2 last year and are expected to be one of the top teams again this season, ranking seventh in the region in the HS OT area code rankings. West lost its top two scorers from last season, who were also the team’s top two in assists. Barghout was third on the Titans in both categories and, as one of the top 10 returning goal scorers in all of Class 8A, he will be the focal point of the team’s o ense.

Rookie van Gisbergen nabs 4th victory of Cup season

The win at Watkins Glen set a rookie record

The Associated Press

WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. — Shane van Gisbergen’s latest victory in NASCAR’s premier series was as historical as it was emotional.

With his father, Robert, on hand for the rst time this year, the Auckland, New Zealand, native set a Cup Series rookie record with his fourth victory, blowing out the competition again at Watkins Glen International.

“It’s just amazing to have him here,” said van Gisbergen, who last saw his father while visiting home over the Christmas break. “It’s been a very tough, tough year for dad, and he hasn’t been able to travel, so to have him here for the next three weeks and share this with him, it’s amazing.”

As amazing as van Gisbergen’s rookie season in the Cup Series.

The Trackhouse Racing driver joined 2020 champion Chase Elliott and NASCAR Hall of Famer Je Gordon as the only drivers to win four consecutive Cup races on road or street courses.

Unlike his prior wins at Mexico City, Chicago and Sonoma, van Gisbergen was unable to start from the pole position after being edged by Ryan Blaney. After qualifying second, van Gisbergen bided his time and took his rst lead on the 25th of the 90-lap race. He then settled into a typically awless and smooth rhythm on the 2.45 -mile road course.

“I’m just a very lucky guy to get to drive for an amazing bunch of people and just execute,” van Gisbergen said. “The day went awlessly.”

The 36-year-old rook-

“I’m just a very lucky guy to get to drive for an amazing bunch of people and just execute. The day went awlessly.”

Shane van Gisbergen

ie made his nal pit stop with 27 laps remaining and cycled into rst place on Lap 74 of a clean race with only three yellow ags. Cruising to a big lead while leading the nal 17 laps, van Gisbergen beat Christopher Bell by 11.116 seconds. “I’m thrilled because we’ve

been struggling a little bit,” Bell said. “Just trying to execute the races has been tough for us, so really awesome to have a good day. Frustrated to get our butts kicked by (van Gisbergen). He’s doing such a really good job.”

With ve victories in only 38 career starts in NASCAR’s top series, van Gisbergen trails only Elliott (seven wins) and Kyle Larson (six) among active drivers on street or road courses. He also is the fastest to ve wins in Cup since the legendary Dan Gurney, who won his fth race in his 13th start in January 1968. The win validated the decision by Trackhouse to sign van Gisbergen to a multiyear con-

tract extension last week. Tied with Denny Hamlin for the series lead in victories, van Gisbergen holds the No. 2 seed in the playo s with two races remaining in the regular season.

The rst round will be held at three oval tracks, where the inexperienced van Gisbergen, who raced exclusively on road and street courses while winning three championships in the Australia-based Supercars, has an average nish of 26.9 this year.

“It ain’t going to be easy, that’s for sure,” van Gisbergen said of his playo outlook. “The rst round, it’s some very dicult left-handed tracks for me, but I’m getting better at it, and

I’m enjoying myself, and it’s a challenge. That’s why we’re here, and we’ll have a proper crack at it.”

Playo watch

Third-place nisher Chris Buescher improved to 34 points ahead of Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing teammate Ryan Preece in the battle for the nal playo spot.

Buescher outdueled van Gisbergen on the nal lap to win at Watkins Glen last year. His team tailored its strategy Sunday toward amassing stage points instead of following the win-oriented strategy used by van Gisbergen.

COURTESY MAXPREPS

COLIN HUBBARD / AP PHOTO

Umpire Jen Pawol, left, signals Miami Marlins’ Javier Sanoja out at rst base in the eighth inning of her rst MLB game.

SETH WENIG / AP PHOTO

Shane van Gisbergen celebrates with his team in Victory Lane after winning Sunday’s Cup Series race at Watkins Glen.

SIDELINE REPORT

MLB Rivera tears Achilles in Yankees

Old-Timers’ Day game, needs surgery

New York

Mariano Rivera tore his Achilles while chasing a y ball at New York Yankees’ Old-Timers’ Day. The 55-year-old closer, baseball’s career leader in saves, will have surgery within a week. The Yankees brought back the Old-Timers’ Day game for the rst time since 2019. Rivera, a Hall of Famer, was playing in the event for the second time. He became the rst unanimous pick for the Hall of Fame in 2019 after helping the Yankees win ve World Series titles.

NFL Lamb takes big hit from sprinting o cial while in street clothes on sideline

Inglewood, Calif.

CeeDee Lamb took a big hit and committed a penalty in the Dallas Cowboys’ preseason opener even though the star receiver wasn’t in uniform. A sprinting o cial ran straight into Lamb’s back on the sideline during the second quarter of the Cowboys’ game against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium, resulting in a 15-yard penalty for making contact with an o cial.

Dressed in street clothes, Lamb was watching a deep pass when he wandered too far into the white paint on the sideline. The o cial didn’t see him and knocked him down.

NBA Celtics sign coach Mazzulla to multiyear contract extension

Boston The Boston Celtics signed coach Joe Mazzulla to a multiyear contract extension. Length and details of the new deal were not released. The 37-year-old Mazzulla is coming o his third season as Boston’s coach and has guided the team to the playo s each season, including the franchise’s 18th NBA title to cap the 2023-24 season. Under Mazzulla, the Celtics have won at least 57 games each of those seasons and topped 60 victories in each of the last two.

NCAA FOOTBALL

Notre Dame loses TE Bauman, RB Young to season- ending knee injuries

South Bend, Ind.

Notre Dame announced sixth-year tight end Kevin Bauman and second-year running back Kedren Young su ered season-ending knee injuries in practice. Bauman su ered an articular cartilage injury in his left knee, which will require surgery. He announced on social media this will be the end of his football career. Young tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee. Bauman was expected to play a key role for the Fighting Irish this season. Young was projected to add depth to Notre Dame’s already deep back eld.

Joint practices give coaches better way to evaluate starters

Workouts are replacing preseason games as the preferred way for coaches to evaluate players

By Rob Maaddi The Associated Press

TAMPA, Fla. — Baker Mayeld got in the middle of a scufe and injured All-Pro tackle Tristan Wirfs went onto the eld on crutches to join his teammates.

Welcome to joint practices.

Players get an opportunity to hit opposing teams, which sometimes can lead to ghting, like the minor tussle between the Buccaneers and Titans.

“Everybody’s in the skirmish,” Bucs coach Todd Bowles said. “Nobody wants to throw a punch. It’s not necessary. We’re not trying to do that right there. They’re not trying to do it as well. If it’s hot and you got pads on, it’s going to happen.”

Patriots coach Mike Vrabel, a former All-Pro linebacker and two-time Coach of the Year in Tennessee, jumped into a pile of players and came out with a bloodied cheek at New

“I think the joint practices are great just because you get to go against another team, get to see, match up and just play football.”

Russell Wilson, Giants quarterback

England’s practice with the Washington Commanders.

But the main purpose of joint sessions is to give coaches a better way to evaluate starters in a more competitive environment than preseason games. Teams don’t want future opponents to see much of their playbook in exhibitions, and most coaches prefer to keep key starters out of harm’s way, so facing opponents within a controlled setting has become a priority for most teams.

Overall, 29 of 32 NFL teams are holding joint practices this summer, up from 27 in 2023 and 23 in 2022. Only the Kansas City Chiefs, Cincinnati Bengals, and New Orleans Saints aren’t doing them.

“These are all pretty standard in the sense that you’re going to get most situational work, you get some base down, some third down, some red

zone, a two-minute drill,” Titans coach Brian Callahan said. The New York Giants and Jets have two days of joint practices, one at each team’s practice facility.

Veteran Giants quarterback Russell Wilson has played long enough to appreciate the evolution of joint practices and their importance. The NFL decreased the preseason schedule to three games when the regular season went to 17 games, and it may go down to two.

“I think the joint practices are great just because you get to go against another team, get to see, match up and just play football,” Wilson said. “Once again, everything’s about preparation, getting ready for the season.”

“I think it’s really valuable,” Niners coach Kyle Shanahan said. “Sometimes you can’t do it. I always would like to do it. ... It’s always good to go against

di erent schemes too. Di erent players. We’re going against each other every day. Same guys, same scheme. It gets a little bit old, and it’s a good way to switch it up.”

For a coach on a new team like Vrabel, facing another team in practice also helps build a foundation for his unit. The Patriots are coming o a terrible 4-13 season, and Vrabel is aiming to change the culture.

“The goal is just to be able to put the identity out on the eld against another team, to put the fundamentals that we put out there, the installation, to be able to do it against another defense, to be able to adjust to di erent play styles of players, players that maybe are longer or quicker or stronger, just different play styles of each player throughout this league,” Vrabel said.

The league embraces joint practices from a player health and safety perspective because fewer starters are playing in preseason games, and data has shown players are more susceptible to soft-tissue injuries early in the season if they don’t hit similar load, speed and exertion levels in training camp.

Bridgeman proved having PGA Tour card enough to earn way in golf’s top circuit

The former Clemson player is making progress on the tour

By Doug Ferguson The Associated Press

HIS ROOKIE year on the PGA Tour was challenging enough for Jacob Bridgeman.

He got in 20 tournaments, none of them majors or The Players Championship, $20 million signature events or the FedEx Cup playo s. He did just well enough to keep his heart rate down and his ranking inside the top 125 to keep his card.

And then the PGA Tour approved a plan during thenal week of 2024 to reduce the number of players keeping their cards to 100.

Gulp.

“I think it makes it tougher and tougher on the rookies,”

Bridgeman said. “I feel like my rookie year was really hard, and this one was probably harder because there were less cards.”

Bridgeman said he was neutral toward the change. The purpose was to make sure anyone who had a card could get into enough tournaments, and smaller elds in 2026 would keep rounds from not nishing because of darkness. And yes, it would be more competitive than ever.

Camilo Villegas was chair-

man of Player Advisory Council that proposed the changes and acknowledged it would be harder to keep a card.

“But if we perform, there’s an opportunity to make an unbelievable living,” Villegas said.

Bridgeman performed.

Bridgeman is No. 33 in the FedEx Cup, all but assured of staying in the top 50 to advance to the BMW Championship that will get him in all eight of the $20 million signature events next year.

The ultimate goal — the Tour Championship — is well within range.

Bridgeman began his sophomore season without assurances of being in any of the majors or the signature events.

He closed with a 64 at the Cognizant Classic for a runner-up nish, getting him into Bay Hill and The Players Championship. He slept on the lead the opening three rounds at the Valspar Championship and nished third, getting him into another signature event at the RBC Heritage.

He was among the last three players o the FedEx Cup to ll the eld at the Truist Championship and tied for fourth, and his standing also got him into the U.S. Open.

Bridgeman wound up playing ve signature events, two majors and The Players. He felt it was a disadvantage at the start. It turned into a

big year that isn’t over just yet.

“Not being in those at the beginning of the year was tough,” Bridgeman said. “I went through that last year. I knew how that was and played past all that and still kept my card. I felt like it was a disadvantage, for sure, but not that it was unattainable.

“I just knew if I played well I’d have a chance,” he said. “That was one my goals is playing a signature event early. I got in the Arnold Palmer and rode the wave all the way through.”

That’s how it has been for the 25-year-old Bridgeman. He was No. 2 in the PGA Tour University his senior year at Clemson, which got him Korn Ferry Tour status. He spent 2023 on the developmental circuit and graduated to the PGA Tour.

Being in all the signature events is an advantage, but not a guarantee. Fourteen players who nished in the top 50

last year failed to make it to the postseason.

Three players who were not among the top 50 last year — U.S. Open champion J.J. Spaun, Harris English and Ben Gri n — start the postseason in the top 10.

The turnover rate for those who quali ed for the FedEx Cup playo s was at 30% — 21 players nished in the top 70 who weren’t in Memphis last year. The signature events were a source of consternation when they were rst introduced, mainly the uncertainty of a level playing eld. J.T. Poston said it best.

“As long as there’s a way you still have to perform to stay in, and there’s an avenue for guys who aren’t in to play their way in, I don’t think there’s an issue,” he said. Turns out it wasn’t for Bridgeman.

CAROLYN KASTER / AP PHOTO

CHRIS O’MEARA / AP PHOTO

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker May eld throws a pass during a training camp practice.

Jacob Bridgeman tees o during the rst round of the U.S. Open in June.

the stream

Vanessa Kirby, Maroon 5, Madden NFL 26, Alicia

Silverstone and ‘The Chicken Sisters’

A new box set honors

Cli ord Antone, owner of the storied Austin, Texas venue Antone’s

The Associated Press

VANESSA KIRBY starring in a gritty lm about the aspirations of home ownership, “Night Always Comes,” and Maroon 5 releasing their eighth studio album with songs featuring Lil Wayne and Blackpink’s LISA are some of the new television, lms, music and games headed to a device near you.

Also, among the streaming o erings worth your time: Alicia Silverstone leading a new TV crime drama called “Irish Blood,” the multigenerational, wholesome drama “The Chicken Sisters” rolls out its second season on Hallmark and EA Sports jumps aboard the arti cial intelligence bandwagon with Madden NFL 26.

MOVIES TO STREAM

Isaiah Saxon’s “The Legend of Ochi” (streaming Friday on HBO Max) is a handcrafted fantasy throwback seeking to conjure the kind of magic once found in movies like “The Never Ending Story.”

The A24 lm stars Helena Zengel as Yuri, a girl who runs away from the forest home she shared with her father (Willem Dafoe) and brother (Finn Wolfhard). She leaves with a baby Ochi; a creature hunted by her father. In her review, AP Film Writer Lindsey Bahr wrote that “(The Legend of Ochi) has the feeling of a lm you might have stumbled on and loved as a kid.”

Kirby may be one of the standout performers of the summer blockbuster “The Fantastic Four: First Steps,” but she also stars in a gritty new lm about the aspirations of home ownership. In “Night Always Comes” (Thursday on Net ix), Kirby plays a woman going to extreme lengths to secure a home for her family. The movie, directed by Benjamin Caron and adapted from Willy Vlautin’s best-selling novel, takes place over a single night.

MUSIC TO STREAM

Maroon 5 will release their eighth studio album, “Love is

“(The Legend of Ochi) has the feeling of a lm you might have stumbled on and loved as a kid.”

Lindsey

Bahr, AP lm writer

Like,” on Friday via Interscope Records. Expect smooth, funky pop music — like the sultry “All Night.” Singer Adam Levine and Co. continue their trend of unexpected and delightful collaborations as well, with songs featuring Lil Wayne, Sexyy Red and Blackpink’s LISA. You read that correctly. Antone opened Antone’s, one of the most storied music venues in Austin, Texas, with an inaugural performance by the King of Zydeco, Clifton Chenier in 1975. In the decades since, Antone’s has become the stu of

mythology; a performance space that embraces its history and looks towards its future. On Friday, a new box set from New West Records seeks to celebrate Antone’s legacy with “Antone’s: 50 Years of the Blues.”

SERIES TO STREAM

The multigenerational, wholesome drama “The Chicken Sisters” rolls out its second season on Hallmark. The series stars Schuyler Fisk, Lea Thompson, Wendie Malick and Genevieve Angelson as family members in a small town divided over their rival fried chicken businesses. It’s based on a novel of the same name. The series is streaming on Hallmark+. Silverstone leads the new crime drama called “Irish Blood.” She plays Fiona, a woman who has been led to believe her father abandoned her as a child — and has carried around some heavy emotional baggage ever since.

When she learns the truth is more complicated — not to mention dangerous — she heads to Ireland to investigate. The premiere of the six-part show is streaming on Acorn TV. A new one for the kiddos is the Disney Jr. series “Iron Man and his Awesome Friends,” on Disney+. The rst 10 episodes are now available. The show follows besties and fellow geniuses, Tony Stark, Riri Williams and Amadeus Cho, who team up to solve problems.

Chris Hemsworth continues his quest to live a healthier, more present and longer life in a second season of “Limitless,” now called “Limitless: Live Better Now.” The three-part docuseries sees Hemsworth learn more about brain power (with help from his friend and recording artist Ed Sheeran), risk and pain. The three episodes stream on Hulu and Disney+ beginning Friday.

VIDEO GAMES TO PLAY

EA Sports is jumping aboard the arti cial intelligence bandwagon with Madden NFL 26, promising “a new AI-powered machine learning system trained by real play calls and game situations over nearly a decade.” The most intriguing additions are QB DNA and Coach DNA — so, for example, if you’re playing the Kansas City Chiefs, you’ll see the kind of moves you’d expect from Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid. As always, the goal is to get ever closer to real-life football, with more dynamic weather e ects, more details from pro stadiums and the return (at last!) of team mascots. The cover model this season is Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley, who’ll be ready to start leaping over defenders Thursday on PlayStation 5, Xbox X/S, Switch 2 and PC.

Alicia Silverstone stars in the series “Irish Blood” on AcornTV.

Helena Zengel plays Yuri in the new fantasy lm “The Legend of Ochi.”

STATE & NATION

Ousted FDA vaccine chief Prasad returning to position in agency

He’s back just weeks after departing

The Associated Press

WASHINGTON, D.C. — A Food and Drug Administration o cial is getting his job back as the agency’s top vaccine regulator, less than two weeks after he was pressured to step down at the urging of biotech executives, patient groups and conservative allies of President Donald Trump. Dr. Vinay Prasad is resuming leadership of the FDA center that regulates vaccines and bio-

tech therapies, a spokesperson for the Department of Health and Human Services said in a statement Monday. Prasad left the agency late last month after drawing ire of right-wing activists, including Laura Loomer, because of his past statements criticizing Trump.

A longtime a critic of FDA’s standards for approving medicines, Prasad brie y ordered the maker of a gene therapy for Duchenne’s muscular dystrophy to halt shipments after two patient deaths. But that action triggered pushback from the families of boys with the fatal

Trump to place DC police under federal control, deploy National

By David Klepper The Associated Press

WASHINGTON, D.C. —

President Donald Trump said Monday that he’s deploying the National Guard across Washington and taking over the city’s police department in the hopes of reducing crime, even as the city’s mayor has noted that crime is falling in the nation’s capital.

The Republican president, who said he was formally declaring a public safety emergency, compared crime in the American capital with that in other major cities, saying Washington performs poorly on safety relative to the capitals of Iraq, Brazil and Colombia, among others.

Trump also said at his news brie ng that his administration has started removing homeless encampments “from all over our parks, our beautiful, beautiful parks.”

“We’re getting rid of the slums, too,” Trump said, adding that the U.S. would not lose its cities and that Washington was just a start.

U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi will be taking over responsibility for Washington’s metro police department, he said, while also complaining about potholes and grati in the city and calling them “embarrassing.”

For Trump, the e ort to take over public safety in Washington re ects a next step in his law enforcement agenda after his aggressive push to stop illegal border crossings. But the move involves at least 500 federal law enforcement o cials as well as the National Guard, raising fundamental questions about how an increasingly em-

boldened federal government will interact with its state and local counterparts.

Combating crime

The president has used his social media and White House megaphones to message that his administration is tough on crime, yet his ability to shape policy might be limited outside of Washington, which has a unique status as a congressionally established federal district. Nor is it clear how his push would address the root causes of homelessness and crime.

Trump said he is invoking Section 740 of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act to deploy members of the National Guard.

About 500 federal law enforcement o cers are being tasked with deploying throughout the nation’s capital as part of the Trump administration’s effort to combat crime, a person familiar with the matter told The

Associated Press on Monday.

More than 100 FBI agents and about 40 agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are among federal law enforcement personnel being assigned to patrols in Washington, the person briefed on the plans said. The Drug Enforcement Administration, Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Marshals Service are also contributing o cers.

The person was not authorized to publicly discuss personnel matters and spoke to the AP on the condition of anonymity. The Justice Department didn’t immediately have a comment Monday morning.

The National Guard

Mayor Muriel Bowser, a Democrat, questioned the effectiveness of using the Guard to enforce city laws and said the federal government could be far more helpful by funding more

Guard

prosecutors or lling the 15 vacancies on the D.C. Superior Court, some of which have been open for years. Bowser cannot activate the National Guard herself, but she can submit a request to the Pentagon.

“I just think that’s not the most e cient use of our Guard,” she said Sunday on MSNBC’s “The Weekend,” acknowledging it is “the president’s call about how to deploy the Guard.”

Bowser was making her rst public comments since Trump started posting about crime in Washington last week. She noted that violent crime in Washington has decreased since a rise in 2023. Trump’s weekend posts depicted the district as “one of the most dangerous cities anywhere in the World.”

For Bowser, “Any comparison to a war-torn country is hyperbolic and false.”

Focusing on homelessness

Trump in a Sunday social media post had emphasized the removal of Washington’s homeless population, though it was unclear where the thousands of people would go.

“The Homeless have to move out, IMMEDIATELY,” Trump wrote Sunday. “We will give you places to stay, but FAR from the Capital. The Criminals, you don’t have to move out. We’re going to put you in jail where you belong.”

Last week, the Republican president directed federal law enforcement agencies to increase their presence in Washington for seven days, with the option “to extend as needed.”

On Friday night, federal agencies including the Secret Service, the FBI and the U.S. Marshals Service assigned more than 120 o cers and agents to assist in Washington.

Trump said last week that he was considering ways for the federal government to seize

condition and libertarian supporters of increased access to experimental medicines.

Prasad’s decision to pause the therapy was criticized by The Wall Street Journal editorial board, former Republican Sen. Rick Santorum and others. The FDA swiftly reversed its decision suspending the therapy’s use. Loomer posted online that Prasad was “a progressive leftist saboteur,” noting his history of praising liberal independent Sen. Bernie Sanders.

But Prasad has had the backing of FDA Commissioner Marty Makary and health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who have both called for scrutinizing the use of COVID-19 vaccines. Under Prasad, the FDA restricted the approval of two new COVID-19 shots from vaccine makers Novavax and Moderna and set stricter testing requirements for future approvals.

control of Washington, asserting that crime was “ridiculous” and the city was “unsafe,” after the recent assault of a high-prole member of the Department of Government E ciency.

Crime statistics

Police statistics show homicides, robberies and burglaries are down this year when compared with this time in 2024. Overall, violent crime is down 26% compared with this time a year ago.

Trump o ered no details in Truth Social posts over the weekend about possible new actions to address crime levels he argues are dangerous for citizens, tourists and workers alike. The White House declined to o er additional details about Monday’s announcement.

The police department and the mayor’s o ce did not respond to questions about what Trump might do next.

The president criticized the district as full of “tents, squalor, lth, and Crime,” and he seems to have been set o by the attack on Edward Coristine, among the most visible gures of the bureaucracy-cutting effort known as DOGE. Police arrested two 15-year-olds in the attempted carjacking and said they were looking for others.

“This has to be the best run place in the country, not the worst run place in the country,” Trump said last Wednesday.

He called Bowser “a good person who has tried, but she has been given many chances.”

Trump has repeatedly suggested that the rule of Washington could be returned to federal authorities. Doing so would require a repeal of the Home Rule Act of 1973 in Congress, a step Trump said lawyers are examining. It could face steep pushback.

Bowser acknowledged that the law allows the president to take more control over the city’s police, but only if certain conditions are met.

“None of those conditions exist in our city right now,” she said. “We are not experiencing a spike in crime. In fact, we’re watching our crime numbers go down.”

AG Pam Bondi will be taking over Washington’s metro police department

Dr. Vinay Prasad is returning to head the FDA’s vaccine regulation center shortly after resigning under pressure from critics.

ALEX BRANDON / AP PHOTO

President Donald Trump holds a press conference Monday in the James Brady Press Brie ng Room at the White House.

Randolph record

Full backpacks

The Randolph County Sheri ’s O ce set up Operation School Supplies at the Randleman Walmart this week to collect pens, pencils, notebooks and everything else for local students in need. “Your generosity has lled backpacks, classrooms, and hearts across our community,” the RCSO wrote in a Facebook post. “We’re making sure every child starts the year ready to learn.”

WHAT’S HAPPENING

Canada’s Gildan Activewear buying HanesBrands for $2.2B

Gildan Activewear is buying HanesBrands for $2.2 billion, giving the basic apparel maker access to brands including Hanes and Maidenform.

The companies put the transaction’s valued at about $4.4 billion when including debt. The combined company will maintain a strong presence in Winston-Salem where HanesBrands is located.

U.S. in ation held steady as mild tari hit o set by cheaper gas, food

U.S. in ation was unchanged in July as rising prices for some imported goods were balanced by falling gas and grocery prices, leaving overall prices modestly higher than a year ago. The gures suggest that slowing rent increases and cheaper gas are o setting some impacts of President Donald Trump’s sweeping tari s. Many businesses are also absorbing much of the cost of the duties. Tuesday’s gures likely include some impact from the 10% universal tari Trump imposed in April, as well as higher duties on countries such as China and Canada.

U.S., China extend trade truce for 90 days

President Donald Trump extended a trade truce with China for another 90 days Monday, at least delaying once again a dangerous showdown between the world’s two biggest economies. The previous deadline was set to expire at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday.

Asheboro to implement strategies for downtown parking improvements

The city is looking into additional signage and altering delivery zones

By Ryan Henkel Randolph Record

ASHEBORO — The City of Asheboro will be taking steps in the coming months to work toward improving parking availability downtown.

At the Asheboro City Council’s Aug. 7 meeting, Assistant City Manager Trevor Nuttall presented to the council some short-term strategies that the sta gured it could implement without any additional nancial resources.

“We are not at a point where paid parking or additional investment in parking structures is recommended,” Nuttall said. “It is clear, though, that we need to change how we are managing what has become an increasingly scarce public resource, and that is the publicly controlled parking resources downtown.”

Changes that the city would look to implement include changing ordinances pertaining to delivery zones and how they operate, adding addi-

tional signage and improving pavement markings for parking, enhancing pedestrian safety near public parking areas as well as a more consistent enforcement of parking restrictions.

Nuttall stated the city will roll out a “robust educational campaign pertaining to parking restrictions,” and the expectation is that following this campaign, the city will begin a more consistent enforcement of the current parking restrictions.

“I’ve heard some suggestions that this is intended to be a revenue generator for the city,” Nuttall said “That’s certainly not the case. It’s not intended, and it will not generate revenue for the city. The truth is, if e ective, we won’t write many tickets, and that’s what we’re all looking for.”

Nuttall also said the city is considering some potential long-term strategies and additional enforcement tools such as booting for repeat o enders, although they would need authority from the General Assembly for that.

Of note, Nuttall said city sta aren’t currently recommending raising the price of a parking ne, which is $5.

“It is clear that we need to change how we are managing what has become an increasingly scarce public resource.”

Assistant City Manager Trevor Nuttall on Asheboro’s downtown parking availability

“That $5 citation is a sensible place to have a ticket amount, not because it gets your attention but because it’s a pretty soft penalty for a rst-time o ender who may truly not have known any better,” Nuttall said. “That does not mean we do not have the ability to use a citation to get a repeat o ender’s attention though.”

Some of the council weren’t as sold on maintaining the $5 parking ne.

“I think with a very aggressive educational process, we’ll get to those folks who are, right now, maybe staying over a little bit and too long,” said council member Clark Bell. “But I think that a $5 ticket is not going to be su cient to minimize

RCSS sets plans for open houses

A new school year has arrived with activities this month

By Bob Sutton Randolph Record

OPEN HOUSES for schools in the Randolph County School System will be held next week.

RCSS superintendent Stephen Gainey sent a letter to parents as a welcome to the new school year. In that message, he highlighted the importance of the open houses. “The high value associated with the involvement of students’ parents in our schools can not be overlooked,” Gainey said.

The schedule for open houses involves high schools next Tuesday (Aug. 19), middle schools next Wednesday (Aug. 20) and elementary schools next Thursday (Aug. 21). Speci c times for the open houses vary from school to school, with those times available on the school system’s website or by calling the speci c schools.

By attending an open house, parents will have the opportunity to meet sta members at the schools, tour the school buildings and gather other information regarding the start of the school year. Students will have an opportunity to become familiar with their school and teachers prior

to the start of the school year.

An open house for Randolph Early College High School was held Aug. 5 because that school operates on a di erent calendar than the rest of RCSS.

Gainey said the rst day of school “marks the beginning of a high level of energy and excitement focused on learning by our students and the provision of effective instruction by our sta members.” Building maintenance and sta instructional planning have been among the highlights for the district during the past couple of months, Gainey said.

those who are abusing that timeframe.”

The council also held a hearing for a request by Golden Wa e Real Estate to rezone approximately 0.5 acres of property located at 1315 Cli Road from Low-Density, Single-Family Residential (R15) to General Commercial (B2).

“This is a general request,” said Community Development Director John Evans. “There is no speci c use or site plan that is identi ed as part of this request. … However, we believe it is a reasonable request that will allow for some investment into the property for future expansion of commercial activities.”

According to the city’s ordinances, “the B2 General Commercial District is intended to serve the convenience goods, shoppers’ goods retail and service needs of the motoring public, both local and transient.”

According to one of the owners for Golden Wa e, Ken Greene, the site is currently intended to be used for overow parking, although they haven’t decided if they’re going to do anything else with it in the future.

The Asheboro City Council will next meet Sept. 4.

“It is the goal of the school system’s sta members to give our students our best e orts to help them continually improve over the next 10 months.”

Stephen Gainey, RCSS superintendent

“It is the goal of the school system’s sta members to give our students our best e orts to help them continually improve over the next 10 months, as well as their future years with us, in terms of academic performance and overall development as individuals,” Gainey wrote. The rst day of regular classes for students is scheduled for Aug. 25.

THE RANDOLPH COUNTY EDITION OF NORTH STATE JOURNAL

COURTESY PHOTOS

THURSDAY 8.14.25

North State Journal (USPS 20451) (ISSN 2471-1365)

Randolph Record (ISSN 2768-5268)

Neal Robbins, Publisher

Jim Sills, VP of Local Newspapers

Cory Lavalette, Senior Editor Jordan Golson, Local News Editor

Shawn Krest, Sports Editor

Dan Reeves, Features Editor

Bob Sutton, Randolph Editor

Ryan Henkel, Reporter

P.J. Ward-Brown,

NC Zoo names interim director

Diane Villa is lling a vacancy created by the death of Pat Simmons

Randolph Record sta

ASHEBORO — Diane Villa is serving as interim director of the North Carolina Zoo. Villa is the deputy director and chief communications ofcer for N.C. Zoo. She lls a void following last month’s death of Director and CEO Pat Simmons.

“I am honored and grateful for the opportunity to lead the North Carolina Zoo in this interim period,” Villa said in a statement. “Under Pat’s leadership, the Zoo built a thoughtful and creative community that I will continue to nourish as we move forward to opening Asia in 2026.”

The zoo is part of the North

Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, which announced that it’s conducting a national search for a new director.

“Diane’s many years of experience at the Zoo and her role as a member of the senior leadership team make her uniquely quali ed to lead the North Carolina Zoo through this transition period,” said Pamela Cashwell,

DNCR secretary. “I am grateful for her willingness to take on this important role at one of North Carolina’s most beloved institutions.”

During her 31 years working at the North Carolina Zoo, Villa has served as the zoo’s director of communications and marketing, curator of design, and art director. In her current role of deputy director and chief communications o cer, she leads the zoo’s communications section, which includes marketing, public relations, social media, graphic design, guest services, special events and park security/emergency operations.

Villa, an East Carolina graduate who also spent ve years in the U.S. Air Force, serves on the Randolph County Tourism Development Authority Board of Directors.

Iconic NC tourist attraction damaged by Helene to be demolished

The Lake Lure Flowering Bridge is beyond repair after the hurricane

By Makiya Seminera and Allen G. Breed The Associated Press

NEARLY A YEAR after Hurricane Helene’s devastating pathway through western North Carolina, a vibrant tourist attraction o ering visitors a serene escape in the Blue Ridge Mountains is being torn down.

We stand corrected

To report an error or a suspected error, please email: corrections@nsjonline. com with “Correction request” in the subject line.

THURSDAY AUG. 14

FRIDAY AUG. 15

SATURDAY AUG. 16

SUNDAY AUG. 17

MONDAY AUG. 18

TUESDAY AUG. 19

WEDNESDAY AUG. 20

Like many other beloved sites in the region, the Lake Lure Flowering Bridge in Rutherford County crumpled from the relentless oods and winds from remnants of Helene last September. Now, the town of Lake Lure said last Thursday it will start its demolition of the historic structure later this month.

While the three-arched bridge dates back to 1925, it didn’t become the Lake Lure Flowering Bridge until almost a century later. Once the bridge was decommissioned, a group of local volunteers, Friends of the Lake Lure Flowering Bridge, worked to enhance it by adding its iconic gardens in 2013, according to the group’s website. The bridge attracted more than 150,000 visitors annually, said Linda Reandeau, a master garden-

CRIME LOG

August 1

• Joel Carlton Graham, 51, was arrested for obtaining property by false pretense, stealing a vehicle, and possessing a stolen vehicle.

August 4

• Ricky Shawn Morris, 41, was arrested for possessing methamphetamine, possessing drug paraphernalia, and carrying a concealed weapon.

• Felica Michelle Beane, 38, was arrested for breaking and entering with intent to

“To see it destroyed as it was in the storm was very emotional and heartbreaking for me, along with all the other volunteers and so many people who have visited.”

er and the group’s marketing chair.

But then Helene brought destruction to western North Carolina last year, with the Lake Lure area — which served as a backdrop for a few scenes in “Dirty Dancing” — sustaining some of the worst damage.

The town of Lake Lure and Chimney Rock Village, as well as the lake itself, were covered in a layer of dis gured debris. The area still hasn’t recovered, but tourist attractions such as Chimney Rock State Park have reopened.

In the Flowering Bridge’s case, one end of the structure collapsed. Several other points also buckled from the damage, and its lush greenery was swept away in the storm. Over the past 11 months, the bridge has only continued to deteriorate, Reandeau said.

“It would have been 100 years old this year,” she said.

“To see it destroyed as it was in the storm was very emotion-

al and heartbreaking for me, along with all the other volunteers and so many people who have visited.”

The decision to demolish the bridge came after two engineering rms concluded it couldn’t be restored, according to the town’s website. Demolition is expected to start Aug. 18.

While the bridge will no longer remain, Reandeau said the landmark’s volunteer group is in the planning process for how to move forward. The nonprofit is waiting for occupancy certi cation to reopen its relatively unscathed education center, where it can hold gardening and art classes — and hopefully install new gardens nearby, Reandeau said.

“We haven’t gone away, we’re still here, and we really look forward to the day we can welcome back visitors to the gardens,” she said. “We fully intend to make another magical space. It’s just not going to happen immediately.”

Guide

Here’s a quick look at what’s coming up in Randolph County:

Aug.

15

Friday Night Sunset Series: Held every Friday, May-August

5:30-8:30 p.m.

Admission for 21-plus is $8 per person. A variety of homemade concessions are available for purchase, including hard cider, local wine, craft beer and a variety of seasonal cocktails. Admission does not include food or drink but does cover musical performances.

Millstone Creek Orchards

506 Parks Crossroads Church Road Ramseur

Aug. 16

Summer Outdoor Market

9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

A producers market with work available from local artisans, craftspeople and food producers. Contact 336-824-5263 for details.

Millstone Creek Orchards 506 Parks Crossroads Church Road Ramseur

Aug.

16, 19 & 21

City of Asheboro Farmers Market

7 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Fresh seasonal produce, farm-fresh products, baked goods, and a variety of owers and plants are available for purchase directly from local farmers. Open weekly on Saturdays, Tuesdays and Thursdays through the end of October.

134 S. Church St. Asheboro

Aug. 18 & 20

• Claude Daniel Beane, 24, was arrested for trespassing and communicating threats.

August 5

• Zebediaz Robert Cox, 23, was arrested for obtaining property by false pretense, accessing computers, passing worthless checks, and identity theft.

August 6

• Gary Michael Shipwash Jr., 52, of Archdale was arrested for second-degree sexual exploitation of a minor.

August 7

• Dakota Lee Campbell, 31, of Lexington was arrested for second-degree sexual exploitation of a minor.

August 8

• Janique Keonta Williams, 25, was arrested for obstructing justice and obtaining property by false pretense.

August 11

• Dennis Farrell Siler II, 43, was arrested for assault with a deadly weapon causing serious injury.

Liberty Farmers Market

4-7 p.m.

Purchase a wide array of high-quality, fresh produce from local farmers and growers at this convenient downtown location. Open every Monday and Wednesday through the end of October.

423 W. Swannanoa Ave. Liberty

Aug. 19

Making Art with the Masters

11 a.m. to noon

Art classes each Tuesday for ages 8-12 that teach history, theory and practice. 11 a.m. classes are for ages 10-12, and 3:30 p.m. classes are for ages 8-9.

Asheboro Public Library 201 Worth St. Asheboro

COURTESY PHOTO

Diane Villa

Linda Reandeau, chair, Friends of the Lake Lure Flowering Bridge

THE CONVERSATION

Neal Robbins, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor

VISUAL VOICES

Ensuring US dominance of 21st-century telecommunications

Within a decade or so, cable will be as outdated as Blockbuster.

PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP’S announcement and executive order to ensure that the U.S. dominates the arti cial intelligence revolution was a welcome America First policy directive. That mostly means keeping the government out of the way.

But an equally vital industry for our economic and national security interests is telecommunications — which is also going through warp-speed technology changes.

Here too, the government needs to keep its hands o . No subsidies. No lawsuits.

Minimal regulations.

This is why the latest $34.5 billion blockbuster merger between telecom titans Charter Communications and Cox Communications should get the green light from federal regulators.

Some antitrust lawyers at the FCC and the Justice Department worry this marriage would give Charter-Cox too much market share, allowing them to raise prices on consumers.

But companies like Cox that provide internet and TV services over cable transmissions are soon to be outdated by the next generation of ber, satellite, xed wireless and mobile broadband services.

Customers are already “cutting the cable cord” in favor of more e cient and less expensive streaming video services and other digital alternatives.

The synergies and economies-of-scale advantages driving the Charter-Cox merger, which will lead to a company with more than 37 million cable and internet subscribers, make sense.

Is that too much market concentration?

Comcast, the nation’s second-largest cable provider, serves around 12 million cable subscribers. Verizon serves just under 3 million cable subscribers and approximately 146 million mobile subscribers.

AT&T, another big player in this market, has tens of millions of customers of its own. AT&T is moving aggressively into satellite technologies and 5G to deliver calls, data and video. AT&T and Verizon each have a market cap of well over $100 billion. That compares to less than $50 billion for the Charter-Cox union. In other words, competitors aren’t going to be bullied out of the market by Charter- Cox — especially in the lucrative mobile communications arena.

What is ironic is that back in the 1980s, AT&T was forced by the government to break itself up because of alleged market power, and now we could have federal regulators blocking a merger that would bring new competition to AT&T (and other big kids on the block, like Comcast and Verizon).

As for the Charter-Cox potential dominance in cable, sorry, but that’s a declining industry.

Within a decade or so, cable will be as outdated as Blockbuster.

Mergers like this one make U.S. companies more competitive, make money for millions of American shareholders, and make our companies scalable to compete with European, Japanese and Chinese rivals.

Gail Slater, the assistant attorney general for the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division, recently said she intends to focus on mergers that decrease competition.

“If you’re violating the antitrust laws, we’re going to take a hard look,” she said. “If you’re not violating the antitrust laws, we’re going to get the hell out of the way.”

Those are words to live by.

Stephen Moore is co-founder of Unleash Prosperity and a visiting fellow at the Heritage Foundation.

Delivering campaign pledges

Dear Editor,

On Aug. 5, State Auditor Dave Boliek released two audits of the NC DMV, delivering on a key campaign pledge only six months after taking o ce. These reports are about 600 pages in total and represent a big achievement for the State Auditor’s O ce. And while the ndings show the DMV is in worse shape than expected, the reports are a positive rst step in xing the headache that every North Carolinian endures when lining up outside the DMV doors.

Both customer and employee experience at the DMV has gotten worse over the years. Wait times are up 15.5% since 2019, and nearly half of DMV customers are traveling past the o ces closest to them, some traveling hours away for services. Employees interviewed cited burnout, lack of support and inadequate training.

The DMV wasn’t given the attention it deserved these past eight years, but Boliek has made it a front-and-center issue. The biggest recommendation included in the audit is the separation of the DMV and the Department of Transportation. Other key recommended actions straight from Boliek are:

• The DMV should conduct an in-depth sta ng analysis to implement a multiyear, phased sta ng plan that addresses examiner shortages and ensures service equity statewide.

• The DMV should build and maintain a centralized performance dashboard to track and report key service metrics.

• The DMV should partner with an industry expert to develop and implement evidence-based improvements to customer experience and service delivery.

This will be a big haul, but I’m going to do my part in studying the reports and delivering the best outcomes for the people of Robeson County and North Carolina. We’ll need the governor, DOT and DMV to assist as well, but we can all agree that the most customer-facing service in North Carolina must o er fewer headaches and better.

Rep. Jarrod Lowery represents District 47 in the NCGA, which includes Robeson County.

Letters to the editor may be sent to letters@nsjonline.com or mailed to 1201 Edwards Mill Rd., Suite 300, Raleigh, NC 27607. Letters must be signed; include the writer’s phone number, city and state; and be no longer than 300 words. Letters may be edited for style, length or clarity when necessary. Ideas for op-eds should be sent to opinion@nsjonline.com.

Contact a writer or columnist: connect@northstatejournal.com

COLUMN | STEPHEN MOORE

Larry Thomas Luck Sr.

Oct. 21, 1947 – Aug. 5, 2025

Larry Thomas Luck Sr.,77, of Randleman, passed away Tuesday, August 5, 2025, at Hospice of Randolph in Asheboro, NC, surrounded by his loved ones. He was born on October 21, 1947, in Randolph County to Roland Taft Luck and Sarah Etta Henson Luck.

Larry will be remembered as a devoted, caring, and loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend. His love of family was rivaled only by his sense of community and civic pride. He was married to the love of his life, Sherry, for 51 years. Larry, one of 13 children, spent his life in Randleman. From 1968 to 1971, Larry proudly served in the US Army as Military Police during the Vietnam War. Upon his return, he was the owner/operator of Frank & Larry’s for over 64 years with his friend, Frank Millikan.

Larry was a member and former Lodge Master of Asheboro Masonic Lodge 699, as well as The

Joseph Isaiah Spicer

July 24, 2018 – Aug. 5, 2025

Joseph Isaiah Spicer, age 7, of Randleman, went to be with the Lord on August 5, 2025, and now walks among the angels in Heaven. He was born July 24, 2018, in Randolph County, North Carolina, the beloved son of Terry Joseph Spicer and Brandy Jo Toomes Spicer.

Joseph Isaiah Spicer, a ectionately known as “Isaiah”, was a source of light and inspiration. Despite the challenges he faced, his spirit shone brightly, bringing immense joy and warmth to his loving parents, Terry and Brandy. Isaiah’s days were lled with simple joys that spoke to the beauty of life itself. He found happiness in listening to music and cherished the moments when his parents read him stories or Bible scriptures. His fascination with pretty lights symbolized the vibrant energy he brought into the lives of those around him.

His serene smile and quiet demeanor were a testament to

Deborah Lynn Drake Warren

Nov. 29, 1955 – Aug. 10, 2025

Deborah “Debbie” Lynn Drake Warren, age 69 of Asheboro, passed away peacefully on Sunday, August 10, 2025, at the Randolph Hospice House. Debbie was born on November 29, 1955, in Greenville, KY, to Robert and Gladys Gregory Drake. Debbie loved her Lord and Savior above all else and loved talking about the bible. She was a member at Calvary Pentecostal Church, where she adored

obituaries

Randolph Shrine Club, a multipletime past president. He loved to serve his community and show up to support those in his life, even coaching the local baseball team. Larry loved spending time at the beach with his family and friends. Up until the very end, he showed his love of family. He will be missed and loved by all who knew him. Larry is survived by his daughter, Kim Osborne (Robert) of Greensboro; son, Tommy Luck (Jill) of Randleman; grandchildren, Justin Osborne (Heather) of Huntersville, Ryan Osborne (Ti any) of Seven Springs, Dylan Luck of Randleman, Tyler Luck of Randleman; great-grandchildren, Tyler, Jaela, Emberlynn, Peyton, Palmer, Wyatt, Charleigh; brothers, Jackie Luck (Barbara) of Randleman, Jerry Luck of Asheboro, Darrell Luck (Iris) of Randleman; sisters, Nancy Hoover (Tex) of Randleman, Judy Hulin (Jerry) of Randleman. In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by his loving wife, Sherry Luck and his siblings, Lloyd Luck, Harvey Luck, Doris Trogdon, Nina Hilliard, Faye Toulson, Jimmy Luck, and Roger Luck.

A Memorial Service will be held Saturday, August 9, 2025, at noon at Pugh Funeral Home, 600 S. Main Street, Randleman with Pastor Matt Strader o ciating. The family will receive friends following the service in the Eddie Pugh Memorial Chapel. Randolph County Honor Guard will provide Military Honors at the Funeral Home.

Pugh Funeral Home in Randleman is honored to serve the Luck family.

his inner strength and resilience.

Isaiah’s journey, though not always easy, was marked by courage and an unyielding spirit of a true ghter. Every day with him was a precious gift, a reminder of the power of love and faith. The Bible verse, “I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me,” was a guiding beacon for his family, providing comfort and hope throughout their journey together.

Isaiah’s legacy is one of love, perseverance, and the profound impact a single life can have on the hearts of others. Though his time here was brief, his memory will continue to inspire and uplift those who had the honor of knowing him. Isaiah will forever remain a cherished miracle, a testament to the enduring power of love and the strength found in faith.

Left to cherish his memory are his devoted parents, Terry and Brandy Spicer; sister, Natalie Sayavong; brother, Bryson Sayavong; maternal grandparents, Carolyn and Frankie Toomes; uncles, Stephen Culler and Joey Toomes; aunts, Peggy Horton, Jennifer Spicer, Marie Toomes, Melissa Toomes, Crystal Toomes, and Samantha Toomes; and numerous other beloved family and friends. The family will hold a celebration of life at a later date. Flowers are welcome, or memorial donations may be made to support the family by clicking the link. All donations will go toward medical and funeral expenses; your kind gesture will be deeply appreciated.

teaching children in Sunday School. Debbie had a great sense of humor, enjoyed telling jokes, was an amazing storyteller, and loved gardening owers. Most of all, Debbie’s pride and joy were her two grandsons, Tyler and Levi. In addition to her parents, Debbie is preceded in death by her brother, Tommy Drake, and two sisters, Jeanie Draper and Martha Draper. Debbie is survived by her daughter, Tammy Warren Adams of Asheboro; grandsons, Tyler Adams and Levi Adams; husband, Rick Warren of Asheboro; and sisters, Robin Drake and Brenda Winstead, both of Hopkinsville, KY.

The family will receive friends on Tuesday, August 12, 2025, from 5-7 p.m. at Pugh Funeral Home, 437 Sunset Ave., Asheboro, NC 27203. The funeral service will be held on Wednesday, August 13, 2025, at 2 p.m. at Calvary Pentecostal Church, 1424 NC 42 S., Asheboro, NC 27205, with Pastor Stacey Garnett o ciating. Burial will follow the service at New Hope Memorial Gardens.

Garland Franklin (Frank) Barrett

Nov. 21, 1941 – Aug. 4, 2025

Garland Franklin (Frank) Barrett, age 83 of Asheboro, NC, passed away peacefully on August 4, 2025, at Randolph Health in Asheboro.

A funeral service will be held at Landmark Baptist Church, 2816 Spoons Chapel Rd., on Saturday, August 9, 2025, at 2 p.m. with nephew, Mike Thompson, and Pastor John Gunter o ciating. Burial will follow the service at Oaklawn Cemetery, Asheboro. The family will receive friends and family prior to the service in the church fellowship hall from 1–1:45 p.m., and viewing will be in the church sanctuary at the same time. Frank was born in Graham, NC, to Ellen Iola Atwell Barrett and Tom Barrett on November 21, 1941. He attended Franklinville High School. Frank was a veteran of the United States Marine Corps, serving his country from 1960 to 1964.

Frank’s work experience included General Electric/Black and Decker and Thomas Built Buses, where he retired in 2009. Frank was dedicated and passionate about serving the Lord and was called by God into the ministry in 1967 and began a prison ministry. Frank’s church ministry and pastorates began in 1971, serving Calvary Gospel Church in New Hope, NC, from 1971-1980, and First Christian Church in Randleman, NC, from 1980-1996. Frank assumed the pastorate of Landmark Baptist Church in Asheboro, NC and led the e ort to build the current church building, where he pastored from 1997 until retirement in 2024.

Frank often reminisced about growing up in Cedar Falls, NC, and the joy of swimming and shing in the Deep River. He enjoyed shing, when possible, throughout his life, and enjoyed sharing his shing stories. He also enjoyed gol ng, spending time with family at Calabash/Sunset Beach, and supporting his granddaughter, Madison, when playing school and travel softball.

Frank is survived by his wife of 59 years, Hellen Thompson Barrett; son, Darrin Barrett (Sandra); and granddaughter Madison (who he loved so dearly, and he was so proud they shared the same birthday of November 21). He also leaves behind many nieces and nephews from both the Barrett and Thompson families.

He was preceded in death by his parents, brother, Bill Atwell; sister, Shelby Barrett McDaniel; and nephew, Keith McDaniel. Memorials may be made in Frank’s honor to Landmark Baptist Church, PO Box 158, Asheboro, NC 27204.

Pugh Funeral Home is honored to serve the Barrett family.

Linda Garner Alexander

Nov. 29, 1955 – Aug. 9, 2025

Linda Garner Alexander, 82, of Bennett, passed away Saturday, August 9, 2025, at Randolph Health in Asheboro. Memorial Services, 3 p.m., Sunday, August 24, 2025, at Lo in Funeral Home Chapel, Ramseur.

O ciating, Rev. Clint Kerns. Linda was a resident of Bennett who loved her Lord and

Sherry Buckner Beal

June 30, 1970 – Aug. 8, 2025

Sherry Buckner Beal, 55, of Ramseur, passed away on Friday, August 8, 2025, after a courageous battle with cancer.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, August 12, 2025, at Kildee Church in Ramseur, where Sherry was a member. Pastor Robby Dilmore will be o ciating, with the Eulogy by Rev. Doug Armstrong. The family will receive friends following the service in the fellowship hall.

For those unable to attend the service, the Register and Memorials will be available at Lo in Funeral Home from Noon until 5:00 PM on Monday afternoon.

Sherry was born in Chatham County on June 30, 1970, attended Silk Hope School and graduated from Jordan Matthews High School in 1988. Following graduation, she attended Central Carolina Community College and earned her associate’s degree as a registered nurse. Sherry had a heart for loving and helping people through healthcare, as evidenced by her twenty-seven years of service in the Chatham Hospital Emergency Room and Operating Room, Hospice of Chatham County, as well as Piedmont Health Services in Pittsboro.

Sherry loved her family and was a devoted wife, mother, sister, daughter and friend to everyone around her. She had a calm and encouraging spirit and was always most joyful with a shing pole in her hand. Sherry enjoyed being at the beach, sitting on the pier as well as lending a helping hand on the family farm. Sherry was preceded in death by her father, Robert Earl Buckner, as well as her in-laws, Aubrey Clyde and Sarah Burgess Beal. Survivors: husband of thirty years Michael Beal, daughter Ashleigh Beal of the home, son Robert Beal of Ramseur, mother Teresa T. Buckner of Siler City, sister Leslie Culberson and husband Tracy of Siler City, brother Kevin Buckner and wife Annette of Siler City, sister-inlaw Marie Greene and husband Brian of Pineola, nieces, Hannah Culberson, Camryn Greene Curtis (Harrison), Aubrey Greene, and nephew, Alan Culberson.

Arrangements by Lo in Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Ramseur.

Memorials may be made to Hospice of Chatham County, P.O. Box 1077, Pittsboro, NC 27312, or to the American Cancer Society, 7027 Albert Pick Road, Suite 104, Greensboro, NC 27409.

Savior more than anyone or anything. She retired from Master Craft, where she worked as a quiller. Linda enjoyed reading, playing computer games and planting owers and trees. She loved her family and getting them all together for “ sh fries”. Linda was preceded in death by her husband, Jack Melvin Alexander, daughter, Tammy Alexander, parents, James Elbert and Rhoda May Roberts Garner Sr., brother, James Elbert “Butch” Garner Jr., and her grandson, Luke Alexander Groce.

Survivors: daughter, Teresa “Terry” Groce, of Bennett, son, John Alexander, of Bennett, grandchildren, Tricia Fatolitis and husband, Pete, of Bennett, Seth Groce and wife, Audrea, of Asheboro, great-grandchildren, Silas and Quin Fatolitis, of Bennett, son-in-law, Scott Groce, and nieces, Sherry East, Sharon Grey, and Jamie Sanders. Arrangements by Lo in Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Ramseur.

Samuel Marshall Greene

Aug. 8, 1939 – Aug. 6, 2025

Samuel Marshall Greene, age 85, of Asheboro, passed away August 6, 2025, at his home surrounded by his family. He was born August 8, 1939, in Montgomery County, North Carolina, one of 14 children and the son of the late William Maston Greene and Ada Campbell Greene. Also preceding him in death are six brothers and seven sisters.

Samuel’s life was a testament to love, service, and perseverance. He served his country honorably in the United States Air Force from 1957 until 1961, embodying the spirit of dedication and commitment that would de ne his entire life. A talented musician, he shared his gift for song and worship with The Kings Kids of Asheboro, a gospel group composed of family and friends. His music was an expression of his deep faith and love for the Lord, which guided him throughout his journey. Samuel was a devoted member of New Beginnings Baptist Church, where his unwavering faith and love for God were evident to all who knew him. His faith was the cornerstone of his life, providing strength and inspiration through every chapter. Building Greene’s Kennels from the ground up, Samuel spent 30 years mastering the art of dog grooming through selftaught discipline and hard work. His entrepreneurial spirit extended beyond his kennels as he honed his skills in repairing and plumbing mobile homes, working as a private contractor with Taylor Mobile Home Repairs. With these talents, he constructed a trailer park, creating a haven for families to call home. Despite life’s challenges, Samuel never lost his will to persevere. His enduring spirit, warmth, and generosity touched everyone he met. He was a proud veteran, a man of deep faith, and a dedicated husband, father, and grandfather. He leaves behind a legacy of love, resilience, and faith that inspires all who had the privilege to know him.

Left to cherish his memory are his beloved wife of 41 years, Shirley Greene; Children, Connie Beal (Rocky), Marsha Hatley (Danny), and Travis Millikan (Kari); grandchildren, Michelle Castle (Jason), Brandon Hicks (Alicia), Allison Hicks (David), Brent Allmon (Kristin), Shana Allmon (Will), Karlee Milliken, Kayley Millikan, Kasen Millikan and Kinsley Millikan; 15 great grandchildren; seven great-great grandchildren; and numerous other beloved family and friends. Entrusted with the honor of pallbearer are Andrew Baldwin, Allen Scarboro, Jamey Simmons, Alex Lambeth, Ralph Salter, and Ray Greene.

A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. on Monday, August 11, 2025, at New Beginnings Baptist Church, 1409 Southmont Drive, Asheboro, NC 27205, with Rev. Tony Williams o ciating. The family will receive friends from noon until 1:45 p.m. on Monday, August 11, 2025, at the church. Interment will follow at Randolph Memorial Park in Asheboro, North Carolina. Flowers are welcome, or memorials may be made to Hospice of Randolph County, 416 Vision Drive, Asheboro, NC 27203; the SPCA of Asheboro, 300 W. Bailey Road, Asheboro, NC 27203; or New Beginnings Baptist Church, 1409 Southmont Drive, Asheboro, NC 27205.

The family would like to thank Destiny McIe for her compassionate care of Samuel and The Randolph Hospice sta during this transition.

Helen Margaret Haynes Pendry

July 17, 1941 – Aug. 5, 2025

Helen Margaret Haynes Pendry died peacefully in her home on August 5, 2025. Helen was born on July 17, 1941, in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. She was the daughter of Dewey Russell Haynes and Lucy Mae Ingle Haynes. She was raised in Caldwell County. Helen married William Philip Pendry of Wilkes County in 1961, and later they moved to Randolph County to raise their family. They were married for 60 years.

Her memory will live on through her children, Russell Pendry (Jackie Westmoreland) and Carmen Pendry Proctor (Tim); grandchildren, Morgan Pendry (Darryl Stanford), Alex Proctor (Brooke) and Lori Proctor; great-granddaughter, Scarlett Stanford. In addition, she is survived by many beloved nieces and nephews.

Helen was a lifelong musician; she enjoyed singing in choirs during her lifetime and played the piano in her church well into her seventies. In her later years, you could often nd her playing backup during the weekends for several of her husband’s bands. She had a natural gift for playing piano, being able to play any style of music; her favorite was Southern Gospel. Music was a lifelong passion and as teen, she was given the opportunity to play on stage at a Billy Graham revival.

Helen’s primary focus and joy in life was her family. She took great pride in serving her family and all of their accomplishments. She was at every ballgame, award ceremony, beauty pageant, dance recital, sitting right in the front row. In her last few weeks, Helen re ected on her life and shared the following: “I am thankful for the privilege of having served my family, my church, my community, and my neighborhood. When I think on all the boo-boo’s I have kissed, choir songs I have sung and played, meals I have cooked and delivered, garden produce I have shared, well, I think maybe I have accomplished what God and my parents have expected of me.”

The family would like to say a special thanks to the following people who showed her great love and care over the last chapter of her life: her dear friends who faithfully visited and checked in regularly, Ann Hunt, Debby Beane and Ruby Shirley; the best mail carrier in the world, Victoria Steed - seeing her smiling face each day brought Helen incredible joy; caregivers Margaret Green, Barbara Ritch Barefoot and Angela Ball (Regional Consolidated Services) who sel essly gave her dignity in her most fragile days. In addition, the Hospice of Randolph team provided invaluable care, compassion, and support: respite volunteer (Barbara Fahy), nurses (Marie Trogden and Stephanie Ritter), and nursing assistant (Danielle Odell).

A memorial gathering for family and friends will be held on Wednesday, August 13, from 2-4 p.m., at Pugh Funeral Home in Randleman, North Carolina. Contributions in Helen’s memory may be made to Hospice of Randolph and Walk by Faith Christian Camp, PO Box 77, Hays, North Carolina, 28635, in lieu of owers.

Pugh Funeral Home is honored to serve the Pendry family.

Dorothy “Dot” Harris Pate

April 6, 1923 – Aug. 8, 2025

Dorothy “Dot” Harris Pate, 102, of Staley, passed away on Friday, August 8, 2025, at Universal Health Care/Ramseur Rehab & Healthcare in Ramseur, having lived a remarkable life.

A Funeral Service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, August 16, 2025, at First Baptist Church of Ramseur with Pastor Wayne Dunn o ciating. The family will receive friends for a time of visitation following the service in the church fellowship hall. Burial will follow at Sunset Knoll Cemetery in Ramseur.

Dot was a native of Cumberland County and a longtime resident of Staley. She enjoyed caring for her family, especially if it meant spending time with her grandchildren. Dot was an excellent cook and enjoyed hosting her family for Sunday meals. She had a devout love for the Lord and was a member of First Baptist Church of Ramseur. Dot was preceded in death by her husband, M.J. Pate Jr., her parents, Thomas Jarvis and Maude McArthur Harris, numerous brothers and sisters, as well as her special daughtersin-law, Pat and Cathy Pate. Survivors: sons, Jimmy Pate and wife, Jo, of South Carolina, Phillip Pate, of Staley, Gordon Pate, of Franklinville, grandchildren, Andy, Rusty, Mickey, Holly, Jeremy, Debbie and Carolyn Pate, eight greatgrandchildren, as well as numerous nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Lo in Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Ramseur. Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church of Ramseur, P.O. Box 544, Ramseur, NC 27316.

Roy Thomas “Tommy” Coble

Jan. 20, 1944 – Aug. 7, 2025

Roy Thomas “Tommy” Coble, 81, of Liberty, passed away on Thursday, August 7, 2025, at his residence.

A Memorial Service with Military Honors by the Randolph County Honor Guard will be held at 3 p.m. on Saturday, August 16, 2025, at Lo in Funeral Home Chapel, Ramseur, with Rev. Jason Boggs o ciating. Tommy was a native and lifelong resident of Randolph County and proudly served our country as a veteran of the United States Navy. Tommy attended Business College in Burlington and retired from Randolph Telephone after twenty-seven years. The thing that brought Tommy the most joy was spending time with his friends, especially those mornings spent at the “Yall Come Back Cafe” or “Gas-NGuns”. He was a member of Staley Baptist Church and was preceded in death by his parents, Roy Clifton and Ruth Campbell Coble, his brother, Richard Coble, and stepfather, James Smith.

Survivors: wife of 57 years, Debbie Peacher Coble, of the home, daughter, Suzanne Rollins and husband, Mike, of Liberty, son, David Coble and wife, Sandra, of Oregon, grandchildren, Gavin Coble, of Oregon, Casey Rollins and wife, Paige, of Liberty, Trey Coble, of Oregon.

Condolences may be made online at www. lo infuneralservice.com.

Arrangements by Lo in Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Ramseur.

Alice Matilda Williams Luther

Oct. 8, 1930 – Aug. 9, 2025

Alice Matilda Williams Luther, 94, of Asheboro, went to be with the Lord on Saturday, August 9, 2025.

Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Wednesday, August 13, 2025, at Mt. Lebanon Baptist Church, where she was a member, with Rev. Joe Edwards and Pastor Farron Overton o ciating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.

Born October 8, 1930, in Randolph Co., NC, Mrs. Luther was the daughter of the late Thurman Reid Williams and Queen Esther Lathem Williams. She had many careers over the years but was happiest running her own beauty shop. She loved to cook for family and friends, would play word search games for hours, and had a special place in her heart for Chips Ahoy chocolate chip cookies. She had a great love for her family, especially her granddaughter. Above all, Mrs. Luther loved the Lord. Her greatest joy was seeing people saved and wanting everyone to go to Heaven. With her passing, Heaven gained another angel.

In addition to her parents, Mrs. Luther was preceded in death by her husband, Larkin Pierce Luther; sisters, Mary Edwards, Madelle Galloway; brothers, Robert S. Williams, Rev. Thurman Williams, II, and Rev. James (JB) Williams.

She is survived by her daughters, Kathy Luther Farlow (William Daryl) of Asheboro, Karen Luther Cooley (Ted) of Randleman; sisters, Pat W. Miller of Troy, Kay W. Luck of Asheboro; granddaughter, Jasmine Powers; great-grandson, William Pierce Leach; and 23 nieces and nephews.

The family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m. on Tuesday, August 12, 2025, at Ridge Funeral Home.

Aug. 6, 2025

Catherine Allred Bean, age 89, of Asheboro, passed away on August 6, 2025, at Alpine Health & Rehabilitation. Mrs. Bean was born in Franklinville to Carl and Viola Allred. She was employed with Acme-McCrary Corporation for

Mary “Bernice” Jester Cockerham

Oct. 28, 1927 – Aug. 8, 2025

Mary “Bernice” Jester Cockerham, age 97, of Asheboro, NC, passed away peacefully on August 8, 2025, at the Randolph Hospice House. Born on October 28, 1927, in Trinity, NC, she was the daughter of the late V.A. and Lizzie Jester. Bernice graduated from Trinity High School in 1944

Amanda Faith “Mandy” Smith Zimhelt

Sept. 16, 1985 – Aug. 7, 2025

Amanda Faith “Mandy” Smith Zirnhelt, 39, of Goodrich, MI, passed away on Thursday, August 7, 2025, after a courageous battle with a rare genetic disease. Throughout her sickness, Mandy’s faith in her Lord and Savior never wavered.

A Memorial Service will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, August 16, 2025, at Freedom Baptist Church in Asheboro with Pastor Tim Hall, Rev. Todd Daniel, and Rev. Josh Evans o ciating. The family

Clara Hunt Davis

Jan. 20, 1938 – Aug. 6, 2025

Clara Hunt Davis, 87, of Franklinville, passed away on Wednesday, August 6, 2025, at Randolph Hospice House in Asheboro.

A Funeral Service will be held at 3 p.m. on Saturday, August 9, 2025, at Whites Memorial Baptist Church in Franklinville with Pastor Alan Ritter, Mr. Chad Davis and Rev. Je Joyce o ciating. The family will receive friends prior to the service from 1:30-2:45 p.m. in the sanctuary.

Burial will follow in the church cemetery.

Clara was a native and lifelong resident of Randolph County, having retired after many years of working at Hancock Ham. She was a member of Whites Memorial Baptist Church, where

over 20 years. Catherine was a devout Christian in her belief and behavior. She was a member of Union Grove Baptist Church, where she taught Sunday School for over 25 years and sang in the choir. Catherine was a great homemaker, was known for her wonderful cooking, and taught gardening to her children and grandchildren. She could sew anything. She had a servant’s heart and was a wonderful role model. She loved UNC Basketball, but most of all, she loved her grandchildren, spoiling them rotten.

In addition to her parents, Carl and Viola Allred, Catherine was preceded in death by her husband, J. Franklin Bean, brothers, Wallace Allred, Eugene Allred, Ray Allred, and Franklin Allred, and sister, Irene Reynolds. She is survived by her son, Gary F. Bean (Debbie) of Asheboro; daughters, Donna G.

as valedictorian, earning the superlative “Best All Around” in her yearbook, which read, “If you are looking for a friendly, e cient, studious, and industrious girl, Bernice ts the part.” She went on to work in the textile industry for over 50 years, beginning at Bossong Hosiery and later becoming Plant Supervisor at Stedman Manufacturing.

A woman of strong faith, Bernice was deeply dedicated to her church and the people she loved. She enjoyed shopping, tending to her yard and owers, and keeping a tidy, organized home. She could drink co ee at any hour of the day and was always dressed up, ready to greet others with warmth. Her greatest joy came from spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren, with whom she would make up games, listen intently, and share her love. She cherished her brothers and sisters, loved her son-inlaw dearly, and held her role as a mother, grandmother, greatgrandmother, and great-great-

will receive friends following the service.

Mandy was born in Guilford County and was raised in Ramseur, NC. She was a 2003 graduate of Faith Christian School. Following graduation, Mandy attended Trinity Baptist College in Jacksonville, Florida, and later received her master’s from Liberty University. Mandy’s heart and passion for children were evident in her life of service to others. Mandy was preceded in death by her paternal grandparents, Harold and Mary Smith, her maternal grandparents, Hulin Marley and Eulah Spencer, as well as her special great-aunt Frances Simmons.

Survivors: husband, Brad Zirnhelt of the home, her precious daughter, Clara Faith Zirnhelt of the home, parents, Doug and Pat Smith of Ramseur, brother, Micah Smith and wife Nicole of Carthage, nieces, Emma, Aubrey, Hannah, Sadie and Beka Smith, nephew, Gunner Smith as well as several aunts, uncles and cousins on both sides of her family.

Arrangements by Lo in Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Ramseur.

she enjoyed teaching Sunday School for many years, as well as singing in both a trio and the choir. Clara enjoyed spending time with her family, and she always had a smile to share with those around her, bringing joy to the lives of many. Clara was preceded in death by her husband of 61 years, Henry Davis, daughter, Tressa Fox, her parents, Virgil and Mary Everhart Hunt and her sister, Elizabeth H. Cushman. Survivors: daughter, Henrietta “Penny” Trogdon (Deevon Yates), of Seagrove, son, Je rey “Scotty” Davis (Wanda), of Liberty, brother, Virgil Lee Hunt Jr., grandchildren, Taylor Norris, Chad Davis, Jeremy Davis, Tasha Fox, Jason Fox, Jessica Lavway, Nathan Trogdon, twelve greatgrandchildren, two great-greatgrandchildren, as well as one great-great-great-grandchild.

The family would like to express a special “thank you” to the sta of Clapp’s Convalescent Nursing Home and Hospice of Randolph for the care they provided to Ms. Clara and her family.

Arrangements provided by Lo in Funeral Home, Ramseur. Memorials may be made to the Whites Memorial Baptist Church Cemetery Fund, 2930 Whites Memorial Road., Franklinville, NC 27248.

Bean of Garner and Karen Bean Lewis (Daniel) of Matthews; grandchildren, Melissa, Bailey, Mandy, and Dusty; great grandchildren, Jacob, Destiny, Caleb, Gage, and Mason; greatgreat-grandchild, Brady; brothers, William Carl Allred Jr., Clancy L. Allred, and Lonnie M. Allred all of Franklinville; and sisters, Louise Allred of Franklinville and Ruth Allred of Asheboro. The family will receive friends on Sunday, August 10, 2025, from 2-3 p.m. at Union Grove Baptist Church, 7912 Union Grove Church Road in Seagrove. Funeral services will follow on Sunday at 3 p.m. at the church, with Dr. Ron Chaney o ciating. Burial will be held at the church cemetery. In lieu of owers, donations may be made to the Union Grove Baptist Church Cemetery Fund. Pugh Funeral Home in Asheboro is proudly serving the Bean family.

grandmother close to her heart. She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert Cockerham; her parents, V.A. and Lizzie Jester; her sister, Bertha Russell; and her brothers, Dallas and Albert Jester.

Bernice is survived by her daughter, Lynn Tesh (Ron); grandchildren, Jennifer Richardson (Rodney) and Amanda Cromartie (Tom); great-grandchildren, Kaitlyn Kiser (Kevin), Walker Hopkins (Alice), William Cromartie, and James Cromartie; great-greatgrandchildren, Kinslee Kiser, Klara Kiser, and Wylder Hopkins; brother, Fred Jester; and sister, Betty Snyder.

The family will receive friends on Wednesday, August 13, 2025, from 12:45–1:45 p.m. at the Glenn “Mac” Pugh Chapel, 437 Sunset Ave, Asheboro. The funeral service will follow at 2 p.m., with Rev Luke Jackson and Pastor Wilson Harries o ciating. Burial will be held at Randolph Memorial Park afterwards.

Catherine Allred Bean

STATE & NATION

Ousted FDA vaccine chief Prasad returning to position in agency

He’s back just weeks after departing

The Associated Press

WASHINGTON, D.C. — A Food and Drug Administration o cial is getting his job back as the agency’s top vaccine regulator, less than two weeks after he was pressured to step down at the urging of biotech executives, patient groups and conservative allies of President Donald Trump. Dr. Vinay Prasad is resuming leadership of the FDA center that regulates vaccines and bio-

tech therapies, a spokesperson for the Department of Health and Human Services said in a statement Monday.

Prasad left the agency late last month after drawing ire of right-wing activists, including Laura Loomer, because of his past statements criticizing Trump.

A longtime a critic of FDA’s standards for approving medicines, Prasad brie y ordered the maker of a gene therapy for Duchenne’s muscular dystrophy to halt shipments after two patient deaths. But that action triggered pushback from the families of boys with the fatal

Trump to place DC police under federal control, deploy National Guard

AG Pam Bondi will be taking over Washington’s metro police department

By David Klepper

The Associated Press

WASHINGTON, D.C. —

President Donald Trump said Monday that he’s deploying the National Guard across Washington and taking over the city’s police department in the hopes of reducing crime, even as the city’s mayor has noted that crime is falling in the nation’s capital.

The Republican president, who said he was formally declaring a public safety emergency, compared crime in the American capital with that in other major cities, saying Washington performs poorly on safety relative to the capitals of Iraq, Brazil and Colombia, among others.

Trump also said at his news brie ng that his administration has started removing homeless encampments “from all over our parks, our beautiful, beautiful parks.”

“We’re getting rid of the slums, too,” Trump said, adding that the U.S. would not lose its cities and that Washington was just a start.

U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi will be taking over responsibility for Washington’s metro police department, he said, while also complaining about potholes and grati in the city and calling them “embarrassing.”

For Trump, the e ort to take over public safety in Washington re ects a next step in his law enforcement agenda after his aggressive push to stop illegal border crossings. But the move involves at least 500 federal law enforcement o cials as well as the National Guard, raising fundamental questions about how an increasingly em-

boldened federal government will interact with its state and local counterparts.

Combating crime

The president has used his social media and White House megaphones to message that his administration is tough on crime, yet his ability to shape policy might be limited outside of Washington, which has a unique status as a congressionally established federal district. Nor is it clear how his push would address the root causes of homelessness and crime.

Trump said he is invoking Section 740 of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act to deploy members of the National Guard.

About 500 federal law enforcement o cers are being tasked with deploying throughout the nation’s capital as part of the Trump administration’s effort to combat crime, a person familiar with the matter told The

Associated Press on Monday.

More than 100 FBI agents and about 40 agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are among federal law enforcement personnel being assigned to patrols in Washington, the person briefed on the plans said. The Drug Enforcement Administration, Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Marshals Service are also contributing o cers.

The person was not authorized to publicly discuss personnel matters and spoke to the AP on the condition of anonymity. The Justice Department didn’t immediately have a comment Monday morning.

The National Guard

Mayor Muriel Bowser, a Democrat, questioned the effectiveness of using the Guard to enforce city laws and said the federal government could be far more helpful by funding more

prosecutors or lling the 15 vacancies on the D.C. Superior Court, some of which have been open for years.

Bowser cannot activate the National Guard herself, but she can submit a request to the Pentagon.

“I just think that’s not the most e cient use of our Guard,” she said Sunday on MSNBC’s “The Weekend,” acknowledging it is “the president’s call about how to deploy the Guard.”

Bowser was making her rst public comments since Trump started posting about crime in Washington last week. She noted that violent crime in Washington has decreased since a rise in 2023. Trump’s weekend posts depicted the district as “one of the most dangerous cities anywhere in the World.”

For Bowser, “Any comparison to a war-torn country is hyperbolic and false.”

Focusing on homelessness

Trump in a Sunday social media post had emphasized the removal of Washington’s homeless population, though it was unclear where the thousands of people would go.

“The Homeless have to move out, IMMEDIATELY,” Trump wrote Sunday. “We will give you places to stay, but FAR from the Capital. The Criminals, you don’t have to move out. We’re going to put you in jail where you belong.”

Last week, the Republican president directed federal law enforcement agencies to increase their presence in Washington for seven days, with the option “to extend as needed.”

On Friday night, federal agencies including the Secret Service, the FBI and the U.S. Marshals Service assigned more than 120 o cers and agents to assist in Washington.

Trump said last week that he was considering ways for the federal government to seize

condition and libertarian supporters of increased access to experimental medicines.

Prasad’s decision to pause the therapy was criticized by The Wall Street Journal editorial board, former Republican Sen. Rick Santorum and others. The FDA swiftly reversed its decision suspending the therapy’s use. Loomer posted online that Prasad was “a progressive leftist saboteur,” noting his history of praising liberal independent Sen. Bernie Sanders. But Prasad has had the backing of FDA Commissioner Marty Makary and health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who have both called for scrutinizing the use of COVID-19 vaccines. Under Prasad, the FDA restricted the approval of two new COVID-19 shots from vaccine makers Novavax and Moderna and set stricter testing requirements for future approvals.

control of Washington, asserting that crime was “ridiculous” and the city was “unsafe,” after the recent assault of a high-prole member of the Department of Government E ciency.

Crime statistics

Police statistics show homicides, robberies and burglaries are down this year when compared with this time in 2024. Overall, violent crime is down 26% compared with this time a year ago.

Trump o ered no details in Truth Social posts over the weekend about possible new actions to address crime levels he argues are dangerous for citizens, tourists and workers alike. The White House declined to o er additional details about Monday’s announcement.

The police department and the mayor’s o ce did not respond to questions about what Trump might do next.

The president criticized the district as full of “tents, squalor, lth, and Crime,” and he seems to have been set o by the attack on Edward Coristine, among the most visible gures of the bureaucracy-cutting effort known as DOGE. Police arrested two 15-year-olds in the attempted carjacking and said they were looking for others.

“This has to be the best run place in the country, not the worst run place in the country,” Trump said last Wednesday.

He called Bowser “a good person who has tried, but she has been given many chances.”

Trump has repeatedly suggested that the rule of Washington could be returned to federal authorities. Doing so would require a repeal of the Home Rule Act of 1973 in Congress, a step Trump said lawyers are examining. It could face steep pushback.

Bowser acknowledged that the law allows the president to take more control over the city’s police, but only if certain conditions are met.

“None of those conditions exist in our city right now,” she said. “We are not experiencing a spike in crime. In fact, we’re watching our crime numbers go down.”

Dr. Vinay Prasad is returning to head the FDA’s vaccine regulation center shortly after resigning under pressure from critics.

ALEX BRANDON / AP PHOTO

President Donald Trump holds a press conference Monday in the James Brady Press Brie ng Room at the White House.

RandolpH SPORTS

Randolph County Post 45’s Braxton Walker slides into second base during a Southeast Regional baseball game vs. Troy (Ala.) Post 70.

Post 45 bounced early in Southeast Regional

Randolph County had trouble keeping opponents in check during the tournament

Randolph Record sta

ASHEBORO — Randolph County Post 45 didn’t have enough answers during last week’s Southeast Regional in American Legion baseball.

The host team was eliminated on the third day of play in the

Marsh

eight-team double-elimination tournament at McCrary Park. Games were contested on parts of fth days in the rain-hampered regional.

It marked the second year in a row that Post 45 failed to reach the two-win mark during regional play. The team nished this season with a 24-10 record.

Randolph County opened play with an 11-0 loss to Troy (Ala.) Post 70 in a game pushed back to a late-night start because of rain impacting the

puts together solid summer

The Asheboro athlete played in the Cape Cod League before his season ended during the weekend

By Bob Sutton Randolph Record

FORMER Asheboro baseball player Tanner Marsh was named to a spot for the Cape Cod League All-Star Game this summer.

Marsh, shortstop was selected for the midseason showcase last month in the country’s premier collegiate summer league.

Marsh, a rising junior at Liberty, played this summer for the Harwich Mariners. By season’s end, his batting average was .277 plus 20 walks in 28 regular-season games. He was successful on eight of 11 stolen-base attempts.

Harwich reached the postseason but lost to the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox in the decisive Game 3 of the Eastern Division nals Sunday.

The Coastal Plain League nals involved a clutch moment for an ex-Asheboro player

Marsh also is a past standout for Randolph County Post 45.

Tobs wins CPL

The Wilson Tobs won the Coastal Plain League championship for the rst time, using a big comeback Sunday night.

The Tobs overcame an eight-run de cit to defeat the host Forest City Owls 10-9 in the championship series to claim the Petitt Cup. Trailing 8-1 going to the six inning, after a pair of two-run frames the Tobs took the lead with a ve-run eighth capped by Chase Waddell’s three-run double. Waddell, a former Asheboro player in the CPL, drove in four runs in the game.

Wilson won 3-2 in Game 1 on Saturday night at home.

slate earlier in the day. Post 45 had only three hits while striking out 11 times in the six-inning game against Troy. Braxton Walker was the losing pitcher in relief.

Then Post 45 ended a four-game regional losing streak that extended to its elimination in 2023 by defeating Owensboro (Ky.) Post 9 by 7-2 last Thursday night.

Brett Smith pitched six innings with seven strikeouts, and Randolph County extend-

Forest City eliminated the Boone Bigfoots in two games in the semi nal series. Wilson reached the nals by sweeping the Peninsula Pilots.

Lemons halts

baseball pursuits

Former Randleman pitcher Austin Lemons said he has shut down his baseball career. Lemons, who graduated from high school in 2023, spent a redshirt season in 2024 with UNC Greensboro. He played for Brunswick Community College in 2025 without picking up a decision in seven relief appearances for the Dolphins (51-10).

ed a 3-2 lead with a four-run mark in the top of the seventh.

Jake Riddle, who provided one inning of shutout relief, posted two hits for Post 45 and teammates Carter Brown and Zack Scruggs each had a double. Owensboro nished with a 19-7 record.

Last Friday, Richland County (S.C.) Post 6 ousted Randolph County by rallying for a 13-4 victory. Post 45 posted a three-run rst inning but couldn’t maintain the momentum.

Richland County took control with a four-run third and a ve-run fourth inning. Post 45 starting pitcher Lincoln Coble took the loss and Parker Kines surrendered four runs in 21⁄3 innings of relief.

Randolph County managed four hits, including a double from Braxton Walker, and six

PREP NOTES

Asheville Post 70 ended up as the regional champion to keep its season alive.

walks in what became its season nale. Brown, Tate Andrews and Riddle all drove in one run. North Carolina state champion Asheville Post 70 became the regional champion, advancing to the American Legion World Series in Shelby. Asheville defeated defending national champion Troy twice, winning 4-3 on Friday and then 7-6 in eight innings Sunday. Troy needed to win that Sunday matchup to force a winnertake-all clash later that day, but it didn’t happen.

Check on names of new conferences

With realignment within the NCHSAA, it means di erent league groupings for area schools

By Bob Sutton Randolph Record

AS THE HIGH school sports season for schools within the North Carolina High School Athletic Association began this week, it’s time to check on the new conference names. NCHSAA realignment kicks in this school year following the past four-year cycle. The eight member schools from Randolph County are spread among four conferences after occupying spots in just two leagues during the past cycle. Eastern Randolph, Southwestern Randolph and Uwharrie Charter Academy are in the Four Rivers Conference. They’re joined by Jordan-Matthews, North Moore and Northwood — all previously part of the nine-school Mid-Carolina Conference.

Providence Grove, Trinity and Wheatmore are in the Central Carolina 3-A Conference. They’re joined by schools to the west — East Davidson, West Davidson and Thomasville. Randleman is in the Piedmont Athletic Conference with all new conference colleagues. The other schools in the league are High Point Andrews, High Point Central, Central Davidson, Ledford, Lexington and Montgomery Central. Asheboro is in the Triad Area Athletic Six. While still without any other county schools in their league, the Blue Comets have an entire new list of conference mates compared to the last four years. Those schools are Eastern Guilford, Northeast Guilford, Northern Guilford, Southeast Guilford and Southern Guilford. Looking back

The Wells Fargo Conference Cup award is a companion to the

See PREP, page B2

PJ WARD-BROWN / RANDOLPH RECORD

COURTESY

Tanner Marsh

Jackson Rhyne

Providence Grove, multiple sports

Rhyne participated in four sports and was a key contributor for the Patriots in all of them.

As a senior, he gained all-conference status for football and track and eld.

In track and eld, he was the Piedmont Athletic Conference runner-up in the 110-meter hurdles and tied for the second-best mark in the high jump.

Rhyne was a member of the PAC championship boys’ golf team. He tied for 35th in the Class 2A Midwest Regional with the fourth-best score among entrants from PAC schools.

Rhyne also was class president.

During the summer, we recognize seniors from the past school year.

PREP from page B1

statewide Wells Fargo State Cup. It’s based on regular-season performances within conference play and is designed to recognize the best interscholastic athletic program in each NCHSAA conference.

Randleman was the Piedmont Athletic Conference’s Conference Cup winner for 2024-25. The PAC included seven schools from Randolph County.

Oak Grove was the top school in the Mid-Piedmont Conference, which included Asheboro.

Kelly’s NCHSAA induction comes Saturday

The induction of retired Trinity coach Tim Kelly into the North Carolina High School Athletic Association’s Hall of Fame is set for 5:30 p.m. Saturday at Embassy Suites in Cary.

Kelly won nearly 600 games and a state championship as boys’ basketball coach, beginning in 1981. He retired following the 2023-24 season. He also coached football and cross country at Trinity. There are eight inductees in NCHSAA Hall of Fame class.

Bridgeman proved having PGA Tour card enough to earn way in golf’s top circuit

“But if we perform, there’s an opportunity to make an unbelievable living,” Villegas said.

Bridgeman performed.

By Doug Ferguson The Associated Press

HIS ROOKIE year on the PGA Tour was challenging enough for Jacob Bridgeman.

He got in 20 tournaments, none of them majors or The Players Championship, $20 million signature events or the FedEx Cup playo s. He did just well enough to keep his heart rate down and his ranking inside the top 125 to keep his card.

And then the PGA Tour approved a plan during thenal week of 2024 to reduce the number of players keeping their cards to 100.

Gulp.

“I think it makes it tougher and tougher on the rookies,” Bridgeman said. “I feel like my rookie year was really hard, and this one was probably harder because there were less cards.”

Bridgeman said he was neutral toward the change. The purpose was to make sure anyone who had a card could get into enough tournaments, and smaller elds in 2026 would keep rounds from not nishing because of darkness. And yes, it would be more competitive than ever.

Camilo Villegas was chairman of Player Advisory Council that proposed the changes and acknowledged it would be harder to keep a card.

REPORT

SIDELINE

MLB

Rivera tears Achilles in Yankees Old-Timers’ Day game, needs surgery

New York

Bridgeman is No. 33 in the FedEx Cup, all but assured of staying in the top 50 to advance to the BMW Championship that will get him in all eight of the $20 million signature events next year. The ultimate goal — the Tour Championship — is well within range.

Bridgeman began his sophomore season without assurances of being in any of the majors or the signature events. He closed with a 64 at the Cognizant Classic for a runner-up nish, getting him into Bay Hill and The Players Championship. He slept on the lead the opening three rounds at the Valspar Championship and nished third, getting him into another signature event at the RBC Heritage.

He was among the last three players o the FedEx Cup to ll the eld at the Truist Championship and tied for fourth, and his standing also got him into the U.S. Open.

Bridgeman wound up playing ve signature events, two majors and The Players. He felt it was a disadvantage at the start. It turned into a big year that isn’t over just yet.

“Not being in those at the beginning of the year was tough,” Bridgeman said. “I went through that last year. I knew how that was and played past all that and still kept my card. I felt like it was a disadvantage,

Mariano Rivera tore his Achilles while chasing a y ball at New York Yankees’ Old-Timers’ Day. The 55-year-old closer, baseball’s career leader in saves, will have surgery within a week. The Yankees brought back the OldTimers’ Day game for the rst time since 2019. Rivera, a Hall of Famer, was playing in the event for the second time. He became the rst unanimous pick for the Hall of Fame in 2019 after helping the Yankees win ve World Series titles.

NFL

Lamb takes big hit from sprinting o cial while in street clothes on sideline

Inglewood, Calif.

CeeDee Lamb took a big hit and committed a penalty in the Dallas Cowboys’ preseason opener even though the star receiver wasn’t in uniform. A sprinting o cial ran straight into Lamb’s back on the sideline during the second quarter of the Cowboys’ game against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium, resulting in a 15-yard penalty for making contact with an o cial. Dressed in street clothes, Lamb was watching a deep pass when he wandered too far into the white paint on the sideline. The o cial didn’t see him and knocked him down.

for sure, but not that it was unattainable.

“I just knew if I played well I’d have a chance,” he said. “That was one my goals is playing a signature event early. I got in the Arnold Palmer and rode the wave all the way through.”

That’s how it has been for the 25-year-old Bridgeman. He was No. 2 in the PGA Tour University his senior year at Clemson, which got him Korn Ferry Tour status. He spent 2023 on the developmental circuit and graduated to the PGA Tour.

Being in all the signature events is an advantage, but not a guarantee. Fourteen players who nished in the top 50 last year failed to make it to the postseason.

Three players who were not among the top 50 last year — U.S. Open champion J.J. Spaun, Harris English and Ben Gri n — start the postseason in the top 10.

The turnover rate for those who quali ed for the FedEx Cup playo s was at 30% — 21 players nished in the top 70 who weren’t in Memphis last year.

The signature events were a source of consternation when they were rst introduced, mainly the uncertainty of a level playing eld. J.T. Poston said it best.

“As long as there’s a way you still have to perform to stay in, and there’s an avenue for guys who aren’t in to play their way in, I don’t think there’s an issue,” he said.

Turns out it wasn’t for Bridgeman.

NBA

Celtics sign coach Mazzulla to multiyear contract extension

Boston

The Boston Celtics signed coach Joe Mazzulla to a multiyear contract extension. Length and details of the new deal were not released. The 37-year-old Mazzulla is coming o his third season as Boston’s coach and has guided the team to the playo s each season, including the franchise’s 18th NBA title to cap the 2023-24 season. Under Mazzulla, the Celtics have won at least 57 games each of those seasons and topped 60 victories in each of the last two.

NCAA FOOTBALL

Notre Dame loses TE Bauman, RB Young to season- ending knee injuries

South Bend, Ind. Notre Dame announced sixth-year tight end Kevin Bauman and second-year running back Kedren Young su ered season-ending knee injuries in practice. Bauman su ered an articular cartilage injury in his left knee, which will require surgery. He announced on social media this will be the end of his football career. Young tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee. Bauman was expected to play a key role for the Fighting Irish this season. Young was projected to add depth to Notre Dame’s already deep back eld.

The former Clemson player is making progress on the tour

CAROLYN KASTER / AP PHOTO

Jacob Bridgeman tees o during the rst round of the U.S. Open in June.

pen & paper pursuits

this week in history

King of Rock ’n’ Roll, Queen of Soul die; Woodstock begins; Roanoke Colony vanishes

The Associated Press

AUG. 14

1935: President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Social Security Act into law, ensuring income for elderly Americans and creating a federal unemployment insurance program.

1945: President Harry S. Truman announced that Imperial Japan had surrendered unconditionally, ending World War II.

1947: Pakistan gained independence from British rule.

1994: Ilich Ramirez Sanchez, the terrorist known as “Carlos the Jackal,” was captured by French agents in Sudan.

AUG. 15

1057: Macbeth, King of Scots, was killed in battle by Malcolm, the eldest son of King Duncan, whom Macbeth had slain.

1935: Humorist Will Rogers and aviator Wiley Post were killed when their airplane crashed in the Alaska Territory.

1947: India gained independence after nearly 200 years of British rule.

1969: The Woodstock Music and Art Fair opened in upstate New York; more than 460,000 people attended the three-day festival.

AUG. 16

1977: Elvis Presley died at his Graceland estate in Memphis, Tennessee, at 42.

2018: Singer Aretha Franklin, known as the “Queen

to nd it deserted; the fate of the “Lost Colony” remains a mystery.

1914: President Woodrow Wilson issued his Proclamation of Neutrality, aimed at keeping the United States out of World War I.

1920: The 19th Amendment to the Constitution, guaranteeing American women’s right to vote, was rati ed as Tennessee became the 36th state to approve it.

1963: James Meredith became the rst black student to graduate from the University of Mississippi.

AUG. 19

of Soul,” died in Detroit at 76.

1777: American forces won the Battle of Bennington in what was considered a turning point of the Revolutionary War.

1948: Baseball legend Babe Ruth died in New York at 53.

AUG. 17

1807: Robert Fulton’s North River Steamboat made its rst voyage, heading up the Hudson River on a successful round trip between New York City and Albany.

1863: Federal batteries and ships began bombarding Fort Sumter in Charleston harbor during the Civil War.

1945: George Orwell’s novel “Animal Farm,” an allegorical satire of Soviet Communism, was rst published.

1959: Trumpeter Miles Davis released “Kind of Blue,” regarded as one of the most in uential jazz albums of all time.

AUG. 18

1590: John White, governor of the Roanoke Island colony in present-day North Carolina, returned after three years

1692: Four men and one woman were hanged for witchcraft in Salem, Massachusetts Bay Colony; John Proctor’s story later inspired Arthur Miller’s “The Crucible.”

1812: The USS Constitution defeated the British frigate HMS Guerriere o Nova Scotia during the War of 1812: Earning the nickname “Old Ironsides.”

1854: Thirty-one U.S. soldiers were killed after one of the soldiers fatally shot Brule Lakota Chief Conquering Bear, sparking the First Sioux War.

AUG. 20

1858: Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution was rst published, in the “Journal of the Proceedings of the Linnean Society”.

1866: President Andrew Johnson declared the o cial end of the Civil War.

1882: Tchaikovsky’s “1812 Overture” had its premiere in Moscow.

1940: Exiled communist revolutionary Leon Trotsky was attacked in Mexico by assassin Ramon Mercader; he died the next day.

“ELVIS LIVE WITH SCOTTY MOORE AND BILL BLACK” VIA WIKIPEDIA

Elvis Presley, the King of Rock ’n’ Roll, died Aug. 16, 1977. He was 42.

AP PHOTO

A portion of the hundreds of thousands of concertgoers who attended the Woodstock Music and Art Fair attend the iconic Bethel, New York, event Aug. 15, 1969.

Former Rolling Stone says MET has his stolen guitar

The museum denies guitarist Mick Taylor’s claim

By Jill Lawless

The Associated Press

LONDON — It’s only rock ’n’ roll, but it’s messy.

A guitar once played by two members of the Rolling Stones is at the center of a dispute between the band’s former guitarist Mick Taylor and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

The 1959 Gibson Les Paul was donated to the Met as part of what the New York museum calls “a landmark gift of more than 500 of the nest guitars from the golden age of American guitar making.” The donor is Dirk Zi , a billionaire investor and guitar collector.

When the Met announced the gift in May, Taylor thought he recognized the guitar, with its distinctive “starburst” nish, as an instrument he last saw in 1971, when the Stones were recording the album “Exile on Main St.” at Keith Richards’ rented villa in the south of France.

In the haze of drugs and rock ’n’ roll that pervaded the sessions, a number of instruments went missing, believed stolen.

Now Taylor and his team believe it has reappeared. The Met says provenance records show no evidence the

“Mick did tell me that the guitar solo that he became quite famous for, on ‘Can’t You Hear Me Knocking,’ was with the Les Paul that got stolen.”

Je Allen, publicist and manager

guitar ever belonged to Taylor.

“This guitar has a long and well-documented history of ownership,” museum spokesperson Ann Bailis said.

Taylor’s partner and business manager, Marlies Damming, said the Met should make the guitar “available for inspection.”

“An independent guitar expert should be able to ascertain the guitar’s provenance one way or the other,” she said.

While its ownership is contested, there’s no disputing the instrument’s starring role in rock history. It was owned in the early 1960s by Keith Richards, who played it during the Rolling Stones’ rst appearance on “The Ed Sullivan Show” in 1964. The Met says that performance “ignited interest in this legendary model.”

The guitar — nicknamed the “Keithburst” — was also played by guitar legends Eric Clapton and Jimmy Page. Taylor says he got it from Richards in 1967, two years before he joined the Stones, replacing original member Brian Jones. Jones died in 1969. Taylor left the band in 1974,

reuniting with them for the Stones’ 50th anniversary tour in 2012-13.

Je Allen, who was Taylor’s manager and publicist for decades from the 1990s, said Taylor “told me he got it as a present from Keith,” and also mentioned the theft.

“Mick did tell me that the guitar solo that he became quite famous for, on ‘Can’t You Hear Me Knocking,’ was with the Les Paul that got stolen,” Allen said.

The Met’s records say the Les Paul was owned by Richards until 1971, when it was acquired by record producer and manager Adrian Miller, who died in 2006.

The guitar was put up for auction by Christie’s in 2004, when it failed to sell. Zi bought it in 2016 and loaned it to the Met in 2019 for an exhibition titled “Play it Loud: Instruments of Rock & Roll.”

It’s unclear what will happen next. The Met, which plans to open a new gallery dedicated to its collection of American guitars, says it has not been contacted by Taylor or his representatives.

Mick Jagger, center, Ronnie Wood, left, and Mick Taylor of

Glastonbury, England, in 2013.

Jason Mott’s ‘People Like Us’ explores struggles of semi-fame

Two writers try to nd peace and belonging in a violent world

By Clare Solly

The Associated Press

HOW DOES ONE follow up writing “A Hell of a Book” that wins the National Book Award? If you’re Jason Mott, you write a sort-of, not-really, by all legal terms ctionalized — according to the forward — autobiographical story about what life is like as a semi-famous writer. Or actually you write two viewpoints: one about a writer running away from his roots that seem to be choking the life out of him, and the other about a writer running to help soothe the roots that made him.

The rst, a middle-aged man who wrote said award-winning novel, is constantly misrecognized because writers, even award-winning ones, don’t have status like lm stars. Sometimes he goes along with it, and he agrees with them, for good reason; there is safety in being someone else. The second is a man who can’t seem to outrun what it means to be American or a stalker who threatened to kill him, both showing up, often when least expected. This makes man No. 2 run not only from death and America but to seek out purchasing a gun, because his

“People Like Us” author Jason Mott’s rst novel, “The Returned,” was a New York Times bestseller and was adapted into a TV series.

fame isn’t able to protect him. This novel, reminiscent of “The Invisible Man” and the works of Colson Whitehead and Ta-Nehisi Coates, has an inquisitive stance on things like time travel, sea monsters, death of loved ones and guns, and what each can do to a man, especially those who seem to be the referential mouthpiece of what it means to be an American today. One man meanders through Minnesota, o ering support to the masses through speaking engagements. The other lands

SOLUTIONS FOR THIS WEEK

Author Jason Mott has degrees in ction and poetry, both from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington.

what seems to be a dream job in “Europeland.” Through old memories, the drudgery of book tours, the never ending “what’s next” endlessly questioning their creativity, both imagine what could be and what could have been. The ipping between the two men’s viewpoints of the world and what it can o er is humorous one moment and tugs at the right heartstrings the next. This roller coaster ride lled with quips and wordplay personalizes some of the most tragic moments in America’s recent history. The tragedy and pain through this never-ending climb to make sense of all that has come before, and all that will come after, is “like Sisyphus, a man who never misses leg day.”

Filled with highlightable quotes and moments that make you stop and look around to see if anyone else is experiencing what you’re reading, Mott’s “People Like Us” echoes the pain and mystery of where life leads, the choices it hands us and the hope and desire for change.

JOEL RYAN / INVISION / AP PHOTO

The Rolling Stones perform in

DUTTON VIA AP

famous birthdays this week

Madonna hits 67, Robert DeNiro is 82, Robert Redford turns 89

The Associated Press THESE CELEBRITIES have birthdays this week.

AUG. 14

Former NFL quarterback John Brodie is 90. Comedian-actor Steve Martin is 80. Author Danielle Steel is 78. “Far Side” cartoonist Gary Larson is 75. Basketball Hall of Famer Earvin “Magic” Johnson is 66.

AUG. 15

Actor Jim Dale is 90. Retired Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer is 87. Author-journalist Linda Ellerbee is 81. Songwriter Jimmy Webb is 79. Britain’s Princess Anne is 75. Actor Ben A eck is 53.

AUG. 16

Ballerina Suzanne Farrell is 80. Actor Lesley Ann Warren is 79. Kathie Lee Gi ord is 72. Director James Cameron is 71. Madonna is 67. Actor Timothy Hutton is 65. Actor Steve Carell is 63.

AUG. 17

Actor Robert DeNiro is 82. Businessman Larry Ellison is 81. Actor Sean Penn is 65. College Basketball Hall of Famer Christian Laettner is 56.

AUG. 18

Actor-director Robert Redford is 89. Actor Denis Leary is 68. ABC News reporter Bob Woodru is

the stream

Vanessa Kirby, Maroon 5, Madden NFL 26, Alicia

Silverstone and ‘The Chicken Sisters’

A new box set honors

Cli ord Antone, owner of the storied Austin, Texas venue Antone’s

The Associated Press

VANESSA KIRBY starring in a gritty lm about the aspirations of home ownership, “Night Always Comes,” and Maroon 5 releasing their eighth studio album with songs featuring Lil Wayne and Blackpink’s LISA are some of the new television, lms, music and games headed to a device near you.

Also, among the streaming o erings worth your time: Alicia Silverstone leading a new TV crime drama called “Irish Blood,” the multigenerational, wholesome drama “The Chicken Sisters” rolls out its second season on Hallmark and EA Sports jumps aboard the arti cial intelligence bandwagon with Madden NFL 26.

MOVIES TO STREAM

Isaiah Saxon’s “The Legend of Ochi” (streaming Friday on HBO Max) is a handcrafted fantasy throwback seeking to conjure the kind of magic once found in movies like “The Never Ending Story.”

The A24 lm stars Helena Zengel as Yuri, a girl who runs away from the forest home she shared with her father (Willem Dafoe) and brother (Finn Wolfhard). She leaves with a baby Ochi; a creature hunted by her father. In her review, AP Film Writer Lindsey Bahr wrote that “(The Legend of Ochi) has the feeling of a lm you might have stumbled on and loved as a kid.”

Kirby may be one of the standout performers of the summer blockbuster “The Fantastic Four: First Steps,” but she also stars in a gritty new lm about the aspirations of home ownership. In “Night Always Comes” (Thursday on Net ix), Kirby plays a woman going to extreme lengths to secure a home for her family. The movie, directed by Benjamin Caron and adapted from Willy Vlautin’s best-selling novel, takes place over a single night.

MUSIC TO STREAM

Maroon 5 will release their eighth studio album, “Love is

“(The Legend of Ochi) has the feeling of a lm you might have stumbled on and loved as a kid.”

Lindsey

Bahr, AP lm writer

Like,” on Friday via Interscope Records. Expect smooth, funky pop music — like the sultry “All Night.” Singer Adam Levine and Co. continue their trend of unexpected and delightful collaborations as well, with songs featuring Lil Wayne, Sexyy Red and Blackpink’s LISA. You read that correctly. Antone opened Antone’s, one of the most storied music venues in Austin, Texas, with an inaugural performance by the King of Zydeco, Clifton Chenier in 1975. In the decades since, Antone’s has become the stu of

mythology; a performance space that embraces its history and looks towards its future. On Friday, a new box set from New West Records seeks to celebrate Antone’s legacy with “Antone’s: 50 Years of the Blues.”

SERIES TO STREAM

The multigenerational, wholesome drama “The Chicken Sisters” rolls out its second season on Hallmark. The series stars Schuyler Fisk, Lea Thompson, Wendie Malick and Genevieve Angelson as family members in a small town divided over their rival fried chicken businesses. It’s based on a novel of the same name. The series is streaming on Hallmark+. Silverstone leads the new crime drama called “Irish Blood.” She plays Fiona, a woman who has been led to believe her father abandoned her as a child — and has carried around some heavy emotional baggage ever since.

When she learns the truth is more complicated — not to mention dangerous — she heads to Ireland to investigate. The premiere of the six-part show is streaming on Acorn TV. A new one for the kiddos is the Disney Jr. series “Iron Man and his Awesome Friends,” on Disney+. The rst 10 episodes are now available. The show follows besties and fellow geniuses, Tony Stark, Riri Williams and Amadeus Cho, who team up to solve problems.

Chris Hemsworth continues his quest to live a healthier, more present and longer life in a second season of “Limitless,” now called “Limitless: Live Better Now.” The three-part docuseries sees Hemsworth learn more about brain power (with help from his friend and recording artist Ed Sheeran), risk and pain. The three episodes stream on Hulu and Disney+ beginning Friday.

VIDEO GAMES TO PLAY

EA Sports is jumping aboard the arti cial intelligence bandwagon with Madden NFL 26, promising “a new AI-powered machine learning system trained by real play calls and game situations over nearly a decade.” The most intriguing additions are QB DNA and Coach DNA — so, for example, if you’re playing the Kansas City Chiefs, you’ll see the kind of moves you’d expect from Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid. As always, the goal is to get ever closer to real-life football, with more dynamic weather e ects, more details from pro stadiums and the return (at last!) of team mascots. The cover model this season is Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley, who’ll be ready to start leaping over defenders Thursday on PlayStation 5, Xbox X/S, Switch 2 and PC.

Alicia Silverstone stars in the series “Irish Blood” on AcornTV.

Helena Zengel plays Yuri in the new fantasy lm “The Legend of Ochi.”

HOKE COUNTY

Back the blue

The

County Republican

WHAT’S HAPPENING

Canada’s Gildan Activewear buying HanesBrands for $2.2B

Gildan Activewear is buying HanesBrands for $2.2 billion, giving the basic apparel maker access to brands including Hanes and Maidenform. The companies put the transaction’s valued at about $4.4 billion when including debt. The combined company will maintain a strong presence in Winston-Salem where HanesBrands is located.

U.S. in ation held steady as mild tari hit o set by cheaper gas, food

U.S. in ation was unchanged in July as rising prices for some imported goods were balanced by falling gas and grocery prices, leaving overall prices modestly higher than a year ago. The gures suggest that slowing rent increases and cheaper gas are o setting some impacts of President Donald Trump’s sweeping tari s. Many businesses are also absorbing much of the cost of the duties. Tuesday’s gures likely include some impact from the 10% universal tari Trump imposed in April, as well as higher duties on countries such as China and Canada.

U.S., China extend trade truce for 90 days

President Donald Trump extended a trade truce with China for another 90 days Monday, at least delaying once again a dangerous showdown between the world’s two biggest economies. The previous deadline was set to expire at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday.

more than 60 law enforcement

2 Hoke County School employees receive national library grants

Marian Elliott and Charmain Gibson received the awards from the Laura Bush Foundation

By Ryan Henkel North State Journal

RAEFORD — Two Hoke County Schools employees received recognition this summer as the recipients of national grants. At the Hoke County Schools Board of Education’s Aug. 12 regular business meeting, two district librarians were recognized for receiving Laura Bush Foundation for America’s Libraries Grants.

“For the very rst time in our school district’s history, two of our librarians received the prestigious award,” said Library Media Services Coordinator Karen Nichols. “It’s a big deal, a national program that has awarded over $23 million to schools since 2002. It’s un-

Raeford

Candidates respond to questions about their city, experience and plans

By Elaina J. Martin

For North State Journal

CITIZENS OF RAEFORD will head to the polls Nov. 4 to choose their mayor and members of the city council. With new candidates vying for leadership roles, the Hoke County Edition of the North State Journal emailed questions to each to nd out who they are, what they love about Raeford, and what they hope to achieve in the coming years. Except for his time spent away at college, John K. McNeill III has called Raeford “home” his whole life. With more than two decades as

heard of for a district to receive two grants. So, so proud of these ladies and the work that they put in to get these grants.”

The librarians who received the grants were Marian Elliott, a school library media coordinator at Don Steed Elementary School, and Charmain Gibson, a school library media coordinator at Hoke County High School.

Former rst lady Laura Bush was a librarian and teacher and so The Laura Bush Foundation for America’s Libraries provides grants to low-income schools to allow them to expand, update, and diversify their book and print collections.

According to Nichols, each winner will receive $5,000 to be used at their discretion for each school’s libraries.

Nichols said Gibson will utilize the funding to purchase resources for exceptional children in self-contained class-

“It’s unheard of for a district to receive two grants.”

Karen Nichols, Hoke County Schools library media services coordinator

rooms and English-language learners.

“We don’t have very many books for them, but she brings those EC kids in every week to do activities, and so this is something that will support her program for that,” Nichols said. “She’s going to add high-interest picture books, accessible chapter books and culturally diverse titles to inspire engagement and ensure every student sees themselves in the library at Hoke County High.”

Nichols also said that Elliott will utilize the funding to ad-

dress gaps in representation of Don Steed’s collection.

“Twenty-seven percent of the students at Don Steed are of Hispanic heritage, but only 2% of the books in that library collection represent those students,” Nicholas said. “So she will get Spanish language, bilingual books, culturally rich titles as well as audiobooks to support English-language learners.

“These grants are more than just new books. They’re investments in equity, inclusion and the joy of reading for all of our students.”

Elliott was also named the Region IV School Librarian of the Year by the North Carolina School Library Media Association.

She’ll now be in the running with the other eight regional winners to be named the North Carolina School Librarian of the Year.

The Hoke County Schools Board of Education will next meet Sept. 9.

mayor, there are several projects he hopes to nish. McNeill says he “wants to ensure that Raeford is in a soundnancial situation and also to see our Robbins Heights project completed” this term.

Candidate Demetria Barker-Augugliaro, a native from Brooklyn, New York, moved to North Carolina in her adolescent years and graduated from Hoke County High School in 1988. She is a veteran of the United States Army and Reserves, and has been active in veteran service organizations, including VFW and DAV. Augugliaro is involved in several organizations including the Eastern Star, Rho Alpha Omega Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority (AKA), the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), the

“I want to work tirelessly for our city and help build a community that stands as a beacon of what a great city should look like.”

Jeremy Hollingsworth

Democratic Women of Hoke County and is a lifetime member of the Civic League of Hoke County. She holds degrees in education, art and nursing. Jeremy Hollingsworth is the other candidate running for mayor. As a teacher at Hoke County High School, he teaches the elds of 3D modeling and animation, as well as Ado -

be visual design in the Career and Technical Education Department. He is a pastor at both Christ Free Will Baptist Church and Love Grove Free Will Baptist Church. Hollingsworth also owns and operates Hollingsworth Real Estate LLC.

“My motivation for running for mayor is simple: I want to work tirelessly for our city and help build a community that stands as a beacon of what a great city should look like,” he said.

Pharmacist Charles Allen has served the citizens of Raeford as a city councilman for 12 years and lived within the Raeford city limits since 1974.

“I am running for reelection to the Raeford City Council be -

Hoke

Party hosted

o cers, their families and sta for the free meal in recognition of National Back the Blue Day, including Raeford Police Chief Mark Godwin (center, white shirt). To his right is Hoke Republican Party Chairman Chris Holland, and other community members last week at Buck’s Diner.

THURSDAY

8.14.25

WEEKLY FORECAST

ELECTION from page A1

cause I feel like there are many things we have brought to the citizens of Raeford,” Allen said.

“One thing that I would like to see completed is expanding the facilities for the various city departments, police, water, maintenance, etc., into a single area that provides ample space for all the departments.”

For the past 16 years, Wayne Willis has served the city council.

“My favorite things about Raeford and Hoke County are the same things that brought me back home after college — family, friends, and the simple way of life in Raeford,” said Willis. “We need to continue working on acquiring grants to help fund the park improvements, provide space for our police, city maintenance improvements, and additional sta ng at our re department.”

If candidate Shirley Hart is elected to city council, her top priority will be to address recovery and food insecurity while supporting smart growth in Raeford. She works as the executive director of Tia Hart Community Recovery Organization and has more than 20 years of grassroots service in Raeford. Hart has served on boards including Sandhills LME, Four County Community Services, the Hoke County Public Health Advisory Board, Southeast-

League.

Charles Allen

John K. McNeill III

Demetria Barker

Shirley Hart

Jeremy Hollingsworth

Wayne Willis

THE CONVERSATION

Neal Robbins, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor

VISUAL VOICES

Ensuring US dominance of 21st-century telecommunications

Within a decade or so, cable will be as outdated as Blockbuster.

PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP’S announcement and executive order to ensure that the U.S. dominates the arti cial intelligence revolution was a welcome America First policy directive. That mostly means keeping the government out of the way.

But an equally vital industry for our economic and national security interests is telecommunications — which is also going through warp-speed technology changes.

Here too, the government needs to keep its hands o . No subsidies. No lawsuits.

Minimal regulations.

This is why the latest $34.5 billion blockbuster merger between telecom titans Charter Communications and Cox Communications should get the green light from federal regulators.

Some antitrust lawyers at the FCC and the Justice Department worry this marriage would give Charter-Cox too much market share, allowing them to raise prices on consumers.

But companies like Cox that provide internet and TV services over cable transmissions are soon to be outdated by the next generation of ber, satellite, xed wireless and mobile broadband services.

Customers are already “cutting the cable cord” in favor of more e cient and less expensive streaming video services and other digital alternatives.

The synergies and economies-of-scale advantages driving the Charter-Cox merger, which will lead to a company with more than 37 million cable and internet subscribers, make sense.

Is that too much market concentration?

Comcast, the nation’s second-largest cable provider, serves around 12 million cable subscribers. Verizon serves just under 3 million cable subscribers and approximately 146 million mobile subscribers.

AT&T, another big player in this market, has tens of millions of customers of its own. AT&T is moving aggressively into satellite technologies and 5G to deliver calls, data and video. AT&T and Verizon each have a market cap of well over $100 billion. That compares to less than $50 billion for the Charter-Cox union. In other words, competitors aren’t going to be bullied out of the market by Charter- Cox — especially in the lucrative mobile communications arena.

What is ironic is that back in the 1980s, AT&T was forced by the government to break itself up because of alleged market power, and now we could have federal regulators blocking a merger that would bring new competition to AT&T (and other big kids on the block, like Comcast and Verizon).

As for the Charter-Cox potential dominance in cable, sorry, but that’s a declining industry.

Within a decade or so, cable will be as outdated as Blockbuster.

Mergers like this one make U.S. companies more competitive, make money for millions of American shareholders, and make our companies scalable to compete with European, Japanese and Chinese rivals.

Gail Slater, the assistant attorney general for the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division, recently said she intends to focus on mergers that decrease competition.

“If you’re violating the antitrust laws, we’re going to take a hard look,” she said. “If you’re not violating the antitrust laws, we’re going to get the hell out of the way.”

Those are words to live by.

Stephen Moore is co-founder of Unleash Prosperity and a visiting fellow at the Heritage Foundation.

Delivering campaign pledges

Dear Editor,

On Aug. 5, State Auditor Dave Boliek released two audits of the NC DMV, delivering on a key campaign pledge only six months after taking o ce. These reports are about 600 pages in total and represent a big achievement for the State Auditor’s O ce. And while the ndings show the DMV is in worse shape than expected, the reports are a positive rst step in xing the headache that every North Carolinian endures when lining up outside the DMV doors.

Both customer and employee experience at the DMV has gotten worse over the years. Wait times are up 15.5% since 2019, and nearly half of DMV customers are traveling past the o ces closest to them, some traveling hours away for services. Employees interviewed cited burnout, lack of support and inadequate training.

The DMV wasn’t given the attention it deserved these past eight years, but Boliek has made it a front-and-center issue. The biggest recommendation included in the audit is the separation of the DMV and the Department of Transportation. Other key recommended actions straight from Boliek are:

• The DMV should conduct an in-depth sta ng analysis to implement a multiyear, phased sta ng plan that addresses examiner shortages and ensures service equity statewide.

• The DMV should build and maintain a centralized performance dashboard to track and report key service metrics.

• The DMV should partner with an industry expert to develop and implement evidence-based improvements to customer experience and service delivery.

This will be a big haul, but I’m going to do my part in studying the reports and delivering the best outcomes for the people of Robeson County and North Carolina. We’ll need the governor, DOT and DMV to assist as well, but we can all agree that the most customer-facing service in North Carolina must o er fewer headaches and better.

Rep. Jarrod Lowery represents District 47 in the NCGA, which includes Robeson County.

Letters to the editor may be sent to letters@nsjonline.com or mailed to 1201 Edwards Mill Rd., Suite 300, Raleigh, NC 27607. Letters must be signed; include the writer’s phone number, city and state; and be no longer than 300 words. Letters may be edited for style, length or clarity when necessary. Ideas for op-eds should be sent to opinion@nsjonline.com.

Contact a writer or columnist: connect@northstatejournal.com

COLUMN | STEPHEN MOORE

Two-thirds of alerts were found to be nonissues

By Sharon Lurye

The Associated Press

LESLEY MATHIS knows what her daughter said was wrong. But she never expected the 13-year-old girl would get arrested for it.

The teenage girl made an offensive joke while chatting online with her classmates, triggering the school’s surveillance software.

Before the morning was even over, the Tennessee eighth grader was under arrest. She was interrogated, strip-searched and spent the night in a jail cell, her mother says.

Earlier in the day, her friends had teased the teen about her tanned complexion and called her “Mexican,” even though she’s not. When a friend asked what she was planning for Thursday, she wrote: “on Thursday we kill all the Mexico’s.”

Mathis said the comments were “wrong” and “stupid,” but context showed they were not a threat.

“It made me feel like, is this the America we live in?” Mathis said of her daughter’s arrest. “And it was this stupid, stupid technology that is just going through picking up random words and not looking at context.”

Surveillance systems in American schools increasingly monitor everything students write on school accounts and devices. Thousands of school districts across the country use software like Gaggle and Lightspeed Alert to track kids’ online activities, looking for signs they might hurt themselves or others. With the help of arti cial intelligence, technology can dip into online conversations and immediately notify both school o cials and law enforcement.

Educators say the technology has saved lives. But critics warn it can criminalize children for careless words.

“It has routinized law enforcement access and presence in students’ lives, including in their home,” said Elizabeth Laird, a director at the Center for Democracy and Technology. Schools ratchet up vigilance for threats

In a country weary of school shootings, several states have taken a harder line on threats to schools. Among them is Tennessee, which passed a 2023 zero-tolerance law requiring any threat of mass violence against a school to be reported immediately to law enforcement.

The 13-year-old girl arrested in August 2023 had been texting with friends on a chat function tied to her school email at Fairview Middle School, which uses Gaggle to monitor students’ accounts.

(The Associated Press is withholding the girl’s name to protect her privacy. The school

district did not respond to a request for comment.)

Taken to jail, the teen was interrogated and strip-searched, and her parents weren’t allowed to talk to her until the next day, according to a lawsuit they led against the school system. She didn’t know why her parents weren’t there.

“She told me afterwards, ‘I thought you hated me.’ That kind of haunts you,” said Mathis, the girl’s mother.

A court ordered eight weeks of house arrest, a psychological evaluation and 20 days at an alternative school for the girl.

Gaggle CEO Je Patterson said in an interview that the school system did not use Gaggle the way it is intended. The purpose is to nd early warning signs and intervene before problems escalate to law enforcement, he said.

“I wish that was treated as a teachable moment, not a law enforcement moment,” said Patterson.

Private student chats face unexpected scrutiny

Students who think they are chatting privately among friends often do not realize they are under constant surveillance, said Shahar Pasch, an education lawyer in Florida.

One teenage girl she represented made a joke about school shootings on a private Snapchat story. Snapchat’s automated detection software picked up the comment, the company alerted the FBI, and the girl was arrested on school grounds within hours.

Alexa Manganiotis, 16, said she was startled by how quick-

“It was this stupid, stupid technology that is just going through picking up random words and not looking at context.”

Lesley Mathis, parent

ly monitoring software works. West Palm Beach’s Dreyfoos School of the Arts, which she attends, last year piloted Lightspeed Alert, a surveillance program. Interviewing a teacher for her school newspaper, Alexa discovered two students once typed something threatening about that teacher on a school computer, then deleted it. Lightspeed picked it up, and “they were taken away like ve minutes later,” Alexa said.

Teenagers face steeper consequences than adults for what they write online, Alexa said.

“If an adult makes a super racist joke that’s threatening on their computer, they can delete it, and they wouldn’t be arrested,” she said.

Amy Bennett, chief of sta for Lightspeed Systems, said the software helps understa ed schools “be proactive rather than punitive” by identifying early warning signs of bullying, self-harm, violence or abuse.

The technology can also involve law enforcement in responses to mental health crises. In Florida’s Polk County Schools, a district of more than 100,000 students, the school safety program received nearly 500 Gaggle alerts over four years, o cers said in public Board of Education meetings.

This led to 72 involuntary hospitalization cases under the Baker Act, a state law that allows authorities to require mental health evaluations for people against their will if they pose a risk to themselves or others.

“A really high number of children who experience involuntary examination remember it as a really traumatic and damaging experience — not something that helps them with their mental health care,” said Sam Boyd, an attorney with the Southern Poverty Law Center. The Polk and West Palm Beach school districts did not provide comments.

Analysis shows high rate of false alarms

Information that could allow schools to assess the software’s e ectiveness, such as the rate of false alerts, is closely held by technology companies and unavailable publicly unless schools track the data themselves.

Gaggle alerted more than 1,200 incidents to the Lawrence, Kansas, school district in a recent 10-month period. But almost two-thirds of those alerts were deemed by school o cials to be nonissues — including over 200 false alarms from student homework, according to an Associated Press analysis of data received via a public records request.

Students in one photography class were called to the principal’s o ce over concerns Gaggle had detected nudity. The photos had been automatically deleted from the students’ Google Drives, but students who had backups of the agged images

on their own devices showed it was a false alarm. District ofcials said they later adjusted the software’s settings to reduce false alerts.

Natasha Torkzaban, who graduated in 2024, said she was agged for editing a friend’s college essay because it had the words “mental health.”

“I think ideally we wouldn’t stick a new and shiny solution of AI on a deep-rooted issue of teenage mental health and the suicide rates in America, but that’s where we’re at right now,” Torkzaban said.

She was among a group of student journalists and artists at Lawrence High School who led a lawsuit against the school system last week, alleging Gaggle subjected them to unconstitutional surveillance.

School o cials have said they take concerns about Gaggle seriously, but also say the technology has detected dozens of imminent threats of suicide or violence.

“Sometimes you have to look at the trade for the greater good,” said Board of Education member Anne Costello in a July 2024 board meeting.

Two years after their ordeal, Mathis said her daughter is doing better, although she’s still “terri ed” of running into one of the school o cers who arrested her. One bright spot, she said, was the compassion of the teachers at her daughter’s alternative school. They took time every day to let the kids share their feelings and frustrations, without judgment.

“It’s like we just want kids to be these little soldiers, and they’re not,” said Mathis. “They’re just humans.”

KATIE ADKINS / AP PHOTO

A teenager uses ChatGPT at a co ee shop in Russellville, Arkansas, last month.

HOKE SPORTS

Driver dies after medical emergency during race at Bowman Gray Stadium

Robbie Brewer crashed after a midrace crisis

The Associated Press

WINSTON-SALEM — A veteran stock-car driver at a Bowman Gray Stadium died over the weekend after su ering a medical emergency while competing in a race, o cials said.

Robbie Brewer’s car struck head-on a wall on the quarter-mile track in Winston-Salem and came to a stop near the start- nish line.

Track workers peeled away the roof to remove the 53-year- old Brewer, and an ambulance took him to Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist hospital, after which he died, the Winston-Salem Journal reported.

“We are saddened by the

“I’m not only going to honor him the rest of the season but for as long as we race out there. He’ll be missed.”

Brad Lewis

passing of Robbie Brewer after he was transported to an area medical facility following an on-track medical incident,” track o cials said Sunday in a statement. “Robbie was a talented and passionate racer, and highly respected competitor among his peers. Our thoughts and prayers are with Robbie’s family and friends at this time.”

Details of the medical emergency weren’t released.

Brewer was competing in a 20-lap Sportsman Division race

at Bowman Gray, where thousands of racing fans turn out weekly on Saturday nights in the spring and summer for races across four divisions. Bowman Gray also was the locale for this year’s preseason NASCAR Cup Series exhibition event in early February.

Brewer’s rst career start at the oval came in 1990, and he made nearly 260 starts in the Sportsman Division, winning the points championship in 2011, the newspaper reported.

Fellow Bowman Gray driver Brad Lewis, whose race shop is near where Brewer lived, said Brewer “was like a big brother to me even though we were not that far apart in age.”

“He was a wheelman through and through,” Lewis said. “I’m not only going to honor him the rest of the season but for as long as we race out there. He’ll be missed.”

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

Machai Brown

Hoke County, football

Machai Brown is a junior on the Hoke County football team. He also plays basketball for the Bucks and was Athlete of the Week on the court last season.

Brown had less than 100 yards rushing and receiving last year, but he’s expected to have the ball in his hands a lot more this fall. In a scrimmage at the St. Pauls jamboree last week, he gave Bucks fans a taste of what’s to come.

Brown connected with quarterback Peyton Price for a 90-yard touchdown pass. He caught Price’s toss on the 15 and added 85 yards after catch for the score.

Pawol breaks MLB’s gender barrier as rst female umpire

She worked the Marlins-Braves weekend series

By Charles Odum The Associated Press

ATLANTA — Jen Pawol felt love and support from fans, family, peers and players as she made history as the rst female umpire to work a regular-season game in the major leagues.

“It was amazing when we took the eld,” Pawol said. “It seemed like quite a few people were clapping and calling my name. That was pretty intense and emotional.”

Pawol’s much-anticipated debut came as the rst base umpire for Saturday’s rst game of a doubleheader between the Atlanta Braves and Miami

Marlins. It was a smooth debut.

“She did a good job,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said.

“You can tell she knows what she does.”

Pawol said she had a group of about 30 friends and family members, including her father, at the game, and she immediately identi ed a major di erence of working in a major league stadium.

“When I looked up they weren’t in the lower tier like in the minor leagues,” Pawol said.

“When I looked up it took me a while. Whoa, they’re up there! I’ll never forget that. That was just awesome.

“The dream actually came true today. I’m still living in it.

I’m so grateful to my family and Major League Baseball for creating such an incredible work environment. … I’m just so thankful.”

Pawol’s rst real test came in the third inning of Atlanta’s 7-1 win when she called Braves catcher Sean Murphy safe on a close play. Marlins manager Clayton McCullough did not challenge the call.

Pawol also showed she will make animated calls. When Miami’s Xavier Edwards grounded into a double play in the third inning, Pawol pumped her st and lifted her leg when she called Edwards out.

Pawol couldn’t help but notice her debut was being watched closely. Fans responded with a warm ovation when the video board focused on the umpire between innings, forcing her to take a quick glance at her image.

Pawol worked third base in the second game of the doubleheader and was behind the plate in Sunday’s game. As a rover,

she’ll then be waiting for her next assignment. While she waits, the umpire cap she wore in her rst game will be on the way to the Baseball Hall of Fame.

“This is one of the proudest moments in all my career,” crew chief Chris Guccione said. “I’ve been blessed with working playo s, I’ve worked two World Series, All-Star games, and this is right up there. It gives me chills even thinking about it. And the magnitude, it just hit me just now the magnitude of this thing and how hard she’s worked.

“This is just a great role model for girls and women out there, and I’m just so proud of her. This is a special moment. I’m so proud of her.”

Pawol said she was “overcome with emotion” when noti ed she would make her MLB debut.

Pawol, 48, has been working in the minor leagues since she was assigned to the Gulf Coast League in 2016. She worked the Triple-A championship game in 2023 and spring training games in 2024 and this year.

“Any time anybody grinds their way through the minor leagues, I don’t care who it is, that’s a tough thing,” Snitker said. “I’m happy for anybody who grinds it out.”

Pawol had only a few days to prepare. She said she was told of her promotion during a Wednesday conference call with director of umpire development Rich Rieker and vice president of umpire operations Matt McKendry. Pawol was a three-time all-conference softball selection pick at Hofstra. She worked as an NCAA softball umpire from 2010-16.

WALT UNKS / THE WINSTON-SALEM JOURNAL VIA AP

Bowman Gray race fans stand in silence as track workers and emergency personnel work to remove Robbie Brewer from his car Saturday. Brewer died, 53, died at the hospital.

SIDELINE REPORT

MLB Rivera tears Achilles in Yankees

Old-Timers’ Day game, needs surgery

New York

Mariano Rivera tore his Achilles while chasing a y ball at New York Yankees’ Old-Timers’ Day. The 55-year-old closer, baseball’s career leader in saves, will have surgery within a week. The Yankees brought back the Old-Timers’ Day game for the rst time since 2019. Rivera, a Hall of Famer, was playing in the event for the second time. He became the rst unanimous pick for the Hall of Fame in 2019 after helping the Yankees win ve World Series titles.

NFL Lamb takes big hit from sprinting o cial while in street clothes on sideline

Inglewood, Calif.

CeeDee Lamb took a big hit and committed a penalty in the Dallas Cowboys’ preseason opener even though the star receiver wasn’t in uniform. A sprinting o cial ran straight into Lamb’s back on the sideline during the second quarter of the Cowboys’ game against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium, resulting in a 15-yard penalty for making contact with an o cial.

Dressed in street clothes, Lamb was watching a deep pass when he wandered too far into the white paint on the sideline. The o cial didn’t see him and knocked him down.

NBA Celtics sign coach Mazzulla to multiyear contract extension

Boston The Boston Celtics signed coach Joe Mazzulla to a multiyear contract extension. Length and details of the new deal were not released. The 37-year-old Mazzulla is coming o his third season as Boston’s coach and has guided the team to the playo s each season, including the franchise’s 18th NBA title to cap the 2023-24 season. Under Mazzulla, the Celtics have won at least 57 games each of those seasons and topped 60 victories in each of the last two.

NCAA FOOTBALL

Notre Dame loses TE Bauman, RB Young to season- ending knee injuries

South Bend, Ind.

Notre Dame announced sixth-year tight end Kevin Bauman and second-year running back Kedren Young su ered season-ending knee injuries in practice. Bauman su ered an articular cartilage injury in his left knee, which will require surgery. He announced on social media this will be the end of his football career. Young tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee. Bauman was expected to play a key role for the Fighting Irish this season. Young was projected to add depth to Notre Dame’s already deep back eld.

Joint practices give coaches better way to evaluate starters

Workouts are replacing preseason games as the preferred way for coaches to evaluate players

By Rob Maaddi The Associated Press

TAMPA, Fla. — Baker Mayeld got in the middle of a scufe and injured All-Pro tackle Tristan Wirfs went onto the eld on crutches to join his teammates.

Welcome to joint practices.

Players get an opportunity to hit opposing teams, which sometimes can lead to ghting, like the minor tussle between the Buccaneers and Titans.

“Everybody’s in the skirmish,” Bucs coach Todd Bowles said. “Nobody wants to throw a punch. It’s not necessary. We’re not trying to do that right there. They’re not trying to do it as well. If it’s hot and you got pads on, it’s going to happen.”

Patriots coach Mike Vrabel, a former All-Pro linebacker and two-time Coach of the Year in Tennessee, jumped into a pile of players and came out with a bloodied cheek at New

“I think the joint practices are great just because you get to go against another team, get to see, match up and just play football.”

Russell Wilson, Giants quarterback

England’s practice with the Washington Commanders.

But the main purpose of joint sessions is to give coaches a better way to evaluate starters in a more competitive environment than preseason games. Teams don’t want future opponents to see much of their playbook in exhibitions, and most coaches prefer to keep key starters out of harm’s way, so facing opponents within a controlled setting has become a priority for most teams.

Overall, 29 of 32 NFL teams are holding joint practices this summer, up from 27 in 2023 and 23 in 2022. Only the Kansas City Chiefs, Cincinnati Bengals, and New Orleans Saints aren’t doing them.

“These are all pretty standard in the sense that you’re going to get most situational work, you get some base down, some third down, some red

zone, a two-minute drill,” Titans coach Brian Callahan said. The New York Giants and Jets have two days of joint practices, one at each team’s practice facility.

Veteran Giants quarterback Russell Wilson has played long enough to appreciate the evolution of joint practices and their importance. The NFL decreased the preseason schedule to three games when the regular season went to 17 games, and it may go down to two.

“I think the joint practices are great just because you get to go against another team, get to see, match up and just play football,” Wilson said. “Once again, everything’s about preparation, getting ready for the season.”

“I think it’s really valuable,” Niners coach Kyle Shanahan said. “Sometimes you can’t do it. I always would like to do it. ... It’s always good to go against

di erent schemes too. Di erent players. We’re going against each other every day. Same guys, same scheme. It gets a little bit old, and it’s a good way to switch it up.”

For a coach on a new team like Vrabel, facing another team in practice also helps build a foundation for his unit. The Patriots are coming o a terrible 4-13 season, and Vrabel is aiming to change the culture.

“The goal is just to be able to put the identity out on the eld against another team, to put the fundamentals that we put out there, the installation, to be able to do it against another defense, to be able to adjust to di erent play styles of players, players that maybe are longer or quicker or stronger, just different play styles of each player throughout this league,” Vrabel said.

The league embraces joint practices from a player health and safety perspective because fewer starters are playing in preseason games, and data has shown players are more susceptible to soft-tissue injuries early in the season if they don’t hit similar load, speed and exertion levels in training camp.

Bridgeman proved having PGA Tour card enough to earn way in golf’s top circuit

The former Clemson player is making progress on the tour

By Doug Ferguson The Associated Press

HIS ROOKIE year on the PGA Tour was challenging enough for Jacob Bridgeman.

He got in 20 tournaments, none of them majors or The Players Championship, $20 million signature events or the FedEx Cup playo s. He did just well enough to keep his heart rate down and his ranking inside the top 125 to keep his card.

And then the PGA Tour approved a plan during thenal week of 2024 to reduce the number of players keeping their cards to 100.

Gulp.

“I think it makes it tougher and tougher on the rookies,”

Bridgeman said. “I feel like my rookie year was really hard, and this one was probably harder because there were less cards.”

Bridgeman said he was neutral toward the change. The purpose was to make sure anyone who had a card could get into enough tournaments, and smaller elds in 2026 would keep rounds from not nishing because of darkness. And yes, it would be more competitive than ever.

Camilo Villegas was chair-

man of Player Advisory Council that proposed the changes and acknowledged it would be harder to keep a card.

“But if we perform, there’s an opportunity to make an unbelievable living,” Villegas said.

Bridgeman performed.

Bridgeman is No. 33 in the FedEx Cup, all but assured of staying in the top 50 to advance to the BMW Championship that will get him in all eight of the $20 million signature events next year.

The ultimate goal — the Tour Championship — is well within range.

Bridgeman began his sophomore season without assurances of being in any of the majors or the signature events.

He closed with a 64 at the Cognizant Classic for a runner-up nish, getting him into Bay Hill and The Players Championship. He slept on the lead the opening three rounds at the Valspar Championship and nished third, getting him into another signature event at the RBC Heritage.

He was among the last three players o the FedEx Cup to ll the eld at the Truist Championship and tied for fourth, and his standing also got him into the U.S. Open.

Bridgeman wound up playing ve signature events, two majors and The Players. He felt it was a disadvantage at the start. It turned into a

big year that isn’t over just yet.

“Not being in those at the beginning of the year was tough,” Bridgeman said. “I went through that last year. I knew how that was and played past all that and still kept my card. I felt like it was a disadvantage, for sure, but not that it was unattainable.

“I just knew if I played well I’d have a chance,” he said. “That was one my goals is playing a signature event early. I got in the Arnold Palmer and rode the wave all the way through.”

That’s how it has been for the 25-year-old Bridgeman. He was No. 2 in the PGA Tour University his senior year at Clemson, which got him Korn Ferry Tour status. He spent 2023 on the developmental circuit and graduated to the PGA Tour.

Being in all the signature events is an advantage, but not a guarantee. Fourteen players who nished in the top 50

last year failed to make it to the postseason.

Three players who were not among the top 50 last year — U.S. Open champion J.J. Spaun, Harris English and Ben Gri n — start the postseason in the top 10.

The turnover rate for those who quali ed for the FedEx Cup playo s was at 30% — 21 players nished in the top 70 who weren’t in Memphis last year. The signature events were a source of consternation when they were rst introduced, mainly the uncertainty of a level playing eld. J.T. Poston said it best.

“As long as there’s a way you still have to perform to stay in, and there’s an avenue for guys who aren’t in to play their way in, I don’t think there’s an issue,” he said. Turns out it wasn’t for Bridgeman.

CAROLYN KASTER / AP PHOTO

CHRIS O’MEARA / AP PHOTO

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker May eld throws a pass during a training camp practice.

Jacob Bridgeman tees o during the rst round of the U.S. Open in June.

Amos Andy Combs

March 25, 1965 –Aug. 4, 2025

Mr. Amos Andy Combs, age 60, went home to be with his Heavenly Father on August 4, 2025.

A Memorial Service to celebrate his life and legacy will be held on Sunday, August 10, at 3 p.m. at the Colonial Baptist Church. Amos will be greatly missed.

Mildred Bullard Locklear

Nov. 23, 1932 – Aug. 6, 2025

Mrs. Mildred Bullard Locklear, age 92 of Raeford, North Carolina, was born on November 23, 1932, to the late Cleo Bullard and the late Selester Jane Bullard in Robeson County, North Carolina. She departed this life on August 6, 2025, at her residence, surrounded by her loving family. Along with her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Gaston Locklear, and a stepson, Charles Dial.

Mrs. Mildred leaves to cherish her memories her daughter: Melody Locklear of the home, four sons: Charles Godwin (Anna) of Aberdeen, North Carolina, Harvey Lee Bullard (Shelia) of Red Springs, North Carolina, James Wilbert Bullard of Pembroke, North Carolina, Gary Locklear (Audrey) of Raeford, North Carolina, one brother: Marvin Bullard of Aberdeen, North Carolina, one sister: Betty Cummings, of Aberdeen, North Carolina, sixteen grandchildren, eighteen grandchildren, two great-greatgrandchildren, along with a host of other relatives and friends.

Merlin “Jim” Smith

Sept. 9, 1952 – Aug. 3, 2025

Mr. Merlin Sherrill Smith “Jim” was born on September 9, 1952, to his mother, the late Mary Smith Wilson, in Holland Town, Virginia. He departed this life on August 3, 2025, at his home surrounded by his family. Along with his mother, he was preceded in death by a brother, Larry Motts. Mr. Merlin leaves to cherish his memories his wife of thirty years: Janice Chavis Smith of the home, one son: Cody Smith of the home, one stepson: David Chavis of Maxton, North Carolina, one daughter: Amy Smith of Baltimore, Maryland, a sisterin-law: Vicki Lloyd of Aberdeen, Maryland, one grandson: Joy Smith, a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, along with a host of other relatives and friends.

Richard Scott Douglas

Nov. 14, 1965 – Aug. 5, 2025

Richard Scott Douglas, of Carthage, NC, went home to be with the Lord on Tuesday, August 5, 2025, at the age of 59. He was born in Moore County, NC, on November 14, 1965, to the late James and Johnsie Douglas. Along with his parents, he was preceded in death by his sisters, Barbara Douglas, Carolyn Caddell, and niece, Jacki Burley. Richard grew up in Raeford, NC, and graduated from Hoke County High School in 1984. He was a devoted and loving father and the best brother anyone could have.

Richard is survived by his two daughters, Stormy Douglas and Amber Douglas; his brother, Allen Douglas; his wife, Debra, and their children, Weston, Austin, and Geo rey; his nephew, James Burley; his wife, Nicole; and their children, Rachel and Katie. There will be no services at this time. Online condolences may be made on the Crumpler Funeral Home Website.

Morrison Jernigan

April 27, 1952 – Aug. 3, 2025

Mr. Morrison Jernigan, age 73 of Shannon, North Carolina, was born on April 27, 1952, to the late Mr. Marson Locklear and late Mrs. Vera Jones Jernigan in Robeson County. He departed this life into eternity on August 03, 2025, at Novant Health in Wilmington, North Carolina. In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by his stepfather, J.D.Locklear. He leaves to cherish his memories one son, Kendrick Jernigan of Richmond Dale, Ohio, three brothers, Tracy Jernigan, James Jernigan, Gurvis Jernigan, two sisters, Virginia Lee, Pauline Jernigan and a host of other relatives and friends.

Adaiyah “Adell” Revels Chavis

May 10, 1941 – Aug. 8, 2025

Mrs. Adaiyah “Adell” Revels Chavis, age 84 of Fair Blu , North Carolina, was born on May 10, 1941, to the late Tommie Revels and the late Vergie McCormick in Robeson County, North Carolina. She departed this life on August 8, 2025, at Bladen East Health Rehabilitation, Elizabethtown, North Carolina. Along with her parents, she was preceded in death by two sons, James A. Hall and Fuller E. Hall, three sisters, Carolyn Revels, Mary E. Locklear, and Delois Goins, and brothers, Vernie Revels, Tommie Revels Jr., and Bobby Revels. Mrs. Adaiyah leaves to cherish her memories one son: Thomas Hall, two daughters: Loretta Maynor (Terry), Darlene Hall (Leon Sr.), one brother: Dwight B. Revels (Shelia), ve sisters: Joann Revels, Janice Revels, Mary Ann Smith, Loleita Sue Revels, Geraldine Oxendine, grandchildren: Belinda Hall, Paul Maynor, Terri Maynor, Asheligh Maynor, Neveah HallMaynor, Leon E Thompson Jr., Christopher Corbett, Shane M. Thompson, Abby Jane Bullard, Collette Bullard, Destiny Bullard, twelve great grandchildren, a host of nieces, nephews, special friends of Sunset Beach Fishing Pier, along with a host of other relatives and friends.

Melvin McGilvary

July 21, 1954 – Aug. 10, 2025

Mr. Melvin McGilvary, age 71, went home to be with his Heavenly Father on August 10, 2025. The Celebration of Life will be held on Thursday, August 14, at 1 p.m. at Bu alo Springs Missionary Baptist Church. Melvin will be greatly missed.

Mary McCormick Maxwell

Dec. 10, 1939 – Aug. 9, 2025

Mary McCormick Maxwell, age 85, passed away peacefully on August 9, 2025. She was born on December 10, 1939, in Wilmington, NC, and raised in Rowland, NC. She graduated from Rowland High School in 1957. She married the love of her life, Jackie Maxwell, a Raeford native, when she was 17 years old. They settled in Raeford and enjoyed a blissful 58 years of marriage. Her husband, Jackie, owned and operated Jack’s Auto Service in Raeford for 60 years until his death in 2015. They shared four children and many beloved pets over the years. Mary was a loving wife, mother and friend to many. Her easy-going nature and friendliness captivated and ingratiated everyone who met her. She and Jackie loved to go dancing with their friends. They relished taking their children to the annual state fair in the fall and to the beach in the summer. Mary is survived by her four children, Steve Maxwell, Teresa Maxwell-Miller, and her husband John Miller, Jane Maxwell and her husband Je Bumgarner, Donna Fellinger and her husband Kurt Fellinger. She is also survived by nine grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

A visitation will be held from noon to 1 p.m. on Thursday, August 14, 2025, at Crumpler Funeral Home, 131 Harris Avenue, Raeford, NC 28376. A service will follow at 1 p.m. with Pastor Jason Clark o ciating. Burial will be in the Raeford City Cemetery.

Celebrate the life of your loved ones. Submit obituaries and death notices to be published in NSJ at obits@northstatejournal.com

STATE & NATION

Ousted FDA vaccine chief Prasad returning to position in agency

Dr. Vinay Prasad is returning to head the FDA’s vaccine regulation center shortly after resigning under pressure from critics.

He’s back just weeks after departing

The Associated Press

WASHINGTON, D.C. — A Food and Drug Administration o cial is getting his job back as the agency’s top vaccine regulator, less than two weeks after he was pressured to step down at the urging of biotech executives, patient groups and conservative allies of President Donald Trump. Dr. Vinay Prasad is resuming leadership of the FDA center that regulates vaccines and bio-

tech therapies, a spokesperson for the Department of Health and Human Services said in a statement Monday.

Prasad left the agency late last month after drawing ire of right-wing activists, including Laura Loomer, because of his past statements criticizing Trump.

A longtime a critic of FDA’s standards for approving medicines, Prasad brie y ordered the maker of a gene therapy for Duchenne’s muscular dystrophy to halt shipments after two patient deaths. But that action triggered pushback from the families of boys with the fatal

Trump to place DC police under federal control, deploy National Guard

By David Klepper The Associated Press

WASHINGTON, D.C. —

President Donald Trump said Monday that he’s deploying the National Guard across Washington and taking over the city’s police department in the hopes of reducing crime, even as the city’s mayor has noted that crime is falling in the nation’s capital.

The Republican president, who said he was formally declaring a public safety emergency, compared crime in the American capital with that in other major cities, saying Washington performs poorly on safety relative to the capitals of Iraq, Brazil and Colombia, among others.

Trump also said at his news brie ng that his administration has started removing homeless encampments “from all over our parks, our beautiful, beautiful parks.”

“We’re getting rid of the slums, too,” Trump said, adding that the U.S. would not lose its cities and that Washington was just a start.

U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi will be taking over responsibility for Washington’s metro police department, he said, while also complaining about potholes and grati in the city and calling them “embarrassing.”

For Trump, the e ort to take over public safety in Washington re ects a next step in his law enforcement agenda after his aggressive push to stop illegal border crossings. But the move involves at least 500 federal law enforcement o cials as well as the National Guard, raising fundamental questions about how an increasingly em-

boldened federal government will interact with its state and local counterparts.

Combating crime

The president has used his social media and White House megaphones to message that his administration is tough on crime, yet his ability to shape policy might be limited outside of Washington, which has a unique status as a congressionally established federal district. Nor is it clear how his push would address the root causes of homelessness and crime.

Trump said he is invoking Section 740 of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act to deploy members of the National Guard.

About 500 federal law enforcement o cers are being tasked with deploying throughout the nation’s capital as part of the Trump administration’s effort to combat crime, a person familiar with the matter told The

Associated Press on Monday.

More than 100 FBI agents and about 40 agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are among federal law enforcement personnel being assigned to patrols in Washington, the person briefed on the plans said. The Drug Enforcement Administration, Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Marshals Service are also contributing o cers.

The person was not authorized to publicly discuss personnel matters and spoke to the AP on the condition of anonymity. The Justice Department didn’t immediately have a comment Monday morning.

The National Guard

Mayor Muriel Bowser, a Democrat, questioned the effectiveness of using the Guard to enforce city laws and said the federal government could be far more helpful by funding more

prosecutors or lling the 15 vacancies on the D.C. Superior Court, some of which have been open for years. Bowser cannot activate the National Guard herself, but she can submit a request to the Pentagon.

“I just think that’s not the most e cient use of our Guard,” she said Sunday on MSNBC’s “The Weekend,” acknowledging it is “the president’s call about how to deploy the Guard.”

Bowser was making her rst public comments since Trump started posting about crime in Washington last week. She noted that violent crime in Washington has decreased since a rise in 2023. Trump’s weekend posts depicted the district as “one of the most dangerous cities anywhere in the World.”

For Bowser, “Any comparison to a war-torn country is hyperbolic and false.”

Focusing on homelessness

Trump in a Sunday social media post had emphasized the removal of Washington’s homeless population, though it was unclear where the thousands of people would go.

“The Homeless have to move out, IMMEDIATELY,” Trump wrote Sunday. “We will give you places to stay, but FAR from the Capital. The Criminals, you don’t have to move out. We’re going to put you in jail where you belong.”

Last week, the Republican president directed federal law enforcement agencies to increase their presence in Washington for seven days, with the option “to extend as needed.”

On Friday night, federal agencies including the Secret Service, the FBI and the U.S. Marshals Service assigned more than 120 o cers and agents to assist in Washington.

Trump said last week that he was considering ways for the federal government to seize

condition and libertarian supporters of increased access to experimental medicines.

Prasad’s decision to pause the therapy was criticized by The Wall Street Journal editorial board, former Republican Sen. Rick Santorum and others. The FDA swiftly reversed its decision suspending the therapy’s use. Loomer posted online that Prasad was “a progressive leftist saboteur,” noting his history of praising liberal independent Sen. Bernie Sanders. But Prasad has had the backing of FDA Commissioner Marty Makary and health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who have both called for scrutinizing the use of COVID-19 vaccines. Under Prasad, the FDA restricted the approval of two new COVID-19 shots from vaccine makers Novavax and Moderna and set stricter testing requirements for future approvals.

control of Washington, asserting that crime was “ridiculous” and the city was “unsafe,” after the recent assault of a high-prole member of the Department of Government E ciency.

Crime statistics

Police statistics show homicides, robberies and burglaries are down this year when compared with this time in 2024. Overall, violent crime is down 26% compared with this time a year ago.

Trump o ered no details in Truth Social posts over the weekend about possible new actions to address crime levels he argues are dangerous for citizens, tourists and workers alike. The White House declined to o er additional details about Monday’s announcement.

The police department and the mayor’s o ce did not respond to questions about what Trump might do next.

The president criticized the district as full of “tents, squalor, lth, and Crime,” and he seems to have been set o by the attack on Edward Coristine, among the most visible gures of the bureaucracy-cutting effort known as DOGE. Police arrested two 15-year-olds in the attempted carjacking and said they were looking for others.

“This has to be the best run place in the country, not the worst run place in the country,” Trump said last Wednesday.

He called Bowser “a good person who has tried, but she has been given many chances.”

Trump has repeatedly suggested that the rule of Washington could be returned to federal authorities. Doing so would require a repeal of the Home Rule Act of 1973 in Congress, a step Trump said lawyers are examining. It could face steep pushback.

Bowser acknowledged that the law allows the president to take more control over the city’s police, but only if certain conditions are met.

“None of those conditions exist in our city right now,” she said. “We are not experiencing a spike in crime. In fact, we’re watching our crime numbers go down.”

AG Pam Bondi will be taking over Washington’s metro police department

ALEX BRANDON / AP PHOTO

President Donald Trump holds a press conference Monday in the James Brady Press Brie ng Room at the White House.

MOORE COUNTY

Keeping watch

A red-shouldered hawk (Buteo lineatus) makes a wall its perch at a home on

WHAT’S HAPPENING

Canada’s Gildan Activewear buying

HanesBrands for $2.2B Gildan Activewear is buying HanesBrands for $2.2 billion, giving the basic apparel maker access to brands including Hanes and Maidenform. The companies put the transaction’s valued at about $4.4 billion when including debt. The combined company will maintain a strong presence in Winston-Salem where HanesBrands is located.

U.S. in ation held steady as mild tari hit o set by cheaper gas, food

U.S. in ation was unchanged in July as rising prices for some imported goods were balanced by falling gas and grocery prices, leaving overall prices modestly higher than a year ago. The gures suggest that slowing rent increases and cheaper gas are o setting some impacts of President Donald Trump’s sweeping tari s. Many businesses are also absorbing much of the cost of the duties. Tuesday’s gures likely include some impact from the 10% universal tari Trump imposed in April, as well as higher duties on countries such as China and Canada.

U.S., China extend trade truce for 90 days

President Donald Trump extended a trade truce with China for another 90 days Monday, at least delaying once again a dangerous showdown between the world’s two biggest economies. The previous deadline was set to expire at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday.

Board of Education approves tourism funding application for arti cial turf

The $600,000 covers the cost of arti cial turf at Union Pines High School

By Ryan Henkel North State Journal

CARTHAGE — Moore County Schools took another step toward the potential installation of arti cial turf at Union Pines High School.

At its Aug. 11 meeting, the Moore County Schools Board of Education approved the submission of an application asking for $600,000 in funding from the Moore County Tourism Development Authority One Time Project Fund for the installation of arti cial turf at Union Pines High School. The request comes in response to the Moore County Board of Commissioners, which at its July 15 meeting, approved a $600,000 match for a Moore County Convention and Visitors Bureau grant in order to encour-

age the school board to apply for the project.

“This would o er the opportunity for us to have FieldTurf there that would be low maintenance and would also be playable in almost any condition, so it would also benet our students, our arts programs, classroom activities and the community potentially, as well by bringing in the ability to have more sports tourism with tournaments and et cetera,” said Superintendent Tim Locklair.

Currently, Pinecrest High School already has arti cial turf elds, which have been positively received according to the superintendent, and the plan is to install turf at North Moore High School next scal year.

“We’re not experts in turf versus sod, so we’ve all had to do our research on this, but what swings my vote on this is that the Union Pines parents and the Union Pines boosters were the ones who came and told us this is what they want-

Iconic NC tourist attraction damaged by Helene to be demolished

The Lake Lure Flowering Bridge is beyond repair after the hurricane

By Makiya Seminera and Allen G. Breed The Associated Press

NEARLY A YEAR after Hurricane Helene’s devastating pathway through western North Carolina, a vibrant tourist attraction o ering visitors a serene escape in the Blue Ridge Mountains is being torn down. Like many other beloved sites in the region, the Lake Lure Flowering Bridge in Rutherford

County crumpled from the relentless oods and winds from remnants of Helene last September. Now, the town of Lake Lure said last Thursday it will start its demolition of the historic structure later this month.

While the three-arched bridge dates back to 1925, it didn’t become the Lake Lure Flowering Bridge until almost a century later. Once the bridge was decommissioned, a group of local volunteers, Friends of the Lake Lure Flowering Bridge, worked to enhance it by adding its iconic gardens in 2013, according to the group’s website. The bridge attracted more than

ed,” said board member Steve Johnson.

“I think this could have been handled better, but I’m very excited about this,” said board member David Hensley. “It’s going to be good for our student athletes, it’s going to be good for our drill teams, it’s going to be good for our bands, it’s going to be good for tourism; it’s just good.”

Hensley also went on to state how he felt that at least 25% of the Convention and Visitor’s Bureau’s annual budget should go toward funding Moore County School projects that can be utilized as dual-use facilities to bene t both students and tax-paying citizens.

“We as a board and you all as citizens should not accept anything less than 25% of their annual budget going to fund things like this, our athletic elds and whatnot, because it bene ts our student athletes, it bene ts tourism and it relieves the burden on taxpayers,” Hensley said.

The nal vote was 6-1, with

“The Union Pines parents and the Union Pines boosters were the ones who came and told us this is what they wanted.”

Vice Chair Shannon Davis the lone dissent.

“I am for the real deal, for grass,” Davis said. “What the Lord gave us and not arti cial. I also don’t think Moore County is quite ready for tourism from sports. Maybe three or ve years down the road we’d be more prepared for it, but not at this time. And when I hear places like Apex, Holly Springs and North Raleigh, those are not the kinds of places Moore County wants to be. I fear that we’re heading down the wrong direction at this time.”

The Moore County Schools Board of Education will next meet Sept. 8.

150,000 visitors annually, said Linda Reandeau, a master gardener and the group’s marketing chair. But then Helene brought destruction to western North Car-

olina last year, with the Lake Lure area — which served as a backdrop for a few scenes in “Dirty Dancing” — sustaining

DAVID SINCLAIR FOR NORTH STATE JOURNAL

Ferguson Road in Pinehurst.

Steve Johnson, board member

ALLEN G. BREED / AP PHOTO

A tattered ag stands in the oodplain near the heavily damaged Flowering Bridge in Lake Lure in May.

THURSDAY

8.14.25

THURSDAY AUG. 14

“Join the conversation”

North State Journal (USPS 20451) (ISSN 2471-1365)

Neal Robbins, Publisher

Jim Sills, VP of Local Newspapers

Cory Lavalette, Senior Editor

Jordan Golson, Local News Editor

Shawn Krest, Sports Editor

Dan Reeves, Features Editor

Ryan Henkel, Reporter

P.J. Ward-Brown, Photographer

BUSINESS

David Guy, Advertising Manager

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CRIME LOG

August 4

• Melvin Lee Miles, 48, was arrested by MCSO for breaking and entering with intent to terrorize or injure the occupants.

• Quincy Markey Green, 43, was arrested by MCSO for injury to personal property.

August 5

• Bobby Paul Wade, 49, was arrested by MCSO for possession of methamphetamine.

August 7

• Susanna Elisabeth Ritter, 28, was arrested by MCSO for felony child abuse - sexual act.

• Carlasha Shante Maddox, 47, was arrested by MCSO for driving while impaired.

August 9

• Toni Lateisha Shamone Poole, 39, was arrested by MCSO for possession of a Schedule III controlled substance.

August 11

• John Lee Ray, 55, was arrested by MCSO for driving while impaired.

• Najira Sheed Jackson, 24, was arrested by MCSO for breaking or entering a motor vehicle.

• Danarosario Fierro, 45, was arrested by MCSO for misdemeanor crime of domestic violence.

• Corey Alonzo Dumas, 28, was arrested by MCSO for indecent exposure.

FRIDAY AUG. 15

SATURDAY AUG. 16

SUNDAY AUG. 17

Judge

By Maura Carey The Associated Press

A NORTH CAROLINA

judge has dismissed a lawsuit led by the 1983 NC State men’s basketball team, shutting down the national championship team’s request for name, image and likeness compensation. The team was known as the “Cardiac Pack” for a series of close, nail-biting victories, including a 54-52 win over Houston in the 1983 national championship game. Lorenzo Charles sealed the victory with a buzzer-beating dunk, and coach Jim Valvano rushed the court — a moment that encapsulated the thrill of March Madness and was used in promotions for years.

BRIDGE from page A1

some of the worst damage. The town of Lake Lure and Chimney Rock Village, as well as the lake itself, were covered in a layer of dis gured debris. The area still hasn’t recovered, but tourist attractions such as Chimney Rock State Park have reopened.

In the Flowering Bridge’s case, one end of the structure collapsed. Several other points also buckled from the damage, and its lush greenery was swept away in the storm. Over the past 11 months, the bridge has only continued to deteriorate, Reandeau said.

“It would have been 100 years old this year,” she said.

“To see it destroyed as it was in the storm was very emotional and heartbreaking for me, along with all the other volun-

The players led a suit requesting a jury trial and “reasonable compensation” in June.

“For more than 40 years, the NCAA and its co-conspirators have systematically and intentionally misappropriated the Cardiac Pack’s publicity rights — including their names, images, and likenesses — associated with that game and that play, reaping scores of millions of dollars from the Cardiac Pack’s legendary victory,” the lawsuit said.

According to WRAL News, the NCAA requested the case be dismissed after a similar lawsuit led by a former Kansas basketball player was dismissed in April.

“In this lawsuit, twelve former members of North Carolina State University’s (“NC

State”) 1983 NCAA men’s basketball championship team have sued the NCAA for using without permission their names, images, and likenesses contained in copyrighted game footage from that season,” Superior Court Judge Mark A. Davis wrote in a 44-page order released last Thursday. “Because their claims are untimely, barred by their failure to allege a violation of a legally enforceable right, and preempted by the federal Copyright Act, dismissal of this action in its entirety is appropriate.”

The House vs. NCAA Settlement, approved in June, promises nearly $2.8 billion in back pay to athletes who competed from 2016 onward and lost NIL opportunities.

“To see it destroyed as it was in the storm was very emotional and heartbreaking for me, along with all the other volunteers and so many people who have visited.”

Linda Reandeau, chair, Friends of the Lake Lure Flowering Bridge

teers and so many people who have visited.”

The decision to demolish the bridge came after two engineering rms concluded it couldn’t be restored, according to the town’s website. Demolition is expected to start Aug. 18.

While the bridge will no longer remain, Reandeau said the landmark’s volunteer group is in the planning process for how to move forward.

The nonpro t is waiting for

moore happening

Here’s a quick look at what’s coming up in and around Moore County:

Aug. 14-16

Moore County Historical Association: Shaw House and Property Tours

1-4 p.m.

The Moore County Historical Association’s Shaw House grounds and properties are open for tours on Thursday, Friday and Saturday afternoons. Tours are free and open to all ages. Enjoy learning about the impressive history of Moore County. Shaw House 110 Morganton Road Southern Pines

Aug. 16

Moore County Farmers Market

8 a.m. to noon

occupancy certi cation to reopen its relatively unscathed education center, where it can hold gardening and art classes — and hopefully install new gardens nearby, Reandeau said.

“We haven’t gone away, we’re still here, and we really look forward to the day we can welcome back visitors to the gardens,” she said. “We fully intend to make another magical space. It’s just not going to happen immediately.”

with your community! Send us your births, deaths, marriages, graduations and other announcements: moorecommunity@northstatejournal.com

Weekly deadline is Monday at Noon

Remember that we live in the best country, the best state, and by far the best county.

A vast and varied selection of fresh produce, canned goods, including honey and fruit preserves, and baked goods has earned this producers-only farmers market a reputation as one of the best in the region. Visitors are treated to musical performances and complimentary appetizers prepared by local chefs from fresh regional ingredients every Saturday in the summer.

156 SE Broad St. Southern Pines

U Pick Lavender at Lazy Fox Lavender Farm

11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Spend the day in the country exploring the farm and enjoy seeing chickens and sheep. Visitors enjoy the beauty and scent of fresh lavender, which can be cut and purchased by the bundle. A gift shop and an ice cream truck are also on the grounds. Admission is $5 each for adults and kids 2-plus. (Children under 2 are admitted for free.)

272 Edgewood Road Cameron

Aug. 20

Dementia Caregiver Support Group

10:30 a.m.

Caregivers receive education and support along with strategies for caring for family members and other loved ones su ering from dementia. The group is led by Pat Soler and Dale Krech, certi ed facilitators through the Dementia Alliance of NC. Contact Kelly Pritchard at 910-715-4224 for more information.

Shadowlawn Room Clara McLean House 20 First Village Drive Pinehurst

THE CONVERSATION

Neal Robbins, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor

VISUAL VOICES

Ensuring US dominance of 21st-century telecommunications

Within a decade or so, cable will be as outdated as Blockbuster.

PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP’S announcement and executive order to ensure that the U.S. dominates the arti cial intelligence revolution was a welcome America First policy directive. That mostly means keeping the government out of the way.

But an equally vital industry for our economic and national security interests is telecommunications — which is also going through warp-speed technology changes.

Here too, the government needs to keep its hands o . No subsidies. No lawsuits.

Minimal regulations.

This is why the latest $34.5 billion blockbuster merger between telecom titans Charter Communications and Cox Communications should get the green light from federal regulators.

Some antitrust lawyers at the FCC and the Justice Department worry this marriage would give Charter-Cox too much market share, allowing them to raise prices on consumers.

But companies like Cox that provide internet and TV services over cable transmissions are soon to be outdated by the next generation of ber, satellite, xed wireless and mobile broadband services.

Customers are already “cutting the cable cord” in favor of more e cient and less expensive streaming video services and other digital alternatives.

The synergies and economies-of-scale advantages driving the Charter-Cox merger, which will lead to a company with more than 37 million cable and internet subscribers, make sense.

Is that too much market concentration?

Comcast, the nation’s second-largest cable provider, serves around 12 million cable subscribers. Verizon serves just under 3 million cable subscribers and approximately 146 million mobile subscribers.

AT&T, another big player in this market, has tens of millions of customers of its own. AT&T is moving aggressively into satellite technologies and 5G to deliver calls, data and video. AT&T and Verizon each have a market cap of well over $100 billion. That compares to less than $50 billion for the Charter-Cox union. In other words, competitors aren’t going to be bullied out of the market by Charter- Cox — especially in the lucrative mobile communications arena.

What is ironic is that back in the 1980s, AT&T was forced by the government to break itself up because of alleged market power, and now we could have federal regulators blocking a merger that would bring new competition to AT&T (and other big kids on the block, like Comcast and Verizon).

As for the Charter-Cox potential dominance in cable, sorry, but that’s a declining industry.

Within a decade or so, cable will be as outdated as Blockbuster.

Mergers like this one make U.S. companies more competitive, make money for millions of American shareholders, and make our companies scalable to compete with European, Japanese and Chinese rivals.

Gail Slater, the assistant attorney general for the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division, recently said she intends to focus on mergers that decrease competition.

“If you’re violating the antitrust laws, we’re going to take a hard look,” she said. “If you’re not violating the antitrust laws, we’re going to get the hell out of the way.”

Those are words to live by.

Stephen Moore is co-founder of Unleash Prosperity and a visiting fellow at the Heritage Foundation.

Delivering campaign pledges

Dear Editor,

On Aug. 5, State Auditor Dave Boliek released two audits of the NC DMV, delivering on a key campaign pledge only six months after taking o ce. These reports are about 600 pages in total and represent a big achievement for the State Auditor’s O ce. And while the ndings show the DMV is in worse shape than expected, the reports are a positive rst step in xing the headache that every North Carolinian endures when lining up outside the DMV doors.

Both customer and employee experience at the DMV has gotten worse over the years. Wait times are up 15.5% since 2019, and nearly half of DMV customers are traveling past the o ces closest to them, some traveling hours away for services. Employees interviewed cited burnout, lack of support and inadequate training.

The DMV wasn’t given the attention it deserved these past eight years, but Boliek has made it a front-and-center issue. The biggest recommendation included in the audit is the separation of the DMV and the Department of Transportation. Other key recommended actions straight from Boliek are:

• The DMV should conduct an in-depth sta ng analysis to implement a multiyear, phased sta ng plan that addresses examiner shortages and ensures service equity statewide.

• The DMV should build and maintain a centralized performance dashboard to track and report key service metrics.

• The DMV should partner with an industry expert to develop and implement evidence-based improvements to customer experience and service delivery.

This will be a big haul, but I’m going to do my part in studying the reports and delivering the best outcomes for the people of Robeson County and North Carolina. We’ll need the governor, DOT and DMV to assist as well, but we can all agree that the most customer-facing service in North Carolina must o er fewer headaches and better.

Rep. Jarrod Lowery represents District 47 in the NCGA, which includes Robeson County.

Letters to the editor may be sent to letters@nsjonline.com or mailed to 1201 Edwards Mill Rd., Suite 300, Raleigh, NC 27607. Letters must be signed; include the writer’s phone number, city and state; and be no longer than 300 words. Letters may be edited for style, length or clarity when necessary. Ideas for op-eds should be sent to opinion@nsjonline.com.

Contact a writer or columnist: connect@northstatejournal.com

COLUMN | STEPHEN MOORE

Two-thirds of alerts were found to be nonissues

By Sharon Lurye

The Associated Press

LESLEY MATHIS knows what her daughter said was wrong. But she never expected the 13-year-old girl would get arrested for it.

The teenage girl made an offensive joke while chatting online with her classmates, triggering the school’s surveillance software.

Before the morning was even over, the Tennessee eighth grader was under arrest. She was interrogated, strip-searched and spent the night in a jail cell, her mother says.

Earlier in the day, her friends had teased the teen about her tanned complexion and called her “Mexican,” even though she’s not. When a friend asked what she was planning for Thursday, she wrote: “on Thursday we kill all the Mexico’s.”

Mathis said the comments were “wrong” and “stupid,” but context showed they were not a threat.

“It made me feel like, is this the America we live in?” Mathis said of her daughter’s arrest.

“And it was this stupid, stupid technology that is just going through picking up random words and not looking at context.” Surveillance systems in American schools increasingly monitor everything students write on school accounts and devices. Thousands of school districts across the country use software like Gaggle and Lightspeed Alert to track kids’ online activities, looking for signs they might hurt themselves or others. With the help of arti cial intelligence, technology can dip into online conversations and immediately notify both school ocials and law enforcement.

Educators say the technology has saved lives. But critics warn it can criminalize children for careless words.

“It has routinized law enforcement access and presence in students’ lives, including in their home,” said Elizabeth Laird, a director at the Center for Democracy and Technology.

Schools ratchet up vigilance for threats

In a country weary of school shootings, several states have taken a harder line on threats to schools. Among them is Tennessee, which passed a 2023 zero-tolerance law requiring any threat of mass violence against a school to be reported immediately to law enforcement.

The 13-year-old girl arrested in August 2023 had been texting with friends on a chat function tied to her school email at

Fairview Middle School, which uses Gaggle to monitor students’ accounts. (The Associated Press is withholding the girl’s name to protect her privacy. The school district did not respond to a request for comment.)

Taken to jail, the teen was interrogated and strip-searched, and her parents weren’t allowed to talk to her until the next day, according to a lawsuit they led against the school system. She didn’t know why her parents weren’t there.

“She told me afterwards, ‘I thought you hated me.’ That kind of haunts you,” said Mathis, the girl’s mother.

A court ordered eight weeks of house arrest, a psychological evaluation and 20 days at an alternative school for the girl.

Gaggle CEO Je Patterson said in an interview that the school system did not use Gaggle the way it is intended. The purpose is to nd early warning signs and intervene before problems escalate to law enforcement, he said.

“I wish that was treated as a teachable moment, not a law enforcement moment,” said Patterson.

Private student chats face unexpected scrutiny

Students who think they are chatting privately among friends often do not realize they are under constant surveillance, said Shahar Pasch, an education lawyer in Florida.

One teenage girl she represented made a joke about school shootings on a private Snapchat story. Snapchat’s automated detection software picked up the comment, the company alerted the FBI, and the girl was ar-

rested on school grounds within hours.

Alexa Manganiotis, 16, said she was startled by how quickly monitoring software works. West Palm Beach’s Dreyfoos School of the Arts, which she attends, last year piloted Lightspeed Alert, a surveillance program. Interviewing a teacher for her school newspaper, Alexa discovered two students once typed something threatening about that teacher on a school computer, then deleted it. Lightspeed picked it up, and “they were taken away like ve minutes later,” Alexa said.

Teenagers face steeper consequences than adults for what they write online, Alexa said.

“If an adult makes a super racist joke that’s threatening on their computer, they can delete it, and they wouldn’t be arrested,” she said.

Amy Bennett, chief of sta for Lightspeed Systems, said the software helps understa ed schools “be proactive rather than punitive” by identifying early warning signs of bullying, self-harm, violence or abuse.

The technology can also involve law enforcement in responses to mental health crises.

In Florida’s Polk County Schools, a district of more than 100,000 students, the school safety program received nearly 500 Gaggle alerts over four years, o cers said in public Board of Education meetings. This led to 72 involuntary hospitalization cases under the Baker Act, a state law that allows authorities to require mental health evaluations for people against their will if they pose a risk to themselves or others.

“A really high number of children who experience involun-

“It was this stupid, stupid technology that is just going through picking up random words and not looking at context.”

Lesley Mathis, parent

tary examination remember it as a really traumatic and damaging experience — not something that helps them with their mental health care,” said Sam Boyd, an attorney with the Southern Poverty Law Center. The Polk and West Palm Beach school districts did not provide comments.

Analysis shows high rate of false alarms

Information that could allow schools to assess the software’s e ectiveness, such as the rate of false alerts, is closely held by technology companies and unavailable publicly unless schools track the data themselves.

Gaggle alerted more than 1,200 incidents to the Lawrence, Kansas, school district in a recent 10-month period. But almost two-thirds of those alerts were deemed by school o cials to be nonissues — including over 200 false alarms from student homework, according to an Associated Press analysis of data received via a public records request.

Students in one photography class were called to the principal’s o ce over concerns Gaggle had detected nudity. The photos had been automatically deleted from the students’ Google Drives, but students who had

uses

backups of the agged images on their own devices showed it was a false alarm. District ofcials said they later adjusted the software’s settings to reduce false alerts.

Natasha Torkzaban, who graduated in 2024, said she was agged for editing a friend’s college essay because it had the words “mental health.”

“I think ideally we wouldn’t stick a new and shiny solution of AI on a deep-rooted issue of teenage mental health and the suicide rates in America, but that’s where we’re at right now,” Torkzaban said.

She was among a group of student journalists and artists at Lawrence High School who led a lawsuit against the school system last week, alleging Gaggle subjected them to unconstitutional surveillance.

School o cials have said they take concerns about Gaggle seriously, but also say the technology has detected dozens of imminent threats of suicide or violence.

“Sometimes you have to look at the trade for the greater good,” said Board of Education member Anne Costello in a July 2024 board meeting.

Two years after their ordeal, Mathis said her daughter is doing better, although she’s still “terri ed” of running into one of the school o cers who arrested her. One bright spot, she said, was the compassion of the teachers at her daughter’s alternative school. They took time every day to let the kids share their feelings and frustrations, without judgment.

“It’s like we just want kids to be these little soldiers, and they’re not,” said Mathis. “They’re just humans.”

KATIE ADKINS / AP PHOTO

A teenager

ChatGPT at a co ee shop in Russellville, Arkansas, last month.

MOORE SPORTS

Driver dies after medical emergency during race at Bowman Gray Stadium

Robbie Brewer crashed after a midrace crisis

The Associated Press

WINSTON-SALEM — A veteran stock-car driver at a Bowman Gray Stadium died over the weekend after su ering a medical emergency while competing in a race, o cials said.

Robbie Brewer’s car struck head-on a wall on the quarter-mile track in Winston-Salem and came to a stop near the start- nish line.

Track workers peeled away the roof to remove the 53-year- old Brewer, and an ambulance took him to Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist hospital, after which he died, the Winston-Salem Journal reported.

“We are saddened by the

“I’m not only going to honor him the rest of the season but for as long as we race out there. He’ll be missed.”

Brad Lewis

passing of Robbie Brewer after he was transported to an area medical facility following an on-track medical incident,” track o cials said Sunday in a statement. “Robbie was a talented and passionate racer, and highly respected competitor among his peers. Our thoughts and prayers are with Robbie’s family and friends at this time.”

Details of the medical emergency weren’t released.

Brewer was competing in a 20-lap Sportsman Division race

at Bowman Gray, where thousands of racing fans turn out weekly on Saturday nights in the spring and summer for races across four divisions. Bowman Gray also was the locale for this year’s preseason NASCAR Cup Series exhibition event in early February.

Brewer’s rst career start at the oval came in 1990, and he made nearly 260 starts in the Sportsman Division, winning the points championship in 2011, the newspaper reported.

Fellow Bowman Gray driver Brad Lewis, whose race shop is near where Brewer lived, said Brewer “was like a big brother to me even though we were not that far apart in age.”

“He was a wheelman through and through,” Lewis said. “I’m not only going to honor him the rest of the season but for as long as we race out there. He’ll be missed.”

WALT UNKS / THE WINSTON-SALEM JOURNAL VIA AP

Bowman Gray race fans stand in silence as track workers and emergency personnel work to remove Robbie Brewer from his car Saturday. Brewer died, 53, died at the hospital.

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

Madeline Adair

Union Pines, volleyball

Madeline Adair is a junior outside hitter on the Union Pines volleyball team.

Last season, she was all-conference while leading the Vikings in kills and hitting percentage. She’s now one of the leading returning players in the state in kills and was named a “player to watch” by HS OT.

Rookie van Gisbergen nabs 4th victory of Cup season

The win at Watkins Glen set a rookie record

The Associated Press

WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. — Shane van Gisbergen’s latest victory in NASCAR’s premier series was as historical as it was emotional.

With his father, Robert, on hand for the rst time this year, the Auckland, New Zealand, native set a Cup Series rookie record with his fourth victory, blowing out the competition again at Watkins Glen International.

“It’s just amazing to have him here,” said van Gisbergen, who last saw his father while visiting home over the Christmas break. “It’s been a very tough, tough year for dad, and he hasn’t been able to travel, so to have him here for the next three weeks and share this with him, it’s amazing.” As amazing as van Gisbergen’s rookie season in the Cup Series.

The Trackhouse Racing driver joined 2020 champion Chase Elliott and NASCAR Hall of Famer Je Gordon as the only drivers to win four consecutive Cup races on road or street courses.

Unlike his prior wins at Mexico City, Chicago and Sonoma, van Gisbergen was unable to start from the pole position after being edged by Ryan Blaney. After qualifying second, van Gisbergen bided his time and took his rst lead on the 25th of the 90-lap race. He then settled into a typically awless and smooth rhythm on the 2.45 -mile road course.

“I’m just a very lucky guy to get to drive for an amazing bunch of people and just execute,” van Gisbergen said. “The day went awlessly.”

The 36-year-old rookie made his nal pit stop with 27 laps remaining and cycled

“I’m just a very lucky guy to get to drive for an amazing bunch of people and just execute. The day went awlessly.”

Shane van Gisbergen

into rst place on Lap 74 of a clean race with only three yellow ags. Cruising to a big lead while leading the nal 17 laps, van Gisbergen beat Christopher Bell by 11.116 seconds.

“I’m thrilled because we’ve been struggling a little bit,” Bell

said. “Just trying to execute the races has been tough for us, so really awesome to have a good day. Frustrated to get our butts kicked by (van Gisbergen). He’s doing such a really good job.”

With ve victories in only 38 career starts in NASCAR’s top series, van Gisbergen trails only Elliott (seven wins) and Kyle Larson (six) among active drivers on street or road courses. He also is the fastest to ve wins in Cup since the legendary Dan Gurney, who won his fth race in his 13th start in January 1968. The win validated the decision by Trackhouse to sign van Gisbergen to a multiyear con-

tract extension last week. Tied with Denny Hamlin for the series lead in victories, van Gisbergen holds the No. 2 seed in the playo s with two races remaining in the regular season.

The rst round will be held at three oval tracks, where the inexperienced van Gisbergen, who raced exclusively on road and street courses while winning three championships in the Australia-based Supercars, has an average nish of 26.9 this year.

“It ain’t going to be easy, that’s for sure,” van Gisbergen said of his playo outlook. “The rst round, it’s some very di cult left-handed tracks for me, but I’m getting better at it, and I’m

enjoying myself, and it’s a challenge. That’s why we’re here, and we’ll have a proper crack at it.”

Playo watch

Third-place nisher Chris Buescher improved to 34 points ahead of Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing teammate Ryan Preece in the battle for the nal playo spot.

Buescher outdueled van Gisbergen on the nal lap to win at Watkins Glen last year. His team tailored its strategy Sunday toward amassing stage points instead of following the win-oriented strategy used by van Gisbergen.

COURTESY

SETH WENIG / AP PHOTO

Shane van Gisbergen celebrates with his team in Victory Lane after winning Sunday’s Cup Series race at Watkins Glen.

Ernest Leon Crabtree

May 6, 1929 – Aug. 10, 2025

Ernest Leon Crabtree, 96, of Vass, passed away peacefully on Sunday, August 10, 2025, at FirstHealth Hospice House in Pinehurst.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Wednesday, August 13, 2025, at 1 p.m. at Open Arms Community Church with Pastor John Brown o ciating. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service from noon until 1 p.m. Burial will follow in Johnson Grove Cemetery. The family invites you to a reception at Open Arms Community Church following the burial.

A lifelong resident of Vass, Leon was born on May 6, 1929, to the late George Calvin Crabtree and Ida Cameron Crabtree. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife of 57 years, Gracie Conner Crabtree; brothers, Bobby Crabtree, Johnny Crabtree and sister Myrtle Robinson.

He is survived by his son Michael Crabtree of Vass, his daughter Gloria Crabtree and her husband Tommy Pinkston of Southern Pines and many nieces and nephews.

Leon served the Vass community for over 60 years as a grocer at various stores over the years.

He was a devoted member of Open Arms Community Church, where he found great joy and comfort in his church family.

Leon enjoyed spending time with his family, sharing stories and anecdotes about the history of Vass, and spoiling his beloved dog, “Little Man.” He will be long remembered for his sel ess love and concern for others, his deep devotion to his family, and his unwavering faith in the Lord. His children will be eternally grateful for the privilege of having him as their father.

In lieu of owers, donations can be made to Open Arms Community Church, P O Box 551, Vass, NC 28394.

Alan John Shipman

July 6, 1950 – Aug. 3, 2025

Alan John Shipman, 75, passed away at his home in Pinehurst, NC, on Sunday, August 3, 2025.

Born on July 6, 1950, in Auburn, New York, Alan was raised on a dairy farm, where he learned the value of hard work early in life. Despite the demands of farm life, he excelled in school and became a standout athlete, earning recognition for his achievements both in the classroom and on the eld. Alan’s accomplishments caught the attention of several Ivy League schools, and after receiving multiple scholarship o ers, he chose to play football at the University of Pennsylvania.

Shortly after meeting the love of his life, Lynn, they married. Driven by a strong work ethic, Alan went on to start his own custom home construction business, launching a lifelong career as a craftsman. In the late ‘80s, Alan and his family found their true home and sense of belonging in Pinehurst, NC.

Alan was known by many for his physical strength and formidable presence, but those who knew him best will remember the gentleness of his heart. He was kind, prideful, and endlessly generous.

His passions were many, but few brought him more joy than gol ng, hunting, and shing with those he loved most. He was a master at the grill, where his love for good food and good company came together in every meal.

Alan and Lynn shared 24 beautiful years of marriage before her passing. In the face of profound loss, Alan drew on his quiet strength and deep love for his family to keep moving forward.

Of all his life’s accomplishments, Alan was most proud of his children, each of whom built meaningful lives and families of their own, grounded in the steady love and strong values he and Lynn instilled in them.

Alan is survived by his four children - Craig Shipman (wife Andrea), Cory Shipman (wife Elaina), Macaire Eidson (husband Tal), and Trevor Shipman (wife Erin); his adored grandchildren - Cecilia, Malynn, Allee, Evelynn, Miles, Valerie, Luke, and Palmer; his sisters Susan and Lena; and his brother Henry. He is preceded in death by his beloved wife, Lynn; his parents, Lyle and Mary Duckett Shipman; and his brothers, Jimmy and Dave Shipman.

A memorial for Alan will be held Saturday, August 16, 2025, from 1-4 p.m. at Wallace Farm (265 Wallace Lane, Aberdeen, NC). All are welcome.

In lieu of owers, the family invites you to honor Alan by donating to his grandson’s charity, Luke’s Wubs (https://lukeswubs. org/). Supporting a cause so dear to his family would be a tting tribute to the way he lived and loved.

Ed DeWitt

Jan. 31, 1935 – Aug. 9, 2025

Ed DeWitt passed away on August 9, 2025. He was born January 31, 1935, and grew up in Leechburg, PA He moved to Medina, OH, and retired to Pinehurst, NC, in April 2000.

His wife, Judith S. DeWitt, preceded him in death in August 2011. He is survived by his son, Christopher; his granddaughter, Kayley and grandson Riley of Wyoming, OH; his sister-in-law, Ruth Ann DeWitt of Pittsburgh, PA; his wife’s sister, Susan Clark and husband Ronald of Bethel Park, PA and numerous nieces, nephews and their children. He was also preceded in death by his brother James M. DeWitt in 2000 and a sister, Janalee, in 2024.

Ed served in the US Army from 1957 to 1959.

Ed leaves behind his dog, Willy. There will be no viewing or memorial service.

Memorials may be made to Cancer CARE Fund at FirstHealth, 150 Applecross Road, Pinehurst, NC 28374.

Services entrusted to Boles Funeral Home of Pinehurst.

Kimberly Nicole Terry

Aug. 7, 2025

Kimberly Nicole Terry, 31, departed this life on August 7, 2025.

A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, August 17, 2025, at End Time Harvest and Deliverance Ministries, Carthage. Interment will follow in Lake View Cemetery, Vass.

A viewing and visitation will be held from 1-5 p.m. Saturday, August 16, 2025, at Purcell Funeral Home. Services are entrusted to Purcell Funeral Home & Cremation Services.

John Baumgartner

Sept. 14, 1948 – Aug. 7, 2025

John Baumgartner, 76, passed away peacefully on August 7, 2025, after a short stay at FirstHealth Hospice House in Pinehurst, North Carolina, surrounded by love. John was born on September 14, 1948, in Kempten, Germany, to Michael and Rose (Nagel) Baumgartner. At the age of three, he immigrated with his family to Connecticut, and later to Passaic, New Jersey. He spent his boyhood playing Little League baseball, enjoying vocational classes in high school, and sharing countless adventures with his best friends, Stephen Burgho er, Wendel Hengge and John Nagel. It was in a Passaic soda shop that John met the love of his life, Irene. Not long after, he was drafted into the U.S. Army, and together they welcomed their daughter, Lisa Marie, who became the joy of his life. Gifted with his hands and a patient mind, John had a lifelong passion for woodworking, crafting everything from furniture to intricate intarsia. In his pursuit of perfection, he even sacri ced two ngertips, a badge of dedication he wore with humor. Known as a “philosopher king,” John had a rare gift for taking whatever life brought his way and turning it into wisdom, always laced with quick wit and good humor. He built a career as a catenary supervisor for NJ Transit Railroad, retiring early at 53. Afterward, John and Irene moved to North Carolina, where they lovingly cared for her father and brother until their passing.

He is survived by his devoted wife, Irene; his beloved daughter, Lisa; niece Debra B. and nephews Billy B., Tommy B., Richard B. and Henry B. He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers Michael Jr. and Joseph; sister-in-law Hedy; nephew Frankie B.; father-in-law Henry Kroner; and brother-in-law Alan Kroner.

John’s legacy is one of quiet strength, skillful hands, a deep devotion to family, and the ability to meet life’s turns with humor and grace.

A celebration of his life will be held at a later date. In lieu of owers, the family asks that you honor John’s memory by creating something with your own two hands, tending to a garden, or simply enjoying a quiet moment with a good cigarjust as he would have loved. Services are entrusted to Boles Funeral Home of Seven Lakes.

Lorraine Gloria Boisvert

Dec. 8, 1936 – Aug. 6, 2025

Lorraine Gloria Boisvert, 88, passed away peacefully on August 6, 2025, surrounded by love. Born on December 8, 1936, in Woonsocket, RI, she lived a life de ned by joy, faith, and sel ess devotion.

Lorraine delighted in dancing in her younger years and later worship dancing in her churches—her laughter and grace lighting up every room. She loved to read and spend time in her gardens, nding joy and peace where she could escape the stresses of life. Most of all, she cherished gathering her family together as often as possible, creating memories lled with warmth, laughter, and love. Her hands crafted more than quilts; they stitched together comfort and compassion. She lovingly created quilts for those in the hospital, handmade toys for children, and devoted her time to the local food pantry, o ering help with both skill and heart.

Lorraine’s life was anchored in her deep faith in Jesus Christ. She carried a rm belief that God would always provide, and she extended that assurance to everyone she met. She loved and cared for all, gently encouraging others toward salvation and sharing her trust in God’s provision with a sincere warmth that left a lasting mark.

Her quiet acts of service, caring spirit, and unfailing faith breathed peace into the lives of many. Through her humble kindness and steady faith, Lorraine quietly transformed the world around her.

Lorraine was preceded in death by the love of her life, husband Richard T. Boisvert. She is survived by her children, Michael Boisvert and wife Phyllis (deceased), Daniel Boisvert and wife Kathryn, Lori-Ann Arnold and husband Eric, Richard M. Boisvert, Russell Boisvert and wife Sally; brother, Robert Anger; 18 grandchildren; and 18 greatgrandchildren.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, September 6, 2025, at 11 a.m. at Summer Hill Baptist Church, 663 Summer Hill Church Road, Carthage, NC 28327. Family and friends are invited to gather to celebrate a life lived fully in love and faith, and a reception will follow in the fellowship hall.

In lieu of owers, donations may be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital.

“Well done, good and faithful servant… Enter into the joy of your Lord.” – Matthew 25:23.

Terence Dale Poole

March 19, 1956 –Aug. 4, 2025

Mr. Terence Dale Poole, 69, of Sanford, North Carolina, entered into eternal rest on Monday, August 4, 2025, at Duke Hospice Hock Pavilion in Durham, North Carolina.

Please keep the family and friends of Mr. Terence Dale Poole in your thoughts and prayers.

Arrangements are entrusted to McLeod Funeral Home of Sanford, North Carolina.

Je rey Frye

Aug. 16, 1975 – Aug. 5, 2025

Je rey Wayne Frye, age 49, of West End, passed away on Tuesday, August 5, 2025, at Duke Regional Hospital in Durham, surrounded by his family.

Je rey was born in Moore County on August 16, 1975, to Brenda Williams Frye and the late Richard Wayne Frye.

He is survived by his wife, Karen Collier Frye; stepson, Joshua Key (Molly) and Matthew Key, both of Carthage; sister, Robin Lawhon (Robert) of West End; grandchildren, Gage Key, Weston Key, Ryker Key; nieces, Sarah Thomas and Norah Thomas.

Service date and time to be determined and posted as soon as available.

In lieu of owers, the family has requested donations be made to the American Cancer Society by calling 1-800-227-2345 or by mail at 2202 Wrightsville Ave., Suite 111, Wilmington, NC 28403.

James Edward Hansz

Oct. 15, 1941 – Aug. 3, 2025

James Edward Hansz of Pinehurst passed away at FirstHealth Hospice House on August 3, 2025, at the age of 83. The family is grateful to the sta for his outstanding care.

Jim was born in Detroit, MI, and lived in Birmingham until he enrolled in Albion College, where he met his wife, JoAnne Watkins. Last month, they celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary with son J. Andrew and wife Jane Lai, daughter Heather, son-in-law Mike Dotsey, and grandchildren Austin and Kate. Along with his parents, Edward and Thelma Hansz, he was preceded in death by his daughter, Jill, and brother, Thomas.

Following college graduation, Jim earned an MBA from Michigan State University and a PhD from the University of Cincinnati. The majority of his teaching career was spent at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, PA. He enjoyed interacting with students in the College of Business and kept in touch with many as they launched into their careers.

In his retirement, Jim enjoyed living in Pinehurst as a member of the Pinehurst Country Club and ACT2. He spent many hours at the FirstHealth Fitness Center, and for many years participated in the Senior Games of the Pines, qualifying for track and eld events on the state level.

Services entrusted to Boles Funeral Home of Pinehurst.

Thomas “Tom” Sabata

March 31, 1950 –Aug. 4, 2025

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Thomas Michael Sabata on Monday, August 4, 2025, devoted husband, father and grandfather.

He will be deeply missed by his wife, Gary, his best friend Bell (dog), daughter Kristin, son Adam, grandson Adam, sisters Andrea (Enrique), Diana (Bruce), and his previous wife and friend Kathy.

Preceded in death by his parents, George and Tatjana Sabata, and fondly remembered by his brother and sisters-in-laws, nieces, nephews, and dear friends. Tom grew up on a dairy and chicken farm in Richmondville, NY. He worked hard on his family farm and loved being around the animals. He was proud to have served in the US Marine Corps after graduating from high school and earned an honorable discharge. Tom was kind, had a great sense of humor, and a charismatic personality, easily making new friends throughout his life. He developed a love for cars, built many hot rods, and won several trophies, which led to restoring classic cars and opening his current business with his son, Adam. He was also a licensed aircraft mechanic and private pilot. Tom enjoyed the outdoors, shing and going on remote hunting trips for big game in Alaska. He was an avid reader of history and was fascinated by searching for artifacts.

In lieu of owers, the family would greatly appreciate any memorials made to Paws of the Pines Rescue or Yates Thagard Baptist Church “Pursuit” Organization in memory of Thomas Sabata.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, August 23, 2025, at 11 a.m. at Cox Memorial Funeral Home Chapel with Pastor Sammy Frye o ciating. The family will receive friends immediately following the service at the funeral home.

Nettie Jean (Morris) Scotton

April 17, 1943 – Aug. 5, 2025

Mrs. Nettie Jean (Morris) Scotton, 82, of Sanford, North Carolina, entered into eternal rest on Tuesday, August 5, 2025. Please keep the family and friends of Mrs. Nettie Jean (Morris) Scotton in your thoughts and prayers.

The Family of Mrs. Nettie Scotton will have a Celebration of Life for her at a later date. They wish to thank everyone for their prayers and thoughts during this tough time.

Arrangements are entrusted to McLeod Funeral Home of Sanford, North Carolina.

Weldon Sinclair

March 29, 1956 –Aug. 11, 2025

Weldon Sinclair, 69, of Laurinburg, departed this life on August 11, 2025. Funeral arrangements are incomplete and will be announced at a later date. Services are entrusted to Purcell Funeral Home & Cremation Services.

Rebecca Pauline Melvin Miller

Oct. 26, 1948 – Aug. 4, 2025

Rebecca Pauline Melvin Miller, age 76, of Pineblu , NC, passed away on August 4, 2025, surrounded by her loving family.

Pauline was born on October 26, 1948, in Fayetteville, NC, the daughter of Donald Melvin and Alice Johnson Melvin.

She married the love of her life, James “Jimmy” Leonard Miller, on May 13, 1964, in Horry County, SC. They spent 44 years together growing their family and enjoying their grandchildren. Pauline retired from R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company after over 30 years of employment.

In her free time, she enjoyed being with family, traveling, gardening, reading, thrifting, listening to classic country music, spoiling her dogs, and hitting the casinos. She considered herself a connoisseur of homemade biscuits, grits, and good butter and took pleasure in her lifelong addiction to Coca-Cola.

Pauline was quite the traveler and proud of all the places she’d been, including Oahu, Vancouver, the Dominican Republic, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Boston, Montpelier, Nashville, and New York City. She took multiple cross-country road trips, visiting Arizona, Montana, New Mexico, South Dakota, Utah, Wyoming, and more. She loved to visit family in Florida and never missed a chance to pick up apple pies in Sevierville. Always up for an adventure, she hiked, parasailed, whitewater rafted, toured movie studios, and watched sunsets from tropical lagoons.

Pauline’s legacy includes her daughter, Rebecca JoAnne Smid, and husband John; her sons, Michael Leonard Miller and James Gray Miller.

Those fortunate to call her Nanny include grandchildren Barum (Bear), Katie and husband Dylan, Savannah and ancé Justin and Morgan; as well as her great-grandchildren Jacob, Sadie, Wesley, Carlie and Kolby. Her legacy also includes the many pets she nurtured throughout her life. She is survived by Louie, Benny and Freya.

Preceding Pauline in death are her husband James Leonard Miller; son Donald Wayne Miller; parents Donald Marion Melvin and Alice Johnson Melvin; brother Donald Melvin; and sisters Linda Compian, Sue Go and Patty Collins.

Pauline cussed elegantly, could make you laugh until you cried, and said exactly what she thought. If she loved you, she loved you ercely and without condition. She will be forever missed.

Family will receive friends Saturday, August 9, 2025, from 1-2 p.m. at Boles Funeral Home in Southern Pines. The funeral ceremony will follow at 2 p.m. at the funeral home. Burial will be at Bethesda Cemetery in Aberdeen, NC.

Memorial donations in Pauline’s memory may be directed to your preferred no-kill animal rescue. Services are entrusted to Boles Funeral Home of Southern Pines.

Michael Todd Spencer

June 9, 1972 – Aug. 7, 2025

Michael T. Spencer, 53 of Aberdeen, N.C., passed away peacefully on Thursday, August 7, 2025, at his home. A funeral service will be held on Tuesday, August 12, at 2 p.m. in the Ho man Recreational Center, 106 Thompson Road, Ho man, NC.

John Arch McPhaul

July 16, 1935 – Aug. 5, 2025

John Arch McPhaul, 90, died peacefully at home in Southern Pines on August 5, 2025. He is survived by his beloved wife of 67 years, Doris Troutman McPhaul, and by his children: Jon Anne Howard (Paul) of Sanford and Raleigh, Karen Elizabeth McPhaul of Durham, and John Preston “Press” McPhaul (Lynn) of Raleigh. He is also survived by ve grandchildren: Jordan Howard, Katie Howard, Anna McPhaul, Emma McPhaul, and Sarah Kate McPhaul.

Mr. McPhaul was born July 16, 1935 in Hoke County, NC, the son of Kate McBryde McPhaul and John Archibald McPhaul Jr. An only child, he was raised by his devoted mother in the home of his maternal grandparents, John Duncan McBryde and Mary Edna McInnis McBryde, with an extended family of aunts, uncles, and cousins nearby. His mother and McBryde relatives nurtured in him a love of people, storytelling, and laughter that continued throughout his life.

He graduated from Raeford High School in 1953, attended Wingate Junior College on a baseball scholarship, and earned his bachelor’s degree at East Carolina College in 1957. He served in the NC National Guard for 10 years.

Mr. McPhaul devoted his energy and talents to a career in banking that spanned 40 years, serving Southern National Bank (which became BB&T) and First Citizens Bank in regional executive roles, based in Sanford. In his work and in his personal life as well, he took time and care to mentor others and to recognize the value of each individual.

Throughout his career, he was guided by a belief that the goal of banking is to help people and their communities prosper. He lived out this belief through years of community service, including leadership roles as president of the Sanford Rotary Club, the Sanford Area Chamber of Commerce, and the Lee County United Fund, and as an elder at First Presbyterian Church of Sanford.

An athlete in his youth, he remained a great sports enthusiast all his life. He especially loved college football and following ECU Pirates athletics. He was passionate about the game of golf and always up to play a round anytime, anywhere, with friends. For 20 years, he was a proud member of the Tin Whistles gol ng society of Pinehurst.

The family wishes to express deepest appreciation to Cosandra Scott, Barbara Johnson, Wanda Jordan, and Katrina Smith for the dedicated, loving care they provided to “Mr. John” in his nal years, allowing him to live at home in dignity and to make new friends. The family is grateful to FirstHealth Hospice for helping him remain comfortable at home in his last months.

A celebration of his life will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, August 9, at Brownson Memorial Presbyterian Church in Southern Pines, with a reception to follow. In lieu of owers, donations may be made to The Tin Whistles Scholarship Foundation, 5 Dawn Road, Suite 4, Pinehurst, NC 28374. Services entrusted to Boles Funeral Home of Southern Pines.

Lofton Smith Beauchamp Jr.

June 2, 1934 – Aug. 4, 2025

Lofton Smith Beauchamp Jr., age 91, of Lakeview, passed away on Monday, August 4, 2025, at FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital (Reid Heart Center), surrounded by his family.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Wednesday, August 6, 2025, at 1 p.m. at Cox Memorial Funeral Home Chapel with Pastor Julie Hughes o ciating.

The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the funeral home from noon until 1 p.m. Burial will follow in Pinelawn Memorial Park with Military Honors in Southern Pines.

Lofton was born in Georgia on June 2, 1934, to the late Lofton Smith Beauchamp Sr., and Dorothy Cooper Beauchamp. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his daughter, Georgia Beauchamp, and his brother, Joseph Roscoe Beauchamp.

He is survived by his wife of 71 years, Margaret Frye Beauchamp; son, Mark Alan Beauchamp (Lidia) of California; grandchildren, Sabrina Beauchamp of California, Margaret Ann Beauchamp of New York, Marcus Beauchamp of Kentucky; great-grandchild, Liam Beauchamp-Maltman; brother, James Beauchamp of South Carolina.

Lofton will be remembered as a fair and gentle man. A man who was well educated, disciplined, and a great teacher. Highly revered by those he came across in his profession and leisure. He will be dearly missed. May his legacy continue to grace all of those who were in his presence. In lieu of owers, donations may be made to Crystal Lake Support, P O Box 133, Lakeview, NC 28350 or Lakeview Presbyterian Church, P O Box 147, Lakeview, NC 28350.

Jamie Lynn Branch

Oct. 15, 1984 – Aug. 9, 2025

Jamie Lynn Branch, age 40, of Cameron, passed away on Saturday, August 9, 2025.

A visitation will be held on Friday, August 15, 2025, at Cox Memorial Funeral Home Chapel from 6-8 p.m.

Jamie was born in Lee County on October 15, 1984, to Michael L. Branch and the late Debbie Wells Vogal.

He is survived by his father, Michael Branch of Aberdeen; son, Nathan Branch of Cameron; sister, Kristy Branch of Cameron; brother, Chad Branch of Vass.

Jamie was a sel ess person he cared about others more than himself. He loved spending time with his family especially with his sister and nephew. He was fascinated with ashlights and was very good at any kind of woodwork. He loved building stereo systems, listening to music and watching movies. He left us too soon, he will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him.

STATE & NATION

Ousted FDA vaccine chief Prasad returning to position in agency

He’s back just weeks after departing

The Associated Press

WASHINGTON, D.C. — A Food and Drug Administration o cial is getting his job back as the agency’s top vaccine regulator, less than two weeks after he was pressured to step down at the urging of biotech executives, patient groups and conservative allies of President Donald Trump. Dr. Vinay Prasad is resuming leadership of the FDA center that regulates vaccines and bio-

tech therapies, a spokesperson for the Department of Health and Human Services said in a statement Monday. Prasad left the agency late last month after drawing ire of right-wing activists, including Laura Loomer, because of his past statements criticizing Trump.

A longtime a critic of FDA’s standards for approving medicines, Prasad brie y ordered the maker of a gene therapy for Duchenne’s muscular dystrophy to halt shipments after two patient deaths. But that action triggered pushback from the families of boys with the fatal

Trump to place DC police under federal control, deploy National

By David Klepper The Associated Press

WASHINGTON, D.C. —

President Donald Trump said Monday that he’s deploying the National Guard across Washington and taking over the city’s police department in the hopes of reducing crime, even as the city’s mayor has noted that crime is falling in the nation’s capital.

The Republican president, who said he was formally declaring a public safety emergency, compared crime in the American capital with that in other major cities, saying Washington performs poorly on safety relative to the capitals of Iraq, Brazil and Colombia, among others.

Trump also said at his news brie ng that his administration has started removing homeless encampments “from all over our parks, our beautiful, beautiful parks.”

“We’re getting rid of the slums, too,” Trump said, adding that the U.S. would not lose its cities and that Washington was just a start.

U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi will be taking over responsibility for Washington’s metro police department, he said, while also complaining about potholes and grati in the city and calling them “embarrassing.”

For Trump, the e ort to take over public safety in Washington re ects a next step in his law enforcement agenda after his aggressive push to stop illegal border crossings. But the move involves at least 500 federal law enforcement o cials as well as the National Guard, raising fundamental questions about how an increasingly em-

boldened federal government will interact with its state and local counterparts.

Combating crime

The president has used his social media and White House megaphones to message that his administration is tough on crime, yet his ability to shape policy might be limited outside of Washington, which has a unique status as a congressionally established federal district. Nor is it clear how his push would address the root causes of homelessness and crime.

Trump said he is invoking Section 740 of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act to deploy members of the National Guard.

About 500 federal law enforcement o cers are being tasked with deploying throughout the nation’s capital as part of the Trump administration’s effort to combat crime, a person familiar with the matter told The

Associated Press on Monday.

More than 100 FBI agents and about 40 agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are among federal law enforcement personnel being assigned to patrols in Washington, the person briefed on the plans said. The Drug Enforcement Administration, Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Marshals Service are also contributing o cers.

The person was not authorized to publicly discuss personnel matters and spoke to the AP on the condition of anonymity. The Justice Department didn’t immediately have a comment Monday morning.

The National Guard

Mayor Muriel Bowser, a Democrat, questioned the effectiveness of using the Guard to enforce city laws and said the federal government could be far more helpful by funding more

Guard

prosecutors or lling the 15 vacancies on the D.C. Superior Court, some of which have been open for years. Bowser cannot activate the National Guard herself, but she can submit a request to the Pentagon.

“I just think that’s not the most e cient use of our Guard,” she said Sunday on MSNBC’s “The Weekend,” acknowledging it is “the president’s call about how to deploy the Guard.”

Bowser was making her rst public comments since Trump started posting about crime in Washington last week. She noted that violent crime in Washington has decreased since a rise in 2023. Trump’s weekend posts depicted the district as “one of the most dangerous cities anywhere in the World.”

For Bowser, “Any comparison to a war-torn country is hyperbolic and false.”

Focusing on homelessness

Trump in a Sunday social media post had emphasized the removal of Washington’s homeless population, though it was unclear where the thousands of people would go.

“The Homeless have to move out, IMMEDIATELY,” Trump wrote Sunday. “We will give you places to stay, but FAR from the Capital. The Criminals, you don’t have to move out. We’re going to put you in jail where you belong.”

Last week, the Republican president directed federal law enforcement agencies to increase their presence in Washington for seven days, with the option “to extend as needed.”

On Friday night, federal agencies including the Secret Service, the FBI and the U.S. Marshals Service assigned more than 120 o cers and agents to assist in Washington.

Trump said last week that he was considering ways for the federal government to seize

condition and libertarian supporters of increased access to experimental medicines.

Prasad’s decision to pause the therapy was criticized by The Wall Street Journal editorial board, former Republican Sen. Rick Santorum and others. The FDA swiftly reversed its decision suspending the therapy’s use. Loomer posted online that Prasad was “a progressive leftist saboteur,” noting his history of praising liberal independent Sen. Bernie Sanders.

But Prasad has had the backing of FDA Commissioner Marty Makary and health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who have both called for scrutinizing the use of COVID-19 vaccines. Under Prasad, the FDA restricted the approval of two new COVID-19 shots from vaccine makers Novavax and Moderna and set stricter testing requirements for future approvals.

control of Washington, asserting that crime was “ridiculous” and the city was “unsafe,” after the recent assault of a high-prole member of the Department of Government E ciency.

Crime statistics

Police statistics show homicides, robberies and burglaries are down this year when compared with this time in 2024. Overall, violent crime is down 26% compared with this time a year ago.

Trump o ered no details in Truth Social posts over the weekend about possible new actions to address crime levels he argues are dangerous for citizens, tourists and workers alike. The White House declined to o er additional details about Monday’s announcement.

The police department and the mayor’s o ce did not respond to questions about what Trump might do next.

The president criticized the district as full of “tents, squalor, lth, and Crime,” and he seems to have been set o by the attack on Edward Coristine, among the most visible gures of the bureaucracy-cutting effort known as DOGE. Police arrested two 15-year-olds in the attempted carjacking and said they were looking for others.

“This has to be the best run place in the country, not the worst run place in the country,” Trump said last Wednesday.

He called Bowser “a good person who has tried, but she has been given many chances.”

Trump has repeatedly suggested that the rule of Washington could be returned to federal authorities. Doing so would require a repeal of the Home Rule Act of 1973 in Congress, a step Trump said lawyers are examining. It could face steep pushback.

Bowser acknowledged that the law allows the president to take more control over the city’s police, but only if certain conditions are met.

“None of those conditions exist in our city right now,” she said. “We are not experiencing a spike in crime. In fact, we’re watching our crime numbers go down.”

AG Pam Bondi will be taking over Washington’s metro police department

Dr. Vinay Prasad is returning to head the FDA’s vaccine regulation center shortly after resigning under pressure from critics.

ALEX BRANDON / AP PHOTO

President Donald Trump holds a press conference Monday in the James Brady Press Brie ng Room at the White House.