A man takes a photo of a Buxton home in the aftermath of weekend storms Monday
$6.5B in medical debt wiped out for 2.5M in N.C.
Raleigh
O cials say a North Carolina government initiative is eliminating over $6.5 billion in medical debt for more than 2.5 million residents. The totals released Monday exceed initial expectations for the e ort announced last year. It o ered hospitals extra Medicaid funds if they relieve low- and middle -income patients’ debt and implement policies to prevent future liabilities.
Democratic Gov. Josh Stein said word of the debt relief is “life-changing news for so many families” often struggling with the nancial weight of unexpected medical crises. Hospitals are already letting many patients know about their debt relief.
A nonpro t group helping in the project is sending more than 250,000 notices this week.
Smith, Rouse join U.S. House races
Raleigh Two Republicans have announced they are running for Congress. Adam Smith, a Green Beret veteran and self- described “Hurricane Helene Relief Leader,” has entered the 11th District race. That seat is currently held by Republican U.S. Rep. Chuck Edwards. In the 1st District, Eric Rouse has joined the Republican eld challenging incumbent Rep. Don Davis, a Democrat. Rouse, the vice chair of the Lenoir County Board of Commissioners, is the third Republican to announce their candidacy for the seat, joining Sen. Bobby Hanig (R-Currituck) and Rocky Mount Mayor Sandy Roberson.
State Rep. Brockman charged with sex crimes the BRIEF this week
The General Assembly’s Republican leadership plans to call for votes to redraw U.S. House maps
By A.P. Dillon North State Journal
Jackson, Marshall stop ‘fraudulent’ cancer charity
Kars-R-Us.com only spent 0.28% of the $45 million it raised for cancer support
By A.P. Dillon North State Journal
RALEIGH — North Carolina Attorney General Je Jackson and Secretary of State Elaine Marshall announced they have shuttered a cancer charity they say used only
$126,815, or 0.28%, of the $45 million it raised for breast cancer support.
“People gave their cars to this company because they wanted to help save the lives of women facing breast cancer,” Jackson said in a press release. “Secretary of State Marshall and I took them to court because you can’t lie to people about where their money or donations are going. I am grateful for her partnership
See FRAUD, page A3
RALEIGH — North Carolina Speaker of the House Destin Hall (R-Granite Falls) and Senate Leader Phil Berger (R-Eden) announced they will take up congressional redistricting plans to “thwart blue state attempts to steal Congress.”
According to Hall’s press release, legislative leaders have agreed to hold votes during the upcoming October session scheduled to start Monday, Oct. 20.
“President (Donald) Trump earned a clear mandate from the voters of North Carolina and the rest of the country, and we intend to defend it by drawing an additional Republican Congressional seat,” said Hall. “Our state won’t stand by while Democrats like Gavin Newsom redraw dis-
tricts to aid in their e ort to obtain a majority in the U.S. House. We will not allow them to undermine the will of the voters and President Trump’s agenda.”
“We are doing everything we can to protect President Trump’s agenda, which means safeguarding Republican control of Congress,” Berger said. “Picking up where Texas left o , we will hold votes in our October session to redraw North Carolina’s congressional map to ensure Gavin Newsom doesn’t decide the congressional majority.”
Trump has pushed for redistricting in red states following California’s announcement it would add Democrat seats in the wake of Texas’ redistricting plans.
Likely related to the push for redistricting is the push for a new census. In an April post on Truth Social, Trump said he had ordered the Department of Commerce to work on a new census, one that would exclude illegal immigrants
The Guilford County Democrat faces several charges, including statutory rape
By A.P. Dillon North State Journal
RALEIGH — North Carolina state Rep. Cecil Brockman (D-Guilford) was charged with multiple sex crimes last Wednesday, according to Guilford County jail records. Brockman is charged with two counts of taking indecent liberties with a child and two counts of statutory rape/sex o ense of a 13- to 15-year-old by a defendant at least six years older than the victim.
According to the magistrate order in the case, the alleged victim is a 15-year-old only referred to by initials.
Brockman was supposed to have his rst court appearance last Thursday, however, notes on the case indicated Brockman was “in the hospital.” At the Friday hearing, Brockman appeared remotely from a hospital claiming to have su ered a “medical emergency.”
During the hearing, District Attorney Avery Crump alleged Brockman had been having a relationship with a 15-year- old he met on a dating app in May. It was also alleged they lived together in Georgia for a time before moving to High Point together.
See CRIMES, page A2
See MAPS, page A2
on the Outer Banks. Read more on the storms
There is always peril in change. The more suddenly the change comes, and the greater it is, the more is the danger that hurt will result. There is danger in the ordinary changes of life, from infancy to childhood, from childhood to youth, from youth to manhood and womanhood. Many do not make the transition safely. There always are certain things that must be left behind, as each period is abandoned for the one that follows it.
The transition must be made, and there is not meant to be any loss in it — but rather a gain. As the blossom fades and falls o — but leaves its secret of life behind for the beginning of the fruit, so the change from boyhood is not intended to be the losing of anything — but an unfolding, a development. The true avails of childish sweetness and beauty, stay in the heart and life of youth, and become its strength. The change is safely passed, when the new emerges from the old in healthful grace and vigor.
But there is always danger in the transition, and not always is it safely passed. There is need of great wisdom in those who care for the child, for its education, for its health, for the directing of the in uences which a ect its growth.
There is peril also in the changes that come through life’s experiences. The impression prevails that pain and sorrow, for example, are always bene cent. Yet there is peril also in su ering. It does not always make people better, sweeter in spirit, more patient, more heavenly minded. It is its mission to produce such results. Tribulation is the way to the kingdom. The hard things of life are meant to be disciplinary. Earthly loss — should bring us heavenly gain. Pain should
sweeten our spirits. Disappointments should teach us to accept God’s appointments. We should always be better for a iction.
But not always are we thus helped and made better by trial. Sickness sometimes makes people unhappy, discontented, impatient, exacting, sel sh. Some men and women are sorely hurt in their disposition by it. Loss sometimes proves loss indeed, leaving nothing in its place to supply the lack of that which is taken away. Grief makes some people hard and bitter.
Thus the experience of trouble always has its perils. The only safe way is to commit ourselves to the will of God and the heavenly guardianship. Then no trouble can harm us.
An experience of change which
has its peculiar perils is when one suddenly passes out of prosperous circumstances into poverty. A family, once enjoying a luxurious home and abundant wealth, faced ruin when the father’s stock market ventures failed. Losing everything, they sold their possessions, left their a uent neighborhood, and moved to a modest boarding-house. Unaccustomed to poverty, they struggle to adapt. The mother, once cheerful, is now discontented. The father, defeated, lacks his former strength. Their daughter, recalled from school to work, faces burdens too heavy for her youth. Unprepared for labor, she risks losing her gentleness and spirit.
Yet, if borne with courage, such trials can foster growth and strength. All life is meant to be disciplinary — it is God’s intention that each event and experience shall make us better, more beautiful in character, tter for the work of life. We are always at school. It is not the divine will that anything that comes into our life shall do us harm, shall spoil our life, or prove a hindrance to our real progress.
When we put our perplexing circumstances, whatever they are, into the hands of God, to be untangled by him and then ordered and directed in his wise way of love — we have nothing to do in the matter, but our simple duty. We must keep our own hands o the tangles, believing that in God’s own good time and in his own way — he will bring about blessing, beauty and good.
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. This is an edited version of his original.
US Rep. Harrigan sued for libel over ring claim
Wake Forest trainer
Bridget Sullivan says she was not red for a post about Charlie Kirk’s assassination
By A.P. Dillon North State Journal
RALEIGH — Former Wake Forest University trainer Bridget Sullivan is suing North Carolina Congressman Pat Harrigan (R-Hickory) for libel over an X post in which Harrigan claimed Sullivan had been red over her Instagram post on the assassination of Turning Point
A High Point Police Department investigation into Brockman began after he made a 911 call to the Davidson County Sheri ’s O ce on Oct. 5 attempting to locate the victim, who he described as his “friend,” using a “Life360” tracking app. Brockman said he had sent a rideshare driver to pick up the teenager, but that the driver could not nd them and canceled the ride. Not long after, the High Point Police involved the State Bureau of Investigation.
The release order and the prosecutor in the case both indicate that Brockman, 41, allegedly attempted to contact the teenager Oct. 9 and had “gone as far as attempting to locate the juvenile in the hospital and attempting to use his status to gain information on the whereabouts of
and noncitizens from being counted.
Trump’s April request followed his January executive order that included initial rescissions of “harmful executive orders and actions,” including rescinding Executive Order 13986 of Jan. 20, 2021, titled “Ensuring a Lawful and Accurate Enumeration and Apportionment Pursuant to the Decennial Census.”
Chairs of the redistricting committees in both cham-
USA founder Charlie Kirk that said, “He had it coming.” Sullivan’s Instagram post was reposted on X on Sept. 12 by an anonymous account called @Anc_Aesthetics, which tagged Wake Forest’s o cial account, asking the university if it was aware its trainer was “celebrating the violent political assassination of an innocent father of two?” Harrigan responded to the post, writing he had contacted Wake Forest regarding the post, which he said “crossed the line” of decency, adding, “No university should tolerate an employee glorifying political violence. Anything less than r-
the victim.” That claim was corroborated by the teen, who said Brockman tried to get to them through a locked door at the hospital. It has not yet been revealed why the teen was in the hospital.
Brockman’s bond was upgraded to $1.05 million by Judge Gordon Miller, who ordered Brockman to have no contact with the victim. Brockman has not yet entered a plea and will next be in court Nov. 13.
Brockman also tried to read a statement, but Miller told him to confer with his attorney rst. Alec Carpenter, a Greensboro area attorney, is said to be representing Brockman.
Court records cite “electronic evidence present,” and police say they found 14 sexual videos on the victim’s phone, some of which included Brockman. Crump said there may be more charges led.
bers also issued statements. “We’re stepping into this redistricting battle because California and the radical left are attempting to rig the system to handpick who runs Congress. This ploy is nothing new, and North Carolina will not stand by while they attempt to stack the deck,” House Redistricting Chairmen Brenden Jones (R-Columbus) and Hugh Blackwell (R-Burke) said. “President Trump has called on us to ght back, and North Carolina stands ready to level the playing eld.”
“I’m happy to report that after I contacted @WakeForest, Bridget has been FIRED for celebrating Charlie Kirk’s assassination.”
U.S. Rep. Pat Harrigan on X
ing her is an endorsement of it.”
On Sept. 16, Harrigan gave an update, saying, “I’m happy to report that after I contacted @WakeForest, Bridget has been
Brockman faced calls from both sides of the aisle to resign within hours of the story breaking.
“These charges are extremely serious and deeply troubling,” said Gov. Josh Stein when asked for comment by North State Journal. “While the legal process has yet to play out, it’s clear he cannot e ectively serve his constituents and should resign immediately.”
The o ce of House Minority Leader Robert Reives issued an initial statement on X, saying that if the allegations were true, it would “disqualify” him from holding o ce. Reives later updated the statement, saying Brockman “must resign immediately.”
“The charges against Rep. Brockman are shocking and extremely serious,” House Speaker Destin Hall (R-Granite Falls)
“North Carolina was at the forefront of the Democrats’ sue-until-blue scheme, and we’re prepared to bring forward a new Congressional map to defeat this new scheme,” said Senate Redistricting Chairman Ralph Hise (R-Mitchell).
North Carolina Democratic Party Chair Anderson Clayton criticized Hall and Berger in a social media post, calling the two legislative leaders “bootlickers.”
House Minority Leader Rep. Robert Reives (D-Wake) issued
FIRED for celebrating Charlie Kirk’s assassination.”
At some point after Sullivan’s post was noticed by the public, she set her Instagram account to private.
Through Winston-Salem area attorney Walter Holton, Sullivan led a libel lawsuit against Harrigan on Oct. 6 for his remark that she was red. Her complaint claims Wake Forest University o cials did not terminate her, and o cials discussed her safety before she and the school “mutually agreed that it would be best to part ways.” Sullivan is seeking $50,000 in libel claims for “reputation-
said in a statement. “Given the evidence that’s publicly known, he should resign immediately so these charges do not distract from the work of the North Carolina House.”
Both the N.C. Democratic Party and N.C. Republican Party called for Brockman to resign, as well as Senate Minority Leader Sydney Batch (D-Wake) and N.C. Attorney General Je Jackson.
Brockman has been one of the few Democrats in the House to side with Republicans on certain bills and on veto overrides.
He was targeted by his own party and allegedly by former Gov. Roy Cooper for those votes, resulting in Brockman receiving a primary challenger in recent election cycles. Cooper issued a statement mid-afternoon last Wednesday, saying the charges against
a formal statement through his press o ce.
“Republican lawmakers made clear today that they plan to come back to Raleigh and disenfranchise the voters of this state,” he said. “Instead of lowering costs for families or ensuring Medicaid can stay a oat, they are hellbent on consolidating as much power as they can. Call it what it is: They are stealing a congressional district in order to shield themselves from accountability at the ballot box.”
In a statement posted to X,
al harm, as well as economic and emotional damage, including pain and su ering,” and an additional $25,000 in punitive damages.
Several media outlets reported that Sullivan had been red, including the Raleigh News & Observer, which ran an article on Sept. 17 with the headline, “Wake Forest athletic trainer red after social media comment about Charlie Kirk,” but only Harrigan is named in the lawsuit.
North State Journal reached out to Wake Forest and Harrigan’s communications sta but did not receive a response.
Brockman “are disturbing and disqualifying” and “He should resign immediately.” If Brockman does not resign, he could be impeached or possibly expelled.
Former Gov. William Woods Holden was the last o cial to be impeached in North Carolina, in 1871. Holden was the rst governor in U.S. history to be impeached and convicted. His impeachment was led by the Democrat-led legislature, who were upset Holden had responded to a lynching and murder of a sheri by instituting martial law and ordering the arrest of more than 100 KKK members.
A state lawmaker was last expelled in 2018. That case involved New Hanover Democrat Thomas Wright, who was convicted and sent to jail on three counts of fraud for misuse of $340,000 in campaign money.
Gov. Josh Stein said, “The General Assembly should be working for you, not taking away your freedoms. … The Republican leadership in the General Assembly has failed to pass a budget, failed to pay our teachers and law enforcement what they deserve, and failed to fully fund Medicaid. Now they are failing you, the voters. These shameless politicians are abusing their power to take away yours.
“I will always ght for you because the voters should choose their representatives, not the other way around.”
PUBLIC DOMAIN
“Hope” by George Frederic Watts (1886) is a painting in the collection of Tate Britain in London.
The state court system has completed a monumental task
North Carolina will be the rst state to transition statewide court operations for all case types solely to the cloud.
IN 1994, the “Today” show’s Bryant Gumbel asked, “What is the internet, anyway?” His question seems ridiculous now. Almost nothing was digital then, but technology has changed signi cantly since 1994. Until very recently, however, the North Carolina court system was still paper-based and required people to physically go to the courthouse to access paper records and transact routine business — just as they did in 1994 … and 1894.
Judicial Branch leaders recognized that a digital transformation of the court system was necessary to meet the mandate that justice be administered without favor, denial or delay (as required by Article I of the North Carolina Constitution).
This project, now called eCourts, would prove to be a monumental task. North Carolina law is a mile wide and a mile deep, and the new eCourts system would need to accommodate a multitude of practice areas within the bar and the complex legal issues of 11 million North Carolinians.
An in ection point arose when Paul Newby was sworn in as chief justice in January 2021. Contracts with vendors had been signed under previous administrations, but there was a very long way to go before eCourts was ready for implementation. When Newby took o ce, the state’s trial courts had been shut down as part of the government’s response to COVID, creating a seemingly insurmountable backlog of cases. Given the enormous challenge of restoring courtroom operations and digging out of this backlog, Newby could have scrapped the eCourts project using COVID as a convenient excuse.
Instead, he honored contracts entered into by his predecessors and moved forward with eCourts not only because of the consequences of breaking contracts but because of his belief that the digital transformation was an operational necessity. The decades-old patchwork of systems that held together the courts’ records index system was in serious danger of crashing beyond repair. Credit goes to Newby for having the character and fortitude to move forward with eCourts at such a di cult time.
Through the General Assembly’s investments and the hard work and sacri ce of many key players across state government, the pilot counties of Wake, Johnston, Harnett and Lee went “live”
COLUMN | DANIEL MCCARTHY
with eCourts in February 2023. Aspects of the rollout, especially in the early stages, were certainly challenging, but given the totality of the circumstances, the transition can rightly be described as a success — particularly considering the magnitude of change and the complexity of the new system.
Credit goes to the many district attorneys, clerks, judges, magistrates and sta who have maintained professional excellence through this transition.
As of Oct. 13, the eCourts project is fully implemented, and all 100 counties are “live” on the North Carolina Judicial Branch’s Enterprise Justice platform. When that happens, North Carolina will be the rst state to transition statewide court operations for all case types solely to the cloud. North Carolinians bene t from this in many ways. In all 100 counties, paper records will be replaced with online access to justice, meaning that anyone with an internet connection can le court documents, search for records and have 24/7 access to case events and court dates from the comfort of their home. Nearly 6 million electronic lings have already been accepted, saving many costly trips to the courthouse and more than 20 million sheets of paper. More than 5 million searches are conducted monthly through the new online records portal.
NC Chamber polling from last year underscores just how strongly North Carolinians back modernization of the courts. Sixty-six percent of voters favored continuing the transition to electronic records through the eCourts initiative, with 37% saying they strongly support it. People want faster access to justice, greater transparency and less delay. For policymakers, the message is clear: North Carolinians overwhelmingly want to bring their courts into the 21st century.
The system will continue to improve, and just as Bryant Gumbel and the rest of the world probably can’t fathom living without the internet, I strongly suspect that court o cials, Judicial Branch employees, the bar and the public will soon forget what life was like before eCourts. Congratulations to the Judicial Branch for reaching this major milestone.
Andrew Heath is a partner with Nelson Mullins in Raleigh.
Why Sharpies are made in America again
Trump wants to make American manufacturing great again.
PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP loves a Sharpie pen, and now he has all the more reason to love the company that makes them.
The president signed the urry of executive orders he issued the day he returned to o ce with a Sharpie.
He’s used them for years, nding them more reliable than fancier pens.
Now we know they have another merit, too: They’re almost entirely made in America.
Only the felt tip of a Sharpie comes from abroad — it’s made in Japan, according to The Wall Street Journal’s Natasha Khan, who published an eye-opening article on the penmaker last week.
What makes Newell Brands, the corporation behind the Sharpie, so newsworthy is its success saving money — and holding down consumer prices — by making the pens in America.
Newell was once as dazzled as other manufacturers by the prospect of making its products more cheaply in Asia.
But in 2018, CFO Chris Peterson looked into producing the latest Sharpie, a gel version, at the company’s factory in Maryville, Tennessee.
The new pen required updating the plant and training workers to operate and maintain the new machines.
Yet that’s what made the project a triumph: investment in an American factory and the Americans working there.
This country can make top-quality consumer goods at a ordable prices, but only if companies invest in cutting-edge machinery and in enhancing workers’ skills.
Peterson, who became the company’s CEO, had Newell pay to send factory oor workers to college.
They came back ready to take on more technically demanding tasks, and naturally their wages shot up — on average by 50% over the last ve years, in Peterson’s estimation.
The mandarins of globalization say higher wages surely have to mean lower pro ts, and doesn’t better machinery mean fewer workers?
But Newell’s production costs dropped even as employment levels held steady.
Not every story in American manufacturing has such a happy outcome, but Newell proved the process that once lifted manufacturers and their workers together into prosperity still works in the 21st century.
Ford Motor Co. famously discovered it could sell more cars by paying its workers well enough to a ord the automobiles they were making.
Long before globalization, America’s national economy boomed thanks to a virtuous cycle of rising wages, more technological investment, an increasingly educated workforce and higher consumer spending on American-made goods.
Success at home led to success abroad: America was an exporting superpower that “ran persistent trade surpluses” from 1870 to 1970, the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis relates.
Trump wants to make American manufacturing great again.
But tari s, which can help, are not enough by themselves.
The Sharpie case shows domestic investment is critical.
One reason for American manufacturing’s relative decline in recent decades has been the high cost of building new plants or renovating old ones.
Even if it’s pro table to manufacture in America, the upfront expenses are a hurdle, especially when foreign countries, which subsidize their industries in myriad ways, o er quicker returns on investment.
Trump incurred the wrath of free-market purists by getting government more involved in businesses like Intel and U.S. Steel.
Yet industries like chipmaking and steel — or, for that matter, shipbuilding and aerospace — are sectors with heavy government involvement throughout the world.
The few countries that have signi cant manufacturing in those elds all use government aid to sustain their industries.
Even smart free-market economists are dangerously naive about this.
At a recent Dallas-area debate I participated in, National Review economics editor Dominic Pino (who’s since moved to The Washington Post) contrasted “the government-driven protectionist model that we have used for U.S. Steel for decades,” which has “now resulted in the quasi-nationalization of that company” with “FedEx, which is pro table, employs way more Americans … and actually delivers services that Americans use every single day.”
Trouble is, nowhere on Earth is steel manufacturing as fully private an enterprise as FedEx is.
The choice Pino was presenting wasn’t between government-backed steel or free-market steel — it was between partly government-backed steel or no domestic steelmaking at all.
For most American manufacturers, private investment is enough — though even then, government must consider what unfair practices other countries may adopt to lure investment away from our shores.
There’s also a role for government in ensuring a reasonably level playing eld at home, so investment isn’t incentivized out of manufacturing and into other sectors without the heavy upfront costs of plants and machinery.
Yet the Newell Brands example shows business leaders themselves can work miracles and defy globalization’s laws of gravity when they put capital behind America’s factories and workers.
Daniel McCarthy is the editor of “Modern Age: A Conservative Review.” This column was rst published by The Daily Signal.
EVERYONE UNDERSTANDS that slogans such as “Free Palestine!” and “Cease re Now!” are just euphemisms for a Hamas victory. Never has that been more evident than right now.
Take New York City Democratic mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, the new darling of the American left. He has publicly demanded a “cease re” in Gaza scores of times since the Oct. 7 massacre — a slaughter he recently referred to as a “war crime” rather than what it was, a terrorist attack. He even traveled to Washington, D.C., in November 2023 to start a hunger strike meant to pressure the White House into forcing a “permanent cease re” on Israel.
After 24 hours, Mamdani nally released a mealymouthed statement both-siding the war. Most of his allies haven’t even bothered to do that much.
As of this writing, “cease re” champion Bernie Sanders, who has spread the Gaza “genocide” hoax hundreds of times to his millions of followers, has said absolutely nothing about President Donald Trump’s deal. The same goes for Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez, Elizabeth Warren, Rashida Tlaib, Ilhan Omar and, no doubt, scores of other Hamas apologists.
It seems awfully curious that the people who have made Gazans a central political cause do not seem at all relieved that there’s at least a temporary cessation of violence. After all, they have incessantly told us that there is a genocide going on and mass starvation was right on the horizon.
Why aren’t there widespread celebrations across Western cities and college campuses today? Why aren’t Cease re Now! activists ecstatic that the world will again shower Palestinians with hundreds of billions of dollars of aid to rebuild, even after they started another war? Why aren’t they celebrating the fact that food and supplies will ow to the hungry without Hamas stealing them?
You know why.
Like many pro-Palestinian activists, Mamdani, Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez are willing to see the su ering and death of Palestinians in the cause of eliminating the “colonialist” Jewish state. There was a cease re in place on Oct. 7. Not one Israeli soldier was in Gaza on Oct. 6, 2023.
Before Israel had even retaliated for the massacre, pro-Palestinians were marching against Israel in American cities. Those marches would soon become xtures on college campuses and in progressive cities. The media often highlighted the big Cease re Now! banners that were unfurled at these events, avoiding, as best they could, the genocidal sloganeering — “From the River to the Sea” and “Globalize the Intifada” and so on — that actually dominated them. For many media types, ginning up anger at “colonialists” and Jews was a lucrative business. For progressives looking for a new cause after the George Floyd/Black Lives Matter hysteria had petered out, “Palestine” was perfect. I’m not sure what the next great leftist struggle will be, but I’m certain its champions will be as ignorant on the topic as they are passionate.
“Free Palestine!” was always a cheap virtue signal. Those who throw it around never have to su er the consequences of the extremism they support. The sad reality is that they have succeeded in ratcheting up antisemitism in the West.
At the same time, however, the target of their ire, Israel, has been winning in the Middle East.
College students can continue with their junior-varsity Hamas jamborees, but over the past two years, the extremists in Gaza have been decimated as a ghting force. Their allies in Hezbollah have been decapitated. The Assad dictatorship in Syria has been banished. The Iranian mullahs, patrons of Hamas, have been embarrassed, and, with our help, their nuke program has been set back years. The Iranian-backed Houthis have been smacked around.
At the same time, Israeli peace with most Sunni Arabs still holds.
Now, it’s far from certain that the Trump peace plan will work. Palestinian “deradicalization,” the rst step in the president’s 20-point peace plan, will be a tough lift, considering the entire identity of Palestinians is tethered to a mythical origin story and hatred of their neighbor.
The plan still o ers a huge opportunity for Gazans to drop their bellicosity and accept their neighbor’s right to exist. There could be peace.
No thanks to the Cease re Now! crowd.
David Harsanyi is a senior writer at the Washington Examiner.
Murphy to Manteo
Spotlight: The Great Pumpkin
In 2024, North Carolina’s total pumpkin acreage was reported as 4,700 acres, producing hundreds of thousands of pounds of pumpkins, with about 3,000 acres of those farms in the western mountain region. Many pumpkin operations in N.C. are moderate scale (e.g. 1 to 100 acres) rather than massive industrial scale, and N.C. agriculture o cials note that “large growers … plant between 10 and 100 acres of pumpkins.”
Many smaller farming operations, however, supplement their fall harvest yield by o ering public “pick your own” opportunities and other fall family activities.
5. Millstone Creek Orchards, Ramseur (Randolph County)
6. Gross Farms, Sanford (Lee County)
7. Vollmer Farm, Bunn (Franklin County)
8. Hubb’s Corn Maze & Pumpkin Patch, Clinton (Sampson County)
PIEDMONT
Multiple people injured in crash on Highway 29
Guilford County
park, preserve
Madison County The town of Mars Hill hosted a grand opening and celebration for Bailey Mountain Park and Preserve. There is still more the town wants to do with the project, according to town manager Nathan Bennett. Bennett said he is excited to make the beautiful area more accessible to the public. “We’ve worked with partners here to create a gateway public access to that mountain,” Bennett said. “About 88 acres of property that the town acquired here in the last few years, and for the last four or ve years, we’ve been doing development activities, creating more trails, handicap accessible trails, restroom facilities, park amenities, amphitheater, things like that. We’ve been working with a number of partners here to accomplish some great things for the community.” Bailey Mountain Park and Preserve is already a part of local universities and colleges and utilized by the ecology departments. WLOS
Seven people were taken to the hospital after a crash early Sunday morning on southbound Highway 29 between 16th Street and Phillips Avenue, according to Guilford County o cials. O cials said two vehicles sustained heavy damage in the crash, which was reported around 3:30 a.m. According to authorities, three people su ered serious injuries and four had minor injuries. Investigators said additional vehicles may have been involved, but that has not been con rmed by Greensboro Police. WFMY
Duke Health, Aetna reach multiyear contract agreement
Orange County After months of negotiations, a new contract agreement has been reached between Duke Health and Aetna, the health system said last Friday. According to the health system, the new agreement will provide Aetna members continued access to all Duke Health locations and providers. Duke Health said the agreement was multiyear but did not specify how long it will be for. The new agreement comes after a monthslong negotiation between Duke Health and Aetna.
WGHP
Triad greenway project receives $500K grant
Forsyth County Work on the 19-mile-long Piedmont Greenway continues thanks to more grant money. Once complete and the segments are all connected, the Piedmont Greenway will connect the cities and towns of WinstonSalem, Greensboro, Summer eld, Oak Ridge and Kernersville. “The outdoor recreation economy is huge in North Carolina,” Jesse Day, the planning director for the Piedmont Triad Regional Council, said. “It’s a $16 billion economy, almost 150,000 jobs, about a little over 2% of the gross domestic product of the state.” Day said they have received a $500,000 grant from the Great Trail State Coalition to fund the design of the Reedy Fork Triad Park segment. It will connect Triad Park to downtown Kernersville. The Piedmont Triad Regional Council says construction on the Triad Park Reedy Fork segment could start within the next two years and may take several years to complete. There are also two other sections remaining on the entire project.
WXII
EAST
Setback for Morehead’s planned Calico Bay Park
Carteret County
Morehead City’s proposed Calico Bay Park at the site of the former U.S. Army Reserve Center cannot move forward due to a letter from the Department of the Army. However, city leadership is supportive of plans that would allow the U.S. Marine Corps to utilize the space instead. The initial concept included multiple community spaces, an amphitheater and public water access.
City sta reportedly wrote letters concerning the project to President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth.
WNCT
New re chief named, closing chapter on 2023 suspension Pitt County Greenville Fire/Rescue named its new chief Monday. Deputy Chief Jesse Harris has been overseeing operations at GFR after Brock Davenport retired in August. Davenport had a 26-year career with GFR, working his way up to chief in October 2023. He had served as the interim chief for several months after Carson Sanders abruptly announced his resignation in February 2023. Sanders was suspended by the city one year into the job. No explanation was given by the city as to why Sanders was suspended.
WITN
Community mourns loss of 3 Fayetteville football players
Cumberland County
Three E.E. Smith High School studentathletes were killed in a car accident last week. Jai’Hyon Elliot,18, Trevor Merritt, 17, and Nicholas Williams, 17, had reportedly just left football practice last Wednesday and were on their way to surprise their best friend on his 18th birthday. While riding down Rosehill Road in Fayetteville, the car they were in left the road and slammed into a utility pole and tree, killing all three. The driver, 21-year-old Dymond Monroe remains in critical condition at UNC Health with multiple broken bones, according to her mother. Friday night’s E.E. Smith game against South View High School was postponed as the community planned a vigil over the weekend to honor the three young men. Hundreds gathered at Westover Recreation Center on Saturday to release balloons and share memories, while another memorial was held Tuesday at South View High School before the rescheduled game against E. E. Smith.
WNCN
County, previously served as a member of the Lumbee Tribal Council and had held leadership roles with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the N.C. Department of Commerce. Serving as the seventh Lumbee chairman since 2022, Lowery advanced new housing projects, improved educational and agricultural programs, and brought in “record funding” for cultural and economic development projects.
“I want to thank my brother, Jarrod Lowery, for his dedicated service to our community and for setting a strong example of leadership rooted in faith, hard work, and integrity,” said Lowery. “I look forward to continuing that work for the people of Robeson County — strengthening our economy, supporting our schools, and ensuring that our values are represented in Raleigh.” Sen. Danny Earl Britt Jr. and House Majority Leader Brenden Jones, who also represent Robeson County, welcomed Lowery’s appointment.
“I have had the honor of not only serving alongside Majority Leader Jones, but also with Representative Jarrod Lowery,” said Britt. “Though I am sad to see Jarrod leave the General Assembly, I know that John Lowery is exactly the proven leader that Robeson
County needs representing District 47 in Raleigh.”
“I’ve worked alongside John for years and have seen rsthand his commitment to conservative values and delivering real results for Robeson County families,” Britt said, adding that Lowery will “play a key role” in the work done supporting the
COURTESY FACEBOOK
John Lowery
A woman on a bike rides past a ooded road during Sunday’s storm in Buxton.
NATION & WORLD
Storm that ooded OBX pounds Northeast
Zidek told The Associated Press.
S.C. bar shooting
kills 4, injures more
St. Helena Island, S.C.
A mass shooting early Sunday at a crowded bar on an idyllic island considered to be the largest Gullah community on the South Carolina coast has left four people dead and at least 20 injured, o cials said. A large crowd was at Willie’s Bar and Grill on St. Helena Island when sheri ’s deputies arrived and found many people with gunshot wounds. An estimated 5,000 or more Gullah people living on the island trace their ancestry back to enslaved West Africans who once worked rice plantations in the area before being freed following the Civil War.
2 dead after plane crashes onto Mass. highway
By Sarah Brum eld The Associated Press
OCEAN OVERWASH spread across Highway 12 near Buxton as crews worked to clear the closed highway on Ocracoke and Hatteras on Sunday as storms pummeled the communities up and down the East Coast’s beaches.
The waves were ferocious in Buxton, where several beachfront homes have fallen into the water in recent weeks. One house was losing its pilings Sunday and appeared close to collapsing.
From Virginia to New Jersey, strong onshore winds, high surf and high tides brought dangerous conditions and ooding.
A nor’easter churned its way up the East Coast over the weekend, washing out roads and prompting air travel delays. There were 384 cancelations and 2,787 delays within,
into or out of the United States by midday Monday, with many of those disruptions a ecting Boston Logan International and LaGuardia Airport in New York, according to FlightAware, a website that tracks ight disruptions.
Dangerous surf conditions brought strong rip currents and beach erosion along many East Coast beaches, and wind gusts exceeding 55 mph threatened New Jersey, Long Island and southern New England into the start of the week.
Coastal areas in New Jersey and New York City saw minor to moderate ooding, but no major damage had occurred.
The Columbus Day Parade in New York City was canceled. The rain and winds started late Saturday, and forecasters expected more than 2 inches of rain to fall in some spots.
New Jersey was under a state of emergency, and New York Gov. Kathy Hochul issued an emergency declaration for eight southern counties while urging people to avoid travel and monitor forecasts.
In Delaware, emergency management o cials activated the state National Guard on Sunday in response to rising oodwaters and harsh winds. A voluntary evacuation order was issued for the town of Bowers Beach, where the Murderkill River ows into Delaware Bay.
On the other side of the country, more than 30 people were rescued and three people remain unaccounted for in western Alaska after the remnants of Typhoon Halong brought hurricane-force winds and ooding strong enough to sweep away entire homes in coastal communities, authorities said.
Rescue aircraft were sent to the tiny Alaskan villages of Kipnuk and Kwigillingok, where there were reports of people possibly unaccounted for, said Jeremy Zidek, spokesperson for the state Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management.
“We have received reports that people’s homes have oated away and that people were potentially in those homes,”
Trump’s Mideast proposal ‘last chance’ for peace in region
Egypt’s president also called for a two-state solution
By Fay Abuelgasim and Sarah El Deeb
The Associated Press
SHARM EL SHEIKH, Egypt
— The Egyptian president told a summit of world leaders Monday that U.S. President Donald Trump’s Mideast proposal represents the “last chance” for peace in the region and reiterated his call for a two-state solution, saying Palestinians have the right to an independent state.
The summit in Egypt’s Red Sea resort town of Sharm el-Sheikh was aimed at supporting the cease re reached in Gaza, ending the Israel-Hamas war, and developing a long-term vision for governing and rebuilding the devastated Palestinian territory.
The gathering appeared designed to rally international support behind Trump’s vision for putting an end to the war. Egyptian leader Abdel Fattah el-Sissi, the co-chair of the summit, told Trump “only you” can bring peace to the region.
Trump’s plan holds out the possibility of a Palestinian state, but only after a lengthy transition period in Gaza and a reform process by the internationally recognized Palestinian Authority. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu opposes Palestinian independence. Trump made no mention of a two-state solution at the summit.
President Donald Trump, right, and Egypt’s President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi hold signed documents during a summit Monday to support ending the more than two-year Israel-Hamas war in Gaza after a breakthrough cease re deal in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt.
In his own address to the summit, Trump called for a new era of harmony in the Middle East, saying that the region has “a once-in-a-lifetime chance to put the old feuds and bitter hatreds behind us.” He urged leaders “to declare that our future will not be ruled by the ghts of generations past.” Israel and Hamas came under pressure from the United States, Arab countries and Turkey to agree on the rst phase of the cease re deal negotiated in Qatar through mediators. It began Friday. On Monday, Trump, el-Sissi, the Qatari emir and the Turkish president signed a document. Trump said the document spelled out “a lot of
rules and regulations and lots of other things, and it’s very comprehensive.” The document was not shared with journalists in the room or made public.
The summit unfolded soon after Hamas released 20 remaining living Israeli hostages and Israel started to free hundreds of Palestinians from its prisons, crucial steps under the cease re. But major questions remain over what happens next, raising the risk of a slide back into war.
More than 20 world leaders attended the summit, including King Abdullah of Jordan, the French president and the British prime minister.
A Turkish government of-
In Kwigillingok, at least 18 people were rescued and three people unaccounted for, Alaska State Troopers said in a social media post on Sunday evening. In Kipnuk, at least 16 people were rescued, and troopers had received secondhand reports of people who were unaccounted for. They were working with local o cials to determine how many people were missing. Search e orts were expected to continue overnight as conditions allowed. According to the nonpro t Coastal Villages Region Fund, nearly 600 people in Kipnuk were taking shelter at a school, while around 300 people in Kwigillingok were sheltering in a school there. The area is among the most isolated in the U.S., where some communities have few roads and residents use boardwalks, boats and snowmobiles to get around, Zidek said.
“Every e ort will be made to help those hit by this storm. Help is on the way,” Gov. Mike Dunleavy said in a statement.
cial said Turkey launched “a diplomatic initiative” to prevent Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from attending the meeting, and after other countries backed the e ort, Netanyahu decided not to come.
The o cial would not conrm Turkish media reports that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s plane circled over the Red Sea as Erdogan threatened to boycott the meeting and that the plane landed only after it became clear that Netanyahu would not arrive
Earlier, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani had warned Egyptian and U.S. o cials that he would withdraw from the summit if Netanyahu attended, according to the state-run Iraqi News Agency.
Netanyahu’s o ce announced that he would not attend, citing a Jewish holiday.
Israel has rejected any role in Gaza for the internationally backed Palestinian Authority, whose leader, Mahmoud Abbas, was in Sharm el-Sheikh.
El-Sissi’s o ce said the summit aimed to “end the war” in Gaza and “usher in a new page of peace and regional stability.”
Directly tackling the issues in depth was unlikely at the gathering, which lasted only about three hours and was mostly ceremonial.
Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty said the success of Trump’s vision for Mideast peace will depend on his continued commitment to the process, including applying pressure to the parties and deploying military forces as part of an international contingent expected to carry out peacekeeping duties in the next phase.
“We need American engagement, even deployment on the ground, to identify the mission, task and mandate of this force,” Abdelatty told The Associated Press.
Dartmouth, Mass.
A small plane crashed along a major highway in southeastern Massachusetts early Monday amid rain and strong winds, killing both people on board and wounding another person on the ground, authorities said. In videos shot by people in passing vehicles, smoke could be seen billowing above Interstate 195 from scattered, blazing debris. The highway was closed in both directions near the crash site in Dartmouth, about 50 miles south of Boston. The plane may have been attempting to land at New Bedford Regional Airport, but o cials said it does not appear the pilot provided the airport with a ight plan or passenger details.
Venezuela politician Machado wins Nobel Peace Prize
Oslo, Norway Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado won the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday for her struggle to achieve a democratic transition in the South American nation, winning recognition as a woman “who keeps the ame of democracy burning amid a growing darkness.” The former opposition presidential candidate is a “key, unifying gure” in the once deeply divided opposition to President Nicolás Maduro’s government, said Jørgen Watne Frydnes, chair of the Norwegian Nobel committee. Maduro’s government has routinely targeted its real or perceived opponents. Machado, who turned 58 this week, was set to run against Maduro in last year’s presidential election, but the government disquali ed her.
Chinese coast guard rams Philippine vessel in South China Sea Manila, Philippines Chinese coast guard ships used powerful water cannons on Sunday and rammed and slightly damaged an anchored Philippine government vessel o an island inhabited by Filipinos in the disputed South China Sea, the Philippine coast guard said. There were no injuries among Filipino crewmen of the BRP Datu Pagbuaya, part of the sheries eet that provides support to Filipino shermen. It is the latest are-up of the long-simmering territorial disputes involving Manila, Beijing and four other governments. Two other Philippine sheries vessels were targeted with water cannons Sunday.
The nor’easter closed Highway 12 in Dare County
EVAN VUCCI / AP PHOTO
ALLISON JOYCE / AP PHOTO
features
88 new food, drink options with familiar favorites to spice up State Fair midway
In its 172nd year, the N.C. State Fair goes global with bold, sweet and savory eats
By Dan Reeves North State Journal
RALEIGH — The State Fair returns Thursday and runs through Sunday, Oct. 26, bringing the smells, sights and sounds that have made it a fall tradition for generations — plus a few new avors you’ll want to hunt down before enjoying nearly 100 rides, including new editions — if you dare — the Colossus, The Flip Side and Kamikaze.
On Monday’s “Deep Fried Media Day,” the nest fair foods were rolled out for sampling, and this year’s lineup is bolder than ever. The fried, the stacked and the unexpected all make an appearance, from lamb chops and shawarma burgers to pizza croissants and a barbecue-stu ed doughnut.
We wish we could’ve eaten everything, but here’s the best we could muster.
Leading the lineup is the Golden K-Dog — a Korean-style corn dog deep-fried to a perfect golden crisp and rolled in your choice of toppings like sugar, potato or spicy hot-Cheeto crumbs. Crispy outside, gooey inside — it’s exactly the kind of fair food that earns its name.
If you’re craving something heartier, Lawrence & Perry Barbeque brings Deep-Fried Lamb Chops, breaded, fried and drizzled with a balsamic honey maple glaze and nished with dried mint. Neomonde Mediterranean adds an international twist with the Carolina Shawarma Burger, layering beef and lamb with coleslaw, spiced barbecue sauce and jalapeños on a toasted brioche bun.
Barbecue makes its way into plenty of creative corners. Fat Boys BBQ’s Cowgirl Bites mix pimento cheese and pulled pork into fried, sauce-drizzled morsels, while Hickory Tree Turkey BBQ’s Stu ed Turkey Leg hides Mexican street corn and cotija cheese inside a massive smoked drumstick.
If comfort food’s your thing, Hot Chix Hotcakes & Chicken delivers the Chicken Caesar Mac Stack — layers of mac and cheese, fried chicken, Caesar dressing, parmesan and
crushed Cheez-Its. Lee’s Kitchen goes soulful with Oxtail Fried Rice, and Chick-N-Que’s Dirty Duck Bowl piles on duck, dirty rice, peppers and onions with chili sauce and crispy wonton chips.
You’ll also nd plenty of international avor: Cool Runnings Jamaican serves up a ery Jerk Trio of jerk pork, jerk barbecue chicken and jerk pork belly tacos, while Arepa Loca LLC’s La Montanera (The Country Girl) layers pork belly, rice, beans and chorizo inside a warm arepa.
D&J Concessions has the BBQ Doughnut; a glazed doughnut stu ed with pulled pork and smoky sauce. The Cheese Curd Shack fries up Home Style Ranch Cheese Curds, La Farm Bakery rolls out a Pizza Croissant, and Oak City Fish and Chips delivers a Sword sh Pop — fried sword sh bites on a stick, drizzled with their “special addictive sauce.” Fair Director Kent Yelverton emceed the afternoon tasting. Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler said the food
Visuals, soundtrack do more for audience than lm in “Tron: Ares”
None of the characters bring anything new to the table
By Bob Garver The Sun
THE LEGACY of the “Tron” franchise is complicated. On a consistently positive note, the series has always been a feast for the eyes and ears, with pleasing, if not groundbreaking, special e ects and musical scores that heart-pumpingly convey that technological developments are happening every minute. But the lms have never quite stuck the landing critically or commercially.
The 1982 original is a “cult” movie that defenders see as ahead of the curve and not appreciated in its time. The 2010 follow-up, “Tron: Legacy,” was given every chance to succeed yet only performed middlingly on all fronts. And new installment “Tron: Ares” is going to go down as an even bigger disappointment than the second lm. Disney keeps insisting they have a major franchise here, but the original wasn’t the hit they pretend it was, and the weirdly spaced-out sequels keep playing as ambitious money pits.
The new lm opens by lling viewers in on the feud between tech giants ENCOM and Dillinger Systems. Since “Tron: Legacy,” ENCOM has passed from longtime protagonists the Flynn family to Eve Kim (Greta Lee), who wants to use the company’s resources to do good things like cure world hunger and protect the environment. Dillinger Systems is now run by Julian Dillinger (Evan Peters), grandson of original antagonist Ed Dillinger, who wants to do things like build weapons and turn humanity’s problems over to arti cial intelligence. His big
lineup captures the spirit of the fair.
“It’s where North Carolina’s creativity shows up on a plate,” he said. “Our food vendors represent the best mix of tradition and innovation you’ll nd anywhere.”
Labor Commissioner Josh Dobson focused on keeping the fun safe.
“We want people to have the con dence to ride, eat and enjoy without worrying,” he said. “Our inspectors will be on-site every hour the fair is open, checking rides and making sure operations are safe so families can focus on the memories, not the mechanics.”
Whether it’s jerk pork, fried cheese curds or that golden Korean corn dog everyone’s talking about, this year’s State Fair menu o ers one guarantee — you won’t leave hungry, and you probably won’t leave clean.
TOP 5 FOODS TO TRY AT THE 2025 NC STATE FAIR
Golden K-Dog
A Korean-style corn dog fried to perfection and rolled in your choice of potato, sugar or spicy crumbs. Melty, crunchy and impossible to eat neatly.
Deep-Fried Lamb Chops –Lawrence & Perry BBQ
new breakthrough is Ares (Jared Leto), a program that manifests itself as a superpowered humanoid to do its owner’s bidding. For now, that owner is Julian, but he’s happy to make that owner the military — for the right price, of course.
The problem with the tech is that Julian can’t build live beings that can survive more than 29 minutes without disintegrating (though their essences go right back to living in cyberspace afterward). His mother (Gillian Anderson) admonishes him for defrauding investors, but his claims won’t be fraudulent once he obtains an object permanence code. As it turns out, Eve has already discovered the code while toiling away in Alaska. This is both good news and bad news for Julian: good because the code exists, bad because the competition has it. But Julian has Ares on his side, and he can use the crude super soldier to kill Eve and take the code.
Juian instructs Ares to study up on Eve and humanity for the mission, which turns out to be a mistake because Ares decides he likes Eve and humanity. Most movies would have this shift in loyalty occur gradually; this one has it happen in an instant. The rest of the lm sees Ares and Eve trying to outwit and evade Julian and backup soldier Athena (Jodie Turn-
“Our food vendors represent the best mix of tradition and innovation you’ll nd anywhere.”
Steve Troxler, Commissioner of Agriculture
Breaded and fried lamb chops with balsamic honey maple glaze and a hint of dried mint.
Carolina Shawarma Burger – Neomonde Mediterranean
Lamb-and-beef shawarma meets Carolina barbecue in a handheld meal that could win best mashup.
Chicken Caesar Mac Stack – Hot Chix Hotcakes & Chicken
Mac and cheese, fried chicken and Caesar dressing, all topped with Cheez-It dust for extra crunch.
BBQ Doughnut –D&J Concessions
A glazed doughnut stu ed with smoky pulled pork. Sweet, salty and unapologetically fair worthy.
er-Smith). Ares’ adventures will take him from a cyberworld attack on ENCOM to the real world to a di erent cyberworld in the ENCOM mainframe, where a certain former company leader now resides.
“Tron: Ares” does just ne when it lets its visuals and Nine Inch Nails score do the talking. I’m sure the designers had fun developing geometry-based aesthetics that probably contain Easter eggs that appeal to math nerds but go way over my head. And everyone knows that NIN is indeed the band you call when technological happenings are afoot. But then the lm stumbles when characters do the talking. Leto is yet another arti cial being that wants to be human (a comparison to Disney classic “Pinocchio” is made at the rst opportunity). Lee is yet another generically smart do-gooder. Peters is yet another tech-bro villain. Turner-Smith is yet another supposedly competent assassin that wastes time being dramatic. Despite Peters trying to have some fun chewing scenery, this unsolicited sequel manages to do a disservice to a franchise that wasn’t much of a franchise anyway.
Grade: C
“Tron: Ares” is rated PG-13 for violence/action. Its running time is 119 minutes.
CHRIS PIZZELLO / AP PHOTO
A robot stands on the red carpet at the premiere of the lm “Tron: Ares” on Oct. 6 at TCL Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles.
PHOTOS BY DAN REEVES / NORTH STATE JOURNAL
Left, La Montanera/The Country Girl’s warm arepa stu ed with chorizo, a Sword sh Pop from Oak City Fish and Chips, cheese curds, and pastries from La Farm Bakery are among the 88 new food-and-drink options at the N.C. State Fair.
Right, Dirty Cheerwine and Deep-Fried Lamb Chops — Lawrence & Perry BBQ of Warren County won Best Fried Savory Food for their Deep-Fried Lamb Chop, while D&J Concessions drew crowds with their BBQ doughnut.
DAN REEVES / NORTH STATE JOURNAL
Fair Director Kent Yelverton, right, and Agriculture
Commissioner Steve Troxler, left, congratulate Lawrence & Perry Barbecue, winner of Best New Savory Food at the 2025 N.C. State Fair media day.
NOTICE
CUMBERLAND
Notice to Creditors
The undersigned, having quali ed as Executor of the Estate of Ursula Yvette Chesney Grady, late of Cumberland County, North Carolina, hereby noti es all persons, rms, and corporations having claims against the decedent to exhibit them to the undersigned at the address below on or before 2 January 2026, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to the estate are requested to make immediate payment. This the 2nd day of October, 2025. Maurice S. Grady Executor of the Estate of Ursula Yvette Chesney Grady 775 Magellan Drive Fayetteville, NC 28311
ADMINISTRATOR’S NOTICE
NORTH CAROLINA
CUMBERLAND COUNTY In the Matter of the Estate of:
ELLEN OAKES BILL
Deceased.
The undersigned, having quali ed as Administrator of the Estate of Ellen Oakes Bill, 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 December 25, 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 25th day of September, 2025. Sharon Gray Bill Scott, Administrator of the Estate of Ellen Oakes Bill, Deceased c/o J. Thomas Neville Yarborough, Winters & Neville, P.A. P.O. Box 705 Fayetteville, NC 28302-0705 Publish: 09/25/2025, 10/02/2025, 10/09/2025 and 10/16/2025
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
ESTATE OF DOROTHY LOUISE BLUE
CUMBERLAND County Estate File No. 23 E 1288 All persons, rms and corporations having claims against Dorothy Louise Blue, deceased, of Cumberland County, North Carolina, are noti ed to present their claims to Claudinette Blue, Administrator, at 1316 Skyline Dr., Fayetteville, NC 28314, on or before the 10th day of January, 2026 (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 3rd day of October, 2025. Claudinette Blue Administrator of the Estate of Dorothy Louise Blue Davis W. Puryear Hutchens Law Firm
Attorneys for the Estate 4317 Ramsey Street Fayetteville, NC 28311
Run dates: October 9, October 16, October 23 and October 30, 2025
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
ESTATE OF RUTH JOHNSON BYRD
CUMBERLAND County Estate File No. 25E000285-250 All persons, rms and corporations having claims against Ruth Johnson Byrd, 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 26th day of December, 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 22th day of September, 2025. Davis W. Puryear Administrator of the Estate of Ruth Johnson Byrd Davis W. Puryear Hutchens Law Firm Attorneys for the Estate 4317 Ramsey Street Fayetteville, NC 28311
Run dates: September 25, October 2, October 9, and October 16, 2025 NOTICE
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF CUMBERLAND IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION BEFORE THE CLERK Administrator’s/Executor’s Notice
The undersigned, having quali ed as Administrator/ Executor of the Estate of Je rey Wayne Byrd, deceased, late of Cumberland County, hereby noti es all persons, rms, and corporations having claims against the estate of said decedent to present them to the undersigned on or before December 25th, 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 25th day of September 2025. Marcus A. Byrd 2231Copperstone Drive Apt 1F High Point, NC 27265
Executor’s Notice IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION ESTATE FILE 25E001375-250 State of North Carolina Cumberland County NOTICE TO CREDITORS
The undersigned, having quali ed as the Executor of the Estate of Janice Lee Calvert, late of Cumberland County, North Carolina, does hereby notify all persons, rms or corporations having claims against said estate to present them to the undersigned at PO Box 359, Twisp, Washington, 98856, on or before December 29, 2025, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to the estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned. This the 25th day of September 2025. Michael P. Calvert
Executor of the Estate of Janice Lee Calvert, Deceased c/o Gilliam Law Firm, PLLC J. Duane Gilliam, Jr., Attorney PO Box 53555 Fayetteville, NC 28305
09/25/2025, 10/02/2025, 10/09/2025, and 10/16/2025
In The General Court of Justice
Superior Court Division Before the Clerk Estate File #23 E 000636-250
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA
CUMBERLAND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR NOTICE
The undersigned having quali ed as Executor of the Estate of Carrie Lee Cherry, deceased, late of Cumberland County, this is to notify all persons having claims against said estate to present them to the undersigned on or before the 25th day of December, 2025, (which date is three months after the day of the rst publication of this notice) of this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to the estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned. This the 19th day of September 2025.
Administrator of the Estate of CARRIE LEE CHERRY
Mary Alice Cherry 1061 Danbury Drive Fayetteville, NC 28311
NOTICE
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA
CUMBERLAND COUNTY IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE
SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION BEFORE THE CLERK FILE NO. 24E 1122
ADMINISTRATOR NOTICE
The undersigned, having quali ed as Executor of the Estate of Deloise Martinsus Clayton, deceased, late of Cumberland County, North Carolina, hereby noti es all persons, rms, and corporations having claims against the estate of said decedent to present them to the undersigned on or before December 25, 2025 (90 days from the date of this notice) or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to the estate are requested to make immediate payment to the undersigned. This the 25th day of September, 2025
William Clayton Executor of the Estate of Deloise Martinsus Clayton 1599 Rossmore Drive Fayetteville, North Carolina 28314
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
ESTATE OF ANNIE LOUISE MCDOUGAL HARRIS
CUMBERLAND County Estate File No. 25E000719-250 All persons, rms and corporations having claims against Annie Louise McDougal Harris, deceased, of Cumberland County, North Carolina, are noti ed to present their claims to Barry Carlos Harris, Administrator, at 804 Southview Circle, Fayetteville, NC 28311, on or before the 17th day of January, 2026. (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 6th day of October, 2025.
Barry Carlos Harris Administrator of the Estate of Annie Louise McDougal
Harris Davis W. Puryear Hutchens Law Firm Attorneys for the Estate 4317 Ramsey Street Fayetteville, NC 28311 Run dates: October 16, October 23, October 30, and November 6, 2025
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Having quali ed as Legal Representative and Administrator of the Estate of Carol Ann Hazzard, deceased, late of Cumberland County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons, rms, and corporations having claims against the estate to present them to the undersigned on or before January 16, 2026, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to the estate are requested to make immediate payment.
This the 10th day of October, 2025.
Princess Sellers
Legal Representative and Administrator of the Estate of Carol Ann Hazzard 211 Wheat eld Ct Raeford, NC 28376
NOTICE
Estate of Linda Smith High File No. 25E001547-250
The undersigned having quali ed as Executor of the Estate of Linda Smith High, deceased, late of Cumberland County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons having claims against said estate to present them to the undersigned personal representative on or before January 16, 2026 or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All person indebted to the estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned. This is the 10th day of October2025. All claims must be presented in writing to Administrator of the estate. Judy Smith Fitzgerald 6525 Willow Oaks Drive Stedman, NC 28391
NOTICE
State of North Carolina Cumberland County Administrator Notice. The undersigned having quali ed as Executor of the Estate of Emma H. Honeycutt, deceased, late of Cumberland County, this is to notify all persons having claims against said estate to present them to the undersigned on or before the 16th day of January, 2026,(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 persons indebted to the estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned. This the 7th day of October, 2025. Administrator of the Estate of Emma H. Honeycutt 2517 Ballpark Road Eastover, NC 28312
Notice to Creditors
The undersigned having quali ed as Executor of the Estate of Brenda Sue Creech Wall, deceased, of Cumberland County, this is to notify all persons having claims against said estate to present them to the undersigned on or before the 2nd day of January, 2026, which date is three months after the rst publication of this notice or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to the estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned. This is the 25th day of September, 2025. Administrator of the Estate of Brenda Sue Creech Wall, Stephanie Wall Powell 5929 Hirams Court Hope Mills, NC 28348
NOTICE
In The General Court of Justice Superior Court Division Before the Clerk Estate File # 25E001532-250 STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA
CUMBERLAND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR NOTICE
The undersigned having quali ed as Executor of the Estate of, Mary Ferguson Hugine, deceased, late of Cumberland County, hereby noti es all persons, rms, corporations having claims against said estate to present their claim to the undersigned on or before the 16th day of January, 2026, (which 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 persons indebted to the estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned. This 16 day of October, 2025 Administrator of the Estate of Mary Ferguson Hugine Rashonda Todd 5946 Lowgrass Rd Stedman NC 23891
NOTICE
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF CUMBERLAND IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION ESTATE FILE # 25E001454-250 IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF: Charlotte Ella Icenogle. Administrator’s Notice The undersigned, having quali ed as Administrator of the Estate of Charlotte Ella Icenogle, deceased, late of Cumberland County, hereby noti es all persons, rms and corporations having claims against said estate to present them to the undersigned on or before the 2nd day of January, 2026 (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 persons indebted to said estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned. This 2nd day of October, 2025. Dorothy Tyndall 3221 Boone Trail Fayetteville NC 28306. Administrator of the Estate of Charlotte Ella Icenogle, Deceased.
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
ESTATE OF ANNIE M. MELVIN
CUMBERLAND County Estate File No. 23E000791-250
All persons, rms and corporations having claims against Annie M. Melvin, 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 3rd day of January, 2026 (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 25th day of September, 2025.
Davis W. Puryear Administrator of the Estate of Annie M. Melvin
Davis W. Puryear Hutchens Law Firm Attorneys for the Estate 4317 Ramsey Street Fayetteville, NC 28311 Run dates: October 2, October 9, October 16 and October 23, 2025
NOTICE
The undersigned having quali ed as Executor of the Estate of Kathryn Walker deceased, late of Cumberland County, this is to notify all persons having claims against said estate to present them to the undersigned on or before the 16th day of January, 2026, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to the estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned.
This is the 15th day of October, 2025. Executor 2201 Stride Ln, Fayetteville, NC 28304
NOTICE
State of North Carolina In the General Court of Justice County of Cumberland Superior Court Division Estate File # 25E001447-250
Administrator’s/Executor’s Notice
The undersigned, having quali ed as Administrator of the estate of Dorothy Sharon Morris, 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 2nd day of January 2026, (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 29th day of September 2025. Administrator: Jenifer Morris Address: 65 N Sprague Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15202 Of the Estate of: Dorothy Sharon Morris, Deceased
NOTICE
State of North Carolina In the General Court of Justice County of Cumberland Superior Court Division Estate File# 2024 E 000804
ADMINISTRATOR’S/EXECUTOR’S NOTICE
The undersigned, having quali ed as EXECUTOR of the estate of Billie Herman Weathington, 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 9th day of January, 2026, (which date is three months after the day of the rst publication of this notice)) or or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All debtors of the deceased are requested to make immediate payment to the undersigned. This 9th day of October, 2025 Susan Weathington Hines, Executor. 1409 Country Lake Dr. Greensboro, NC 27406 Of the estate of Billie Herman Weathington, Deceased
NOTICE
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF CUMBERLAND NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Having quali ed as the Administrator of the Estate of George Truitt Nunnery, decedent, late of Cumberland County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against the decedent to present them to the Administrator named below on or before January 2nd, 2026. Or, this notice will be plead in bar of their recovery. All persons, rms and corporations indebted to the estate, please make immediate payment to the undersigned. This 2nd day of October, 2025 James Douglas Nunnery 5125 Pondwood Drive Stedman, NC 28391 Published on October 02, 9th, 16th, and 23rd, 2025
NOTICE In The General Court of Justice Superior Court Division Before The Clerk Estate File # 25E001304-250 STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA CUMBERLAND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR NOTICE The undersigned having quali ed as Administrator of the Estate of Lessie Gayle Byrd Parker, deceased, late of Cumberland County, this is to notify all persons having claims against said estate to present them to the undersigned on or before the 25th day of December, 2025, (of which date is three months after the day of
judgment for the amount of the fees may be entered against you. You are entitled to attend any hearing a ecting your parental rights. As described above, the petitioners will mail you notice of the date, time, and location of the hearing.. Kelly T. Dempsey, 101 S. Tryon Street, Suite 1700, Charlotte, NC 28280 (10/02/2025, 10/09/2025, 10/16/2025)
NOTICE TO CREDITORS Having quali ed as the Administrator of the Estate of Myrtle Grey McLaurin Lambert, 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 at the address below on or before January 16, 2026 or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said estate please make immediate payment to the undersigned Laura Jane Lambert Administrator of the Estate of Myrtle Grey McLaurin Lambert 668 N. Coast Hwy, Unit 176 Laguna Beach, CA 92651
NOTICE
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF CUMBERLAND IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION ESTATE FILE # 25E001449-250 IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF: Wanda Godwin Porter. Executor’s Notice The undersigned, having quali ed as Administrator of the Estate of Wanda Godwin Porter, deceased, late of Cumberland County, hereby noti es all persons, rms and corporations having claims against said estate to present them to the undersigned on or before the 2nd day of January, 2026 (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 persons indebted to said estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned. This 2nd day of October, 2025. Brenna Green Delmont 6080 Goldsboro Rd. Wade, NC 28395 Administrator of the Estate of Wanda Godwin Porter, Deceased.
NOTICE
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF CUMBERLAND IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION ESTATE FILE# 25E001442-250 IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF: Bettye Jean Johnson-Hyde Executor’s Notice to Creditor’s The undersigned, having quali ed as Executor of the estate of Bettye Jean Johnson-Hyde, 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 2nd day of January 2026, (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 persons, rms, and corporations indebted to said estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned. This 23rd day of September 2025. Lynnette Maranda Hyde 2226 Shaw Rd EXT Fayetteville, NC 28311 Executor of the estate of Bettye Jean Johnson-Hyde, deceased September 23rd, 2025
Notice The undersigned, having quali ed as administrator of the Estate of Ozella McMillian, 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 2nd of January 2026, (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 29th day of September, 2025. James Harrison McMillian Jr.
Administrator/Executor 2328 Dreyfus Ct Garner, NC 27529 Of the Estate of Ozella Hall McMillian, Deceased
NOTICE
In the General Court of Justice Superior Court Division Before the Clerk Estate File #25E001488-250
It is for the Estate of my father Peter G Raymon deceased, laste of Cumberland County, this is to notify all persons having claims against said estate to present them to the undersigned on or before the 9th day of January 2026 or this notice will be in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to the estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned. This 9th day of October, 2025. Administrator of the Estate of Peter G Raymon Elizabeth Blascruz (252)314-5312 1815 W Canary Way, Chandler, AZ 85286
Administrator’s/Executor’s Notice
The undersigned, having quali ed as executor of the Estate of Greg Ricketson, 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 January 9, 2026, (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 persons indebted to the estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned. This the 3rd day of October, 2025. Executor of the Estate of Greg Ricketson, 315 Je erson Drive, Fayetteville, NC 28304.
Executor’s Notice
The undersigned, having quali ed as executor of the Estate of Carolyn H. Spence, 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 9th day of January, 2026, (which date is three months after the day of the rst publication of this notice) or this notice will be pleaded in
having quali ed on the 9th day of October, 2025, as Ancillary Personal Representative of the Estate of William Crawford Raines (25E002343640), 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 19th day of January, 2026, 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 16th day of October 2025. William Timothy Raines Ancillary Personal Representative ESTATE OF WILLIAM CRAWFORD RAINES David Anderson Attorney at Law 9111 Market St, Ste A Wilmington, NC 28411 Publish: October 16, 2025 October 23. 2025 October 30, 2025 November 6, 2025
RANDOLPH
NOTICE TO CREDITORS Having quali ed as Executor of the Estate of WILLIE LEE ALBERTSON, 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,
UNC women’s basketball preview, B4
the Thursday SIDELINE REPORT
NWSL
Koyama wipes out Rodman stunner in 1-1 draw between Courage, Spirit
Cary Shinomi Koyama scored the equalizer in the 86th minute and the North Carolina Courage tied 1-1 with the Washington Spirit. The Courage (7-9-8) sit in ninth, four points below the playo cut-o line. Trinity Rodman put the Spirit up 1-0 in the 52nd minute. Koyama took a loose ball just inside the box and scored to make it 1-1.
NCAA FOOTBALL
No. 3 Indiana has highest ranking ever; Texas, USC back in AP Top 25
Indiana climbed to No. 3 in the AP college football poll, its highest ranking ever, after a 10-point win at Oregon. Ohio State and Miami remain the top two teams. Texas A&M and Mississippi swapped places. Oklahoma dropped to No. 14 following a loss to Texas, which is back in the Top 25 after a one-week absence. Five teams dropped out in the biggest turnover since seven fell out in October 2022.
MLB
Blue Jays rookie Yesavage says family subjected to abuse
Toronto Toronto rookie Trey Yesavage says his family has faced abuse since his impressive postseason debut against the New York Yankees. The former ECU Pirate expressed sadness his loved ones are being targeted for his on- eld performances. Yesavage declined to answer follow-up questions. Blue Jays manager John Schneider commended him for addressing the issue. Yesavage set a Blue Jays postseason record by striking out 11 in 51⁄3 hitless innings.
Often overlooked Dowdle makes most of opportunity
Undrafted and unwanted, Rico Dowdle has found a home back in N.C.
By Shawn Krest North State Journal
WITH JUST over 40 seconds to go before halftime, the Panthers were trying to score a game-tying touchdown against the Cowboys.
Xavier Legette caught a short pass and ran into trouble. That’s when Rico Dowdle, standing nearby, had an idea.
“Yeah, when he caught it I was like, ‘Pitch it, pitch it, pitch it!’” Dowdle said. As Dallas defenders pulled Legette earthward, he listened to his teammate.
“He actually pitched it,” Dowdle said. “Once he pitched it and I saw it go in the air, I was like, ‘Yeah!’” Dowdle was the only one
wearing Panthers colors who was thinking that way, however.
“We never practiced anything like that before,” Dowdle confessed. “We’re just trying to make plays out there.”
Instead, they nearly made a mess. Legette’s toss was wide, and Dowdle had to scoop it o the ground. Then, as he scrambled to gain yardage, the ball
Old school in session for Duke
The Blue Devils passed on the portal for a more traditionally built team
By Shawn Krest North State Journal
THE ENTIRE starting lineup from Duke’s appearance in last year’s Final Four is gone. Cooper Flagg, Khaman Maluach, Kon Knueppel, Tyrese Proctor and Sion James scored 63 of the Blue Devils’ 67 points in the loss to Houston. Then all of them heard their names called in the NBA Draft. Fortunately for Duke, this is the new era of college basketball — the Wild West of the transfer portal and NIL money. So, it’s easy to rebuild a depleted roster through … (Checks notes) … developing returning players and recruiting freshmen. Old one-and-done Duke, the face of all that was wrong with college hoops just a few years ago, is now a throwback, doing things the old-fashioned way.
Center Ifeanyi Ufochukwu, who played sparingly at Rice, was the only transfer portal addition for Duke, and he’s likely to have a bigger impact as a practice player than on the oor during games.
Instead of participating in the free agent spending spree,
Duke will bring in ve freshmen to pair with ve returnees from last year. The returning Blue Devils certainly had their moments, but there were also down times that had observers speculating about their transfer destinations.
was knocked out of his hands. Disaster was averted. Carolina recovered the ball and kicked a eld goal two plays later.
As for Dowdle, the only thing more harrowing than the broken play was heading to the sideline to face the coaches afterward.
“We tried to mess that up,” coach Dave Canales said.
“Yeah, that’s on me,” Dowdle said of the fumble. “I told the coaches the same thing. They were like, ‘Don’t make stu up!’”
“It’s just something that’s outside of what we need to do,” Canales. “Let’s just play our football. Let’s just advance the ball, get us into a better eld goal situation so we can take advantage of the plays that led into it. But it was a good way for me to just remind the group to just do your job. It’ll be enough. If they beat us, they made great plays.”
Fortunately for Dowdle, doing his job has been more than enough over the past few weeks.
After rushing for 1,000 yards in a breakout season with Dallas last year, the Cow-
See PANTHERS, page B3
Instead, senior Caleb Foster, grad student Maliq Brown and sophomores Isaiah Evans, Darren Harris and Patrick Ngongba II are all back.
While walk-on Stanley Borden did leave, the Blue Devils are the only power conference team not to lose a player to the portal and one of a handful not to add a starter or key sub.
“It just goes to show who we are,” said Foster. “It’s what Duke’s program has been made of, people that ght through tough times and battle back time and time again.
“Growing up, I’ve been a Duke fan my whole life. I didn’t really think about transferring at all. Duke is where I want to be. It’s where I want to call home. It’s where I want to leave my legacy.”
The large group of familiar faces has everyone dusting o all the old lines about how much players improved in the o season.
“You almost know he’s going to have a great season based on the summer he’s had. … He’s changed so much as a player.” assistant Emanuel Dildy said of Foster.
Meanwhile, Harris “reshaped his body” in the o season.
BEN MCKEOWN / AP PHOTO
Duke’s Isaiah Evans points downcourt after hitting a 3-pointer against Florida State last season.
ERIK VERDUZCO / AP PHOTO
Carolina Panthers running back Rico Dowdle (5) runs the ball for a touchdown Sunday against the Dallas Cowboys.
RUSTY JONES / AP PHOTO
Carolina Panthers running back Rico Dowdle has impressed coaches and teammates with his violent running style.
THURSDAY 10 16.25
TRENDING
Armond Hawkins:
UNC s cornerbacks coach was placed on leave accused of violating NCAA rules related to The school said it was investigating “other potential actions detrimental to the team and University Hawkins is in his
He arrived from Washington, where he worked for current UNC defensive coordinator Steve Belichick as an analyst
Jacob Misiorowski:
The former Carolina Mudcat rediscovered the form that earned the rookie so much few weeks after the Milwaukee Brewers called him up from the minors Misiorowski reached 100 mph on 31 of his 57 pitches topping out at 104.3 during the Brewers victory over the Chicago Cubs in the NL Division Series
Danilo Yavhushyshyn:
The 21-year-old left his native Ukraine just after Russia’s invasion and has risen rapidly to stardom in Japan as one of the country’s top sumo wrestlers Three months ago, he defeated Mongolian-born Hoshoryu who is one of the two highest-ranked wrestlers in Japan along with Japanese-born Onosato. They both carry the title of grand champion — or yokozuna
Beyond the box score
POTENT QUOTABLES
“If I w in, I get k icked to the couch.”
Tony Stewar t (right), who will drive in NHRA for Elite Motorspor ts nex t season on competing against his wife, Leah Pruett (left), who drives for Tony Stewar t Racing
“A nswer that. He ha s to be watching. … He probably ha s something to say. ”
ESPN “College Gameday’s” Pat McAfee after UNC coach Bill Belichick allegedly called Kirk Herbstreit on air while the group was discussing him
1,500
Career NHL games for Brent Burns, who reached the milestone for Colorado on Saturday The former Carolina Hurr icanes defenseman has the four th-longest consecutive games streak in leag ue histor y — 927 and counting, dating back to 2013
NASCAR
60th career v ictor y Hamlin, considered the best driver in Cup histor y to never He’s tied for 10th on the Cup Series’ career v ictories list w ith Kev in Har v ick Kyle
Former player Jayson Tatum w ill ser ve in a volunteer adv isor y role as
The Boston Celtics star is recovering from a r uptured right Achilles’ tendon tasks include in-person v isits w ith the Blue Dev ils to discuss development, professionalism and team culture
A ngel Reese is getting a pair of w ings The Chicago Sky star announced on Instagram she w ill be walking in the upcoming Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show on professional athlete w ill walk the r unway in the lingerie and clothing retailer’s show
No. 9 Texas Tech got penalized tw ice for fans throw ing tor tillas onto the against K ansas The longstanding tradition came under scr utiny when Big 12 athletic directors voted 15-1 to discipline home teams for fans throw ing
Texas Tech A D K irby Hocutt was the lone dissenting vote
ANNIE RICE / AP PHOTO
Tough scheduling, new faces could lead to early challenges for Wolfpack
The NC State women lost some big names, but are con dent the pieces they have can ll those shoes
By Ryan Henkel North State Journal
NC STATE’S women’s basketball team is coming o of a 2024-25 campaign that saw them nish as a top-10 team in the country, but one that still had some tough outings, with losses in both the ACC Championship game and the Sweet 16.
Coach Wes Moore returns for his 13th year at the helm of the program, and what a run it’s been for the Wolfpack since he arrived, with three ACC titles, six Sweet 16s, two Elite Eights and one Final Four appearance.
This year, however, there’s a bit of uncertainty with how the roster will pan out as the team graduated three starters and is looking to bring in quite a few new faces.
A pair of top-end guards, Aziaha James and Saniya Rivers, were drafted into the WNBA, and Madison Hayes is also gone — a trio that combined for 53% of the Wolfpack’s total o ensive production.
“When you lose two rst-round draft picks, as well
as Madison Hayes, you have a lot of shoes to ll,” Moore said. “We need to have some players step up in a hurry.”
While the Wolfpack don’t have any rising seniors on this year’s squad to replace them, they are returning a few big namesin junior Zoe Brooks and sophomore Zamareya Jones in the backcourt.
Last season, Brooks was a part of the Wolfpack’s starting ve, averaging 14.2 points, 4.7 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game.
Jones, a McDonalds All-American out of high school, was primarily used o the bench in her freshman year, but she still averaged 7.1 points and 1.5 assists in just under 17 minutes of playing time.
“We have a good nucleus here,” Moore said. “We have a lot of con dence in Zoe and Zamareya, but we need a third guard to step up.”
There’s also 6-foot-6 sophomore forward Tilda Trygger, who Moore is hoping can take a big step for the program this year.
“Tilda Trygger made the All-Freshman team a year ago, had a great summer with the Swedish National Team, and she looks a little bit stronger and is running the oor a little bit better,” Moore said. “So we’re expecting a lot out of her.”
To supplement the group,
Moore also managed to snag two big additions from the transfer portal, landing former UConn guard Qadence Samuels and former Vanderbilt forward Khamil Pierre, two players he recruited out of high school. Pierre averaged 20.4 points and 9.6 rebounds with the Commodores last season and was one of the top names in the portal.
“Khamil is somebody who really lls a need for us,” Moore said. “We feel like she’s some -
body who can help us inside and on the boards, and she also made a lot of plays on defense.
So I think she’s going to do a lot of things well for us.”
“Qadence is somebody that, at the guard position, can help us on the boards as well,” Moore said of Samuels. “She’s long, she’s athletic. We played them a couple of years ago at our place, and she had an unbelievable game — hit four out of ve 3s.
So we hope she can provide that 3 and D that everybody’s looking for.”
2025-26 College Hoops Preview: ECU, Appalachian State and Charlotte
Each team will aim to improve with their portal additions
By Jesse Deal North State Journal
EAST CAROLINA PIRATES
Last year
In the Pirates’ rst winning season in 12 years, East Carolina went 19-14 overall (10-8 in the American Conference), nishing fth in the league in coach Mike Schwartz’s third season. The Pirates bounced back from a rough patch in the middle of their schedule to win seven of theirnal 10 games.
Changes
East Carolina faces a major transition without guard RJ Felton, who graduated as the program’s third all-time leading scorer with 1,774 points. The Pirates also lose forward C.J. Walker, a key o ensive threat who averaged nearly 17 points per game last season.
New additions to the program include ve transfers: Giovanni Emejuru from George Mason, Isaiah Mbeng from William & Mary, Corey Caulker from Eastern Florida State College, Eli DeLaurier from Providence and Luke Davis from New Orleans.
Key players
The Pirates will be anchored by returning guard Jordan Riley, who led the American Conference in steals last season while averaging 14.5 points and six rebounds per
PANTHERS from page B1
boys apparently didn’t trust that the Asheville A.C. Reynolds grad could do it again. He’d been with the team as an injury-prone reserve since signing as an undrafted free agent in 2020, and the Cowboys didn’t make an o er after letting him hit the market.
Dowdle signed with the Panthers as a free agent, giving Carolina another option behind two-year starter Chuba Hubbard, himself coming o of an 1,100-yard season.
“I think there’s always been
game across 33 appearances. Without three of their top four scorers from last season, ECU will need seniors Jayshayne Woodard and Trevion LaBeaux to step up their game, along with 6-foot-10 Emejuru; the transfer’s 67.4% shooting percentage from the oor ranked as the top single-season mark in George Mason history.
Outlook
Faced with replacing a lot of talent, ECU has been picked to nish 10th in the 2025 -26 American Men’s Basketball Preseason Coaches’ Poll. The Pirates project as a middle-of-the -road conference team capable of pushing toward a winning record in league play if they’re able to play their cards right.
a chip on my shoulder,” Dowdle said. “Just from the start coming into the NFL, sitting behind those guys and going undrafted. So I’ve always played with a chip on my shoulder. It’s just the nature of the business that I didn’t end back up back in Dallas, but I’m here now with a new team, and I’m happy where I’m at.” When Hubbard went down with a calf injury in Week 4, Dowdle got the call — and the ball. He made his rst start of the season against the Dolphins in Week 5. He produced 206 rushing yards, tying for the
APPALACHIAN STATE MOUNTAINEERS
Last year
Last season, Appalachian State nished 17-14 overall and 10-8 in Sun Belt action, landing sixth in the league in coach Dustin Kerns’ sixth season in Boone. The Mountaineers leaned on guard play and stout defense, climbing to a record of 16-9, 9-4 Sun Belt before losing ve of their nal six games.
Changes
The 2025-26 Mountaineers squad brings back seven returners while adding ve transfers and four freshmen, entering the season having recorded six straight years with a .500 or better winning percentage.
second-most productive outing by a Panthers running back in team history. It was also just 11 yards fewer than Hubbard had tallied in the rst four weeks combined.
With three catches for 28 yards, Dowdle gained 234 yards from scrimmage, falling just three yards shy of Christian McCa rey’s team record.
The following week, Hubbard remained on the shelf, meaning Dowdle would start against his former team.
In one 60-minute masterpiece, Dowdle showed Dallas that last year and last game were
The Wolfpack also aren’t easing into the year, as they have a packed nonconference schedule with matchups against three teams who nished last season in the AP Top 25 rankings: USC (5), TCU (6), Oklahoma (11).
“I think these players would rather play great games, big games and be on the big stage,” Moore said. “I think they like that challenge, and it also prepares you. You better nd out early what your weaknesses are and what you need to x, and those things are going to get exposed when you’re opening up with the schedule that we have.”
Things also won’t get any easier either in conference play as the ACC is one of the very best conferences when it comes to women’s basketball. The league sent eight teams to last year’s NCAA Tournament, with four making it to the Sweet 16 and ve ending the season ranked in the Top 25.
“The ACC is unbelievable,” Moore said. “It’s so strong”
It’ll be a tough challenge for an NC State group needing incorporate new players while nding new leaders and voices in the locker room, but the Wolfpack have done it before and look too talented on paper to not be able to eventually gure it out.
“I think we have some talent, but they have to mesh and come together, and we have a brutal schedule to open the season,” Moore said. “It’s gonna have to come together in a hurry, and the returning players have to make sure our culture and the way we do things, the process, doesn’t slip any.”
son, marking a sharp regression from the team’s record (1912, 13-5) the season before. The 49ers’ 0-6 start against American opponents set the stage for a last-place nish in the conference standings.
Changes
However, App State will be adjusting to life without their top four scorers from last season, including All-Sun Belt First-Team guard Myles Tate (16.2 points per game) and All-Sun Belt Second-Team forward CJ Huntley (15.7). Huntley, now a Phoenix Sun, was also App’s top rebounder with 8.1 per game.
Key players
Senior guard Alonzo Dodd returns for App as the team’s top remaining player in points (5.8) and minutes (24.7) from last year’s roster.
Guards Kasen Jennings and Eren Banks headline Appalachian State’s transfer class. Jennings, from South Florida, adds perimeter shooting and defensive experience after starting 27 games last season. Banks, a Georgia Southern transfer, brings athleticism and a scoring ability after averaging 9.4 points and shooting 46% from the eld in 2024-25.
Outlook
While this remade team could take time to jell, Kerns has proven his ability to get a lot out of his players, holding a 193-114 record as the Mountaineers’ coach during the past six years. It remains to be seen which of these players will rise up to replace the moved-on playmakers.
CHARLOTTE 49ERS
Last year
Charlotte nished 11-22 overall and 3-15 in the American Conference in 2024-25 in coach Aaron Fearne’s second sea-
not ukes but rather part of a pattern. He shredded the ’Boys for 183. He also caught a touchdown pass and broke McCaffrey’s record on the second try, totaling 239 scrimmage yards. He became the rst undrafted player since 1970 to gain 200 scrimmage yards in consecutive games.
“Just looked like the same guy last week,” Canales said. “Ran with violence. Had a plan. A man on a mission that wants to make yards and really just take our schemes and make them come alive.”
“Rico is a competitor,” quarterback Bryce Young said. “That
Along with a handful of other top scorers from last season’s team who either graduated or transferred, Nik Graves (17.5 points) has departed for Creighton, headlining another season of change for the Niners. The loss of top rebounder and passer Giancarlo Rosado (5.8 rebounds, 3.3 assists) will sting in the paint and perimeter.
Notable incoming transfers include Damoni Harrison (Southern Indiana), Anton Bonke (Providence), Dezayne Mingo (Marshall) and Kuluel Mading (Norfolk State).
Key players
Guard Kylan Blackmon (7.4 points) is the Niners’ top returning player from the 2024-25 roster, so who will take the reins of the team and be its top player is wide open.
Harrison (15.1 points) and Mingo (12.6) each bring the ability to score to Charlotte based on their performance last season and their former schools, while Bonke’s 7-foot-2 size instantly gives the Niners a boost in the frontcourt.
Outlook
Charlotte has been selected to nish 13th in the 202526 American Men’s Basketball Preseason Coaches’ Poll, placing them right where they nished in last year’s disappointing second year as a conference member. Fearne, once again, will have a lot on his plate as he navigates one of the conference’s most inexperienced squads.
just speaks to the dog he is. It was personal.” Young seemed to enjoy the word Canales chose to describe Dowdle’s style.
“That’s a great description. Violent,” he said. “Someone who is super explosive. Really patient and then when he decides to put his foot in the ground and go, he has bad intentions.” It’s when Rico Dowdle has good intentions, and starts improvising plays to help out teammates, that things may get a little hairy, although he blames the on- eld execution.
“It was a great play,” he said.
CHUCK BURTON / AP PHOTO
NC State guard Zamareya Jones celebrates after making a 3-pointer during last season’s ACC Tournament quarter nals.
NIKKI BOERTMAN / AP PHOTO
East Carolina guard Jordan Riley chases a loose ball against Memphis.
UNC deepens roster in numbers, background, experience for 2025-26 campaign
Liza Astakhova, Elina Aarnisalo and Nyla Harris highlight the wave of newcomers
By Asheebo Rojas North State Journal
WITH THE THREE top scorers from its 2024-25 run to the Sweet 16 moving on to the pros, UNC’s women’s basketball team has big shoes to ll this winter.
The Tar Heels are returning eight players from last season, entering a new year for the rst time without forwards Alyssa Ustby and Maria Gakdeng and guard Lexi Donarski, who all averaged 10 points per game in their nal college campaigns.
The absences of Ustby and Gakdeng hit even harder when considering they led last year’s team in rebounds and blocks.
UNC, which has dealt with depth issues in its recent past, seemed to have felt that loss in its o season plans, exhausting numerous ways to ll out its roster.
Turning to their established returners, the transfer portal, Europe and the high school recruiting trail, the Tar Heels are entering the season with an abundance of ways to reload and attack opponents.
“FIBA has a bunch of tourna-
ments throughout the summer, especially U-20s, U-18s, U-16s, whether it’s in Romania or Turkey or Portugal,” UNC coach Courtney Banghart said. “We’ve been really aggressive at making sure we keep eyes on the international space as well as the transfer portal, as well as the high school space.”
As far as going outside of its returners, UNC made the biggest changes to its guard corps.
In addition to Donarski, the Tar Heels lost a valuable playmaker o the bench last season in Grace Townsend, who recorded the team’s second-most assists despite making just six starts.
Then, after su ering a knee injury in the beginning of the 2023-24 season and sitting out all of last year, veteran guard
WHAT IT WAS, WAS FOOTBALL
A
New UNC guard Elina Aarnisalo passes the ball during practice with UCLA at last year’s Final Four.
Kayla McPherson retired from basketball in August.
Banghart reinforced her guard room with the addition of Liza Astakhova, a Russia native who played professional basketball in her home country last year. Astakhova averaged 4.7 points per game o the bench in 39 games in the Russia-PBL, including six games in double- gure scoring. Standing at 6-foot-2 Astakhova will be classi ed as a freshman.
“Quite a journey getting a Russian into our country, but it happened, and she’s a true freshman,” Banghart said. “Has adjusted really well. It’s a kid who’s never been to the United States. She came with one bag. Her parents have never been here, and she showed up two days after classes started,
look at Week 6, Week 7 of college football across the state
By Shawn Krest North State Journal
CATAWBA FELL from the top spot in the rankings following a loss, while state teams suffered back-to-back losing weeks.
THE RANKINGS
North Carolina’s record: 14-16 in week 6, 12-17 in Week 7 (94-103 overall)
1. UNC Pembroke: 6-1, won 52-21 over Shorter (at North Greenville)
2. Duke: 4-2, o week (Georgia Tech)
3. Wingate: 4-2, won 41-28 over Catawba (at Emory & Henry)
4. Catawba: 5-2, lost, 41-28 at Wingate (o week)
5. Johnson C. Smith: 5-1, o week (at Shaw)
6. App State: 4-2, won 41-20 at Georgia State (Coastal Carolina)
7. NC Central: 5-2, won 45-7 at Florida A&M (o week)
8. Wake Forest: 4-2, won 39-14 at Oregon State (o week)
9. Gardner Webb: 4-2, won 21-10 at Eastern Illinois (UT Martin)
10. NC Wesleyan, 2-3, lost, 41-38 to Belhaven (at Huntingdon)
11. ECU: 3-3, lost 26-19 at Tulane (Tulsa)
12. NC State: 4-3, lost 36-7 at Notre Dame (o week)
DUKE from page B1
“I tried to get my cardio up,” he said. “I’ve been running a lot. I changed my diet.”
Of course, the hard-working veterans are just half the equation. They’ll be joined by the country’s best recruiting class.
That might be why they worked so hard in the rst place.
“There’s no such thing as ‘It’s my turn now,’ or ‘It’s gonna happen now,’” said coach Jon Scheyer. “Everybody has to
13. Winston-Salem State: 3-4, lost 20-13 at Shaw (Livingstone)
14. Fayetteville State: 4-3, won 38-14 over Livingstone (o week)
15. Mars Hill, 3-3, lost 48-23 to Emory & Henry (at Newberry)
16. Chowan, 2-4, lost 40-10 at West Florida (at Barton)
17. Livingstone: 3-3, lost 38-14 at Fayetteville State (at Winston-Salem State)
18. Western Carolina: 4-3, won 52-7 over Furman (at The Citadel)
19. Lenoir-Rhyne: 3-4, lost 35-28 to Anderson (UVA Wise)
20. Brevard: 3-2, won 35-32 over Southern Virginia (at LaGrange)
21. Elon: 4-3, lost 29-21 to Villanova (at William & Mary)
22. Greensboro: 1-4, lost 17-10 to Huntingdon (at Belhaven)
23. UNC: 2-3, o week (Cal)
24. Campbell: 2-5, won 38-21 at Hampton (New Hampshire)
25. Shaw: 2-4, won 20-13 over Winston-Salem State (JC Smith)
26. Guilford: 2-4, lost 45-7 to Shenandoah (Randolph-Macon)
27. Methodist: 1-4, lost 26-7 to LaGrange (at Southern Virginia)
28. Elizabeth City State: 1-5,
earn what’s going to happen. When you’ve got ve players returning and ve new players, just because you’ve been here doesn’t mean it’s your turn, now you’re gonna play, now you’re gonna start, whatever. It does mean you can take the experience you have and be better for it.” Still, they’ll have to battle for minutes and touches with Cameron Boozer, one of two sons of Duke legend Carlos. Boozer is an early favorite for ACC Player of the Year
got here after midnight, went to an 8 a.m. match class and is doing really well on the court and in the classroom.”
The Tar Heels also added UCLA transfer Elina Aarnisalo, a Finland native who helped the Bruins to the Final Four last season with 5.1 points and 3.4 assists per game.
“She is good,” Banghart said. “Elina can hoop. Might be the best passer I’ve ever been around. I’ve ever seen. I mean, she is an incredible passer. She can score at all three levels. She’s played in pro, the EuroLeague, EuroCup. She’s played against pros, so she’s very steady. She’s reliable.”
From the high school level, UNC brought in a 6-foot-2 2025 McDonald’s All-American guard in Nyla Brooks, who averaged 18.3 points, 7.6 rebounds and 2.6 assists in her last season at Bishop Ireton in Virginia. Standing at 6-foot-1, ve-star recruit Taliyah Henderson, who also has international experience with Team Canada, will provide depth behind veteran returners Reniya Kelly, Indya Nivar, Laila Hull, Jordan Zubich, Sydney Barker and Taissa Queiroz, an international early enrollee from last season still waiting to make her debut.
Kelly sees a deeper guard rotation creating more spacing this season.
“I feel like last year it did get
kind of crowded in the paint,” Kelly said. “But this year, there’s going to be a lot of space where guards can drive, they can facilitate, they can pass. Whatever they need to do.” Regarding the frontcourt, it’s up to the returners to step up for the most part. Sophomore Blanca Thomas and redshirt sophomore Ciera Toomey each played in more than 30 games last season, but they could see a significant increase in minutes. They have help in senior Nyla Harris, a 6-foot-2 transfer from Louisville who has recorded eight double-doubles in her career and averaged 8.6 points and 5.3 rebounds last season.
“She’s got a ton of game experience and experience in our league,” Banghart said. “She brings great passion and voice to what we’re doing. She’s Alyssa Ustby-like in her mobility and versatility.”
UNC’s revamped roster has the depth in numbers, but the depth in utility still must be proven on the court. The Tar Heels will put themselves to ultimate tests this season — an exhibition game against the national runner-up South Carolina on Oct. 30 and nonconference dates with UCLA and Texas — in preparation for what they hope to be an even deeper run in the tournament.
lost 37-18 to Virginia Union (at Virginia State)
29. Barton: 1-5, beat Ferrum 34-20 (Chowan)
30. Charlotte: 1-5, lost 24-7 at Army (Temple)
31. Davidson: 1-5, lost 57-13 to St. Thomas (at Drake)
32. NC A&T: 1-6, lost 22-16 to SC State (o week)
STATE TITLE STANDINGS
In Week 6, Catawba beat Mars Hill 42-28, NC State beat Campbell 56-10, Elizabeth City State beat Livingstone 37-29
In Week 7, Wingate beat Catawba, Shaw beat Winston-Salem State, Fayetteville State beat Livingstone
This week, there are three intrastate clashes:
• Shaw hosts JC Smith
• WSSU hosts Livingstone
• Barton hosts Chowan
Here are the in-state records for the state’s 32 teams:
• 1-1 ECU, UNC Pembroke, Wake Forest, Guilford, Davidson, Greensboro, Catawba, Winston-Salem State
• 2-2 Fayetteville State
• 1-3 Western Carolina, Elizabeth City
and NBA Draft top pick. The 6-foot-9, 250-pounder averaged 22 points and nearly 11 rebounds as a high school senior while hitting 40% from 3-point range. Twin brother Cayden is battling Foster for the starting point guard spot. Both Boozers were McDonald’s All-Americans, as was 6-foot-8 wing Nik Khamenia.
International pro Dame Sarr is a projected starter at wing. He’s expected to be the shooting, slashing threat that
• 0-0 NC Wesleyan, Lenoir-Rhyne, Brevard, Barton
• 0-1 Methodist, NC A&T
• 0-2 Charlotte, Mars Hill, Livingstone
• 0-3 Campbell
Homecoming
It was a rough two weeks for homecoming hosts in N.C. In Week 6, Mars Hill lost to Emory & Henry, Chowan lost to North Greenville and NC A&T lost to SC State. In Week 7, UNC Pembroke beat Shorter, Fayetteville State beat Livingstone, Elon lost to Villanova and Davidson lost to St. Thomas. North Carolina teams’ homecoming record now stands at 4-6.
Homecoming games this week:
• App State (Coastal Carolina)
• Campbell (New Hampshire)
• WSSU (Livingstone)
• Gardner-Webb (UT Martin)
• Lenoir-Rhyne (UVA Wise)
• Shaw (JC Smith)
• Charlotte (Temple)
ALL-STATE PERFORMANCES FOR WEEK 6
Quarterback: Tre Robinson, UNC Pembroke, 25-33 for 354 yards, 6 TDs, 56 yards rushing
Defensive line: Guy Taylor, Wingate, 5 tackles, 3 solo, 1
keeps defenses from selling out to stop Cam Boozer inside. Power forward Sebastian Wilkins joins Cayden Boozer as the only four-stars in a class headlined by the trio of ve - stars. Duke has come within shouting distance of a national title each of the last two years, each with a completely revamped roster. The Blue Devils reached the Elite Eight in 2024 before last season’s Final Four, which was Duke’s second in four years.
Defensive back: Justin Foreman, UNC Pembroke, 8 tackles, 4 solo, 2.5 TFLs, 30yard interception return for a TD ; Eric Adams, NCCU, 2 pass breakups, 1 tackle, 33-yard interception return for TD
Special teams: DeNigel Cooper, App State, blocked eld goal, 3 tackles, 1 solo, 1 QB hit on defense
“I think they can see we’re right there,” Scheyer said.
“We’ve been really close, and it’s a small margin of error. …
But we’re not talking about that as a team. We’re talking practice No. 3, practice No. 4 and not skipping steps.
“The ve guys from last year can’t think it’s where we left o . We went through struggles last year to get to that point.”
Now Duke will try the old- school approach to go a step further.
CHRIS O’MEARA / AP PHOTO
Beck, Executor Margie Ruth Vuncannon Beck, Estate Andrew J. Weiner, Attorney Gavin & Cox 113 Worth Street Asheboro, NC 27203 Telephone: 336-629-2600
NOTICE OF SERVICE OF PROCESS BY PUBLICATION STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA RANDOLPH COUNTY - 24 SP 000148-750
In the General Court of Justice Superior Court Division - Special Proceeding Petition for Partition Sale of Real Estate
Eliam Properties v. Tony Tysinger, Brittany McKinney, Steven Gauze, and Chad Gauze
To: Brittany McKinney and the Heirs of Lisa Gail Wyatt Tysinger formerly known as Lisa Gail Gauze, Her Successors and/or Assigns
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 as follows: Petition for Partition Sale of Real Estate of the property located at 3544 Allwood Drive, Trinity, Randolph County, NC 27370 and described as follows: Being all of Lot No. 7, Section 2 Crestwood Estates, according to a map or plat of the same which is duly recorded in Plat Book 14 at Page 14 in the O ce of the Register of Deeds for Randolph County, North Carolina.
You are required to make defense to such pleading not later than 40 days from the date of rst publication, or 18th day of November 2025 and upon your failure to do so the party seeking service against you will apply to the court for the relief sought.
Shilanka I. Ware, Attorney PO Box 28 E and, NC 27243 Publication Dates: Oct. 9, 16, 23, 30
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Having quali ed as Administrator of the Estate of Lynne Marie Gabby, 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 16th day of January 2026, 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 the 16th day of October 2025.
Kyle Gabby Administrator of the Estate of Lynne Marie Gabby
Jonathan M. Parisi Attorney at Law Spangler Estate Planning P.O. Box 5994 Greensboro, NC 27435
NOTICE TO CREADITORS
Having quali ed as Administrator of the Estate of Evelyn Parson Holland, of Randolph County, NC, this is to notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against the estate of said deceased to exhibit them to the undersigned Administrator at the Law O ce of Andrew J. Weiner, 113 Worth Street, Asheboro, NC 27203 on or before January 8th 2026, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of heir recovery. All persons indebted to said estate please make immediate payment to the undersigned.
This the 9nd day of October 2025.
India Deion Stewart, Administrator Evelyn Parson Holland, Estate Andrew J. Weiner, Attorney Gavin & Cox 113 Worth Street Asheboro, NC 27203 Telephone: 336-629-2600
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Having quali ed as Executor of the Estate of JAMES WINFRED KIDD aka JAMES WINFORD KIDD aka JAMES W. KIDD, 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 January 8, 2026, 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 9th day of October 2025. JAMES RANDALL KIDD aka JAMES RANDAL KIDD Executor of the Estate of JAMES WINFRED KIDD aka JAMES WINFORD KIDD aka JAMES W. KIDD
MARION “BETH” MCQUAID, Attorney IVEY & EGGLESTON, ATTORNEYS AT LAW 111 Worth Street Asheboro, NC 27203 (336) 625-3043 PUBL/DATES: 10/09/25 10/16/25 10/23/25 10/30/25
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Having quali ed as Executor of the Estate of LEE MONROE MANGES, 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 December 26, 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 22nd day of September 2025. ROSE TREAT CHILSON Executor of the Estate of LEE MONROE MANGES MARION “BETH” MCQUAID, Attorney IVEY & EGGLESTON, ATTORNEYS AT LAW 111 Worth Street Asheboro, NC 27203 (336) 625-3043
PUBL/DATES: 09/25/25 10/02/25 10/09/25 10/16/25
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Having quali ed as Administrator of the Estate of Dorothy Lee McDonald a/k/a Dorothy Parson McDonald, of Randolph County, NC, this is to notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against the estate of said deceased to exhibit them to the undersigned Administrator at the Law O ce of Andrew J. Weiner, 113 Worth Street, Asheboro, NC 27203 on or before January 8th 2026, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of heir recovery. All persons indebted to said estate please make immediate payment to the undersigned.
This the 9nd day of October 2025. Melissa Lynn McDonald, Administrator Dorothy Lee McDonald a/k/a Dorothy Parson McDonald, Estate
Andrew J. Weiner, Attorney Gavin & Cox 113 Worth Street Asheboro, NC 27203 Telephone: 336-629-2600
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Having quali ed as Administrator of the Estate of Mickey Rooney McDonald, of Randolph County, NC, this is to notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against the estate of said deceased to exhibit them to the undersigned Administrator at the Law O ce of Andrew J. Weiner, 113 Worth Street, Asheboro, NC 27203 on or before January 8th 2026, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of heir recovery. All persons indebted to said estate please make immediate payment to the undersigned.
This the 9nd day of October 2025. Melissa Lynn McDonald, Administrator Mickey Rooney McDonald, Estate
Andrew J. Weiner, Attorney Gavin & Cox 113 Worth Street Asheboro, NC 27203 Telephone: 336-629-2600 WAKE
Notice to Creditors
Having quali ed as Administrator of the Estate of IAN SCOTT GERTLER, late of Wake County, North Carolina (25E003621-910), the undersigned does
NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE
24SP000196-120
Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Alicia Bungy and Lee Stewart (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Alicia Bungy and Lee Stewart) to Allan B. Polunsky, Trustee(s), dated January 10, 2022, and recorded in Book No. 15778, at Page 0012 in Cabarrus County Registry, North Carolina, default having been made in the payment of the promissory note secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Substitute Trustee Services, Inc. having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust by an instrument duly recorded in the O ce of the Register of Deeds Cabarrus County, North Carolina and the holder of the note evidencing said indebtedness having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will o er for sale at the
NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 25SP000590-250 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Michael A. Paolucci and Jennifer Paolucci (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Michael A. Paolucci and Jennifer Paolucci) to Adam B. Newman, Trustee(s), dated June 18, 2021, and recorded in Book No. 11159, at Page 0193 in Cumberland County Registry, North Carolina, default having been made in the payment of the promissory note secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Substitute Trustee Services, Inc. having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust by an instrument duly recorded in the O ce of the Register of Deeds Cumberland County, North Carolina and the holder of the note evidencing said indebtedness having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned
courthouse door in Concord, Cabarrus County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, at 12:00 PM on October 27, 2025 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in Concord in the County of Cabarrus, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: BEING all of Lot 263, Hallstead, Phase 2, Map 4 as shown on map recorded in Map Book 77, Page 58, Cabarrus County Register of Deeds, North Carolina. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 637 Nannyberry Lane, Concord, North Carolina. More commonly known as 637 Nannyberry Lane, Concord, NC 28025. PIN: 55392023660000
Trustee may, in the Trustee’s sole discretion, delay the sale for up to three hours as 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
Substitute Trustee will o er for sale at the courthouse door in Fayetteville, Cumberland County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, at 12:00 PM on October 20, 2025 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in Autryville in the County of Cumberland, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: Being all of Lot 4 as shown on a plat entitled “Country Meadow” duly recorded in Plat Book 117, I Page 70, Cumberland County, North Carolina Registry. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 7725 Skylark Court, Autryville, North Carolina. Trustee may, in the Trustee’s sole discretion, delay the sale for up to three hours as 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
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, at or relating to the property being o ered for sale, and any and all responsibilities or liabilities arising out of or in any way relating to any such condition are expressly disclaimed. Also, this property is being sold subject to all taxes, special assessments, and prior liens or prior encumbrances of record and any recorded releases. Said property is also being sold subject to applicable Federal and State laws. A deposit of ve percent (5%) of the purchase price, or seven hundred fty dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, is required and must be tendered in the form
of certi ed funds at the time of the sale. If the trustee is unable to convey title to this property for any reason, the sole remedy of the purchaser is the return of the deposit. Reasons of such inability to convey include, but are not limited to, the ling of a bankruptcy petition prior to the con rmation of the sale and reinstatement of the
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, at or relating to the property being o ered for sale, and any and all responsibilities or liabilities arising out of or in any way relating to any such condition are expressly disclaimed. Also, this property is being sold subject to all taxes, special assessments, and prior liens or prior encumbrances of record and any recorded releases. Said property is also being sold subject to applicable Federal and State laws. A deposit of ve percent (5%) of the purchase price, or seven hundred fty dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, is required and must be tendered in the form of certi ed funds at the time of the sale. If the trustee is unable to convey title to this property for any reason, the sole remedy of the purchaser is the return of the deposit. Reasons of such inability to convey include, but are not limited to, the ling of a bankruptcy petition prior to the con rmation of the sale and reinstatement of the loan without the knowledge of the trustee. If the validity of the
25SP000772-310
NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE
NORTH CAROLINA, DURHAM COUNTY
Under and by virtue of a Power of Sale contained in that certain Deed of Trust executed by Sowrabh Shanthanand to William T. Morrison and Philip M. Rudisill, Trustee(s), which was dated February 11, 2022 and recorded on February 11, 2022 in Book 9613 at Page 426, Durham County Registry, North Carolina.
Plat #2801 Courtney Creek Boulevard” prepared by Coulter Jewell Thames P.A. and recorded in Plat Book 203, Pages 302, 303 and 304, Durham County Registry, TOGETHER WITH and SUBJECT TO those easements, rights and obligations established by that certain Declaration of Covenants, Conditions, Restrictions and Easements for Stormwater Matters at Nova RTP recorded in Book 9056, Page 791, that certain Declaration of Covenants, Conditions, Restrictions and Easements for Nova RTP Townhomes recorded in Book 9221, Page 717, and that certain Declaration of Nova RTP Land Condominium recorded in Book 9221, Page 676.
Save and except any releases, deeds of release or prior conveyances of record. Said property is commonly known as 1122 Nova Street, Durham, NC 27713. A Certi ed Check ONLY (no personal checks) of ve percent (5%) of the purchase price, or Seven Hundred Fifty Dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, will be required at the time of the sale. Following the expiration of the statutory upset bid period, all the remaining amounts are immediately due and owing. THIRD PARTY PURCHASERS MUST PAY THE EXCISE TAX AND THE RECORDING COSTS FOR THEIR DEED. Said property to be o ered pursuant to this Notice of Sale is being o ered for sale, transfer and conveyance “AS IS WHERE IS.” There are no representations of warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at, or relating to the property being o ered for sale. Substitute Trustee does not have possession of the property and cannot grant access, prior to or after the sale, for purposes of inspection and/ or appraisal. This sale is made subject to all prior liens, unpaid taxes, any unpaid land transfer taxes, special assessments, easements, rights of way, deeds of release, and any other encumbrances or exceptions of record. To the best of the knowledge and belief of the undersigned, the current owner(s)
Default having been made of the note thereby secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC, having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust, and the holder of the note evidencing said default having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will o er for sale at the courthouse door of the county courthouse where the property is located, or the usual and customary location at the county courthouse for conducting the sale on October 30, 2025 at 11:30 AM, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following described property situated in Durham County, North Carolina, to wit: BEING all of Lot 97, Ganyard Towns Subdivision, as shown on map recorded in Plat Book 196, Pages 377-378, Durham County Registry, to which map reference is hereby made for a more particular description. Save and except any releases, deeds of release or prior conveyances of record. Said property is commonly known as 102 Harvest Oaks Lane, Unit 126, Durham, NC 27703. A Certi ed Check ONLY (no personal checks) of ve percent (5%) of the purchase price, or Seven Hundred Fifty Dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, will be required at the time of the sale. Following the expiration of the statutory upset bid period, all the remaining amounts are immediately due and owing. THIRD PARTY PURCHASERS MUST PAY THE EXCISE TAX
courthouse where the property is located, or the usual and customary location at the county courthouse for conducting the sale on October 30, 2025 at 10:00 AM, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following described property situated in Forsyth County, North Carolina, to wit: BEING KNOWN AND DESIGNATED as Lot No. 25 as shown on the plat of ATWOOD ACRES, SECTION 3, as recorded in Plat Book 21, at Page 151, Forsyth County Registry, reference to which plat is hereby made for a more particular description.
Save and except any releases, deeds of release or prior conveyances of record.
Said property is commonly known as 3011 Carrollwood Dr, Winston Salem, NC 27103.
of the county
A Certi ed Check ONLY (no personal checks) of ve percent (5%) of the purchase price, or Seven Hundred Fifty Dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, will be required at the time of the sale. Following the expiration of the statutory upset bid period, all the remaining amounts are
on October 30, 2025 at 10:00 AM, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following described property situated in Forsyth County, North Carolina, to wit: Being known and designated as Lot No. 32, as shown on a plat entitled PHASE 2, TEA BERRY RIDGE, as recorded in Plat Book 48, Page 63, in the o ce of the Register of Deeds of Forsyth County, North Carolina, reference to which is hereby made for a more particular description.
Save and except any releases, deeds of release or prior conveyances of record.
Said property is commonly known as 2096 Tea Berry Ct, Winston Salem, NC 27127.
of the county courthouse where the property is located, or the usual and customary location at the county courthouse for conducting the sale
Trustee(s), dated August 9, 2022, and recorded in Book No. RE 3711, at Page 2517 in Forsyth County Registry, North Carolina. The Deed of Trust was modi ed by the following: A Loan Modi cation recorded on May 9, 2024, in Book No. 3805, at Page 3459 , default having been made in the payment of the promissory note secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Substitute Trustee Services, Inc. having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust by an instrument duly recorded in the O ce of the Register of Deeds Forsyth County, North Carolina and the holder of the note evidencing said indebtedness having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will o er for sale at the courthouse door in Winston Salem, Forsyth County,
A Certi ed Check ONLY (no personal checks) of ve percent (5%) of the purchase price, or Seven Hundred Fifty Dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, will be required at the time of the sale. Following the expiration of the statutory upset bid period, all the remaining amounts are
North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, at 1:15 PM on October 29, 2025 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in Winston Salem in the County of Forsyth, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: Being all of Lot Number 16, Section 1B, as shown on the map of McIVER FARMS subdivision, as recorded in Plat Book 40, Page 110, in the o ce of the Register of Deeds of Forsyth County, North Carolina, reference to which is hereby made for a more particular description. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 4620 Leprechaun Lane, Winston Salem, North Carolina. Tax Parcel Number: 6812-52-9803 (Block 3883A, Lot 016) Property Address: 4620 Leprechaun Lane, Winston-Salem, NC 27127
Trustee may, in the Trustee’s sole discretion, delay the sale for up to three hours as provided in N.C.G.S. §45-21.23. Should the property be
AND THE RECORDING COSTS FOR THEIR DEED. Said property to be o ered pursuant to this Notice of Sale is being o ered for sale, transfer and conveyance “AS IS WHERE IS.” There are no representations of warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at, or relating to the property being o ered for sale. Substitute Trustee does not have possession of the property and cannot grant access, prior to or after the sale, for purposes of inspection and/ or appraisal. This sale is made subject to all prior liens, unpaid taxes, any unpaid land transfer taxes, special assessments, easements, rights of way, deeds of release, and any other encumbrances or exceptions of record. To the best of the knowledge and belief of the undersigned, the current owner(s) of the property is/are Sowrabh Shanthanand. An Order for possession of the property may be issued pursuant to G.S. 45-21.29 in favor of the purchaser and against the party or parties in possession by the clerk of superior
immediately due and owing. THIRD PARTY
PURCHASERS MUST PAY THE EXCISE TAX AND THE RECORDING COSTS FOR THEIR DEED.
Said property to be o ered pursuant to this Notice of Sale is being o ered for sale, transfer and conveyance “AS IS WHERE IS.” There are no representations of warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at, or relating to the property being o ered for sale. Substitute Trustee does not have possession of the property and cannot grant access, prior to or after the sale, for purposes of inspection and/ or appraisal. This sale is made subject to all prior liens, unpaid taxes, any unpaid land transfer taxes, special assessments, easements, rights of way, deeds of release, and any other encumbrances or exceptions of record. To the best of the knowledge and belief of the undersigned, the current owner(s) of the property is/are All Lawful Heirs of Krystal Matthews.
An Order for possession of the property may be issued pursuant to G.S. 45-21.29 in favor
immediately due and owing. THIRD PARTY
PURCHASERS MUST PAY THE EXCISE TAX AND THE RECORDING COSTS FOR THEIR DEED.
Said property to be o ered pursuant to this Notice of Sale is being o ered for sale, transfer and conveyance “AS IS WHERE IS.” There are no representations of warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at, or relating to the property being o ered for sale. Substitute Trustee does not have possession of the property and cannot grant access, prior to or after the sale, for purposes of inspection and/ or appraisal. This sale is made subject to all prior liens, unpaid taxes, any unpaid land transfer taxes, special assessments, easements, rights of way, deeds of release, and any other encumbrances or exceptions of record. To the best of the knowledge and belief of the undersigned, the current owner(s) of the property is/are Justin Hunter. An Order for possession of the property may
court of the county in which the property is sold. Any person who occupies the property pursuant to a rental agreement entered into or renewed on or after October 1, 2007, may, after receiving the notice of sale, terminate the rental agreement by providing written notice of termination to the landlord, to be e ective on a date stated in the notice that
of the purchaser and against the party or parties in possession by the clerk of superior court of the county in which the property is sold. Any person who occupies the property pursuant to a rental agreement entered into or renewed on or after October 1, 2007, may, after receiving the notice of sale, terminate the rental agreement by providing written notice of termination to the landlord, to be e ective on a date stated in the notice that is at least 10 days, but no more than 90 days, after the sale date contained in the notice of sale, provided that the mortgagor has not cured the default at the time the tenant provides the notice of termination [NCGS § 45-21.16A(b)(2)]. Upon termination of a rental agreement, the tenant is liable for rent due under the rental agreement prorated to the e ective date of the termination. Pursuant to NCGS §45-21.25A, this sale may be subject to remote bids placed by bidders not physically present at the place of sale, which may be accepted by the person conducting the sale, or their agent”. If the trustee is unable to convey title to this property for any reason, the sole remedy of the purchaser is the return of the deposit. Reasons of such inability to convey include, but are not limited to, the ling of a bankruptcy petition prior to the con rmation of the sale and reinstatement
be issued pursuant to G.S. 45-21.29 in favor of the purchaser and against the party or parties in possession by the clerk of superior court of the county in which the property is sold. Any person who occupies the property pursuant to a rental agreement entered into or renewed on or after October 1, 2007, may, after receiving the notice of sale, terminate the rental agreement by providing written notice of termination to the landlord, to be e ective on a date stated in the notice that is at least 10 days, but no more than 90 days, after the sale date contained in the notice of sale, provided that the mortgagor has not cured the default at the time the tenant provides the notice of termination [NCGS § 45-21.16A(b)(2)]. Upon termination of a rental agreement, the tenant is liable for rent
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, at or relating to the property being o ered for sale, and any and all responsibilities or liabilities arising out of or in any way relating to any such condition are expressly disclaimed. Also, this property is being sold subject to all taxes, special assessments, and prior liens or prior encumbrances of record and any recorded releases. Said property is also being sold subject to applicable Federal and State laws. A deposit of ve percent (5%) of the purchase price, or seven hundred fty dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, is required and must be tendered in the form of certi ed funds at the time of the sale. If the trustee is unable to convey title to this property for any reason, the sole remedy of the purchaser is the return of the deposit. Reasons of such inability to convey include, but are not limited to, the ling of a bankruptcy petition prior to the con rmation of the sale and reinstatement of the loan without the knowledge of the trustee. If the validity of the sale is challenged by any party, the
for cash the following real estate situated in Winston Salem in the County of Forsyth, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: BEING known and designated as Lot 23 as shown on the plat of the Sherwood Villas Townhouses Phase 1 as recorded in Plat Book 28 Page 14 in the O ce of the Register of Deeds of Forsyth County North Carolina reference to which is hereby made for a more particular description. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 900 Brintonial Way, Winston Salem, North Carolina. Trustee may, in the Trustee’s sole discretion, delay the sale for up to three hours as 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, at or relating to the property being o ered for sale, and any and all responsibilities or liabilities arising out of or in any way relating to any such condition are expressly disclaimed. Also, this property is being sold subject to all taxes, special assessments, and prior liens or prior encumbrances of record and any recorded releases. Said property is also being sold subject to applicable Federal and State laws. A deposit of ve percent (5%) of the purchase price, or seven hundred fty dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, is required and must be tendered in the form of certi ed funds at the time of the sale. If the trustee is unable to convey title to this property for any reason, the sole remedy of the purchaser is the return of the deposit. Reasons of such inability to convey include, but
18SP000458-910
AMENDED NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE
NORTH CAROLINA, WAKE COUNTY
Under and by virtue of a Power of Sale contained in that certain Deed of Trust executed by Terry L. White to William R. Echols, Trustee(s), which was dated May 19, 2011 and recorded on May 20, 2011 in Book 14354 at Page 262, Wake County Registry, North Carolina.
Default having been made of the note thereby secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC, having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust, and the holder of the note evidencing said default having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will o er for sale at the courthouse door of the county
IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE OF NORTH CAROLINA SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION WAKE COUNTY 24sp000223-910
IN THE MATTER OF THE FORECLOSURE OF A DEED OF TRUST EXECUTED BY BRIAN ADAMS AND MICHELLE ADAMS DATED JULY 25, 2003 AND RECORDED IN BOOK 10339 AT PAGE 2494 AND MODIFIED BY AGREEMENT RECORDED JANUARY 21, 2015 IN BOOK 15896, PAGE 2080 IN THE WAKE COUNTY PUBLIC REGISTRY, NORTH CAROLINA NOTICE OF SALE Under and by virtue of the power and authority contained in the above-referenced deed of trust and because of default in payment of the secured debt and failure to perform the agreements contained therein and, pursuant to demand of the holder
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF WAKE IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION
24SP000647-910 IN THE MATTER OF THE FORECLOSURE OF A DEED OF TRUST EXECUTED BY MELISSA KAY BOTKIN DATED MARCH 16, 2022 RECORDED IN BOOK NO. 18960, AT PAGE 1216 IN THE WAKE COUNTY PUBLIC REGISTRY, NORTH CAROLINA NOTICE OF SALE
Under and by virtue of the power and authority contained in the above-referenced deed of trust and because of default in payment of the secured debt and failure to perform the agreements therein contained and, pursuant to demand of the holder of the secured debt, the undersigned will expose
courthouse where the property is located, or the usual and customary location at the county courthouse for conducting the sale on October 22, 2025 at 10:00 AM, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following described property situated in Wake County, North Carolina, to wit:
Being all of Lot 5, Block L, Schoolacres Subdivision, Section 1 Extended, as shown on map recorded in Book of Maps 1950, Page 112 and re-recorded in Book of Maps 1952, Page 68, Wake County Registry. Save and except any releases, deeds of release or prior conveyances of record.
Said property is commonly known as 703 Powell Drive, Garner, NC 27529.
A certi ed check only (no personal checks) of ve percent (5%) of the purchase price, or Seven Hundred Fifty Dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, will be required at the time of the sale. Following the expiration of the statutory upset bid period, all the remaining amounts are immediately due
of the secured debt, the undersigned will expose for sale at public auction at the usual place of sale at the Wake County courthouse at 11:00AM on October 30, 2025, the following described real estate and any improvements situated thereon, in Wake County, North Carolina, and being more particularly described in that certain Deed of Trust executed Brian Adams and Michelle Adams, dated July 25, 2003 to secure the original principal amount of $119,961.00, and recorded in Book 10339 at Page 2494 of the Wake County Public Registry. The terms of the said Deed of Trust may be modi ed by other instruments appearing in the public record. Additional identifying information regarding the collateral property is below and is believed to be accurate, but no representation or warranty is intended. Address of property: 247 Tillamook Dr, Wake Forest, NC 27587 Tax Parcel ID: 0223773 Present Record Owners: Brian K. Adams
for sale at public auction at the usual place of sale at the Wake County courthouse at 10:00 AM on October 22, 2025, the following described real estate and any improvements situated thereon, in Wake County, North Carolina, and being more particularly described in that certain Deed of Trust executed by Melissa Kay Botkin, dated March 16, 2022 to secure the original principal amount of $296,000.00, and recorded in Book No. 18960, at Page 1216 of the Wake County Public Registry. The terms of the said Deed of Trust may be modi ed by other instruments appearing in the public record. Additional identifying information regarding the collateral property is below and is believed to be accurate, but no representation or warranty is intended.
Address of property: 1314 Still Monument Way, Raleigh, NC 27603 Tax Parcel ID: 0354247
and owing. THIRD PARTY PURCHASERS MUST PAY THE EXCISE TAX AND THE RECORDING COSTS FOR THEIR DEED.
Said property to be o ered pursuant to this Notice of Sale is being o ered for sale, transfer and conveyance “AS IS WHERE IS.” There are no representations of warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at, or relating to the property being o ered for sale. Substitute Trustee does not have possession of the property and cannot grant access, prior to or after the sale, for purposes of inspection and/ or appraisal. This sale is made subject to all prior liens, unpaid taxes, any unpaid land transfer taxes, special assessments, easements, rights of way, deeds of release, and any other encumbrances or exceptions of record. To the best of the knowledge and belief of the undersigned, the current owner(s) of the property is/are Terry L. White.
An Order for possession of the property may be issued pursuant to G.S. 45-21.29 in favor
The record owner(s) of the property, according to the records of the Register of Deeds, is/are Brian K. Adams. 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 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, at or relating
16, 2025
of the purchaser and against the party or parties in possession by the clerk of superior court of the county in which the property is sold. Any person who occupies the property pursuant to a rental agreement entered into or renewed on or after October 1, 2007, may, after receiving the notice of sale, terminate the rental agreement by providing written notice of termination to the landlord, to be e ective on a date stated in the notice that is at least 10 days, but no more than
of Trust and the undersigned, Substitute Trustee Services, Inc. having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust by an instrument duly recorded in the O ce of the Register of Deeds Wake County, North Carolina and the holder of the note evidencing said indebtedness having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will o er for sale at the Wake County Courthouse door, the Salisbury Street entrance in Raleigh, Wake County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, at 1:30 PM on October 27, 2025 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in Cary in the County of Wake, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: BEING all of Condominium Unit 103-1C, Phase II, Building 2, in the Chesapeake
AMENDED NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 24SP001265-910
Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Raheem Oluwayomi Lamidi (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Raheem Oluwayomi Lamidi) to Coastal Federal Financial Group, LLC, Trustee(s), dated May 11, 2020, and recorded in Book No. 017862, at Page 02161 in Wake County Registry, North Carolina, default having been made in the payment of the promissory note secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Substitute Trustee Services, Inc. having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust by an instrument duly recorded in the O ce of the Register of Deeds Wake County, North Carolina and the holder of the note evidencing said indebtedness having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will o er for sale at the Wake County Courthouse door, the Salisbury Street entrance in Raleigh, Wake County, North Carolina, or the customary
Landing Condominiums, located in or near the Town of Cary, Wake County, North Carolina, as designated and described in the Declaration of Unit Ownership under the provisions of Chapter 47A of the North Carolina General Statutes, (The “Declaration”) dated August 25, 1986, recorded in Book 3807, Page 575, Wake County Registry, the First Amendment thereto duly recorded in Book 3848, Page 865, Wake County Registry, the Second Amendment thereto duly recorded in Book 3996, Page 607, Wake County Registry, the Third Amendment thereto duly recorded in Book 4225, Page 624, Wake County Registry, The Fourth Amendment thereto duly recorded in Book 4473, Page 615, Wake County Registry. The Fifth Amendment thereto duly recorded in Book 4607, Page 581, Wake County Registry. The Sixth Amendment thereto duly recorded in Book 4655, Page 402, Wake County Registry. The Seventh Amendment thereto duly recorded in Book 4661, Page 400, Wake County Registry. The Eighth Amendment thereto duly recorded in Book 4693, Page 184, Wake County Registry (see Condominium Plan, Condominium File #109, Wake County Registry, for plans) together with a 1.593 percent total undivided interest in the Common Property and Facilities declared to be appurtenant to said unit, said unit’s undivided interest being more particularly
location designated for foreclosure sales, at 1:30 PM on October 27, 2025 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in Garner in the County of Wake, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: BEING all of Lot 109, Cli ord Grove Subdivision, Phase 2A, per plat and survey thereof recorded in Book of Maps 2019, Pages 36 through 39, inclusive, Wake County Registry, to which plat reference is hereby made for a more particular description of same. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 255 Axis Deer Lane, Garner, North Carolina.
Trustee may, in the Trustee’s sole discretion, delay the sale for up to three hours as 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 record owner(s) of the property, according to the records of the Register of Deeds, is/are Melissa Kay Botkin.
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 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, at or relating to the property o ered for sale. Any and all responsibilities or liabilities arising out of or in any way relating to any such condition expressly are disclaimed. This sale is subject to all prior liens and encumbrances and unpaid taxes and assessments including any transfer tax associated with the foreclosure. A deposit of ve percent
described in the second amendment to the declaration reference herein. The land upon which the building and improvements are located is situated in or near the Town of Cary, Wake County, North Carolina and is fully described in the Declaration, the Declaration being incorporated herein by reference. Including the unit thereon; said Unit being located at 103 Marbury Court 1C, Cary, North Carolina. Trustee may, in the Trustee’s sole discretion, delay the sale for up to three hours as 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
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, at or relating to the property being o ered for sale, and any and all responsibilities or liabilities arising out of or in any way relating to any such condition are expressly disclaimed. Also, this property is being sold subject to all taxes, special assessments, and prior liens or prior encumbrances of record and any recorded releases. Said property is also being sold subject to applicable Federal and State laws. A deposit of ve percent (5%) of the purchase price, or seven hundred fty dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, is required and must be tendered in the form
(5%) of the amount of the bid or seven hundred fty dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, is required from the highest bidder and must be tendered in the form of certi ed funds at the time of the sale. This sale will be held open ten days for upset bids as required by law. After the expiration of the upset period, all remaining amounts are IMMEDIATELY DUE AND OWING. Failure to remit funds in a timely manner will result in a Declaration of Default and any deposit will be frozen pending the outcome of any resale. If the sale is set aside for any reason, the Purchaser at the sale shall be entitled only to a return of the deposit paid. The Purchaser shall have no further recourse against the Mortgagor, the Mortgagee, the Substitute Trustee or the attorney of any of the foregoing. SPECIAL NOTICE FOR LEASEHOLD TENANTS residing at the property: be advised that an Order for Possession of the property may be issued in favor of the
conditions existing in, on, at or relating to the property being o ered for sale, and any and all responsibilities or liabilities arising out of or in any way relating to any such condition are expressly disclaimed. Also, this property is being sold subject to all taxes, special assessments, and prior liens or prior encumbrances of record and any recorded releases. Said property is also being sold subject to applicable Federal and State laws. A deposit of ve percent (5%) of the purchase price, or seven hundred fty dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, is required and must be tendered in the form of certi ed funds at the time of the sale. If the trustee is unable to convey title to this property for any reason, the sole remedy of the purchaser is the return of the deposit. Reasons of such inability to convey include, but are not limited to, the
purchaser. Also, if your lease began or was renewed on or after October 1,
of certi ed funds at the time of the sale.
If the trustee is unable to convey title to this property for any reason, the sole remedy of the purchaser is the return of the deposit. Reasons of such inability to convey include, but are not limited to, the ling of a bankruptcy petition prior to the con rmation of the sale and reinstatement of the loan
day of March, 2003, and recorded in Book 010006, Page 0143701446, in Wake County Registry, North Carolina, default having been made in the payment of the note thereby secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Substitute Trustee Services, Inc. having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust by an instrument duly recorded in the O ce of the Register of Deeds of Wake County, North Carolina and the holder of the note evidencing said indebtedness having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will o er for sale at the Wake County Courthouse door, the Salisbury Street entrance in the City of Raleigh, Wake
County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, at 1:30 PM on October 20, 2025 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in the City of Raleigh, in the County of Wake, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: BEING all of Lot 31, Glen Meadows Subdivision, as shown on map recorded in Book of Maps 1998, Page 419, Wake County Registry. Together with improvements thereon, said property located at 1009 Retriever Lane, Raleigh, NC 27603. Parcel ID: 0243443
Trustee may, in the Trustee’s sole discretion, delay the sale for up to one hour as provided in NCGS §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
NCGS §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, at or relating to the property being o ered for sale, and any and all responsibilities or liabilities arising out of or in any way relating to any such condition expressly are disclaimed. Also, this property is being sold subject to all taxes, special assessments, and prior liens or prior encumbrances of record and any recorded releases. Said property is also being sold subject to applicable Federal and State laws. A deposit of ve percent (5%) of the purchase price, or seven hundred fty dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, is required and must be tendered in the form of certi ed funds at the time of the sale. If the trustee is unable to convey title to this property for any reason, the sole remedy of the purchaser is the return of the deposit. Reasons of such inability to convey include, but are not limited to, the ling of a bankruptcy petition prior to the con rmation of the sale and reinstatement of the loan without the knowledge of the trustee. If the validity of
Look both ways
Chatham County Sheri ’s O ce deputies joined students, parents and sta from Pittsboro Elementary School and George
Middle School during a Walk to School Day event last week that started at the Chatham Community Library.
the BRIEF this week
Pa. man pleads guilty in arson attack while Shapiro’s family slept in governor’s mansion Harrisburg, Pa.
A man who scaled a security fence in the middle of the night and set re to the Pennsylvania governor’s mansion has pleaded guilty to attempted murder and other charges. Cody Balmer entered the plea Tuesday for the April attack that caused millions of dollars in damage to the state-owned building in Harrisburg. Gov. Josh Shapiro and members of his family were inside and had to be evacuated. No one was injured, but authorities say the 38-year-old Balmer told them he planned to beat the governor with a small sledgehammer if he encountered him. Balmer’s family has said he has a history of mental health problems.
SpaceX launches 11th test ight of mega Starship rocket with another win
SpaceX has launched another of its mammoth Starship rockets on a test ight. The 403-foot Starship thundered into the evening sky Monday from Texas. The booster peeled away and made a controlled entry into the Gulf of Mexico as planned, with the spacecraft skimming space before descending into the Indian Ocean. It’s similar to the previous test ight in August, which scored a success following a string of explosive failures. SpaceX’s Elon Musk intends to use Starship to send people to Mars. NASA cannot land astronauts on the moon by decade’s end without Starship.
$2.00
Board of Education adds HVAC, roo ng replacements to CIP plan
The board also approved MOUs related to CTE curriculum and after-school care
By Ryan Henkel Chatham News & Record
PITTSBORO — The Chatham County Schools Board of Education approved its annual, seven-year capital improvement project (CIP) plan
at its latest meeting on Oct. 6.
While the list includes projects that have already been either started or are scheduled to be funded in the coming years, the district is also recommending that roo ng and HVAC replacements throughout the school system be scheduled in the coming years.
According to Randy Drumheller, director of maintenance and new construction, many are approaching the end of their life cycle and the district would like to begin working on those before leaks or failures start to arise.
“It’s far less expensive to do the replacements or updates now then it is if we’re waiting for there to be leaks or whatnot,” said board member Ana Carlson.
Siler City to focus on potholes
The town will use municipal tag fee revenues to address road issues
By Ryan Henkel Chatham News & Record
SILER CITY — The Town of Siler City will be working to ll some potholes starting as early as this scal year.
The list also had the top future projects for the district, which include security renovations, land acquisition for future schools, construction of a new elementary school at Chatham
See BOE, page A7
work on some of the bigger ones.
The board also approved terminating its incentive agreement with Innovative Construction Group.
The town had previously raised municipal tag fees by 200%, going from $5 to $15, and the plan was to utilize that additional revenue to fund street rejuvenation projects.
However, after a survey of town-owned streets, sta felt that the prevalence of potholes was a more pressing issue for the town.
At its Oct. 6 meeting, the Town of Siler City Board of Commissioners voted to approve utilizing the revenues, approximately $60,000, to fund the xing of 204 identi ed potholes, with the idea that the rejuvenation projects will start to take place in scal year 2027.
Belichick’s rst season with Tar Heels has run into problems on, o eld
“It’s not the kind of thing we judge after four games or even after one season.”
Lee Roberts, UNC Chancellor
A TV show about his rst year as head coach has been canceled
By Aaron Beard The Associated Press
OF ALL THE UGLY moments so far — bad play, blowout losses, home fans eeing early for the exits — the most telling moment of Bill Belichick’s rst season at UNC came during an open week. It took the form of a pair of terse statements from Belichick and athletic director Bubba Cunningham posted on social media last Wednes-
Siler City will do the repairs on the smaller potholes in-house, but they’ll need to contract with another company to
day, rea rming the marriage between the six-time Super Bowl winner from the NFL’s New England Patriots and the school desperately seeking to elevate its football program beyond decades of also-ran status.
“I’m fully committed to UNC Football and the program we’re building here,” Belichick said.
The fact it came at all, though — following a day of speculation and reports of behind-the-scenes troubles in the program — said more about how the rst few weeks
The town had entered into an agreement with ICG back in May 2024, but the company seemingly isn’t in a position to reach its previously agreed-upon thresholds.
“Per their incentive agreement, the company was supposed to invest in the construction of a facility on or before
See POTHOLES, page A7
THE CHATHAM COUNTY EDITION OF NORTH STATE JOURNAL
Moses Horton
COURTESY CHATHAM COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE
Oct. 6
• Bobby Paul Wade, 49, of Raeford, was arrested for possession of stolen goods/ property and larceny of motor vehicle.
• Brandi Nicole Flowers, 47, of Raeford, was arrested for possession of stolen goods/ property and larceny of motor vehicle.
Oct. 7
• Michael Anthony Lunsford Jr., 64, of Apex, was arrested for misdemeanor larceny.
Oct. 8
• Tyler Lang Martin, 31, of Pittsboro, was arrested for felony stalking and domestic violence protection order violation.
• Troy Alfred Smart, 53, of Bear Creek, was arrested for unauthorized use of motor vehicle.
Oct. 9
• Charles Allen Tysor Sr., of Siler City, was arrested for simple assault and resisting public o cer.
Oct. 10
• Lindley Miguel Mordecai, 51, was arrested for assault on a female, driving while impaired, reckless driving to endanger, open container after consuming alcohol, speeding, drive left of center, misdemeanor crime of domestic violence, misdemeanor child abuse and injury to personal property.
• Emily Danielle Miller, 43, was arrested for simple assault, crime of domestic violence, assault on government o cial/employee and resisting public o cer.
Oct. 12
• Bobby Isaiah Carter, 19, was arrested for assault on a female and misdemeanor crime of domestic violence.
Chatham County to host 16th annual Trunk or Treat festival
The free event features activities, games and a costume contest
Chatham News & Record sta
CHATHAM County Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources will hold its 16th annual Trunk or Treat Fall Festival on Saturday, Oct. 25, from 2-5 p.m. at Southwest District Park in Bear Creek.
The free event, a Halloween tradition since 2010, will feature pumpkin carving and painting, a hay hunt, seasonal games and crafts, bounce houses, a photo station and a costume contest. Festival activities will run from 2-4 p.m., followed by the Trunk or Treat from 4-5 p.m.
“This event has truly become a highlight of our fall season,” said Tracy Burnett, Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources director. “We love seeing the joy it brings to children and families, and we’re excited to continue the tradition for another year.”
The county is still accepting trunk hosts for the event. Local organizations, businesses, families and individuals are invited to decorate a vehicle and hand out candy.
Southwest District Park is located at 15124 N.C. 902 in Bear Creek. To register as a trunk host
or for more information, contact Mallory Peterson at 919 - 642-7086 or mallory.peterson@chathamcountync.gov.
Here’s a quick look at what’s coming up in Chatham County.
Oct. 17-19
GreenWood Wrights’Fest
Times vary
A semiannual gathering of traditional craftspeople o ers workshops and demonstrations on spoon carving, bowl turning, basket weaving and chair making. Friday night features keynote speaker Roy Underhill, host of PBS’s “The Woodwright’s Shop.” General admission includes access to free demonstrations; workshops cost extra and must be purchased in advance. Camping available on-site.
The Plant 220 Lorax Lane Pittsboro
Oct. 18
“We Need to Talk” Program on Intimate Partner Abuse
Noon to 3 p.m.
Author Janine Latus presents strategies to recognize intimate partner abuse and intervene safely. The free educational program helps attendees learn how to support themselves and others in living healthy lives.
Chatham Community Library Holmes Family Meeting Room 197 N.C. Highway 87 N. Pittsboro
Trick-or-Treat Trail 2-4 p.m.
Children of all ages can wear costumes and walk an accessible trail decorated by community organizations and local businesses who will distribute treats along the route. The free family event is hosted by the Town of Pittsboro.
Knight Farm Park 362 Vine Parkway Pittsboro
Oct. 18-19
Spirits of Pittsboro’s Past Walking Tour
5:30-7:30 p.m.
Costumed interpreters portray gures from Pittsboro’s history in this Halloween-themed walking tour hosted by the Chatham County Historical Association. The journey begins at the historic courthouse and winds through old cemeteries and downtown streets with stories and legends. Ages 12 and older only. Check-in is at 5:15 p.m.
Chatham County Historic Courthouse 9 Hillsboro St. Pittsboro
Oct. 25
Pittsboro Street Fair
10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The Rotary Club of Pittsboro hosts this annual event featuring more than 140 vendors with arts, crafts, food and beverages. Youth performances and family entertainment include bouncy houses, face painting and balloon art. An after-hours concert runs from 4-6 p.m. This free event takes place rain or shine and is the Rotary Club’s largest fundraiser supporting scholarships and community programs.
Downtown Pittsboro Hanks, Fayetteville and Salisbury streets
COURTESY CHATHAM COUNTY PARKS AND RECREATION
WIC food program receives $300M to keep running during government shutdown
Unspent tari revenue was reallocated to fund it
By Moriah Balingit
The Associated Press
WASHINGTON, D.C. — A food aid program that supports millions of low-income mothers and their young children received a $300 million infusion from the Trump administration this week, alleviating some anxiety that it would run out of money during the government shutdown.
The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children helps more than 6 million low-income mothers, young children and expectant parents to purchase nutritious staples like fruits and vegetables, low-fat milk and infant formula. The program, known as WIC, was at risk of running out of money this month because of the government shutdown, which occurred right before it was slated to receive its annual appropriation.
This week, White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt posted on X the White House had found “a creative solution” to use tari revenues to keep the program a oat. By last Thursday, at least some states were receiving WIC money. Alaska and Washington said they received enough federal funds to keep their programs running until at least the end of October. The Inter-Tribal Council of Nevada, which had closed its o ce last week after running out of money, re -
ceived money that allowed it to reopen Friday, radio station KUNR reported.
O cials from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which runs WIC, told congressional sta ers they were using $300 million in unspent tari revenue from the last scal year to keep the program a oat, two people briefed on the call told AP. The people declined to be named because they were not authorized to share details from the call.
Tari revenue supports many USDA programs. The law permits the administration to transfer money allocated for other programs to WIC.
Without the additional money, state and local governments would have had to step in to pay for their WIC programs and later seek reimbursement from the federal government when funding was restored. Washington state, which is dealing with a massive budget shortfall, said it could not a ord to use state money for the WIC program.
In Alaska, the WIC program only had enough federal money to operate through Saturday, meaning the state would have had to step in with its own funding to keep the program running. But this week, ocials learned they were receiving nearly $900,000, enough to fully fund the program through Nov. 8, according to Shirley Sakaye, a spokesperson with the state’s health department.
About half a million of that came from leftover funds from other programs, she said.
The government has been shut
down since Oct. 1, after Republicans and Democrats in Congress failed to pass a bill to continue funding the government. Congressional Democrats want to reverse cuts to Medicaid that were passed earlier this year as part of President Donald Trump’s mega-bill. They also want to extend subsidies that cut the cost of A ordable Care Act insurance plans, which cover more than 24 million Americans.
The White House and Republicans in Congress have hammered Democrats for the shutdown, highlighting the potential damage it could do to WIC.
“The Democrats are so cruel in their continual votes to shut down the government that they forced the WIC program for the most vulnerable women and children to run out this week,” Leavitt posted on X.
But House Republicans and the White House have also sought to cut the program. Trump’s budget proposal and a budget bill passed by House Republicans last month would not have fully funded the program, meaning it would have to turn away eligible applicants.
“Since President Trump is now signaling he cares about the WIC program, he shouldnally get to the negotiating table to reopen the government,” said Sen. Patty Murray, a Democrat from Washington state. “And he should immediately disavow his budget request to signi cantly cut bene ts for millions of moms and kids — and tell House Republicans to back o their proposed cuts as well.”
of Belichick’s rst college season have gone.
The con dent messaging about building the “33rd” NFL team with a pro-style approach at a college program has given way to school leaders and the Tar Heels’ general manager pleading for patience from fans and donors jarred by the team’s lack of competitiveness. And now the school has suspended an assistant coach for violating rules tied to improper bene ts. It all comes amid elevated nancial investments into the program, none more signi cant than spending at least $10 million annually to hire the 73-year-old Belichick as a rst-time college coach.
“It’s not the kind of thing we judge after four games or even after one season,” Chancellor Lee Roberts told reporters after a meeting of university trustees two weeks ago. “These things take time.”
O the eld
The school announced last Thursday that cornerbacks coach Armond Hawkins has been suspended. A timetable for that suspension is unclear, and UNC said in its statement that Hawkins would remain on leave while the school “further investigates other potential actions detrimental” to the team and school.
Additionally, a person with knowledge of the situation said a planned TV show from streaming service Hulu on Belichick’s rst UNC team is no longer in development. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity last Thursday because UNC hasn’t publicly discussed the project.
The football program had posted social media video in August of Belichick telling the players that the Tar Heels would be featured in what he described as a season-long show to “showcase” the program. The person told the AP it was unclear whether the project might go forward in any other manner.
Belichick’s relationship with 24-year-old girlfriend Jordon Hudson has generated its own tabloid-level interest. She has been a frequent sideline presence before games. It’s all led to endless fodder for opponents to deliver easy jabs after romps against Belichick’s Tar Heels.
That much showed on opening night, both with the Big 12’s o cial football account posting on X to mark “a 34-point win over the 33rd Team,” while TCU’s o cial football account posted Belichick’s Hulu announcement asking simply: “when does episode one come out?”
And then there was the 34-9 loss at UCF, with the Knights’ o cial program account posting a trolling photo with its mascot replicating a much-discussed beach shot of Belichick and Hudson that she had previously posted on Instagram — complete with the same hashtag.
On the eld
Things have been tough on the eld as well.
The Tar Heels (2-3) have managed a total of four touchdowns in three losses to power conference opponents, each coming by at least 25 points.
One of their two wins came against Richmond, a Championship Subdivision opponent. In games against fellow Bowl Subdivision opponents, UNC ranks last among all 67 power conference teams in scoring offense (13.3), total o ense (253.0 yards) and third-down conversion rate (26.5%). The Tar Heels also rank amid the bottom dozen in scoring defense (30.8), total defense (416.8 yards) and third-down conversion defense (43.4%), according to Sportradar.
UNC opened Belichick’s tenure on Labor Day with a national TV spotlight, only to see TCU roll to a 48-14 win that had UNC fans largely gone from Kenan Stadium by the end of the third quarter.
Last week, it happened again, this time by halftime, as Clemson took a 28-3 lead in the rst quarter of a game that ended in a largely empty Kenan Stadium.
“We’re just going to keep working every day and every week,” Belichick said afterward. “And let the guys get better. And the guys that get better will keep playing. And the guys that don’t, maybe there’s other people that can compete and move ahead of them for playing time. But we’re just going to keep grinding. I’m not going to evaluate where things are or aren’t. Just take it week by week.”
The Tar Heels next visit California on Friday in their rst cross-country league trip since the Atlantic Coast Conference’s expansion last year.
The future
General manager Michael Lombardi, a former NFL executive, recently sent a letter to donors encouraging them to remain patient. He outlined a plan that included signing “upwards of 40” high school players in next year’s class to restock the program, indicating the need for a longer-term building e ort.
“First and foremost, this letter isn’t an excuse or to shed blame on the past regimes,” Lombardi wrote in the letter, rst reported by Football Scoop and later obtained by the AP.
“It’s meant to explain our team building blueprint moving forward, now that we have surveyed the inherited land.” Changing course would be expensive, too.
Belichick is in the rst year of a deal that guarantees $10 million in base and supplemental pay for each of the next two seasons. Lombardi is making $1.5 million for each of the next two seasons. And most of the sta — which includes Belichick’s sons Steve and Brian, as well as Lombardi’s son Matt — hold two-year deals.
It would cost more than $30 million to buy out those sta contracts if UNC opted to make a coaching change.
CHRIS SEWARD / AP PHOTO UNC head coach Bill Belichick walks o the eld after losing to Clemson on Oct. 4 in Chapel Hill.
ROGELIO V. SOLIS / AP PHOTO
Grocery bags with food from the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children, WIC, sit in a shopping cart before being loaded into a vehicle in Jackson, Mississippi, in October 2013.
THE CONVERSATION
Trip Ho end, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor
COLUMN | ANDREW TAYLOR-TROUTMAN
In defense of Halloween fun
Here in the United States, Halloween is less likely to have overt religious overtones, but it is often intergenerational and family friendly.
IT HAS COME to my attention that some serious-minded people of faith are spooked about Halloween to the point of forbidding their children from taking part. Well, that’s obviously their right. What’s more, I value their sincere faith. I am very aware that not every ghost is holy. I have no doubt that unsacred things happen on Halloween. I am also not advocating for a person of faith to acquiesce in exasperated submission to the prevailing culture and bemoan the fact that anything is acceptable. There are times to take a stand and teach your children to do the same.
However, I think there are beautiful, holy aspects about Halloween. To begin, it is rooted in the church’s practice of remembering the dead — All Hallow’s Eve is still celebrated in many cultures. Here in the United States, Halloween is less likely to have overt religious overtones, but it is often intergenerational and family friendly.
COLUMN | BOB WACHS
Caregivers walk the neighborhoods with their kids. Trick-or-treating is practicing open hospitality. It is perhaps the one night of the year when people from outside one’s neighborhood can move about freely.
And my goodness, it is fun! Last Halloween, I encountered gaggles of young children dressed in various costumes, and not one of them wore a scowl; their faces, including those adorned with ghastly, ghoulish makeup, were all arrayed with bright smiles, most trending toward giggling rays of delight. Do I think that the Merciful Lord looked down on this scene in disgust or outrage? No, I do not. There is a verse in the Bible about “testing the spirits” (1 John 4:1). With wisdom and discernment, we will recognize something holy and true when we encounter it, provided we understand what is beneath the surface. My point is more about the law’s spirit than its letter (2 Corinthians 3:6). Kids
might be dressed in costume, but their delight is in plain sight.
I think the Coherent Mercy that spins the whirling planets has embedded a divine spark in every single one of us, and this spark is often revealed in moments of levity, mirth and even naivete. Did you know that “naïve” shares the same lexical root as “nativity”? Both terms have to do with being born. As someone once said in the Bible, “Ye must turn and become like little children” (Matthew 18:3).
This Halloween, I invite you to join me in cheerful tricks and chortling treats, which, I believe, re ect the joy that makes the genuine dark forces quail.
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.
Been gone long time, but still speaks today
There are likely many other examples of that in all our lives, and as I took a peek at the calendar the other day, it became even more obvious.
THERE’S A VERSE in the New Testament book of Hebrews about Adam and Eve’s son Abel that says, “he still speaks, even though he is dead.” In this case, the lesson is about obeying God and even though he’s long dead, Abel is a model for what we should do.
As I thought about that, it occurred to me there are likely many other examples of that in all our lives, and as I took a peek at the calendar the other day, it became even more obvious. You may not read this until Thursday or Friday or even later, but as I sit at the keyboard, I realize it’s been 33 years and a few days since my daddy died.
Throughout life, I had many wonderful models for proper behavior — teachers, pastors, some friends and family members, my Mama. But no o ense intended to her, I’m pretty sure my daddy was at the top of that list. Now I don’t want to paint him as a saint; he wasn’t. Neither am I and neither are you. While I’ve heard much about him from folks who knew him, I’m also told by my brothers, especially the oldest of we three, that there was a time when his fuse was really short. But that same brother also tells me that by the time I came along 10 years after him, Pa
BE IN TOUCH
(as we came to call him, thanks to a rst grandchild) had mellowed. All I know is I loved him dearly, was proud to be his son and still miss him tremendously.
Today as I think of him and his in uence in light of Abel and his example, I think the reason for his place on the list is because of the two great gifts he gave me — roots and wings.
I knew where I came from, knew about family and its importance, knew about being loved and cared for and that home was and always would be a safe place. But I also knew about stretching my wings and learning to y. And when I ew well, he was glad, and when I didn’t, he wasn’t mad. You need both, and it’s nally dawned on me that perhaps the biggest di erence between Ma (again the grandchild’s name we all adopted) and Pa was that Ma didn’t give me quite as much leash as he did. No doubt, she loved us all, but she was more the manager and protector. As she used to tell me when I protested some of her words and actions toward me, “Nobody has your welfare at heart any more than I do.” I never doubted that. Still don’t.
But he — he let me nd my own
way with just a word or two of advice when needed. “Keep it between the ditches” as I was learning to drive.
“You can’t have your cake and eat it, too” when I wanted the impossible. “If all your friends were going to jump o the Bynum bridge, would you do that, too?” when I protested I was being left out of some activity.
Today, I’ve got my own brood — adult children and a passel of grands — and as I look at them, I wonder what I’ve modeled for them and if they’ll remember any of it.
On the wall above my keyboard and desk is a framed picture of my daddy when he was about 4 or 5. I look at it often and try to remember he was once a child, then a young man, than an adult, then my daddy.
And if I listen closely, I can still hear him speak.
My friends, if you’ve got someone like that in your life, you’re blessed. And if they’re still with you, take time to be with them.
Listen now so you can hear them later.
Bob Wachs is a native of Chatham County and emeritus editor at Chatham News & Record. He serves as pastor of Bear Creek Baptist Church.
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
The gift of panic
My description of AirTags:
“You lose your knack for having any memory at all.”
C’MON, JAN, where is it? The kitchen counter, the living room, the bedroom? Where the heck is it?! Oh, God, I hate it when my panic begins to rear its head.
Pacing up and down the living room (as if that’s going to help). Mid-pace and glancing down, I notice my untied shoelace. Oh, and that my left hand, swinging at my side, is blithely clutching the plastic loop on my MIA (missing in action) water ask. The ask for which I’ve been so frantically searching. My own left hand.
Other ongoing MIA victims include: my glasses (I can’t drive without them), car keys, iPhone (Oh please, not my iPhone! Please!).
Forgetting the placement of whatever was in my hand 60 seconds ago … 60 seconds!
Apple AirTags! What about purchasing Apple AirTags? Digital doohickeys placed on objects to help locate them. Apple’s description of these tags: “You lose your knack for losing things.”
My description of AirTags: “You lose your knack for having any memory at all.” The ominous beginnings of digitally induced dementia? Just saying.
Ms. Prideful (me) used to have a prodigious memory for phone numbers. Those little numbers just tumbled down my memory chute — bloop, bloop, bloop, like water owing from a faucet. Totally gone now. That faucet has dried up. I’ve ceded my once prodigious memory to my iPhone. I can’t recall even one friend’s phone
COLUMN | JOSEPH R. PITTS
number. Not one. At least, I remember 911. I hate this. Just hate it. Says she, storming o to ride her stationary bike, in search of catharsis.
Hallelujah! Catharsis accomplished! (Come on, Jan, you’re now going to bore these ne folks with the outcome of your catharsis?)
(Yep. C’est la vie.)
Here we go. I’m getting up there, and my memory is not as whiz-bang as it used to be. However, my gnawing concern is with “she has already forgotten the placement of what was in her hand 60 seconds ago and is now panicking.” That’s the problem. Panicking. Bingo!
Panic avoidance has become my light in the darkness. If I have a conscious, mindful awareness of where I place objects in the house, I can make a beeline for them later. I won’t feel as assaulted by the grasping jaws of my panic when I can’t nd them. Panic avoidance at its apex. Gently patting myself on the back … (because someone has to do it).
(Are you folks bored yet? Almost done.)
For the most part, my little panic avoidance intervention has worked. Yes, I still have my nonmindful moments and experience panic, but you know what, I’m a fallible human, just like you.
Jan Hutton, a resident of Chatham County and retired hospice social worker, lives life with heart and humor.
Arsonist burns down climate hoax
It’s been obvious for at least 150 years that climate change has nothing to do with the January wild res.
HOW DO LEADING RETAILERS like Amazon and Walmart deliver low prices to their customers? The companies buy so much from their suppliers that they can demand discounts. That dynamic applies in the health care industry as well, as companies called pharmacy bene t managers (PBMs) negotiate with pharmaceutical companies to keep prices down. But it’s up to the Trump administration to keep it that way.
On Sept. 29, the Federal Trade Commission came one step closer to nally making a decision on the Biden FTC’s case against PBMs. A settlement will immediately bene t consumers while reinforcing the valuable role PBMs play in negotiating with pharmaceutical companies to drive down drug prices.
PBMs negotiate drug prices on behalf of employers, insurers and patients. Managing more than 90% of U.S. prescriptions (per the FTC) gives them leverage they need to demand discounts and rebates from Big Pharma.
The backdrop to the FTC case, which was led shortly before last year’s presidential election, is the 1,200% rise in insulin prices from 1999-2017. The Biden FTC claimed that “even when lower list price insulins became available that could have been more a ordable for vulnerable patients, the PBMs systemically excluded them in favor of high list price … insulin products”—because the more expensive drugs are, the bigger the rebates they receive.
When I rst took over as chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Health Subcommittee, I was a bit skeptical of PBMs because of all the negative ads I saw about them (which I later found out were sponsored by the pharmaceutical companies). However, when I dug into the data, I quickly noticed that the truth was far di erent from what some of the industry’s biggest players want us to believe.
The employers who hire PBMs love them. They are best thought of as akin to a bulk buyer at a market, using scale to drive better deals. If they weren’t buying in bulk, they would not have the leverage that’s needed with the
pharma giants, which would drive prices even higher.
I’m sure, like in any industry, there are some bad actors, or at least some actors who have engaged in some brow-raising activities. Those entities should not escape punishment. That said, the overall net value of PBMs speaks for itself.
Even the FTC’s complaint admits PBMs pass on 90% to 98% of rebate dollars directly to their clients, as The Wall Street Editorial Board pointed out. Which raises the question: Did the Biden FTC even believe the arguments made in its own suit?
After all, Biden FTC Chair Lina Khan was not shy in intimidating that she was unconcerned about bringing weak cases to court. She believed that pursuing cases that wouldn’t stand legal scrutiny was important as a means of convincing the legislature to expand the law to her progressive liking.
Rather than taking the PBM case to federal court, the FTC led it in its own administrative court — meaning the agency felt compelled to act as both prosecutor and judge. If the commission wasn’t con dent that an independent judiciary would give the ruling it desired, that’s not a very encouraging sign.
All of this underscores the value of settling the PBM case, which is possible with Trump appointees now in charge at the FTC.
Taking this case o the FTC’s books and instead reaching a settlement with bad actors would protect consumers while preserving employers’ ability to hold the pharmaceutical company’s feet to the re.
Put another way, the FTC can punish any genuine misconduct while still keeping the buyers’ club that holds Big Pharma intact.
If Amazon or Walmart saw a deal that delivered lower prices for millions of Americans, they’d take it. Washington should too.
Joseph R. Pitts served as a member of the U.S. House from Pennsylvania. He chaired the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Health. This column was rst published by The Daily Signal.
How Trump’s FTC can keep drug prices down for working Americans
THE ARREST THIS WEEK of a suspect for starting the re that led to last January’s deadly Palisades wild re in Los Angeles came as no real surprise.
Arson was hinted at as early as February. People had previously been arrested for arson or arson has been suspected in connection with recent wild res in New Jersey, New York, California, Hawaii, Canada, Greece and other places. So when the Department of Justice announced during its press conference this week that evidence of arson developed early in the investigation, it came as no shock.
But the rst and last instinct of climate hoaxers is always to blame climate change. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) blamed climate change in an X post that garnered 18.5 million views on Jan 8.
The New York Times, “PBS News Hour,” Los Angeles Times, The Associated Press and Axios soon joined the bandwagon.
Leftover Biden sta ers in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the activist-researchers at World Weather Attribution, whose occupation is to blame bad weather on climate change, chimed in weeks later.
Most recently, the National Academy of Sciences used the Los Angeles wild res as part of its pretext for attacking the Trump EPA e ort to rescind the endangerment nding for greenhouse gases.
But it’s been obvious for at least 150 years that climate change has nothing to do with the January wild res. On Oct. 30, 1875, the Anaheim Gazette even warned readers of the exact same risky conditions that existed in January 2025: “The terrible con agration that occurred in Virginia City yesterday, with all its horror of a useless re department, because of a meager water supply, is what will happen some of these days to Anaheim.”
The paper continued: “Suppose a re should break out in some of our many re nests, which are too abundant now, or among closely packed wooden buildings at the inopportune time when a heavy sea breeze was blowing, or when our dreaded Santa Ana wind came upon us … what could be done?”
And that eerie warning from the past — from the failed re hydrants to the burn-ready buildings to the Santa Ana winds — is exactly what happened to Los Angeles in 2025 once the arsonist struck. No global warming needed. Nor is any warming even occurring in the area.
Los Angeles is actually cooler now than it was in the late 1950s per U.S. government data. Although it was unusually dry in Los Angeles County during September to December 2024, the precipitation trend during that same period has actually increased slightly since 1895, also per U.S. government data.
Blaming the Los Angeles wild res on global warming was always a lie and not a harmless one. The stock price of Edison International, the parent company of electric utility South California Edison, took a massive hit from which it has still not recovered, despite the stock market being at record highs and electricity demand exploding.
I don’t know whether the suspect arrested for setting the Palisades re will be found guilty. But I do know that “climate change” is not. Ahead of the Democratic primary for the 2020 election, Sanders said he wanted to criminally investigate fossil fuel executives for lying about climate change. This would be a good time for him to look in the mirror.
Steve Milloy is a biostatistician and lawyer. This column was rst published by Daily Caller News Foundation.
A settlement will immediately bene t consumers.
obituaries
Nellie Gray Overman
March 10, 1931 –Oct. 7, 2025
Nellie Gray Overman, 94, of Bear Creek went home to be with her Lord and Savior on Tuesday, October 7th, 2025, surrounded by her family at her home.
Mrs. Overman was born in Randolph County on March 10th, 1931, the daughter of George M. Gray and Lena Edwards Gray.
Nellie loved the Lord and was a long-time member of Tyson’s Creek Baptist church. Until her declining health, she was an active member of the Berean Sunday School Class and enjoyed going to the Senior Citizens activities. She worked many years in the textile industry, mostly at Kellwood and Ithaca Hosiery. She was an excellent seamstress and was an instructor for many of her positions. She later became a fulltime homemaker enjoying gardening, cooking, and working in the yard and planting owers. She set a great example to her children and instilled the importance of hard work. She was a loving wife, mother, Memaw, sister, neighbor, and friend. Her grandchildren and great grandchildren were precious to her and family times spent together will be memories we will all cherish.
Preceded in death by her parents, her husband of 62
William Lee Buckner
Dec. 7, 1941 – Oct. 8, 2025
William Lee Buckner, 83, of Siler City, went to his Heavenly home on Wednesday, October 8th, 2025, at his home surrounded by family.
William was born in Chatham County on December 7th, 1941, to the late Wren and Joyce Perry Buckner. He is preceded in death by his parents and his stepfather, P.D. Short.
William was a graduate of NC State University with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. After graduating, he worked in the textile industry as an engineer, then was the owner/operator of Metric Machine & Design Tool & Die, Inc. Additionally, he founded and operated M&M Temporary, a job placement agency in Sanford, NC. William and Kay married in 1962 and were together all through school. His love for Kay and his
years and the love of her life, Dean W. Overman; her brothers, Rufus, Robie, Ruben, Robert, and Tom; her sisters, Gracie, Elsie, Bertha, and Mary. She is survived by her three daughters, Carol Tucker of Siler City, NC (signi cant other, Al Justice) of Bennett, NC, Judy Callicutt (Johnny) of Bear Creek, NC, and Kay Brown (Mike) of Siler City, NC; and one son, Dean Overman, Jr. (Toni) of Pittsboro, NC; her grandchildren, Angela Oldham (Eric) of Bennett, NC, Adam Tucker (Ginna) of Thomasville, NC, Wesley Brown of Greensboro, NC, Christopher Callicutt (Salita) of Liberty, NC, Hannah Black (Travis) of Chapel Hill, NC; her great grandchildren, Elijah, Micah, and Judah Tucker, Johnathon and Carli Callicutt, and Mason and Bennett Black; her sister-inlaw, Shirley Gray; and her nieces and nephews.
The funeral service will be Saturday, October 11th, 2025, at 2:00 pm, at Tyson’s Creek Baptist Church Family Life Center and visitation will be prior to the service at 1:00 pm. Reverend Bob Wachs and Reverend Scott Walker will o ciate the service. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
The family will be at the family home on Friday afternoon receiving friends and family.
Nellie loved owers, but memorials can be made to Tyson’s Creek Baptist Church, 10981 Siler City Glendon Rd, Bear Creek, NC 27207, Liberty Health Care and Hospice, 401 E 3rd St, Siler City, NC 27344, or the Alzheimer Foundation, https://alzfdn.org/ donate/
The family would like to send a special thanks to the Liberty Health Care and Hospice Center, Monique, Katie, Sherry, and LeAnn. Smith & Buckner Funeral Home will be assisting the Overman family. Online condolences can be made at www.smithbucknerfh. com
family never went unnoticed.
William was very creative and enjoyed painting and reading. He was an avid golfer and took pride in his two aces. He was o ered a walk on position for NC State Basketball during his time there which he was proud of.
William was always working on some kind of project. He loved building and making things. He also was a dog lover and enjoyed walking Hickory Mountain every day. He attended Sapling Ridge Methodist Church.
William is survived by his wife of 63 years, Virginia Kay Fox Buckner of the home; his daughter, Annette Buckner Hall and her husband, Douglas Lee Hall, Jr. of Apex, NC; his son, Benjamin Henry Buckner of Siler City; his sister, Durene Short Phillips and her husband, Lynn of Siler City; and his three grandchildren, Mattie Kay Buckner, Benjamin Henry Buckner II, and Maris Hall DeBruhl.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, October 18th, 2025, at 2 PM, at South Fork Friends Church with Reverend Jason Dickerson o ciating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. Memorials may be made in William’s name to the Dementia Foundation, https://alzfdn.org/ donate/ Smith & Buckner Funeral Home will be assisting the Buckner family. Online condolences can be made at www.smithbucknerfh. com
Norma Lee Burgess Burke
Aug. 23, 1933 –Oct. 10, 2025
Norma Lee Burgess Burke, 92 of Bear Creek, passed away peacefully on Friday, October 10, 2025, at Chatham Hospital.
Norma was born on August 23, 1933, in Randolph County, NC to Mitchell and Lessie Stout
IN MEMORY
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Burgess. Norma was a graduate of Ramseur School and worked at Kaiser Roth for 21 years.
Norma loved being at home, taking care of her garden and owers. She enjoyed doing word searches, sweeping leaves, and getting the mail. Norma was a long-time member at Sandy Branch Baptist Church where she led and directed many Christmas programs, sang in the choir, taught Sunday School, and spent many years leading the youth. Norma loved to cook for her family and was known for her biscuits, turnip greens, sweet potato casserole, dressing, and her famous German chocolate cake as well as many other delicious desserts. In addition to her parents, Norma is preceded in death by her husband of 66 years, Stout Burke; brothers, Paul, Boyd, and Buck Burgess; and her sisters, Maxine Ward, Geraldine York, and Doris Burgess.
Norma is survived by her children, William Michael Burke (Sharon) of Garner and Melinda Burke Overton (Je ) of Apex; grandchildren, Kala Brown (Steven), Kristen Herring, Ti any Hales (Zac), and Kyle Overton; great grandchildren, Levi, Kallie, Jaxson, Stout, and Adleigh. Norma will lie in repose on Wednesday, October 15, 2025, from 12:00pm – 12:50pm at Sandy Branch Baptist Church, 715 Sandy Branch Church Rd., Bear Creek. The funeral service will follow at 1:00pm with Dr. Rob Roberts and Pastor Jimmy Brown o ciating. Burial will take place at the conclusion of the service in the church cemetery, and the family will receive guests in the church fellowship hall afterwards. Memorials may be made in Norma’s honor to Sandy Branch Baptist Church, 715 Sandy Branch Church Rd., Bear Creek, NC 27207.
ROY LEE “BUG” GODFREY
JUNE 14, 1952 – OCT. 4, 2025
Roy Lee “Bug” Godfrey, 73, of Olivia, North Carolina, passed away peacefully at his home on Saturday October 4, 2025.
Born on June 14, 1952, in Lee County, NC, Roy was the son of the late David H. Godfrey and Lillian Francis Bean Godfrey. A lifelong resident of the area, Roy was known for his love of the outdoors, particularly hunting and raising his beloved fox dogs. He took great pride in running his fox pen in Lee County and found joy in simply listening to the dogs run and hunt. Roy also enjoyed catching up with friends over the phone and sharing stories from the past.
A skilled carpenter by trade, Roy spent most of his life building homes throughout Lee County.
Roy was preceded in death by his parents, his son Keith Godfrey, and his Brother David Allen Godfrey.
He is survived by his loving wife, Dorothy; his son Randy Godfrey and wife Kristie; grandsons Colby and Austin Godfrey; sister Anne Jones (late husband Jimmy); brothers Bill Godfrey (Robin), Tom Godfrey (Cindy), and Donald Ray Godfrey.
RALPH KELLY SLOAN
OCT. 7, 2025
Ralph Kelly Sloan, 88, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, October 7, 2025, at home.
Ralph was the son of Frank Creech and Mary Patterson Sloan. Along with his parents, he was preceded in death by his brothers Frank Sloan, Lewis Sloan, and Bobby Sloan, as well as his sister Doris Norris.
He joined the Navy and proudly served his country. Ralph was proud to be a Veteran.
Ralph married the love of his life, Patricia (Ann) Marsh Sloan. They were married for 39 years before she passed in 2003. He later lost his furry friend, Zipper.
Ralph loved everyone. He would give you the shirt o his back and his last dollar to anyone in need. He worked for 40 years at Robert’s Company/Whitin Robert’s.
Ralph is survived by his daughter, Tammy Rogers, and son-in-law, Keith, whom he considered his son; his son, Rodney Sloan (“Tater”) and friend, Sherry; and his sisters, Eva Sloan Coleman and Loraine Sloan Womack. He is also survived by his only grandson, whom he adored, Garrett Lewis, and Garrett’s wife, Kimberly. Ralph was so proud of Garrett and Kimberly—he loved them dearly. In addition, he is survived by his grand pets: Junior, Edison, and Lupin, as well as many nieces and nephews.
JEFFREY CAMERON MCLEOD
NOV. 8, 1968 – OCT. 4, 2025
Je rey Cameron McLeod, age 56 of Sanford, passed away on Saturday (10/4/2025). He was born on November 8, 1968, son of the late John McLeod and Shelby Jean McNeill McLeod. He was preceded in death by his parents, sister, Susan Louise McLeod, and his twin infant sister. He was a member of First Baptist Church and participated in the Sonshine Group. Je rey attended Floyd Knight School, loved to eat and especially enjoyed going to church every Wednesday and Sunday. He also participated at LCI for many years, volunteered at Divine Finds, loved math and scavenger hunts. Je rey was a resident at the Easter Seals Port Health of Lee County for fteen years and the residents there became his family. He is survived by his aunts, Bonnie Gaster of Broadway, NC and Judy Cox of Sanford, NC; special cousins, Linda and Chris Rhodes of Sanford, NC, Greg and Tammy Kelly of Broadway, NC, Kelli and Jimbo Rattz of the US Virgin Islands and Nicole and Craig McKeithan of Goldston, NC. A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, (10/8/2025) at 3:00pm at First Baptist Church in Sanford with Rev. Brian Caldwell o ciating. Family and friends may pay their respects at the Easter Seals Group Home or at the home of Bonnie Gaster. Following the memorial service, the family will greet friends at the church fellowship hall. The family would like to thank Chris and the sta of the Easter Seals Home for the love and care given to Je during his time there and to the sta at LCI for their years of guidance and care. Thank you also to Kathy and the Sta of Divine Finds for always supporting Je , and the residents of the home.
Celebrate the life of your loved ones. Submit obituaries and death notices to be published in Stanly News Journal at obits@chathamrecord.com
Duke researchers receive $15M grant to expand AI model to predict mental illness
The model will be trialed with 2,000 adolescents at rural health clinics
By William Gim The Chronicle via AP
DURHAM — A team at Duke University has secured a $15 million federal grant to expand an arti cial intelligence model designed to predict mental illness in adolescents.
The Duke Predictive Model of Adolescent Mental Health (Duke-PMA), co-developed by professors Jonathan Posner and Matthew Engelhard and AI health fellow Elliot Hill, is an AI-based tool that assesses factors related to adolescent mental health.
The model is used to predict who is most likely to develop a mental illness within a year. It also identi es the key factors driving those predictions, o ering the potential to guide targeted preventive interventions.
“In the way that psychiatry is currently practiced, it tends to be reactive, meaning we wait until someone’s developed a psychiatric illness and then we institute treatment,” Posner said.
“So (the model) would really be a paradigm change in psychiatry from a reactive to a proactive approach.”
The model achieved 84% ac-
curacy in identifying adolescents of ages 10 to 15 who are at risk for future serious mental health issues and maintained consistent performance across socioeconomic status, race and sex. This accuracy was achieved using only questionnaires, instead of expensive imaging or blood tests, making the model a highly scalable and accessible assessment tool.
The model maintained high accuracy when limited to factors that can be directly in uenced through clinician intervention, such as sleep disturbances and family conict. Its results could o er cli-
nicians actionable insights to guide prevention and intervention strategies before illness develops.
“So a patient comes into their clinic, they do this quick assessment, and then the primary care doctor gets a report saying, ‘This child in front of me has a 90% chance of developing an illness within a year, and these are the factors that are driving that prediction,’” Posner said.
Securing the $15 million federal grant marks a turning point in the project’s development. “This is exactly the pathway to get it in (the clinicians’) hands
“This type of research would not be possible unless you had people from lots of di erent disciplines collaborating together.”
Jonathan Posner, Duke professor
and actually identify people early and connect them with services and support that can hopefully bend that trajectory,” Engelhard said.
The next phase of the project will enroll 2,000 adolescents from rural clinics in North Carolina, Minnesota and North Dakota.
“We wanted to go to places where the resources for mental health care are pretty limited across the board,” Posner said. “Having an automated tool like this, while it would be helpful virtually anywhere, would be particularly helpful in a rural setting, which doesn’t have the mental health resources that you’d see in an urban clinic.”
The team will conduct an observational study, using the Duke-PMA to assess participants and generate predictions.
Families will be recontacted a
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Park Southern Village, as well as capacity expansion. Sta also included various facility improvements in the plan, such as playground updates, scoreboard replacements, marquee signage replacements and landscaping improvements.
The prioritized list will be sent to the Board of Commissioners for nal approval.
“What you’re seeing tonight is the proposal that will be sent to the county manager, who will in turn, take it to the county commissioners to consider for funding,” said Assistant Superintendent of Operations Chris Blice. “This is just simply a proposal.”
The board then approved a MOU with Chatham Living Well Earth Stewards for a joint partnership related to its CTE curriculum.
The MOU will allow students taking construction classes at Jordan-Matthews, Northwood and Seaforth high schools to have the opportunity to construct a 400-to-660-squarefoot tiny home over the course of the semester.
“This particular endeavor will allow them some environmental educational tools that they haven’t been privy to be-
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Dec. 31, 2026,” said Assistant Town Manager Kimberly Pickard. “They knew that this wasn’t going to be possible as they’ve seen a slowing of the housing market as well as an increase in the cost of materials, and so they came back to us wishing to use the termination clause in their agreement.”
year later for detailed psychiatric evaluations to determine whether the model’s predictions prove accurate.
The use of arti cial intelligence in medicine may spark both excitement and unease, particularly when applied to sensitive areas like adolescent mental health. For one, to address the risk of false positives, Hill emphasized that Duke-PMA is designed as a supportive tool, not a replacement for clinical judgment.
“We’re very serious about protecting patients’ privacy, both in the context of the study that we’re doing, as well as more broadly, going forward,” Engelhard said. “And so this is information that would be between you and your care providers.”
This approach attempts to balance innovation with caution, enhancing care while preserving essential human presence during clinical judgment.
“This type of research would not be possible unless you had people from lots of di erent disciplines collaborating together. … I think Duke is unusually well positioned for that type of work,” Posner said.
This story was originally published by The Chronicle at Duke University and distributed through a partnership with The Associated Press.
fore and very purposeful skill development,” said Executive Director of CTE Michelle Burton. “They will work in tandem with a licensed general contractor, plumbers and electricians, and each of these houses will be built on the campus of the high school. And then at the end of the year, the houses will be moved and nished by professionals.”
The partnership has been ongoing for several years, and previously constructed houses have even housed local families.
“Last year, one of our houses was actually planted in one of our communities, and there is a family living in it now,’ Burton said.
The board also approved an MOU with the YMCA of the Triangle for the Y Learning Program.
“Through an award of the 21st Century Learning Grant, the YMCA of the Triangle will provide after-school academic services at Virginia Cross Elementary,” said Chief of Student Services Tracy Fowler. “It will be available to their students, as well as students from Siler City Elementary and Silk Hope.”
The Chatham County Schools Board of Education will next meet Nov. 3.
The project was anticipated to bring in just under $40 million of total investment into the area, as well as 157 full-time jobs.
Finally, the board will hold a public hearing on Nov. 17 for public input on the potential closure of Utility Drive.
The Siler City Board of Commissioners will next meet Oct. 20.
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EMERY P. DALESIO / AP PHOTO
Duke University Hospital is part of the Duke University Medical Center in Durham.
REAL ESTATE
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YARD SALE
Clearance Sale
Carbonton Community Center 6953 Carbonton Road (Hwy 42 West) Sanford N.C. 27330
Friday October 17
7:00am-6:00pm ONE DAY ONLY
Everything 50-75% OFF
51 Years of Marriage Downsizing Yard Sale –8am – 12pm, Sat., Oct.18th
2161 Ed Clapp Rd., Siler City – tools, Christmas, housewares, etc. 1tp
4215 ALSTON BRIDGE RD., SILER CITY – FRI. 8am until and Sat. 8am – 12pm.
Lots of household items and clothes and a little bit of everything!
TAKE NOTICE
attorney (address below). If you do not notify the court in writing that you wish to retain any parental rights you may have, those parental rights will be terminated upon the entry of the decree of adoption. You are entitled to attend any hearing a ecting your parental rights, and you may present evidence in court that the adoption is not in the best interests of the adoptee. If you do not respond within forty (40) days of the publication of this notice, you will not be able to participate in the adoption proceeding, and you will receive no further notice of the proceeding, including notice of the time and place of any hearing. You may call the Special Proceedings o ce of the Clerk of Superior Court of Chatham County, at (919)545-3500 for further information.
This publication begins the 2nd day of October, 2025.
Signed, Derrick J. Hensley, Attorney for Petitioner 401 Meadowlands Drive, Suite 201, Hillsborough, NC 27278 (919)480-1999 PUBLISHED: 10/02/25, 10/9/25, 10/16/25
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY
FILE#25E000490-180
The undersigned, BEATRICE BARON, having quali ed on the 12th Day of SEPTEMBER, 2025 as EXECUTOR of the Estate of BEATRICE CANTIN, 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 16THDay 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 16TH DAY OF JANUARY 2026.
BEATRICE BARON, EXECUTOR 121 ANGEL WAY CHAPEL HILL, NC 27516
*SONYA LINTON MAGNOLIA LEGAL 3001 ACADEMY RD., SUITE 120 DURHAM, NC 27705
Run dates: O16,23,30,N6p
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Having quali ed as Executor of the Estate of Sandra Portnoy Hirschman, deceased, late of Chatham County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons, rms, and corporations having claims against the decedent to present them to the undersigned on or before January 16, 2026, 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 16th day of October, 2025.
Daniel Hirschman, Executor of the Estate of Sandra Portnoy Hirschman 13001 Droughton Court Chapel Hill, NC 27517
Notice of Public Hearings
Town of Siler City The following items will be considered by the Siler City Board of Commissioners as legislative hearings. The hearings will be conducted during the Board of Commissioner’s regular meeting on Monday October 20, 2025, beginning at 6:30 p.m. in the court room located in the Siler City Town Hall at 311 N. 2nd Ave. Legislative Public Hearings
CASE R25-0901: Request for Major Modi cation of previous Conditional Zoning Approval by applicant, CE Group, Inc, on behalf of the property owner Tim’s Farm & Forestry II, LLC. The modi cation request includes revisions to the approved conditions, development layout, and the uses permitted within the development. The property is identi ed as Parcel 13136 and 80302 and is located on West Third Street.
CASE R25-0902: Everest Park, LLC is requesting a Conditional Rezoning of approximately 27.17 acres from Agricultural – Residential (A-R) to the Agricultural – Residential – Conditional (A-R-C) zoning district for a proposed major subdivision with cluster option consisting of 18 single family residential lots and accessory recreational uses. The property is identi ed as Parcel Number 13858 by the Chatham County Tax Department.
CASE R25-0903: Ellis Development Group, on behalf of the property owners, is requesting a Conditional Rezoning of approximately 134.70 acres from Agricultural – Residential (A-R) and Residential 10 (R10) to the Residential 3 – Conditional (R-3-C) zoning district for a proposed major subdivision consisting of 371 residential units in a mix of detached single family residential lots and townhomes. The property is identi ed as Parcel Numbers 13797, 67887, 13796, 13782 and 83901 by the Chatham County Tax Department.
These items were reviewed by the Siler City Planning Board at their September 8, 2025, regular meeting. The proposed item is available for review by contacting Tim Garner at tgarner@silercity.gov or 919-726-8628. All persons interested in the outcome of this item are invited to attend the legislative hearing and present comments, testimony, and exhibits on the above referenced item. Interested parties may also submit written comments. Written comments can be submitted by email to tgarner@silercity.gov. Individuals desiring to speak may sign up by registering their name and information on the sign-up sheet, located outside the entry doors to the court room. The Town of Siler City will make appropriate arrangements to 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
STATE OF NORTH CARONLINA, CHATHAM COUNTY THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE, SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF ) ) FILE NO. 24E001684-180 ROBERT MICHAEL WELCH, ) Deceased.
)
ADMINISTRATOR NOTICE
Having quali ed as Executor/Administrator of the Estate of Robert Michael Welch, deceased, late of Carlsbad, New Mexico, this is to notify all persons having claims against the Estate of said deceased to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before December 31, 2025 (90 days date) or this notice will be plead in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate will please make immediate settlement. This the 2nd day of October, 2025. (1st Thursday Publication Date) Steven Michael Welch 1202 N. Shore Drive Carlsbad, NM 88220
CREDITOR’S NOTICE
Having quali ed on the 1st day of October 2025, as Administrator of the Estate of Shannon Lee BaileyHill, deceased, late of Chatham County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against the decedent to exhibit the same to the undersigned on or before the 9th day of January, 2026, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons, rms and corporations indebted to the estate should make immediate payment. This is the 2nd day of October 2025. Ariel Clower, Administrator of the Estate of Shannon Lee Bailey-Hill 19429 Elkhart Street Harper Woods, MI 48225
Attorneys: Law O ces of Doster & Brown, P.A. 206 Hawkins Avenue Sanford, NC 27330
Publish On: October 9th, 16th,23rd and 30th 2025. NOTICE
Chatham County Public Hearing Notice
The Chatham County Board of Commissioners will hold a public hearing to receive input on the requested for Chatham County to participate in the Commercial Property Assessed Capital Expenditure (C-PACE) program authorized by the State Legislature to provide commercial property owners a low-cost, long term nancing mechanism to fund qualifying energy e ciency, water conservation, renewable energy, and resiliency improvements to their properties on Monday, October 20, 2025, beginning at 6:00 p.m. at the Historic Courthouse located at 9 Hillsboro Street, Pittsboro NC 27312. Speakers are requested to sign up prior to the hearing on the county website or by contacting the Clerk to the Board at 919-542-8200 or boc.clerk@ chathamcountync.gov. If you have any questions or comments concerning the C-PACE program, please call the Chatham County Environmental Quality Director at 919-545-7875 or write to P.O. Box 1550, Pittsboro N.C. 27312.
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Having quali ed as Personal Representative of the Estate of FRADYA SARAH BLUESTEIN, deceased of Chatham County, North Carolina, on the 18th day of September, 2025, the undersigned does hereby notify all persons, rms, and corporations having claims against said estate to exhibit them to the undersigned at the o ce of the attorney for the estate on or before the 27th day of December, 2025, or this Notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned. This 25th day of September, 2024. John Michael Cullen, Personal Representative, c/o Anthony D. Nicholson, Attorney for the estate, McPherson, Rocamora, Nicholson & Hinkle, PLLC, 3211 Shannon Road, Suite 400, Durham, NC 27707. September 25, October 2, 9, 16 2025
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Having quali ed as Personal Representative of the Estate of LINVILLE GARNER, deceased, 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: 1917 BERNARD PURVIS RD BENNETT NC 27208 on or before the 5th day of JANUARY, 2026, 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 the 30th day of SEPTEMBER, 2025.
LARRY MATTHEW SAUNDERS
Personal Representative For the Estate of LINVILLE GARNER Frank C. Thigpen Thigpen and Jenkins, LLP
Attorney for Estate PO Box 792 Robbins, North Carolina 27325
PUBLICATION DATES: October 2, 2025
October 9, 2025 October 16, 2025 October 23, 2025
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
North Carolina Chatham County File#25E000502-180
The undersigned, Helen Frazier having quali ed on the 10th day of September 2025 as EXECUTOR of the ESTATE of JUDITH RAYMOND BOYKIN, deceased, of Chatham County, North Carolina, does hereby notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against said Estate to exhibit them to her on or before the 26th day of December 2025, or this notice will be in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned this the 25th day of September 2025.
Please publish the above notice on September 25, October 2nd, 9th and 16th 2025.
NOTICE OF SALE
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF CHATHAM ACE SELF STORAGE, PURSUANT TO NORTH CAROLINA GENERAL STATUTES, CHAPTER 44A, SHALL CONDUCT A PUBLIC SALE OF THE UNITS LISTED BELOW AT IT’S FACILITY LOCATED AT 105 WEST FIFTH STREET, SILER CITY, NC AT 11:00AM ON OCTOBER 30, 2025 WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO WITHDRAW ANY UNITS FROM THE SALE. ALL SALES WILL BE CASH TO THE HIGHEST BIDDER.
B-1 BARRY EDWARDS B-2A BARRY EDWARDS B-2B BARRY EDWARDS B-2C BARRY EDWARDS B-21B FRANKLIN BROWN B-13 BLAINE FIELDS B-21A NIKKI GOLDSTON B-8 JEFF HARRIS B4D PAUL JONES B-20 EARNEST ROSEBORO
NOTICE
NORTH CAROLINA NOTICE TO CREDITORS CHATHAM COUNTY
HAVING QUALIFIED as Administrator of the Estate of Billy Gene Brewer late of Chatham County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against the estate of said deceased to present them to the undersigned on or before the 27th day of December, 2025, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. This the 18th day of September, 2025.
Patricia S. Brewer, Administrator of The Estate of Billy Gene Brewer 5 Bennett-Siler City Road Siler City, NC 27344 MOODY, WILLIAMS, ATWATER & LEE
ATTORNEYS AT LAW BOX 629 SILER CITY, NORTH CAROLINA 27344 (919) 663-2850 4tp
NOTICE
NORTH CAROLINA NOTICE TO CREDITORS CHATHAM COUNTY
HAVING QUALIFIED as Administrator of the Estate of Charlene Margaret Gaddy late of Chatham County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against the estate of said deceased to present them to the undersigned on or before the 15th day of January, 2026, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery.
This the 7th day of October, 2025. Charles David Elder, Administrator of The Estate of Charlene Margaret Gaddy 4428 Huntsman Court Castle Hayne, North Carolina 28429 MOODY, WILLIAMS, ATWATER & LEE
ATTORNEYS AT LAW BOX 629 SILER CITY, NORTH CAROLINA 27344 (919) 663-2850 4tp
EXECUTOR’S NOTICE TO CREDITORS
NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY All persons having claims against the estate of Anhelica Maria Mata, of Chatham County, NC, who died on October 6, 2024, are noti ed to present them on or before December 25, 2025 to David Plowman, Administrator, c/o Maitland & Sti er Law Firm, 2 Couch Road, Chapel Hill, NC 27514, or this Notice will be pleaded in bar of recovery.
Michele L. Sti er MAITLAND & STIFFLER LAW FIRM 2 Couch Road Chapel Hill, NC 27514 Attorney for the Estate
NOTICE TO CREDITORS STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF CHATHAM File Number 25E000558-180 Having quali ed as Executor of the Estate of D.
GABRIELLE BROUILLETTE, deceased, late of Chatham County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against the estate of said deceased to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before the 16th day of January, 2026, 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. This the 16th day of October, 2025. Executor for the Estate Joseph J. DeGeorge 140 Bell Flower Court Chapel Hill, NC 27516 Attorney for the Executor
Jennifer C. Noble N.C. Bar No. 33481 230 N. Elm Street, Suite 1200 Greensboro, NC 27401
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
NORTH CAROLINA
CHATHAM COUNTY
25E000546-180
All persons, rms, and corporations having claims against Mary H. Hodges, deceased, late of Huntington, West Virginia, are noti ed to exhibit the same to the undersigned on or before the 12th day of January, 2026, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of recovery. Debtors of the decedent are asked to make immediate payment.
This the 9th day of October 2025. Audy M. Perry, Jr., Ancillary Executor c/o Hemphill Gelder, PC PO Box 97035 Raleigh, NC 27624-7035
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
NORTH CAROLINA
CHATHAM COUNTY
25E000472-180
ALL persons having claims against Judith-Ann Leporino, deceased, late of Chatham County, North Carolina, are noti ed to exhibit the same to the undersigned on or before Jan 02 2026, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of recovery. Debtors of the decedent are asked to make immediate payment. This the 2nd day of October, 2025.
RENEE EASTMAN, Executor C/O Lenfestey, Maxie & Burger, PLLC 5640 Dillard Drive, Suite 101 Cary, North Carolina 27518 O2, 9, 16 and 23
NORTH CAROLINA
CHATHAM COUNTY
NOTICE
GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION 24CV0000235-180 TO: UNKNOWN HEIRS OF GAITHER RODGERS, SR; UNKNOWN HEIRS OF FREEMAN THOMAS RODGERS
Take notice that pleadings seeking relief against you have been led in the above-entitled civil action. The nature of the relief being sought is for the condemnation and appropriation, for highway purposes, of a certain interests or estates in that certain parcel of land lying and being in Center Township, Chatham County, North Carolina and being more particularly described as follows: Being that land identi ed as part of the Estate of Lillie Freeman Rodgers as set forth in the Estate of Lillie Freeman Rodgers, 83-E-213, Chatham County Clerk of Superior Court. Also, being that land identi ed as Tax Parcel ID No. 0075052 (PIN No. 9742-82-2831)
containing approximately 1.300 acres and described as “K5-78K” and being located on the west side of Hillsboro Street/US Highway 15-501 immediately north of 50 Dark Oaks Drive, Pittsboro, NC, as is shown in the Chatham County Tax O ce. You are hereby required to make defense to such pleadings not later than the 18th day of November, 2026, and upon your failure to do so, the party seeking service against you will apply to the Court for the relief sought. This the 9th day of October, 2025.
JEFF JACKSON
Attorney General Lisa B. Finkelstein
Assistant Attorney General North Carolina Department of Justice 1505 Mail Service Center Raleigh, N.C. 27699-1505
Phone: (919) 707-4480 O9, 16 and 23
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY
25E000548-180 ALL persons having claims against Sandra Kay Wicker Cameron, deceased, late of Chatham County, North Carolina, are noti ed to exhibit the same to the undersigned on or before Jan 16 2026, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of recovery. Debtors of the decedent are asked to make immediate payment. This the 16th day of October, 2025.
JOHN B. CAMERON, III, Executor C/O Privette Legacy Planning 1400 Crescent Green, Suite G-100 Cary, NC 27518 O16, 23, 30 and 6
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY
FILE#25E000341-180
The undersigned, JO ANNE RUSSO AND JULIE C. RUDOWSKI, having quali ed on the 14TH Day of JULY, 2025 as ADMINISTRATORS of the Estate of BRENDA GRAHAM DOWLING, deceased, of Chatham County, North Carolina, does hereby notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against said Estate to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before the 16TH Day JANUARY 2026, 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 16TH DAY OF OCTOBER 2025. JO ANNE RUSSO, ADMINISTRATOR 1113 RUSSET LANE APEX, NC 27523
*MAIL TO: JULIE C. RUDOWSKI, ADMINISTRATOR 10520 SABLEWOOD DRIVE #103 RALEIGH, NC 27617
Run dates: O16,23,30,N6p
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA
CHATHAM COUNTY
FILE#25E000542-180
The undersigned, RACHEL MITCHELL, having quali ed on the 29TH Day of SEPTEMBER, 2025 as EXECUTOR of the Estate of GERALDINE WALSER, deceased, of Chatham County, North Carolina, does hereby notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against said Estate to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before the 9TH Day JANUARY 2026, 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 9TH DAY OF OCTOBER 2025.
The undersigned, JOANNE ALSTON AND JUDY C. REAVES, having quali ed on the 16TH Day of SEPTEMBER, 2025 as CO-ADMINISTRATORS of the Estate of HAYWOOD AL REAVES, deceased, of Chatham County, North Carolina, does hereby notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against said Estate to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before the 2nd Day JANUARY 2026, 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 2ND DAY OF OCTOBER 2025. *JOANNE ALSTON, CO-ADMINISTRATOR 45 DAISY SCURLOCK RD. MONCURE, NC 27559
JUDY C. REAVES, CO-ADMINISTRATOR 283 PINECREST DR. BEAR CREEK, NC 27207 Run dates: O2,9,16,23p
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY
FILE#25E000545-180
The undersigned, MICHAEL P ROULEAU, having quali ed on the 1ST Day of OCTOBER, 2025 as EXECUTOR of the Estate of PATRICIA JOAN PAIT, deceased, of Chatham County, North Carolina, does hereby notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against said Estate to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before the 16TH Day JANUARY 2026, 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 16TH DAY OF OCTOBER 2025.
MICHAEL P ROULEAU, EXECUTOR 209 PARKGATE DRIVE CARY, NC 27519 Run dates: O16,23,30,N6p
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM NEWS
FILE#25000500-180 The undersigned, CAROLINE WOOD, having quali ed on the 10TH Day of SEPTEMBER, 2025 as ADMINISTRATOR of the Estate of SUSAN WOOD, deceased, of CHATHAM COUNTY, North Carolina, does hereby notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against said Estate to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before the 2ND Day JANUARY, 2026, 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 2ND DAY OF OCTOBER 2025. CAROLINE WOOD, ADMINISTRATOR 1321 #2 CHILDS DRIVE HILLSBOROUGH, NC 27278 Run dates: O2,9,16,23p
NOTICE
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF CHATHAM NOTICE TO CREDITORS Having quali ed as Executor of the Estate of Wayne Paul Powers, a/k/a Wayne P. Powers, a/k/a Wayne Powers, 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 address
ed companies to provide janitorial services for city owned buildings in the TriRiver Water service area. After the selection and award, selected rms will submit pricing proposals. This Request for Quali cations and others can be found on the TriRiver Water “Bid Opportunity” webpage at https://www.tririverwater.com/Bids. aspx?CatID=17, or companies may call 919-777-1122 for the quali cation requirements. Submittals are due by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, October 24, 2025.
NOTICE
State e ort wipes out $6.5B in medical debt for 2.5M people
The project o ers hospitals increased Medicaid reimbursement to forgive debt
By Gary D. Robertson
The Associated Press
RALEIGH — More than 2.5 million North Carolina residents are getting over $6.5 billion in medical debt eliminated through a state government e ort that offered hospitals extra Medicaid funds from Washington if they gave low- and middle-income patients the nancial relief and implemented policies to discourage future liabilities.
Democratic Gov. Josh Stein, the state health department secretary and other o cials announced Monday results so far from what then-Gov. Roy Cooper unveiled 15 months ago as a rst-of-its-kind initiative.
While helping almost one-quarter of North Carolina residents, Stein said the effort has exceeded expectations in giving individuals and families a second chance to succeed nancially after medical crises. O cials previously estimated it could help about 2 million people get rid of $4 billion in debt. The debt that had been held by hospitals, and are usually difcult to recover, will be pulled from credit reports, the governor said.
“This is life-changing news for so many families,” Stein said, adding that recipients on average will have $2,600 erased. “No one chooses to have
a heart attack or get diagnosed with a chronic condition — you just have to deal with it. Today’s announcement will free people from the nancial stress so that they can focus on getting healthy.” Another news conference speaker described patients who avoided services or threatened to halt treatments to prevent more debt from accumulating on themselves or their family.
Hospitals that agreed to participate have already alerted many patients to tell them their debt is essentially canceled, state health o cials said Monday. And Undue Medical Debt, a national group working on the e ort and taking over some hospital liabilities, plans to send 255,000 notices this week to other recipients.
The e ort germinated from what’s called the Healthcare Access and Stabilization Program, which state legislators approved in 2023 at the same time as expanded Medicaid coverage to working adults who couldn’t otherwise qualify for conventional Medicaid. Hospitals pay assessments to draw down billions of dollars in federal money.
The state Department of Health and Human Services last year proposed that certain hospitals could receive higher program reimbursement levels to treat Medicaid enrollees if they agreed to medical debt initiatives. The federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services signed o on the plan details, and by Au-
tain debt collection practices.
Today’s announcement will free people from the nancial stress so that they can focus on getting healthy.”
Gov. Josh Stein
gust 2024 each of the roughly 100 acute - care, rural or university-connected hospitals that quali ed decided to participate.
Under rules previously announced, the hospitals had to eliminate medical debt going back to early 2014 for patients who are Medicaid enrollees. They also would later have to eliminate other debt for nonenrollees based on income levels. And the hospitals were directed to discourage debt by doing things like automatically enrolling people in charity care programs or curbing cer-
The $6.5 billion gure includes debt relieved directly through the initiative and through hospital policy changes to implement it, Stein’s o ce said.
Other state and local governments have tapped into federal American Rescue Plan funds to help purchase and cancel residents’ debt. Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs announced in July that $429 million in medical debt had been erased for more than 352,000 state residents.
“North Carolina’s approach is completely unique,” said Jose Penabad, the Undue Medical Debt vice chair. Several states are following North Carolina’s use of Medicaid incentives closely, he added.
North Carolina debt eradication exceeded initial estimates in part because patients outside the population being targeted also had their debt eliminated, Stein said. Hospitals, for example, sometimes have eliminat-
ed debt for patients incurred at associated physician practices, said Jonathan Kappler, a state deputy health secretary. More debt will be eliminated in the future, he added.
State health secretary Dr. Dev Sangvai, told reporters the law approved by Congress in July that made cuts and policy changes to Medicaid won’t immediately a ect the debt elimination initiative.
Some hospitals were initially hesitant about the debt relief initiative because new requirements were being placed upon the reimbursements, Cooper said last year. The North Carolina Healthcare Association, which lobbies for nonpro t and for-pro t hospitals, said Monday in a statement that it’s concerned “recent and proposed government policies could add nancial pressures” that prevent hospitals from expanding programs to help low-income patients.
GARY D. ROBERTSON / AP PHOTO
Gov. Josh Stein, center, anked by Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Dev Sangvai, left, and Undue Medical Debt Vice Chair Jose Penabad, speaks about the elimination of medical debt at the Executive Mansion on Monday.
CHATHAM SPORTS
Northwood beats Jordan-Matthews
Mickell Wilson led the Chargers’ pass rush in the 33-12 victory
By Asheebo Rojas Chatham News & Record
PITTSBORO — Northwood’s homecoming weekend got started with a back eld party.
Senior defensive lineman Mickell Wilson recorded ve of Northwood’s (2-5) 13 sacks in a dominant 33-12 over Jordan-Matthews (5-3) on Friday.
The Chargers, who forced four straight punts to start the game, nished the night with 29 tackles for loss. Sophomore Aidan Girard and senior Ben Porter also recorded multiple
sacks as Wilson nished the game with a team-high seven tackles for loss.
“It was really just the energy,” Wilson said. “Just being hyped up all game. We bring the energy, we just play better.”
Said Northwood coach Dalton Brown, “Defense played fast, played physical. They had a good week of practice versus scout team and were rocking and rolling tonight.”
Down two key running backs in Robert Tripp and Leo Mortimer due to injury, Northwood still found a way to pick up big gains against the Jets’ defense.
Senior quarterback Grayson Cox, who lined up at running back on certain plays, led the way with 96 yards and
two scores on the ground. Cox capped o the Chargers’ productive rst drive with a 2-yard touchdown run for a 7-0 lead, and in the second quarter, he put his team up two scores with a 1-yard trip to the end zone. As a passer, Cox completed 8 of 13 passes for 114 yards and a score. His 35-yard touchdown pitch to wide open junior Nick Armstrong was the knockout punch as it put Northwood ahead 33-6 early in the fourth quarter.
Junior receiver Raje Torres, who lined up at quarterback several times during the game, logged 68 yards and a score on the ground. After a bad Jordan-Matthews snap went out the back of its own end zone, giving Northwood a 19-6
Daisy Collins dons Texas gear, showing where she’ll swim on the college level.
“They had a good week of practice versus scout team and were rocking and rolling tonight.” Dalton Brown, Northwood coach
lead in the third quarter, Torres’ 11-yard touchdown run on the ensuing possession but the Chargers ahead by three scores.
“We’ve had two, three really good, solid weeks of practice,” Cox said. “We’ve been stacking days, just going after it day after day. The O-line, kudos to them. They had some push tonight. They played really well.”
Arguably the most import-
ant Northwood possession of the night came just before the half.
Senior quarterback Kamarie Hadley hit sophomore receiver Nolan Mitchell for a 45-yard score to bring the Jets within one possession with under two minutes left in the second quarter. Cox completed multiple passes to march the Chargers within the Jets’ 5-yard line, but a holding penalty brought them back to the 14 with four seconds left on the clock. Following what Brown said was Northwood’s rst successful two-minute drill this season, the Chargers turned to junior Campbell Parks, lling in the
FOOTBALL ROUNDUP
Collins commits to Texas after making USA Swimming roster
The local swimmer will join one of the country’s top programs
By Asheebo Rojas Chatham News & Record
IT’S BEEN QUITE the month for Woods Charter junior Daisy Collins. Weeks after making the 2025 USA Swimming National Team, Collins committed to Texas on Oct. 5. The three -time NCHSAA state
champion will join one of the most storied swimming programs in the country as the Longhorn women have won seven national championships and nished as national runners-up from 2022-24. Collins visited Tennessee and Indiana before choosing Texas.
“I talked to the coaches, Carol (Capitani) and Erik (Posegay), and they were just so incredible,” Collins said. “They were just so supportive of my needs in swimming.
I got along with the team so well. I just felt so welcomed as soon as I got there, and that was de nitely a really important part of it to me.”
Texas’ “perfect” training program for distance swimmers also in uenced Collins’ college decision. Collins had the opportunity to commit to Texas earlier this year, but she wasn’t yet sold on her future college home.
“At rst, I actually said no to
Season-de ning wins are on the line in Week 9
By Asheebo Rojas Chatham News & Record
Seaforth 53, Cedar Ridge 6
Seaforth (3-4) dominated Cedar Ridge (1-6) to win its second straight game last Friday. Senior Nick Gregory led the way with two rushing touchdowns and a punt return for a score, all in the rst half. Senior Raiden Flowers also rushed for two scores.
Junior quarterback Duncan Parker threw touchdowns to senior Patrick Miller (also had an interception), junior Max Hinchman and sophomore Jude O’Neill.
The Hawks scored the most points in a game in program history.
Week 9: Seaforth vs. South Granville (Friday at 7 p.m.)
Seaforth will have a chance to break the tie and take the top spot in the Big Seven 4A/5A conference against South Granville (3-4) on Friday.
The Vikings are coming o back-to -back 48-point shutout victories over Cedar Ridge and Carrboro. South Granville’s offense comes with a balance of power and speed. Senior running back Jaylen Wilkerson leads the running back room with three games over 100 yards this season, while freshman Ashton Hailey-Alston and junior Tyrell Thornton have also done
FOOTBALL, page B4 See COLLINS, page B4
3 teams undefeated in Big Seven 4A/5A conference play
PJ WARD-BROWN / CHATHAM NEWS & RECORD
Northwood’s Mickell Wilson (17) closes in on J-M quarterback Kamarie Hadley. Wilson was credited with ve of the Chargers’ 13 sacks in the win.
COURTESY DAISY COLLINS
Nick Gregory
Seaforth, football
Seaforth senior Nick Gregory earns athlete of the week honors for the week of Oct. 6.
Gregory logged two rushing touchdowns and a 65-yard punt return to help put Cedar Ridge away in the rst half Friday.
The all-around athlete has worn multiple hats for the Hawks this season. He’s been a key piece of Seaforth’s defensive back eld, and he’s helped the Hawks’ o ense come alive with his running back skills the past two weeks. Gregory is also a special teams weapon with his ability to ip the eld and score as a returner.
Powell makes NBA preseason debut, local athletes shine on college, pro level
Local volleyball players are making big impacts this fall
By Asheebo Rojas Chatham News & Record
CHATHAM COUNTY athletes have been competing all over the country and the world in recent weeks. Here’s an update on former local standouts on the college and pro level.
PROS
Former Northwood star Drake Powell made a solid rst impression in his Brooklyn Nets preseason debut against Phoenix over the weekend.
In the rst of two games played against the Suns in Macao, China, Powell recorded six points, two assists, two rebounds and a steal in a 132-127 overtime loss. His plus-minus of plus 8 was the second best amongst the Nets’ 2025 draft picks who played in that game.
Powell followed that with six points (2 for 4 from 3), two rebounds and two assists in 16 minutes during the Nets’ 111-109 win over the Suns Sunday. Throughout the weekend, he made a positive impact on the defensive end. He caused a turnover against Devin Booker, which led to a layup for fellow Tar Heel Day’Ron Sharpe on the other end, and a steal on Jared Butler led to a layup for teammate Ziaire Williams.
Jalen Mcafee Marion, Powell’s cousin and a former Northwood standout, notched 10 points, four rebounds, four steals and a block in his Ireland Super League debut with Eanna on Oct. 4.
Aaron Ross, a teammate of Marion’s at Northwood, dominated at the Copa Élite Baloncesto in Colombia earlier this month, leading the tournament in scoring (24.4 points per game) and scoring a career-high and tournament-record of 47 points in a game.
COLLEGE Football
Brendan Harrington (Northwood, Georgia Southern, seventh year) Harrington, a linebacker, is tied for a team-high 46 tackles through Georgia Southern’s rst six games. He had back-to-back double-digit-tackle games against James Madison and Southern Miss.
Aidan Laros (Northwood, Kentucky, senior)
Laros has logged 21 punts for Kentucky this season with a long of 56 yards. He has landed 11 punts within the opponents’ 20 -yard line.
Volleyball
Hannah Forbes (Northwood, UNCW, redshirt junior) Forbes is back in action and having a career year with team highs of 141 kills and 15 service aces in 59 sets as of Monday.
Kelsey Hussey (Chatham Central, Pfei er, sophomore) Hussey has seen an increased role in her sophomore year as Pfei er’s second-leading setter with 125 assists through 19 games. She’s recorded seven games with at least 10 assists as of Monday.
Sheridan is Swarthmore’s second-leading setter with 194 assists in 19 games. She’s reached over 20 assists in two games this year, including a season-high 22 assists in a loss to Ithaca on Sept. 20.
Dodson has played in eight sets during her freshman season, recording six kills as of Monday.
Abby Johnson (Chatham Central, Central Carolina Community College, sophomore) Johnson has logged 63 assists, 79 digs and 11 service aces in 58 sets as of Monday.
Kendall Anderson (Seaforth, Geneva College, freshman)
Anderson has recorded 30
kills, 35 digs and nine service aces in the rst 45 sets of her career.
Women’s soccer
Lucy Miller (Woods Charter, Meredith College, junior) Miller scored has made 13 starts this season, scoring her second career goal against Berry on Sept. 12.
Men’s soccer
Ken Vasquez (Northwood, Guilford College, sophomore)
Vasquez has started ve games this season, and scored his second career goal against Blueeld University on Sept. 3. He has taken 11 shots with three being on goal as of Monday.
Julian Bozzolo (Seaforth, Denison, freshman)
Bozzolo has started seven games as a freshman and has scored four goals. He’s also recorded two assists as of Monday.
Cross-country
Caroline Murrell (Northwood, NC State, senior)
Murrell nished second in the women 6,000-meter race at the ECU Pirate XC Invitational on Oct. 3 with a personal-best time of 21 minutes, 16.19 seconds.
Jimenez helped her women’s team nish rst at the Royals Cross Country Challenge at Queens University on Oct. 10 with a fth-place nish in the Women’s Blue Blue 5,000 race (19:10.12).
Anna Peeler (Woods Charter, Catawba College, freshman) Peeler ran her best 5,000 race of the season at the Royals Cross Country Challenge, nishing with a time of 19:26.35.
Women’s golf
Mackenzie Crossman (Chatham Charter, Barton College, sophomore) Crossman most recently tied for 18th with a score of 158 (+14) at the Upstate Fall Intercollegiate on Sept. 30.
GENE GALIN FOR CHATHAM NEWS & RECORD
Points for Drake Powell in his rst two preseason games
UNCW ATHLETICS
Hannah Forbes is having a breakout year with the Seahawks.
Girls’ volleyball regular season ends
By Asheebo Rojas Chatham News & Record
Volleyball
Woods Charter capped o its regular season with two more straight set wins over The Burlington School on Oct. 6 and East Wake Academy on Oct. 8. The Wolves ended the season on a 16-game win streak, dropping one set during the stretch.
After Naomi Stevenson’s 14 kills led Seaforth over South Granville 3-0 on Oct. 7, the Hawks’ three-game win streak was snapped with a 3-1 loss to Orange on Oct. 9. The Panthers won three straight sets after dropping the rst one 25-14.
Chatham Central ended its regular season campaign with back-to-back straight set wins over South Davidson on Oct. 7 and Winston-Salem Prep on Oct. 9. Junior Chloe Brewer combined for 39 assists in the two games.
Chatham Charter fell to Eastern Randolph 3-0 on Oct. 6 but ended its regular season with a 3-0 win over Ascend Leadership the next day. Sophomore Summer Blanton led the team with 12 kills, and senior Breanna Armstrong tied her season-high of 16 digs in the win.
Jordan-Matthews lost its 11th and 12th games in a row to Uwharrie Charter in straight sets and Eastern Randolph 3-1 to end the regular season.
Northwood closed the regular season with back-to-back straight set losses to Southwestern Randolph and Uwharrie Charter.
Final conference standings (overall, conference)
Four Rivers 3A/4A: 1. Uwharrie Charter (22-3, 10 - 0); 2. Southwestern Randolph (16 -9, 8-2); 3. Eastern Randolph (8 -11, 5-5); 4. North Moore (13 -7, 4-6); 5. Northwood (4 -15, 3-7); 6. Jordan-Matthews (4 -19, 0-10)
Central Tar Heel 1A: 1. Woods Charter (18-1, 12-0); 2. Clover Garden School (15- 6, 10 -2); 3. Chatham Charter (11-12, 7-5); 4. River Mill (10 -13, 6-6); 5. Ascend Leadership (8-9, 5-8); 6. Southern Wake Academy (3-14, 2-10); 7. Central Carolina Academy (1-18, 0-12)
Greater Triad 1A/2A: T1. South Stokes (16-6, 11-1); T1. (16-5, 11-1); 3. Chatham Central (10-12, 8-4); 4. North Stokes (6 -16, 6-6); T5. South Davidson (5-17, 3-9); T5. College Prep & Leadership (5-16, 3-9); 7. Winston-Salem Prep (2-19, 0-12) Big Seven 4A/5A: 1. Cedar Ridge (20-1, 11-1); 2. Seaforth (13-7, 9-3); T3. Orange (10-10, 8-4); T3. Carrboro (12-8, 8-4); 5. South Granville (7-15, 3-9); 6. Durham School of the Arts
(7-15, 2-10); 7. J.F. Webb (8-13, 1-11)
Boys’ soccer
Jordan-Matthews fell just short of knocking o conference foe Southwestern Randolph, HighSchoolOT’s fourth-best team in North Carolina, 2-1 on Oct. 6. Tied at one goal apiece with just under three minutes left to play in the second half, senior Fernando Hernandez-Dominguez rebounded his own blocked penalty kick and scored the go-ahead goal for the Cougars. Cristian Avalos Diego had an open look to tie the game with seconds left, but his shot went wide right. The Jets responded with back-to-back 5-0 wins over Uwharrie Charter and North Moore. Jeremy Alvarado and Humberto Vargas scored two goals each in the win over the Eagles.
Woods Charter edged Chatham Charter 3-2 on Oct. 6.
The Wolves stretched their win streak to three with a 1-0 win over Eno River Academy on Oct. 8, while the Knights went on to beat Ascend Leadership 2-1 (goals from Breylan Harris and Jacob Stover) and lose to Central Carolina Academy 2-0 to nish the week.
Seaforth defeated Orange, rst in the Big Seven 4A/5A conference, 2-1 on Oct. 6. Jacob Wanderski assisted both the Hawks’ goals to Jack Bali and Collin Atkinson. The Hawks fell to Carrboro 4-3 on Oct. 8.
After a 4-0 loss to South-
western Randolph on Oct. 8, Northwood beat Southern Alamance 4-1, scoring the most goals since defeating the same team in its season opener. Conference standings as of Sunday (overall, conference) Four Rivers 3A/4A: 1. Southwestern Randolph (16 -1, 5-0); 2. Jordan-Matthews (11- 5, 3-1); 3. North Moore (5 - 4 -1, 2-3); T4. Northwood (7- 5-5, 1-2-1); T4. Eastern Randolph (4-7-3, 1-2-1); 6. Uwharrie Charter Academy (1-6, 0-4) Central Tar Heel 1A: 1. Clover Garden School (12-3, 7-0); 2. Woods Charter (8-2-1, 5-1); 3. Southern Wake Academy (8-3-1, 5-2-1); 4. Central Carolina Academy (3-8-1, 2-5-1); 5. Ascend Leadership (4-6 -2, 1-4 -2); T6. River Mill (3 -12, 2-6); T6. Chatham Charter (3 -10-1, 2-6) Big Seven 4A/5A: 1. Orange (12-5, 6-1); 2. Carrboro (7-7-1, 5-1); 3. Seaforth (5 - 8 -2, 3-3); 4. Durham School of the Arts (3-11-1, 3-4); 5. Cedar Ridge (7-6-1, 2-3-1); 6. J.F. Webb (5-5-1, 1-3-1); 7. South Granville (4-12-1, 1-6) Girls’ tennis
Final conference stand -
ings (overall, conference)
Four Rivers 3A/4A: 1. Uwharrie Charter (8-0, 8-0); 2. Southwestern Randolph (11- 4, 6-2); T3. North Moore (4-9, 3-5); T3. Northwood (3 -11, 3-5); 5. Jordan-Matthews (2-17, 0-8) Central Tar Heel 1A: 1. Chatham Charter (9-4, 4-0); 2. Clover Garden School (4-4, 2-2); 3. Southern Wake Academy (2-7, 0-4) Greater Triad 1A/2A: 1. Bishop McGuinness (10-4, 8-0); 2. North Stokes (12-2, 6-2); 3. South Davidson (8 - 5, 4-4); 4. South Stokes (2 -12, 2-6); 5. Chatham Central (0 -12, 0-8) Big Seven 4A/5A: 1. Carrboro (20-1, 12-0); 2. Durham School of the Arts (13-8, 9-3); 3. Seaforth (11-7, 8-4); 4. Orange (13-5, 7-5); 5. Cedar Ridge (9-8, 4-8); 6. South Granville (2-10, 2-10); 7. J.F. Webb (0-15, 0-12)
Seaforth’s boys’ soccer team takes a team photo after knocking o rst-place Orange on Oct. 6.
Straight wins for Woods Charter volleyball to end the regular season
damage with some strong runs. On the outside, sophomore receivers Kaiden Curtis and Traevon Hayes have been downeld threats for the Vikings.
The Hawks will need a big night from their defense, especially their senior-led secondary. O ensively, Seaforth will need to build on its newfound success in the run game. Seaforth has yet to rush for over 100 yards against a team with more than two wins this season (0-4 in those games), and its 3-0 when it hits that mark. South Granville has allowed more than 100 yards on the ground three times this year.
Bishop McGuinness 50, Chatham Central 0
Bishop McGuinness (7-1) shut out a shorthanded Chatham Central (1-6) team Friday.
Senior quarterback Tristan Styers threw four touchdown passes, with two going to senior receiver Henry Kyle. Senior running back Ben Stewart rushed for two scores, including the Villains’ rst touchdown on their third play from scrimmage.
With Carson Jackson taking over quarterback duties for an injured Brooks Albright and Nick Glover also out with injury, Chatham Central was held scoreless for the rst time this season. The Bears’ losing streak is now at six games.
Week 9: Chatham Central at South Stokes (Friday at 7 p.m.)
Chatham Central will look to end its losing streak and take its rst conference win at South Stokes (2-5) Friday.
The Sauras are coming o back-to-back losses to Bishop McGuinness and South Davidson. They were limited to six points in each of the two games. Nevertheless, South Stokes has built a solid connection between freshman quarterback Luke Amos and senior receiver Jamison Canty. Amos has thrown for more than 800 yards in the Sauras’ rst six games, and Canty has hauled in over 500 of those yards. It’ll be key for the Bears, who will once again be without Albright at quarterback and possibly shorthanded in the secondary again, to take limit Canty’s impact.
Chatham Central’s o ense will also need to nd ways to build on the positive plays completed by Jackson and the Bears’ receivers against Bishop McGuinness and limit crucial penalties. The Bears were able to move the ball and pick up big gains against the Villains, but they need better execution to get in the end zone.
Week 9: Jordan-Matthews
NORTHWOOD from page B1
kicking duties held by Mortimer, to steal points before the break. Parks, who had a week to learn how to kick, made a 31-yard eld goal to give Northwood a 17-6 lead.
“I was like, ‘Got to do it for Leo, my coach,’” Parks said. “He’d been coaching me up this week. Had to step up for him, so we drilled it.”
Jordan-Matthews put thenal score on the board with a 7-yard touchdown pass from sophomore quarterback Eli Rodriguez to junior Namir Wiley. After a historic start to the season, the Jets have struggled o ensively. Jordan-Matthews,
Texas,” Collins said. “And then I went to Junior Worlds in Romania, and my mindset kind of changed on what I wanted from a college. So I started talking to Texas again, and Carol was open to that.
“(Texas) would have been the fastest one I could go to. And that kind of intimidated me a little bit, just because it’s not really how I train right now. I wouldn’t have been pushed in the way Texas pushes me. But I went to Junior Worlds, and I was pushed that way by other girls, other distance swimmers. And I found that was like a really important thing to me.” Before diving into the college waters, Collins will take her international career to the next level.
PJ WARD-BROWN / CHATHAM
Northwood’s Raje Torres (1) runs past J-M defenders in Friday’s win. He’ll be a key factor in the Chargers’ success against North Moore.
vs. Southwestern Randolph (Friday at 7 p.m.)
Jordan-Matthews (5-3) will look to bounce back from Friday’s disappointing loss when it hosts Southwestern Randolph (4-3).
The Cougars last fell 38-10 at Eastern Randolph last Friday. They allowed 341 yards and four scores through the air and 126 yards on the ground in the loss.
Southwestern Randolph’s strength is its run game, led by senior running back Brody Sheppard. Senior Devonte Dukes is the Cougars’ most dangerous threat in their passing attack.
Jordan-Matthews’ success depends on what version of its defense shows up and its ability to protect quarterback Kamarie Hadley. The Jets’ defensive line and linebackers have looked very disruptive at times this season, but they haven’t been the most consistent. O ensively, constant pressure has limited Jordan-Matthews’ ability to run the ball and execute plays. The Jets need to gure out how to once again get running back Jakari
which fell to 1-1 in Four Rivers 3A/4A conference play, has lost three of its last four games while scoring no more than 12 points in those contests.
Northwood, which improved to a 1-1 record in conference play with its 12th straight win over the Jets, looked to have found something that works in its o ense.
Changing players’ positions and keeping a balance of throwing and running the ball led to its second largest scoring output of the season.
“It’s been a heck of a buy-in,” Brown said. “I just ask them to trust me lining them up in di erent places. Just know that you’re still going to get the ball. We’re just trying to mix it up a little bit.”
Collins was one of three North Carolina natives to make this year’s USA National Team women’s roster, qualifying with an 11th-place nish in the 10K race at the U.S. Open Water National Championships in April. She’s one of six open water swimmers. The two-time U.S. Junior Open Water National Champion previously made the National Junior Team roster in 2024.
Four current Longhorns also made this year’s national team.
“I nished my open water race,” Collins said. “And I went up to Bryce (Elser). He’s the main open water guy. And I was like, ‘Did I make it?’ And he’s like, ‘I can’t tell you that right now.’ They basically can’t tell us, and so I went home, and I was trying to gure out if I made it. Since the open water race is mixed with Canada and
Blue going and get its speedy receivers in space if they want to keep their conference title hopes alive.
Week 9: Northwood at North Moore (Friday at 7 p.m.)
Northwood (2-5) hopes to carry the momentum from last Friday’s win into a meeting at North Moore (3-4).
North Moore is coming o a bye which followed two straight losses to Thomasville and Jordan-Matthews. The Mustangs, who last beat the Chargers in 2023, failed to score over 13 points in their last two games.
Northwood’s shorthanded offense found ways to still be e ective against Jordan-Matthews thanks to a solid o ensive line performance, unpredictable formations and strong runs from quarterback Grayson Cox and receiver Raje Torres.
Replicating that newfound success will be huge against a solid North Moore defensive line. The Chargers could also use another dominant performance from its own defensive line with
multiple tackles for loss and plays stopped in the back eld.
Conference standings (overall, conference)
Four Rivers 3A/4A: 1. Eastern Randolph (6-2, 2-0); T2. Northwood (2-5, 1-1); T2. Jordan-Matthews (5-3, 1-1); T4. North Moore (3-4, 0-1); T4. Southwestern Randolph (4-3, 0-1) Greater Triad 1A/2A: T1. Bishop McGuinness (7-1, 4-0); T1. South Davidson (7- 0, 3-0); 3. North Stokes (2-5, 2-1); 4. South Stokes (2-5, 1-2); T5. Winston-Salem Prep (1-7, 1-3); T5. College Prep and Leadership (1-6, 1-3); 7. Chatham Central (1-6, 0-3) Big Seven 4A/5A: T1. South Granville (3-4, 2-0); T1. Seaforth (3-4, 2-0); T1. J.F. Webb (5-2, 2-0); T4. Orange (0 -7, 0-2); T4. Carrboro (0-7, 0-2); T4. Cedar Ridge (1- 6, 0-2) Power Rankings (after Week 8) 1. Seaforth
South Granville 34, Seaforth 27 Northwood 28, North Moore 15 Southwestern Randolph 27, Jordan-Matthews 22 South Stokes 22, Chatham Central 6
Prediction record: 14-8 (since Week 2)
Playo picture (RPI rankings, 48 teams qualify per classi cation) 1A: 22. Chatham Central (.25398); 3A: 39. Northwood (.40945); 4A: 34. Jordan-Matthews (.46194); 5A. 47. Seaforth (.39504)
Japan, it’s hard to tell if you made it.
“So I was guring out where I was on the ranking. So I kind of knew I made it, but I couldn’t be sure of that until a month ago. But when I made it, I just started screaming. It was amazing.”
Being on the national team comes with an abundance of resources, including health care coverage, mental health support, nutrition plans and team gear. It’s also a chance to compete with and learn from the best athletes in the world, including nine-time Olympic gold medalist Katie Ledecky.
“It still feels unbelievable when the roster came out, and my name’s there, and Katie Ledecky name’s there,” Collins said. “And I’m like ‘What! This is crazy.’ All the girls on the roster, they’re so special.
“I just felt so welcomed as soon as I got there, and that was de nitely a really important part of it to me.”
Daisy Collins
They’ve put in the hard work too, which is so important. It makes me want to keep working hard because I have an expectation if I’m on the roster with them, and I don’t want to let them down.” In such a short time, Collins has come a long way from being the little girl who was once scared of water. She said she didn’t believe she could achieve such an accomplishment like making the national team at
Northwood quarterback Grayson Cox buys time with a sti arm. Cox passed the Chargers to a rivalry win.
a young age looking back, but now, it’s a reality.
“Growing up, I was not very good,” Collins said. “People told me that I had the talent, but I don’t think you believe it until you obviously achieve it. So no, I don’t think I did believe it, but people around me were de nitely telling me, like, ‘No, you have the possibility. You just need to get out of your head.’ I don’t think I thought I would, so, it’s kind of crazy.”
Even though it’s years away, a bid for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics is in Collins’ mind.
“I’m de nitely looking forward to 2028,” Collins said. “I’ve been talking to the Texas coaches about this. And if 2028 isn’t my year, there’s always 2032. I’m de nitely training towards that. That’s my end goal.”
COLLINS from page B1
PJ WARD-BROWN / CHATHAM NEWS & RECORD
SIDELINE REPORT
NCAA FOOTBALL
Penn State res
coach Franklin amid midseason free fall in lost season
State College, Pa. James Franklin is out at Penn State. The school red the longtime head coach less than 24 hours after a 22-21 home loss to Northwestern. Terry Smith will serve as interim head coach for the rest of the season. The Nittany Lions began the year with hopes of winning the national title, but those hopes evaporated by early October amid a string of losses. Penn State, which reached the CFP semi nal 10 months ago, lost at home to Oregon in overtime in late September. A road loss at UCLA followed.
WNBA
Wilson scores 31, Aces win 3rd WNBA title in 4 seasons
Phoenix
A’ja Wilson scored 31 points, Chelsea Gray and Jackie Young both added 18 and the Las Vegas Aces beat the Phoenix Mercury 97-86 in Game 4 of the WNBA Finals, sweeping their way to a third championship in four seasons. Vegas scored 54 points in the rst half and averaged more than 90 points per game in the series.
NCAA BASKETBALL
Sister Jean, Loyola Chicago’s beloved chaplain, dead at 106
Chicago Sister Jean Dolores Schmidt, the beloved chaplain for Loyola Chicago’s men’s basketball team, has died at 106. She became an international celebrity during the team’s 2018 Final Four run, and there was even a bobblehead of her likeness. Health issues led her to step down in August, but she remained an adviser. Loyola President Mark C. Reed praised her as a source of wisdom and grace for more than 60 years.
PGA
Woods has seventh back surgery to have disk replaced
Tiger Woods is recovering from a seventh back surgery. Woods says he was experiencing some pain and lack of mobility. He says scans revealed a collapsed disk in his lower back and with some disk fragments. He decided to have his disk replaced in New York during last Friday surgery. It’s his second surgery on his back in the last 13 months and seventh overall dating to April 2014. Woods also had surgery in March for a ruptured left Achilles tendon. He hasn’t played since the PNC Championship with his son Charlie last December.
NFL Browns owners, Cleveland reach $100M settlement for new stadium
Cleveland Mayor Justin M. Bibb and the ownership group of the Cleveland Browns have reached a $100 million settlement that will clear the way for the franchise to build its new suburban stadium while preparing the site of the current lakefront stadium for future development by the city of Cleveland. The proposed $2.4 billion domed stadium would be built in Brook Park, about 15 miles south of downtown Cleveland.
ACC’s 1st Atlantic-to-Paci c travel o ers tweaks, lessons for Year 2
Stanford and Cal will make logistical changes to make the schedule more bearable
By Aaron Beard The Associated Press
CHARLOTTE — Ask California women’s coach Charmin Smith about her team’s rst run of cross-country travel for Atlantic Coast Conference games last year, and she’ll shrug o the question about the challenges of doing it.
“We’re in the ACC, we’re happy to be in the ACC,” she said during preseason media days. “And we get on a plane and we go.”
Still, the league’s expansion to stretch from the Paci c to the Atlantic coastlines last year led to lots of ight hours, airborne study halls and sleep-altering routines as men’s and women’s teams crisscrossed the country. The losses piled up at a much higher rate than other road games too. And the challenges were particularly acute for teams like California and Stanford
as the ACC’s western outposts, forced to cross all four continential U.S. time zones multiple times in the same season.
“It’s just something we can’t change,” Stanford men’s coach Kyle Smith said with a chuckle. “We can’t move the school closer.”
Losses accumulate
The league revamped its scheduling model with the arrivals of Cal and Stanford, along with SMU, to have teams making the lengthy trip play twice on the same outing. That typically meant men’s teams would cross the country to play a Wednesday-Saturday set, while the women followed a Thursday-Sunday model.
It’s been a tough ask.
ACC women’s teams crossing between the Eastern and Paci c U.S. time zones went just 7-23 — a 23.3% win percentage, far lower than that of all other league road games (67-65, .508).
It was worse on the men’s side, with teams going just 6-26 (18.8%) in road games when crossing all four U.S. continental time zones com-
pared to 61-87 (41.2%) in all other league road games. Neither Cal nor Stanford won both games on a single men’s or women’s trip east, while only the UNC women and Wake Forest men managed to sweep the Bears and Cardinal on the same trip.
Changing logistics
Charmin Smith tinkered with her plans last year, following player feedback by leaving earlier the day before the game so the team could practice after ying out rather than before leaving campus. Stanford women’s coach Kate Paye is altering her schedule to go out the day before a game instead of two days earlier, saying she thought the long stints away from home had a “cumulative e ect.”
“It was brand new,” Paye said. “You make the best choices you can. But again, experience is the best teacher.”
Both the men’s and women’s Cardinal programs will also use a bigger charter plane this year to avoid having to stop to refuel, with Kyle Smith noting: “Getting
home nonstop is important.”
“Our guys never really complained about it,” he said, adding: “I just sell them on, ‘Look, we get to do it, you play in the ACC, you’re going to Stanford and you’re getting paid. And it’s pretty awesome.’”
Heading west
For the Eastern-footprint teams, that challenge comes only every other year. Yet it’s still something that teams are thinking about, some more than others.
Louisville women’s coach Je Walz’s team plays at Stanford on Jan. 29, followed by at Cal on Feb. 1. He joked simply that he’s ruled out taking a bus, adding: “We were trying to see how many national parks we could stop at on the way.”
Louisville sophomore guard Tajianna Roberts is looking forward to the trip, at least. Her hometown is San Diego, and she’ll be able to play in front of family.
“It’s going to be an adjustment for sure,” Roberts said. “But I think if we eat right, sleep right, we’ll be OK.”
Hamlin’s controversial move: Did he make right call in Cup Series playo s?
His late pass of Ross Chastain allowed Joey Logano to advance
By Jenna Fryer The Associated Press
LAS VEGAS — The rst thing Denny Hamlin said when he climbed from his car after advancing into the third round of the Cup Series playo s was he wish he’d known not to pass Ross Chastain on the nal lap. In racing Chastain for that position, it knocked Chastain out of the playo s and gave the nal spot in the round of eight to Joey Logano, the reigning Cup Series champion and winner of two of the last three titles.
In fact, Logano and Team Penske teammate Ryan Blaney have combined to win the last three consecutive championships, so Hamlin was ercely criticized for not taking Logano out of contention.
There’s controversy surrounding the Hamlin and Chastain incident two Sundays ago in part because a year ago Logano was initially eliminated from the playo s at Charlotte. He learned later that night he was back in the eld when Bowman’s car failed inspection, then Logano won Las Vegas a week later to lock up a spot in the championship-deciding nale.
“Denny would have to ask
himself, ‘What’s going to give me the best chance to win the championship?’ if that’s your No. 1 goal. If that’s your main goal to do that, ‘What gives me the best chances to win the whole thing?’” Logano wondered. “Is one competitor tougher than the other? I don’t know. I don’t know if you want to race against either one of us. Ross has proven to do whatever it takes to get to the next round or to win. He’s done that multiple times. Do you want to race against him? I don’t know.
“Do you want to race against us? I don’t think so either. You’re probably in a no -win situation, so you might as well just pass him and go and get a better spot.”
The entire situation is also being scrutinized by NASCAR, which said this week it would be carefully monitoring potentials of race manipulation over the nal month of the season. NASCAR managing director of communications Mike Forde said on the series’ “Hauler Talk” podcast that series o cials would have acted if it had heard Joe Gibbs Racing telling Hamlin not to pass Chastain.
“If we heard that radio transmission say, ‘Hey, (Chastain) needs this point to advance to the next round over (Logano)’ or something of that ilk, and all of a sudden, (Hamlin) let o the gas, that would probably raise a
red ag on our side,” Forde said. Hamlin believes that isn’t right.
“I don’t see any reason why I can’t know what the point situation is,” Hamlin said. “I had no allegiance to either party, and so at that point, my question would be: ‘Do I have a right to choose my competitor?’
“I think the some of the sensitivity around this is obviously probably gambling focused because I know that NASCAR is very, very sensitive, as they should be, with that to make sure everyone’s getting a fair shake,” Hamlin continued.
The entire eld of eight had the same question for NASCAR.
“It’s a slippery slope either way because where is the line? Is just telling somebody where you are in points and what’s going on around you, is that too far?” Logano said. “Saying straight up what to do is probably too far. We can kind of understand that, but just saying what the point situation is, I don’t think that’s too far.
“I think just feeding someone data it still leaves it in the driver’s hands to do what they please with it. It’s just giving information. That’s all you’re doing.”
“But on the race track, I feel as though, as long as you’re you don’t have a bias to one party or another. ... I don’t know why you can’t make the best decision for yourself. I’m more wondering, what is going to be allowed?”
MATT KELLEY / AP PHOTO
STEPHEN LAM / SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE VIA
Denny Hamlin, left, and Ross Chastain, right, jockey for position behind Brad Keselowski heading into Turn 3 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Judge tosses out Drake’s defamation lawsuit over Kendrick
Lamar’s ‘Not Like Us’
UMG, the parent record label for both artists, denied the allegations
By Larry Neumeister and Andrew Dalton
The Associated Press
NEW YORK — A defamation lawsuit that Drake brought against Universal Music Group was tossed out last Thursday by a federal judge who said the lyrics in Kendrick Lamar’s dis track “Not Like Us” were opinion.
The feud between two of hiphop’s biggest stars erupted in the spring of 2024, with the pair trading a series of vitriolic tracks that culminated in Lamar landing the “metaphorical killing blow” with his megahit that May, Judge Jeannette A. Vargas said in her written opinion.
While the track’s lyrics explicitly branded Drake as a pedophile, Vargas said, a reasonable listener could not have concluded that “Not Like Us” was conveying objective facts about the Canadian superstar.
“Although the accusation that Plainti is a pedophile is certainly a serious one, the broader context of a heated rap battle, with incendiary language and o ensive accusations hurled by both participants, would not incline the reason-
“We intend to appeal today’s ruling, and we look forward to the Court of Appeals reviewing it.”
Attorneys for Drake
able listener to believe that ‘Not Like Us’ imparts veri able facts about Plainti ,” Vargas wrote.
After the decision Drake’s legal team said in a statement: “We intend to appeal today’s ruling, and we look forward to the Court of Appeals reviewing it.”
“Not Like Us” — described by Vargas as having a “catchy beat and propulsive bassline” — was one of 2024’s biggest songs.
It won record of the year and song of the year at the Grammys and helped make this year’s Super Bowl halftime show the most watched ever, as fans speculated on whether Lamar would actually perform it. (He did, but with altered lyrics.)
The track, which calls out Canadian-born Drake by name, attacks him as “a colonizer” of rap culture, in addition to making insinuations about his sex life, including, “I hear you like ’em young” — implications that Drake rejects.
Filed in January, the lawsuit
— which does not name Lamar — alleged that Universal Music Group intentionally published and promoted the track despite knowing that it contained false and defamatory allegations against Drake and suggested listeners should resort to vigilante justice. The track tarnished his reputation and decreased the value of his brand, the suit said.
“From the outset, this suit was an a ront to all artists and their creative expression and never should have seen the light of day,” it said in a statement. “We’re pleased with the court’s dismissal and look forward to continuing our work successfully promoting Drake’s music and investing in his career.”
In the suit, Drake also blamed the tune for attempted break-ins and the shooting of a security guard at his Toronto home.
The mansion was depicted in an aerial photo in the song’s cover art, with what Vargas described as “an overlay of more than a dozen sex o ender markers” — which, she said, was “obviously exaggerated and doctored.”
“No reasonable person would view the Image and believe that in fact law enforcement had designated thirteen residents in Drake’s home as sex o enders,” she wrote.
MATT SLOCUM / AP PHOTO
Kendrick Lamar performs during halftime of Super Bowl 59 between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles in New Orleans in February.
this week in history
Marie Antoinette beheaded, “Baby Jessica” rescued, Gen. Lord Cornwallis surrenders
The Associated Press
OCT. 16
1793: Marie Antoinette, the last queen of France, was beheaded during the Revolution.
1934: Chinese Communists, under siege by the Nationalists, began their “Long March,” a yearlong retreat from southeastern to northwestern China.
1962: The Cuban missile crisis began as President John F. Kennedy was informed that reconnaissance photos had revealed Soviet nuclear missile sites in Cuba.
1987: Eighteen-month-old Jessica (“Baby Jessica”) McClure was pulled from an abandoned well in Midland, Texas, after being trapped for more than two days.
OCT. 17
1777: British forces under Gen. John Burgoyne surrendered to American troops in Saratoga, New York, marking a turning point in the Revolutionary War. 1931: Mobster Al Capone
was convicted in Chicago of income tax evasion. He was sentenced to 11 years in prison and ned $50,000.
1979: Mother Teresa of India was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
OCT. 18
1867: The United States took formal possession of Alaska from Russia.
1931: Inventor Thomas Edison died at age 84.
1977: Reggie Jackson hit three home runs in Game 6 of the World Series to lead the New York Yankees to an 8-4 win and a 4-2 Series victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers. His performance earned him the nickname “Mr. October.”
OCT. 19
1987: The stock market crashed as the Dow Jones plunged 508 points, or 22.6%, on “Black Monday.”
1781: British troops under Gen. Lord Cornwallis surrendered at Yorktown, Virginia.
1914: The First Battle of Ypres began in World War I.
1960: The Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. was arrested during a sit-in at a segregated Atlanta lunch counter.
OCT. 20
1944: Gen. Douglas MacArthur waded ashore in the Philippines, ful lling his World War II promise to return after being ordered to evacuate in 1942.
1803: The U.S. Senate ratied the Louisiana Purchase.
1947: The House Un-American Activities Committee opened hearings on alleged Communist in uence in Hollywood.
1977: Three members of Lynyrd Skynyrd, including lead singer Ronnie Van Zant, were killed in a plane crash near McComb, Mississippi.
OCT. 21
1805: A British eet commanded by Vice Adm. Horatio Nelson defeated a French-Spanish eet in the Battle of Trafalgar.
1940: Ernest Hemingway’s novel “For Whom the Bell Tolls” was rst published.
1959: The Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Guggenheim Museum opened in New York.
1966: A coal waste landslide engulfed a school and 20 houses in Aberfan, Wales, killing 144 people, including 116 children.
OCT. 22
1836: Sam Houston was inaugurated as the rst elected president of the Republic of Texas, which won independence from Mexico earlier that year.
1934: Bank robber Charles “Pretty Boy” Floyd was killed by federal agents and local police.
1962: President John F. Kennedy revealed Soviet missile bases under construction in Cuba and announced a naval blockade.
Bad Bunny’s music streams soar since Super Bowl announcement
By Maria Sherman The Associated Press
NEW YORK — Puerto Rican superstar Bad Bunny’s music catalog has seen a jump in streams since his 2026 Super Bowl halftime performance was announced.
According to Luminate, an industry data and analytics company, Latin music is primarily consumed via streaming. They found that Bad Bunny saw a 26% increase in on-demand streams in the United States following the Sept. 28 announcement, soaring from 173 million nine days before the announcement to 218.5 million streams in the eight days that followed.
The singer born Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio recently said concerns about the mass deportation of Latinos played into his decision to bypass the mainland U.S. during his residency. He performs in Spanish and will do so at the Super Bowl, further proving that connecting with a U.S. and international audience does not require singing in English.
Since the NFL, Apple Music and Roc Nation announced Bad Bunny will lead the halftime festivities from Levi’s Stadium on Feb. 8 in Santa Clara, California, the selec -
“What Bad Bunny has done and continues to do for Puerto Rico is truly inspiring. We are honored to have him on the world’s biggest stage.”
Jay-Z
tion has provoked conversation. For his fans, Bad Bunny’s booking at the Super Bowl is viewed as a landmark moment for Latino culture. That feeling is no doubt related to his just-concluded, 31-date residency in Puerto Rico that brought approximately half a million people during the slow summer tourism season and generated an estimated $733 million for the island.
Roc Nation founder Jay-Z said in a statement that what Bad Bunny has “done and continues to do for Puerto Rico is truly inspiring. We are honored to have him on the world’s biggest stage.”
He is a known global hitmaker who ties his music to Puerto Rican identity, colonial politics and immigrant struggles.
Bad Bunny hosted the season 51 premiere of “Saturday Night Live” with a few jokes about his forthcoming Super Bowl halftime show.
solutions
He has long been critical of President Donald Trump and backed Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election.
Some Trump supporters consider his Super Bowl booking
to be a divisive political pick.
“I’ve never heard of him,” Trump said in an interview on conservative news network Newsmax when asked about Bad Bunny. “I don’t know
who he is. … I don’t know why they’re doing it. It’s, like, crazy. And then they blame it on some promoter they hired to pick up entertainment. I think it’s absolutely ridiculous.”
AP PHOTO Charles “Pretty Boy” Floyd, the notorious bank robber and mass murderer, was shot to death by law enforcement on Oct. 22, 1934.
Donald Trump claims he’s never heard of him
Bad Bunny delivers his monologue on “Saturday Night Live” on Oct. 4.
famous birthdays this week
Eminem celebrates 53, John Lithgow hits 80, Snoop Dogg is 54, Judge Judy turns 83
The Associated Press
OCT. 16
Actor Fernanda Montenegro is 96. Actor Barry Corbin is 85. Musician Bob Weir is 78. Actor-director Tim Robbins is 67. Rock musician Flea (Red Hot Chili Peppers) is 63. Singer John Mayer is 48.
OCT. 17
Singer Gary Puckett is 83.
Actor-musician Michael McKean is 78. Astronaut Mae Jemison is 69. Country singer Alan Jackson is 67. Animator- lmmaker Mike Judge is 63. Reggae singer Ziggy Marley is 57. Musician Wyclef Jean is 56. Golf Hall of Famer Ernie Els is 56. Rapper Eminem is 53.
OCT. 18
Football Hall of Famer Mike Ditka is 86. Composer Howard Shore is 79. Actor Joe Morton is 78. Author Terry McMillan is 74. Tennis Hall of Famer Martina Navratilova is 69. Actor Jean-Claude Van Damme is 65. Jazz musician Wynton Marsalis is 64.
OCT. 19
Artist Peter Max is 88. Actor John Lithgow is 80. Fox News host Steve Doocy is 69. Singer Jennifer Holliday is 65. Boxing Hall of Famer Evander Holyeld is 63. Filmmaker Jon Favreau is 59. “South Park” co-creator Trey Parker is 56.
OCT. 20
Japan’s Empress Michiko is 91. Rock and Roll Hall of Fame singer Wanda Jackson is 88. Baseball Hall of Famer Juan Marichal is 88. Former U.S. Poet Laureate Robert Pinsky is 85. Retired MLB All-Star Keith Hernandez is 72. Actor Viggo Mortensen is 67. Rapper Snoop Dogg is 54.
OCT. 21
Rock singer Manfred Mann is 85. TV’s Judge Judy Sheindlin is 83. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
is 76. Film director Catherine Hardwicke is 70. Sen. Ted Budd (R-N.C.) is 54. Reality TV star Kim Kardashian is 45.
OCT. 22
Black Panthers co-founder Bobby Seale is 89. Actor Christopher Lloyd is 87. Actor Derek Jacobi is 87. Actor Catherine Deneuve is 82. Physician and author Deepak Chopra is 79. Actor Je Goldblum is 73. Actor-comedian Bob Odenkirk is 63.
DAVID J. PHILLIP / AP PHOTO Rapper and television personality Snoop Dog turns 54 on Monday.
ALBERTO PEZZALI / AP PHOTO Tennis Hall of Famer Martina Navratilova turns 69 on Saturday.
REBECCA BLACKWELL / AP PHOTO
Former heavyweight boxing champion Evander Holy eld turns 63 on Sunday.
David Byrne contributes songs to Roald Dahl’s “The Twits”
By Lindsey Bahr
The Associated Press
FOUR CAST MEMBERS
from “The Real Housewives” trading places with women living di erent lives in a new iteration of “Wife Swap” and Danielle Deadwyler starring in the apocalyptic thriller “40 Acres” 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 this week: Rapper Gucci Mane returns with a new full-length titled “Episodes,” a new Pokémon game lets you compete in real-time ghts rather than turn-based battles and Keri Russell’s political drama “The Diplomat” premieres its third season.
MOVIES TO STREAM
An animated adaptation of Roald Dahl’s “The Twits” is coming to Net ix on Friday. The mean, hateful couple are voiced by Johnny Vegas and Margo Martindale in this lm about their rise to power in the city and the group of children who team up to ght for goodness.
Animation veteran Phil Johnson (“Wreck-It Ralph,” “Zootopia”) directed and co-wrote the lm, which features a starry voice cast including Natalie Portman, Emilia Clarke and Jason Mantzoukas. David Byrne also contributed some new songs, with Paramore’s Hayley Williams.
Deadwyler stars in the apocalyptic thriller “40 Acres” about a family, the Freemans, surviving on a farm while the rest of society has collapsed in the wake of plagues and wars. But their survivalist existence is put in jeopardy when her eldest son meets a woman outside of their property. It will be on Hulu starting Friday.
Two standout Sundance documentaries are also worth checking out. “The Alabama Solution,” about horrifying conditions in the Alabama prison system, is already streaming on HBO Max. The Associated Press has written extensively about the problems in the state’s prison system, including high rates of violence, low sta ng, a plummeting parole rate and the use of pandemic funds to build a new supersized prison.
Also coming on Friday to Net ix, “The Perfect Neighbor” from Geeta Gandbhir uses police bodycam footage to recon-
struct a neighborhood dispute in Florida that turns deadly,” AP Film Writer Lindsey Bahr wrote. “It’s a riveting real life look at the state’s “stand your ground laws,”
MUSIC TO STREAM
The rapper Gucci Mane returns with a new full-length, “Episodes,” two months after his Gangsta Grillz mixtape “Greatest of All Trappers” dropped. What more would you expect from one of the most proli c trap stars of the last few decades?
The in uence of Australian psychedelic musician Kevin Parker, aka Tame Impala, is hard to undersell — there’s a reason some of the biggest names in the business have been running to work with him, a list that recently includes Dua Lipa for her “Radical Optimism” album. On Friday, he’ll release his fth album, “Deadbeat,” his rst full-length in ve years. It’s as dreamy as ever. In independent music circles, IRL and URL — the subgenre shoegaze (marked by distortion, feedback, loud guitar pedal e ects as popularized by the Jesus and Mary Chain) — has experienced a revival. In the modern era, those familiar-to-some sounds are meshed with other indie rock styles. No band has been simultaneously in uential
and underrated for said impact than Philadelphia’s They Are Gutting A Body of Water. That may change Friday with the release of their next album, “LOTTO,” their rst for ATO Records and best to date. It’s perfect for those who like their bands fuzzy, freaky and future seeking.
SERIES TO STREAM
Four cast members from “The Real Housewives” are temporarily ditching their cushy lives and designer duds to swap plac-
es with women living di erent lives in a new iteration of “Wife Swap” on Bravo. The wives taking part in the four-episode series are Angie Katsanevas of “The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City”; Dr. Wendy Osefo of “The Real Housewives of Potomac”; Emily Simpson from “The Real Housewives of Orange County”; and Melissa Gorga of “The Real housewives of New Jersey.” It’s available now on Bravo and Peacock. Alex Murdaugh, the disbarred South Carolina attorney
“The Perfect Neighbor” from Geeta Gandbhir uses police bodycam footage to reconstruct a neighborhood dispute in Florida that turns deadly.
convicted of murdering his wife and son along with committing nancial crimes, is serving a life sentence in prison. The story, streaming now, is told in a new true crime dramatization for Hulu called “Murdaugh: Death in the Family.” It stars Jason Clarke as Alex and Patricia Arquette as his wife, Maggie. The series is based on the reporting by South Carolina journalist and podcaster Mandy Matney, whose investigative work was pivotal in the coverage of Murdaugh. If you need a palette cleanser, the delightful comedy “Loot” returns to Apple TV+ for its third season. Maya Rudolph stars as a billionaire who nds her purpose in philanthropy after her tech-bro husband divorces her. It also stars Nat Faxon, Michaela Jaé Rodriguez, Joel Kim Booster and Ron Funches. Russell’s political drama “The Diplomat” premieres its third season Thursday on Net ix. Allison Janney also returns as a series regular alongside ... wait for it ... her old buddy from “The West Wing,” Bradley Whitford. He plays her husband.
Another one for the true crime fans: A new limited series on Peacock is about the serial killer John Wayne Gacy. “Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy,” premieres Thursday and dramatizes the time period in 1978 when police begin to suspect Gacy of the murder of a young man in Des Plaines, Illinois. As they conduct surveillance 24/7, Gacy seems to at rst enjoy the attention, but his behavior becomes more and more erratic over time and leads to his arrest.
VIDEO GAMES TO PLAY
Pokémon Legends: Z-A brings a major change to Nintendo’s 30-year-old franchise: For the rst time, the creatures are competing in real-time ghts rather than turn-based battles. That means more of a focus on timing and re exes, though it will also give your monster the ability to dodge enemy attacks. The story takes place in Lumiose City, a Paris-like metropolis that turns into a battle zone when the sun goes down. Plenty of old favorites like Pikachu and Charizard are on the roster, and if your Pokémon scores enough hits it may undergo “Mega Evolution” to become truly fearsome. You can start trying to catch ’em all Thursday on Switch.
HULU / NETFLIX / PEACOCK VIA AP
“Murdaugh: Death in the Family,” from left, “The Diplomat” and “Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy” are all streaming this week.
SCOTT GARFITT / INVISION / AP
Kevin Parker of Tame Impala, pictured performing in London in 2022, releases “Deadbeat,” his rst full-length record in ve years, on Friday.
GAVIN MCINTYRE / THE POST AND COURIER VIA AP
A new true-crime dramatization now streaming on Hulu tells the story of Alex Murdaugh, who was convicted of killing his wife, Maggie, and younger son, Paul, in 2021.
Duplin Journal
Bryan Miller steps down as county manager
The County Commissioners accepted Miller’s resignation after a closed session
By Mark Grady For Duplin Journal
“AT THIS POINT, I would entertain a motion to accept the resignation of our manager, Bryan Miller, and delegate the duties of the manager to our deputy county manager, Carrie Shields, until such time as an interim manager is named.”
With these words from Duplin County Board of Commissioners Chairman Dexter Edwards, followed by a quick response and unanimous vote by the commissioners, Miller became the former county manager during a reconvened meeting on Tuesday morning.
The vote came after an hourlong closed session of the board following a brief agenda approving a few funding and budget items.
After reconvening the open meeting, Edwards made a brief statement before entertaining the motion.
“A lot went on in closed session,” Edwards said. “We’re not going to discuss a whole lot.”
After the vote on the motion, the board immediately left to attend a groundbreaking ceremony.
Miller, who was absent from the meeting, had faced criticism from local citizens regarding the handling of contracts and procurement processes. He had served in the role since October 2023.
THE BRIEF THIS WEEK
Man arrested on multiple felony sex o ense charges
Magnolia A coordinated e ort between the Duplin County Sheri ’s O ce and the New Hanover County Department of Social Services resulted in the arrest of a Magnolia man on multiple felony charges involving the sexual abuse and exploitation of a child. According to law enforcement, the investigation began after a 3-year-old child allegedly disclosed the sexual abuse to New Hanover DSS on Oct. 1. Detectives executed a search warrant in Magnolia on Oct. 7, resulting in the arrest of Robert Phillip Taylor, 28. He faces charges including statutory sex o ense with a child, indecent liberties with a child and multiple counts of sexual exploitation of a minor. Taylor is currently held in the Duplin County Jail without bond.
Michael Whatley visits Duplin
U.S. Senate candidate Michael Whatley, foreground, listens as Duplin agriculture leaders discuss farm issues during an Oct. 7 meeting at Duplin County Airport. Turn to B6 for the story.
UMO coach resigns amid rape allegations
The former coach resigned a day after the university began an internal investigation
By Ena Sellers Duplin Journal
MOUNT OLIVE — The University of Mount Olive has cut ties with its women’s ag football head coach after sexual assault allegations surfaced last week. Eric James, who led the pro -
gram since its launch in February, resigned a day after the university began an internal investigation. No formal charges have been announced, and details of the allegations remain undisclosed.
According to UMO o cials, on Oct. 7, the university became aware of the situation involving the former coach and took swift action.
“The University immediately initiated an internal review, and coach James was suspended during the review,” Rhonda
“The University immediately initiated an internal review, and coach James was suspended during the review.” Rhonda Jessup
Jessup, UMO director of public relations, told Duplin Journal, adding that by Oct. 8, he had resigned.
UMO o cials con rmed that university leadership met with members of the women’s ag football team and their families last week to address
concerns and provide support.
“We commend the students who had the courage to come forward, as their actions reect the values of integrity and accountability we seek to instill at UMO,” said Jessup.
See JAMES, page A2
Tyndall named superintendent of Duplin schools
The veteran educator was appointed after holding the position on an interim basis
By Ena Sellers Duplin Journal
KENANSVILLE — After more than three decades of service to Duplin County Schools, Daren Tyndall has been ocially named Duplin County Schools superintendent following a unanimous vote by
the Board of Education on Oct. 7. Tyndall, who has served as interim superintendent since Aug. 4, will assume his permanent role on Nov. 6. “I am deeply honored,” said Tyndall. “I look forward to continuing to build upon the meaningful relationships and community support that make
Duplin County Schools a truly special place, and to ensuring our students and sta have access to outstanding educational opportunities.”
Tyndall’s deep roots in the district span 34 years, starting as a classroom teacher and progressing through numerous leadership roles, including principal and assistant superintendent for human resources. His experience
Public criticism mounts over fairness and employee abuse of the utility system
By Mark Grady For Duplin Journal
MOUNT OLIVE Town Commissioner
Delreese Simmons admitted during Monday’s town board meeting evening that he was the commissioner named in the recent state auditor’s report on mismanagement of the town’s utility bills and system.
“You all read the audit and it said a commissioner had also not paid their water bill, and that person was me,” Simmons said during the commissioners’ comments period near the end of the meeting. He claimed the bill should never have been in his name.
bill. I’m not going to pay it. I got it for homeless people.”
Simmons went on to make serious claims about how the town has handled water bills.
“A lot of businesses around this town owe thousands and thousands of dollars in water bills,” he said. “Not a hundred, thousands. We don’t lose hundreds of dollars a month; we lose hundreds of thousands per month.”
After the meeting, Duplin Journal asked Simmons if he had any documentation to support his assertion that the town is losing hundreds of thousands of dollars each month.
“They know,” he said.
The state auditor’s report noted the town lost a total of $210,000 in revenue due to an error in rate entries into the system. However, it did not indicate the loss is ongoing. $2.00
“This is not my home. Never lived there,” Simmons added. “I got that home for a homeless person. It’s not my water
MARK GRADY FOR DUPLIN JOURNAL
COURTESY
Daren Tyndall
Ena Sellers
Allison Batts Advertising Representative
Loretta Carey O ce Manager CONTACT US
O ce Phone: 910 463-1240
To place a legal ad: 919 663-3232; Fax: 919 663-4042
from page A1
Counseling services are being o ered to a ected students. Jessup stated that UMO prioritizes safety and well-being, providing resources such as educational programs, free counseling and support sta to empower students to report any concerns.
“We remain committed to fostering a safe, supportive, and Christ-centered environment for every student, guided by the University Covenant and the high standards of our faith-based community,” said Jessup.
THURSDAY
According to interim town manager Glenn Holland, the error has been corrected, and the town is in the process of installing new water meters that can be read remotely via radio transmission, which will make them much more accurate than the old system.
Simmons’ comments were partly in response to statements made by Mount Olive resident Brent Heath during the public comment period of the meeting.
“We all understand that water and sewer services cost money, but what we can’t accept is mismanagement and unfairness,” Heath said. “The state auditor’s report makes it clear that for years Mount Olive has had serious problems in the way utility bills were handled.”
Heath stated the existing problems have resulted in some residents paying less for water and sewer services and others paying more. He mentioned the system might be in the process of being corrected, however, those who have been overpaying have no way to be reimbursed for their excess payments. He
MEET YOUR MUNICIPAL CANDIDATES
Get to know the people running to represent you — candidate interviews inside and online
By Ena Sellers Duplin Journal
IN THE FOLLOWING pages, you’ll nd a series of Q&A excerpts from inter -
&
HUTCH JONES
Mayor Hutch Jones re ects on his time in o ce, highlighting Beulaville’s strengthened nancial position, infrastructure upgrades and e orts to balance growth with a ordability and small-town character. As he seeks a third term, he outlines his vision for the town’s future, including priorities like economic development, community wellbeing and responsible planning.
Re ecting on your time in o ce, what accomplishment are you most proud of, and how has it tangibly bene ted the community?
First, our nancial health: The Town of Beulaville is as nancially strong as it has ever been. We’ve worked hard to ensure solvency and long-term stability.
Second, we’ve positioned the town for future growth. In an ever-changing state and national landscape, we’ve laid the groundwork to ensure Beulaville can adapt and thrive.
And third, our infrastructure: We’ve secured grants and leveraged outside funding to make much-needed updates that directly improve the safety and wellbeing of our community.
We still have more to do, but I believe the results of our work speak for themselves.
also referenced the state auditor’s ndings, which indicated that some town employees had exploited the system.
“Two employees of the water department were found to have manipulated the system so that their own services were never cut o (for nonpayment of their bill),” Heath said. “And one of our very own commissioners had nearly a year’s worth of bills go unpaid while still receiving services.”
During Simmons’ comments, he pointed out Heath in the audience twice, saying, “You like to talk.” Mayor Jerome Newton responded to Simmons by saying, “Don’t point at anybody.” Simmons also questioned the legality of Holland serving in dual roles as interim town manager and town nance o cer. Holland assumed the nance o cer role after the previousnance o cer and two other employees left following the audit.
Town attorney Carroll Turner addressed Simmons’ concerns.
“Since there was a legal issue mentioned, I want to say we thoroughly investigated that, and there is absolutely no question that the town manager can
views with municipal election candidates. Due to space limitations, these responses have been condensed for print. However, the full interviews, featuring complete and uned-
ited answers, will be available online on our website.
Candidates who did not meet the print deadline are still encouraged to submit their responses for publication on our website.
Early voting for the Nov. 4 municipal election begins Thursday.
BEULAVILLE MAYOR
Looking ahead to your next term, what are your top three priorities for Beulaville? How do these priorities directly address the concerns and needs you’re hearing from residents?
Maintaining a sound budget has been our top priority. We’ve continued to move the town forward while staying within our means — reducing debt, applying for grants, and investing in infrastructure and quality-of-life improvements without compromising our nancial integrity.
These priorities re ect what we hear from our residents: They want a town that’s growing but not overextending; one that’s improving but still a ordable and safe.
Beulaville is leveraging state and federal grant programs to make long-needed infrastructure and housing improvements. What’s your administration’s long-term strategy for identifying, applying for and managing grant opportunities?
We are currently working with a number of developers to continue to expand the city limits of Beulaville through voluntary annexation and pursuing opportunities to develop additional water and sewer projects outside of our city limits to add to revenue opportunities for the town.
While major infrastructure upgrades are underway, residents have experienced issues like water outages and poor drainage. What short-term solutions are in place while long-term projects are underway?
Our goal is always to minimize disruptions while continuing the work necessary to improve our town’s infrastructure for the long term. Communication with
serve as nance o cer,” Turner said. “Mr. Holland didn’t have to (take on the nance o cer duties). He saved the Town of Mount Olive a lot of money being bonded. We were in a situation where we had to do something pretty quickly.”
Turner said it’s not uncommon for a town manager to also act as nance o cer in smaller towns.
During the town manager’s report at the meeting, Holland said work continues to nd a solution to the wastewater treatment problems that have plagued the town, forcing the state to place Mount Olive under a sewage moratorium, meaning it can not add any more ow into the town wastewater treatment facility. That has brought development in town mostly to a halt.
Holland said he met with a new consultant, TRC Companies, to discuss viable options for treating wastewater. He said the town will also meet with an engineer from McGill Associates to look at changes in both the wastewater treatment improvements and sewer collection rehabilitation projects.
the public is a top priority — we want residents to be informed and feel supported when these temporary inconveniences occur.
With real estate demand rising, housing a ordability may soon become a challenge. What is the town doing now to ensure that current and future residents, including young families, seniors and essential workers, can continue to a ord to live in Beulaville?
Our administration is actively involved in conversations with developers, planners, and county and state partners to encourage a range of housing options. We want to ensure that as Beulaville grows, we are not just building — but building smart. That means supporting developments that include a ordable housing options. How is your administration using zoning policies and temporary development moratoriums to manage growth while preserving Beulaville’s small-town character and quality of life?
Most recently, our board and I enacted a temporary moratorium on the development of additional vape shops within town limits. To my knowledge, we are the rst municipality in the county to take such action. This decision wasn’t just about one type of business — it was about sending a clear message regarding the kind of community we want to build.
Actions like this re ect our broader strategy: to be intentional about growth, protect the health and wellbeing of our residents and reinforce Beulaville as “a place to come home to.” We will continue using every tool available — zoning, planning and public input — to guide development in a way that enhances quality of life while preparing for a strong future.
The town sought prices from both TRC and McGill on renovations, and both came in at $4 million over budget, Holland added.
In an update to the town’s response to the state auditor’s report, Holland said they have already taken care of issues revealed in the report regarding the Mount Olive Airport.
“All outstanding fuel invoices have been collected, the fuel account has been closed, and all utilities are being paid for by Bass Aviation,” Holland said.
In other business
The board approved a resolution to implement 11 policies required by towns participating in Community Development Block Grants.
A request to lease a town football eld to the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, which currently runs a youth football program with 60 to 100 participants, including athletes and cheerleaders, was tabled. The decision allows the town attorney to publish a public notice regarding the long-term lease required by the state.
Here’s a quick look at what’s coming up in Duplin County:
Oct. 20
Meet the Candidates Forum
6:30 p.m.
Community members are invited to attend a Meet the Candidates Forum at James Sprunt Community College Monk Auditorium. This public event o ers a an opportunity to hear directly from local candidates running for o ce. Attendees will be able to learn about each candidate’s platform, ask questions and engage in civic dialogue ahead of the upcoming election. All are encouraged to attend and participate in this community event.
133 James Sprunt Drive Kenansville
Oct. 28
Trunk-or-Treat at the Library
6:30 p.m.
Join the Duplin County Library for a festive Trunk-or-Treat at the Events Center. This is a safe, family-friendly Halloween celebration for kids of all ages. Come in costume and enjoy treats, fun and community spirit.
195 Fairgrounds Drive Kenansville
TYNDALL from page A1
within the system and strong community ties positioned him as a trusted leader during a challenging transitional period after the death of Austin Obasohan, the school system’s former superintendent. Tyndall is an alumnus of East Carolina University, holding degrees in ne arts and school administration.
“On behalf of the Board, I want to express our sincere appreciation to Mr. Tyndall for his leadership and steadfast dedication to student success throughout this transitional period,” said Brent Davis, Duplin County Board of Education Chair. “The Board remains committed to fostering learning environments where every student can thrive. Mr. Tyndall’s leadership style aligns seamlessly with the district’s mission and goals, and we are pleased to o cially name him as our new superintendent.”
Tyndall expressed gratitude for the board’s con dence, emphasizing his commitment to student success and community partnerships.
He will be formally sworn in during the board’s next regular business meeting in November.
JAMES
AUDIT
COURTESY
Eric James
Duplin County Elections &
Wesley Boykin didn’t plan to run for o ce, but after four years attending town meetings and watching what he describes as a pattern of inconsistent leadership and eroding public trust, he says he could no longer stay on the sidelines. In this Q&A, the rst-time candidate
As Warsaw heads into its next election cycle, longtime Mayor AJ Connors re ects on nearly eight years in o ce and outlines his vision for the future. In this Q&A, the mayor addresses the town’s most pressing challenges — from infrastructure and transparency to environmental accountability — and shares how he plans to build a more connected, inclusive and forward-looking community if reelected.
As Wallace continues to grow, so do the challenges and opportunities facing its leadership. In this Q&A, Mayor Jason Wells discusses the town’s biggest accomplishments to date, including new business development, park openings and critical infrastructure projects.
Looking ahead, he outlines his priorities for the next four years, with a focus on managing growth, expanding public services, and ensuring that Wallace remains a place where families, seniors and
shares how he would involve residents in the process and focus on long-neglected infrastructure issues if elected mayor of Warsaw.
Answers have been edited for spacing purposes; a full version will be available online.
What is your political background? What motivates you to seek o ce?
I have not held elected o ce before.
I did not set out to run for the mayor of Warsaw. I am a Warsaw native, and I love the residents of our town.
It is my home, and its residents are my people, my community.
I am vested in the progress and success of Warsaw. For four years, I attended commissioners’ meetings and witnessed poor decision-making, a lack of transparency and growing public frustration. After the 2025 budget
Re ecting on your time in o ce, what accomplishment are you most proud of and how has it tangibly bene ted the community?
I have proven to the citizens that I am a mayor for the entire town. We have seen much growth, and I am constantly in search of business opportunities that we can bring to the table.
Looking ahead, what are your top three priorities for the town if reelected? How do these priorities directly address the concerns and needs you’re hearing from Warsaw residents?
My priorities include continued e orts to build a better Warsaw. Infrastructure is an area we are in need of, and I am working with our state leaders to request funding for assistance. Community relations is also important. You can nd me supporting most events within the town and county to bring the community together. Working together with our law enforcement
WARSAW MAYOR
hearing, I realized the only way that I could impact the level of integrity and accountability on the board was to run for mayor.
What strategies would you use to restore trust between leadership and residents?
I will implement a results-based accountability model within a collective impact framework, ensuring all stakeholders are involved in identifying problems and tracking progress. This model fosters transparency, accountability and collaboration across government, civic and business sectors. This yields robust guidance to decision-makers and built-in accountability at all levels.
The town failed to inform the public for days after millions of gallons of partially untreated wastewater spilled into Stewarts
partners to bring a more secure and connected town is another priority of mine.
If granted another term, how will you ensure that all voices — including those of underrepresented or marginalized groups — are actively heard, respected and re ected in town decisions?
Throughout my entire time as mayor, I have had an open-door policy to whomever would like to come and speak with me. I also have been encouraging to ensure that all races are represented on our boards.
Many residents have expressed frustration with being left uninformed about major developments — including environmental spills, infrastructure planning and budget decisions. What steps will you take to foster a more transparent and inclusive local government?
WALLACE MAYOR
essential workers can a ord to live and thrive.
Looking back on your time as mayor of Wallace, what achievement stands out most to you, and how has it made a measurable impact on the community?
During my time as mayor, we have been able to recruit new businesses and development to town, open up Farrior Park, and starting construction of a new re station.
All of these things add to the quality of life in our town and will be vital as we continue to see more and more residential development come to town.
Looking ahead to your next term, what are your top three priorities for Wallace, and how were they shaped by the concerns you’ve heard from residents?
Our priority over my next term will to be to continue to improve the town’s infrastructure. With new growth comes increased demand on our wastewater treatment plant, so we need to ensure the longevity
and plan for additional capacity in the future. We will continue to replace aging water and sewer lines.
Increased tra c in the Tin City area will mean working with the state to widen Highway 41 in the future but must start planning now.
Wallace is seeing rapid residential and commercial growth. How will your administration ensure that infrastructure like roads, water and public services keeps pace without falling behind?
As I mentioned with the rapidly growing Tin City area of town, we must work to get that road widened and also provide safe walking paths up and down that corridor for increased foot tra c in the area. Our water and wastewater treatment plants are the No. 1 priority to maintain and plan for expansion as we grow. Those plans have to start now to ensure continued future growth.
As property values and taxes rise, housing a ordability is becoming a concern. What steps is the town taking to ensure
Creek. What would your administration do di erently to ensure transparency and timely public noti cation in future incidents?
This was a failure of leadership and communication. I will institute a standardized communication protocol involving community advisers, requiring timely public updates through press releases, summaries and presentations. Transparency will be a performance expectation, not an afterthought.
Warsaw has faced repeated violations of wastewater treatment standards. How will you restore compliance and trust, and what reforms would you propose to avoid future environmental breaches?
Building trust in sta and stakeholders is an area in which I
The town holds a public meeting every month in which I have on multiple occasions asked that people come and take part. There is a comment period in which citizens can speak and be heard. Information is posted on our website and digital signs of what is happening in Warsaw.
In the FY 2025 -26 budget, the town allocated $63,000 for drainage improvements despite ongoing issues, while more than four times that amount was designated for DreamWorks, an entertainment facility. How do you justify this budget decision to residents who are concerned about everyday quality-of-life issues like stormwater management?
Budget sessions are open to the public; myself as well as other commissioners, are open to hearing the concerns of the public. There again is a comment period at every meeting where these budget concerns can be heard. I myself
that young families, seniors and essential workers can continue to a ord to live and thrive in Wallace?
As we gain more and more interest in home construction in the Wallace area, we are constantly working closely with multiple developers to ensure we o er a variety of housing at every price point to ensure that everyone is able to make Wallace their home.
Growth brings funding demands. How do you plan to nance new infrastructure projects in a way that’s fair to current taxpayers?
We continue to look at all funding available at both a local, state and federal level and have been successful for securing grants for infrastructure, the repurposing of our Clement School Building, park, airport development. We will continue to explore all of these avenues and ensure that increased revenues from growth are invested back into our town to improve all services provided by the town.
Many residents are calling for
have 25-plus years of experience. Trust is built through integrity, respect and competence. I will prioritize team-building, clear administrative procedures, and consistent leadership focused on respect and accountability. As mayor, I will model the standards we expect.
Do you think critical infrastructure is being underfunded, and what would you do to change that?
The current budget process lacks prioritization and community input. I’ve managed multimilliondollar budgets and know that budgeting must be strategic, transparent and needs-based. I will push for a restructured, community-informed budget process that addresses real infrastructure needs.
do not put together the budget, nor do I vote on the budget, but it is a team e ort to ensure that the major priorities of the town are considered. Dreamworks is not an entertainment facility, it is a facility for exercise and improving a healthier community. Stormwater is of great concern to us, and we continue to make improvements as we can and look for grants to assist with the needs of our town.
What is the most challenging part of your job that you wish residents would understand better?
The most challenging part of the job is that Warsaw is under a manager council and not a mayor council, and our citizens need to be more aware of the governing body of the town and how it operates. It is also important for the citizens to understand that you can’t please all the people all the time. Things take time to work themselves out and there is no magic wand to “ x” everyone’s demands.
higher pay for frontline sta . Do you support wage increases across departments? If so, how would you fund them?
In regard to wages for frontline sta , we evaluate our pay scale annually for all employees to ensure that we are providing adequate and competitive pay. Our people are our most valuable asset.
As mayor, how do you strike a balance in the town budget between critical services like re protection and sewer systems, and quality-of-life investments, such as parks, greenways and bike infrastructure?
I work closely with department heads, the town council, our town manager, budget committee and also evaluate citizen input when an annual town budget is implemented to ensure that town services are as adequately funded as possible. There will always be more needs than we can a ord, but we do our best to take input from all those listed above to ensure that we provide the services needed to both grow and keep our community safe.
WESLEY BOYKIN
THE CONVERSATION
Trip Ho end, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor
VISUAL VOICES
Good advice from the Peanuts gallery
“If we don’t, who will?”
CHARLES SCHULZ never liked Peanuts as the name of his beloved comic strip. He originally called the cartoon L’il Folks. Because of trademark issues, the publishing syndicate changed it to Peanuts, based on the “Peanut Gallery” in the popular TV show in the 1950s, “The Howdy Doody Show.” The Peanut Gallery was full of children who sang along with the puppet characters.
Peanuts just celebrated its 75th anniversary. The strip debuted on Oct. 2, 1950. Until his death in 2000, Schulz drew and wrote every one of the almost 18,000 comics. From a cast of characters made up entirely of children (and, of course, Snoopy and Woodstock), we have learned much about life with all of its ups and downs, joys and disappointments.
forgiveness, and the importance of genuine relationships over super cial acts.”
Charles Schulz HOW DO LEADING RETAILERS like Amazon and Walmart deliver low prices to their customers?
Schulz had a deep Christian faith and taught Sunday School at his church in Indiana. In 560 of his comics, he explicitly included scripture references and theological topics. Perhaps the most famous was the TV special “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” which aired on Dec. 9, 1965, and was watched by 15.5 million people. When Schulz suggested including the memorable scene when Linus recites the Christmas story from the gospel of Luke, the animator objected and said, “That’s not done in a cartoon.” Schulz’s response was, “If we don’t, who will?” According to one source, “Themes like the meaning of Christmas, the concept of salvation, and the challenges of living a faithful life are woven throughout the Peanuts narrative. Through the characters’ actions and dialogues, Schulz subtly conveys Christian values such as love, kindness,
Perhaps one of Schulz’s boldest moves was the introduction of Franklin, the little African American boy who met Charlie Brown while they played on the beach. Franklin appeared on July 31, 1968, after Schulz received a letter from a school teacher who asked him to include a black character. She wrote the letter on April 15, 1968, 11 days after the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. Schulz received pushback to Franklin, especially from Southern newspaper editors who objected to Charlie Brown inviting Franklin to visit him at his house and to Franklin attending the same school as the other children. When the president of the company that distributed the strip to newspapers asked Schulz to change the character, he replied, “Well, Larry, let’s put it this way: Either you print it just the way I drew it or I quit. How’s that?” Franklin remained.
The children in Peanuts are wise beyond their years, but they aren’t syrupy sweet. Charlie Brown is plagued with bad luck. Lucy is self-centered and crabby. Linus is insecure. Schroeder is obsessed with his music. Pig-Pen is, well, he’s a pig-pen. Despite their faults, or maybe because they are so real and relatable, the children in Peanuts have a lot to teach us.
Twenty- ve years after his death, Charles Schulz continues to share his faith and the importance of genuine relationships over super cial acts.
Philip Gladden is a retired minister who lives in Wallace.
How Trump’s FTC can keep drug prices down for working
The companies buy so much from their suppliers that they can demand discounts. That dynamic applies in the health care industry as well, as companies called pharmacy bene t managers (PBMs) negotiate with pharmaceutical companies to keep prices down. But it’s up to the Trump administration to keep it that way.
On Sept. 29, the Federal Trade Commission came one step closer to nally making a decision on the Biden FTC’s case against PBMs. A settlement will immediately bene t consumers while reinforcing the valuable role PBMs play in negotiating with pharmaceutical companies to drive down drug prices.
PBMs negotiate drug prices on behalf of employers, insurers and patients. Managing more than 90% of U.S. prescriptions (per the FTC) gives them leverage they need to demand discounts and rebates from Big Pharma.
The backdrop to the FTC case, which was led shortly before last year’s presidential election, is the 1,200% rise in insulin prices from 1999-2017. The Biden FTC claimed that “even when lower list price insulins became available that could have been more a ordable for vulnerable patients, the PBMs systemically excluded them in favor of high list price … insulin products”— because the more expensive drugs are, the bigger the rebates they receive.
When I rst took over as chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Health Subcommittee, I was a bit skeptical of PBMs because of all the negative ads I saw about them (which I later found out were sponsored by the pharmaceutical companies). However, when I dug into the data, I quickly noticed that the truth was far di erent from what some of the industry’s biggest players want us to believe.
The employers who hire PBMs love them. They are best thought of as akin to a bulk buyer at a market, using scale to drive better deals. If they weren’t buying in bulk, they would not have the leverage that’s needed with the pharma giants, which would drive prices even higher.
Americans
I’m sure, like in any industry, there are some bad actors, or at least some actors who have engaged in some brow-raising activities. Those entities should not escape punishment. That said, the overall net value of PBMs speaks for itself.
Even the FTC’s complaint admits PBMs pass on 90% to 98% of rebate dollars directly to their clients, as The Wall Street Editorial Board pointed out. Which raises the question: Did the Biden FTC even believe the arguments made in its own suit?
After all, Biden FTC Chair Lina Khan was not shy in intimidating that she was unconcerned about bringing weak cases to court. She believed that pursuing cases that wouldn’t stand legal scrutiny was important as a means of convincing the legislature to expand the law to her progressive liking.
Rather than taking the PBM case to federal court, the FTC led it in its own administrative court — meaning the agency felt compelled to act as both prosecutor and judge. If the commission wasn’t con dent that an independent judiciary would give the ruling it desired, that’s not a very encouraging sign.
All of this underscores the value of settling the PBM case, which is possible with Trump appointees now in charge at the FTC.
Taking this case o the FTC’s books and instead reaching a settlement with bad actors would protect consumers while preserving employers’ ability to hold the pharmaceutical company’s feet to the re.
Put another way, the FTC can punish any genuine misconduct while still keeping the buyers’ club that holds Big Pharma intact.
If Amazon or Walmart saw a deal that delivered lower prices for millions of Americans, they’d take it. Washington should too.
Joseph R. Pitts served as a member of the U.S. House from Pennsylvania. He chaired the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Health. This column was rst published by The Daily Signal.
COLUMN | PHILIP GLADDEN
COLUMN | JOSEPH R. PITTS
Duplin County Elections &
WARSAW COMMISSIONER
Commissioner Al Searles says he’s focused on foundational improvements — from wastewater accountability to infrastructure upgrades. After one year on the job, Searles says the town has made quiet but crucial progress.
Now he’s calling for stronger engineering support, clearer nancial reporting and a renewed focus on how Warsaw grows. As he seeks reelection, he lays out a plan to strengthen infrastructure,
With over two decades of experience in health care leadership and recruitment, Sheree Shepard is no stranger to managing complex systems. Now she’s seeking to bring that expertise to the Warsaw Town Council. In this Q&A, she shares her quali cations, top priorities and vision for a more responsive town government.
Answers have been edited for spacing purposes; a full version will be available online.
In this Q&A, Councilwoman Ebony Wills-Wells re ects on her rst term in o ce, outlines her priorities if reelected, and shares her vision for restoring trust, xing critical infrastructure and making local government more accountable to the people of Warsaw.
Answers have been edited for
enforce industrial compliance and bring a long-term vision to town growth.
Re ecting on your time in o ce, what accomplishment are you most proud of?
In the short year since being asked to serve, we have not had a shortage of items to work on. We have had several successes and laid the groundwork for others.
We updated and reinstated the industrial pretreatment process and started charging surcharges for industrial users not meeting their commitments.
We redirected the state funding granted to us to work on our wastewater processing facility.
It had, for some reason, been directed to x in ltration issues.
While these need to be addressed, the pressing need is to make sure we are on top of our game in wastewater treatment.
We approved, budgeted and hired
What is your political background? What motivates you to seek public o ce?
I have a long history of community involvement and public service, including previous runs for Pender County commissioner, Burgaw Town Council and the Pender County Board of Education. I am motivated to seek public o ce in Warsaw because I want to bring fresh energy, forwardthinking ideas and a people- rst approach to help our town thrive.
Professionally, I bring over 20-plus years of health care experience and four years in high-level recruitment, overseeing teams and operations, which has prepared me to manage policy, budgeting and strategic initiatives e ectively. My experience leading teams, managing resources, and building strong community relationships equips me to serve Warsaw with integrity.
What capital improvement initiatives would you propose to address drainage and
spacing purposes; a full version will be available online.
Looking back on your tenure, what accomplishment are you most proud of, and how has it tangibly improved the quality of life for Warsaw residents?
While I don’t come from a background in politics, I have been actively involved in our community and government, serving as a city councilwoman for the past four years. I am also a longtime community member, stakeholder, resident, homeowner and small business owner. My professional experience includes corporate management, business and education, where I have consistently solved complex problems with limited resources, listened to stakeholders, and delivered results on time and within budget. I am asking for your vote to complete the work I started. During my four years on the council, I
a code enforcement o cer to work on code issues, which have been falling behind due to a lack of resources.
We are working on redirecting our police department to apply more of their resources to town safety and law and order and not only be seen as tra c cops in our community.
Looking ahead, what are your top three priorities if reelected, and how do these priorities directly respond to the most pressing concerns you’ve heard from the community?
Solving the industrial pretreatment issues. We need to bring in some new engineering help to help us prepare as Warsaw grows. We need strong leadership that develops answers and is not only interested in the blame game.
Use our resources to e ectively improve the infrastructure of our downtown spaces as well as plan for the growth that is already happening around us.
infrastructure issues in Warsaw and how would you fund those initiatives?
I would address drainage and infrastructure issues by continuing to improve stormwater systems, repairing roads and enhancing sidewalks. We would see if we could get funding from state and federal grants, prioritizing projects based on impact and urgency.
What steps would you take to improve the town’s nancial oversight, transparency and accountability?
I would improve nancial oversight by implementing regular audits, clear reporting and transparent budgeting processes. I’d ensure residents have easy access to nancial information, hold public meetings to review spending priorities and establish accountability measures for all town departments to ensure responsible and e cient use of taxpayer dollars.
If elected, What would be your top three priorities in
have consistently fought for the issues we are discussing today: responsible spending, transparent government and prioritizing our essential infrastructure. Too often, I have found myself in the minority when advocating for these causes. My motivation for running for reelection is to build a working majority on the council that is committed to getting our town back on track and nally prioritizing the basic needs of our residents.
What are your top three priorities if reelected?
My focus will be on building a coalition to take immediate action.
I will introduce a comprehensive ordinance to legally mandate transparency, including live-streaming meetings and creating a public documents portal. I will formally move to allocate funds for independent, third-party audits of our
See our transportation master plan updated and make sure we are using it as a road map as we grow.
Warsaw continues to face long-standing violations of wastewater treatment standards. What speci c changes have you proposed or would you advocate for to prevent future violations?
We need to continue to follow through with monthly surcharges, making sure all our industrial users are following the rules. In addition, we need to take the SOCs they have produced and place dates on them for compliance and add a penalty/ ne structure if they do not meet the commitments. We need to make improvements to our wastewater facility to be able to handle the demands of our current and future needs. We can do this by developing a one-, three- and ve-year plan.
What steps do you believe the town could take to improve transparency and accountability in its
your rst 90 days in o ce?
My top three priorities in the rst 90 days would be:
Assessing and addressing critical infrastructure and drainage issues, reviewing the town’s budget and nancial processes to ensure transparency and accountability, and engaging with residents and town sta to identify immediate needs and opportunities for operational improvements.
In August, the town waited ve days to inform the public after millions of gallons of partially untreated wastewater spilled into Stewarts Creek. What would you do di erently to ensure transparency and timely public noti cation in future incidents?
I would ensure that any environmental or public health incident is handled with clear leadership and the correct approach to inform citizens promptly. This includes immediate noti cation through multiple channels — social media, the town website and
wastewater, drainage and nancial systems, forcing a public vote and putting every council member on the record.
I will propose an immediate amendment to the current budget, calling for a freeze on all nonessential capital projects and the reallocation of those funds to an infrastructure emergency repair fund.
Warsaw continues to face long-standing violations of wastewater treatment standards. What reforms would you advocate for to prevent future violations?
Upon re-election, my rst action will be to request funding for an independent audit of our wastewater system. Based on the ndings, we’ll develop a multiyear Capital Improvement Plan — our top budget priority. We’ll seek state and federal grants to
nancial oversight processes?
The way the town reporting works by separating revenue lines and expense centers can make the information confusing. We could develop net costs by department reporting.
Why should residents vote for you?
I care about Warsaw and want to make sure we control the future of how our town grows. Unfortunately, we have politicians who have brought politics into our decision-making process, and they seem to be more interested in their followers and likes on social media than working together to help the town move forward. It makes the process harder, but if we let Warsaw grow without a plan and without clear direction, we will regret it. I have a lot of professional experience in moving projects forward and making sure that every dollar is used wisely. I want to serve the citizens of Warsaw to move our town forward.
local media — along with regular updates on actions being taken to resolve the issue and prevent future occurrences.
Given Warsaw’s repeated violations of wastewater treatment standards, how will you restore compliance and public trust? What speci c reforms would you propose?
I would ensure strict adherence to wastewater treatment standards through regular inspections, updated equipment and sta training. I would implement transparent reporting, establish accountability measures and create a preventative maintenance schedule.
Why should people vote for you?
Because I bring proven leadership, a results-driven approach and a deep commitment to our community. With a strong business background and experience in policy and operations, I will strengthen Warsaw’s policies, work closely with town sta to support them in their roles and ensure they thrive.
support local funds, implement a proactive maintenance schedule, and establish a citizen oversight committee to monitor progress and ensure accountability.
In August, millions of gallons of “partially treated” wastewater were released into Stewarts Creek, but the public wasn’t noti ed for ve days. You were the only o cial who raised the alarm before the town’s press release. What steps is the board taking to improve emergency response protocols and public health risk communication?
The handling of the Stewarts Creek spill was an unacceptable failure of leadership and a breach of public trust. As a member of the council, I will push to implement a new emergency communication protocol with zero ambiguity. The guiding principle is to never let the quest for perfect information delay the delivery of vital information.
Duplin County Elections &
WALLACE COMMISSIONER
As Wallace faces a period of rapid growth and critical infrastructure needs, longtime resident and Navy veteran Glenn Price is stepping forward to serve. Now retired after a decades-long career in military leadership and defense consulting, Price is running for town council with a focus on smart growth, transparency and improved communication with residents. In this Q&A, he shares his motivations, priorities and vision for the future of Wallace.
Appointed to the Wallace Town Council in 2023, Tasha Herring stepped into public service with a mission to help shape the town’s future. In this Q&A, Herring re ects on her journey into local government, the importance of diversity on the council, and how she plans to support Wallace’s growth while keeping residents engaged and informed.
As a lifelong Faison resident and local business owner, K. Alane Floyd is running for town council with a focus on revitalizing the local economy and improving access to food options. In this Q&A, Floyd shares her motivations, priorities and vision for a more vibrant, connected Faison — starting
What motivates you to seek o ce?
My entire adult life has been devoted to service, 29 years in the Navy followed by 14 years as a consultant supporting the Navy. This lifelong commitment to service has equipped me with the leadership, problem-solving and decision-making skills that are directly applicable to guiding Wallace through this critical time.
Now retired, I not only have the opportunity but also the time to devote to researching issues, carefully considering options and ensuring that every decision made by our town’s leadership serves the best interests of our citizens.
What are the most critical changes you believe Wallace needs right now? How do you plan to achieve those goals?
Appropriately, we are focused on growth along the I-40/Highway 41 East corridor, but we also must not lose sight of the need to restore and maintain historic downtown and our established neighborhoods.
Can you share your journey as a councilmember? What motivated you to enter politics, and what accomplishment are you most proud of during your time in service?
My political journey o cially began in March 2023. Mayor Jason Wells nominated me and the Wallace Town Council agreed for me to ll a seat on the council after the unexpected death of our beloved Wanetta Carlton. After multiple conversations with Wanetta’s sister, Darlene Leysath, I found that Wanetta had a heart that connected to the Town of Wallace. At that moment, I knew that I had to accept the challenge and continue what she started.
I knew I could never be who she was, so I decided to start a campaign in her honor.
The Steps of Progress will be a brick walkway at Dobbins Park. Focusing on the growth and progression of the community
The infrastructure, especially our streets and sidewalks show the e ects of years of temporary xes, leaving residents frustrated every time they pull out of their driveways or walk the sidewalks.
As a councilman, I will raise these concerns directly with town leadership and ensure priorities are set and tracked. I will actively pursue funding opportunities to support these e orts and track progress to completion. Additionally, council must improve communication with citizens keeping them informed about discussions, rationale for decisions and how those choices a ect daily life in Wallace.
What is your political background or what experience or skills make you a strong candidate to serve Wallace?
This is my rst time running for political o ce. I began my Naval career as an enlisted nuclear submariner serving on two fast-attack submarines and teaching nuclear plant operations
where we were raised, the school we attended and the lessons learned along the way.
With Wallace experiencing such rapid growth in both residential and commercial sectors, how will you ensure infrastructure keeps pace? In your opinion, what is the most pressing challenge we face right now?
By constantly staying in touch with the citizens and listening to their wants. One of the great things I love about our council is the diversity of members. Our board is not one-sided. As our community grows, the diversity of our board keeps a better understanding. Diversity means we are able to keep our infrastructure projects geared to our community’s needs. One of the most pressing challenges we are facing right now is keeping up with the community’s needs and understanding.
Growth often brings funding challenges. How do you
before commissioning through O cer Candidate School. As a Naval o cer, I served as department head on USS Porter (DDG 78) and as executive o cer on USS Barry (DDG 52). I later served as chief sta o cer for the Iwo Jima Expeditionary Strike Group and for Destroyer Squadron 22. In these roles, I managed complex projects, led teams of over 300 sailors, and oversaw the daily operations of ships and sta s. My responsibilities included developing and delivering training programs, ensuring professional quali cations and safeguarding the well-being of those in these commands.
After retiring from the Navy, I continued to serve as a consultant, supporting the development of surface-to-air missile systems, including Ballistic Missile Defense. I advised senior civilian and military leaders providing technical guidance on missile programs, overseeing multimillion-dollar contracts, and helping draft and revise Department of the Navy and Department of Defense policies.
plan to fund growth -related infrastructure without placing an unfair burden on taxpayers?
I believe we should explore every possible avenue to seek funding for upcoming projects. Some of these examples could include fundraisers, private donations and grant options.
What is your take on livestreaming and recording all public meetings? How important is it to you that budget documents are easily accessible for our residents?
Transparency brings trust. When the public sees and hears open conversations and planning from the council, it reduces questions and fear,
I am in favor of livestreaming and recording all public meetings. Even though we are experiencing growth, we have citizens who are not able to meet in person for a number of reasons. Also, livestreaming
FAISON COMMISSIONER
with downtown investment and community engagement.
What motivates you to seek o ce?
As a resident and business owner, I am concerned about the lack of business opportunities in Faison, both for entrepreneurs and residents.
What are the most critical changes you believe Faison needs right now? How do you plan to achieve those goals?
I think we need more food options, both grocery and prepared food. Well, I am currently looking to schedule food trucks, for both grocery and prepared foods, to bring in temporary options until a vendor is ready to open in the old Piggly Wiggly building.
What is your political background, or what experience or skills make you a strong candidate to serve the Town of Faison?
I do not have any previous political experience at a municipal level. However, I am accessible to residents daily at the hardware store to hear about any concerns.
As a single mom of two, I am used to juggling lots of things and have chaired and held o ces in the PTO of my children’s school when we lived in Rocky Mount.
If you were given $1 million to invest in the town, how would you allocate those funds and why? What priorities would guide your spending decisions?
First, I would want to hear what the current town o cials think are our most critical needs are. But I
would like to invest in downtown. There are some buildings that need some help in making them usable for others to open businesses to serve current residents. And then help solicit others to open small businesses downtown. Beauti cation and other initiatives to help this small area prosper.
How do you plan to engage with residents and ensure that all voices are heard and considered in town decisions?
As I stated above, I am available to all residents six days a week at the hardware store if someone wants to bring a concern to me.
If elected, what would be your rst action or initiative once in o ce, and why is it your top priority?
My rst priority is to get some regular grocery access to town. I
This broad experience spanning leadership, policy development, nancial oversight and training, has uniquely prepared me to serve e ectively as a councilman. I am committed to guiding Wallace’s growth with strong leadership, responsible oversight and a focus on the town’s continued success.
If elected, what would be your rst action or initiative once in o ce, and why is it your top priority?
My rst initiative as a councilman will be to strengthen how the council and town management shares information and responds to questions and concerns. When residents are unaware of decisions or the rationale behind them, confusion and frustration can arise. Strong e ective communication includes listening and responding to citizen concerns, sharing updates, priorities and resolutions. At the heart of it all, we must never lose sight of who we serve: the citizens of Wallace, and this begins with transparency in council actions.
all public meetings would allow transparency.
How do you ensure residents are involved in major decisions?
I have suggested that recorded messages be generated and dispersed by phone. Mailings, including churches and local civic groups.
When it comes to budget allocation, how will you balance spending between essential services like re protection and sewer maintenance, versus quality-of-life enhancements such as parks and bike lanes?
All departments are equally important. By collaborating with my fellow board members, department directors and stakeholders, we will collectively decide on the most pressing options rst and move forward to other items of interest as funding allows.
would love that to be the opening of a grocery store, but I am open to mobile options such as stands, food trucks or pop-up markets.
Where are you originally from, and how long have you lived in Faison? What do you love most about the town?
I am originally from Faison. I grew up in the Faison area, but outside town limits. I left town for college and marriage. I returned to Faison in the summer of 2018. What I most appreciate about the town are the good, hardworking people I see and work with every day. They have created a close-knit, safe community that o ers many positives in the current climate of uncertainty.
Many have encouraged me and my kids for decades. Now I want an opportunity to help those people in return.
GLENN PRICE
TASHA HERRING
ALANE FLOYD
DUPLIN SPORTS
McIver brothers providing surprising spark for Tigers
role as a linebacker. Travis is much quieter and low key, but is a strong and athletic lineman, who stepped in at right guard and has t in as if he’s always been here.”
Williams duo, Raiders take advantage of Bulldogs miscues
Quarterback Tanner Williams and lineman John Williams led Midway to a 42-35 win
By Michael Jaenicke Duplin Journal
DUNN — Wallace-Rose
Hill gave Midway three chances in the fourth quarter to win last Friday’s Swine Valley Conference clash.
The Raiders took advantage of a fumble midway through and stopped a nal drive for a 42-35 win for just the third time in 26 meetings between the two schools.
It was an extremely close contest, and the Bulldogs were one play from sealing the win.
“About 10 times,” said head coach Kevin Motsinger. “Everyone’s trying to blame on this kid or that one, but on our last possession we had four major blown assignments (and a penalty). But our Achilles’ heel since Week 1 has been one player not doing his job on a play, and not just one play, and it’s stopping us from good things.
“They found a way to win. We found a way to lose.”
The loss gives rst place in the ECC to James Kenan (6-1, 4-0), which beat Midway (62, 3-1) two weeks ago. WRH (3- 4, 2-1) and JK square o on Halloween night.
“We’re not out of this thin,g and I still believe in this group,” Motsinger said. “If we come to play, we are not out of this.”
Tanner Williams (17-27 for 254 yards) threw a pair of touchdown passes to Jacob Soloman, including the game winner with 5:18 to play.
WRH drove to the 22, mostly on the legs of Jamarae Lamb (21-211, 2 TDs) before being stopped on fourth-and-6 with 1:01 left in the game.
“We made tons of mistakes, but at the end of the day that’s the best o ense and football team I’ve seen this year,” said Motsinger. “We were fat and sassy last week in practice about how we played the week before. We executed fairly well on o ense, except in some critical moments.”
Lamb galloped 40 yards to cap an eight-play, 83-yard march to give WRH a
By Michael Jaenicke Duplin Journal
GOLDSBORO — Tim Grady believes in players making themselves into better players in the weight room.
That was his rst key he noticed about Steadman McIver.
Turns out both Stedman and his brother Travis are making contributions to the James Kenan football team, which demolished Goldsboro 48-6 to move to 6-1 and alone atop the Swine Valley 2A/3A Conference standings with three regular season games left on the schedule.
The brothers moved to Warsaw with their father in the middle of the football season last fall.
“These two boys have been nothing but a delight,” Grady said. “Stedman is a light in the room for us in playing a key
Stedman’s 8.9 tackles are second to David Zeleya (10.4), who is one of the best defenders in the East. He’s forced two fumbles against Goldsboro, one of which he recovered, and has seven tackles for lost yards in eight games, including a recovery in a 27-22 win over East Duplin.
JK has allowed 14.1 points, and its defense under coordinator John Bert Avent is starting to look like the 2024 version that included Duplin County’s Mr. Football Hassan Kornegay (state leader in tackles with 203), Ty Morrisey (134), Josh Mitchell (110) and Dakota Henderson (86).
At the halfway point of the season, the top Tigers defenders beyond Stedman McIver and Zeleya are Cal
Avent takes rightful place with spot in JK Hall of Fame
By Michael Jaenicke Duplin Journal
WARSAW – Ken Avent Jr. is no longer coaching football nor working as a teacher or athletics director for Duplin County.
But if you go to a James Kenan football game, you’ll see him atop the press box at Bill Taylor Field.
It isn’t a statue of the coach who led the Tigers to state titles in 2007 and 2013, but the iconic coach will be inducted into the school’s athletic Hall of Fame on Friday. He’s high in the sky as a spotter at football games.
He joins grid players “Mac” McNeill, Marcelias Sutton and three-sport wonder Cassandra Stroud in the school’s eighth induction since starting its rst class of inductees in 2015.
Avent, the son of longtime North Duplin coach Ken Avent Sr., couldn’t have had better results at JK — and some would view his career as close-to-perfect after stops at North Duplin and North Johnston — as he went 43-2 in his rst three seasons, making the state nal his rst year and winning it all a year later in 2007.
Then came three .500 seasons (7-6, 7-6 and 7-5).
His next four seasons were historic, as JK went 52-5.
An early-season injury to his quarterbacking son Ken III ended with a 4-7 mark. Avent returned to coach the COVID19-shortened season of 2020 as JK went 3-4.
Yet nothing tarnished the image and accomplishments of the 1989 graduate of North Duplin, who played for his father and then at Catawba College for four seasons.
“He understands the game and wanted to compete in every sport,” said his father, who watched his son play on the Rebels’ state championship team his senior season and he’s still a near-scratch golf-
er today. “I think he believes like I do in that hard work and faith in God gets us where we are going.”
Avent, who has played or coached football for nearly 30 years, jumped at the chance to return to Duplin County.
“All I ever wanted to do was to teach and coach, and I knew that for a long time, so to come back to a place where football is everything and to be able to have rivalries against schools such as a Wallace-Rose Hill was a dream,” Avent said.
“One of the biggest things I took from my daddy was to have pride in how our team looked, played and acted.”
Avent’s younger brother
Transfer students Stedman and Travis McIver are contributing to a senior-led JK football team
EDWARDO PUAC / DUPLIN JOURNAL
Jeremiah Hall is 49 yards shy of topping the 1,000-yard mark for the second straight season. His 15 rushing scores are tied with WRH’s Jamare Lamb and ND’s Carell Phillips.
“These two boys have been nothing but a delight.”
Tim Grady, James Kenan football coach
MICHAEL JAENICKE / DUPLIN JOURNAL
Ken Avent Jr. was 173-105 during his career, including a 123-35 mark in 12 seasons at JK.
EDWARDO PUAC / DUPLIN JOURNAL WRH’s Jamarae Lamb scored three times against Midway and ran for a career-high 317 yards. His 1,489 yards are a high-water mark for Duplin Journal schools.
ATHLETE OF THE WEEK SPONSORED BY BILL CARONE
Felix Funes
Wallace Rose-Hill, boys’ soccer
Felix Funes responded to a request by rst-year head coach Aaron Murray to nd the back of the net.
The senior, who scored in a 3-0 win over James Kenan last week, has 15 goals and six assists this season.
He’s scored in nine of the Bulldogs’ 13 matches, ve times scoring twice. He is second in Duplin County in goals to ED’s Yoskar Canales (16).
The Bulldogs (8-4-1, 6-0) have won six straight and have a two-game lead over Midway in the Swine Valley standings.
Bulldogs capture Swine Valley title, Panthers take ECC crown
WRH won its second straight conference ag, ED its rst since 2018, and ND was second in CC
By Michael Jaenicke Duplin Journal
TEACHEY — Duplin County has made waves in volleyball in three classi cations in three “new” conferences this fall as 4A East Duplin, 3A Wallace-Rose Hill and 2A North Duplin are having historic seasons.
The NCHSAA’s move from four to eight classi cations has changed around schools in the East Central 3A/4A, Swine Valley 3A/4A and Carolina Conference 1A/2A.
WRH and ND will have conference tournaments this week, while ED will wait for state playo pairings, as the rst round starts on Saturday.
The Bulldogs (18-3) and Panthers (19-2) will earn rst-round bye, while the Rebels (14-5) are hoping for a home match to start the postseason.
The best news from the regular season was conference titles for WRH and ED. ND was a runner-up in its loop, a game o the pace of the winner.
Panthers win 10th in a row
East Duplin won its rst league title since 2018 behind veteran coach Susan Raynor as the Panthers use defense and got production from a number of players.
“If you asked me who our MVP was, I wouldn’t be able to tell you,” said Raynor, whose team won their 10th straight last week by beating Pender (25-19, 25-15, 25-22) as Zoe Cavanaugh had nine kills, Zoe Turner eight and Kinsey Cave eight kills and 12 assists.
Sophia Jones had ve kills and two blocks, Karsyn Parker 16 digs and Lauren Collte 10 digs and nine assists.
Earlier in the week they beat Clinton (25-19, 25-15, 25-22) behind nine kills from both Cave and Cavanaugh and eight winners and 10 digs from Turner, a senior who is perhaps the Panthers’ best all-around player.
“I knew we had talent, but this team gured out how to win, and they do not panic,” Raynor said. “We were down 10-0 against Trask and won the set and lost seven points in a row to Clinton. We have so many kids that can play, but the balance is important. If one of seven or eight is missing or having an o night, it a ects us.”
Defense has been the Panthers’ calling card this fall.
“It’s been phenomenal, and it’s hard to hit over us,” Raynor said. “And these girls have the drive to win.”
This week ED, which is unbeaten in ECC play, closes out the season with a meaningless match against South Lenoir (5-14, 3-6).
Raynor guided the Panthers to consecutive East Region appearances in 2008 and 2009. Bulldogs take second straight league title
Winning a second consecutive conference title was significant because WRH had to beat powerhouse Midway to capture the Swine Valley.
The Bulldogs took the No. 1 seed and will face No. 4 Princeton (11-9) in the rst round, while the No. 2 Raiders (13-6) will take on No. 3 Rosewood (14-7). Keep in mind both Midway and Princeton have super-competitive schedules.
WRH coach Kevin Williams, who got his 100th career win this season, said his team’s regular season nale win over James Kenan (25-16, 25-13, 25-18) was a signi cant on Senior Night in Teachey.
“We got a lot of support and a lot of emotions for our seven seniors who are a special group,” Williams said. “They all seem special, but this group is super special.”
The Bulldogs, who advanced to the third round of the playo s last season, have their sights set on a higher climb.
“When we’re hitting on all cylinders we’re hard to beat, and I honestly think we can win a state title,” Williams said. “If we play like we’re capable of playing, we are right in there with everyone else at the top. I will say this, beating Princeton the second time and Midway was the best volleyball I’ve seen played here.”
If WRH’s Big Three — Angelina Cavallaro, Jansley Page and Mattie Gavin — get help from their teammates, Williams thinks the Bulldogs have a shot to win a 3A title.
“We just have to bounce back from a miss-hit, a block or missed serve,’ Smith said.
“That’s the focus we need from rst to last serve.” Page, Cavallaro and Gabby Debman combined for 34 kills and Gavin had 24 assists in the win over the Tigers (2-10, 2-15).
Rebels go back to back, take second place
ND’s recent Senior Night lauded Lilly Fulghum, Marissa Bernal and Melany Sanchez as the Rebels guaranteed back-to-back winning seasons, an oddity in the school’s history.
“They’ve been paramount to our success,” said coach Heather Best. “They stepped up into these leadership roles with a sense of pride and strength that the team needed.”
Fulghum had four aces and 16 assists when ND beat West Columbus (25-17, 25-14, 25-20) last week.
In a 3-0 (25-12, 25-13, 25-9) stomping of Lakewood, Maggie Brown had nine kills, Abby Norris six with Gracie Higginbotham adding four aces. Brown is a quiet leader on the front line and the team’s top spiker. Her sister Norris is also a force at the net, while fresh-
Head coach Susan Rayner and ED won a conference title for the rst time since 2018.
man Higginbotham is a talented all-around player who could develop into a star in a short period of time. She’s the younger sister of Addy Higginbotham, who had a stellar career in three sports at ND and is playing softball at Wingate.
The trio are a part of Best’s rising Rebels, which also includes MH Kloe DeHoyas, defensive specialists Sophia Davis, Carrly Strickland and AJ Smith and Hannah Gonzalez and OH setter Tristyn Blust.
“Without any of these players, our team wouldn’t be as successful as it has been,” Best said. “They all bought into the challenges presented to them in the beginning, with setting a new standard for our team.” ND faces Lakewood in Calypso in the rst round of the CC Tournament on Monday. The semi nals are Tuesday andnals the following day. Both will be at Lakewood High School.
SOCCER
Bulldogs whip Tigers, increase Swine Valley lead to two games
Steven Acosta, Cergio Acosta and Felix Funes scored goals during Wallace-Rose Hill’s 3-0 Swine Valley Conference win over James Kenan last Monday in Warsaw
The Bulldogs (8-4-1, 6-0) captured their sixth straight win and had a two-game lead atop the league standings ahead of Midway (12-3-1, 5-2).
The Tigers (6-7-2, 3-4) recoverd to whip Spring Creek 5-2 via a pair of goals by Ismael Covarrubias and Kaleb Gallegos. Devis Gomez added an insurance tally. JK was playing without top defender Kebert David. But Edin Gomez lled in and “played outstanding,” according to head coach Mitchell Quinn.
JK swept the series after beating the Gators 1-0 earlier in the season.
“I was proud and pleased with our performance,” Quinn said. “It should give us condence heading into Midway, which beat us in our rst matchup.”
Panthers rebound from tough loss to plunk Pender
East Duplin (9-6-2, 3-1) rebounded from a 6-0 loss to Clinton by beating Pender 3-1. The Patriots led 1-0 at halftime but got two goals from Yoskar Canales and a score via Hayes Rogers.
While Canales leads Duplin County and his team in scoring, 12 of his teammates have found the back of the net.
BIDS
EDWARDO PUAC / DUPLIN JOURNAL
EDWARDO PUAC / DUPLIN JOURNAL
‘Business’ trip win preps HCA for two showdowns
The Crusaders moved to 7-1 with two games left in the regular season
By Michael Jaenicke Duplin Journal
ASHEVILLE — It will be another week before the Harrells Christian Academy football team steps onto the gridiron.
The Crusaders (7-1) will use the time to prepare for Big East Conference games against rival Ravenscroft and league heavyweight Trinity Christian following last Friday’s business trip to Asheville Christian Academy.
HCA’s 55-14 romp was its fourth straight win.
“I just want to see us playing our best at the end,” said head coach Clayton Hall. “It was a tough drive to Asheville and back, but our kids took care of business. Now we get to heal and prepare. Hey, at this time of the year all you can ask for is two games to win a championship.”
To do that, HCA will need to handle the Ravens at Murphy-Johnson Stadium on Oct. 24. They venture to Fayetteville on Halloween night.
wins in 2020 and 2021 in which the Crusaders won the Big East and advanced to the NCISAA 2A nals.
“We also beat them the rst year with coach (Jack) Holley,” said Hall, whose been the o ensive coordinator for the bulk of 18 seasons in Harrells, though only the head coach the past two seasons.
“It’s there for us to take,” Hall said. “The kids know that, and now we have to get them focused in. To be honest, I’m a little surprised (we’re in this situation). We’ve got a really, really, really young o ensive line but are blessed with backs and athletes that can make some incredible plays. If they get in space, they are hard to catch and tackle and there’s a potential for an explosive play.”
Wildcats drop sixth straight with loss to Cougars
Kannon McBride threw for two touchdowns and Andrew Boucher had a pair of running scores as Croatan beat Richlands 38-7 last Friday in Newport.
The Cougars (7-1, 3-1) ran away after a 10-7 rst-quarter lead by scoring 28 unanswered points in the next three quarters in a Coastal 5A/6A Conference contest.
Richlands’ Carson Littreal hit Cale Wilges for a 72-yard touchdown. But the Wildcats complicated things by getting intercepted twice and drawing 90 yards via 13 penalties while gaining just 189 yards of total o ense.
Croatan snapped a three-game skid.
Senior J’Kaeshi Brunson (3-25) and freshman JC Carr (4 -32) also found the endzone.
“I like where we are,” Hall said. “I wasn’t happy with some of the plays we took o , but it’s tough when the game’s in hand, and we’re not competing. The
Jeremiah Davis (3-58), Demetrius Jones (2-33) and Jarrod Miller (2-50) had rushing scores, Dashaun McKoy an 80-yard kicko return and it was over by halftime as HCA led 35-7.
players knew I wasn’t happy.”
HCA got back defender Davis Bradshaw for the game and hope to have WB/WR Chamani Newton, lineman Drake Smith and Lathan Cashwell ready for the Ravens or possibly the trip to Trinity. Newton and Cashwell are recovering from bad ankle sprains and a separated shoulder.
HCA is 3-15 against the Ravens, which include back-to-back
Davis (68-806, 9 TDs) is fourth among all Duplin Journal schools in rushing and touchdowns. Miller (45-434, 6 TDs) is seventh, while McKoy (10 TDs, four 2-point conversions) is one of the most versatile players in the area as a threat running, catching, returning kicks or in the secondary.
HCA lost a 38-35 thriller to Ravenscroft in 2024 and were drubbed 42-6 by Trinity the following week.
Richlands’ o ense has scored 10 points in its past two games and is averaging 12.1 points per game.
Senior Joshua Wilson’s seven tackles paced the defense. Payton Hughes had six, Trea’vaun Flanigan and Matthew Stein ve apiece, and Joel Roberts and Beau Mills both came up with four takedowns.
The Wildcats (1-5, 0-3) travel to West Carteret (4-3, 2-2).
Panthers prep for Horses; Phillips supercharges Rebels
Aaron Hall sparked ED past Trask, while Carell Phillips lifted ND
By Michael Jaenicke Duplin Journal
BEULAVILLE — There are a number of football teams with less-than-desirable records have improved.
East Duplin head coach Battle Holley includes Clinton in that group. His Panthers will travel to Sampson County on Friday following a clockwork-like 38-6 triumph over Trask last Friday at Brian Aldridge Field.
“They’ve gotten better each week,” Holley said on Sunday as he prepared for a game at Robinson-Lewis Stadium. “They’re big up front, which is a problem for us and have some real good offensive tools.”
Enter quarterback Miles McCallop (78-144 for 1,184 yards, 14 TDs).
“He’s versatile and explosive and can move around while also having some guys who can catch it,” Holley said.
Indeed, the Dark Horses (3-4, 1-2) have three players with more than 300 yards in receptions.
Jonmah Boone (35-393, 7 TDs), Aaron Landrum (22-324, 1 TD) and Zaire Strickland (13-360, 4 TDs) have combined for more than 1,100 yards and 12 scores.
Running back Gavin Miller (115-511, 10 TDs) is the top rusher in a wild-open o ense.
Clinton, which has won ve state titles, went an uncharacteristic 2-8 in 2024. The Dark Horses went 15-1 in 2023 and were 2A runners-up. But trouble came immediately thereafter as head coach Cory Johnson bolted to Marlboro County, South Caroli-
THURMAN PARKER FOR DUPLIN JOURNAL
ED’s Aaron Hall ran for 101 yards and three scores as the Panthers stumped Trask 38-6.
na, and took several players with him.
Former Clinton player Johnny Boykin was left to pick up the pieces.
“There’s a lot of talent there,” Holley said. “It’s going to be a war. It’s a tough place to play. When you go down there you better have your kids ready.”
Clinton lost three of its rst four games but has since gone 2-1. The lowest point was a 26-20 loss to 2A East Bladen (5-2). The highest was a 37-36 victory over Whiteville (5-2).
The in-between contest was a 50-45 setback to unbeaten Pender (7-0) in a key ECC matchup.
“They’ll be ready,” Holley said.
“We’ve got to eliminate big plays, hold onto the ball and not have turnovers and penalties.”
ED did all those things against the Titans.
Aaron Hall (8-101) returned from an injury to run for three
EDWARDO PUAC / DUPLIN JOURNAL
ND’s Carell Phillips ran for a season-high 237 yards and ve scores against West Columbus. He has 1,051 yards for the season and 15 rushing 15 touchdowns.
touchdowns, Branson Norris had his second consecutive two-touchdown game, and Shawn Davis (14-93) and Dewayne Davis (535) led a Wing-T attack that piled up 331 ground yards.
ED led 17-0 at halftime and the Titans (3-4, 1-1) lacked the punch to even stun the Panthers.
Hall twisted his ankle against Jacksonville and did not play in ED’ win over Southwest Onslow.
Phillips scores ve times as Rebels paste Vikings
While last Friday’s 49-14 win over West Columbus looked like a normal rout for North Duplin, quarterback DJ Graham gave the Rebels’ coaching sta and defense ts and headaches.
Fortunately, the damage came after the Rebels built a 21-0 lead.
“It was a di erent type of game to prepare for and the one we spent the most time prepar-
ing for in a while,” said ND head coach Hugh Martin. “He’s a very dynamic quarterback who is able to move around in the pocket and make plays late in a play.
“It was hard to keep him contained, and our DBs did a good job when he was scrambling. He threw a few times as he was going down or in the grasp.”
Yet the junior was overshadowed by Carell Phillips, who ran for a season-high 237 yards and scored ve times to pass the 1,000-yard for the second straight season.
“Explosive and the kind of running we’ve seen from him the past three years,” said Vance Carter (6-57), nursing a knee injury, Jaylen Pope (6-60) and Quan Stevens (3-18) added to the mix of a back eld missing fullback Noa Quintanilla after getting hurt and not playing in the second half against East Bladen.
“Proud of what our backs have done, there’s been growth and progression,” Martin said. “Our o ensive line play improved since East Bladen. West Columbus’ ability to make plays defensively is amazing. Quan stepped up and so did Jaylen, while Vance played as he’s played the last two seasons.”
Graham, a junior, ended with 10-of-20 passing for 142 yards.
The somewhat easierthan-normal win came after ND played its two toughest games of the season, falling in a thriller to Lakewood and beating EB in a similarly tight a air.
ND used six plays to cover 60 yards for the rst score, a 10-yard e ort for Phillips, who is tied with James Kenan’s Jeremiah Hall and Wallace-Rose Hill’s Jamarae Lamb for the rushing touchdown lead in Duplin County with 15 apiece.
The Rebels defense forced a turnover on downs at the ND 35, and nine plays later it was 14-0.
Carter had a 22-yard push and Phillips back-to-back 13-yard sprints, the second of which landed his feet in the end zone at the midway point of the rst quarter. Long drive Friday continued as ND pushed the ball 67 yards in seven plays. Phillips had a 29-yard run and the 4-yard score.
Graham connected with Jahan Lesane-Powell for a 12-yard strike on fourth-and-9 to make it 21-8 at halftime.
Pope had a 56-yard run in the third quarter. Ethan Turnage added the conversion to up the lead to 29-8.
Lucas Dail intercepted a pass late in the fourth and returned it 25 yards for a score. Garris Warren tipped the ball before it reached Dial’s hands.
ND (6-1, 2-1) travels to face Union (2-5, 0-3) on Friday.
EDWARDO PUAC / DUPLIN JOURNAL
Richlands’ Cale Wirges has 15 catches for 258 yards and two touchdowns.
Avent (52), Zamarion Smith (50) and Jacquez (49).
Travis McIver has helped running back Jeremiah Hall (69-951, 15 TDs) come within 49 yards of his second-straight 1,000-yard campaign and also paced Chris Hill (23-250, 7 TDs) and Taulil Pearsall (43-383, 6 TDs) as the Tigers have averaged 10.1 yards rushing the football.
Tigers nd ways to move “Big” Cougars
Hall and Hill each scored three times against Goldsboro and Pearsall once.
Pearsall’s 55-yard push in the third completed the rout.
Goldsboro tacked on a meaningless fourth-quarter score as JK’s defense limited its foes to seven points or less for the fourth time this season.
Tiger gridiron talk
JK hosts Charles B. Aycock on Friday and will introduce its four new Hall of Fame members — Ken Avent Jr, Marcelias Sutton, “Mac” McNeill and Cassandra Stroud.
NCAA FOOTBALL
But the Tigers were persistent in running over the Cougars with their ground attack.
Hill scored from the 23 to open the contest. Hall added touchdowns from 10 and 5 yards out.
Hill’s scores from the 5 and 24 followed before Hall ripped o the longest score of the night with a 63 -yard jaunt to put an accent on JK’s 41-0 halftime lead.
“Interesting, they were huge up front and that’s an understatement,” Grady said. “I felt that early on when we weren’t busting plays like we normally do. I was going to open up the passing game, but they were very talented up front.”
John Bert coached at ND and has been and currently is a JK assistant coach. He said the success of his sibling is imbedded in his love of football and because of how he treats players and coaches.
“Absolutely loves football and can draw up the same play 1,000 times to look for something di erent in it,” John Bert said. “He’s constantly studied the game. He doesn’t holler or scream. He’s going to coach you and make you do the little things over and over again.”
Current Tigers coach Tim Grady said Avent’s California-low-key-but-intense approach was infectious.
“His personality is contagious and people — coaches and players — want to work with him,” said Grady, who was coaching at Charity Middle during the bulk of Avent’s time at JK. “He has a way of connecting and communicating with people that I can’t fully describe. He’s very smart but doesn’t go around bragging. But
35-34 lead with 1:44 left in the third.
WRH’s defense forced Midway into a three-and-out, and a bad snap on the punt attempt gave the Bulldogs a rst-and-goal from the Raiders 9. A lineman inadvertently juggled the ball lose from his running back, and Midway pounced on the football.
The Raiders punted from their own 19, but WRH fumbled it away to frame up Midway’s nal score.
The teams combined for nine rst-half scores in a wild gridiron a air.
Geremiah Blue scored from the 10 on the rst possession of the game, but WRH stu ed the 2-point conversion.
Lamb ripped o a 42-yard run on the Bulldogs’ rst play, and Jamari
FORECLOSURES
NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE
23SP000130-300
AMENDED NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE
NORTH CAROLINA, DUPLIN COUNTY
Under and by virtue of a Power of Sale contained in that certain Deed of Trust executed by Hope Harding a/k/a H. Harding to The Shoaf Law Firm P.A., Trustee(s), which was dated March 3, 2023 and recorded on March 6, 2023 in Book 2023 at Page 630, Duplin County Registry, North Carolina.
having been made of the note thereby secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC, having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust, and the holder of the note evidencing said default having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will o er for sale at the courthouse door of the county courthouse where the property is located, or the usual and customary location at the county courthouse for conducting the sale on October 21, 2025 at 12:00 PM, and
he’ll talk football in a minute. Even today, I call him up or talk to him, and I see a spark in his eyes.”
Avent went 26-11 in three seasons at ND and 24-14 during the same span at NJ, which he led to the 1AA East Region nal in 2005, only to lose to WRH.
He was named AP Coach of the Year in N.C. in 2007 when his Tigers went 16-0.
JK went 15-0 in 2013 for a second 1AA title. Two 12-2 seasons followed, including one in which the Tigers upset WRH in the regular season but fell to the Bulldogs in the East Region nal during the Bulldogs’ streak of four-straight titles (2014-17).
WRH and JK played each other in the 1AA East nal for three straight years, with the Tigers winning in 2013 (28-14) and the Bulldogs biting back in 2014 (34-31) and 2015 (29-13).
The Tigers went to the 1AA state championship game in 2006, Avent’s rst season, and were unde -
Carr scored from the 2 two plays later. Dorlin Bonilla’s PAT put WRH on top 7-6. The defense held on fourth-and-5 from the WRH 9, and the next play Lamb rumbled 90 yards to up the margin to 14-6.
But Midway still had o ensive ght and tied it with a Blue (10-67) score and passing conversion by Williams.
A Bulldogs fumble four plays later helped the cause, and Wesley Tew’s (20-170) rst of two scores put Midway in front 21-14. Jamari Carr bolted 55 yards to tie it at 21-21 two snaps later. Williams connected with Soloman for a 9-yard score and Carr went 50 yards as a counter to knot it at 29-all with 3:57 to play before halftime. Williams’ scrambling ability
will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following described property situated in Duplin County, North Carolina, to wit: Lying and being in the City of Warsaw, Duplin County, North Carolina and being more particularly described as follows:
Beginning at a concrete monument at the northeast corner of the intersection of Forrest Road with Mitchell Street and running thence with the east line of Mitchell Street North 15-05 West 199.52 feet to an iron pipe; thence North 74-55 East 199.56 feet to a concrete monument; thence South 15-05 East 200.00 feet to an iron pipe in the north line of Forrest Road; thence with the north line of Forrest Road South 74-55 West 200.00 feet to the point of beginning containing 0.91 acres all according to a map by McDavid Associates, Inc ., dated October 26, 1989. For further reference see Deed Book 582, page 231, Book 616, page 533, Book 806, page 793, Book 903, page 219, Book 1029, page 207 and Book 1264, page 103 all of the Duplin County Registry. Subject to those certain Restrictive Covenants as recorded in Book 573, Page 547 of the Duplin County Registry.
Save and except any releases, deeds of
The Falcons (2-5, 0-4) have struggled in a new 5A/6A conference with Southern Nash, Rocky Mount, Northern Nash and Hunt, who have a combined record of 24-5.
They fell to SN 35-0, which nipped JK 44-42 in the season opener for both schools. CBA’s wins have come against Rosewood and Goldsboro, and the Falcons have been outscored 201-21 in their last four games.
feated until losing to Thomasville (13-7). “He’s such a great coach and person,” said Sutton, who played on the title-winning team in 2012 and went on to play for Oklahoma University for two seasons. “And he does a great job of using his talent, plus he makes everyone feel important.”
Avent, who is a commissioner for the town of the Faison, works for Clifton Seed. He retired from the public school on July 1. His California-cool sideline look and approach to the X’s and O’s and Jimmy and Joes were trademarks of his career.
And his reputation in the Tigers’ athletic community and statewide is right up there with WRH’s Jack Holley (412-96-9), second in the state in all-time wins, and East Duplin’s Brian Aldridge (251-95-1), who turned ED from at .333 winning percentage to .733.
Avent Jr. (173-105) coached for 18 years, while Ken Sr. (172-105) coached at ND for 25 years.
bought him time during a 83-yard march that gave Midway a 34-28 halftime edge as the Bulldogs foiled the running conversion attempt.
Motsinger said Midways’ 6-foot-3, 300-pound o ensive tackle John Williams had his way throughout the night.
“He’s the real deal, and he proved to me what I saw on tape and told our kids about all week,” he said. “He’s the best I’ve seen and has so much college potential.
“Two times we needed to settle our defense but scored quickly and didn’t have time to x it. But we only gave up eight points in the second half.”
WRH will host Spring Creek (0-8, 0-4) on Friday. Rosewood (2-5, 2-1) visits the Jack Holley Football Complex on Oct. 24.
release or prior conveyances of record.
Said property is commonly known as 605 Forrest Rd, Warsaw, NC 28398.
A certi ed check only (no personal checks) of ve percent (5%) of the purchase price, or Seven Hundred Fifty Dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, will be required at the time of the sale. Following the expiration of the statutory upset bid period, all the remaining amounts are immediately due and owing. THIRD PARTY PURCHASERS MUST PAY THE EXCISE TAX AND THE RECORDING COSTS FOR THEIR DEED.
Said property to be o ered pursuant to this Notice of Sale is being o ered for sale, transfer and conveyance “AS IS WHERE IS.” There are no representations of warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at, or relating to the property being o ered for sale. Substitute Trustee does not have possession of the property and cannot grant access, prior to or after the sale, for purposes of inspection and/or appraisal. This sale is made subject to all prior liens, unpaid taxes, any unpaid land transfer taxes, special assessments, easements,
Penn State res coach Franklin amid midseason free fall in lost season State College, Pa. James Franklin is out at Penn State. The school red the longtime head coach less than 24 hours after a 22-21 home loss to Northwestern. Terry Smith will serve as interim head coach for the rest of the season. The Nittany Lions began the year with hopes of winning the national title, but those hopes evaporated by early October amid a string of losses. Penn State, which reached the CFP semi nal 10 months ago, lost at home to Oregon in overtime in late September. A road loss at UCLA followed.
NOTICES
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
NORTH CAROLINA DUPLIN COUNTY
FILE#25E001388-300
The undersigned, TAMMY PARKER, having quali ed on the 1ST DAY of OCTOBER, 2025, as EXECUTOR of the Estate of EVELENE HATCHER CAVENAUGH, deceased, of DUPLIN County, North Carolina, does hereby notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against said Estate to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before the 16TH Day of JANUARY 2026, 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 16TH Day of OCTOBER 2025.
TAMMY PARKER, EXECUTOR 2927 S NC HWY 50 BEULAVILLE, NC 28518 Run dates:O16,23,30,N6p
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
NORTH CAROLINA DUPLIN COUNTY
FILE#25E001358-300 The undersigned, SHAMIKA PITTMAN-PICKETT, having quali ed on the 16TH DAY of SEPTEMBER, 2025, as ADMINISTRATOR of the Estate of DONNIE VELMA PITTMAN, deceased, of DUPLIN County, North Carolina, does hereby notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against said Estate to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before the 25TH Day of DECEMBER 2025, or this Notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned. This the 25TH Day of SEPTEMBER 2025.
SHAMIKA PITTMAN-PICKETT, ADMINISTRATOR 431 JOE HOP WILLIAMS RD. BEULAVILLE, NC 28518
Run dates:S25,O2,9,16p
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
NORTH CAROLINA DUPLIN COUNTY
FILE#25E001159-300 The undersigned, HENRIETTA M. WILLIAMS having quali ed on the 2ND DAY of OCTOBER, 2025, as ADMINISTRATOR of the Estate of ANDREW WILLIAMS, deceased, of DUPLIN County, North Carolina, does hereby notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against said Estate to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before the 16TH Day of JANUARY 2026, 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 16TH Day of OCTOBER 2025.
HENRIETTA M. WILLIAMS 523 W. BONEY ST. WALLACE, NC 28466
Run dates:O16,23,30,N6p
rights of way, deeds of release, and any other encumbrances or exceptions of record. To the best of the knowledge and belief of the undersigned, the current owner(s) of the property is/are Hope M. Harding.
An Order for possession of the property may be issued pursuant to G.S. 45-21.29 in favor of the purchaser and against the party or parties in possession by the clerk of superior court of the county in which the property is sold. Any person who occupies the property pursuant to a rental agreement entered into or renewed on or after October 1, 2007, may, after receiving the notice of sale, terminate the rental agreement by providing written notice of termination to the landlord, to be e ective on a date stated in the notice that is at least 10 days, but no more than 90 days after the sale date contained in the notice of sale, provided that the mortgagor has not cured the default at the time the tenant provides the notice of termination [NCGS § 45-21.16A(b)(2)]. Upon termination of a rental agreement, the tenant is liable for rent due under the rental agreement prorated to the e ective date of the termination.
Pursuant to NCGS §45-21.25A, this sale
WRH from page B1
Travis McIvern
HOF from page B1
Stedman McIvern
obituaries
Donna Ruth McLean Smith
Dec. 21, 1958 – Oct. 7, 2025
Warsaw - Donna Ruth McLean Smith, 66, passed away Tuesday, October 7, 2025, at her home. Mrs. Smith was born on December 21, 1958, in Harnett County, NC, to the late Charles and Ethel Lovette McLean.
A graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, October 11, 2025, in Devotional Gardens, Warsaw, NC.
Mrs. Smith is survived by son, Timothy Jackson and Renee Moore of Goldsboro; daughter, Jessica Daughtry of Warsaw; granddaughter, Karsyn Daughtry; brother, Scott McLean of Sanford; nieces and nephews, Stuart McLean, Charity McLean, Angela Koelbl, Sean McLean; and special niece, Sarah Fairweather.
In lieu of owers, memorials may be made to the Duplin County Humane Society, P.O. Box 88, Kenansville, NC 28349.
Pearline Hill
Nov. 16, 1944 – Oct. 5, 2025
Pearline Hill, 80, of Wallace, NC, passed away on Oct. 5, 2025, at Lower Cape Fear LifeCare in Wilmington, NC. A wake will be held from 4-6 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025, at Hawes Funeral Home in Warsaw. Mrs. Hill will be entombed at Calverton National Cemetery in Wading River, NY.
Victor Jay Albertson
Nov. 22, 1967 – Oct. 5, 2025
Victor Jay Albertson, 57, passed away on October 5, 2025.
He is preceded in death by his parents, J.A, and Linda Albertson and a brother, Michael Albertson
All services are private.
In lieu of owers, donations may be made to Community Funeral Home, P.O. Box 715, Beulaville, NC 28518
He is survived by his sisters Rhonda Brown and Cynthia Penny (Darrell), both of Beulaville, NC; brother Timmy Albertson (Ann), of Chinquapin, NC; and many nieces and nephews. Community Funeral Home of Beulaville is honored to serve the Albertson family.
Latie Kevin Johnson
Sept. 12, 1977 – Oct. 6, 2025
Mr. Latie Kevin Johnson, age 48, of Magnolia, NC, passed away on Monday, October 6, 2025, at Novant Health New Hanover Regional Medical Center in Wilmington, NC.
A funeral service will be held on Friday, October 10, 2025, at 6 p.m. at the Rose Hill Funeral Home Chapel in Rose Hill, NC. Burial will follow at Hu n Family Cemetery, Byrd’s Chapel Road in Rose Hill, NC.
Left to cherish his precious memories are four sons: Latie Johnson, Jr. of NY, Jeremiah Johnson of CT, Jordan Johnson and Joshua Johnson, both of NY; father, Tony G. Snowden of NY; grandmother, Joyce Snowden McGee of Magnolia, NC; ve brothers: Bishop Johnson, Brandon Johnson (SwaQueena), Lataef Johnson, Javin Snowden and DeCorey Snowden, all of NY; ve sisters: ChaTori Snowden, Dalia Snowden and Nicole Johnson, Tatyana Snowden, all of NY and Cashae Johnson of NJ; two step-brothers: Antonio Elliot and Amorie Elliot of Las Vegas, NV; seven aunts, eight uncles and two great-uncles; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends that will miss him dearly.
Judy Nye Thompson
Oct. 24, 1943 – Oct. 2, 2025
Judy Nye Thompson, 81, passed peacefully from her earthly life on Thursday, October 2, 2025. She was born on October 24, 1943, in Bladen County, the daughter of Walter Earl Nye and Mary Clark Nye. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her brother, Robert “Toby” Earl Nye.
Judy is survived by her daughters, Beth Thompson (Je Kilgore) and Lori Thompson; granddaughters, Ella Grace Kilgore and Ava Pearl Wells. Judy grew up in Lisbon, attended grade school in Clarkton, and was a graduate of Campbell University, where she earned her degree in education. Judy was an excellent schoolteacher, teaching in Columbus and Pender County schools. Through her years of teaching, Judy taught at the elementary, middle, and high school levels of education. She was a guiding light to many students. Judy was always an educator with her bright, sunny smile, instilling words of wisdom and learning in her students. She was a devoted and remarkable mother and grandmother who loved her family. Judy was always impeccably dressed and had a beautiful smile to greet you. Judy will truly be missed.
A graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, October 7, 2025, at Mt. Horeb Presbyterian Church Cemetery on NC Hwy 87, Council, NC, with the Rev. Teddy Lawson conducting the service.
Patricia Maready Mobley
Sept. 23, 1957 – Oct. 5, 2025
Patricia Maready Mobley, 68, entered her heavenly home holding her daughter’s hand on October 5, 2025, at ECU Medical Center, Greenville.
Patricia was proceeded in death by her parents, Elbert and Jeanette Maready, Husband WJ Mobley, and special friend Ernie James.
She is survived by her daughter Jenell Wheeler and Husband Mike. The apple of her eye, her grandson Joseph Wheeler. Sister Faye Boyette and husband Lee, Brother Glenn Maready and wife Karry, Blake Maready (Nephew), Kaylee Maready (Niece). Her extended family Wanda Sholar and husband Robert, Runt Mobley, Granny Pat to Blake Sholar (Theresa), Chad Mobley, Tamara Cherry (Blake), Jesse, Memphis, Zephyr, Korbin, Bannick, and Gypson. She was grandma to many.
Patricia was born on September 23, 1957. She would give you the shirt o of her back and help people even when she couldn’t help herself. She loved to cook, work in her yard, and spend time with her grandson. Even in pain she never missed a beat when it came to him. You could often hear her cheering from the stands or watching him receive an award. They loved to play rummy, go shing, or just cuddle in the chair. He was her reason to ght. She fought so hard every day of her life, but she is now walking the streets of gold, pain-free.
Arrangements are as follows: Thursday, October 9, 2025
1-2 p.m. Visitation
2 p.m. Funeral followed by graveside at Amos Lanier Cemetery on Maready Rd. Chinquapin.
In lieu of owers, memorial contributions may be made to Community Funeral Home, P.O. Box 715, Beulaville, NC 28518
Prince Albert Snowden Jr.
March 10, 1946 – Oct. 6, 2025
Mr. Prince Albert Snowden Jr., age 79, of Rose Hill, NC, passed away on Monday, October 6, 2025, in Bishopville, SC.
A funeral service will be held on Friday, October 10, 2025, at 6 p.m. at the Rose Hill Funeral Home Chapel in Rose Hill, NC. Burial will follow at Hu n Family Cemetery, Byrd’s Chapel Road in Rose Hill, NC.
Left to cherish his precious memories are his sister, Joyce Ann Snowden McGhee of Magnolia, NC; two uncles: Bobby Hu n (Virginia) of Teachey, NC and Samuel Hu n (Lynetta) of Leland, NC; two adopted children: Sharon Snowden-Hu of Mooresville, NC and Amber Hadden of Gastonia, NC; one grandchild, Braydin McMillan of Mooresville, NC; numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends that will miss him dearly.
Abner Rivenbark
Dec. 11, 1938 – Oct. 1, 2025
Abner Rivenbark, 86, formerly of Burgaw, North Carolina, and Fort Washington, Maryland, went home to be with his Savior Jesus Christ on October 1, 2025. Abner was born on December 11, 1938, in Horse Branch, Watha, North Carolina. When he was just three years old, his father died in a car accident, and at an early age, he helped his widowed mother, along with his siblings, tend the family farm during the latter years of the depression. His chores included loading mule carts full of butter and eggs before sunrise to transport them and sell them in Wilmington, North Carolina, and fending o nighttime moonshiners who used the creek running through their farm to transport whiskey. At the age of 17, Abner entered the United States Air Force.
In the Air Force, Abner served 20 years during the height of the Cold War, including deployments to Greenland and ten years of service in the Presidential Squadron at Andrews Air Force Base. There, he worked directly on Air Force One, installing and repairing interior furnishings for the President of the United States. He retired as a Senior Master Sergeant E8 and maintained lifetime friendships with many fellow servicemen. Abner then served 18.5 years for the United States Congress on Capitol Hill, where he supervised the House of Representatives drapery shop, creating and installing drapery and upholstery for Congressmen and the House of Representatives Chamber. He also oversaw the design and installation of the drapery and buntings that decorated the exterior of the United States Capitol building during four di erent Presidential Inaugurations. After retirement, Abner and
Leslie “Sonny” Rowe
July 25, 1932 – Oct. 4, 2025
Though our hearts are heavy, we celebrate the life of Leslie C “Sonny” Rowe who lived 93 long, loved, blessed years and passed from his earthly life Saturday, October 4, 2025. Sonny was born on July 25, 1932, on the homeplace in Currie, one of twelve children born to the late David Franklin Rowe and Mildred Laura Ward Rowe. He attended Long Creek School and graduated from Zebulon High School, where he played basketball. Sonny served in the Navy from 1950 to 1954 on the submarine USS Chopper 342, which was stationed in Key West and served in the European Occupation following WWII. After his service, he returned home to Pender County and the Wilmington area. One night at the Ocean Plaza in Carolina Beach he met a young lady, Bernice Herring. Sonny and Bernice were married for 57 years before her passing in 2018. They had ve children, David Rowe, Doug Rowe, John Rowe, Gina (Larry) Hesse, Tina St. Pierre and seven
his wife, Annie, returned home to Pender County, North Carolina, and continued his passion for building, repairing, and maintaining his home. He enjoyed farming, growing vegetables, blueberries and owers. His church, family, friends and many people in need were helped by his kindness and generosity. Abner loved his big gatherings and never met a stranger who didn’t leave as his friend. He enjoyed his large family and as the years progressed, he and Annie became a hub of activity for each new generation. Many happy memories were made as they generously opened their home to family and friends, too numerous to count. In their later years Abner and Annie lived in South Carolina, moving to be closer to family. Abner is now reunited with his beloved Annie and his family, siblings, many cousins, uncles and aunts that he so enjoyed. We imagine that he is already happily mowing the grass in heaven. Abner is survived by his sisters, Julie Collins and Nettie Daub; daughter, Dana (John) Soltis; sons, Don (Terri) Collins and Mark (Beth) Collins; grandchildren, Rachel, Kadric, Michael, Samuel, Anna and Benjamin Soltis, Justin (Amanda) Glenn, Tayor, Trey, Samuel and Kate Collins; greatgrandchildren, Lorelai and Liam Glenn; cousin, Hildreth Gallagher. nephews, Daniel, Joe, Charlie, Delane, and Darrell Rivenbark and Will Daub. Plus many loving cousins, nephews and nieces throughout our numerous family.
Abner was predeceased by his cherished wife of 26 years, Annie (Shupe) Rivenbark: parents, Mary Katheryn and Abner Coy Rivenbark; brothers, Coy Taylor Rivenbark, Edward Lee Rivenbark, and Jimmy Rivenbark; and sister, Marjorie Katheryn Malpass.
The family thanks Gloria and Jerry Taylor and Glenda Shelton for their loving assistance in so many ways to both Annie and Abner over several years as their health declined. Also, we owe gratitude to Melissa and Larry Rivenbark, who stayed around the clock with Abner during his nal days.
The family will receive friends at noon on Saturday, October 11, 2025, at Quinn McGowen Funeral Home Burgaw Chapel. The funeral service begins at 1 p.m., with Rev. Randy Little and Rev. Dean Walker conducting the service.
Burial will follow in Riverview Memorial Park.
grandchildren, Ashley (Tyler) Small, Adam Rowe, Nicholas, Lauren and Christian Hesse and Zach and Abbey St. Pierre; and a great-grandchild on the way.
Sonny is also survived by his brother, John “Shaby” Rowe; and many nieces and nephews. While Daddy’s military service took him to exciting destinations around the world and his days as a truck driver took him all over the United States, his heart and home were always in the history and heritage of his family here in Pender County. He loved the land and farming. Sonny farmed many crops but had a passion for Strawberry farming. He ran a successful strawberry plant business that sold plants all over the US. He was an innovator in brining plasticulture strawberry farming to NC. The Sonny Rowe Farm Market has served up their trademarked “Carolina Sweetie” strawberries and Jumbo peanuts to travelers and the community for over 60 years, with a roadside produce stand rst on Hwy 421, then in Rocky Point. Daddy loved farming but also had a great interest in genealogy and loved talking with customers, friends and family about genealogy and the history of Pender County. He was a huge history bu and an avid reader about the Civil War. He was a fun and lively storyteller who loved to cut up with his friends at their morning “board meetings”. He will be laid to rest on the land and farm he loved. The graveside service will be on Friday, October 17, 2025, at 11 a.m. on the Rowe Farm at 10895 US Hwy 421, Currie. After the service, family and friends are invited to join us at Moore’s Creek Baptist Church for visitation and fellowship.
Senate candidate Whatley visits local farmers
Agribusiness leaders highlighted the industry’s billion-dollar impact on the local economy
By Mark Grady For Duplin Journal
KENANSVILLE — Michael Whatley, the man hand-picked by President Donald Trump to face o against former Gov. Roy Cooper in the race for the U.S. Senate seat after North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis announced he would not seek reelection, dropped into the Duplin County Airport on Oct. 7 to meet with area agriculture leaders.
The race is predicted by political observers to be the most expensive Senate race in U.S. history. The meeting was arranged by 4th District state Rep. Jimmy Dixon.
Local representatives from several agricultural companies, farms and groups lled the lobby at the airport for the meeting, including House of Raeford, Cottle Farms, Mount Olive Pickles and Chad Herring, president of North Carolina Family Farms.
Dixon, introducing Whatley, pointed out to the candidate the signi cant economic contributions agribusiness in Duplin County makes.
“House of Raeford, Nate
Johnson and Sons, with sales last year in excess of a billion dollars,” Dixon said. “They employ several thousand people.”
Dixon also singled out Herring, who Dixon said owned 42 chicken houses “at a cost of $260,000 apiece.”
Whatley told the group he was very familiar with Duplin County, especially after being asked by the Trump campaign to quickly arrange a rally.
“When we were looking to hold our rst ag-oriented event, I was on the phone with the Farm Bureau and I said, ‘Hey, I need a place to hold a Trump rally.’ Jimmy (Dixon) called me back and said, ‘We got a place in Kenansville.’”
Whatley said he called the campaign and said, “We got a place in Kenansville, North Carolina, population 855. They said, ‘You sure about this?’”
He said he got the same response from Trump Tower after hearing how small Kenansville is, but they had the event at the Duplin Event Center. Whatley said it ended up being “fantastic.”
After serving as chairman of the North Carolina Republican Party, he was chosen by the president to become chairman of the Republican National Committee until he got a call from Trump after Tillis decided against seeking reelection.
Teresa Cottle, left, of Cottle Farms, expresses concerns about H2-A visa issues with U.S. Senate candidate Michael Whatley during a meeting in the lobby of Duplin County Airport on Oct. 7. The meeting with agriculture leaders in the county was arranged by Duplin County state Rep. Jimmy Dixon, who represents District 4.
“The president asked me to step aside at RNC and step into this race and run,” Whatley said.
In an exclusive interview with Duplin Journal after his meeting with farmers, Whatley noted the di erence between how larger population areas versus more rural areas think, and the improtance of rural areas to him.
“They’re tremendously important,” Whatley said. “We’ve got 100 counties in North Car-
olina. We’ve got a microcosm of America. Agriculture is the No. 1 part of our economy. The agriculture issues, you’re not going to learn, you’re not going to talk to people about what they care about and get that input on agriculture issues if all you ever do is go from Charlotte to Raleigh and back.” Republicans have dominated many elections throughout the state, including success in judicial races and a nearly ve-
to-proof majority in the General Assembly, but North Carolina voters have also leaned toward Democrats in other statewide races.
“We’re a purple state,” Whatley said. “We’re 30% Republican, 30% Democrat, and 40% unafliated. When we think about the federal races, whether it’s president, Senate or Congress, the Republicans win when we listen to the voters, and we understand what they care about and put solutions on the table.”
Whatley addressed two issues he believes are very important to voters in the state — the economy and safety.
“When I look at North Carolina as a whole, the economy really, really matters,” he said. “It matters to everybody in every community. We need more jobs. We need to raise wages. We need to have policies that are going to help our manufacturers and our small businesses and our farmers.”
On safety, Whatley said, “If your community isn’t safe, then that’s a huge problem. We need to make sure we are doing everything we can to keep every one of our communities and our families safe.”
He added one more issue he believes is important to the state.
“And of course, everybody cares about the military here in North Carolina.”
Dunkin’ celebrates grand opening of Wallace store
A local single mom of four
By Mark Grady For Duplin Journal
WALLACE — Jessica Hansley of Wallace woke up last Wed-
nesday morning with a plan.
“I was on a mission to get free co ee for a year,” Hansley told Duplin Journal in an interview. Dunkin’ had an-
nounced the rst 100 people at the grand opening of its new store would receive free co ee for a year.
“You know how they say ‘America runs on Dunkin’? Well, I run on ca eine, I have to have it to function,” Hansley added with a laugh.
Wallace Rotary donates dictionaries to Chinquapin third graders
The Wallace Rotary also donated dictionaries to Wallace and Rose Hill-Magnolia Elementary schools
By Mark Grady For Duplin Journal
CHINQUAPIN — For as long as Rotary Club members can remember, they have donated student dictionaries to third graders. Last Friday, Duplin Journal was there when Steve and Carol Paes of the Wallace Rotary Club presented the dictionaries at Chinquapin Elementary School.
Two representatives from each third grade class came to the lobby to accept the dictionaries and have their photo taken as part of the presentation. The students were wearing pink Friday as part of the school’s breast cancer awareness day.
Chinquapin Elementary Assistant Principal Jessica Whitman told Duplin Journal the dictionary donations from the Wallace Rotary Club are very welcome.
“We’re able to use them in the classroom as a resource and teach students how to use them,” Whitman said. “Without them, students are deferred to the internet, so having a book in their hand to teach them how to appropriately use it is very bene cial. We can do a
MARK GRADY FOR DUPLIN JOURNAL
Chinquapin Elementary School Assistant Principal Jessica Whitman, far left, joins Steve Paes of Wallace Rotary Club, school counselor Susan Matthews-Raynor and Carol Paes of Wallace Rotary Club, all in back row, along with student representatives from each of the school’s third-grade classes to accept donations of student dictionaries from the Wallace Rotary Club last Friday.
lot of things with a dictionary.”
Carol Paes of the Wallace Rotary Club added the dictionaries’ bene ts go well beyond the school since the students are able to eventually take them home.
“It also bene ts the family,” she said. “They bring the dictionary home and kids that haven’t received them have access also.”
In addition to the dictionary, each contains a colorful bookmark promoting the well-known Rotary Club Four Way Test, which encourages the use of four questions to consider before making decisions, taking action or
speaking. The questions are:
1. Is it the truth?
2. Is it fair to all concerned?
3. Will it build goodwill and better friendships?
4. Will it be bene cial to all concerned?
Other local third graders who bene ted from the Wallace Rotary Club student dictionary donations included students from Wallace Elementary School and Rose Hill-Magnolia Elementary School.
Hansley, a single mom of four children, was glad her plan worked.
“As soon as I got the girls on the bus, I went straight down there,” Hansley said. “I got there just after 7 a.m. and the line was already wrapped around the building. I was
worried I wasn’t going to be one of the rst 100, but when they passed out the cards, I got number 69.” Hansley said they collected the card once she was in the store and traded it for a coupon book that allows for four free co ees a month for a year.
Sheri Statton Stokes, left, poses with Capt. Denise Mitchell, who was recently appointed president of the North Carolina Jail Administrators Association at the organization’s yearly banquet in Greensboro. Mitchell is a jail administrator for the Duplin County Sheri ’s O ce and the rst Duplin County o cial to serve as president of the NCJAA.
COURTESY DUPLIN COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE
Duplin County captain takes helm of N.C. Jail Association
MARK GRADY FOR DUPLIN JOURNAL
Stanly NewS Journal
Machining young minds
The Gene Haas Machining Innovation Center features state-of-the-art CNC machines and equipment inside Stanly Community College’s new Trades Facility. The college held a dedication ceremony last Thursday for the $12 million, 31,600-square-foot building on its Albemarle campus. For more photos, turn to page A4.
WHAT’S HAPPENING
Pa. man pleads guilty in arson attack while Shapiro’s family slept in governor’s mansion Harrisburg, Pa.
A man who scaled a security fence in the middle of the night and set re to the Pennsylvania governor’s mansion has pleaded guilty to attempted murder and other charges. Cody Balmer entered the plea Tuesday for the April attack that caused millions of dollars in damage to the state-owned building in Harrisburg. Gov. Josh Shapiro and members of his family were inside and had to be evacuated. No one was injured, but authorities say the 38-year-old Balmer told them he planned to beat the governor with a small sledgehammer if he encountered him. Balmer’s family has said he has a history of mental health problems.
SpaceX launches
11th test ight of mega Starship rocket with another win
SpaceX has launched another of its mammoth Starship rockets on a test ight. The 403-foot Starship thundered into the evening sky Monday from Texas. The booster peeled away and made a controlled entry into the Gulf of Mexico as planned, with the spacecraft skimming space before descending into the Indian Ocean. It’s similar to the previous test ight in August, which scored a success following a string of explosive failures. SpaceX’s Elon Musk intends to use Starship to send people to Mars. NASA cannot land astronauts on the moon by decade’s end without Starship.
Visitor spending for Stanly County was up 6.9% last year
By Jesse Deal Stanly News Journal
ALBEMARLE — The Albemarle City Council received an annual county tourism report from the Stanly County Convention and Visitors Bureau at last week’s meeting.
CVB Director Kasey Brooks presented an overview of the bureau’s 2024 Tourism Economic Impact Report, documenting visitor spending, local economic impact, employment and tax revenue contributions.
Last year, visitor spending for the county reached $115.79 million, a 6.9% increase from the previous year.
In 2024, the county’s tourism industry supported 683 local jobs and generated $4.58 million in state tax revenue and $3.69 million in local
taxes, resulting in an estimated $126.70 in tax savings per county resident.
“We are working diligently to try to get the message out to allow Stanly County to know that we do have a tourism department,” Brooks said. “Our mission is to get these folks here and support local busi-
Today’s announcement will free people from the nancial stress so that they can focus on getting healthy.”
Gov. Josh Stein
nesses. I am very proud of our numbers from last year, as we have actually moved up from 52nd in tourism spending in North Carolina to the 50th rank.” Brooks credited the success of the Farm Bureau Livestock Arena and continued interest in Morrow Mountain State
The project o ers hospitals increased Medicaid reimbursement to forgive debt
By Gary D. Robertson The Associated Press
RALEIGH — More than 2.5 million North Carolina residents are getting over $6.5 billion in medical debt eliminated through a state government e ort that offered hospitals extra Medicaid funds from Washington if they gave low- and middle-income patients the nancial relief and implemented policies to discourage future liabilities.
Democratic Gov. Josh Stein, the state health department secretary and other o cials announced Monday results so far from what then-Gov. Roy Cooper unveiled 15 months ago as a rst-of-its-kind initiative. While helping almost one-quarter of North Carolina residents, Stein said the e ort has exceeded expectations in giving individuals and families a second chance
“We are working diligently to try to get the message out to allow Stanly County to know that we do have a tourism department.”
Park as two positive growth factors for the county’s increase in visitors. She also noted the CVB’s efforts in improving visitstanly.com as an online resource for bringing in visitors for events.
“We really have put a lot of e ort into trying to become a central hub for our county. I’ve really put boots on the ground
THE STANLY COUNTY EDITION OF NORTH STATE JOURNAL
Kasey Brooks, director of the Stanly County Convention and Visitors Bureau
PJ WARD-BROWN / STANLY NEWS JOURNAL
COURTESY CITY OF ALBEMARLE
Stanly County Convention and Visitors Bureau Director Kasey Brooks speaks to the Albemarle City Council on Oct. 6.
THURSDAY
Historic Badin Hardaway Powwow returns
The annual event began in 2013
By Jesse Deal Stanly News Journal
ALBEMARLE — The Historic Badin Hardaway Powwow, a celebration of Native American culture and heritage, will make its annual return to Stanly County this weekend with a new location and expanded o erings.
This year’s powwow will be held Saturday and Sunday at the Farm Bureau Livestock Arena in Albemarle, marking the rst time the event has moved from its traditional home in downtown Badin.
“With an ever-growing following, the outstanding American Indian cultural gathering Historic Badin Hardaway Powwow is back and bigger than ever,” the Town of Badin said in a statement. “This year’s event will be hosted at the Stanly County Agri-Civic Center in the all-new covered arena with indoor and outdoor accommodations.”
The two-day event, landing just days after Indigenous Peoples’ Day (celebrated Monday), will feature intertribal
“It’s free and an
experience.”
Stanly County Convention and Visitors Bureau
and exhibition dancing, storytelling, ute music, craft vendors, food, giveaways and historical presentations.
As an intertribal powwow open to all dancers, participants will include members of the Monacan, Cherokee, Eastern Band of Cherokee, Coharie and Shawnee tribes. Drum circles and singing will be provided by the Tobacco Road Southern Drum Core, War Paint Singers and Gray Cloud Singers.
Saturday’s festivities be
gin with parking opening at 11 a.m. Dancing will start at noon and continue until 6 p.m. Sunday’s schedule starts with parking at noon and the event running from 12:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.
A highlight of Saturday’s program will be a competitive dance event with cash prizes awarded to rst-place ($400), second-place ($200) and third-place ($100) nish-
ers in both men’s and women’s divisions.
“It’s free and an amazing cultural experience,” the Stanly County Convention and Visitors Bureau said in a statement. “Come visit Stanly County and bring the kids along for all the amazing activities!”
The Hardaway Powwow was rst held in 2013 as a way to honor and recognize Native Americans while paying tribute to the region’s original inhabitants.
Badin’s Indigenous history traces back more than 12,000 years, with the nearby Hardaway Site — designated a National Historic Landmark in 1990 — o ering one of the most signi cant archaeological records in the Southeast. Located on a rocky ridge overlooking Badin Lake, artifacts from the site have included the distinctive Hardaway projectile point, stone tools and animal bone shards.
The Historic Badin Hardaway Powwow is sponsored by the Stanly County Arts Council, Uwharrie Bank, Citation Logistics and Badin Business Park. Additional information about the event can be found online at historicbadinhardawaypowwow.com.
Endy Class of ’57’s 68th reunion
Members of Endy High School's Class of 1957 gathered Sept. 20 at The Local Room in Locust to celebrate their 68th reunion, including, from left, Shelbia Goss Shore, Becky Hathcock Lord, Larry Burris, Linda Cree Spellman and Rozena E rd Tucker. The class, which originally had 24 graduates in 1957, has maintained its tradition of reuniting over the decades. Three classmates were unable to attend: Ruby Furr Rummage, Judith Burleson Barbee and Janice Furr E rd. The group concluded their celebration by singing the old Endy Fight Song.
Share with your community! Send us your births, deaths, marriages, graduations and other announcements to be published in Stanly News Journal. community@stanlynewsjournal.com Weekly deadline is Monday at Noon
Here’s a quick look at what’s coming up in and around Stanly County:
Oct. 23
Ladies Fall Crawl
6-10 p.m.
Evening of shopping and sipping throughout downtown Albemarle. The event bene ts United Way Stanly and features participating downtown merchants o ering special deals and refreshments.
Downtown Albemarle
Oct. 25
Badin Brews Fall Festival
Noon-8 p.m.
Downtown street festival featuring live music, craft beer, food trucks, vendor marketplace and kids’ activities. The annual celebration brings together local breweries, artisans and community members for a day of fall festivities.
Downtown Badin
Oct. 25
Albemarle Downtown Farmers Market Craft Fair
8 a.m. to noon
The closing day of the 2025 farmers market season features special craft and artisan vendors in addition to regular market o erings. It’s the last chance to shop the market until spring.
Market Station 501 W. Main St. Albemarle
COURTESY
THE CONVERSATION
Trip Ho end, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor
VISUAL VOICES
How Trump’s FTC can keep drug prices down for working Americans
A settlement will immediately bene t consumers.
HOW DO LEADING RETAILERS like Amazon and Walmart deliver low prices to their customers? The companies buy so much from their suppliers that they can demand discounts. That dynamic applies in the health care industry as well, as companies called pharmacy bene t managers (PBMs) negotiate with pharmaceutical companies to keep prices down. But it’s up to the Trump administration to keep it that way.
On Sept. 29, the Federal Trade Commission came one step closer to nally making a decision on the Biden FTC’s case against PBMs. A settlement will immediately bene t consumers while reinforcing the valuable role PBMs play in negotiating with pharmaceutical companies to drive down drug prices.
PBMs negotiate drug prices on behalf of employers, insurers and patients. Managing more than 90% of U.S. prescriptions (per the FTC) gives them leverage they need to demand discounts and rebates from Big Pharma.
The backdrop to the FTC case, which was led shortly before last year’s presidential election, is the 1,200% rise in insulin prices from 1999-2017. The Biden FTC claimed that “even when lower list price insulins became available that could have been more a ordable for vulnerable patients, the PBMs systemically excluded them in favor of high list price … insulin products”— because the more expensive drugs are, the bigger the rebates they receive.
When I rst took over as chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Health Subcommittee, I was a bit skeptical of PBMs because of all the negative ads I saw about them (which I later found out were sponsored by the pharmaceutical companies). However, when I dug into the data, I quickly noticed that the truth was far di erent from what some of the industry’s biggest players want us to believe.
The employers who hire PBMs love them. They are best thought of as akin to a bulk buyer at a market, using scale to drive better deals. If they weren’t buying in bulk, they would not have the leverage that’s needed with the
pharma giants, which would drive prices even higher.
I’m sure, like in any industry, there are some bad actors, or at least some actors who have engaged in some brow-raising activities. Those entities should not escape punishment. That said, the overall net value of PBMs speaks for itself.
Even the FTC’s complaint admits PBMs pass on 90% to 98% of rebate dollars directly to their clients, as The Wall Street Editorial Board pointed out. Which raises the question: Did the Biden FTC even believe the arguments made in its own suit?
After all, Biden FTC Chair Lina Khan was not shy in intimidating that she was unconcerned about bringing weak cases to court. She believed that pursuing cases that wouldn’t stand legal scrutiny was important as a means of convincing the legislature to expand the law to her progressive liking.
Rather than taking the PBM case to federal court, the FTC led it in its own administrative court — meaning the agency felt compelled to act as both prosecutor and judge. If the commission wasn’t con dent that an independent judiciary would give the ruling it desired, that’s not a very encouraging sign.
All of this underscores the value of settling the PBM case, which is possible with Trump appointees now in charge at the FTC.
Taking this case o the FTC’s books and instead reaching a settlement with bad actors would protect consumers while preserving employers’ ability to hold the pharmaceutical company’s feet to the re.
Put another way, the FTC can punish any genuine misconduct while still keeping the buyers’ club that holds Big Pharma intact. If Amazon or Walmart saw a deal that delivered lower prices for millions of Americans, they’d take it. Washington should too.
Joseph R. Pitts served as a member of the U.S. House from Pennsylvania. He chaired the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Health. This column was rst published by The Daily Signal.
Arsonist burns down climate hoax
It’s been obvious for at least 150 years that climate change has nothing to do with the January wild res.
THE ARREST THIS WEEK of a suspect for starting the re that led to last January’s deadly Palisades wild re in Los Angeles came as no real surprise.
Arson was hinted at as early as February. People had previously been arrested for arson or arson has been suspected in connection with recent wild res in New Jersey, New York, California, Hawaii, Canada, Greece and other places. So when the Department of Justice announced during its press conference this week that evidence of arson developed early in the investigation, it came as no shock.
But the rst and last instinct of climate hoaxers is always to blame climate change.
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) blamed climate change in an X post that garnered 18.5 million views on Jan 8.
The New York Times, “PBS News Hour,” Los Angeles Times, The Associated Press and Axios soon joined the bandwagon. Leftover Biden sta ers in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the activist-researchers at World Weather Attribution, whose occupation is to blame bad weather on climate change, chimed in weeks later.
Most recently, the National Academy of Sciences used the Los Angeles wild res as part of its pretext for attacking the Trump
EPA e ort to rescind the endangerment nding for greenhouse gases.
But it’s been obvious for at least 150 years that climate change has nothing to do with the January wild res. On Oct. 30, 1875, the Anaheim Gazette even warned readers of the exact same risky conditions that existed in January 2025: “The terrible con agration that occurred in Virginia City yesterday, with all its horror of a useless re department, because of a meager water supply, is what will happen some of these days to Anaheim.”
The paper continued: “Suppose a re should break out in some of our many re nests, which are too abundant now, or among closely packed wooden buildings at the inopportune time when a heavy sea breeze was blowing, or when our dreaded Santa Ana wind came upon us … what could be done?”
And that eerie warning from the past — from the failed re hydrants to the burn-ready buildings to the Santa Ana winds — is exactly what happened to Los Angeles in 2025 once the arsonist struck. No global warming needed. Nor is any warming even occurring in the area.
Los Angeles is actually cooler now than it was in the late 1950s per U.S. government data. Although it was unusually dry in Los Angeles County
during September to December 2024, the precipitation trend during that same period has actually increased slightly since 1895, also per U.S. government data.
Blaming the Los Angeles wild res on global warming was always a lie and not a harmless one. The stock price of Edison International, the parent company of electric utility South California Edison, took a massive hit from which it has still not recovered, despite the stock market being at record highs and electricity demand exploding.
I don’t know whether the suspect arrested for setting the Palisades re will be found guilty. But I do know that “climate change” is not. Ahead of the Democratic primary for the 2020 election, Sanders said he wanted to criminally investigate fossil fuel executives for lying about climate change. This would be a good time for him to look in the mirror.
Steve Milloy is a biostatistician and lawyer. This column was rst published by Daily Caller News Foundation.
COLUMN | STEVE MILLOY
COLUMN | REP. JOE PITTS
Training the trades
Stanly Community College opened its doors last Thursday to showcase the new Trades Facility to community members, students and industry partners. The $12 million building houses specialized training areas for advanced manufacturing, electrical systems technology, HVAC, electronics engineering technology and building construction technology. Among the facility’s centerpieces is the Gene Haas Machining Innovation Center, which features computer-integrated machining equipment. Other areas include electrical and PLC labs with hands-on training stations, HVAC systems for air conditioning and refrigeration technology students, and construction training spaces. The 31,600-square-foot facility is designed to prepare students for high-demand careers in the skilled trades.
219 W. Main Street Albemarle, NC 28001
PHOTOS BY PJ WARD-BROWN / STANLY NEWS JOURNAL
to succeed nancially after medical crises. O cials previously estimated it could help about 2 million people get rid of $4 billion in debt. The debt that had been held by hospitals, and are usually di cult to recover, will be pulled from credit reports, the governor said.
“This is life-changing news for so many families,” Stein said, adding that recipients on average will have $2,600 erased. “No one chooses to have a heart attack or get diagnosed with a chronic condition — you just have to deal with it. Today’s announcement will free people from the nancial stress so that they can focus on getting healthy.” Another news conference speaker described patients who avoided services or threatened to halt treatments to prevent more debt from accumulating on themselves or their family.
Hospitals that agreed to participate have already alerted many patients to tell them their debt is essentially canceled,
state health o cials said Monday. And Undue Medical Debt, a national group working on the e ort and taking over some hospital liabilities, plans to send 255,000 notices this week to other recipients.
The e ort germinated from what’s called the Healthcare Access and Stabilization Program, which state legislators approved in 2023 at the same time as expanded Medicaid coverage to working adults who couldn’t otherwise qualify for conventional Medicaid. Hospitals pay assessments to draw down billions of dollars in federal money.
The state Department of Health and Human Services last year proposed that certain hospitals could receive higher program reimbursement levels to treat Medicaid enrollees if they agreed to medical debt initiatives. The federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services signed o on the plan details, and by August 2024 each of the roughly 100 acute - care, rural or university-connected hospitals that
enrollees. They also would later have to eliminate other debt for nonenrollees based on income levels. And the hospitals were directed to discourage debt by doing things like automatically enrolling people in charity care programs or curbing certain debt collection practices.
The $6.5 billion gure includes debt relieved directly through the initiative and through hospital policy changes to implement it, Stein’s o ce said.
Other state and local governments have tapped into federal American Rescue Plan funds to help purchase and cancel residents’ debt. Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs announced in July that $429 million in medical debt had been erased for more than 352,000 state residents.
quali ed decided to participate.
Under rules previously announced, the hospitals had to eliminate medical debt going back to early 2014 for patients who are Medicaid
“North Carolina’s approach is completely unique,” said Jose Penabad, the Undue Medical Debt vice chair. Several states are following North Carolina’s use of Medicaid incentives closely, he added. North Carolina debt eradication exceeded initial estimates in part because patients outside
the population being targeted also had their debt eliminated, Stein said. Hospitals, for example, sometimes have eliminated debt for patients incurred at associated physician practices, said Jonathan Kappler, a state deputy health secretary. More debt will be eliminated in the future, he added.
State health secretary Dr. Dev Sangvai, told reporters the law approved by Congress in July that made cuts and policy changes to Medicaid won’t immediately a ect the debt elimination initiative.
Some hospitals were initially hesitant about the debt relief initiative because new requirements were being placed upon the reimbursements, Cooper said last year. The North Carolina Healthcare Association, which lobbies for nonpro t and for-pro t hospitals, said Monday in a statement that it’s concerned “recent and proposed government policies could add nancial pressures” that prevent hospitals from expanding programs to help low-income patients.
there,” Hall said. “There are so many opportunities like said. People say there’s on, but their open because evthere’s someon within our
The Albemarle City Council will hold its next regular meeting on Monday night at 6:30 p.m. in the City Hall
At next week’s meeting, council will hear presentations from citizens who expressed interest in lling the unexpired term of Councilman Chris Whitley, who resigned from his seat representing District 4 on
GARY D. ROBERTSON / AP PHOTO
OBITUARIES
MARGARET “PEG” KAY BECK
MAY 24, 1946 – OCT. 5, 2025
Margaret “Peg” Kay Beck, 79, of Albemarle, peacefully passed away on Sunday, October 5, 2025, at Atrium Health Cabarrus, surrounded by her loving family.
A memorial service to celebrate Peg’s life will be held at 4 p.m. on Saturday, October 11, 2025, at Stanly Funeral and Cremation Care of Albemarle, o ciated by Pastor Ron Lo in. Inurnment will take place at Salisbury National Cemetery at a later date. There will be no formal visitation.
Born May 24, 1946, in Saxton, Pennsylvania, Peg was the daughter of the late John and Marguerite Allison. She is lovingly survived by her devoted husband of 55 years, William Beck; daughter, Amy Little (Greg); grandchildren, Ethan Little and step-grandchild, Nathan Little; and sisters, Kathy Pawuk and Dorothy Ramsey (Ken). She was preceded in death by her brother, Jim Allison.
Peg was a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother whose caring spirit and kindness touched everyone she met. Known for her willingness to help others, her intelligence, and her remarkable organization, she will be remembered for her generosity, her love of family, and her steady presence in the lives of those who knew her.
JOHN “TERRY” HATLEY
FEB. 15, 1954 – OCT. 7, 2025
John “Terry” Hatley, 71, of Locust, passed away Tuesday, October 7, 2025, at Atrium Health Cabarrus, surrounded by family.
Terry was born February 15, 1954, in Albemarle, North Carolina, to the late Clester Lee Hatley and Pearl Blake Hatley. He was also preceded in death by his long-time signi cant other, Melanie Cook Lilly, stepson, Greg Lilly, and siblings Trulia, Edith, Clessie, Mary Lou, Wayne, and Elaine.
Terry was always working hard replacing oors or making counter tops beautiful, installing tile and granite, re nishing and repainting furniture, or just simply helping others. He loved dogs and horses. He loved eating with his friends at Buddy’s Place in Mt. Pleasant. Terry always enjoyed talking with others. Living a simple life with his dog, Baby, and being with family and friends made Terry the happiest.
The family will have a memorial service on Thursday, October 9, 2025, at 6 p.m. at Berea Baptist Church, 100 Berea Baptist Church Rd, Stan eld, NC 28163.
Survivors include daughter, Amanda Hatley; stepdaughters, Melissa (Pety) Moore and Tammy Morgan; sisters, Vickie Smith and Jeanie Harkey, and families. Terry was loved by so many people, including nephews, nieces, step-grandchildren, their families, and many, many friends.
BRUCE EDWARD HACKMAN
DEC. 10, 1951 – OCT. 8, 2025
Bruce Edward Hackman, 73, of New London, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, October 8, 2025, at Atrium Health Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Born on December 10, 1951, in Decatur, Indiana, Bruce was the son of the late Edward and Patsy Hackman. A retired truck driver, Bruce was known for his strong work ethic, love of the outdoors, and quiet appreciation for life’s simple joys. He enjoyed hunting, shing, and could often be found reading a good book in his spare time.
Bruce is survived by his son, Lawrence Tyrel Hackman of Las Vegas, Nevada; sister, Laura Stricker (Joe) of Beaufort, South Carolina; nieces, Rhonda Sheron (Ron) and Raena Sparks (Todd); nephews, Chad Hackman, Anthony Hackman, Kevin Hackman (Brianne), Timothy Stricker (Wendy), and Geremy Stricker (Margot); along with 17 great-nieces and nephews, and eight great-great-nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his brother, Steven Hackman.
In keeping with Bruce’s wishes, no formal services will be held.
AUDREY MAY WOODALL PINION
JAN. 20, 1943 – OCT. 8, 2025
Audrey Mae Woodall Pinion was born January 20, 1943, to Cecil Woodall and Annie Lucille Preston Shankle in Charleston, South Carolina, where her father was stationed at the Navy Yard. Cecil was from Meridian, Mississippi and Lucille was from Anson County, North Carolina.
After the end of WWII, Audrey’s father moved back to Meridian, and her mother became the family’s primary breadwinner, supporting the family on her wages as a dime store clerk. All the children pitched in to help. Like many young people in the area, Audrey sometimes picked cotton. The price was reported to be a penny per pound. She also got a sales clerk job in the Norwood Department Store. Audrey dearly loved her sister Cecile and her brothers Charles, Ronald, and Donald.
Audrey attended the Norwood, North Carolina schools where she played basketball and excelled at academics, graduating as valedictorian. She later attended Wingate College, studying general education and business. She also earned her license as a real estate broker.
Audrey and Mitchell Wayne (Mickey) Pinion, also of Norwood, had two sons, Thomas Mitchell and Robert Anthony. They resided in Belmont, Mt. Airy, and Monroe, NC, following Mickeys work locations. Audrey was a skilled homemaker and, when the boys were older, worked as an o ce clerk. After moving to Charlotte, she worked as a waitress, front desk clerk at Heritage USA, and independent costume jewelry vendor in the Jerusalem Marketplace there. She was very proud of owning her own business and was sad when forces beyond her control forced Heritage to close the marketplace.
However, this led to a long career with the US Postal Service, where she worked until she retired at age 70. She joined her long-time friend and later ancé, Robert John (‘Bob’) Hoagland, in attending Calvary Church and later a liated with Morningstar Ministries, also in Charlotte. Audrey had a great a nity for Israel; scriptures that emphasized the covenant between Jehovah and Israel resonated with her deeply. She enjoyed gardening—especially tomatoes, peppers, and owers, cooking with the latest gadgets, and maintaining her nails and long blond hair. Besides her ve grandchildren and four great-grandchildren, she was most in love with her cats. Though wheelchair-bound for several years, she relished attending family gatherings and eating out, almost always ordering a steak, baked potato, salad and cheesecake.
After Bob passed away, Audrey moved to Pinehurst, NC, to be near Mitch and his wife, Sarah, and their family. Though she had overcome colon and breast cancer and other major surgeries, and was legally blind due to ischemic optic neuropathy, she eventually succumbed to the e ects of pulmonary arterial hypertension.
Audrey is survived by: Siblings: Cecile Beasley, Donald Woodall, Sister-in-law Carolyn Woodall, Children: Thomas Mitchell Pinion and daughter-in-law Sarah Robert Anthony Pinion Grandchildren and Great-grandchildren: Thomas Mitchell Pinion, Jr. and his partner, Maddie McGrath Mary Parris, and her husband, Cody, with daughter Birdie Martha Bischof and her husband, Grant, with son Chase and daughter Lila Elizabeth Teel, and her husband, Brandon, with son Easton, Rebekah Pinion She was predeceased by her parents, her brothers Charles Woodall and his wife Sue, brother Ronald Woodall, sister-in-law Anna Woodall, and brother-in-law Robert Crump.
The family wishes to acknowledge and thank Audrey’s devoted assistants, who she considered special friends: Celeste McGinnis, Susan LaCosta, and Chasity Scholl, as well as family members, especially Cecile Beasley and Paula Crump Pierre, who provided help beyond measure. We are grateful for the many doctors and nurses in Charlotte, Pinehurst and Durham, especially those at FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital and Hospice House.
PAMELA BURRIS MOORE
AUG. 6, 1953 – OCT. 11, 2025
Pamela Burris Moore, 72, of Norwood, passed away on Saturday, October 11, 2025.
A celebration of life will be held on Wednesday, October 15, 2025, at 2 p.m. at Edwards Funeral Home in Norwood. Pastor Carson Marshburn will o ciate. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service.
Pamela was born on August 6, 1953, in Stanly County to the late Raymond Lee and Helen Cranford Mabry.
In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her husband, Dennis Moore.
She is survived by her daughter Charlotte Sue Howard, grandson Caleb, two sisters: Sylvia Eddins and Lillie Ingram, and two brothers: Roy Lee Mabry and Darrell Mabry.
Diane Keaton, Oscar-winning star, dead at 79
The actress was a well-known and iconic movie star for decades
By Lindsey Bahr The Associated Press
DIANE KEATON, the Oscar-winning star of “Annie Hall,” “The Godfather” lms and “Father of the Bride,” whose quirky, vibrant manner and depth made her one of the most singular actors of a generation, has died. She was 79.
People Magazine reported Saturday that she died in California with loved ones, citing a family spokesperson. No other details were immediately available, and representatives for Keaton did not respond to inquiries from The Associated Press.
The unexpected news was met with shock around the world. Francis Ford Coppola, who cast her in “The Godfather,” wrote on Instagram that, “Words can’t express the wonder and talent of Diane Keaton. Endlessly intelligent, so beautiful...Everything about Diane was creativity personi ed.”
Bette Midler, who she costarred with Keaton in “The First Wives Club,” wrote, “She was hilarious, a complete original, and completely without guile, or any of the competitiveness one would have expected from such a star. What you saw was who she was…oh, la, lala!” Keaton was the kind of actor who helped make lms iconic and timeless, from her “La-deeda, la-dee-da” phrasing as Annie Hall, bedecked in that necktie, bowler hat, vest and khakis, to her heartbreaking turn as Kay Adams, the woman unfortunate enough to join the Corleone family. Her star-making performances in the 1970s, many of which were in Woody Allen lms, were not a ash in the pan, and she would continue to charm new generations for decades thanks in part to a longstanding collaboration with lmmaker Nancy Meyers. She played a businessperson who unexpectedly inherits an infant in “Baby Boom,” the mother of the bride in the beloved remake of “Father of the Bride,” a newly single woman in “The First Wives Club,” and a divorced playwright who gets involved with Jack Nicholson’s womanizing music executive in “Something’s Gotta Give.” Keaton won an Oscar for “Annie Hall” and would go on to be nominated three more times, for “Reds,” “Marvin’s Room,” and “Something’s Gotta Give. In her very Keaton way, upon accepting her Oscar in 1978 she laughed and said, “This is something.” Keaton was born Diane Hall in January 1946 in Los Angeles. Her mother was a homemaker and photographer, and her father was in real estate and civil engineering, and both would inspire her love in the arts, from fashion to architecture. Keaton was drawn to theater and singing while in school in Santa Ana, California, and she dropped out of college after a year to make a go of it in Manhattan. Actors’ Equity already had a Diane Hall in their ranks, and she took Keaton, her mother’s maiden name, as her own. She studied under Sanford Meisner in New York and has credited him with giving her the freedom to “chart the complex terrain of human behavior within the safety of his guidance. It made playing with re fun.”
She started on the stage as an understudy in the Broadway production for “Hair” and in Allen’s “Play It Again, Sam” in 1968, for which she would
receive a Tony nomination.
Keaton made her lm debut in the 1970 romantic comedy “Lovers and Other Strangers,” but her big breakthrough would come a few years later when she was cast in Francis Ford Coppola’s “The Godfather,” which won best picture and become one of history’s most beloved lms.
The 1970s were an incredibly fruitful time for Keaton thanks in part to her ongoing collaboration with Allen in both comedic and dramatic roles. She appeared in “Sleeper,” “Love and Death,” “Interiors,” “Manhattan” and the lm version of “Play it Again, Sam.” The 1977 crime-drama “Looking for Mr. Goodbar” also earned her raves.
Allen and the late Marshall Brickman gave Keaton one of her most iconic roles in “Annie Hall,” the infectious woman from Chippewa Falls whom Allen’s Alvy Singer cannot get over. The lm is considered one of the great romantic comedies of all time, with Keaton’s eccentric, self-deprecating Annie at its heart.
Keaton and Allen were also in a romantic relationship, from about 1968, when she met him while auditioning for his play, until about 1974. Afterward they remained collaborators and friends.
“He was so hip, with his thick glasses and cool suits,” Keaton wrote in her memoir. “But it was his manner that got me, his way of gesturing, his hands, his coughing and looking down in a self-deprecating way while he told jokes.” She was also romantically linked to Pacino, who played her husband in “The Godfather,” and Warren Beatty, who directed her and whom she costarred with in “Reds.” She never married but did adopt two children when she was in her 50s: a daughter, Dexter, and a son, Duke.
In 1987 she began another long-standing collaboration with Nancy Meyers, resulting in four beloved lms starting with “Baby Boom,” directed by Charles Shyer.
Their next team-up would be in the remake of “Father of the Bride,” which Shyer directed and co-wrote with Meyers. She and Steve Martin played the ustered parents to the bride which would become a big hit and spawn a sequel.
In 2003, Meyers would direct her in the romantic comedy “Something’s Gotta Give.” Her character Erica Barry, with her beautiful Hamptons home and ivory out ts, was a key inspiration for the recent costal grandmother fashion trend. It earned her what would be her last Oscar nomination, and later, she’d call it her favorite lm.
Keaton continued working steadily throughout the 2000s, with notable roles in “The Family Stone,” “Morning Glory” and the “Book Club” lms and received an AFI Life Achievement Award in 2017.
“I feel like it’s the wedding I never had, or the big gathering I never had, or the retirement party I never had, or all these things that I always avoided — the big bash,” she told the AP.
“It’s really a big event for me, and I’m really, deeply grateful.”
CHRIS PIZZELLO / AP PHOTO
Diane Keaton poses at a California fashion show in 2022.
STANLY SPORTS
South Stanly blanks North Stanly in 40-0 rout
The Comets were undefeated heading into the matchup
By Jesse Deal Stanly News Journal
NORWOOD — Hosting an undefeated North Stanly team, the South Stanly Rowdy Rebel Bulls ipped a switch on Friday night and dropped 40 unanswered points on the Comets.
South Stanly (5-2, 2-1 Yadkin Valley Conference), which has now won four of its past ve games, used a second-half o ensive surge to turn a sev-
en-point halftime lead into a 40 - 0 shutout victory over North Stanly (6 -1, 3-1 YVC).
Following a scoreless rst quarter, South running back Carter Callicutt put the Bulls on the board with a 5-yard touchdown run with 4:42 left in the half. The senior nished with a team-best 76 rushing yards on 17 carries and also led his team’s defense with 16 total tackles at the linebacker.
In the third quarter, the Bulls added another score as senior quarterback Kaleb Richardson connected with senior wideout Jasiah Holt for a 20 -yard touchdown.
1,238
Passing yards this season for South Stanly quarterback Kaleb Richardson, ranked fourth in 2A
Holt led the Bulls in receiving with seven catches for 105 yards, making up more than half of Richardson’s 194 passing yards in his 11-for-16 passing performance. On North’s next possession,
South quickly gave themselves a three-score lead when they recovered a Comets fumble for a touchdown.
With the Bulls leading 19 - 0 in the fourth quarter, Richardson found senior wide receiver Tripp Edwards in the end zone with a 4 -yard touchdown pass. Richardson now has 13 touchdown passes this season to go with 1,238 passing yards — good for fourth place in yardage among all NCHSAA 2A quarterbacks. The Bulls added 21 points in fourth quarter, getting a pick-six from Jasiah Holt, followed by a 5-yard rushing
touchdown from senior running back Ikey Holt.
South’s shutout win over North arrived almost a full year to the day after the Comets handed the Bulls a 29 -12 loss in New London last season. The Bulls’ last win over the Comets had been during the 2019 season.
On Friday, the Bulls — now fourth in the YVC standings — will travel to Mooresboro to face the seventh-place Thomas Je erson Leadership Academy (3- 4, 1-3 YVC), while the Comets — second in the conference standings — are set to host the rst-place North Rowan (4 -3, 4 - 0 YVC).
North Stanly to host North Rowan in conference battle
The Comets are the only local team with a home matchup this week
By Jesse Deal Stanly News Journal
ALBEMARLE — One Stanly County football team will return home this weekend for a battle with a top conference contender, while three other local squads are scheduled to hit the road for the ninth week of the 2025 campaign.
Through eight weeks of the season, the county’s four teams have a combined record of 15-13 overall, including 6 -7 in conference play.
North Rowan at North Stanly
Looking to rebound from a 40 - 0 shutout loss at South Stanly last Friday, North Stanly (6 -1, 3 -1 Yadkin Valley Conference) will host red-hot North Rowan (4 -3, 4 - 0 YVC), which is coming o four YVC wins and sits in rst place in league standings.
The Comets will host a Cavaliers team that handed TJCA a 58 - 0 beatdown last week on the back of 337 passing yards and ve touchdowns from junior quarterback Michael Alford.
COURTESY NORTH STANLY BOOSTER CLUB
North Stanly’s Nathan Helms is ranked 60th in the state in interceptions with three this season.
South Stanly at Thomas Je erson Classical Academy
losing streak with a 41-14 home win over the winless Bonnie Cone Leadership Academy.
The Bulldogs will now head to Monroe to face the Union Academy (3 - 4, 1-3 YVC), which came up short in a 28 -27 road loss at Mountain Island Charter last week. In the Albemarle’s 27-point win over BCLA, the Bulldogs shifted their game plan by relying on the arm of junior quarterback Adam Jordan and the legs of sophomore running back AJ Butler, racking up four scores between the two players.
West Stanly at Forest Hills
The o ensive woes continue to mount for the West Stanly (1- 6, 0 -2 Rocky River Conference) as they look to bounce back from a 56 -7 home loss Monroe.
Ever since a 43 -7 road win at Albemarle on Sept. 5, the Colts have su ered four losses in a row and have been outscored by at least three touchdowns in each of them.
While North Stanly’s perfect record was blemished last week, the Comets now have the opportunity to make a statement by responding to their rst loss of the year by taking down one of the conference’s top teams.
boro to challenge the Thomas Je erson Leadership Academy (3 - 4, 1-3 YVC).
After their biggest win of the season, the South Stanly (5 -2, 2 -1 YVC) will travel to Moores -
South’s upcoming opponent has lost its past three games, scoring only 13 points across that span, presenting the Bulls with a chance to imrpove to 3 -1 in conference play. As winners of four out of their past ve contests, South can use last weekend’s in-
tracounty victory over North as fuel for the rest of the season as the Bulls aim to tie the amount of wins they had in last year’s 6 - 5 campaign with another win this week.
Albemarle at Union Academy
Last week, Albemarle (2-4, 0-3 YVC) shook o a four-game
With a trip to Marshville to face Forest Hills (6 -1, 1-1 RRC) looming, the Colts will need to be ring on all cylinders as they face the RRC team with the most overall victories this season. However, the Yellow Jackets did prove to be vulnerable in their last outing, coming up short in a 2114 loss to league leader Mount Pleasant.
South Stanly quarterback Kaleb Richardson has racked up 13 touchdown passes this season.
Hamlin charges to emotional 60th Cup win
The victory secures him a spot in the playo nale
By Jenna Fryer The Associated Press
LAS VEGAS — Denny
Hamlin became the rst driver to lock up a spot in the Cup Series’ championship-deciding nale, winning Sunday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway for his career-goal 60th victory.
Hamlin, considered the best driver in Cup Series history to never win a title, is back in the winner-take -all title race for the rst time since 2021. The winningest driver in Joe Gibbs Racing history is tied for 10th on the Cup Series career victories list with Kevin Harvick.
Hamlin, who was emotional two weeks ago about his ailing father when he squandered a victory at Kansas Speedway in the closing laps, dedicated the victory to his father, who also was rooting for his son to hit the 60win mark. Hamlin seemed to have tears in his eyes when he drove his Toyota to collect his 60th checkered ag.
“This win means a lot,” said Hamlin, who had to compose himself on the frontstretch.
“Just put the pedal down on the last 10 laps and made it happen.”
Kyle Larson, seeking to end a 20 -race losing streak, was second in a Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports.
JGR drivers Christopher Bell and Chase Briscoe were third and fourth, Tyler Reddick — who drives for Hamlin at 23XI Racing — was fth, and reigning Cup Series champion Joey Logano was sixth.
Five of the top six — all but Reddick — are still in the playo eld. The others are Chase Elliott, who nished 18th; Daytona 500 winner William Byron was 36th and Ryan Blaney was last in 38th.
Byron was out front and then wiggled out of the groove with 35 laps remaining, saved his Chevrolet from crashing, but teammate Larson sailed past him for the lead. Minutes later, he was involved in a race - ending crash when he drilled into the back of Ty Dillon, unaware that Dillon was
slowing to head to pit road.
“I never saw him wave, I had no indication he was pitting,” Byron said. “I had zero idea. I am just devastated. Obviously, I wouldn’t have driven full-speed into him.”
Bad day for Blaney
Ryan Blaney, second in points at the start of the race, saw his title hopes take a severe hit when a tire issue caused him to crash into the wall with nine laps remaining in the rst stage.
His race immediately ended, he nished 38th and dropped to the bottom of the eight-driver playo round.
Blaney is the 2023 Cup Series champion, with teammate Joey Logano winning titles in 2022 and 2024 to give Team Penske three straight.
The upside is Blaney races next at Talladega Superspeedway, where he’s a three -time winner and considers himself to be in a must-win situation.
“You’ve got to be optimistic. I’m not very happy right now, but tomorrow morning I’ll be optimistic to go to the next race,” Blaney said. “We’ve had good success at the next two events, so hopefully we can come and bring the speed and try to overcome the hole we put ourselves in.”
Reddick’s son
Reddick, who was eliminated from the playo s last weekend, is still racing despite serious health complications facing his infant son.
Rookie Reddick, the second son born to Tyler and Alexa Reddick in May, has a “tumor that’s ‘choking’ the renal vein & renal artery. Telling the heart ‘Hey I’m not getting enough blood… pump harder,’” Alexa Reddick wrote in an update last week. She said it had caused an enlarged heart and the 4 -month- old will need a kidney removed because doctors determined it is no longer functioning.
Alexa Reddick posted on social media ahead of Sunday’s race at Las Vegas that Rookie would have surgery Tuesday and will be moved to a unit to “monitor his heart and BP while his renin slowly drops.”
STEVE MARCUS / AP PHOTO
Denny Hamlin stands by his car after winning Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series playo race in Las Vegas.
Volleyball conference tournaments begin, West Stanly soccer heats up
Stanly News Journal sta
South Stanly volleyball, 8-13, 6-5 in Yadkin Valley 2A/3A
Last week’s scores:
Won 3-0 vs. North Rowan
Lost 3-2 at Gray Stone Day
Won 3-0 vs. Albemarle Yadkin Valley Tournament
This week’s schedule: Oct. 14 vs. North Stanly, Yadkin Valley Tournament
The Rowdy Rebel Bulls will try to keep the season alive in conference tournament play.
South Stanly boys’ soccer, 2-10, 0-8 in Yadkin Valley 2A/3A
Last week’s scores: Lost 2-1 to North Rowan Lost 8-5 at North Stanly
Lost 9-0 at West Stanly
This week’s schedule: Oct. 13 at Union Academy Oct. 15 at Gray Stone Day
The Rowdy Rebel Bulls are running out of opportunities to snap their losing streak, now at 10 in a row.
West Stanly volleyball, 19-3, 12-0 in Rocky River 4A/5A
Last week’s scores:
Won 3-0 vs. Forest Hills
Won 3-0 at Mount Pleasant
This week’s schedule: Oct. 14 vs. Mount Pleasant,
Rocky River Tournament
The Colts closed the regular season on a seven-game win streak, taking 21 of the last 22 sets. They’ll be playing this week for a conference tourney title and state seeding.
West Stanly boys’ soccer, 8-9-1, 5-3-1 in Rocky River 4A/5A
Last week’s scores: Won 2-0 vs. Parkwood Won 4-0 vs. Mount Pleasant Won 9-0 vs. South Stanly Won 2-1 at Central Academy
This week’s schedule: Oct. 15 vs. Monroe Oct. 20 vs. Forest Hills
It’s amazing what a little time o can do. After an 11- day break between games, the Colts came back with three straight shutouts and a four-game win streak.
North Stanly volleyball, 15 -10, 9-1 in Yadkin Valley
Last week’s scores: Won 3-0 at Concord Won 3-0 vs. Albemarle
This week’s schedule: Oct. 14 vs. South Stanly, Yadkin Valley Tournament
The Comets closed the regular season with four straight wins, tying for rst in the Yadkin Valley conference standings. Now they enter postseason play.
North Stanly boys’
soccer, 5-10-2, 2-4-2 in Yadkin Valley
Last week’s scores:
Lost 5-1 at Gray Stone Day Won 8-5 vs. South Stanly Tied 1-1 at North Rowan
This week’s schedule: Oct. 15 vs. Albemarle
The Comets snapped a four-match winless streak with an eight-goal outburst. Albemarle volleyball, 7-9, 2-9 in Yadkin Valley
Last week’s scores: Lost 3-0 at North Stanly Won 3-1 at Forest Hills Lost 3-0 vs. South Stanly, Yadkin Valley Tournament
This week’s schedule: TBD
The Bulldogs split their last two regular season matches, then lost in the conference tourney. They’ll wait to see if they get a bid to the state tournament.
Albemarle boys’ soccer, 8-9-1, 4-4-1 in Yadkin Valley
Last week’s scores: Lost 9-0 vs. Union Academy Tied 1-1 vs. North Rowan Lost 7-2 vs. Gray Stone Day
This week’s schedule: Oct. 15 at North Stanly
The Bulldogs went winless in three matches to fall below .500 again.
Share with your community! Send us your births, deaths, marriages, graduations and other announcements: community@stanlynewsjournal.com Weekly deadline is Monday at Noon
Yadkin Valley 2A/3A
North Rowan: 4-3, 4-0
North Stanly: 6-1, 3-1
Mountain Island: 4-3, 3-1
South Stanly: 5-2, 2-1
Albemarle: 3-4, 1-3
Thomas Je erson: 3-4, 1-3
Union: 3-4, 1-3
Bonnie Cone: 0-7, 0-3
Games last week
Oct. 10
• Albemarle 41, Bonnie Cone 14
• Monroe 56, West Stanly 7
• South Stanly 40, North Stanly 0
Rocky River 4A/5A
Mount Pleasant: 5-2, 2-0
Monroe: 3-3, 2-0
Forest Hills: 6-1, 1-1
Anson: 1-6, 1-1
West Stanly: 1-6, 0-2
Parkwood: 1-6, 0-2
Games this week Oct. 17
• North Rowan at North Stanly
• Albemarle at Union Academy
• West Stanly at Forest Hills
• South Stanly at Thomas Je erson
and committed to enhancing our community. Interested candidates are invited to browse our open full and part time positions via the website below to nd out how to apply for one of our job openings at SCC. FOR
Let’s Work Together
NOTICE
quali ed as Co-Administrator of the estate of Christopher Edward Rothmeyer, deceased, of Stanly County, North Carolina, This is to notify all persons having claims against the Estate of said Christopher Edward Rothmeyer to present them to the undersigned on or before January 16, 2026 or the same will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate please make immediate payment.
This 15th day of October, 2025 Dustin Richard Rothmeyer 48482-3 Ingram Road New London, NC 28127
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF STANLY 16 E 000135-830 In the Matter of the Estate Of Robert Eugene Allen NOTICE TO CREDITORS Having quali ed as Executor of the Estate of Robert Eugene Allen deceased, this is to notify
NOTICE
This 8th day of _____October, 2025_____ Amanda Hopson Mayo 8294 C Renee Ford Road Stan eld, North Carolina 28163 Executrix
NOTICE
NOTICE TO CREDITORS NORTH CAROLINA STANLY COUNTY In the General Court of Justice Superior Court Clerk Before the Clerk 25-E-488 Having quali ed as Executor of the Estate of Clyde N. Overcash Sr., deceased, late of Stanly County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against the Estate of said deceased to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before December 30, 2025, or this Notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery.
All persons indebted to said Estate please make immediate payment.
This the 1st day of October, 2025.
CLYDE N. OVERCASH, JR. EXECUTOR OF THE ESTATE OF CLYDE N. OVERCASH, SR. MARK T. LOWDER ATTORNEY AT LAW PO Box 1284 206 E. North St. Albemarle, NC 28001 Telephone (704) 982-8558 Please run Notice: October 1, 8, 15 and 22, 2025
NOTICE OF SERVICE OF PROCESS BY PUBLICATION
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA, STANLY COUNTY
In the District Court Petitions to Terminate Parental Rights to Michael Clark Jr. (25JT000041-830): Take notice that a pleading seeking relief against you has been led in the above-entitled actions. The nature of the relief being sought is as follows: A Petition to Terminate Parental Rights against you for JAYCE AHMIR CLARK You are required to make defense to such pleadings no later than forty days from the rst date of publication and upon your failure to do so the party seeking service against you will apply to the court for the relief sought. This the 26th day of September, 2025. Chris Purkey Attorney for Petitioner 18125 W. Catawba Avenue Cornelius, North Carolina 28031
PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN to the general public that the City of Albemarle City Council will conduct public hearing(s) concerning the item(s) listed below at the dates, times, and location provided herein: ROW Abandonment: At the request of adjacent property owner, AOC 202, LLC., a public hearing will be held to consider abandonment of a 16,400 +/- sq. ft. section of City of Albemarle right-of-way of Je eries St. The hearing(s) will be conducted in the City Council Chambers of City Hall, located at 144 N Second St., Albemarle, N.C. 28001 at the following time(s): Monday, November 17, 2025, at 6:30 p.m. All interested parties are invited to attend the hearing. Anyone wishing to speak for or against this action shall adhere to applicable City policies and statutes regarding open meetings. The City Council approved agenda can be found on the city’s
David Byrne contributes songs to Roald Dahl’s “The Twits”
By Lindsey Bahr
The Associated Press
FOUR CAST MEMBERS
from “The Real Housewives” trading places with women living di erent lives in a new iteration of “Wife Swap” and Danielle Deadwyler starring in the apocalyptic thriller “40 Acres” 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 this week: Rapper Gucci Mane returns with a new full-length titled “Episodes,” a new Pokémon game lets you compete in real-time ghts rather than turn-based battles and Keri Russell’s political drama “The Diplomat” premieres its third season.
MOVIES TO STREAM
An animated adaptation of Roald Dahl’s “The Twits” is coming to Net ix on Friday. The mean, hateful couple are voiced by Johnny Vegas and Margo Martindale in this lm about their rise to power in the city and the group of children who team up to ght for goodness.
Animation veteran Phil Johnson (“Wreck-It Ralph,” “Zootopia”) directed and co -wrote the lm, which features a starry voice cast including Natalie Portman, Emilia Clarke and Jason Mantzoukas. David Byrne also contributed some new songs, with Paramore’s Hayley Williams.
Deadwyler stars in the apocalyptic thriller “40 Acres” about a family, the Freemans, surviving on a farm while the rest of society has collapsed in the wake of plagues and wars. But their survivalist existence is put in jeopardy when her eldest son meets a woman outside of their property. It will be on Hulu starting Friday.
Two standout Sundance documentaries are also worth checking out. “The Alabama Solution,” about horrifying conditions in the Alabama prison system, is already streaming on HBO Max. The Associated Press has written extensively about the problems in the state’s prison system, including high rates of violence, low sta ng, a plummeting parole rate and the use of pandemic funds to build a new supersized prison.
Also coming on Friday to Net ix, “The Perfect Neighbor” from Geeta Gandbhir uses police bodycam footage to recon-
struct a neighborhood dispute in Florida that turns deadly,” AP Film Writer Lindsey Bahr wrote. “It’s a riveting real life look at the state’s “stand your ground laws,”
MUSIC TO STREAM
The rapper Gucci Mane returns with a new full-length, “Episodes,” two months after his Gangsta Grillz mixtape “Greatest of All Trappers” dropped. What more would you expect from one of the most proli c trap stars of the last few decades?
The in uence of Australian psychedelic musician Kevin Parker, aka Tame Impala, is hard to undersell — there’s a reason some of the biggest names in the business have been running to work with him, a list that recently includes Dua Lipa for her “Radical Optimism” album. On Friday, he’ll release his fth album, “Deadbeat,” his rst full-length in ve years. It’s as dreamy as ever. In independent music circles, IRL and URL — the subgenre shoegaze (marked by distortion, feedback, loud guitar pedal e ects as popularized by the Jesus and Mary Chain) — has experienced a revival. In the modern era, those familiar-to-some sounds are meshed with other indie rock styles. No band has been simultaneously in uential
and underrated for said impact than Philadelphia’s They Are Gutting A Body of Water. That may change Friday with the release of their next album, “LOTTO,” their rst for ATO Records and best to date. It’s perfect for those who like their bands fuzzy, freaky and future seeking.
SERIES TO STREAM
Four cast members from “The Real Housewives” are temporarily ditching their cushy lives and designer duds to swap plac-
es with women living di erent lives in a new iteration of “Wife Swap” on Bravo. The wives taking part in the four- episode series are Angie Katsanevas of “The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City”; Dr. Wendy Osefo of “The Real Housewives of Potomac”; Emily Simpson from “The Real Housewives of Orange County”; and Melissa Gorga of “The Real housewives of New Jersey.” It’s available now on Bravo and Peacock. Alex Murdaugh, the disbarred South Carolina attorney
“The Perfect Neighbor” from Geeta Gandbhir uses police bodycam footage to reconstruct a neighborhood dispute in Florida that turns deadly.
convicted of murdering his wife and son along with committing nancial crimes, is serving a life sentence in prison. The story, streaming now, is told in a new true crime dramatization for Hulu called “Murdaugh: Death in the Family.” It stars Jason Clarke as Alex and Patricia Arquette as his wife, Maggie. The series is based on the reporting by South Carolina journalist and podcaster Mandy Matney, whose investigative work was pivotal in the coverage of Murdaugh. If you need a palette cleanser, the delightful comedy “Loot” returns to Apple TV+ for its third season. Maya Rudolph stars as a billionaire who nds her purpose in philanthropy after her tech-bro husband divorces her. It also stars Nat Faxon, Michaela Jaé Rodriguez, Joel Kim Booster and Ron Funches. Russell’s political drama “The Diplomat” premieres its third season Thursday on Net ix. Allison Janney also returns as a series regular alongside ... wait for it ... her old buddy from “The West Wing,” Bradley Whitford. He plays her husband.
Another one for the true crime fans: A new limited series on Peacock is about the serial killer John Wayne Gacy. “Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy,” premieres Thursday and dramatizes the time period in 1978 when police begin to suspect Gacy of the murder of a young man in Des Plaines, Illinois. As they conduct surveillance 24/7, Gacy seems to at rst enjoy the attention, but his behavior becomes more and more erratic over time and leads to his arrest.
VIDEO GAMES TO PLAY
Pokémon Legends: Z -A brings a major change to Nintendo’s 30 -year- old franchise: For the rst time, the creatures are competing in real-time ghts rather than turn-based battles. That means more of a focus on timing and re exes, though it will also give your monster the ability to dodge enemy attacks. The story takes place in Lumiose City, a Paris-like metropolis that turns into a battle zone when the sun goes down. Plenty of old favorites like Pikachu and Charizard are on the roster, and if your Pokémon scores enough hits it may undergo “Mega Evolution” to become truly fearsome. You can start trying to catch ’em all Thursday on Switch.
HULU / NETFLIX / PEACOCK VIA AP
“Murdaugh: Death in the Family,” from left, “The Diplomat” and “Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy” are all streaming this week.
SCOTT GARFITT / INVISION / AP
Kevin Parker of Tame Impala, pictured performing in London in 2022, releases “Deadbeat,” his rst full-length record in ve years, on Friday.
GAVIN MCINTYRE / THE POST AND COURIER VIA AP
A new true-crime dramatization now streaming on Hulu tells the story of Alex Murdaugh, who was convicted of killing his wife, Maggie, and younger son, Paul, in 2021.
Solution to last week’s puzzle
Solution to this week’s puzzles
WHAT’S HAPPENING
Pa. man pleads guilty in arson attack while Shapiro’s family slept in governor’s mansion Harrisburg, Pa.
A man who scaled a security fence in the middle of the night and set re to the Pennsylvania governor’s mansion has pleaded guilty to attempted murder and other charges. Cody Balmer entered the plea Tuesday for the April attack that caused millions of dollars in damage to the state-owned building in Harrisburg. Gov. Josh Shapiro and members of his family were inside and had to be evacuated. No one was injured, but authorities say the 38-yearold Balmer told them he planned to beat the governor with a small sledgehammer if he encountered him. Balmer’s family has said he has a history of mental health problems.
SpaceX launches 11th test ight of mega Starship rocket with another win
Purdie throws for 4 TDs in 39-14 Wake Forest win over Oregon State
The dominant win preceded the ring of the Beavers’ head coach
The Associated Press
CORVALLIS, Ore. — Backup quarterback Deshawn Purdie threw for 270 yards and four touchdowns in his rst start for Wake Forest as the Demon Deacons downed winless Oregon State 39-14 last Saturday.
Chris Barnes caught three passes for 102 yards and three scores for the Demon Deacons (4-2, 1-2 ACC).
It was the worst start for the Beavers (0-7, 0-0 Pac-12) since 1991, when they started 0-10.
“The best part about our team is that there is still so much growth to be had. We still have to make those improvements going forward,” Wake Forest coach Jake Dickert said.
“Just not good,” Bray said.
“Not good on any front.”
Oregon State red Bray on Sunday.
Robb Akey will be the interim head coach for the rest of the season pending a national search for Bray’s successor, athletic director Scott Barnes said.
Wake Forest quarterback Robby Ashford was sidelined because of a thumb injury and was replaced by Purdie.
Purdie got o to a good start, throwing a 36-yard touchdown pass to Barnes that put the Demon Deacons up 8-0 after a 2-point conversion. He added a long 52-yard scoring pass to Micah Mays Jr. late in the opening quarter.
Purdie connected with Barnes for an 11-yard touchdown and Conner Calvert kicked a 43-yard eld goal to make it 25-0 at halftime.
“Proud of our team for coming across the country and getting a win like this today. It’s something that we are going to have to get used to doing.”
Wake Forest coach Jake Dickert
the visiting Demon Deacons. Beavers backup Gabarri Johnson threw a 4-yard touchdown pass to David Wells Jr. for the nal margin.
Wake Forest was coming o a 30-23 victory at Virginia Tech, the team’s rst conference win.
Dickert is in his rst season as coach in Winston-Salem after leaving Washington State, the Pac-12’s only other remaining member after conference realignment.
toward making immediate changes.
“I understand and share your disappointment with how our football season has started,” Barnes said in a statement to Beaver nation. “My expectations for our program are high, and right now, we are not meeting them.”
Bray again faced questions about his future after Saturday’s loss. He said he planned to keep showing up “until they tell me I can’t.”
SpaceX has launched another of its mammoth Starship rockets on a test ight. The 403-foot Starship thundered into the evening sky Monday from Texas. The booster peeled away and made a controlled entry into the Gulf of Mexico as planned, with the spacecraft skimming space before descending into the Indian Ocean. It’s similar to the previous test ight in August, which scored a success following a string of explosive failures. SpaceX’s Elon Musk intends to use Starship to send people to Mars. NASA cannot land astronauts on the moon by decade’s end without Starship.
“Proud of our team for coming across the country and getting a win like this today. It’s something that we are going to have to get used to doing.” Oregon State coach Trent Bray was succinct about his team’s performance.
Purdie hit Barnes again in the third quarter with a 55-yard touchdown pass.
The Beavers avoided the shutout with Cornell Hatcher Jr.’s 29-yard touchdown run early in the nal period, but Demond Claiborne ran for a 66 -yard touchdown for
The Beavers lost 27-23 last week at Appalachian State, which spurred speculation that Bray might be red.
Instead, special teams coach Jamie Christian was dismissed following that loss. The announcement came shortly after athletic director Scott Barnes said he and Bray were evaluating the program with an eye
County to match private donations in forgiving school system’s debt
The Forsyth Commissioners will forgive around $5 million in debt should WSFCS raise that amount through private donations
By Ryan Henkel Twin City Herald
WINSTON-SALEM
— The
Forsyth County Board of Com-
missioners is taking a big step toward helping alleviate the school system’s outstanding debt.
In response to widespread community interest in raising
private funds to support the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County School System in paying o its outstanding debt, the board voted to approve a resolution to forgive just over $5 million of the debt owed to the county at its Oct. 9 meeting.
“This resolution is designed to be a one-to-one forgiveness of the up to $5 mil-
lion and change debt that the school system owes the county,” said county attorney Gordon Watkins. “The money would be raised by private individuals, and what I’ve been told is that it may be the case that the money will go to a private foundation and that foundation will pay the debtors directly.”
“I’m frustrated. I’m disappointed. I look at myself, and I’ve got to x it,” he said. “It’s unacceptable to me where we’re at. That’s just how I look at it. What can I do? I’ve got to look at it. What can I do di erent to get these guys going?” The Demon Deacons have a bye this weekend before hosting SMU on Oct. 25.
“We’re using partial or complete forgiveness of their debt to incentivize private donors to contribute.”
Commissioner Dan Besse
For every dollar that the school system receives and then utilizes to pay o outstanding debt, the county will match the same amount in forgiving the debt owed to itself for the provision of SRO and nursing services in scal year 2025.
“What we are trying to do is to help avoid the situation where the school board and the school system are required to make additional cuts
COURTESY WAKE FOREST ATHLETICS
Wake Forest wide receiver Chris Barnes had three catches for three touchdowns and 102 yards in last weekend’s 39-14 road win at Oregon State.
Share with your community! Send us your births, deaths, marriages, graduations and other announcements: forsythcommunity@ northstatejournal.com
Weekly deadline is Monday at Noon
State e ort wipes out
The project o ers hospitals increased Medicaid reimbursement to forgive debt
By Gary D. Robertson
The Associated Press
RALEIGH — More than 2.5
million North Carolina residents are getting over $6.5 billion in medical debt eliminated through a state government e ort that o ered hospitals extra Medicaid funds from Washington if they gave lowand middle-income patients the nancial relief and implemented policies to discourage future liabilities.
Democratic Gov. Josh Stein, the state health department secretary and other o cials announced Monday results so far from what thenGov. Roy Cooper unveiled 15 months ago as a rst- ofits-kind initiative.
While helping almost one-quarter of North Carolina residents, Stein said the effort has exceeded expectations in giving individuals and families a second chance to succeed nancially after medical crises. O cials previously estimated it could help about 2 million people get rid of $4 billion in debt. The debt that had been held by hospitals, and are usually di cult to recover, will be pulled from credit reports, the governor said. “This is life-changing news for so many families,” Stein said, adding that recipients
this year in spending going to the schools, going to the classrooms,” said Commissioner Dan Besse. “We’re using partial or complete forgiveness of their debt to incentivize private donors to contribute.”
The school system will be required to rst pay o its debt to the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction ($3.4 million) and if that is fully paid o , the district can then start paying o additional debts.
WSFCS will have until Dec. 31 to maximize their debt forgiveness, with no additional forgiveness provided after that date unless the board votes to amend the resolution.
“Clearly, not receiving the money will have an impact on the county, but I think there is a way to say that this particular e ort will not grow our tax rate,” said Board Chair Don Martin. “And the damage to our fund balance was already done on June 30.”
The nal vote passed 5-2 with Commissioners Richard Linville and Gloria Whisenhunt voting against the resolution.
“I truly appreciate the community being involved and helping with this debt, I only wish they had not involved the county commissioners,” said Vice Chair Whisenhunt. “There are many taxpayers who do not want us involved in repaying this debt. I’m still committed to
on average will have $2,600 erased. “No one chooses to have a heart attack or get diagnosed with a chronic condition — you just have to deal with it. Today’s announcement will free people from the nancial stress so that they can focus on getting healthy.” Another news conference speaker described patients who avoided services or threatened to halt treatments to prevent more debt from accumulating on themselves or their family.
Hospitals that agreed to participate have already alerted many patients to tell them their debt is essentially canceled, state health o cials said Monday. And Undue Medical Debt, a national group working on the e ort and taking over some hospital liabilities, plans to send 255,000 notices this week to other recipients.
The e ort germinated from what’s called the Healthcare Access and Stabilization Program, which state legislators approved in 2023 at the same time as expanded Medicaid coverage to working adults who couldn’t otherwise qualify for conventional Medicaid. Hospitals pay assessments to draw down billions of dollars in federal money.
The state Department of Health and Human Services last year proposed that certain hospitals could receive higher program reimbursement levels to treat Medicaid enrollees if they agreed to medical debt initiatives. The federal Centers for Medicare and
Forsyth County’s nancial stability, and I’m still concerned about our fund balance.”
“We can go back and forth about the money, but children’s lives are on the line in Winston-Salem/Forsyth County if we don’t move more expeditiously to x this issue so that we can get back on the right track,” Woodbury said.
The board also approved the submission of an application to the North Carolina Department of Commerce Rural Economic Development Division for a rural building reuse grant to support the location of W.H. Farms Company to Forsyth County.
“This is a company that specializes in botanical produc-
Today’s announcement will free people from the nancial stress so that they can focus on getting healthy.”
Gov. Josh Stein
Medicaid Services signed o on the plan details, and by August 2024 each of the roughly 100 acute - care, rural or university-connected hospitals that quali ed decided to participate. Under rules previously announced, the hospitals had to eliminate medical debt going back to early 2014 for patients who are Medicaid enrollees. They also would later have to eliminate other debt for nonenrollees based on income levels. And the hospitals were directed to discourage debt by doing things like automatically enrolling people in charity care programs or curbing certain debt collection practices. The $6.5 billion gure includes debt relieved directly through the initiative and through hospital policy changes to implement it, Stein’s o ce said. Other state and local governments have tapped into federal American Rescue Plan funds to help purchase and cancel residents’ debt. Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs announced in July that $429 million in medical debt had
tion and manufacturing to create wellness and cosmetic products,” said Community and Economic Development Program Administrator Helena Fiore. “They’re looking to establish a headquarters here in Forsyth County, and the building they have in mind is currently vacant and is a good space that they could use for both o ces and their production lines.”
According to Fiore, the company is proposing a capital investment of $3 million to acquire and renovate the facility, which would bring approximately $120,000 in estimated, new taxes to the county over the course of 10 years based on the current tax rate. That investment would also
been erased for more than 352,000 state residents.
“North Carolina’s approach is completely unique,” said Jose Penabad, the Undue Medical Debt vice chair. Several states are following North Carolina’s use of Medicaid incentives closely, he added.
North Carolina debt eradication exceeded initial estimates in part because patients outside the population being targeted also had their debt eliminated, Stein said. Hospitals, for example, sometimes have eliminated debt for patients incurred at associated physician practices, said Jonathan Kappler, a state deputy health secretary. More debt will be eliminated in the future, he added.
State health secretary Dr. Dev Sangvai, told reporters the law approved by Congress in July that made cuts and policy changes to Medicaid won’t immediately a ect the debt elimination initiative.
Some hospitals were initially hesitant about the debt relief initiative because new requirements were being placed upon the reimbursements, Cooper said last year. The North Carolina Healthcare Association, which lobbies for nonpro t and for-profit hospitals, said Monday in a statement that it’s concerned “recent and proposed government policies could add nancial pressures” that prevent hospitals from expanding programs to help low-income patients.
bring 41 new jobs to Forsyth County with an average annual wage of around $79,000 (current average wage in the county is about $65,000).
“This project represents the next phase of growth for a company that has been deeply engaged in our local entrepreneurial ecosystem, including participating in both Winston Starts and the Center for Creative Economy,” said Greater Winston-Salem Inc. Vice President of Economic Development Ellis Keifer. “It’s exciting to see a locally grown startup graduate into the manufacturing phase.”
The Forsyth County Board of Commissioners will next meet Oct. 23.
GARY D. ROBERTSON / AP PHOTO
Gov. Josh Steinspeaks about the elimination of medical debt at the Executive Mansion on Monday.
THE CONVERSATION
Trip Ho end, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor
How Trump’s FTC can keep drug prices down for working Americans
A settlement will immediately bene t consumers.
HOW DO LEADING RETAILERS like Amazon and Walmart deliver low prices to their customers? The companies buy so much from their suppliers that they can demand discounts. That dynamic applies in the health care industry as well, as companies called pharmacy bene t managers (PBMs) negotiate with pharmaceutical companies to keep prices down. But it’s up to the Trump administration to keep it that way.
On Sept. 29, the Federal Trade Commission came one step closer to nally making a decision on the Biden FTC’s case against PBMs. A settlement will immediately bene t consumers while reinforcing the valuable role PBMs play in negotiating with pharmaceutical companies to drive down drug prices.
PBMs negotiate drug prices on behalf of employers, insurers and patients. Managing more than 90% of U.S. prescriptions (per the FTC) gives them leverage they need to demand discounts and rebates from Big Pharma.
The backdrop to the FTC case, which was led shortly before last year’s presidential election, is the 1,200% rise in insulin prices from 1999-2017. The Biden FTC claimed that “even when lower list price insulins became available that could have been more a ordable for vulnerable patients, the PBMs systemically excluded them in favor of high list price … insulin products”— because the more expensive drugs are, the bigger the rebates they receive.
When I rst took over as chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Health Subcommittee, I was a bit skeptical of PBMs because of all the negative ads I saw about them (which I later found out were sponsored by the pharmaceutical companies). However, when I dug into the data, I quickly noticed that the truth was far di erent from what some of the industry’s biggest players want us to believe.
The employers who hire PBMs love them. They are best thought of as akin to a bulk buyer at a market, using scale to drive better deals. If they weren’t buying in bulk, they would not have the leverage that’s needed with the
pharma giants, which would drive prices even higher.
I’m sure, like in any industry, there are some bad actors, or at least some actors who have engaged in some brow-raising activities. Those entities should not escape punishment. That said, the overall net value of PBMs speaks for itself.
Even the FTC’s complaint admits PBMs pass on 90% to 98% of rebate dollars directly to their clients, as The Wall Street Editorial Board pointed out. Which raises the question: Did the Biden FTC even believe the arguments made in its own suit?
After all, Biden FTC Chair Lina Khan was not shy in intimidating that she was unconcerned about bringing weak cases to court. She believed that pursuing cases that wouldn’t stand legal scrutiny was important as a means of convincing the legislature to expand the law to her progressive liking.
Rather than taking the PBM case to federal court, the FTC led it in its own administrative court — meaning the agency felt compelled to act as both prosecutor and judge. If the commission wasn’t con dent that an independent judiciary would give the ruling it desired, that’s not a very encouraging sign.
All of this underscores the value of settling the PBM case, which is possible with Trump appointees now in charge at the FTC.
Taking this case o the FTC’s books and instead reaching a settlement with bad actors would protect consumers while preserving employers’ ability to hold the pharmaceutical company’s feet to the re.
Put another way, the FTC can punish any genuine misconduct while still keeping the buyers’ club that holds Big Pharma intact.
If Amazon or Walmart saw a deal that delivered lower prices for millions of Americans, they’d take it. Washington should too.
Joseph R. Pitts served as a member of the U.S. House from Pennsylvania. He chaired the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Health. This column was rst published by The Daily Signal.
Arsonist burns down climate hoax
It’s been obvious for at least 150 years that climate change has nothing to do with the January wild res.
THE ARREST THIS WEEK of a suspect for starting the re that led to last January’s deadly Palisades wild re in Los Angeles came as no real surprise.
Arson was hinted at as early as February. People had previously been arrested for arson or arson has been suspected in connection with recent wild res in New Jersey, New York, California, Hawaii, Canada, Greece and other places. So when the Department of Justice announced during its press conference this week that evidence of arson developed early in the investigation, it came as no shock.
But the rst and last instinct of climate hoaxers is always to blame climate change.
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) blamed climate change in an X post that garnered 18.5 million views on Jan 8.
The New York Times, “PBS News Hour,” Los Angeles Times, The Associated Press and Axios soon joined the bandwagon. Leftover Biden sta ers in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the activist-researchers at World Weather Attribution, whose occupation is to blame bad weather on climate change, chimed in weeks later.
Most recently, the National Academy of Sciences used the Los Angeles wild res as part of its pretext for attacking the Trump
EPA e ort to rescind the endangerment nding for greenhouse gases.
But it’s been obvious for at least 150 years that climate change has nothing to do with the January wild res. On Oct. 30, 1875, the Anaheim Gazette even warned readers of the exact same risky conditions that existed in January 2025: “The terrible con agration that occurred in Virginia City yesterday, with all its horror of a useless re department, because of a meager water supply, is what will happen some of these days to Anaheim.”
The paper continued: “Suppose a re should break out in some of our many re nests, which are too abundant now, or among closely packed wooden buildings at the inopportune time when a heavy sea breeze was blowing, or when our dreaded Santa Ana wind came upon us … what could be done?”
And that eerie warning from the past — from the failed re hydrants to the burn-ready buildings to the Santa Ana winds — is exactly what happened to Los Angeles in 2025 once the arsonist struck. No global warming needed. Nor is any warming even occurring in the area.
Los Angeles is actually cooler now than it was in the late 1950s per U.S. government data. Although it was unusually dry in Los Angeles County
during September to December 2024, the precipitation trend during that same period has actually increased slightly since 1895, also per U.S. government data.
Blaming the Los Angeles wild res on global warming was always a lie and not a harmless one. The stock price of Edison International, the parent company of electric utility South California Edison, took a massive hit from which it has still not recovered, despite the stock market being at record highs and electricity demand exploding.
I don’t know whether the suspect arrested for setting the Palisades re will be found guilty. But I do know that “climate change” is not. Ahead of the Democratic primary for the 2020 election, Sanders said he wanted to criminally investigate fossil fuel executives for lying about climate change. This would be a good time for him to look in the mirror.
Steve Milloy is a biostatistician and lawyer. This column was rst published by Daily Caller News Foundation.
COLUMN | STEVE MILLOY
COLUMN | JOSEPH R. PITTS
Losing family pet gives parents chance to teach children about death, grieving
Sadness, anger and other overwhelming emotions associated with grief may be more di cult for younger children
By Cheyanne Mumphrey
The Associated Press
LOSING A PET is the rst time many children encounter death. The experience can become an opportunity for profound emotional learning and in uence how young people understand and process grief when they are adults, according to psychologists and pet bereavement specialists.
Parents and guardians therefore have important roles to play when a family pet dies. Along with helping children accept the painful permanence of death, caregivers can guide kids through a healthy and healing mourning process that provides a foundation for coping with an inevitable part of life.
“People are so adverse to talking about death and grief, but it is the one thing that is guaranteed: We are all going to die. We need to be open to talking about that,” said Deirdra Flavin, CEO of the National Alliance for Children’s Grief.
Here are some things to consider when talking with children about death and supporting them through pet loss.
Children respond to death in di erent ways
Depending on how old they are and their individual circumstances, children vary in their ability to comprehend the concept of death. The way they process grief, how long they mourn and the impact of the loss is also unique to each child, just as it is for adults. Experts say sadness, anger and other overwhelming emotions associated with grief may be more di cult for younger children to navigate, so having support is crucial.
Psychologists and bereavement counselors say some people feel the heartbreak from a pet’s death as intensely as the loss of any other loved one, reecting the potential depths of human-animal bonds. In the case of children, their relationship with a pet, and whether the death was sudden or not, are other factors that may shape individual responses.
Colleen Rolland, president of the Association for Pet Loss and Bereavement, says parents usually know how intellectually and emotionally capable their children are of processing death.
Children as young as 4 years old might have been exposed to death through fairy tales and other stories but may struggle to understand its nality, Rol-
land said. Older children, who will know their loss is forever, may need more emotional support from friends and family, she said.
Elizabeth Perez said she learned quickly how di erently her three children processed the death of their dog, Zoe, who was hit by a car nearly a year-and-a-half ago in front of their second daughter. The other two children were inside the family’s home in Pullman, Washington.
“Carmen would talk about how the images kept replaying in her head, she was having nightmares and couldn’t sleep,” Perez said, adding that her daughter hasn’t worn the dress she had on that day since.
Perez recalls she and her husband spending a lot of time
with Carmen, now 11, and asking her questions about her feelings. Even their youngest child, who did not see the car hit Zoe and had spent the least amount of time with the dog, still tears up thinking about the April 2024 accident.
“It was really hard for the whole family. Everybody was feeling it di erently and at different times,” Perez said. “We, as parents, did not feel prepared.”
Using clear language and avoiding euphemisms
Experts say it’s important to be honest and use clear language when discussing death with children. Adults often are inclined to protect children with euphemisms, such
Once-secret emperor’s passage to Colosseum prepares for opening
The ancient amphitheater has been undergoing renovations for years
By Andrea Rosa and Giada Zampano The Associated Press
ROME — For the rst time in nearly 2,000 years, visitors to Rome’s world-renowned Colosseum will have the opportunity to walk through a hidden imperial passage that once allowed Roman emperors to reach the ancient amphitheater unseen.
The once-secret corridor — known as the “Commodus Passage” and named after the Roman emperor turned into a pop icon by Ridley Scott’s movie “Gladiator” — opens to the public on Oct. 27, marking an extraordinary milestone in archaeological preservation and access.
Archaeologists at the Colosseum Archaeological Park explained that Roman emperors would use the passage to
“Visitors can now have a taste of what it was like to be an emperor entering the arena.”
Barbara Nazzaro, supervising architect
enter the arena unseen and protected, leading them directly to their reserved honor box overlooking the games.
The passage was named after Emperor Commodus, who lived between 180 and 192 A.D., when it was initially discovered in the 1810s. Commodus was known to be passionate about gladiators’ games and history relates that while he was passing through the tunnel, someone attempted to assassinate him, but was unsuccessful.
At the passage entrance, archaeologists discovered remnants of decorative elements directly related to are -
na spectacles, including depictions of boar hunts, bear ghts and acrobatic performances. These artistic elements provided a tting prelude to the brutal entertainments that awaited beyond, they noted.
The corridor is shaped as an “S” and continues outside the Colosseum arena, but its nal destination remains uncertain.
“Visitors can now have a taste of what it was like to be an emperor entering the arena,” said Barbara Nazzaro, the architect who oversaw the restoration works. “With a little effort of imagination and the help of a virtual reconstruction, they can appreciate the decorations, stuccoes, frescoes and marbles that covered the walls.”
The project — completed between Oct. 2024 and Sept. 2025 — included structural conservation, restoration of decorative stuccoes and plasters and the installation of a new walkway. A new lighting system rec -
Other signs to look for include uncharacteristic sadness, tears, anger and even silence, she said. A child’s emotional response is often independent of their willingness to talk about death, but she said it might be time to seek professional help if their emotions or behavior affect their ability to function.
It’s OK for adults to grieve with children
Much like they do in other situations or developmental stages, children often learn how to handle grief by watching their caregivers. The way adults respond to loss is likely to set an example for their children.
“Parents, or caregivers, must be con dent in how they deal with pet loss,” Rolland said, adding that parents who are unfamiliar with grief or display unhealthy behaviors might teach children to act in the same manner.
as a pet went to sleep, got lost or was put down.
“That can be alarming for children and cause a lot of confusion and fear. So, saying ‘The fish went to sleep’ might create concerns for the child when they are going to sleep,” Flavin said. “Particularly with younger kids because they are so literal in terms of the way that things are expressed to them.”
When Leah Motz’s daughter was 2 years old, she told her their 15-year-old dog, Izzy, had a “good life but his body is broken and it won’t be able to x itself.” Motz recalled that before taking him to be euthanized near their home in Renton, Washington, she further explained they were going to “help Izzy die.”
Support children through deep feelings
Sometimes adults have a hard time recognizing the impact that losing a pet instead of a person might have on children. Rolland says child grief tends to be trivialized in general, and that people who are very devoted to their pets can produce as much stigma as sympathy.
“But pet loss is a very real form of grief,” she said.
Raquel Halfond, a licensed clinical psychologist with the American Psychological Association, says children’s behavior often indicates how they are feeling even if they are not expressing it verbally.
“Maybe you notice your child is having more tantrums. Suddenly there’s stu that they used to love doing, they no longer want to do. Maybe they start to refuse to go to school. It’s really normal to have these for a while,” Halfond said.
Two of Meaghan Marr’s dogs died in Euharlee, Georgia, when her two children were young. The rst to go, Sadie, had ongoing health issues, so Marr was able to have continuous conversations and prepare her then-7-year-old son and 4-year-old daughter.
“My son de nitely understood what was going on. While my daughter was sad, it didn’t quite reach her as deeply,” Marr said. She said it seemed like a lot of the children’s’ emotions were in response to her own grieving for a pet she refers to as her “soulmate dog.”
Halfond advises parents not to hide their feelings from their children.
“If you’re feeling sad, it’s OK for the child to see you feeling sad. In fact, it could be confusing if something sad happened and they don’t see that emotion re ected in their parents,” she said.
Leave room for closure and lifelong memories
One way to help children come to terms with the death of a pet is by memorializing the lives of the late companions through activities such as raising money for animals in need, drawing pictures, holding funerals or doing the things their pets loved to do.
Before their dog Sadie died, Marr said many of the conversations with her kids centered around how dogs don’t live forever and would one day go to heaven. The di cult part for her was explaining that was true of every pet.
“We talked about if they still wanted animals even though they are not going to last as long as we do,” she said. “It hurts to lose them, but they make your life so much better while they are here.”
reates the natural light that once ltered through small vault openings, and a digital reconstruction helps visitors visualize the passage’s original appearance.
A second restoration project, expected to begin in early 2026, will involve the section of the tunnel extending beyond the perimeter of the Colosseum.
ANDREW MEDICHINI / AP PHOTO
Workers walk in the so-called ‘Passage of Emperor Commodus’, a newly restored tunnel ancient Roman emperors would use to enter the Colosseum unseen and protected, that will open to visitors at the end of the month.
PHOTOS BY BRYNN ANDERSON / ASSOCIATED PRESS
Top, Meaghan and Chris Marr pose with their children and dogs for a photograph last month in Cartersville, Georgia. Bottom, Meaghan Marr holds the ashes her previous dog, Jewels, last month.
Forsyth SPORTS
Former Hurricanes defenseman Burns reaches 1,500 NHL games
The Avalanche defenseman is seeking a Stanley Cup to go with his milestones
By Pat Graham
The Associated Press
DENVER — Brent Burns carries a lot of weight on his shoulders these days.
Not pressure-related or anything, just from his heavy, military-style backpack that’s crammed with all the necessities to keep the 40-year-old Colorado defenseman humming along.
The precise contents remain a mystery, but whatever’s stu ed inside sure is working. Burns, who’s embarking on his 22nd NHL season and rst in Colorado, played in his 1,500th NHL game Saturday. Delving deeper, he hasn’t missed a contest since 2013, running his streak to 927 straight, which is the league’s fourth-longest “Iron Man” streak of all time.
Burns is chasing his rst Stanley Cup title late in his hockey tenure. The Avalanche would love nothing more than to make that title happen, too.
“He came here for a reason,” fellow defenseman Cale Makar said of Burns.
Milestone alert
On Saturday, Burns skated in game No. 1,500, becoming the league’s eighth defenseman to reach the milestone.
If Burns were to suit up in every game this season, he could move up to No. 2 on the all-time consecutive games played list with 1,007. At that point, he would trail only Phil Kessel’s streak of 1,064.
For this sort of healthy run in a hard-hitting sport, some credit goes to the contents of Burns’ backpack. It’s the stu of legend around the locker room.
“Don’t even try to pick it up,” captain Gabriel Landeskog warned. “You’ll blow your back out.”
The backpack supposed-
ly contains everything from stretching bands to assorted recovery gear to a co ee setup.
“It’s a secret,” he said with a laugh, adding the backpack has been part of his routine since his San Jose days. “De nitely too heavy, and it keeps getting heavier and heavier.”
Age just a number
Avalanche forward Gavin Brindley was still a year away from even being born when Burns made his NHL debut on Oct. 8, 2003, with Minnesota after being a rst-round pick by the Wild.
“That’s wild, just wild,” Brindley said of Burns’ longevity. “It’s so impressive what he does on the ice.”
Burns has quickly emerged as another leader for the Avalanche, keeping things loose.
“I’m a little bit more of a goof — I screw drills up all the time,” Burns said. “I’m just a little different.
“Obviously, we’re not all around the same age, so it’s kind of fun to hear what they’re doing. It keeps me feeling better and energized — just to talk to other guys and mess around and make them feel good.”
Added coach Jared Bed-
Colorado Avalanche defenseman Brent Burns pursues the puck against the Utah Mammoth.
nar: “I love the personality that he brings to our team. He’s hungry to win.”
Burns got to the Stanley Cup nal in 2016 with the Sharks, where they lost in six games to the Penguins. Burns has played in 135 career playo contests.
“We’re so happy to have him here,” Landeskog said. “He wanted to be here. He wanted to be a part of this group, and I think that says a lot about where we’re at as a team.”
Over the summer, Burns signed a one-year deal with the Avalanche, his fourth NHL team. He joined a squad that’s a Stanley Cup favorite.
One thing that Burns quickly realized was that it’s lled with players who get to the rink early.
“I feel like I’m going to be one of the rst cars in the parking lot, and it’s packed,” Burns said. “I’m like, ‘Holy crap.’”
As an older player — “I know you’re not saying old player,” he interjected — there are extra things he does to stay ready.
“But I’d be here until tomorrow, trying to tell you all the new things,” Burns cracked.
More than anything, he stays young at heart.
“Just a big kid in a big man’s body,” goaltender Scott Wedgewood said. “Just down to earth, fun to be around. Just has a little bit of a joking side, a high-energy side. He loves the game, cares about it and he’s chasing that ultimate goal.”
ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Harry Simpson
Reagan, football
Harry Simpson is a senior o ensive lineman on the Reagan football team. The 6-foot-3, 285-pounder is a co-captain for the Raiders. Reagan is 6-1 on the season, and the Raiders run game is averaging 212 yards a game. They’ve run for 19 touchdowns and average 6.2 yards per carry.
Simpson’s blocking has helped clear paths for Raider ballcarriers, and he was recognized with a spot on the N.C. roster for December’s Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas. He has also committed to play in college at East Tennessee State.
Hamlin charges to emotional 60th Cup win
The victory secures him a spot in the playo nale
By Jenna Fryer
The Associated Press
LAS VEGAS — Denny Hamlin became the rst driver to lock up a spot in the Cup Series’ championship-deciding nale, winning Sunday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway for his career-goal 60th victory.
Hamlin, considered the best driver in Cup Series history to never win a title, is back in the winner-take-all title race for the rst time since 2021. The winningest driver in Joe Gibbs Racing history is tied for 10th on the Cup Series career victories list with Kevin Harvick.
Hamlin, who was emotional two weeks ago about his ailing father when he squandered a victory at Kansas Speedway in the closing laps, dedicated the victory to his father, who
also was rooting for his son to hit the 60-win mark. Hamlin seemed to have tears in his eyes when he drove his Toyota to collect his 60th checkered ag. “This win means a lot,” said Hamlin, who had to compose himself on the frontstretch. “Just put the pedal down on the last 10 laps and made it happen.”
Kyle Larson, seeking to end a 20-race losing streak, was second in a Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports. JGR drivers Christopher Bell and Chase Briscoe were third and fourth, Tyler Reddick — who drives for Hamlin at 23XI Racing — was fth, and reigning Cup Series champion Joey Logano was sixth.
Five of the top six — all but Reddick — are still in the playo eld. The others are Chase Elliott, who nished 18th; Daytona 500 winner William Byron was 36th and Ryan Blaney was last in 38th.
Byron was out front and then wiggled out of the groove with 35 laps remaining, saved his Chevrolet from crashing, but teammate Larson sailed past him for the lead. Minutes later, he was involved in a race-ending crash when he drilled into the back of Ty Dillon, unaware that Dillon was slowing to head to pit road.
“I never saw him wave, I had no indication he was pitting,” Byron said. “I had zero idea. I am just devastated. Obviously, I wouldn’t have driven full-speed into him.”
Bad day for Blaney
Ryan Blaney, second in points at the start of the race, saw his title hopes take a severe hit when a tire issue caused him to crash into the wall with nine laps remaining in the rst stage. His race immediately ended, he nished 38th and dropped to the bottom of the eight-driv-
“Just put the pedal down on the last 10 laps and made it happen.”
Denny Hamlin
er playo round. Blaney is the 2023 Cup Series champion, with teammate Joey Logano winning titles in 2022 and 2024 to give Team Penske three straight.
The upside is Blaney races next at Talladega Superspeedway, where he’s a three-time winner and considers himself to be in a must-win situation.
“You’ve got to be optimistic. I’m not very happy right now, but tomorrow morning I’ll be optimistic to go to the next race,” Blaney said. “We’ve had good success at the next two events, so hopefully we can come and bring the speed and try to overcome the hole we put ourselves in.”
Reddick, who was eliminated from the playo s last weekend, is still racing despite serious health complications facing his infant son.
Rookie Reddick, the second son born to Tyler and Alexa Reddick in May, has a “tumor that’s ‘choking’ the renal vein & renal artery. Telling the heart ‘Hey I’m not getting enough blood… pump harder,’” Alexa Reddick wrote in an update last week. She said it had caused an enlarged heart and the 4-month-old will need a kidney removed because doctors determined it is no longer functioning.
Alexa Reddick posted on social media ahead of Sunday’s race at Las Vegas that Rookie would have surgery Tuesday and will be moved to a unit to “monitor his heart and BP while his renin slowly drops.”
DAVID ZALUBOWSKI / AP PHOTO
Reddick’s son
STEVE MARCUS / AP PHOTO
Denny Hamlin stands by his car after winning Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series playo race in Las Vegas.
SIDELINE REPORT
NCAA FOOTBALL
Penn State res
coach Franklin amid midseason free fall in lost season
State College, Pa. James Franklin is out at Penn State. The school red the longtime head coach less than 24 hours after a 22-21 home loss to Northwestern. Terry Smith will serve as interim head coach for the rest of the season. The Nittany Lions began the year with hopes of winning the national title, but those hopes evaporated by early October amid a string of losses. Penn State, which reached the CFP semi nal 10 months ago, lost at home to Oregon in overtime in late September. A road loss at UCLA followed.
WNBA
Wilson scores 31, Aces win 3rd WNBA title in 4 seasons
Phoenix
A’ja Wilson scored 31 points, Chelsea Gray and Jackie Young both added 18 and the Las Vegas Aces beat the Phoenix Mercury 97-86 in Game 4 of the WNBA Finals, sweeping their way to a third championship in four seasons. Vegas scored 54 points in the rst half and averaged more than 90 points per game in the series.
NCAA BASKETBALL
Sister Jean, Loyola Chicago’s beloved chaplain, dead at 106
Chicago Sister Jean Dolores Schmidt, the beloved chaplain for Loyola Chicago’s men’s basketball team, has died at 106. She became an international celebrity during the team’s 2018 Final Four run, and there was even a bobblehead of her likeness. Health issues led her to step down in August, but she remained an adviser. Loyola President Mark C. Reed praised her as a source of wisdom and grace for more than 60 years.
PGA
Woods has seventh back surgery to have disk replaced
Tiger Woods is recovering from a seventh back surgery. Woods says he was experiencing some pain and lack of mobility. He says scans revealed a collapsed disk in his lower back and with some disk fragments. He decided to have his disk replaced in New York during last Friday surgery. It’s his second surgery on his back in the last 13 months and seventh overall dating to April 2014. Woods also had surgery in March for a ruptured left Achilles tendon. He hasn’t played since the PNC Championship with his son Charlie last December.
NFL Browns owners, Cleveland reach $100M settlement for new stadium
Cleveland Mayor Justin M. Bibb and the ownership group of the Cleveland Browns have reached a $100 million settlement that will clear the way for the franchise to build its new suburban stadium while preparing the site of the current lakefront stadium for future development by the city of Cleveland. The proposed $2.4-billion domed stadium would be built in Brook Park, about 15 miles south of downtown Cleveland.
ACC’s 1st Atlantic-to-Paci c travel o ers tweaks, lessons for Year 2
Stanford and Cal will make logistical changes to make the schedule more bearable
By Aaron Beard The Associated Press
CHARLOTTE — Ask California women’s coach Charmin Smith about her team’s rst run of cross-country travel for Atlantic Coast Conference games last year, and she’ll shrug o the question about the challenges of doing it.
“We’re in the ACC, we’re happy to be in the ACC,” she said during preseason media days. “And we get on a plane and we go.”
Still, the league’s expansion to stretch from the Paci c to the Atlantic coastlines last year led to lots of ight hours, airborne study halls and sleep-altering routines as men’s and women’s teams criss-crossed the country. The losses piled up at a much higher rate than other road games too. And the challenges were particularly acute for teams like California and Stanford
as the ACC’s western outposts, forced to cross all four continential U.S. time zones multiple times in the same season.
“It’s just something we can’t change,” Stanford men’s coach Kyle Smith said with a chuckle. “We can’t move the school closer.”
Losses accumulate
The league revamped its scheduling model with the arrivals of Cal and Stanford, along with SMU, to have teams making the lengthy trip play twice on the same outing. That typically meant men’s teams would cross the country to play a Wednesday-Saturday set, while the women followed a Thursday-Sunday model.
It’s been a tough ask.
ACC women’s teams crossing between the Eastern and Paci c U.S. time zones went just 7-23 — a 23.3% win percentage, far lower than that of all other league road games (67-65, .508).
It was worse on the men’s side, with teams going just 6-26 (18.8%) in road games when crossing all four U.S. continental time zones com-
pared to 61-87 (41.2%) in all other league road games. Neither Cal nor Stanford won both games on a single men’s or women’s trip east, while only the UNC women and Wake Forest men managed to sweep the Bears and Cardinal on the same trip.
Changing logistics
Charmin Smith tinkered with her plans last year, following player feedback by leaving earlier the day before the game so the team could practice after ying out rather than before leaving campus. Stanford women’s coach Kate Paye is altering her schedule to go out the day before a game instead of two days earlier, saying she thought the long stints away from home had a “cumulative e ect.”
“It was brand new,” Paye said. “You make the best choices you can. But again, experience is the best teacher.”
Both the men’s and women’s Cardinal programs will also use a bigger charter plane this year to avoid having to stop to refuel, with Kyle Smith noting: “Getting
home nonstop is important.”
“Our guys never really complained about it,” he said, adding: “I just sell them on, ‘Look, we get to do it, you play in the ACC, you’re going to Stanford and you’re getting paid. And it’s pretty awesome.’”
Heading west
For the Eastern-footprint teams, that challenge comes only every other year. Yet it’s still something that teams are thinking about, some more than others.
Louisville women’s coach Je Walz’s team plays at Stanford on Jan. 29, followed by at Cal on Feb. 1. He joked simply that he’s ruled out taking a bus, adding: “We were trying to see how many national parks we could stop at on the way.”
Louisville sophomore guard Tajianna Roberts is looking forward to the trip, at least. Her hometown is San Diego, and she’ll be able to play in front of family.
“It’s going to be an adjustment for sure,” Roberts said. “But I think if we eat right, sleep right, we’ll be OK.”
Hamlin’s controversial move: Did he make right call in Cup Series playo s?
His late pass of Ross Chastain allowed Joey Logano to advance
By Jenna Fryer The Associated Press
LAS VEGAS — The rst thing Denny Hamlin said when he climbed from his car after advancing into the third round of the Cup Series playo s was he wish he’d known not to pass Ross Chastain on the nal lap. In racing Chastain for that position, it knocked Chastain out of the playo s and gave the nal spot in the round of eight to Joey Logano, the reigning Cup Series champion and winner of two of the last three titles.
In fact, Logano and Team Penske teammate Ryan Blaney have combined to win the last three consecutive championships, so Hamlin was ercely criticized for not taking Logano out of contention.
There’s controversy surrounding the Hamlin and Chastain incident two Sundays ago in part because a year ago Logano was initially eliminated from the playo s at Charlotte. He learned later that night he was back in the eld when Bowman’s car failed inspection, then Logano won Las Vegas a week later to lock up a spot in the championship-deciding nale.
“Denny would have to ask
himself, ‘What’s going to give me the best chance to win the championship?’ if that’s your No. 1 goal. If that’s your main goal to do that, ‘What gives me the best chances to win the whole thing?’” Logano wondered. “Is one competitor tougher than the other? I don’t know. I don’t know if you want to race against either one of us. Ross has proven to do whatever it takes to get to the next round or to win. He’s done that multiple times. Do you want to race against him? I don’t know.
“Do you want to race against us? I don’t think so either. You’re probably in a no -win situation, so you might as well just pass him and go and get a better spot.”
The entire situation is also being scrutinized by NASCAR, which said this week it would be carefully monitoring potentials of race manipulation over the nal month of the season. NASCAR managing director of communications Mike Forde said on the series’ “Hauler Talk” podcast that series o cials would have acted if it had heard Joe Gibbs Racing telling Hamlin not to pass Chastain.
“If we heard that radio transmission say, ‘Hey, (Chastain) needs this point to advance to the next round over (Logano)’ or something of that ilk, and all of a sudden, (Hamlin) let o the gas, that would probably raise a
red ag on our side,” Forde said. Hamlin believes that isn’t right.
“I don’t see any reason why I can’t know what the point situation is,” Hamlin said. “I had no allegiance to either party, and so at that point, my question would be: ‘Do I have a right to choose my competitor?’
“I think the some of the sensitivity around this is obviously probably gambling focused because I know that NASCAR is very, very sensitive, as they should be, with that to make sure everyone’s getting a fair shake,” Hamlin continued.
The entire eld of eight had the same question for NASCAR.
“It’s a slippery slope either way because where is the line? Is just telling somebody where you are in points and what’s going on around you, is that too far?” Logano said. “Saying straight-up what to do is probably too far. We can kind of understand that, but just saying what the point situation is, I don’t think that’s too far.
“I think just feeding someone data it still leaves it in the driver’s hands to do what they please with it. It’s just giving information. That’s all you’re doing.”
“But on the race track, I feel as though, as long as you’re you don’t have a bias to one party or another. ... I don’t know why you can’t make the best decision for yourself. I’m more wondering, what is going to be allowed?”
MATT KELLEY / AP PHOTO
STEPHEN LAM / SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE VIA
Denny Hamlin, left, and Ross Chastain, right, jockey for position behind Brad Keselowski heading into Turn 3 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
David Byrne contributes songs to Roald Dahl’s “The Twits”
By Lindsey Bahr
The Associated Press
FOUR
CAST MEMBERS
from “The Real Housewives” trading places with women living di erent lives in a new iteration of “Wife Swap” and Danielle Deadwyler starring in the apocalyptic thriller “40 Acres” 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 this week: Rapper Gucci Mane returns with a new full-length titled “Episodes,” a new Pokémon game lets you compete in real-time ghts rather than turn-based battles and Keri Russell’s political drama “The Diplomat” premieres its third season.
MOVIES TO STREAM
An animated adaptation of Roald Dahl’s “The Twits” is coming to Net ix on Friday. The mean, hateful couple are voiced by Johnny Vegas and Margo Martindale in this lm about their rise to power in the city and the group of children who team up to ght for goodness.
Animation veteran Phil Johnson (“Wreck-It Ralph,” “Zootopia”) directed and co-wrote the lm, which features a starry voice cast including Natalie Portman, Emilia Clarke and Jason Mantzoukas. David Byrne also contributed some new songs, with Paramore’s Hayley Williams.
Deadwyler stars in the apocalyptic thriller “40 Acres” about a family, the Freemans, surviving on a farm while the rest of society has collapsed in the wake of plagues and wars. But their survivalist existence is put in jeopardy when her eldest son meets a woman outside of their property. It will be on Hulu starting Friday.
Two standout Sundance documentaries are also worth checking out. “The Alabama Solution,” about horrifying conditions in the Alabama prison system, is already streaming on HBO Max. The Associated Press has written extensively about the problems in the state’s prison system, including high rates of violence, low sta ng, a plummeting parole rate and the use of pandemic funds to build a new supersized prison.
Also coming on Friday to Net ix, “The Perfect Neighbor” from Geeta Gandbhir uses police bodycam footage to recon-
struct a neighborhood dispute in Florida that turns deadly,” AP Film Writer Lindsey Bahr wrote. “It’s a riveting real life look at the state’s “stand your ground laws,”
MUSIC TO STREAM
The rapper Gucci Mane returns with a new full-length, “Episodes,” two months after his Gangsta Grillz mixtape “Greatest of All Trappers” dropped. What more would you expect from one of the most proli c trap stars of the last few decades?
The in uence of Australian psychedelic musician Kevin Parker, aka Tame Impala, is hard to undersell — there’s a reason some of the biggest names in the business have been running to work with him, a list that recently includes Dua Lipa for her “Radical Optimism” album. On Friday, he’ll release his fth album, “Deadbeat,” his rst full-length in ve years. It’s as dreamy as ever. In independent music circles, IRL and URL — the subgenre shoegaze (marked by distortion, feedback, loud guitar pedal e ects as popularized by the Jesus and Mary Chain) — has experienced a revival. In the modern era, those familiar-to-some sounds are meshed with other indie rock styles. No band has been simultaneously in uential
and underrated for said impact than Philadelphia’s They Are Gutting A Body of Water. That may change Friday with the release of their next album, “LOTTO,” their rst for ATO Records and best to date. It’s perfect for those who like their bands fuzzy, freaky and future seeking.
SERIES TO STREAM
Four cast members from “The Real Housewives” are temporarily ditching their cushy lives and designer duds to swap plac-
es with women living di erent lives in a new iteration of “Wife Swap” on Bravo. The wives taking part in the four-episode series are Angie Katsanevas of “The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City”; Dr. Wendy Osefo of “The Real Housewives of Potomac”; Emily Simpson from “The Real Housewives of Orange County”; and Melissa Gorga of “The Real housewives of New Jersey.” It’s available now on Bravo and Peacock. Alex Murdaugh, the disbarred South Carolina attorney
“The Perfect Neighbor” from Geeta Gandbhir uses police bodycam footage to reconstruct a neighborhood dispute in Florida that turns deadly.
convicted of murdering his wife and son along with committing nancial crimes, is serving a life sentence in prison. The story, streaming now, is told in a new true crime dramatization for Hulu called “Murdaugh: Death in the Family.” It stars Jason Clarke as Alex and Patricia Arquette as his wife, Maggie. The series is based on the reporting by South Carolina journalist and podcaster Mandy Matney, whose investigative work was pivotal in the coverage of Murdaugh. If you need a palette cleanser, the delightful comedy “Loot” returns to Apple TV+ for its third season. Maya Rudolph stars as a billionaire who nds her purpose in philanthropy after her tech-bro husband divorces her. It also stars Nat Faxon, Michaela Jaé Rodriguez, Joel Kim Booster and Ron Funches. Russell’s political drama “The Diplomat” premieres its third season Thursday on Net ix. Allison Janney also returns as a series regular alongside ... wait for it ... her old buddy from “The West Wing,” Bradley Whitford. He plays her husband.
Another one for the true crime fans: A new limited series on Peacock is about the serial killer John Wayne Gacy. “Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy,” premieres Thursday and dramatizes the time period in 1978 when police begin to suspect Gacy of the murder of a young man in Des Plaines, Illinois. As they conduct surveillance 24/7, Gacy seems to at rst enjoy the attention, but his behavior becomes more and more erratic over time and leads to his arrest.
VIDEO GAMES TO PLAY
Pokémon Legends: Z-A brings a major change to Nintendo’s 30-year-old franchise: For the rst time, the creatures are competing in real-time ghts rather than turn-based battles. That means more of a focus on timing and re exes, though it will also give your monster the ability to dodge enemy attacks. The story takes place in Lumiose City, a Paris-like metropolis that turns into a battle zone when the sun goes down. Plenty of old favorites like Pikachu and Charizard are on the roster, and if your Pokémon scores enough hits it may undergo “Mega Evolution” to become truly fearsome. You can start trying to catch ’em all Thursday on Switch.
HULU / NETFLIX / PEACOCK VIA AP
“Murdaugh: Death in the Family,” from left, “The Diplomat” and “Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy” are all streaming this week.
SCOTT GARFITT / INVISION / AP
Kevin Parker of Tame Impala, pictured performing in London in 2022, releases “Deadbeat,” his rst full-length record in ve years, on Friday.
GAVIN MCINTYRE / THE POST AND COURIER VIA AP
A new true-crime dramatization now streaming on Hulu tells the story of Alex Murdaugh, who was convicted of killing his wife, Maggie, and younger son, Paul, in 2021.
STATE & NATION
Missing Va. store cat found after hitching a ride
The cat, who lives at a Lowe’s store, snuck into a distribution truck
By Julie Walker and John Raby The Associated Press
FRANCINE THE calico cat is back home at a Lowe’s store in Virginia after going missing for a few weeks, hitching a ride on a truck that turned up at a sister facility in another state.
Two employees from a Lowe’s in Richmond made the 90-minute drive early last Monday to pick up Francine, who disappeared in September and recently was discovered at the company’s distribution center in Garysburg, North Carolina.
She was back on the job a day later, playing with customers, posing for photos and soaking in a ection.
“Francine is one of us,” store supervisor Wayne Schneider said in a telephone interview.
“She’s just amazing. What she means here to the store and the employees, you really can’t imagine the outpouring that the employees and also the customers give her daily.”
Francine spends much of her time either at the customer service desk or in the store’s seasonal area. But things went awry in September as the store brought in items for the upcoming Christmas season. Store general manager Mike Sida said that disruption may have prompted Francine to seek comfort elsewhere.
After store employees hadn’t seen Francine for a few days,
WIC
they reviewed past surveillance video. There were glimpses of her in the appliance section and then the receiving department, where she darted into a truck.
An overnight manager is then seen shutting the truck’s door, and o it went to Garysburg, about 85 miles to the south.
“And then, of course, when she got down to the distribution center, she shot o the truck,” Sida said. “That’s when we found out where she was and she was missing.”
An animal control o ce set up humane traps at the distribution center, where photos of Francine were posted throughout. The
center had dozens of monitoring cameras, and Lowe’s brought in thermal drones to survey the area. An Instagram account una liated with Lowe’s dedicated to nding Francine grew to more than 34,000 followers.
On Saturday, Francine was spotted on camera near the distribution center. After more humane traps were installed, a volunteer checked each trap throughout the night. Finally, one of the traps triggered, and Francine’s meows could be heard. Schneider and Sida got in a car early last Monday and drove to get Francine.
“That ride going down, knowing that we were going to get her, was just heartwarming. Knowing she’s safe and that she’s coming back to the store to get o her two-week vacation,” Schneider said.
Francine was a stray when she started living at the Lowe’s store more than eight years ago. Cats are common sightings around feed stores and garden centers, which contain large amounts of grain and seed that can be attractive to mice and rats. In New York City, cats are beloved xtures of the city’s bodegas and delis. At the Lowe’s store, Francine “just showed up,” Sida said. “We
food program receives $300M to keep running during government shutdown
Unspent tari revenue was reallocated to fund it
By Moriah Balingit
The Associated Press
WASHINGTON, D.C. — A food aid program that supports millions of low-income mothers and their young children received a $300 million infusion from the Trump administration this week, alleviating some anxiety that it would run out of money during the government shutdown.
The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children helps more than 6 million low-income mothers, young children and expectant parents to purchase nutritious staples like fruits and vegetables, low-fat milk and infant formula. The program, known as WIC, was at risk of running out of money this month because of the government shutdown, which occurred right before it was slated to receive its annual appropriation.
This week, White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt posted on X the White House
being loaded into a vehicle in Jackson, Mississippi, in October 2013.
had found “a creative solution” to use tari revenues to keep the program a oat. By last Thursday, at least some states were receiving WIC money. Alaska and Washington said they received enough federal funds to keep their programs running until at least the end of October.
The Inter-Tribal Council of Nevada, which had closed its o ce last week after running out of money, received money that allowed it to reopen Friday, radio station KUNR reported.
O cials from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which runs WIC, told congressional sta ers they were using $300 million in unspent tari revenue from the last scal year to keep the program a oat, two people briefed on the call told AP. The people declined to be named because they were not authorized to share details from the call.
Tari revenue supports many USDA programs. The law permits the administration to
transfer money allocated for other programs to WIC.
Without the additional money, state and local governments would have had to step in to pay for their WIC programs and later seek reimbursement from the federal government when funding was restored. Washington state, which is dealing with a massive budget shortfall, said it could not a ord to use state money for the WIC program.
In Alaska, the WIC program only had enough federal money to operate through Saturday, meaning the state would have had to step in with its own funding to keep the program running. But this week, ocials learned they were receiving nearly $900,000, enough to fully fund the program through Nov. 8, according to Shirley Sakaye, a spokesperson with the state’s health department. About half a million of that came from leftover funds from other programs, she said.
The government has been shut down since Oct. 1, after Republicans and Democrats in Congress failed to pass a bill to continue funding the government. Congressional Democrats want to re-
“What she means here to the store and the employees, you really can’t imagine the outpouring that the employees and also the customers give her daily.”
Wayne Schneider, Lowe’s store supervisor
had a bit of a mice problem. So, of course, I’m like, wow. I like this cat a lot because it’s helping me.”
Lowe’s doesn’t have an ocial policy about cats in stores. Asked why Francine wasn’t taken to someone’s residence after showing up, Sida said she is loved by employees and the community.
“Francine picked us. We didn’t pick her,” Sida said. “Later, we would embrace her being our store cat. But at the end of the day, she came to us. Where she’s at is where she wants to be. She does whatever she wants.”
Unlike Lowe’s employees, Francine does not wear a vest. She had been previously out tted with several collars but escaped them all. Now they intend to t her with a harness that includes identifying information. A local brewery hosted a “Francine Fest” community event last Wednesday to celebrate the homecoming, while the store is planning its own team party.
verse cuts to Medicaid that were passed earlier this year as part of President Donald Trump’s mega-bill. They also want to extend subsidies that cut the cost of A ordable Care Act insurance plans, which cover more than 24 million Americans.
The White House and Republicans in Congress have hammered Democrats for the shutdown, highlighting the potential damage it could do to WIC.
“The Democrats are so cruel in their continual votes to shut down the government that they forced the WIC program for the most vulnerable women and children to run out this week,” Leavitt posted on X.
But House Republicans and the White House have also sought to cut the program. Trump’s budget proposal and a budget bill passed by House Republicans last month would not have fully funded the program, meaning it would have to turn away eligible applicants.
“Since President Trump is now signaling he cares about the WIC program, he shouldnally get to the negotiating table to reopen the government,” said Sen. Patty Murray, a Democrat from Washington state. “And he should immediately disavow his budget request to signi cantly cut bene ts for millions of moms and kids — and tell House Republicans to back o their proposed cuts as well.”
ROGELIO V. SOLIS / AP PHOTO
Grocery bags with food from the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children, WIC, sit in a shopping cart before
KEVIN RIDLEY / LOWE’S VIA AP
Employees welcome back Francine last Tuesday.
Randolph record
Pedaling through the Piedmont
Hundreds of cyclists stream down N.C. 42 as they depart from the Asheboro YMCA on Oct. 8, beginning the fourth day of the Cycle North Carolina Mountains to Coast Ride. The riders faced a 76-mile journey to Fuquay-Varina as part of the weeklong, 466-mile trek from Lake Lure to Fort Fisher that showcases North Carolina’s scenic back roads.
WHAT’S HAPPENING
Pa. man pleads guilty in arson attack while Shapiro’s family slept in governor’s mansion Harrisburg, Pa.
A man who scaled a security fence in the middle of the night and set re to the Pennsylvania governor’s mansion has pleaded guilty to attempted murder and other charges. Cody Balmer entered the plea Tuesday for the April attack that caused millions of dollars in damage to the state-owned building in Harrisburg. Gov. Josh Shapiro and members of his family were inside and had to be evacuated. No one was injured, but authorities say the 38-yearold Balmer told them he planned to beat the governor with a small sledgehammer if he encountered him. Balmer’s family has said he has a history of mental health problems.
SpaceX launches 11th test ight of mega Starship rocket with another win
SpaceX has launched another of its mammoth Starship rockets on a test ight. The 403-foot Starship thundered into the evening sky Monday from Texas. The booster peeled away and made a controlled entry into the Gulf of Mexico as planned, with the spacecraft skimming space before descending into the Indian Ocean. It’s similar to the previous test ight in August, which scored a success following a string of explosive failures. SpaceX’s Elon Musk intends to use Starship to send people to Mars. NASA cannot land astronauts on the moon by decade’s end without Starship.
$2.00
Commissioners approve fee schedule for
Ag Center commercial kitchen use
Hope Haywood announces she will not seek reelection
By Ryan Henkel Randolph Record
ASHEBORO — The Randolph County Board of Commissioners met Oct. 6 with a variety of items on the agenda.
The board rst approved the Agricultural Center commercial kitchen fee schedule, which includes a $50 one-time application fee and a $12 per hour base rate for use of the kitchen.
“These rates and fees keep the space accessible for our intended audience,” said Agricultural Center Coordinator Taylor Wright.
“The goal of this shared-use commercial kitchen facility is to allow renters to create, grow and expand their food business. So whether that’s a hobbyist who likes to bake bread on the weekends or a food entrepreneur who is starting their own business, this facility has been designed
“The goal of this shared-use commercial kitchen facility is to allow renters to create, grow and expand their food business.”
Taylor Wright, Agricultural Center coordinator
intentionally to cater to those individuals.”
Those interested in using the space will also be required to do onboarding/orientation as well as receive food handler certi cation through either Safe Plates or ServSafe.
The center has two separate spaces, both equipped with commercial-grade equipment and separate ventilation and HVAC to prevent cross-contamination, a walk-in cooler and freezer, as well as dry storage spaces that are available to rent.
Since the facility is considered high-risk, it is also inspected by the NCDA and Ran-
dolph County Environmental Health.
“If someone wants to have food items that they sell out of their home, then they have to completely set their kitchen up for that,” said Commissioner Hope Haywood. “So for somebody who’s looking at testing the waters, starting with a product that they would like to sell, I think this is an amazing opportunity.”
The board also approved entering into a 60-day due diligence period with Waga Energy for potentially establishing a renewable natural gas program at the Great Oak Land ll.
While the county contracted with Waste Management of Carolinas to operate the landll, Randolph County still retained the rights to gases generated by the facility.
Presently, the land ll produces methane-rich land ll gas which is being burned o to meet EPA standards, but the volume has become enough where it can now be monetized if converted into a renewable energy source.
Finally, at the end of the
2 councilmembers advance in Asheboro’s mayoral race
The eld for the ballot for Asheboro City Council also was trimmed through the primary
By Bob Sutton Randolph Record
ASHEBORO — Sitting city councilmembers Joey Trogdon and Eddie Burks advanced through the primary in bids to become Asheboro’s next mayor. Trogdon received 924 votes and Burks received 784 votes in the primary, which wrapped up last week.
Mayor David Smith is retiring after 16 years as mayor, so this puts either Trogdon or Burks in line to be elected to a four-year term.
Trogdon’s father, Joe Trogdon, was mayor of Asheboro for 18 years (1983-2001).
The eld for the city council was reduced to eight candidates from a eld of 14. There are four seats available for four-year terms.
Those appearing on ballots for November’s general election
Eight candidates for Asheboro City Council will appear on November’s ballot.
will be Phil Skeen (1,119 votes), Phillip Cheek (917), Mary Joan Pugh (865), Kelly Heath (766), Pamela Vuncannon (736), Dave Thomas (812), Bill McCaskill (564) and Joel McClosky (431).
Those failing to advance were Kevin Garcia Cordova (378), Al LaPrade (363), Timo-
meeting, Haywood announced she will not seeking reelection after her term expires.
“I have gotten to know Randolph County and its people, and I am thankful for the trust that you have placed in me,” Haywood said. “It has been the honor of a lifetime to represent all of the people of our county, not just those who look and believe like me.”
Haywood, who has served seven years as a commissioner, is set to serve until Dec. 1, 2026.
“I want to give your next commissioner time to prepare and to be ready to be able to step into this role with his or her election,” Haywood said. “I look forward to continuing to diligently serve you over the next 15 months. Please know that I will be working harder than ever as I complete my term to serve the people of Randolph County and to help make decisions to provide a better future for all of us.”
The Randolph County Board of Commissioners will next meet Nov. 3.
thy Woodle (337), Kate Snuggs (304), Jimmy E rd (126), and Aaron McLendon (37). Heath and McCaskill are incumbents, while Cheek is on the Asheboro City Schools Board of Education.
According to the North Carolina State Board of Elections, turnout was 13.78% with 2,097 voters out of 1,5218 registered voters.
Election Day is Nov. 4. Candidate forum
A moderated forum featuring candidates for Asheboro City School Board, Asheboro City Council and Asheboro mayor will be held from 5:30-8:30 p.m. Oct. 21 at Randolph Community College’s R. Alton Cox Learning Resources Center auditorium. This is a free event. Seating is on a rst-come basis.
THE RANDOLPH COUNTY EDITION OF NORTH STATE JOURNAL
PJ WARD-BROWN / RANDOLPH RECORD
UCA superintendent sets plan to retire next year
Sharon Castelli has led the state’s largest charter school for ve years
By Bob Sutton Randolph Record
ASHEBORO — Sharon Castelli, who has overseen one of the largest charter schools in the state for ve years, will retire as Uwharrie Charter Academy’s superintendent next summer.
“Please know that I remain fully committed to leading UCA forward each day until my retirement — and to ensuring a smooth, intentional transition of leadership,” Castelli said in making the announcement last week.
Castelli’s retirement comes at the end of June. Plans for lling the position will be unveiled in coming months.
A list of accomplishments under Castelli includes overseeing construction of a new high school and opening of a career academy. The list provided by the school also points
to UCA maintaining full staing under Castelli amid personnel shortages in other educational settings.
There was also a 10-year charter renewal in 2023, the securing of funding through state and federal grants, and increasing operating fund reserves.
“These accomplishments re ect the power of teamwork and shared commitment,”
Castelli said. “I am deeply grateful to our Board of Directors, our school leaders, and the entire UCA community for their unwavering support and dedication to excellence.”
Castelli, who took the position at UCA in October 2020, has worked in education for more than two decades following 14 years on active duty with the U.S. Air Force.
Becca Mead, chair of UCA’s Board of Directors, said in a statement: “Dr. Castelli’s unwavering leadership has profoundly shaped our district and inspired countless students and sta . While we are saddened to see her retire, we also celebrate her remarkable journey and the new adventures that await her. Her legacy will continue to guide us as we strive to uphold the values she instilled in our community.”
UCA opened in 2013 with fewer than 200 students and a decade later had more than 1,800 students. In athletics, UCA has won multiple team state championships in baseball and wrestling.
EPA to hold hearing in Asheboro
A group has expressed concerns about water quality
Randolph Record sta ASHEBORO — The Environmental Protection Agency will hold a public hearing next week to receive community input on water quality protection for nearly 900,000 North Carolinians whose drinking water might have been a ected by dioxane contamination. The hearing is scheduled
CRIME LOG
Oct. 7
• James Bullard, 52, of Asheboro, was arrested by Asheboro PD for assault on a female and communicating threats.
• Cecile Dix, 35, of Asheboro, was arrested by Randolph County Sheri ’s O ce (RCSO) for tra cking in opium or heroin, possession with intent to sell/ deliver Schedule I controlled substance, maintaining a vehicle/dwelling/place for controlled substance and allowing unlicensed person to drive.
• Walter Staley, 36, of Randleman, was arrested by Randleman PD for misdemeanor larceny.
• Eliezer Vasquez Aguilar, 30, of Durham, was arrested by RCSO for felony hit and run causing injury, resisting a public o cer, no operator’s license, reckless driving to endanger, possession of open container and assault on a female.
Oct. 8
• Je ery Fleeman, 47, of Randleman, was arrested by RCSO for non-support of child.
Oct. 9
• Marcell Alsbrook, 36, of
from 6-9 p.m. Oct. 22 at Randolph Community College. Based on information from Haw River Assembly, cancer-causing chemicals from been detected in water systems downstream of Asheboro for at least a decade. That Haw River Assembly says that Asheboro’s wastewater treatment plant dumps dioxane upstream from communities such as Sanford, Fayetteville and Wilmington. Other communities will soon be connected through Sanford’s water system, the Haw River Assembly said.
and possession of drug paraphernalia.
• Geo rey Brisson, 39, of Thomasville, was arrested by RCSO for injury to personal property and breaking and entering a motor vehicle.
• Casey McCoy, 47, of Randleman, was arrested by RCSO for nonsupport of child.
• Logan Perry, 28, of Asheboro, was arrested by RCSO for possession of stolen property, obtaining property by false pretense and obstructing justice.
Oct. 10
• Austin Brann, 28, of Trinity, was arrested by RCSO for misdemeanor larceny and possession of stolen property.
• John Marshall, 41, of Asheboro, was arrested by Asheboro PD for possession of drug paraphernalia.
Oct. 11
• Devante Deaton, 33, of Asheboro, was arrested by RCSO for possession of burglary tools, felony possession of Schedule II controlled substance, possession of controlled substance on prison/jail premises, misdemeanor breaking and entering and possession of drug paraphernalia.
This is an opportunity for community members to provide input on water quality protection. As part of the Haw River Assembly’s information: “Families have the right to know about contaminants in their water. It’s important to protect all our community members from toxic pollution, including those most vulnerable like children and pregnant women. Community members deserve protection from cancer-causing chemicals in their drinking water.”
• Brayden Gordon, 21, of Bennett, was arrested by Asheboro PD for driving while impaired, speeding and reckless driving with wanton disregard.
• Kailey Lambeth, 33, of Asheboro, was arrested by Asheboro PD for felony possession of Schedule II controlled substance, breaking and entering and possession of drug paraphernalia.
• Anthony Little, 33, of Asheboro, was arrested by Asheboro PD for tra cking in cocaine, maintaining a vehicle/dwelling/ place for controlled substance and possession with intent to sell/deliver cocaine.
• Juana Zuniga, 27, of Asheboro, was arrested by Asheboro PD for tra cking in cocaine, maintaining a vehicle/dwelling/ place for controlled substance, possession with intent to sell/ deliver cocaine and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Oct. 12
• Ti any Cesaro, 31, of Seagrove, was arrested by RCSO for assault and battery.
• Jamie Foxx, 55, of Siler City, was arrested by RCSO for misdemeanor larceny and possession of stolen property.
Randolph Guide
Here’s a quick look at what’s coming up in Randolph County:
Oct. 18
37th Annual Ramseur Fall Festival
9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Historic downtown comes alive with arts and crafts vendors, food trucks, live music and games for children. The annual event features more than 250 exhibitors along Main Street’s Victorian homes and historic buildings.
Downtown Main Street 1500 Main St. Ramseur
36th Annual NASCAR Day Festival
9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The hometown of Richard Petty celebrates racing heritage with three stages of entertainment, car show, craft vendors and food.
NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Petty will sign autographs from 10-11 a.m.
Downtown Main Street and Commerce Square 120 Commerce Square Randleman
Quaker Lake Pumpkin Festival
2-6:30 p.m.
Family festival at the camp features pumpkin painting, hayrides, in atables, canoeing, pumpkin smashing and live music. Food includes hot dogs, pizza, funnel cakes, popcorn and cotton candy. Admission is $4.
Quaker Lake Camp 1503 N.C. Highway 62 E. Climax
Oct. 18-19
Boo at the NC Zoo 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Halloween celebration with trick-or-treating, costume contests, live entertainment and storytelling throughout the Africa section of the zoo. Event continues Oct. 25-26. Wristbands are $10 for guests and $8 for Zoo members, plus regular zoo admission.
North Carolina Zoo 4401 Zoo Parkway Asheboro
THE CONVERSATION
Trip Ho end, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor
How Trump’s FTC can keep drug prices down for working Americans
A settlement will immediately bene t consumers.
HOW DO LEADING RETAILERS like Amazon and Walmart deliver low prices to their customers? The companies buy so much from their suppliers that they can demand discounts. That dynamic applies in the health care industry as well, as companies called pharmacy bene t managers (PBMs) negotiate with pharmaceutical companies to keep prices down. But it’s up to the Trump administration to keep it that way.
On Sept. 29, the Federal Trade Commission came one step closer to nally making a decision on the Biden FTC’s case against PBMs. A settlement will immediately bene t consumers while reinforcing the valuable role PBMs play in negotiating with pharmaceutical companies to drive down drug prices.
PBMs negotiate drug prices on behalf of employers, insurers and patients. Managing more than 90% of U.S. prescriptions (per the FTC) gives them leverage they need to demand discounts and rebates from Big Pharma.
The backdrop to the FTC case, which was led shortly before last year’s presidential election, is the 1,200% rise in insulin prices from 1999-2017. The Biden FTC claimed that “even when lower list price insulins became available that could have been more a ordable for vulnerable patients, the PBMs systemically excluded them in favor of high list price … insulin products”— because the more expensive drugs are, the bigger the rebates they receive.
When I rst took over as chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Health Subcommittee, I was a bit skeptical of PBMs because of all the negative ads I saw about them (which I later found out were sponsored by the pharmaceutical companies). However, when I dug into the data, I quickly noticed that the truth was far di erent from what some of the industry’s biggest players want us to believe.
The employers who hire PBMs love them. They are best thought of as akin to a bulk buyer at a market, using scale to drive better deals. If they weren’t buying in bulk, they would not have the leverage that’s needed with the
pharma giants, which would drive prices even higher.
I’m sure, like in any industry, there are some bad actors, or at least some actors who have engaged in some brow-raising activities. Those entities should not escape punishment. That said, the overall net value of PBMs speaks for itself.
Even the FTC’s complaint admits PBMs pass on 90% to 98% of rebate dollars directly to their clients, as The Wall Street Editorial Board pointed out. Which raises the question: Did the Biden FTC even believe the arguments made in its own suit?
After all, Biden FTC Chair Lina Khan was not shy in intimidating that she was unconcerned about bringing weak cases to court. She believed that pursuing cases that wouldn’t stand legal scrutiny was important as a means of convincing the legislature to expand the law to her progressive liking.
Rather than taking the PBM case to federal court, the FTC led it in its own administrative court — meaning the agency felt compelled to act as both prosecutor and judge. If the commission wasn’t con dent that an independent judiciary would give the ruling it desired, that’s not a very encouraging sign.
All of this underscores the value of settling the PBM case, which is possible with Trump appointees now in charge at the FTC.
Taking this case o the FTC’s books and instead reaching a settlement with bad actors would protect consumers while preserving employers’ ability to hold the pharmaceutical company’s feet to the re.
Put another way, the FTC can punish any genuine misconduct while still keeping the buyers’ club that holds Big Pharma intact. If Amazon or Walmart saw a deal that delivered lower prices for millions of Americans, they’d take it. Washington should too.
Joseph R. Pitts served as a member of the U.S. House from Pennsylvania. He chaired the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Health. This column was rst published by The Daily Signal.
Arsonist burns down climate hoax
It’s been obvious for at least 150 years that climate change has nothing to do with the January wild res.
THE ARREST THIS WEEK of a suspect for starting the re that led to last January’s deadly Palisades wild re in Los Angeles came as no real surprise.
Arson was hinted at as early as February. People had previously been arrested for arson or arson has been suspected in connection with recent wild res in New Jersey, New York, California, Hawaii, Canada, Greece and other places. So when the Department of Justice announced during its press conference this week that evidence of arson developed early in the investigation, it came as no shock.
But the rst and last instinct of climate hoaxers is always to blame climate change.
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) blamed climate change in an X post that garnered 18.5 million views on Jan 8.
The New York Times, “PBS News Hour,” Los Angeles Times, The Associated Press and Axios soon joined the bandwagon. Leftover Biden sta ers in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the activist-researchers at World Weather Attribution, whose occupation is to blame bad weather on climate change, chimed in weeks later.
Most recently, the National Academy of Sciences used the Los Angeles wild res as part of its pretext for attacking the Trump
EPA e ort to rescind the endangerment nding for greenhouse gases.
But it’s been obvious for at least 150 years that climate change has nothing to do with the January wild res. On Oct. 30, 1875, the Anaheim Gazette even warned readers of the exact same risky conditions that existed in January 2025: “The terrible con agration that occurred in Virginia City yesterday, with all its horror of a useless re department, because of a meager water supply, is what will happen some of these days to Anaheim.”
The paper continued: “Suppose a re should break out in some of our many re nests, which are too abundant now, or among closely packed wooden buildings at the inopportune time when a heavy sea breeze was blowing, or when our dreaded Santa Ana wind came upon us … what could be done?”
And that eerie warning from the past — from the failed re hydrants to the burn-ready buildings to the Santa Ana winds — is exactly what happened to Los Angeles in 2025 once the arsonist struck. No global warming needed. Nor is any warming even occurring in the area.
Los Angeles is actually cooler now than it was in the late 1950s per U.S. government data. Although it was unusually dry in Los Angeles County
during September to December 2024, the precipitation trend during that same period has actually increased slightly since 1895, also per U.S. government data.
Blaming the Los Angeles wild res on global warming was always a lie and not a harmless one. The stock price of Edison International, the parent company of electric utility South California Edison, took a massive hit from which it has still not recovered, despite the stock market being at record highs and electricity demand exploding.
I don’t know whether the suspect arrested for setting the Palisades re will be found guilty. But I do know that “climate change” is not. Ahead of the Democratic primary for the 2020 election, Sanders said he wanted to criminally investigate fossil fuel executives for lying about climate change. This would be a good time for him to look in the mirror.
Steve Milloy is a biostatistician and lawyer. This column was rst published by Daily Caller News Foundation.
COLUMN | STEVE MILLOY
COLUMN | JOSEPH R. PITTS
Larry Wayne Owens
Dec. 7, 1957 – Oct. 8, 2025
Larry Wayne Owens, age 67, of Lexington, passed away peacefully on October 8, 2025, at The Randolph Hospice House. He was born on December 7, 1957, in Davidson County, North Carolina, the son of the late Larry Franklin Black, Virginia Dare Edwards Owens, and Arthur Monroe Owens. Also preceding him in death is his brother, Rufty Owens.
Wayne was a dedicated professional in the construction industry, he always brought skill and integrity to his work in carpentry, remodeling, roo ng, and contracting. His craftsmanship was not just a job but a calling and he took pride in building and creating with his hands.
Music was the rhythm that fueled Wayne’s soul. A gifted guitar player and singer, he had a passion for bluegrass and country music. His talents extended to the banjo, wooden spoons, and harmonica, making him a beloved participant at every jam session with friends.
March 4, 1968 – Oct. 4, 2025
Sean Michael Jackson, 57, of Randleman, passed away peacefully Saturday, October 4, 2025, at his home after a long three-year battle with cancer.
Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m., Thursday, October 9, 2025, at Ridge Funeral Home Chapel, Asheboro, with Rev. Bill Harwell o ciating. Burial will follow at Country Holiness Cemetery.
Sean was born in Montgomery County, Maryland, on March 4, 1968. He was a member of the United Church of God International Association. Sean had many interests; he loved music, reading, history, studying God’s word, gardening, and spending time with family and friends. Watching football, especially his Tampa Bay Buccaneers play football, was also one of his favorite pastimes. Sean loved life and fought hard until the end.
Sean was preceded in death by his father, John Jackson; stepdaughter, Jamie Carroll; grandparents, Frank and Mary Costanza, and Jack and Maxine Jackson; and uncle, Patrick Costanza.
Surviving are his wife, Lisa Jackson; mother and stepfather, Mary and David Northrup; sister, Tammy Marie Dodds (Je ) and their son, Dylan; stepsisters, Jennifer Berry (Roberto), Sarah Bryant (Danny).
The family would like to give a special thank you to his motherin-law, Barbara Mills; brother-inlaw and sister-in-law, Mark and Kelly Mills and their children, Zack Mills and Amber Johnson; sister-in-law and brother-inlaw, Susan and Daren Blevins and their daughter Brittini McMasters; and lifelong friends, David Kline, Paul Deahl, Paul Newman and Jimmy Newman for all their love and support.
The family will receive friends from 1 to 1:45 p.m. Thursday, prior to the service at Ridge Funeral Home.
Memorials may be made to Hospice of Randolph, 416 Vision Drive, Asheboro, NC 27203.
Wayne’s music was a gift he shared freely, bringing joy and harmony to all who listened. An avid outdoorsman, he found solace and inspiration in nature. Whether packing up the family and boat for shing in the deep sea or camping in the mountains, Wayne raveled in the beauty and serenity of the natural world. His legacy is most profoundly felt in the love he had for his family and friends. He was the heart of family gatherings, always ready with a fancy home-cooked meal that he made from scratch or words of encouragement when attending family milestones. His compassion and willingness to help others marked him as a man of great character. In his role as a grandfather, Wayne discovered pure delight. The time spent with his grandchildren was a treasure he cherished above all else and his in uence will echo through their lives for years to come.
Left to cherish his memory are his children, Thomas Bulla and wife Anne, Dusty Davis and Annette Chavis; grandchildren, Justin “Bubba” Davis, Taylor “Tater Bug” Davis, Jaxon “Little Man” Sprouse, MacKenzie Bulla, Mollie Bulla, Bailey Chavis, Chesney Chavis, Dayton Chavis and Skylar Chavis; sister, Jill Owens Steele; brother, Tim Owens; lifelong companion, Beverly Owens; special friend, Bitty; and numerous other beloved family and friends.
The family will receive friends from 6-7 p.m. on Wednesday, October 15, 2025, at Midstate Cremation & Funeral Chapel, 304 Lanier Avenue, Asheboro, NC 27203. A celebration of life will follow at 7 p.m. on Wednesday at the funeral home.
Patsy Floyd Barnes
Aug. 2, 1945 – Oct. 6, 2025
Patsy Floyd Barnes, 80, of Asheboro, passed away on October 6, 2025, at her home.
A funeral service will be conducted at 2 p.m. Saturday, October 11, 2025, in the Ridge Funeral Home Chapel, with Pastor Brian Faircloth o ciating. Burial will follow at Back Creek Friends Meeting Cemetery.
Born on August 2, 1945, in Guilford County, NC, Patsy was the daughter of the late Thomas Calvin Floyd and Versie Mae Fulp Floyd. She worked at Black and Decker for many years and later retired from the Hampton Inn. When she was younger, Patsy sang with the Bluegrass Buddies, her family’s country and bluegrass group. Patsy enjoyed reading, gardening and spending time with her family.
In addition to her parents, Patsy was preceded in death by her daughter, Donna Bristow; and brothers, Thomas “Buster” Floyd Jr., Buddy Floyd, Terrel Floyd and J.C. Floyd.
Surviving are her husband, Tommy L. Barnes of the home; sons, William “Billy” Bristow, of FL, Timothy “Timmy” Bristow, of FL; daughter, Melissa McDonald (Michael), of Asheboro; grandchildren, Makayla McDonald, Sasha Smith, Mandy Beckham, Tabitha Bristow, Jody Bristow, Zachary Bristow; great grandchildren, Nevaeh Harrington, Deja Harrington, Logan Manalo, Miley Manalo; and her loyal loving canine companion, Dixie, who never left her side.
The family will receive friends from 12:30 to 1:45 p.m. Saturday, prior to the service, at Ridge Funeral Home.
Memorials may be made to Hospice of Randolph, 416 Vision Drive, Asheboro, NC 27203.
Elizabeth “Lib” Whitley Overton McCallum
Nov. 3, 1923 – Oct. 5, 2025
Elizabeth “Lib” Whitley Overton McCallum, age 101, went to be with her Lord and Savior on October 5, 2025, at Beacon Place in Greensboro, NC.
Lib was born in Troy, North Carolina, on November 3, 1923, to Thomas Hezekiah Overton and Hulda Whitley Overton. She met her husband, William Lindsay McCallum Jr., while working at the Gasoline Rationing Board during World War II. They made their home in Asheboro, NC, where she lived until 2020. She then moved to Greensboro to be close to family. She worked at Bossong Hosiery Mill, knitting women’s hosiery during her early employment. She later became O ce Manager at Tie Rite Neckwear until her retirement. She was a long-time member of Central Methodist Church in Asheboro.
Lib loved life and lived each day to the fullest. She had a playful spirit, the warmest of hearts, and the grace of a southern lady. She loved being around people, especially her family. She enjoyed shing on the NC coast and spending many wonderful days at Harker’s Island. She had a special touch for catching ounder. She and her husband had a commercial shing license and loved digging clams and selling them to supplement their income. She had a special way of making everyone around her feel special. She was loved and will be missed by so many people.
In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by her brothers, Thomas Lane Overton and Max Alva Overton, her sister, Frances Overton Robinson, and her grandson Joshua Darrell Scott.
Lib is survived by her daughter, Vickie Apple (Bill) of Greensboro, NC. She was adored and a ectionately known as “Mamaw Lib” by her grandchildren, Michelle Baumann (Craig), and Tracie Moore (Chuck), greatgrandchildren Dalton Stancil (Melany), Matthew Moore, Grace Jonasson (Koby), and one great-great-granddaughter, Navy Grace. In addition, she is survived by several nieces and nephews as well as her wonderful caregivers, Agnes Davis and Rose Hill.
A funeral service will be held on Friday, October 10, 2025, at 10 a.m. at Central Church, 300 South Main Street, Asheboro, NC. Visitation will be prior to the service, from 9 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. at the church. Burial will be at Randolph Memorial Park in Asheboro.
Memorials may be made to Central Methodist Church, 300 South Main Street, Asheboro, NC; Mount Pisgah Methodist Church, 2600 Pisgah Church Road, Greensboro, NC; or to AuthoraCare (Beacon Place) at 2504 Summit Avenue, Greensboro, NC.
Robert “Bob” William Syriac
Dec. 28, 1950 – Oct. 6, 2025
Robert “Bob” William Syriac, 74, of Asheboro, passed away Monday, October 6, 2025, at his home. No services are scheduled at this time. Bob was born on December 28, 1950, in Spring eld, MA, the son of the late William and Dorothy Syriac. He was an avid sports fan and enjoyed baseball and football. Bob had his own radio show and would do radio for UNCG and Guilford College. Bob would travel to the mountains for vacation and enjoyed classic cars.
He is survived by his wife Renee Syriac of the home; sons, Kevin Syriac and wife Apryl and Eric Syriac all of Asheboro; sister, Jane Kriegsman; and brother, Billy Syriac.
Marianne Miller Aitken
July 11, 1941 – Oct. 6, 2025
Marianne Miller Aitken, 84, of Asheboro, passed away Monday, October 6, 2025, at Forsyth Medical Center. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, October 18, 2025, at First Presbyterian Church in Asheboro with Rev. Brian K. Rummage o ciating. Born to the late Robert and Katherine Miller on July 11, 1941, in Mans eld, Ohio, Marianne moved to North Carolina in her early teens and graduated from Myers Park High School in Charlotte before earning her degree from Appalachian State University. She dedicated much of her life to education and communication - rst as a teacher, and later as a co-writer of newsletters for the Steadman Corporation and the North Carolina Zoological Society.
Marianne had a gift for storytelling, a love of books and mysteries and a joy for games of all kinds. She cherished time spent with friends and family, especially hosting dinner parties and entertaining, sharing laughter, conversation, stories, and lively competitions around the game table.
In addition to her parents, Marianne is preceded in death by her husband, George Douglas Aitken, and sister, Susan Miller Gotheridge.
Survivors include daughter, Jennifer Aitken, of Asheboro; son, Andrew Todd Aitken (Colleen) of Kernersville; grandchildren, Andrew “Drew” Thomas Aitken, and Emma Grace Aitken. The family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m. on Friday, October 17, 2025, at Ridge Funeral Home.
Graham Scott Jackson
Dec. 10, 1969 – Oct. 6, 2025
Graham Scott Jackson, 55, of Sophia, passed away Monday, October 6, 2025, at High Point Medical Center in High Point. Funeral services will be conducted at 3 p.m., Sunday, October 12, 2025, at Balfour Baptist Church, Asheboro, with Pastors Mark Wilburn, Brian Pierce and Gary Jones o ciating. Scott was born in Asheboro, NC, on December 10, 1969, the son of Walter and Vicki Jackson. He was a 1988 graduate of Asheboro High School, where he played on the football team. Scott worked with his dad at Jackson Sandblasting for several years. His loves were his family, especially his grandchildren and eating. His passion was living for his Lord and Savior and pastoring to anyone that he came into contact with. Scott was passionate in riding his Harley Davidson.
Scott was preceded in death by his son, Jordan Jackson Ball, and his sister, Sonya Kay Jackson.
Surviving in addition to his parents are his wife, Kelly O’Daniel Jackson; daughters, Taren Nichole Jackson of Nashville, TN, Caleigh Rae Jones, Caitlin Thomas; sons, Cameron Thomas, Clint Thomas; sister, Crystal Jackson Gil (Lino) of Julian; and thirteen grandchildren.
Tammy Thompson Brigman
Sept. 20, 1966 – Oct. 8, 2025
Tammy Darlene Haithcock Thompson Brigman, 59, of Asheboro, died Wednesday, October 8, 2025, at her home.
A graveside service will be conducted at 1:15 p.m., Monday, October 13, 2025, at Big Oak Church of God Cemetery, Star, with Pastor William Willard o ciating.
Born on September 20, 1966, in Randolph County, NC, Tammy was the daughter of the late Bobby Anderson Haithcock and Shelby Jean Snyder Haithcock. She attended East Montgomery High School and had worked at Energizer.
Tammy loved her family; her grandbabies were her whole world. She loved going thrift shopping every chance she got. She loved the beach, being outdoors, listening to music and walking with her husband, Lynn. Tammy wasn’t scared to say what was on her mind. She would help anyone if she could. Everyone who knew Tammy knew she was a good soul.
In addition to her parents, Tammy was preceded in death by her daughter, Christy Lyles, and her sisters, Pam Haithcock and Crystal Willard. Surviving are her husband of 24 years, Lynn Brigman; daughters, Jennifer Belcher Dunn (Charles) of Asheboro, Amanda Brigman (Jeremy Bailey) of Asheboro; son, Bobby Thompson (Natasha) of Abbington, VA; grandchildren, Kenny Thompson, Kendra Thompson, Kaytee Allen, Emilee Allen, and Hailey Lyles.
The family will receive friends from 11:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. on Monday, October 13, 2025, at Ridge Funeral Home.
Sean Michael Jackson
Sherry Chase Williams
Aug. 29, 1957 – Oct. 10, 2025
Sherry Chase Williams, 68, of Asheboro, passed away Friday, October 10, 2025, at Randolph Hospice House in Asheboro.
Funeral Services will be held at 11 a.m., Tuesday, October 14, 2025, at Lo in Funeral Home Chapel, Ramseur.
O ciating, Rev. Chad Stickler, Rev. Monty Barker.
Burial will follow at Trinity Wesleyan Church, 3224 Trinity Church Rd., Seagrove.
Sherry was born in Duplin County on August 29, 1957. She worked as a nurse for many years at the Brian Center in Asheboro, as well as Randolph
Rodney “Rock” Lee Graham
Nov. 10, 1969 – Oct. 7, 2025
Rodney “Rock” Lee Graham, age 55, of Denton, passed away peacefully on October 7, 2025, at The Randolph Hospice House. He was born on November 10, 1969, the son of Evelyn Marie Morgan Graham and the late Emmett Graham Jr. Also preceding him in death are his beloved wife, Mary Graham, and brother, Scottie Graham.
Rock ‘n’ roll wasn’t just his favorite genre, it was his soundtrack, his compass and his escape. He believed a good song could x a bad day, and that there was no problem that couldn’t be eased by turning up the volume. He loved hard, lived freely and stood true to who he was – a rebel with a cause and a heart full of rhythm. Rodney worked tirelessly in the world of commercial construction, dedicated to providing for his family, embodying the values of hard work and commitment throughout his career. Outside of his professional life, Rodney found joy while shing and inspiration in heavy rock music. Known for his unwavering enthusiasm, he was a regular at concerts like Carolina Rebellion and Ozz Fest, always eager to immerse himself in the energy of live performances. A passionate Pittsburgh Steelers fan, Rodney showed his team spirit by wearing his favorite jersey on game days. He always cherished his family and delighted in spending quality time with his children, whether it was attending a concert or enjoying a traditional pig pickin’. As a devoted grandfather, he shared countless cherished moments with his beloved grandchildren, creating memories that will be treasured forever. As the nal notes fade and the lights dim, we know the music lives on – in our memories and in our hearts. He will be deeply missed and forever remembered by all who knew and loved him. May he rest in eternal peace.
Left to cherish his memory are his daughters, Amy Graham and Ashley Graham and husband Tyler Brigman; mother, Evelyn Graham; stepdaughter, Darla Bartlett; grandchildren, Natalie Hopkins, Taiden Brigman, Novalee Graham, Tinzley Brigman and one grandchild on the way; brother, Emmett Graham III; sister, Sherry Graham; and numerous other beloved family and friends.
A funeral service will be held at 3 p.m. on Sunday, October 19, 2025, at Fayetteville Street Baptist Church, 901 N. Fayetteville Street, Asheboro, NC 27203, with a reception to follow. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the church.
Hospital. In her free time, she enjoyed crocheting and spending time outdoors while working in her owers with her son and grandchildren.
Sherry was a member of Trinity Wesleyan Church in Erect. She was preceded in death by her husband, Cli ord L. Williams, and parents, Jimmy and Magdalene Boone Chase. Survivors: son, Chad Stickler and wife Thada, of Asheboro, brothers, Terry Dean Chase of Summer eld. Tex Roger Chase and wife Deborah of Pleasant Garden, and Ricky Lynn Chase of Sophia, grandchildren, Monica Nicole Stickler of Asheboro, Chad Eugene “CJ” Stickler Jr. of Asheboro, and Cli ord Glenn Stickler and ance Britney Oakes of Denton, great-grandchild, Waylon Kade Stickler and several nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be held from 10 to 10:45 a.m., Tuesday, Lo in Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Ramseur.
Condolences may be made online at www. lo infuneralservice.com.
Arrangements by Lo in Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Ramseur.
Memorials may be made to Hospice of Randolph, 416 Vision Dr., Asheboro, NC 27203.
June 18, 1973 – Oct. 7, 2025
Federico Torres Martínez, de 52 años, residente de Asheboro, Carolina del Norte, falleció el 7 de octubre de 2025 en el condado de Guilford. Federico nació el 18 de junio de 1973 en Guerrero, México, hijo de los fallecidos Raymundo Torres Arroyo y Marcelina Martínez Carachure. Federico fue un hombre trabajador que amaba profundamente a su familia. Tenía una gran pasión por el fútbol, especialmente por su equipo favorito, Chivas, y disfrutaba tanto verlo como jugarlo. Se desempeñó como electricista y se enorgullecía de su labor. Antes de venir a los Estados Unidos, se dedicaba a la crianza de ganado en México, lo que re ejaba su gran ética de trabajo y dedicación para proveer a los suyos. Era más feliz cuando estaba rodeado de su familia, compartiendo historias, risas y buenos momentos.
Le precedieron en muerte sus padres, Raymundo Torres Arroyo y Marcelina Martínez Carachure.
Le sobreviven su esposa, Belén Maya; sus hijos, Juan Carlos Torres y Alondra Itzel Torres; sus hermanas Beatriz, Leonila, Florina, Elena, Eva, Genera, Carmela, Marcelina y Felix Torres; y sus hermanos Pedro, Emilio y Claudio Torres. Será recordado con amor por toda su familia y numerosos amigos tanto en Estados Unidos como en México.
Federico Torres Martinez, age 52, of Asheboro, North Carolina, passed away on October 7, 2025, in Guilford County. Federico was born on June 18, 1973, in Guerrero, Mexico, to the late Raymundo Torres Arroyo and Marcelina Martinez Carachure. Federico was a hardworking man who loved his family deeply. He had a passion for soccer— especially for his favorite team, Chivas—and enjoyed both watching and playing the game. He worked as an electrician and took great pride in his work. Before coming to the United States, he raised cattle in Mexico, a re ection of his strong work ethic and dedication to providing for those he loved. Federico was happiest when surrounded by family, sharing stories, laughter, and good company. He was preceded in death by his parents, Raymundo Torres Arroyo and Marcelina Martinez Carachure.
Federico is survived by his wife, Belen Maya; his children, Juan Carlos Torres and Alondra Itzel Torres; his sisters Beatriz, Leonila, Florina, Elena, Eva, Genera, Carmela, Marcelina, and Felix Torres; and his brothers Pedro, Emilio, and Claudio Torres. He will be remembered with love by his entire family and many friends, both here and in Mexico.
Oscar-winning actress Diane Keaton dead at 79
The actress was a well-known and iconic movie star for decades
By Lindsey Bahr
The Associated Press
DIANE KEATON, the Oscar-winning star of “Annie Hall,” “The Godfather” lms and “Father of the Bride,” whose quirky, vibrant manner and depth made her one of the most singular actors of a generation, has died. She was 79.
People Magazine reported Saturday that she died in California with loved ones, citing a family spokesperson. No other details were immediately available, and representatives for Keaton did not respond to inquiries from The Associated Press.
The unexpected news was met with shock around the world.
Francis Ford Coppola, who cast her in “The Godfather,” wrote on Instagram that, “Words can’t express the wonder and talent of Diane Keaton. Endlessly intelligent, so beautiful...Everything about Diane was creativity personied.”
Bette Midler, who she costarred with Keaton in “The First Wives Club,” wrote, “She was hilarious, a complete original, and completely without guile, or any of the competitiveness one would have expected from such a star. What you saw was who she was…oh, la, lala!”
Keaton was the kind of actor who helped make lms iconic and timeless, from her “La-dee-da, la-dee-da” phrasing as Annie Hall, bedecked in that necktie, bowler hat, vest and khakis, to her heartbreaking turn as Kay Adams, the woman unfortunate enough to join the Corleone family.
Her star-making performances in the 1970s, many of which were in Woody Allen lms, were not a ash in the pan, and she would continue to charm new generations for decades thanks in part to a longstanding collaboration with lmmaker Nancy Meyers.
She played a businessperson who unexpectedly inherits an infant in “Baby Boom,” the mother of the bride in the beloved remake of “Father of the Bride,” a newly single woman in “The First Wives Club,” and a divorced playwright who gets involved with Jack Nicholson’s womanizing music executive in “Something’s Gotta Give.”
Keaton won an Oscar for “Annie Hall” and would go on to be nominated three more times, for “Reds,” “Marvin’s Room,” and “Something’s Gotta Give.
In her very Keaton way, upon accepting her Oscar in 1978 she laughed and said, “This is something.”
Keaton was born Diane Hall in January 1946 in Los Angeles. Her mother was a homemaker and photographer, and her father was in real estate and civil engineering, and both would inspire her love in the arts, from fashion to architecture.
Keaton was drawn to theater and singing while in school in Santa Ana, California, and she dropped out of college after a year to make a go of it in Manhattan. Actors’ Equity already had a Di-
“Words can’t express the wonder and talent of Diane Keaton. Endlessly intelligent, so beautiful ... Everything about Diane was creativity personi ed.” Francis Ford Coppola
ane Hall in their ranks, and she took Keaton, her mother’s maiden name, as her own.
She studied under Sanford Meisner in New York and has credited him with giving her the freedom to “chart the complex terrain of human behavior within the safety of his guidance. It made playing with re fun.”
She started on the stage as an understudy in the Broadway production for “Hair” and in Allen’s “Play It Again, Sam” in 1968, for which she would receive a Tony nomination.
Keaton made her lm debut in the 1970 romantic comedy “Lovers and Other Strangers,” but her big breakthrough would come a few years later when she was cast in Francis Ford Coppola’s “The Godfather,” which won best picture and become one of the most beloved lms of all time
The 1970s were an incredibly fruitful time for Keaton thanks in part to her ongoing collaboration with Allen in both comedic and dramatic roles. She appeared in “Sleeper,” “Love and Death,” “Interiors,” “Manhattan” and the lm version of “Play it Again, Sam.” The 1977 crime-drama “Looking for Mr. Goodbar” also earned her raves.
Allen and the late Marshall Brickman gave Keaton one of her most iconic roles in “Annie Hall,” the infectious woman from Chippewa Falls whom Allen’s Alvy Singer cannot get over. The lm is considered one of the great romantic comedies of all time, with Keaton’s eccentric, self-deprecating Annie at its heart.
Keaton and Allen were also in a romantic relationship,
from about 1968, when she met him while auditioning for his play, until about 1974. Afterward they remained collaborators and friends.
“He was so hip, with his thick glasses and cool suits,” Keaton wrote in her memoir. “But it was his manner that got me, his way of gesturing, his hands, his coughing and looking down in a self-deprecating way while he told jokes.”
She was also romantically linked to Pacino, who played her husband in “The Godfather,” and Warren Beatty, who directed her and whom she co-starred with in “Reds.” She never married but did adopt two children when she was in her 50s: a daughter, Dexter, and a son, Duke.
In 1987 she began another long-standing collaboration with Nancy Meyers, which would result in four beloved lms starting with “Baby Boom,” directed by Charles Shyer.
Their next team-up would be in the remake of “Father of the Bride,” which Shyer directed and co-wrote with Meyers. She and Steve Martin played the ustered parents to the bride which would become a big hit and spawn a sequel.
In 2003, Meyers would direct her in the romantic comedy “Something’s Gotta Give.” Her character Erica Barry, with her beautiful Hamptons home and ivory out ts, was a key inspiration for the recent costal grandmother fashion trend. It earned her what would be her last Oscar nomination, and later, she’d call it her favorite lm.
Keaton continued working steadily throughout the 2000s, with notable roles in “The Family Stone,” “Morning Glory” and the “Book Club” lms.
Keaton was celebrated with an AFI Life Achievement Award in 2017.
“I feel like it’s the wedding I never had, or the big gathering I never had, or the retirement party I never had, or all these things that I always avoided — the big bash,” she told the AP. “It’s really a big event for me, and I’m really, deeply grateful.”
Federico Torres Martinez
CHRIS PIZZELLO / AP PHOTO
Diane Keaton poses at a California fashion show in 2022.
STATE & NATION
Missing Va. store cat found after hitching a ride
The cat, who lives at a Lowe’s store, snuck into a distribution truck
By Julie Walker and John Raby
The Associated Press
FRANCINE THE calico cat is back home at a Lowe’s store in Virginia after going missing for a few weeks, hitching a ride on a truck that turned up at a sister facility in another state.
Two employees from a Lowe’s in Richmond made the 90-minute drive early last Monday to pick up Francine, who disappeared in September and recently was discovered at the company’s distribution center in Garysburg, North Carolina.
She was back on the job a day later, playing with customers, posing for photos and soaking in a ection.
“Francine is one of us,” store supervisor Wayne Schneider said in a telephone interview. “She’s just amazing. What she means here to the store and the employees, you really can’t imagine the outpouring that the employees and also the customers give her daily.”
Francine spends much of her time either at the customer service desk or in the store’s seasonal area. But things went awry in September as the store brought in items for the upcoming Christmas season. Store general manager Mike Sida said that disruption may have prompted Francine to seek comfort elsewhere.
After store employees hadn’t seen Francine for a few days, they reviewed past surveillance video.
There were glimpses of her in the appliance section and then the receiving department, where she darted into a truck. An overnight manager is then seen shutting the truck’s door, and o it went to Garysburg, about 85 miles to the south.
“And then, of course, when she got down to the distribution center, she shot o the truck,” Sida said. “That’s when we found out where she was and she was missing.”
An animal control o ce set up humane traps at the distribution
center, where photos of Francine were posted throughout. The center had dozens of monitoring cameras, and Lowe’s brought in thermal drones to survey the area. An Instagram account una liated with Lowe’s dedicated to nding Francine grew to more than 34,000 followers.
On Saturday, Francine was spotted on camera near the distribution center. After more humane traps were installed, a volunteer checked each trap throughout the night. Finally, one of the traps triggered, and Francine’s meows could be heard. Schneider and Sida got in a
car early last Monday and drove to get Francine.
“That ride going down, knowing that we were going to get her, was just heartwarming. Knowing she’s safe and that she’s coming back to the store to get o her two-week vacation,” Schneider said.
Francine was a stray when she started living at the Lowe’s store more than eight years ago. Cats are common sightings around feed stores and garden centers, which contain large amounts of grain and seed that can be attractive to mice and rats. In New York City, cats are beloved xtures
WIC food program receives $300M to keep running during government shutdown
Unspent tari revenue was reallocated to fund it
By Moriah Balingit
The Associated Press
WASHINGTON, D.C. — A food aid program that supports millions of low-income mothers and their young children received a $300 million infusion from the Trump administration this week, alleviating some anxiety that it would run out of money during the government shutdown.
The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children helps more than 6 million low-income mothers, young children and expectant parents to purchase nutritious staples like fruits and vegetables, low-fat milk and infant formula. The program, known as WIC, was at risk of running out of money this month because of the government shutdown, which occurred right before it was slated to receive its annual appropriation.
This week, White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt posted on X the White House
loaded into a vehicle in Jackson, Miss., in Oct. 2013.
had found “a creative solution” to use tari revenues to keep the program a oat. By last Thursday, at least some states were receiving WIC money. Alaska and Washington said they received enough federal funds to keep their programs running until at least the end of October.
The Inter-Tribal Council of Nevada, which had closed its o ce last week after running out of money, received money that allowed it to reopen Friday, radio station KUNR reported.
O cials from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which runs WIC, told congressional sta ers they were using $300 million in unspent tari revenue from the last scal year to keep the program a oat, two people briefed on the call told AP. The people declined to be named because they were not authorized to share details from the call.
Tari revenue supports many USDA programs. The law permits the administration to
transfer money allocated for other programs to WIC. Without the additional money, state and local governments would have had to step in to pay for their WIC programs and later seek reimbursement from the federal government when funding was restored. Washington state, which is dealing with a massive budget shortfall, said it could not a ord to use state money for the WIC program.
In Alaska, the WIC program only had enough federal money to operate through Saturday, meaning the state would have had to step in with its own funding to keep the program running. But this week, ocials learned they were receiving nearly $900,000, enough to fully fund the program through Nov. 8, according to Shirley Sakaye, a spokesperson with the state’s health department. About half a million of that came from leftover funds from other programs, she said.
The government has been shut down since Oct. 1, after Republicans and Democrats in Congress failed to pass a bill to continue funding the government. Congressional Democrats want to re-
“What she means here to the store and the employees, you really can’t imagine the outpouring that the employees and also the customers give her daily.”
Wayne Schneider, Lowe’s store supervisor
of the city’s bodegas and delis.
At the Lowe’s store, Francine “just showed up,” Sida said. “We had a bit of a mice problem. So, of course, I’m like, wow. I like this cat a lot because it’s helping me.”
Lowe’s doesn’t have an o cial policy about cats in stores. Asked why Francine wasn’t taken to someone’s residence after showing up, Sida said she is loved by employees and the community.
“Francine picked us. We didn’t pick her,” Sida said. “Later, we would embrace her being our store cat. But at the end of the day, she came to us. Where she’s at is where she wants to be. She does whatever she wants.”
Unlike Lowe’s employees, Francine does not wear a vest. She had been previously out tted with several collars but escaped them all. Now they intend to t her with a harness that includes identifying information.
A local brewery hosted a “Francine Fest” community event last Wednesday to celebrate the homecoming, while the store is planning its own team party.
verse cuts to Medicaid that were passed earlier this year as part of President Donald Trump’s mega-bill. They also want to extend subsidies that cut the cost of A ordable Care Act insurance plans, which cover more than 24 million Americans.
The White House and Republicans in Congress have hammered Democrats for the shutdown, highlighting the potential damage it could do to WIC.
“The Democrats are so cruel in their continual votes to shut down the government that they forced the WIC program for the most vulnerable women and children to run out this week,” Leavitt posted on X.
But House Republicans and the White House have also sought to cut the program. Trump’s budget proposal and a budget bill passed by House Republicans last month would not have fully funded the program, meaning it would have to turn away eligible applicants.
“Since President Trump is now signaling he cares about the WIC program, he shouldnally get to the negotiating table to reopen the government,” said Sen. Patty Murray, a Democrat from Washington state. “And he should immediately disavow his budget request to signi cantly cut bene ts for millions of moms and kids — and tell House Republicans to back o their proposed cuts as well.”
ROGELIO V. SOLIS / AP PHOTO Grocery bags with food from the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children, WIC, sit in a shopping cart before being
KEVIN RIDLEY / LOWE’S VIA AP
Employees welcome back Francine last Tuesday.
RandolpH SPORTS
An elite group
The latest Asheboro High School’s Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremony was held earlier this month at the high school gym. Among those gathering were, left, to right, Catherine Elliott (representing Elliott Armstrong), Jimmy Scott from the 1958 boys’ basketball team, Lyle Hartgrove (baseball), Martin Smith from the 1959 boys’ basketball team, Steve Luck (athlete, coach, athletics director), Monroe Kid from the 1967 baseball team, Skip Hurley (volunteer), Nick Coe (football, wrestling), Emily Hayes Gann (volleyball, track and eld), Emmanuel Jones (football, basketball, track and eld), Luanne Bullard (representing Jim Tatum of the 1956 boys’ basketball team), Mike Voncannon from the 1967 baseball team, Ronald Moody from the 1967 baseball team) and Phil Nance from the 1959 boys’ basketball team.
Wildcats, Patriots take down county opponents
The Eastern Randolph and Providence Grove football teams put together strong outings
Randolph Record sta EASTERN RANDOLPH and Providence Grove won matchups between Randolph County football teams Friday night. They were convincing results in both cases in games early in their respective conference seasons. But the outcomes could be key for both of the winning teams.
Wheatmore was the only other team from the county to win last week, with the Warriors picking up their rst victory of the season.
Here’s a look.
Eastern Randolph 38, Southwestern Randolph 10: At Ramseur, Cade McCallum threw two of his four touchdown passes to freshman Cainin Glover in the Four Rivers Conference victory on homecoming.
McCallum nished with 341 passing yards, completing 12 of 21 throws with an interception. Glover had 158 yards on seven catches.
Eastern Randolph (6-2, 2-0) trailed 10-6 before Glover’s rst scoring reception on a 38-yard play.
Then the Wildcats got rolling. McCallum threw 16 yards to Caden Revelle before Eastern Randolph tacked on a safety for a 23-10 halftime lead.
The Wildcats’ rst possession of the second half ended with McCallum’s 56-yard touchdown pass to Glover. McCallum later threw a 23-yard touchdown pass to Chance Holdaway.
The only touchdown for Southwestern Randolph (4-3, 0-1) came on Levi Dalke’s 5-yard pass to Devonte Dukes. Running back Brody Sheppard had 51 yards on 23 carries.
Eastern Randolph’s rst points came on James Combs’ 44-yard run.
Providence Grove 56, Trinity 6: At Climax, Jackson Lawver threw for three touchdowns and Jacob Flinchum rushed for 146 yards and two touchdowns in the Central Carolina 3-A Conference home game.
Half of Lawver’s six passes resulted in touchdowns, with touchdown catches made by Andrew Thomas (30 yards), Connor Tozer (17 yards) and Holden Swift (34 yards). Flinchum did his work on seven carries.
Thomas also ran for a touchdown. Connor Haithcock scored on a 65-yard interception return, helping the Patriots (5-2, 2-0) to a 49-6 halftime lead.
Trinity (1-6, 0-2) failed to reach a double- gure point total for the fourth time this season.
Wheatmore 32, East Davidson 20: At Thomasville, the visiting Warriors won by topping a team that had defeated them in each of the past four seasons.
Wheatmore (1-6, 1-1) racked up a season-high point total after failing to reach the 20-point mark in its last 15 games.
East Davidson is also 1-6, 1-1.
Southeast Guilford 21, Asheboro 3: At Greensboro, the host Falcons scored the game’s nal 21 points as Asheboro lost for the second week in a row in the Triad Area Athletic Conference.
Asheboro (5-2, 0-2) went ahead on Micah Garcia’s 21-yard
FRIDAY’S GAMES
• Eastern Guilford at Asheboro
Southwestern Randolph at Jordan-Matthews
Randleman at High Point Central
• East Davidson at Providence Grove
Thomasville at Trinity
West Davidson at Wheatmore
eld goal in the second quarter. Connor Brinton’s 88 rushing yards on 15 carries led Asheboro’s o ense, but that wasn’t enough to keep up with Southeast Guilford’s Travis Motley. Motley gained 191 yards on 21 carries and scored a touchdown in the homecoming victory. Parker Fleming threw for touchdowns to Nassim Motley and Joshua Penn as the Falcons (5-2, 2-0) won
their third consecutive game. Central Davidson 40, Randleman 29: At Lexington, the host rattled o 19 consecutive points in the second quarter and Tigers couldn’t catch up in a clash between the Piedmont Athletic Conference’s top two teams.
John Kirkpatrick threw for three touchdowns and ran for another for Randleman (5-3, 3-1). But Kirkpatrick was intercepted three times, with one of those returned for a touchdown. Central Davidson (7-1, 4-0) broke away from a 14-14 tie to lead 33-14 at the break. The only blemish on the Spartans’ record is a one-point home loss to Eastern Alamance.
Kirkpatrick scored Randleman’s rst points on a run before hooking up with Lincoln Lawson for touchdown pass plays of 45 and 57 yards. He also threw a 26-yard scoring pass to Trey Burnett and a two-point conversion pass to Ryan McCauley. Randleman was within 40 -29 with more than eight minutes to play but couldn’t convert again.
Kirkpatrick nished 15 for 34 for 259 yards.
Area volleyball teams gear up for state playo s Area soccer teams in good shape
Several teams from Randolph County began this week on winning streaks
Randolph Record sta
THE STATE playo s begin Saturday with rst-round matches and Randolph County teams should receive some high seeds.
Pairings are expected to be announced Thursday. It’s possible some area teams could receive byes, so they would begin with second-round matches Tuesday.
This week, teams are participating in conference tournaments in advance of the state playo s.
Here’s a look at how the regular season wound down.
• Uwharrie Charter Academy ended the regular season on an 18-match winning streak. That put the Eagles at 22-3 for the regular season.
They went into this week’s Four Rivers Conference Tournament as the top seed.
UCA swept host Jordan-Matthews
with Caroline Way notching 10 kills and four aces and Carly Rush registering 10 kills.
The Eagles swept visiting Bishop McGuinness with Way’s 20 kills and 14 digs and Sadie Upchurch’s 22 digs.
UCA also swept visiting Northwood as Emory Johnson had 21 assists and four kills.
• Southwestern Randolph blew past host Northwood in three sets and later in the week the Cougars brushed o North Moore in four sets.
Bailey Blackmon’s 16 kills and Mary Kathryn Coltrane’s 14 assists came against North Moore.
That pushed the Cougars to a ve -match winning string to close the regular season.
Earlier in the week, Southwestern Randolph swept visiting Randleman with Hailey Kennedy providing 14 assists and Stella Brown had eight kills and three aces.
• Eastern Randolph defeated host North Moore in four sets, with Reagan Beaver and Vivian Underwood both racking up 26 digs. Callie Cra-
ven delivered 31 assists to go with 12 digs. The Wildcats closed the regular season on a three-match win streak by topping visiting Jordan-Matthews in four sets.
• Randleman, the Piedmont Athletic Conference regular-season champion, responded after losing the rst set to host Ledford before winning in four sets.
• Providence Grove handled visiting Wheatmore in four sets despite Alexis Holi eld’s 21 kills for the Warriors and then won at Thomasville in three sets to produce a three -match winning streak.
• Asheboro dominated host Northeast Guilford and visiting Southern Guilford in three sets to nish the regular season with a four-match winning streak. The Blue Comets were third in the Triad Area Athletic Conference. Cora Little had nine kills in the Northeast Guilford match. Against Southern Guilford, Emma Ingold had 15 aces and Emma Little notched 14 digs.
With conference season reaching the halfway junctures, a few Randolph County teams are contending for top spots
Randolph Record sta
AREA TEAMS passed or approached the midway marks for conference play in boys’ soccer last week and three area teams held rst place heading to the nal weeks of the regular season.
Southwestern Randolph in the Four Rivers Conference, Asheboro in the Triad Area Athletic Conference and Trinity in the Central Carolina 3-A Conference were in good shape in league competition. All those teams held undefeated conference records.
• Chris Betancourt and Fernando Hernandez scored goals as Southwestern Randolph nipped host Jordan-Matthews 2-1.
The Cougars also defeated visiting Northwood, with Hernandez scoring twice and Betanecourt and Gio Hernandez also scoring in that 4-0 outcome.
See VOLLEYBALL, page B2
Callie Craven
Eastern Randolph, volleyball
Craven has been a key part of the Wildcats’ late-season resurgence as she’s instrumental in setting up the o ense.
As a senior setter, Craven provides most all of the team’s assists. She averages nearly six assists per set.
Craven also leads the team in hitting percentage and rates fourth among the Wildcats in digs.
Eastern Randolph ended the regular season on a season-best three-match winning streak.
Craven also has played basketball for the Wildcats.
VOLLEYBALL from page B1
• Asheboro’s 10-1 romp past host Northeast Guilford included two goals each from Ozmar Martinez and Carlos Gonazalez.
The Blue Comets also trounced visiting Southern Guilford 9-0, with Gonzalez scoring three goals.
• Trinity topped West Davidson 2-0 and later in the week the Bulldogs also handled visiting Wheatmore for a 4-0 victory.
• Providence Grove edged Wheatmore for a 3-2 home victory on three Seth Johnson goals. Carter Queen and Laurel Ortiz Suarez scored for Wheatmore.
Providence Grove tied visiting Thomasville 1-1 with Eric Gonzalez scoring.
• Eastern Randolph scored ve goals in two di erent games last week with di erent results. The Wildcats blanked host Uwharrie Charter Academy 5-0. Eastern Randolph came out on the wrong end of a 6-5 decision vs. visiting North Moore.
• Randleman, which is in second place in the Piedmont Athletic Conference, defeated host Ledford 3-2 on the strength of Owen Leonard’s three second-half goals.
Randleman’s Axel Rincon and Alex Raymundo had goals in the Tigers’ 2-1 triumph past visiting High Point Central.
Final points races set for Caraway
A huge payday will await the winner of the regular season’s last action in Limited Late Models
Randolph Record sta
SOPHIA — Caraway Speedway’s regular season wraps up with Saturday’s race card.
The main event comes in Limited Late Models, where there’s a $10,000 prize for the winner.
Bryson Brinkley is the track’s points leader with a 60-point advantage on Larry Isenhower. Track o cials said they expect an expanded eld of drivers in the class this week because of the prize money.
In gearing up for this weekend, there was a solid dose of
racing Saturday night at the speedway. Matthew Smith won his ninth Chargers race of the season at the track. Richard Sho ner held an early lead but ended as the runner-up, followed by Je rey Beck, Dakota Walser, Brian Melville and Tony Housman. Smith is the points leader, though Melville and Sho ner could rise to the top on the nal night because those will be double points races.
In UCARs, Ron Mock won the rst of two 12-lap races and Tito Clapp claimed the second race.
Jeremy Kidd was second in the rst race, followed by Jimmy Cooper, Clapp and Josh Phillips. In the second race, Kidd again was the runner-up,
followed by Mock, Cooper and Phillips.
Cooper holds a 29-point lead on Kidd, with Justin Smith in third.
In the Crown Vic division, Brandon Mock was the winner by holding o YJ Gibson, with Christian Morris, Bentley Black and Bennett Dean in the next positions. Steven Collins was sixth, and he’ll be the track champion as long as he shows up for the nal race, though Gibson, Morris and Austin Cooper are in contention for second place in points.
The Legends race was won by Austin Thompson, with Nate Morris and Anthony Freedle in the next spots. Charlie Evans claimed another win in the Bandolero division.
Oakley captures league golf title
Randolph Record sta
THOMASVILLE — Me -
gan Oakley of Providence Grove won the Central Carolina 3-A Conference championship for girls’ golf with a wide margin in the
18 -hole tournament last week.
Oakley, a senior, shot 7-overpar 78 at Colonial Country Club.
Oakley won by 15 strokes on East Davidson’s Kaley Pham. Providence Grove’s Adison Johnson and West Davidson’s Greenlee Young tied for third
place with 99s, and Wheatmore’s Kyndal Kindley was fth with 103.
Providence Grove was the team champion with a 30-stroke advantage on runner-up East Davidson among the four teams.
Hamlin charges to emotional 60th Cup win
The victory secures him a spot in the playo nale
By Jenna Fryer The Associated Press
LAS VEGAS — Denny
Hamlin became the rst driver to lock up a spot in the Cup Series’ championship-deciding nale, winning Sunday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway for his career-goal 60th victory.
Hamlin, considered the best driver in Cup Series history to never win a title, is back in the winner-take-all title race for the rst time since 2021. The winningest driver in Joe Gibbs Racing history is tied for 10th on the Cup Series career victories list with Kevin Harvick.
Hamlin, who was emotional two weeks ago about his ailing father when he squandered a victory at Kansas Speedway in the closing laps, dedicated the victory to his father, who also was rooting for his son to hit the 60-win mark. Hamlin seemed to have tears in his eyes when he drove his Toyota to collect his 60th checkered ag.
“This win means a lot,” said Hamlin, who had to compose himself on the frontstretch.
“Just put the pedal down on the last 10 laps and made it happen.”
Kyle Larson, seeking to end a 20-race losing streak, was second in a Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports. JGR drivers Christopher Bell and Chase Briscoe were third and fourth, Tyler Reddick — who drives for
“Just put the pedal down on the last 10 laps and made it happen.”
Denny Hamlin
Hamlin at 23XI Racing — was fth, and reigning Cup Series champion Joey Logano was sixth.
Five of the top six — all but Reddick — are still in the playo eld. The others are Chase Elliott, who nished 18th; Daytona 500 winner William Byron was 36th and Ryan Blaney was last in 38th.
Byron was out front and then wiggled out of the groove with 35 laps remaining, saved his Chevrolet from crashing, but teammate Larson sailed past him for the lead. Minutes later, he was involved in a race-ending crash when he drilled into the back of Ty Dillon, unaware that Dillon was slowing to head to pit road.
“I never saw him wave, I had no indication he was pitting,” Byron said. “I had zero idea. I am just devastated. Obviously, I wouldn’t have driven fullspeed into him.”
Bad day for Blaney
The upside is Blaney races next at Talladega Superspeedway, where he’s a three-time winner and considers himself to be in a must-win situation.
“You’ve got to be optimistic. I’m not very happy right now, but tomorrow morning I’ll be optimistic to go to the next race,” Blaney said. “We’ve had good success at the next two events, so hopefully we can come and bring the speed and try to overcome the hole we put ourselves in.”
Reddick’s son
Reddick, who was eliminated from the playo s last weekend, is still racing despite serious health complications facing his infant son.
Rookie Reddick, the second son born to Tyler and Alexa Reddick in May, has a “tumor that’s ‘choking’ the renal vein & renal artery. Telling the heart ‘Hey I’m not getting enough blood… pump harder,’”
Alexa Reddick wrote in an update last week. She said it had caused an enlarged heart and the 4-month-old will need a kidney removed because doctors determined it is no longer functioning.
Alexa Reddick posted on social media ahead of Sunday’s race at Las Vegas that Rookie would have surgery Tuesday and will be moved to a unit to “monitor his heart and BP while his renin slowly drops.”
Ryan Blaney, second in points at the start of the race, saw his title hopes take a severe hit when a tire issue caused him to crash into the wall with nine laps remaining in the rst stage. His race immediately ended, he nished 38th and dropped to the bottom of the eight-driver playo round. Blaney is the 2023 Cup Series champion, with teammate Joey Logano winning titles in 2022 and 2024 to give Team Penske three straight.
PJ WARD-BROWN / RANDOLPH RECORD
STEVE MARCUS / AP PHOTO
Denny Hamlin stands by his car after winning Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series playo race.
pen & paper pursuits
this week in history
Marie Antoinette
beheaded, “Baby Jessica” rescued, Gen. Lord Cornwallis surrenders
The Associated Press
OCT. 16
1793: Marie Antoinette, the last queen of France, was beheaded during the Revolution.
1859: Abolitionist John Brown led a failed raid on the U.S. arsenal at Harpers Ferry, Virginia, deepening North-South tensions that led to the Civil War.
1934: Chinese Communists, under siege by the Nationalists, began their “Long March,” a yearlong retreat from southeastern to northwestern China.
1962: The Cuban missile crisis began as President John F. Kennedy was informed that reconnaissance photos had revealed Soviet nuclear missile sites in Cuba.
1987: Eighteen-month-old Jessica (“Baby Jessica”) McClure was pulled from an abandoned well in Midland, Texas, after being trapped for more than two days.
OCT. 17
1777: British forces under Gen. John Burgoyne surrendered to American troops in Saratoga, New York, marking a turning point in the Revolutionary War.
1931: Mobster Al Capone was convicted in Chicago of income tax evasion. He was sentenced to 11 years in prison and ned $50,000.
1979: Mother Teresa of India was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
OCT. 18
1867: The United States took formal possession of Alaska from Russia.
1931: Inventor Thomas Edison died at age 84.
1977: Reggie Jackson hit three home runs in Game 6 of the World Series to lead the New York Yankees to an 8-4 win and a 4-2 Series victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers. His performance earned him the nickname “Mr. October.”
OCT. 19
1987: The stock market crashed as the Dow Jones plunged 508 points, or 22.6%, on “Black Monday.”
1781: British troops under Gen. Lord Cornwallis surrendered at Yorktown, Virginia.
1914: The First Battle of Ypres began in World War I.
1960: The Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. was arrested during a sit-in at a segregated Atlanta lunch counter.
1977: The supersonic Concorde made its rst New York landing, completing the ight from France in 3 hours and 44 minutes.
OCT. 20
1944: Gen. Douglas MacArthur waded ashore in the Philippines, ful lling his World War II promise to return
after being ordered to evacuate in 1942.
1803: The U.S. Senate ratied the Louisiana Purchase.
1947: The House Un-American Activities Committee opened hearings on alleged Communist in uence in Hollywood.
1977: Three members of Lynyrd Skynyrd, including lead singer Ronnie Van Zant, were killed in a plane crash near McComb, Mississippi.
OCT. 21
1797: The U.S. Navy frig-
ate Constitution, also known as “Old Ironsides,” was christened in Boston Harbor.
1805: A British eet commanded by Vice Adm. Horatio Nelson defeated a French-Spanish eet in the Battle of Trafalgar.
1940: Ernest Hemingway’s novel “For Whom the Bell Tolls” was rst published.
1959: The Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Guggenheim Museum opened in New York.
1966: A coal waste landslide engulfed a school and 20 houses in Aberfan, Wales, killing 144 people, including 116 children.
OCT. 22
1836: Sam Houston was inaugurated as the rst elected president of the Republic of Texas, which won independence from Mexico earlier that year.
1934: Bank robber Charles “Pretty Boy” Floyd was killed by federal agents and local police.
1962: President John F. Kennedy revealed Soviet missile bases under construction in Cuba and announced a naval blockade.
2012: Cyclist Lance Armstrong was stripped of his seven Tour de France titles and banned for life from Olympic sports after the International Cycling Union upheld doping charges.
AP PHOTO
Charles “Pretty Boy” Floyd, the notorious bank robber and mass murderer, was shot to death by law enforcement on Oct. 22, 1934.
RON FREHM / AP PHOTO
The Concorde SST rests on the runway at New York’s Kennedy Airport on Oct. 19, 1977, after its rst ight from France and inaugural landing in the city.
Judge tosses out Drake’s defamation lawsuit over Kendrick Lamar’s ‘Not Like Us’
UMG, the parent record label for both artists, denied the allegations
By Larry Neumeister and Andrew Dalton
The Associated Press
NEW YORK — A defamation lawsuit that Drake brought against Universal Music Group was tossed out last Thursday by a federal judge who said the lyrics in Kendrick Lamar’s dis track “Not Like Us” were opinion.
The feud between two of hip-hop’s biggest stars erupted in the spring of 2024, with the pair trading a series of vitriolic tracks that culminated in Lamar landing the “metaphorical killing blow” with his megahit that May, Judge Jeannette A. Vargas said in her written opinion.
While the track’s lyrics explicitly branded Drake as a pedophile, Vargas said, a reasonable listener could not have concluded that “Not Like Us” was conveying objective facts about the Canadian superstar.
“Although the accusation that Plainti is a pedophile is certainly a serious one, the broader context of a heated rap battle, with incendiary language and o ensive accusations hurled by both participants, would not incline the reasonable listener to believe that ‘Not Like Us’ imparts veri able facts about Plainti ,” Vargas wrote.
After the decision Drake’s legal team said in a statement: “We intend to appeal today’s ruling, and we look forward to the Court of Appeals reviewing it.”
“Not Like Us” — described by Vargas as having a “catchy beat and propulsive bassline” — was one of 2024’s biggest songs.
It won record of the year and song of the year at the
“We intend to appeal today’s ruling, and we look forward to the Court of Appeals reviewing it.”
Attorneys for Drake
Grammys and helped make this year’s Super Bowl halftime show the most watched ever, as fans speculated on whether Lamar would actually perform it. (He did, but with altered lyrics.)
The track, which calls out Canadian-born Drake by name, attacks him as “a colonizer” of rap culture, in addition to making insinuations about his sex life, including, “I hear you like ’em young” — implications that Drake rejects.
Filed in January, the lawsuit — which does not name Lamar — alleged that Universal Music Group intentionally published and promoted the track despite knowing that it contained false and defamatory allegations against Drake and suggested listen-
ers should resort to vigilante justice. The track tarnished his reputation and decreased the value of his brand, the suit said.
“From the outset, this suit was an a ront to all artists and their creative expression and never should have seen the light of day,” it said in a statement. “We’re pleased with the court’s dismissal and look forward to continuing our work successfully promoting Drake’s music and investing in his career.”
In the suit, Drake also blamed the tune for attempted break-ins and the shooting of a security guard at his Toronto home.
The mansion was depicted in an aerial photo in the song’s cover art, with what Vargas described as “an overlay of more than a dozen sex o ender markers” — which, she said, was “obviously exaggerated and doctored.”
“No reasonable person would view the Image and be
lieve that in fact law enforce
ment had designated thirteen residents in Drake’s home as sex o enders,” she wrote.
National Book Award nalists named, awards next month
Rabih Alameddine, Megha Majumdar, Yiyun Li and Karen Russell are among the nominees
By Hillel Italie The Associated Press
NEW YORK — Fiction by
Rabih Alameddine, Megha Majumdar and Karen Russell and a memoir of family tragedy by Yiyun Li are among this year’s nalists for the National Book Award.
Last Tuesday, the National Book Foundation announced ve nominees in each of ve competitive categories, narrowing long lists of 10 unveiled last month. Winners, each of whom receive $10,000, will be revealed during a Nov. 19 dinner gala in downtown Manhattan. Honorary awards will be presented to ction writer George Saunders and author-publisher Roxane Gay. Majumdar is a ctionnalist for “A Guardian and a Thief,” her rst novel since her celebrated debut, “A Burning,” came out in 2020. Other ction nominees include Alameddine’s “The True True Story of Raja the Gullible (and His Mother)”; Russell’s “The Antidote,” her rst novel since “Swamplandia!,” a Pulitzernalist in 2012; Ethan Rutherford’s “North Sun” and Bryan Washington’s “Palaver.”
The ction authors set their work everywhere from India in the near future (Majumdar) and 1930s Nebraska (Russell) to contemporary Tokyo (Washington).
Li’s “Things in Nature Merely Grow,” a blunt and searching account of losing her two sons
GROVE PRESS / FARRAR, STRAUS AND GIROUX / KNOPF VIA AP
National Book Awards nalists this year include: “The True True Story of Raja the Gullible (and His Mother) by Rabih Alameddine, “Things in Nature Merely Grow” by Yiyun Li, and “A Guardian and a Thief” by Megha Majumdar.
to suicide, is a non ction nalist, along with Omar El Akkad’s “One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This”; Julia Io e’s feminist history of Russia, “Motherland”; Claudia Rowe’s “Wards of the State: The Long Shadow of American Foster Care”; and Jordan Thomas’ “When It All Burns: Fighting Fire in a Transformed World.”
The poetry nominees are Cathy Linh Che’s “Becoming Ghost,” Tiana Clark’s “Scorched Earth,” Richard Siken’s “I Do Know Some Things,” Patricia Smith’s “The Intentions of Thunder: New and Selected Poems” and Gabrielle Calvocoressi’s “The New Economy.”
In translated literature, Solvej Balle’s “On the Calculation of Volume (Book III),” translated from the Danish by Sophia Hersi Smith and Jennifer Russell; and Gabriela Cabezón Cámara’s “We Are Green and Trembling,” translated from the Spanish by Robin Myers, are among thenalists. The others include Anjet Daanje’s “The Remembered Soldier,” translated from
the Dutch by David McKay; Hamid Ismailov’s “We Computers: A Ghazal Novel,” translated from the Uzbek by Shelley Fairweather-Vega; and Neige Sinno’s “Sad Tiger,” translated from the French by Natasha Lehrer.
Finalists for young people’s literature include three novels-in-verse: Amber McBride’s “The Leaving Room,” Hannah V. Sawyerr’s “Truth Is” and Ibi Zoboi’s “(S)Kin.” The other nominees are Kyle Luko ’s “A World Worth Saving” and Daniel Nayeri’s “The Teacher of Nomad Land: A World War II Story.”
The National Book Awards, now in their 76th year, are chosen by panels of writers, critics and other members of the literary community. Notable works from 2025 that were not on the nalist lists include such novels as Angela Flournoy’s “The Wilderness” and Kiran Desai’s “The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny,” and Arundhati Roy’s memoir, “Mother Mary Comes to Me.”
SOLUTIONS FOR THIS WEEK
MATT SLOCUM / AP PHOTO
Kendrick Lamar performs during halftime of Super Bowl 59 between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles in New Orleans in February.
famous birthdays this week
Eminem celebrates 53, John Lithgow hits 80, Snoop Dogg is 54, Judge Judy turns 83
OCT. 16
Actor Fernanda Montenegro is 96. Actor Barry Corbin is 85. Musician Bob Weir is 78. Actor-director Tim Robbins is 67. Rock musician Flea (Red Hot Chili Peppers) is 63. Singer John Mayer is 48.
OCT. 17
Singer Gary Puckett is 83.
Actor-musician Michael McKean is 78. Astronaut Mae Jemison is 69. Country singer Alan Jackson is 67. Animator- lmmaker Mike Judge is 63. Reggae singer Ziggy Marley is 57. Musician Wyclef Jean is 56. Golf Hall of Famer Ernie Els is 56. Rapper Eminem is 53.
OCT. 18
Football Hall of Famer Mike Ditka is 86. Composer Howard Shore is 79. Actor Joe Morton is 78. Author Terry McMillan is 74. Tennis Hall of Famer Martina Navratilova is 69. Actor Jean-Claude Van Damme is 65. Jazz musician Wynton Marsalis is 64.
OCT. 19
Artist Peter Max is 88. Actor John Lithgow is 80. Fox News host Steve Doocy is 69. Singer Jennifer Holliday is 65. Boxing Hall of Famer Evander Holyeld is 63. Filmmaker Jon Favreau is 59. “South Park” co-creator Trey Parker is 56.
OCT. 20
Japan’s Empress Michiko is 91. Rock and Roll Hall of Fame singer Wanda Jackson is 88. Baseball Hall of Famer Juan Marichal is 88. Former U.S. Poet Laureate Robert Pinsky is 85. Retired MLB All-Star Keith Hernandez is 72. Actor Viggo Mortensen is 67. Rapper Snoop Dogg is 54.
OCT. 21
Rock singer Manfred Mann is 85. TV’s Judge Judy
Sheindlin is 83. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is 76. Film director Catherine Hardwicke is 70. Sen. Ted Budd (R-N.C.) is 54. Reality TV
David Byrne contributes songs to Roald Dahl’s “The Twits”
By Lindsey Bahr
The Associated Press
FOUR CAST MEMBERS
from “The Real Housewives” trading places with women living di erent lives in a new iteration of “Wife Swap” and Danielle Deadwyler starring in the apocalyptic thriller “40 Acres” 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 this week: Rapper Gucci Mane returns with a new full-length titled “Episodes,” a new Pokémon game lets you compete in real-time ghts rather than turn-based battles and Keri Russell’s political drama “The Diplomat” premieres its third season.
MOVIES TO STREAM
An animated adaptation of Roald Dahl’s “The Twits” is coming to Net ix on Friday. The mean, hateful couple are voiced by Johnny Vegas and Margo Martindale in this lm about their rise to power in the city and the group of children who team up to ght for goodness.
Animation veteran Phil Johnson (“Wreck-It Ralph,” “Zootopia”) directed and co-wrote the lm, which features a starry voice cast including Natalie Portman, Emilia Clarke and Jason Mantzoukas. David Byrne also contributed some new songs, with Paramore’s Hayley Williams.
Deadwyler stars in the apocalyptic thriller “40 Acres” about a family, the Freemans, surviving on a farm while the rest of society has collapsed in the wake of plagues and wars. But their survivalist existence is put in jeopardy when her eldest son meets a woman outside of their property. It will be on Hulu starting Friday.
Two standout Sundance documentaries are also worth checking out. “The Alabama Solution,” about horrifying conditions in the Alabama prison system, is already streaming on HBO Max. The Associated Press has written extensively about the problems in the state’s prison system, including high rates of violence, low sta ng, a plummeting parole rate and the use of pandemic funds to build a new supersized prison.
Also coming on Friday to Net ix, “The Perfect Neighbor” from Geeta Gandbhir uses police bodycam footage to recon-
struct a neighborhood dispute in Florida that turns deadly,” AP Film Writer Lindsey Bahr wrote. “It’s a riveting real life look at the state’s “stand your ground laws,”
MUSIC TO STREAM
The rapper Gucci Mane returns with a new full-length, “Episodes,” two months after his Gangsta Grillz mixtape “Greatest of All Trappers” dropped. What more would you expect from one of the most proli c trap stars of the last few decades?
The in uence of Australian psychedelic musician Kevin Parker, aka Tame Impala, is hard to undersell — there’s a reason some of the biggest names in the business have been running to work with him, a list that recently includes Dua Lipa for her “Radical Optimism” album. On Friday, he’ll release his fth album, “Deadbeat,” his rst full-length in ve years. It’s as dreamy as ever. In independent music circles, IRL and URL — the subgenre shoegaze (marked by distortion, feedback, loud guitar pedal e ects as popularized by the Jesus and Mary Chain) — has experienced a revival. In the modern era, those familiar-to-some sounds are meshed with other indie rock styles. No band has been simultaneously in uential
and underrated for said impact than Philadelphia’s They Are Gutting A Body of Water. That may change Friday with the release of their next album, “LOTTO,” their rst for ATO Records and best to date. It’s perfect for those who like their bands fuzzy, freaky and future seeking.
SERIES TO STREAM
Four cast members from “The Real Housewives” are temporarily ditching their cushy lives and designer duds to swap plac-
es with women living di erent lives in a new iteration of “Wife Swap” on Bravo. The wives taking part in the four-episode series are Angie Katsanevas of “The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City”; Dr. Wendy Osefo of “The Real Housewives of Potomac”; Emily Simpson from “The Real Housewives of Orange County”; and Melissa Gorga of “The Real housewives of New Jersey.” It’s available now on Bravo and Peacock. Alex Murdaugh, the disbarred South Carolina attorney
“The Perfect Neighbor” from Geeta Gandbhir uses police bodycam footage to reconstruct a neighborhood dispute in Florida that turns deadly.
convicted of murdering his wife and son along with committing nancial crimes, is serving a life sentence in prison. The story, streaming now, is told in a new true crime dramatization for Hulu called “Murdaugh: Death in the Family.” It stars Jason Clarke as Alex and Patricia Arquette as his wife, Maggie. The series is based on the reporting by South Carolina journalist and podcaster Mandy Matney, whose investigative work was pivotal in the coverage of Murdaugh. If you need a palette cleanser, the delightful comedy “Loot” returns to Apple TV+ for its third season. Maya Rudolph stars as a billionaire who nds her purpose in philanthropy after her tech-bro husband divorces her. It also stars Nat Faxon, Michaela Jaé Rodriguez, Joel Kim Booster and Ron Funches.
Russell’s political drama “The Diplomat” premieres its third season Thursday on Net ix. Allison Janney also returns as a series regular alongside ... wait for it ... her old buddy from “The West Wing,” Bradley Whitford. He plays her husband.
Another one for the true crime fans: A new limited series on Peacock is about the serial killer John Wayne Gacy. “Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy,” premieres Thursday and dramatizes the time period in 1978 when police begin to suspect Gacy of the murder of a young man in Des Plaines, Illinois. As they conduct surveillance 24/7, Gacy seems to at rst enjoy the attention, but his behavior becomes more and more erratic over time and leads to his arrest.
VIDEO GAMES TO PLAY
Pokémon Legends: Z-A brings a major change to Nintendo’s 30-year-old franchise: For the rst time, the creatures are competing in real-time ghts rather than turn-based battles. That means more of a focus on timing and re exes, though it will also give your monster the ability to dodge enemy attacks. The story takes place in Lumiose City, a Paris-like metropolis that turns into a battle zone when the sun goes down. Plenty of old favorites like Pikachu and Charizard are on the roster, and if your Pokémon scores enough hits it may undergo “Mega Evolution” to become truly fearsome. You can start trying to catch ’em all Thursday on Switch.
HULU / NETFLIX / PEACOCK VIA AP
“Murdaugh: Death in the Family,” from left, “The Diplomat” and “Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy” are all streaming this week.
SCOTT GARFITT / INVISION / AP
Kevin Parker of Tame Impala, pictured performing in London in 2022, releases “Deadbeat,” his rst full-length record in ve years, on Friday.
GAVIN MCINTYRE / THE POST AND COURIER VIA AP
A new true-crime dramatization now streaming on Hulu tells the story of Alex Murdaugh, who was convicted of killing his wife, Maggie, and younger son, Paul, in 2021.
HOKE COUNTY
Turkey triumph
The Hoke County football team poses with their trophies after a 27-8 Turkey Bowl homecoming victory over
Stadium. This Friday’s Senior Night marks the nal home game of the season, with the Bucks hosting the
WHAT’S HAPPENING
Pa. man pleads guilty in arson attack while Shapiro’s family slept in governor’s mansion Harrisburg, Pa.
A man who scaled a security fence in the middle of the night and set re to the Pennsylvania governor’s mansion has pleaded guilty to attempted murder and other charges. Cody Balmer entered the plea Tuesday for the April attack that caused millions of dollars in damage to the state-owned building in Harrisburg. Gov. Josh Shapiro and members of his family were inside and had to be evacuated. No one was injured, but authorities say the 38-year-old Balmer told them he planned to beat the governor with a small sledgehammer if he encountered him. Balmer’s family has said he has a history of mental health problems.
SpaceX launches
11th test ight of mega Starship rocket with another win
SpaceX has launched another of its mammoth Starship rockets on a test ight. The 403-foot Starship thundered into the evening sky Monday from Texas. The booster peeled away and made a controlled entry into the Gulf of Mexico as planned, with the spacecraft skimming space before descending into the Indian Ocean. It’s similar to the previous test ight in August, which scored a success following a string of explosive failures. SpaceX’s Elon Musk intends to use Starship to send people to Mars. NASA cannot land astronauts on the moon by decade’s end without Starship.
By Elaina J. Martin North State Journal
RAEFORD — Rob Cole
stood before a packed crowd at Stewart’s Tavern on Saturday, strumming his guitar and singing country music for about 80 people — including his wife, three children, brother and mother. It was the biggest turnout the downtown Raeford barbecue restaurant has seen for Cole, who has performed there several times over the past two years. And it came just weeks after the singer-songwriter earned a spot on NBC’s “The Voice.” Cole auditioned for the show’s 25th season but didn’t get any of the four judges to turn their chairs. He didn’t give up. This year, he returned to the
‘Voice’ contestant Rob Cole performs in downtown Raeford Commissioners
The program aims to reach 1,500 students within the rst year of implementation
By Ryan Henkel North State Journal
RAEFORD — Hoke County is looking to potentially expand its opioid prevention programming.
At the Hoke County Board of Commissioner’s Oct. 6 meeting, the board was presented with an Opioid Prevention Education Program. “When you think about drugs and opioids, it’s a crisis all throughout America, not just in Hoke County,” said Adell Baldwin Jr., owner of Branjusnic Educational Consultants, which isspearheading the program. “We can deal with it
blind auditions and sang Chris Stapleton’s “Joy of My Life.”
Both Reba McEntire and Michael Bublé turned their chairs — but Bublé used his one block on McEntire, sending Cole to Team Bublé by default. Judge Snoop Dogg praised Cole’s performance, comparing him to John Cougar Mellencamp. His blind audition aired Sept. 29 on NBC. Cole is competing in the Battle Rounds, which began airing Oct. 13. The show can be
eye funding opioid education
two ways. You can deal with it with treatment or prevention. What we want to do is to do it through education.”
The aim of the education-based prevention program is to focus on “empowering educators, youth leaders and students with the knowledge and tools to understand, prevent and respond to opioid misuse.”
“Our goal is to educate and train-the-trainer model using di erent areas and bring people in and train them about opioids,” Baldwin said. “How to prevent it, how to educate it and how do you implement it into curriculum.”
The expected outcome from the plan is to have 50 educators/youth leaders trained, 1,500 students reached through peer training, parent outreach across 15-plus schools and youth sites, and a sustainable
“Getting folks o of drugs is helping everybody. The whole community. The whole family.”
James Leach, board chair
curriculum that can be embedded into classrooms annually.
“Getting folks o of drugs is helping everybody,” said Board Chair James Leach. “The whole community. The whole family. So anyway we can help to do that, to help families and young folks to get o drugs, is a great opportunity.”
The program is asking for a $150,000 investment to be utilized for professional development, curriculum, sta -
ing, technology and outreach.
“These are not Hoke County dollars taken from tax coffers,” said Commissioner Allen Thomas. “These funds are funds from our opiate settlement funds. This money speci cally has to be spent to ght this epidemic.”
While the majority of the board supported the program, is still moved the item to a later workshop meeting so that an analysis of their opioid settlement funding could be done to ensure that they could properly support the program.
“I want to nd a way to be able to do this program and the programs that are currently being funded to help ght for people currently on drugs,’ Thomas said.
The Hoke County Board of Commissioners will next meet Oct. 20.
COURTESY KEVIN SANCHEZ PEREZ
Pine Forest last Friday at Raz Autry
Richmond Raiders.
ELAINA J. MARTIN FOR NORTH STATE JOURNAL
Country singer Rob Cole performs at Stewart’s Tavern in Raeford.
“No doesn’t mean never.”
Rob Cole
The singer-songwriter drew a packed crowd at Stewart’s Tavern after his blind audition aired on NBC
from page A1
watched on NBC or Peacock.
In an interview after his Stewart’s Tavern performance, Cole said his motto is
“No doesn’t mean never.”
Stewart’s Tavern owners James and Kimberly Stewart describe Cole as “humble,” “loyal” and “positive” — traits that keep them booking him at their Main Street venue.
Music runs in Cole’s family. His father owned a music store in Pembroke and worked as an audio engineer. His mother, Lori Locklear Cole, is a Hoke County High School graduate who won the Wrangler Country Music Showdown in the 1980s and performed at the Grand Ole Opry.
“I want to pick up that torch and honor her,” Cole said.
The Pembroke native said he’s proud to be from North Carolina and appreciates the state’s hospitality and respect
Sports resume at military schools after shutdown
The Defense secretary ordered student extracurricular activities to resume
By Bruce Schreiner
The Associated Press
EXTRACURRICULAR activities have resumed at schools for military families after a pause tied to the federal government shutdown halted sports and other school-related pursuits for several days.
For students at places like Fort Campbell and Fort Knox high schools, it means touchdowns, soccer goals and volleyball digs are back, as their schools were untangled from shutdown politics.
“Allowing the sports to continue is just a small thing to some people, but to the students, coaches and parents, it’s huge,” Antonia Kruse, whose son, Levi, plays wide receiver and cornerback on the Fort Campbell High football team, said last Tuesday. “They already have so many unknowns in their lives with being military dependents. They can have some sort of stability with their sports and activities.”
The schools have stayed open for normal instructional activities during the government shutdown. But the
for others — values he’s passing down to his children.
“I love the Southern hospitality of our state,” he said.
“We are taught a lot of respect for other people. … That is how we try to raise our kids. The history and the people make North Carolina a great place to live.”
“Downtown Raeford is a hidden gem,” Cole said. “Everyone should go check it out.
There are a lot of great businesses down there.”
Raeford resident and singer-songwriter Jimmy Muley attended the show after hearing Cole’s award-winning song “I Should’ve Been.”
“He is a great singer and musician,” Mu ey said.
Cole’s advice to aspiring musicians: “Take failures as a gift to grow. Take the small opportunities that you get because those lead to bigger opportunities. Just keep going for it.”
congressional stalemate left other school-related pursuits, even practices, in limbo. Fort Knox is in central Kentucky, while Fort Campbell straddles the Kentucky-Tennessee border. The shutdown disrupted extracurriculars at other military post schools, including teams at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina.
Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) welcomed the reprieve for military families.
“Our servicemembers and their children shouldn’t pay the price for Washington’s failure to fund the government,” McConnell said in a statement last Tuesday evening. “I’m so grateful they’ll now be able to suit up and get back in the game.”
The Republican senator successfully intervened in the matter. He wrote to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth last week, asking that athletics and extracurriculars at the schools be designated as activities allowed to proceed despite the shutdown. Within days, his request was granted.
The Department of Defense Education Activity, known as DoDEA, manages prekindergarten through 12th grade educational programs for the Department of Defense. DoDEA said in a statement that it received instructions from Hegseth that all student extracurriculars, including athletics and after-school clubs, be considered “excepted activi-
ties during the current lapse in appropriations.”
At Fort Campbell High, that means the girls’ volleyball team’s banner season won’t be derailed. The team is on its way to the school’s rst winning campaign in 15 years in the sport.
Without having practiced for a week, the team picked right back up by winning its rst match last Tuesday since resuming play, said parent Sarah Moore. The squad’s senior night game was called o last week due to the government shutdown.
“They have worked so hard to improve and be competitive this year, they couldn’t wait to get back on the court,” said Moore, whose daughter, Ava, plays on the team.
“We are thankful for the people who stood up for our kids and took action,” she added.
The disruption impacted much more than sports.
It applied to such activities as the Lejeune High School Marine Corps Junior Reserve O cer Training Corps program, which has been recognized for its superior performance. The program’s cadets have participated in community service projects, leadership training exercises and competitive events, the school said.
COLE
THE CONVERSATION
Trip Ho end, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor
VISUAL VOICES
How Trump’s FTC can keep drug prices down for working Americans
A settlement will immediately bene t consumers.
HOW DO LEADING RETAILERS like Amazon and Walmart deliver low prices to their customers? The companies buy so much from their suppliers that they can demand discounts. That dynamic applies in the health care industry as well, as companies called pharmacy bene t managers (PBMs) negotiate with pharmaceutical companies to keep prices down. But it’s up to the Trump administration to keep it that way.
On Sept. 29, the Federal Trade Commission came one step closer to nally making a decision on the Biden FTC’s case against PBMs. A settlement will immediately bene t consumers while reinforcing the valuable role PBMs play in negotiating with pharmaceutical companies to drive down drug prices.
PBMs negotiate drug prices on behalf of employers, insurers and patients. Managing more than 90% of U.S. prescriptions (per the FTC) gives them leverage they need to demand discounts and rebates from Big Pharma.
The backdrop to the FTC case, which was led shortly before last year’s presidential election, is the 1,200% rise in insulin prices from 1999-2017. The Biden FTC claimed that “even when lower list price insulins became available that could have been more a ordable for vulnerable patients, the PBMs systemically excluded them in favor of high list price … insulin products”— because the more expensive drugs are, the bigger the rebates they receive.
When I rst took over as chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Health Subcommittee, I was a bit skeptical of PBMs because of all the negative ads I saw about them (which I later found out were sponsored by the pharmaceutical companies). However, when I dug into the data, I quickly noticed that the truth was far di erent from what some of the industry’s biggest players want us to believe.
The employers who hire PBMs love them. They are best thought of as akin to a bulk buyer at a market, using scale to drive better deals. If they weren’t buying in bulk, they would not have the leverage that’s needed with the
pharma giants, which would drive prices even higher.
I’m sure, like in any industry, there are some bad actors, or at least some actors who have engaged in some brow-raising activities. Those entities should not escape punishment. That said, the overall net value of PBMs speaks for itself.
Even the FTC’s complaint admits PBMs pass on 90% to 98% of rebate dollars directly to their clients, as The Wall Street Editorial Board pointed out. Which raises the question: Did the Biden FTC even believe the arguments made in its own suit?
After all, Biden FTC Chair Lina Khan was not shy in intimidating that she was unconcerned about bringing weak cases to court. She believed that pursuing cases that wouldn’t stand legal scrutiny was important as a means of convincing the legislature to expand the law to her progressive liking.
Rather than taking the PBM case to federal court, the FTC led it in its own administrative court — meaning the agency felt compelled to act as both prosecutor and judge. If the commission wasn’t con dent that an independent judiciary would give the ruling it desired, that’s not a very encouraging sign.
All of this underscores the value of settling the PBM case, which is possible with Trump appointees now in charge at the FTC.
Taking this case o the FTC’s books and instead reaching a settlement with bad actors would protect consumers while preserving employers’ ability to hold the pharmaceutical company’s feet to the re.
Put another way, the FTC can punish any genuine misconduct while still keeping the buyers’ club that holds Big Pharma intact. If Amazon or Walmart saw a deal that delivered lower prices for millions of Americans, they’d take it. Washington should too.
Joseph R. Pitts served as a member of the U.S. House from Pennsylvania. He chaired the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Health. This column was rst published by The Daily Signal.
Arsonist burns down climate hoax
It’s been obvious for at least 150 years that climate change has nothing to do with the January wild res.
THE ARREST THIS WEEK of a suspect for starting the re that led to last January’s deadly Palisades wild re in Los Angeles came as no real surprise. Arson was hinted at as early as February. People had previously been arrested for arson or arson has been suspected in connection with recent wild res in New Jersey, New York, California, Hawaii, Canada, Greece and other places. So when the Department of Justice announced during its press conference this week that evidence of arson developed early in the investigation, it came as no shock.
But the rst and last instinct of climate hoaxers is always to blame climate change. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) blamed climate change in an X post that garnered 18.5 million views on Jan 8.
The New York Times, “PBS News Hour,” Los Angeles Times, The Associated Press and Axios soon joined the bandwagon. Leftover Biden sta ers in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the activist-researchers at World Weather Attribution, whose occupation is to blame bad weather on climate change, chimed in weeks later.
Most recently, the National Academy of Sciences used the Los Angeles wild res as part of its pretext for attacking the Trump
EPA e ort to rescind the endangerment nding for greenhouse gases.
But it’s been obvious for at least 150 years that climate change has nothing to do with the January wild res. On Oct. 30, 1875, the Anaheim Gazette even warned readers of the exact same risky conditions that existed in January 2025: “The terrible con agration that occurred in Virginia City yesterday, with all its horror of a useless re department, because of a meager water supply, is what will happen some of these days to Anaheim.”
The paper continued: “Suppose a re should break out in some of our many re nests, which are too abundant now, or among closely packed wooden buildings at the inopportune time when a heavy sea breeze was blowing, or when our dreaded Santa Ana wind came upon us … what could be done?”
And that eerie warning from the past — from the failed re hydrants to the burn-ready buildings to the Santa Ana winds — is exactly what happened to Los Angeles in 2025 once the arsonist struck. No global warming needed. Nor is any warming even occurring in the area.
Los Angeles is actually cooler now than it was in the late 1950s per U.S. government data. Although it was unusually dry in Los Angeles County
during September to December 2024, the precipitation trend during that same period has actually increased slightly since 1895, also per U.S. government data.
Blaming the Los Angeles wild res on global warming was always a lie and not a harmless one. The stock price of Edison International, the parent company of electric utility South California Edison, took a massive hit from which it has still not recovered, despite the stock market being at record highs and electricity demand exploding.
I don’t know whether the suspect arrested for setting the Palisades re will be found guilty. But I do know that “climate change” is not. Ahead of the Democratic primary for the 2020 election, Sanders said he wanted to criminally investigate fossil fuel executives for lying about climate change. This would be a good time for him to look in the mirror. Steve Milloy is a biostatistician and lawyer. This column was rst published by Daily Caller News Foundation.
COLUMN | STEVE MILLOY
COLUMN | JOSEPH R. PITTS
Losing family pet gives parents chance to teach children about death, grieving
Sadness, anger and other overwhelming emotions associated with grief may be more di cult for younger children
By Cheyanne Mumphrey The Associated Press
LOSING A PET is the rst time many children encounter death. The experience can become an opportunity for profound emotional learning and in uence how young people understand and process grief when they are adults, according to psychologists and pet bereavement specialists.
Parents and guardians therefore have important roles to play when a family pet dies. Along with helping children accept the painful permanence of death, caregivers can guide kids through a healthy and healing mourning process that provides a foundation for coping with an inevitable part of life.
“People are so adverse to talking about death and grief, but it is the one thing that is guaranteed: We are all going to die. We need to be open to talking about that,” said Deirdra Flavin, CEO of the National Alliance for Children’s Grief.
Here are some things to consider when talking with children about death and supporting them through pet loss.
Children respond to death in di erent ways
Depending on how old they are and their individual circumstances, children vary in their ability to comprehend the concept of death. The way they process grief, how long they mourn and the impact of the loss is also unique to each child, just as it is for adults. Experts say sadness, anger and other overwhelming emotions associated with grief may be more di cult for younger children to navigate, so having support is crucial.
Psychologists and bereavement counselors say some people feel the heartbreak from a pet’s death as intensely as the loss of any other loved one, reecting the potential depths of human-animal bonds. In the case of children, their relationship with a pet, and whether the death was sudden or not, are other factors that may shape individual responses.
Colleen Rolland, president of the Association for Pet Loss and Bereavement, says parents usually know how intellectually and emotionally capable their children are of processing death.
Children as young as 4 years old might have been exposed to death through fairy tales and other stories but may struggle to understand its nality, Rolland said. Older children, who will know their loss is forever, may need more emotional support from friends and family, she said.
Elizabeth Perez said she learned quickly how di erently her three children processed the death of their dog, Zoe, who was hit by a car nearly a year-and-a-half ago in front of their second daughter. The other two children were inside the family’s home in Pullman, Washington.
“Carmen would talk about how the images kept replaying in her head, she was having nightmares and couldn’t sleep,” Perez said, adding that her daughter hasn’t worn the dress she had on that day since.
Perez recalls she and her husband spending a lot of time with Carmen, now 11, and asking her questions about her feelings. Even their youngest child, who did not see the car hit Zoe and had spent the least amount of time with the dog, still tears up thinking about the April 2024 accident.
“It was really hard for the whole family. Everybody was feeling it di erently and at di erent times,” Perez said.
“We, as parents, did not feel prepared.”
Using clear language and avoiding euphemisms
Experts say it’s important to be honest and use clear language when discussing death with children. Adults often are inclined to protect children with euphemisms, such as a pet went to sleep, got lost or was put down.
“That can be alarming for children and cause a lot of confusion and fear. So, saying ‘The fish went to sleep’ might create concerns for the child when they are going to sleep,” Flavin said. “Particularly with younger kids because they are so literal in terms of the way that things are expressed to them.”
When Leah Motz’s daughter was 2 years old, she told her their 15-year-old dog, Izzy, had a “good life but his body is broken and it won’t be able to x itself.” Motz recalled that before taking him to be eutha-
Wesley Price
Robert General has been a resident at Open Arms since August 2021. He was born in South Carolina, relocated to Richmond Virginia and later moved to North Carolina. Robert enjoys BINGO, church and knitting. He is a joy to have here at Open Arms Retirement Center.
Mr. Wesley is an experienced financial worker who has only been with company a short period, however, the residents love him! He is retired military and on most of his time off he enjoys time with his family. His free time is spent working around the house.
Mrs. Florence Herbert has been a resident here since May 2021. She moved to North Carolina from Pennsylvania to escape the bad weather. Florence enjoys word searches, BINGO, watching TV and spending time with her friends on the Special Care Unit at Integrity Open Arms.
Residents love him because he takes his time explaining things to them, answers all questions and is very polite. They like his open-door policy!
Mrs. Betty Purcell is from Raeford, North Carolina. She moved into our assisted living this past June. Besides being the mother of two, she worked for many years at Burlington Mills. Betty enjoys church, watching youtube and doing word searches.
THANK YOU, Mr. Wesley, for a job well done and being a part of the Integrity Open Arms team!
nized near their home in Renton, Washington, she further explained they were going to “help Izzy die.”
Support children through deep feelings
Sometimes adults have a hard time recognizing the impact that losing a pet instead of a person might have on children. Rolland says child grief tends to be trivialized in general, and that people who are very devoted to their pets can produce as much stigma as sympathy.
“But pet loss is a very real form of grief,” she said.
Raquel Halfond, a licensed clinical psychologist with the American Psychological Association, says children’s behavior often indicates how they are feeling even if they are not expressing it verbally.
“Maybe you notice your child is having more tantrums. Suddenly there’s stu that they used to love doing, they no longer want to do. Maybe they start to refuse to go to school. It’s really normal to have these for a while,” Halfond said.
Other signs to look for include uncharacteristic sadness, tears, anger and even silence, she said. A child’s emotional response is often independent of their willingness to talk about death, but she said it might be time to seek professional help if their emotions or behavior affect their ability to function.
It’s OK for adults to grieve with children
Much like they do in other situations or developmental stages, children often learn how to handle grief by watching their caregivers. The way adults respond to loss is likely to set an example for their children.
“Parents, or caregivers, must be con dent in how they deal with pet loss,” Rolland said, adding that parents who are
unfamiliar with grief or display unhealthy behaviors might teach children to act in the same manner.
Two of Meaghan Marr’s dogs died in Euharlee, Georgia, when her two children were young. The rst to go, Sadie, had ongoing health issues, so Marr was able to have continuous conversations and prepare her then-7-year-old son and 4-year-old daughter.
“My son de nitely understood what was going on. While my daughter was sad, it didn’t quite reach her as deeply,” Marr said. She said it seemed like a lot of the children’s’ emotions were in response to her own grieving for a pet she refers to as her “soulmate dog.”
Halfond advises parents not to hide their feelings from their children.
“If you’re feeling sad, it’s OK for the child to see you feeling sad. In fact, it could be confusing if something sad happened and they don’t see that emotion re ected in their parents,” she said.
Leave room for closure and lifelong memories
One way to help children come to terms with the death of a pet is by memorializing the lives of the late companions through activities such as raising money for animals in need, drawing pictures, holding funerals or doing the things their pets loved to do.
Before their dog Sadie died, Marr said many of the conversations with her kids centered around how dogs don’t live forever and would one day go to heaven. The di cult part for her was explaining that was true of every pet.
“We talked about if they still wanted animals even though they are not going to last as long as we do,” she said. “It hurts to lose them, but they make your life so much better while they are here.”
PHOTOS BY BRYNN ANDERSON / ASSOCIATED PRESS
Top, Meaghan and Chris Marr pose with their children and dogs for a photograph last month in Cartersville, Georgia. Bottom, Meaghan Marr holds the ashes her previous dog, Jewels, last month.
HOKE SPORTS
ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Crumpler Funeral golf team
The First Baptist Church Raeford Memorial Golf Tournament was held last Thursday at Bayonet at Puppy Creek. The tournament serves as a memory to those we lost this past year and is the largest fundraising e ort by the FBC Raeford Brotherhood. The winning team with a score of 56 — from left to right, Chad Hodgin, Johnny Boyles, Ray Crumpler and Marc Godwin — was sponsored by Crumpler Funeral Home. Ricky Sandy from FBC Raeford presented the winning prize money of $400, and the team donated it right back to the church.
Volleyball wins conference regular season
Volleyball
The Bucks snapped a three-game losing streak with a 27-8 home win over Pine Forest.
Senior Favor Anab rushed for 138 yards on 14 carries, a 9.9-yard average. He scored twice. Asean Craigmiles added a rushing touchdown.
Hoke improved to 2- 4, 1-1 in the Mid-South 7A/8A. The Bucks will try to keep rolling this Friday at home against Richmond. The Raiders are 5-2 and lead the conference at 2- 0. They’ve won four in a row and scored 102 points in the last two games.
The Lady Bucks did what coach Lashonda Huey called “the unthinkable,” beating Pinecrest on the road to clinch the MidSouth 7A/8A and complete a regular season sweep of the Patriots. They followed up the 3-1 win over Pinecrest with a 3-0 win over Jack Britt to close the regular season at 19-3 overall, 9-1 in conference. The Bucks will look to continue their historic season in postseason tournament play.
Soccer
The Bucks won two of three last week. Hoke started on the road with a 3 - 0 whitewashing of Jack Britt. Carson Hewitt, Fitzroy Williams and Alexander Garcia scored goals, while
Garcia and Pedro Ramos con-
tributed assists. Duglas Cruz Mejia had four steals. Marcus Monsanto had 13 saves for the shutout.
The trip to Richmond was not as productive, as Hoke returned home on the wrong end of a 1- 0 score.
The home pitch revitalized the Bucks, who hammered Overhills 7-2. Hewitt had four goals, while Williams, Kim Morales and Derrick Patricio each scored once. Ramos had four assists, Williams and Gabriel Morgan one each.
The Bucks are now 10 - 4 -3, 4 -2 in conference, and still trail Pinecrest by a game at the top of the standings.
The Bucks head to Pine Forest this week before hosting Terry Sanford and Richmond.
SIDELINE REPORT
NCAA FOOTBALL
Penn State res coach Franklin amid midseason free fall in lost season
State College, Pa. James Franklin is out at Penn State. The school red the longtime head coach less than 24 hours after a 22-21 home loss to Northwestern. Terry Smith will serve as interim head coach for the rest of the season. The Nittany Lions began the year with hopes of winning the national title, but those hopes evaporated by early October amid a string of losses. Penn State, which reached the CFP semi nal 10 months ago, lost at home to Oregon in overtime in late September. A road loss at UCLA followed.
WNBA Wilson scores 31, Aces win 3rd WNBA title in 4 seasons
Phoenix
A’ja Wilson scored 31 points, Chelsea Gray and Jackie Young both added 18 and the Las Vegas Aces beat the Phoenix Mercury 97-86 in Game 4 of the WNBA Finals, sweeping their way to a third championship in four seasons. Vegas scored 54 points in the rst half and averaged more than 90 points per game in the series.
NCAA BASKETBALL
Sister Jean, Loyola Chicago’s beloved chaplain, dead at 106
Chicago
Sister Jean Dolores Schmidt, the beloved chaplain for Loyola Chicago’s men’s basketball team, has died at 106. She became an international celebrity during the team’s 2018 Final Four run, and there was even a bobblehead of her likeness. Health issues led her to step down in August, but she remained an adviser. Loyola President Mark C. Reed praised her as a source of wisdom and grace for more than 60 years.
HAL NUNN FOR NORTH STATE JOURNAL
LASHONDA HUEY / FACEBOOK
The Hoke County volleyball takes a group photo after clinching the conference title.
Hamlin charges to emotional 60th Cup win
The victory secures him a spot in the playo nale
By Jenna Fryer The Associated Press
LAS VEGAS — Denny
Hamlin became the rst driver to lock up a spot in the Cup Series’ championship - deciding nale, winning Sunday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway for his career -goal 60th victory.
Hamlin, considered the best driver in Cup Series history to never win a title, is back in the winner -take -all title race for the rst time since 2021. The winningest driver in Joe Gibbs Racing history is tied for 10th on the Cup Series career victories list with Kevin Harvick.
Hamlin, who was emotional two weeks ago about his ailing father when he squandered a victory at Kansas Speedway in the closing laps, dedicated the victory to his father, who also was rooting for his son to hit the 60 -win mark. Hamlin seemed to have tears in his eyes when he drove his Toyota to collect his 60th checkered ag.
“This win means a lot,” said Hamlin, who had to compose
himself on the frontstretch.
“Just put the pedal down on the last 10 laps and made it happen.”
Kyle Larson, seeking to end a 20 -race losing streak, was second in a Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports. JGR drivers Christopher Bell and Chase Briscoe were third and fourth, Tyler Reddick — who drives for Hamlin at 23XI Racing — was fth, and reigning Cup Series champion Joey Logano was sixth.
Five of the top six — all but Reddick — are still in the playo eld. The others are Chase Elliott, who nished 18th; Daytona 500 winner William Byron was 36th and Ryan Blaney was last in 38th.
Byron was out front and then wiggled out of the groove with 35 laps remaining, saved his Chevrolet from crashing, but teammate Larson sailed past him for the lead. Minutes later, he was involved in a race - ending crash when
he drilled into the back of
Ty Dillon, unaware that Dillon was slowing to head to pit road. “I never saw him wave, I had no indication he was pitting,” Byron said. “I had zero idea. I am just devastated. Obviously, I wouldn’t have driven fullspeed into him.”
Bad day for Blaney
Ryan Blaney, second in points at the start of the race, saw his title hopes take a severe hit when a tire issue caused him to crash into the wall with nine laps remaining in the rst stage. His race immediately ended, he nished 38th and dropped to the bottom of the eight-driver playo round. Blaney is the 2023 Cup Series champion, with teammate Joey Logano winning titles in 2022 and 2024 to give Team Penske three straight. The upside is Blaney races next at Talladega Superspeedway, where he’s a three-time winner and considers himself to be in a must-win situation.
“You’ve got to be optimistic. I’m not very happy right now, but tomorrow morning I’ll be optimistic to go to the
next race,” Blaney said. “We’ve had good success at the next two events, so hopefully we can come and bring the speed and try to overcome the hole we put ourselves in.”
Reddick’s son
Reddick, who was eliminated from the playo s last weekend, is still racing despite serious health complications facing his infant son.
Rookie Reddick, the second son born to Tyler and Alexa Reddick in May, has a “tumor that’s ‘choking’ the renal vein & renal artery. Telling the heart ‘Hey I’m not getting enough blood… pump harder,’” Alexa Reddick wrote in an update last week. She said it had caused an enlarged heart and the 4 -month- old will need a kidney removed because doctors determined it is no longer functioning.
Alexa Reddick posted on social media ahead of Sunday’s race at Las Vegas that Rookie would have surgery Tuesday and will be moved to a unit to “monitor his heart and BP while his renin slowly drops.”
What’s in Burns’ backpack? Maybe the secret to Avalanche defenseman playing in 1,500 NHL games
The former Hurricane is seeking a Stanley Cup to go with his milestones
By Pat Graham The Associated Press
DENVER — Brent Burns carries a lot of weight on his shoulders these days.
Not pressure-related or anything, just from his heavy, military-style backpack that’s crammed with all the necessities to keep the 40-year-old Colorado defenseman humming along.
The precise contents remain a mystery, but whatever’s stu ed inside sure is working. Burns, who’s embarking on his 22nd NHL season and rst in Colorado, played in his 1,500th NHL game Saturday. Delving deeper, he hasn’t missed a contest since 2013, running his streak to 927 straight, which is the league’s fourth-longest “Iron Man” streak of all time.
Burns is chasing his rst Stanley Cup title late in his hockey tenure. The Avalanche would love nothing more than to make that title happen, too.
“He came here for a reason,” fellow defenseman Cale Makar said of Burns. “We’ll get there at some point, but right now we’ve got to focus on the day-to - day.”
Milestone alert
On Saturday, Burns skated in game No. 1,500, becoming the league’s eighth defenseman to reach the milestone.
If Burns were to suit up in every game this season, he could move up to No. 2 on the all-time consecutive games played list with 1,007. At that point, he would trail only Phil Kessel’s streak of 1,064.
For this sort of healthy run in a hard-hitting sport, some credit goes to the contents of Burns’ backpack. It’s the stu of legend around the locker room.
“Don’t even try to pick it up,” captain Gabriel Landeskog warned. “You’ll blow your back out.”
The backpack supposedly contains everything from stretching bands to assorted recovery gear to his own co ee setup.
“It’s a secret,” he said with a laugh, adding the backpack has been part of his routine since his San Jose days. “De nitely too heavy, and it keeps getting heavier and heavier.”
Age just a number
Avalanche forward Gavin Brindley was still a year away from even being born when
Burns made his NHL debut on Oct. 8, 2003, with Minnesota after being a rst-round pick by the Wild.
“That’s wild, just wild,” Brindley said of Burns’ longevity. “It’s so impressive what he does on the ice.”
Burns has quickly emerged as another leader for the Avalanche, joining Landeskog as a respected voice. He assists by keeping things loose.
“I’m a little bit more of a goof — I screw drills up all the
time,” Burns said. “I’m just a little di erent.
“Obviously, we’re not all around the same age, so it’s kind of fun to hear what they’re doing. It keeps me feeling better and energized — just to talk to other guys and mess around and make them feel good.”
Added coach Jared Bednar:
“I love the personality that he brings to our team. He’s hungry to win.”
Burns got to the Stanley Cup nal in 2016 with the Sharks,
where they lost in six games to Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins. Burns has played in 135 career playo contests.
“We’re so happy to have him here,” Landeskog said. “He wanted to be here. He wanted to be a part of this group, and I think that says a lot about where we’re at as a team.”
Over the summer, Burns signed a one-year deal with the Avalanche, his fourth NHL team. He joined a squad that’s a Stanley Cup favorite.
One thing that Burns quickly realized was that it’s lled with players who get to the rink early.
“I feel like I’m going to be one of the rst cars in the parking lot, and it’s packed,” Burns said. “I’m like, ‘Holy crap.’”
As an older player — “I know you’re not saying old player,” he playfully interjected — there are extra things he does to stay ready.
“But I’d be here until tomorrow, trying to tell you all the new things,” Burns cracked.
More than anything, he stays young at heart.
“Just a big kid in a big man’s body,” goaltender Scott Wedgewood said. “Just down to earth, fun to be around. Just has a little bit of a joking side, a high- energy side. He loves the game, cares about it and he’s chasing that ultimate goal.”
STEVE MARCUS / AP PHOTO
Denny Hamlin stands by his car after winning Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series playo race in Las Vegas.
DAVID ZALUBOWSKI / AP PHOTO
Colorado Avalanche defenseman Brent Burns pursues the puck against the Utah Mammoth.
Peggy Ann Parrish McBryde
Nov. 14, 1935 – Oct.5, 2025
Peggy Ann Parrish McBryde, age 89, of Pinehurst, NC, formerly of Raeford, passed away on Sunday, October 05, 2025.
She was born in Hoke County, NC, on November 14, 1935, to the late Obie and Dora Parrish.
Along with her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Bobby Mac McBryde; her three sisters, Geraldine McBryde, Evelyn Miller, and Delmas Fuller; and her brother, Earl Parrish.
She became a member of the Raeford Presbyterian Church on Easter Sunday of 1955. Peggy was in the church choir for many years, helped with church activities, was active in Sunday School, and was in charge of planning socials and handling food preparations in the church. In 1996, she was presented an honorary Lifetime Membership with Raeford Presbyterian. She was also a Presbyterian Women’s O cer, circle chairman, Sunday school o cer, and worked in bible school at the church.
Peggy worked at Raeford Ford Company as well as the Raeford School system as a secretary for many years.
She grew up in Red Springs, NC, where she went to school and met her husband, Bobby. They were married on September 25, 1954, in Red Springs, NC, and spent over 70 beautiful years together. She and Bobby traveled all over the world. They loved to entertain and did so on many cruise ships together.
Peggy is survived by several nieces and nephews, as well as her friends at Quail Haven Retirement Village in Pinehurst, NC, and those in Raeford.
A graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, October 08, 2025, in the Raeford City Cemetery with Pastor Jason Clark o ciating.
Wilmer Allen McDonald Jr.
March 28, 1941 – Oct.5, 2025
Wilmer Allen McDonald Jr., 84, of Raeford, North Carolina, passed away peacefully on October 5, 2025.
Born on March 28, 1941, Allen was the son of Wilmer Allen McDonald Sr., a local business owner, and Christine Allred McDonald, a schoolteacher and homemaker. He was preceded in death by his infant brother; his son, Wilmer Allen (Mackey) McDonald III; and his wife, Betty Faulkner McDonald.
In his youth, Allen was active in the Raeford Presbyterian Church. He also enjoyed playing ball and spending time with his Dalmatian, Sport. His lifelong love of reading began during childhood summers at his grandmother’s home, where he explored her library in the now-historic J.F. Allred House in Aberdeen, North Carolina. A lover of both literature and lm, Allen could lose himself just as easily in a John Grisham novel as in a classic lm like The Godfather.
A proud graduate of Hoke County High School, Class of 1959, Allen was voted “Best All Around,” served as president of the Key Club, and played tackle on the football team. During his junior year, he assumed management of the family business due to his father’s illness – a responsibility he carried with maturity beyond his years.
Allen’s talent for design and natural business sense led him to establish Allen’s Limited, a local retail venture, while he continued to manage Raeford Cleaners alongside his wife, Betty. Together, they served and employed many members of the close-knit Raeford community for years to come.
In later years, Allen relocated to Wilmington, North Carolina, where he worked in the hospitality industry, spending several years at the Silver Gull. He cherished his time by the coast and enjoyed his favorite pastime, shing, whenever he could. He eventually returned to Raeford to care for his son, Mackey, during his nal illness. Diagnosed with cancer the following spring, Allen faced his own illness with remarkable grace and perseverance. His family remains deeply grateful for the four precious years they were granted with him beyond his initial prognosis.
Allen is survived by his daughter, Heidi McDonald of Southern Pines, and by his beloved grandchildren, Maddox McDonald of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and Mallory McDonald of Southern Pines, North Carolina.
A graveside service will be held at 2 p.m. on Friday, October 10, 2025, at Raeford City Cemetery.
Melinda R. Gaddy
Feb. 4, 1949 – Oct. 4, 2025
Melinda “Randy” Gaddy of Raeford, NC, passed away peacefully at her home, after a courageous battle with cancer, on October 4, 2025. She was born on February 4, 1949, in Fayetteville, NC, and lived a life lled with love, laughter and devotion to her family and friends.
Randy is survived by her loving husband of 57 years, Larry Gaddy; her sons, Tom Gaddy (Rachel) and Smith Gaddy (Amanda); and her daughter, Katie Gaddy Adams (Gus). She was a proud grandmother to ve granddaughters; Maura Beth, Maddie, Emma, Ruby and Caroline – and three greatgrandchildren; Deklin, Elsie Ray, and Max – all of whom brought her endless joy.
Randy is also survived by her amazing mom, Ruby Howard Chandler; brother Del Eury, Jr; and sister Robin Co man. She was preceded in death by her sister, Coleen Simmons.
Randy will be remembered for her warmth, generosity, and unwavering love and welcoming spirit to all who knew her. Besides their home in Raeford, Randy loved spending time at their homes in White Lake and Asheville. She was happiest when with family and friends, reading a good book, and sipping a glass of red wine, always with Larry by her side.
A Celebration of Life and visitation with family will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, October 25, 2025, at Raeford Presbyterian Church, 128 W. Edinborough Avenue, Raeford, NC 28376.
In lieu of owers, donations can be made, in honor of Randy’s beloved rescue pup Archie, to the Hoke County Animal Shelter, P.O. Box 728, Raeford, NC 28376.
Michael James Olivarez II
Aug. 27, 1996 – Oct. 2, 2025
Michael James Olivarez II, age 29, passed away on Thursday, October 2, 2025.
A celebration of life for Michael will be held Monday, October 13, 2025, at 10:30 a.m. at Crumpler Funeral Home, 131 Harris Avenue, Raeford, North Carolina 28376.
the life of your loved ones. Submit obituaries and death notices to be published in NSJ at
Oscar-winning actress Diane Keaton dead at 79
The actress was a well-known and iconic movie star for decades
By Lindsey Bahr The Associated Press
DIANE KEATON, the Oscar-winning star of “Annie Hall,” “The Godfather” lms and “Father of the Bride,” whose quirky, vibrant manner and depth made her one of the most singular actors of a generation, has died. She was 79. People Magazine reported Saturday that she died in California with loved ones, citing a family spokesperson. No other details were immediately available, and representatives for Keaton did not respond to inquiries from The Associated Press. The unexpected news was met with shock around the world.
Francis Ford Coppola, who cast her in “The Godfather,” wrote on Instagram that, “Words can’t express the wonder and talent of Diane Keaton. Endlessly intelligent, so beautiful...Everything about Diane was creativity personied.”
Bette Midler, who she costarred with Keaton in “The First Wives Club,” wrote, “She was hilarious, a complete original, and completely without guile, or any of the competitiveness one would have expected from such a star. What you saw was who she was…oh, la, lala!”
Keaton was the kind of actor who helped make lms iconic and timeless, from her “La- dee - da, la- dee - da” phrasing as Annie Hall, bedecked in that necktie, bowler hat, vest and khakis, to her heartbreaking turn as Kay Adams, the woman unfortunate enough to join the Corleone family. Her star-making performances in the 1970s, many of which were in Woody Allen lms, were not a ash in the pan, and she would continue to charm new generations for decades thanks in part to a longstanding collaboration with lmmaker Nancy Meyers. She played a businessperson who unexpectedly inherits an infant in “Baby Boom,” the mother of the bride in the beloved remake of “Father of the Bride,” a newly single woman in “The First Wives Club,” and a divorced playwright who gets involved with Jack Nicholson’s womanizing music executive in “Something’s Gotta Give.”
Keaton won an Oscar for “Annie Hall” and would go on to be nominated three more times, for “Reds,” “Marvin’s Room,” and “Something’s Gotta Give. In her very Keaton way, upon accepting her Oscar in 1978 she laughed and said, “This is something.”
Keaton was born Diane Hall in January 1946 in Los Angeles. Her mother was a homemaker and photographer, and her father was in real estate and civil engineering, and both would inspire her love in the arts, from fashion to architecture. Keaton was drawn to theater and singing while in school in Santa Ana, California, and she dropped out of college after a year to make a go of it in Manhattan. Actors’ Equity already had a Diane Hall in their ranks, and she took Keaton, her mother’s maiden name, as her own.
She studied under Sanford Meisner in New York and has credited him with giving her the freedom to “chart the complex terrain of human behavior within the safety of his guidance. It made playing with re fun.”
She started on the stage as an understudy in the Broadway production for “Hair” and in Allen’s “Play It Again, Sam” in 1968, for which she would
receive a Tony nomination. Keaton made her lm debut in the 1970 romantic comedy “Lovers and Other Strangers,” but her big breakthrough would come a few years later when she was cast in Francis Ford Coppola’s “The Godfather,” which won best picture and become one of the most beloved lms of all time
The 1970s were an incredibly fruitful time for Keaton thanks in part to her ongoing collaboration with Allen in both comedic and dramatic roles. She appeared in “Sleeper,” “Love and Death,” “Interiors,” “Manhattan” and the lm version of “Play it Again, Sam.” The 1977 crime - drama “Looking for Mr. Goodbar” also earned her raves.
Allen and the late Marshall Brickman gave Keaton one of her most iconic roles in “Annie Hall,” the infectious woman from Chippewa Falls whom Allen’s Alvy Singer cannot get over. The lm is considered one of the great romantic comedies of all time, with Keaton’s eccentric, self- deprecating Annie at its heart.
Keaton and Allen were also in a romantic relationship, from about 1968, when she met him while auditioning for his play, until about 1974. Afterward they remained collaborators and friends.
“He was so hip, with his thick glasses and cool suits,” Keaton wrote in her memoir. “But it was his manner that got me, his way of gesturing, his hands, his coughing and looking down in a self- deprecating way while he told jokes.”
She was also romantically linked to Pacino, who played her husband in “The Godfather,” and Warren Beatty, who directed her and whom she co -starred with in “Reds.” She never married but did adopt two children when she was in her 50s: a daughter, Dexter, and a son, Duke.
In 1987 she began another long-standing collaboration with Nancy Meyers, which would result in four beloved lms starting with “Baby Boom,” directed by Charles Shyer. Their next team-up would be in the remake of “Father of the Bride,” which Shyer directed and co -wrote with Meyers. She and Steve Martin played the ustered parents to the bride which would become a big hit and spawn a sequel.
In 2003, Meyers would direct her in the romantic comedy “Something’s Gotta Give.” Her character Erica Barry, with her beautiful Hamptons home and ivory out ts, was a key inspiration for the recent costal grandmother fashion trend. It earned her what would be her last Oscar nomination, and later, she’d call it her favorite lm.
Keaton continued working steadily throughout the 2000s, with notable roles in “The Family Stone,” “Morning Glory” and the “Book Club” lms.
Keaton was celebrated with an AFI Life Achievement Award in 2017.
“I feel like it’s the wedding I never had, or the big gathering I never had, or the retirement party I never had, or all these things that I always avoided — the big bash,” she told the AP. “It’s really a big event for me, and I’m really, deeply grateful.”
CHRIS PIZZELLO / AP PHOTO
Diane Keaton poses at a California fashion show in 2022.
STATE & NATION
Missing Va. store cat found after hitching a ride
By Julie Walker and John Raby The Associated Press
FRANCINE THE calico cat is back home at a Lowe’s store in Virginia after going missing for a few weeks, hitching a ride on a truck that turned up at a sister facility in another state.
Two employees from a Lowe’s in Richmond made the 90 -minute drive early last Monday to pick up Francine, who disappeared in September and recently was discovered at the company’s distribution center in Garysburg, North Carolina.
She was back on the job a day later, playing with customers, posing for photos and soaking in a ection.
“Francine is one of us,” store supervisor Wayne Schneider said in a telephone interview.
“She’s just amazing. What she means here to the store and the employees, you really can’t imagine the outpouring that the employees and also the customers give her daily.”
Francine spends much of her time either at the customer service desk or in the store’s seasonal area. But things went awry in September as the store brought in items for the upcoming Christmas season. Store general manager Mike Sida said that disruption may have prompted Francine to seek comfort elsewhere.
After store employees hadn’t seen Francine for a few days, they reviewed past surveillance video. There were glimpses of her in the appliance section and then the receiving department, where she darted into a truck.
An overnight manager is then seen shutting the truck’s door, and o it went to Garysburg, about 85 miles to the south.
“And then, of course, when she got down to the distribution center, she shot o the truck,” Sida said. “That’s when we found out where she was and she was missing.”
An animal control o ce set up humane traps at the distribution center, where photos of Francine
were posted throughout. The center had dozens of monitoring cameras, and Lowe’s brought in thermal drones to survey the area. An Instagram account una liated with Lowe’s dedicated to nding Francine grew to more than 34,000 followers.
On Saturday, Francine was spotted on camera near the distribution center. After more humane traps were installed, a volunteer checked each trap throughout the night. Finally, one of the traps triggered, and Francine’s meows could be heard. Schneider and Sida got in a car early last Monday and drove to get Francine.
“That ride going down, knowing that we were going to get her, was just heartwarming. Knowing she’s safe and that she’s coming back to the store to get o her two-week vacation,” Schneider said.
Francine was a stray when she started living at the Lowe’s store more than eight years ago. Cats are common sightings around feed stores and garden centers, which contain large amounts of grain and seed that can be attractive to mice and rats. In New York City, cats are beloved xtures of the city’s bodegas and delis.
At the Lowe’s store, Francine “just showed up,” Sida said. “We
WIC food program receives $300M to keep running during government shutdown
Unspent tari revenue was reallocated to fund it
By Moriah Balingit
The Associated Press
WASHINGTON, D.C. — A food aid program that supports millions of low-income mothers and their young children received a $300 million infusion from the Trump administration this week, alleviating some anxiety that it would run out of money during the government shutdown.
The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children helps more than 6 million low-income mothers, young children and expectant parents to purchase nutritious staples like fruits and vegetables, low-fat milk and infant formula. The program, known as WIC, was at risk of running out of money this month because of the government shutdown, which occurred right before it was slated to receive its annual appropriation.
This week, White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt posted on X the White House
being loaded into a
Jackson, Miss., in Oct. 2013.
had found “a creative solution” to use tari revenues to keep the program a oat. By last Thursday, at least some states were receiving WIC money. Alaska and Washington said they received enough federal funds to keep their programs running until at least the end of October.
The Inter-Tribal Council of Nevada, which had closed its o ce last week after running out of money, received money that allowed it to reopen Friday, radio station KUNR reported.
O cials from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which runs WIC, told congressional sta ers they were using $300 million in unspent tari revenue from the last scal year to keep the program a oat, two people briefed on the call told AP. The people declined to be named because they were not authorized to share details from the call.
Tari revenue supports many USDA programs. The law permits the administration to
transfer money allocated for other programs to WIC.
Without the additional money, state and local governments would have had to step in to pay for their WIC programs and later seek reimbursement from the federal government when funding was restored. Washington state, which is dealing with a massive budget shortfall, said it could not a ord to use state money for the WIC program.
In Alaska, the WIC program only had enough federal money to operate through Saturday, meaning the state would have had to step in with its own funding to keep the program running. But this week, ocials learned they were receiving nearly $900,000, enough to fully fund the program through Nov. 8, according to Shirley Sakaye, a spokesperson with the state’s health department. About half a million of that came from leftover funds from other programs, she said.
The government has been shut down since Oct. 1, after Republicans and Democrats in Congress failed to pass a bill to continue funding the government. Congressional Democrats want to re-
“What she means here to the store and the employees, you really can’t imagine the outpouring that the employees and also the customers give her daily.”
Wayne Schneider, Lowe’s store supervisor
had a bit of a mice problem. So, of course, I’m like, wow. I like this cat a lot because it’s helping me.”
Lowe’s doesn’t have an o cial policy about cats in stores. Asked why Francine wasn’t taken to someone’s residence after showing up, Sida said she is loved by employees and the community.
“Francine picked us. We didn’t pick her,” Sida said. “Later, we would embrace her being our store cat. But at the end of the day, she came to us. Where she’s at is where she wants to be. She does whatever she wants.”
Unlike Lowe’s employees, Francine does not wear a vest. She had been previously out tted with several collars but escaped them all. Now they intend to t her with a harness that includes identifying information. A local brewery hosted a “Francine Fest” community event last Wednesday to celebrate the homecoming, while the store is planning its own team party.
verse cuts to Medicaid that were passed earlier this year as part of President Donald Trump’s mega-bill. They also want to extend subsidies that cut the cost of A ordable Care Act insurance plans, which cover more than 24 million Americans.
The White House and Republicans in Congress have hammered Democrats for the shutdown, highlighting the potential damage it could do to WIC.
“The Democrats are so cruel in their continual votes to shut down the government that they forced the WIC program for the most vulnerable women and children to run out this week,” Leavitt posted on X.
But House Republicans and the White House have also sought to cut the program. Trump’s budget proposal and a budget bill passed by House Republicans last month would not have fully funded the program, meaning it would have to turn away eligible applicants.
“Since President Trump is now signaling he cares about the WIC program, he shouldnally get to the negotiating table to reopen the government,” said Sen. Patty Murray, a Democrat from Washington state. “And he should immediately disavow his budget request to signi cantly cut bene ts for millions of moms and kids — and tell House Republicans to back o their proposed cuts as well.”
ROGELIO V. SOLIS / AP PHOTO Grocery bags with food from the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children, WIC, sit in a shopping cart before
vehicle in
The cat, who lives at a Lowe’s store, snuck into a distribution truck
KEVIN RIDLEY / LOWE’S VIA AP
Employees welcome back Francine last Tuesday.
MOORE COUNTY
Head or tails?
WHAT’S HAPPENING
Pa. man pleads guilty in arson attack while Shapiro’s family slept in governor’s mansion Harrisburg, Pa.
A man who scaled a security fence in the middle of the night and set re to the Pennsylvania governor’s mansion has pleaded guilty to attempted murder and other charges. Cody Balmer entered the plea Tuesday for the April attack that caused millions of dollars in damage to the state-owned building in Harrisburg. Gov. Josh Shapiro and members of his family were inside and had to be evacuated. No one was injured, but authorities say the 38-year-old Balmer told them he planned to beat the governor with a small sledgehammer if he encountered him. Balmer’s family has said he has a history of mental health problems.
SpaceX launches
11th test ight of mega Starship rocket with another win
SpaceX has launched another of its mammoth Starship rockets on a test ight. The 403-foot Starship thundered into the evening sky Monday from Texas. The booster peeled away and made a controlled entry into the Gulf of Mexico as planned, with the spacecraft skimming space before descending into the Indian Ocean. It’s similar to the previous test ight in August, which scored a success following a string of explosive failures. SpaceX’s Elon Musk intends to use Starship to send people to Mars. NASA cannot land astronauts on the moon by decade’s end without Starship.
Commissioners deny potential expansion of major subdivision allowances
The proposed UDO amendments would have a ected the Seven Lakes and Woodlake gated communities
By Ryan Henkel North State Journal
CARTHAGE — The Moore County Board of Commissioners is opting to preserve some of its established communities.
At its Oct. 7 meeting, the board held a public hearing for text amendments to chapter six and nine of the UDO, which would allow major subdivisions in Planned Development Conditional Zoning (PD-CZ) districts and with a special use permit in Gated Community Seven Lakes (GC-SL) and Gated Community Woodlake (GC-WL) zoning districts.
“Major subdivisions are currently not allowed in a PDCZ,” said Planning Director Ruth Pedersen. “Allowing them would provide greater exibility and options for unique and efcient uses of land within these districts.” Currently, there is only one
PD-CZ in Moore County and any new requests would need to go through the legislative conditional rezoning process before approval.
In addition, major subdivisions are also not permitted in the GC-SL, GC-WL districts despite these districts already containing major subdivisions.
“There are vacant parcels in these zoning districts that could potentially be eligible for subdivisions, however, it is not currently permitted,” Pedersen said. “Any proposed subdivisions would be reviewed by the subdivision review board and Board of Commissioners through the special-use permit process, which would be a quasi-judicial hearing.”
According to Pedersen, the new land use plan currently supports the amendments as it promotes new developments that utilize existing or planned infrastructure and policies that encourage development of mixed land to provide easy access, reduce travel time and improve convenience among uses surrounding the county’s established towns and villages.
However, following the hear-
“We do need to recognize that the majority rules in this environment.”
Chairman Kurt Cook
ing, the board voted against the amendments due to the volume of public opposition to the item from members of the Seven Lakes and Woodlake communities.
“We do need to recognize that the majority rules in this environment,” said Chairman Kurt Cook. “To keep Moore County the way it is going right now. To keep it rural with a little bit of urban in it.”
The board also approved the purchase of three apparatus purchases including a new command vehicle (2026 Chevrolet 2500 4x4 truck) for the Robbins Fire Department, a refurbished 1999 mobile air/medium rescue vehicle for Seven Lakes Fire and Rescue and a Toyne 1,750 GPM, 1,000-gallon engine for West End Fire and Rescue at a total cost to the county of approximately $770,000.
“Everybody probably gets sticker shock when they see these prices,” said Commissioner Jim von Canon. “Unfortunately, we’re such a small part of the market, that they don’t make things special just for the re department. It’s very expensive, but what they provide at the end of the day — keeping our insurance down low and risking their lives to help their neighbors and friends — is much appreciated.”
The board also approved an approximately $125,000 contract with Ramsay Burgin Smith Architects for the architectural and engineering services for Station X Fire and EMS Station and a $415,000 contract amendment with S&ME for modi cations to the engineering, consulting, annual monitoring services and the addition of a site suitability study to expand and extend the life of the C&D Land ll. Finally, the board will hold a public hearing on Oct. 21 to consider adoption of the new 2025 Moore County Land Use Plan.
The Moore County Board of Commissioners will next meet Oct. 21
Person administrator named top superintendent
Moore County’s Tim Locklair was a nalist
By A.P. Dillon North State Journal
RALEIGH — Person County Schools Superintendent Rodney Peterson was named the Burroughs Wellcome Fund A. Craig Phillips North Carolina Superintendent of the Year for 2026 at an awards ceremony at the Grandover Resort in Greensboro last Thursday. The award ceremony was organized by the North Carolina Association of School Administrators (NCASA) and NCASA’s core a liate, the North Carolina School Superintendents’ Association (NCSSA).
“I can think of 114 other people that need to be here other than me.”
Rodney
Peterson, Person County Schools superintendent
NCSSA President and Superintendent of Caldwell County Schools Don Phipps brought the nominees to the stage, introducing and playing a short video of each one. Following the conclusion of the nominee videos and other remarks, Peterson was named the winner.
“Lord have mercy,” Peterson said after receiving the award.
DAVID SINCLAIR FOR NORTH STATE JOURNAL
The Pinecrest Patriots celebrated homecoming Friday with a 38-29 win at home against the Overhills Jaguars despite losing the coin toss. The Pinecrest captains are, from left, Gri n Smith (obscured), Chris Najm, Tanner Corwin and Cole Harrison. Turn to page B1 for more sports. THE MOORE COUNTY EDITION OF NORTH
COURTESY PERSON COUNTY SCHOOLS Person County Schools Superintendent Rodney Peterson, center, was named the 2026 North Carolina Superintendent of the Year last week.
“Join the conversation”
THURSDAY
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
Oct. 6
David Andrew Jones, 50, was arrested by Aberdeen PD for possession of stolen motor vehicle and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Oct. 7
• Luciano Cazares-Baltazar, 35, was arrested by Aberdeen PD for possession of methamphetamine, carrying concealed gun and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Desmond Tyrone Cheatham, 38, was arrested by Fox re Village PD for possession with intent to sell or deliver cocaine and methamphetamine, maintaining vehicle/ dwelling/place for controlled substance, and 12 motor vehicle charges including eeing or eluding arrest, reckless driving and failure to heed light or siren.
Oct. 9
• Crystal Lynn Jordan, 40, was arrested by MCSO for possession of methamphetamine, felony possession of cocaine and possession of drug paraphernalia.
• Billy Farrell Kiser, 57, was arrested by MCSO for second degree trespass and possession of controlled substance in prison or jail premises.
Oct. 10
• Ashley Kay Garner, 32, was arrested by MCSO for impeding tra c by standing, sitting or lying.
Sports resume at military schools after shutdown
The Defense secretary ordered student extracurricular activities to resume
By Bruce Schreiner The Associated Press
EXTRACURRICULAR activities have resumed at schools for military families after a pause tied to the federal government shutdown halted sports and other school-related pursuits for several days.
For students at places like Fort Campbell and Fort Knox high schools, it means touchdowns, soccer goals and volleyball digs are back, as their schools were untangled from shutdown politics.
“Allowing the sports to continue is just a small thing to some people, but to the students, coaches and parents, it’s huge,” Antonia Kruse, whose son, Levi, plays wide receiver and cornerback on the Fort Campbell High football team, said last Tuesday.
“They already have so many unknowns in their lives with being military dependents. They can have some sort of stability with their sports and activities.”
The schools have stayed open for normal instructional activities during the government shutdown. But the congressional stalemate left other school-related pursuits, even practices, in limbo. Fort Knox is in central Kentucky, while Fort Campbell strad-
FINALIST from page A1
“I can think of 114 other people that need to be here other than me.”
Peterson challenged others to keep their focus on the students and gave thanks for being selected as the winner, which includes a $5,000 award.
Before the award was given out, attendees watched a video message from Gov. Josh Stein, who thanked the superintendents, telling them that they “set the tone” to make sure all students get a high-quality education.
State Superintendent Mo Green also gave remarks, expressing his gratitude to the organizers of the award ceremony for “honoring leaders in education” and telling education leaders that “we appreciate you.”
“Our servicemembers and their children shouldn’t pay the price for Washington’s failure to
Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.)
dles the Kentucky-Tennessee border. The shutdown disrupted extracurriculars at other military post schools, including teams at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina.
Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) welcomed the reprieve for military families.
“Our servicemembers and their children shouldn’t pay the price for Washington’s failure to fund the government,” McConnell said in a statement last Tuesday evening. “I’m so grateful they’ll now be able to suit up and get back in the game.”
The Republican senator successfully intervened in the matter. He wrote to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth last week, asking that athletics and extracurriculars at the schools be designated as activities allowed to proceed despite the shutdown. Within days, his request was granted.
The Department of Defense Education Activity, known as DoDEA, manages prekindergarten through 12th grade educational programs for the Department of Defense. Do -
Peterson, from Region 3 –Central, was one of eight regional superintendent nalists:
• Otis Smallwood, Bertie County Public Schools (Region 1 – Northeast)
• Matthew Cheeseman, Beaufort County Schools (Region 2 – Southeast)
• Tim Locklair, Moore County Schools (Region 4 – Sandhills)
• Brad Rice, Stokes County Schools (Region 5 – Piedmont-Triad)
• Andrew Houlihan, Union County Public Schools (Region 6 – Southwest)
• Eisa Cox, Ashe County Schools (Region 7 – Northwest)
• Kathy Amos, Yancey County Schools (Region 8 – Western)
The 2025 recipient of the award was Freddie Williamson, superintendent of
DEA said in a statement that it received instructions from Hegseth that all student extracurriculars, including athletics and after-school clubs, be considered “excepted activities during the current lapse in appropriations.”
At Fort Campbell High, that means the girls’ volleyball team’s banner season won’t be derailed. The team is on its way to the school’s rst winning campaign in 15 years in the sport. Without having practiced for a week, the team picked right back up by winning its rst match last Tuesday since resuming play, said parent Sarah Moore. The squad’s senior night game was called o last week due to the government shutdown.
“They have worked so hard to improve and be competitive this year, they couldn’t wait to get back on the court,” said Moore, whose daughter, Ava, plays on the team.
“We are thankful for the people who stood up for our kids and took action,” she added.
The disruption impacted much more than sports.
It applied to such activities as the Lejeune High School Marine Corps Junior Reserve O cer Training Corps program, which has been recognized for its superior performance. The program’s cadets have participated in community service projects, leadership training exercises and competitive events, the school said.
Robeson County Public Schools. Peterson will compete for the 2026 National Superintendent of the Year Award, to be given at the American Association of School Administrators’ National Conference on Education in Nashville, Tennessee, on Feb. 12-14. Two North Carolina superintendents have gone on to win the AASA National Superintendent of the Year award: Mark A. Edwards of Mooresville Graded School District (2013) and William R. McNeal Jr. of Wake County School District (2004) Marvin Connelly Jr., superintendent of the Cumberland County Schools, won the AASA’s state-level award in 2024. The 2026 award ceremony is available on the North Carolina Association of School Administrators’ YouTube channel.
Here’s a quick look at what’s coming up in and around Moore County:
Oct. 18
47th Annual Holly Arts & Crafts Festival
10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
More than 200 artisans and crafters display handmade goods including woodwork, glass art, jewelry and metal sculpture throughout downtown Pinehurst. Downtown boutiques and restaurants o er specials and sales. Food court and family area at Tufts Memorial Park. Free shuttle service provided from over ow parking.
Intersection of Cherokee and Chinquapin roads Pinehurst
Oct. 18
SUSTO in Concert
8 p.m.
Charleston-based indie folk-rock band SUSTO performs at the historic downtown theater. The band blends Americana, folk and rock in uences in their original music. Tickets available through venue. Sunrise Theater 250 NW Broad St. Southern Pines
Oct.
19
Great Trails State Day Pottery Pinecone Hunt
All day
The CVB partners with Seagrove potter Crystal King to hide 30 handmade pottery pinecones along select Moore County trails. This special event celebrates North Carolina’s Great Trails State Day and o ers a unique treasure hunt experience. Check the CVB’s Facebook page for clues. Various Moore County trails throughout Moore County
Oct. 26
Village of Pinehurst Oktoberfest
4-9 p.m.
The annual celebration begins with Kinderfest from 4-6 p.m., featuring children’s activities, crafts, bubble artist and trick-or-treating at participating downtown businesses. Traditional Oktoberfest activities follow from 6-9 p.m. with German music by the OOPS Polka Band, food and beverages. Picnic baskets allowed but no outside alcoholic beverages. Tufts Memorial Park 1 Village Green Road W. Pinehurst
football team at the high school on Camp Lejeune Marine Base had to reschedule its football game ahead of the government shutdown.
THE CONVERSATION
Trip Ho end, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor
How Trump’s FTC can keep drug prices down for working Americans
A settlement will immediately bene t consumers.
HOW DO LEADING RETAILERS like Amazon and Walmart deliver low prices to their customers? The companies buy so much from their suppliers that they can demand discounts. That dynamic applies in the health care industry as well, as companies called pharmacy bene t managers (PBMs) negotiate with pharmaceutical companies to keep prices down. But it’s up to the Trump administration to keep it that way.
On Sept. 29, the Federal Trade Commission came one step closer to nally making a decision on the Biden FTC’s case against PBMs. A settlement will immediately bene t consumers while reinforcing the valuable role PBMs play in negotiating with pharmaceutical companies to drive down drug prices.
PBMs negotiate drug prices on behalf of employers, insurers and patients. Managing more than 90% of U.S. prescriptions (per the FTC) gives them leverage they need to demand discounts and rebates from Big Pharma.
The backdrop to the FTC case, which was led shortly before last year’s presidential election, is the 1,200% rise in insulin prices from 1999-2017. The Biden FTC claimed that “even when lower list price insulins became available that could have been more a ordable for vulnerable patients, the PBMs systemically excluded them in favor of high list price … insulin products”— because the more expensive drugs are, the bigger the rebates they receive.
When I rst took over as chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Health Subcommittee, I was a bit skeptical of PBMs because of all the negative ads I saw about them (which I later found out were sponsored by the pharmaceutical companies). However, when I dug into the data, I quickly noticed that the truth was far di erent from what some of the industry’s biggest players want us to believe.
The employers who hire PBMs love them. They are best thought of as akin to a bulk buyer at a market, using scale to drive better deals. If they weren’t buying in bulk, they would not have the leverage that’s needed with the
pharma giants, which would drive prices even higher.
I’m sure, like in any industry, there are some bad actors, or at least some actors who have engaged in some brow-raising activities. Those entities should not escape punishment. That said, the overall net value of PBMs speaks for itself.
Even the FTC’s complaint admits PBMs pass on 90% to 98% of rebate dollars directly to their clients, as The Wall Street Editorial Board pointed out. Which raises the question: Did the Biden FTC even believe the arguments made in its own suit?
After all, Biden FTC Chair Lina Khan was not shy in intimidating that she was unconcerned about bringing weak cases to court. She believed that pursuing cases that wouldn’t stand legal scrutiny was important as a means of convincing the legislature to expand the law to her progressive liking.
Rather than taking the PBM case to federal court, the FTC led it in its own administrative court — meaning the agency felt compelled to act as both prosecutor and judge. If the commission wasn’t con dent that an independent judiciary would give the ruling it desired, that’s not a very encouraging sign.
All of this underscores the value of settling the PBM case, which is possible with Trump appointees now in charge at the FTC.
Taking this case o the FTC’s books and instead reaching a settlement with bad actors would protect consumers while preserving employers’ ability to hold the pharmaceutical company’s feet to the re.
Put another way, the FTC can punish any genuine misconduct while still keeping the buyers’ club that holds Big Pharma intact. If Amazon or Walmart saw a deal that delivered lower prices for millions of Americans, they’d take it. Washington should too.
Joseph R. Pitts served as a member of the U.S. House from Pennsylvania. He chaired the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Health. This column was rst published by The Daily Signal.
Arsonist burns down climate hoax
It’s been obvious for at least 150 years that climate change has nothing to do with the January wild res.
THE ARREST THIS WEEK of a suspect for starting the re that led to last January’s deadly Palisades wild re in Los Angeles came as no real surprise. Arson was hinted at as early as February. People had previously been arrested for arson or arson has been suspected in connection with recent wild res in New Jersey, New York, California, Hawaii, Canada, Greece and other places. So when the Department of Justice announced during its press conference this week that evidence of arson developed early in the investigation, it came as no shock.
But the rst and last instinct of climate hoaxers is always to blame climate change. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) blamed climate change in an X post that garnered 18.5 million views on Jan 8.
The New York Times, “PBS News Hour,” Los Angeles Times, The Associated Press and Axios soon joined the bandwagon. Leftover Biden sta ers in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the activist-researchers at World Weather Attribution, whose occupation is to blame bad weather on climate change, chimed in weeks later.
Most recently, the National Academy of Sciences used the Los Angeles wild res as part of its pretext for attacking the Trump
EPA e ort to rescind the endangerment nding for greenhouse gases.
But it’s been obvious for at least 150 years that climate change has nothing to do with the January wild res. On Oct. 30, 1875, the Anaheim Gazette even warned readers of the exact same risky conditions that existed in January 2025: “The terrible con agration that occurred in Virginia City yesterday, with all its horror of a useless re department, because of a meager water supply, is what will happen some of these days to Anaheim.”
The paper continued: “Suppose a re should break out in some of our many re nests, which are too abundant now, or among closely packed wooden buildings at the inopportune time when a heavy sea breeze was blowing, or when our dreaded Santa Ana wind came upon us … what could be done?”
And that eerie warning from the past — from the failed re hydrants to the burn-ready buildings to the Santa Ana winds — is exactly what happened to Los Angeles in 2025 once the arsonist struck. No global warming needed. Nor is any warming even occurring in the area.
Los Angeles is actually cooler now than it was in the late 1950s per U.S. government data. Although it was unusually dry in Los Angeles County
during September to December 2024, the precipitation trend during that same period has actually increased slightly since 1895, also per U.S. government data.
Blaming the Los Angeles wild res on global warming was always a lie and not a harmless one. The stock price of Edison International, the parent company of electric utility South California Edison, took a massive hit from which it has still not recovered, despite the stock market being at record highs and electricity demand exploding.
I don’t know whether the suspect arrested for setting the Palisades re will be found guilty. But I do know that “climate change” is not. Ahead of the Democratic primary for the 2020 election, Sanders said he wanted to criminally investigate fossil fuel executives for lying about climate change. This would be a good time for him to look in the mirror.
Steve Milloy is a biostatistician and lawyer. This column was rst published by Daily Caller News Foundation.
COLUMN | STEVE MILLOY
COLUMN | JOSEPH R. PITTS
Losing family pet gives parents chance to teach children about death, grieving
Sadness, anger and other overwhelming emotions associated with grief may be more di cult for younger children
By Cheyanne Mumphrey The Associated Press
LOSING A PET is the rst time many children encounter death. The experience can become an opportunity for profound emotional learning and in uence how young people understand and process grief when they are adults, according to psychologists and pet bereavement specialists.
Parents and guardians therefore have important roles to play when a family pet dies. Along with helping children accept the painful permanence of death, caregivers can guide kids through a healthy and healing mourning process that provides a foundation for coping with an inevitable part of life.
“People are so adverse to talking about death and grief, but it is the one thing that is guaranteed: We are all going to die. We need to be open to talking about that,” said Deirdra Flavin, CEO of the National Alliance for Children’s Grief.
Here are some things to consider when talking with children about death and supporting them through pet loss.
Children respond to death in di erent ways
Depending on how old they are and their individual circumstances, children vary in their ability to comprehend the concept of death. The way they process grief, how long they mourn and the impact of the loss is also unique to each child, just as it is for adults. Experts say sadness, anger and other overwhelming emotions associated with grief may be more di cult for younger children to navigate, so having support is crucial.
Psychologists and bereavement counselors say some people feel the heartbreak from a pet’s death as intensely as the loss of any other loved one, reecting the potential depths of human-animal bonds. In the case of children, their relationship with a pet, and whether the death was sudden or not, are other factors that may shape individual responses.
Colleen Rolland, president of the Association for Pet Loss and Bereavement, says parents usually know how intellectually and emotionally capable their children are of processing death.
Children as young as 4 years old might have been exposed to death through fairy tales and other stories but may struggle to understand its nality, Rol-
land said. Older children, who will know their loss is forever, may need more emotional support from friends and family, she said.
Elizabeth Perez said she learned quickly how di erently her three children processed the death of their dog, Zoe, who was hit by a car nearly a year-and-a-half ago in front of their second daughter. The other two children were inside the family’s home in Pullman, Washington.
“Carmen would talk about how the images kept replaying in her head, she was having nightmares and couldn’t sleep,” Perez said, adding that her daughter hasn’t worn the dress she had on that day since.
Perez recalls she and her husband spending a lot of time
with Carmen, now 11, and asking her questions about her feelings. Even their youngest child, who did not see the car hit Zoe and had spent the least amount of time with the dog, still tears up thinking about the April 2024 accident.
“It was really hard for the whole family. Everybody was feeling it di erently and at different times,” Perez said. “We, as parents, did not feel prepared.”
Using clear language and avoiding euphemisms
Experts say it’s important to be honest and use clear language when discussing death with children. Adults often are inclined to protect children with euphemisms, such
as a pet went to sleep, got lost or was put down.
“That can be alarming for children and cause a lot of confusion and fear. So, saying ‘The fish went to sleep’ might create concerns for the child when they are going to sleep,” Flavin said. “Particularly with younger kids because they are so literal in terms of the way that things are expressed to them.”
When Leah Motz’s daughter was 2 years old, she told her their 15-year-old dog, Izzy, had a “good life but his body is broken and it won’t be able to x itself.” Motz recalled that before taking him to be euthanized near their home in Renton, Washington, she further explained they were going to “help Izzy die.”
Support children through deep feelings
Sometimes adults have a hard time recognizing the impact that losing a pet instead of a person might have on children. Rolland says child grief tends to be trivialized in general, and that people who are very devoted to their pets can produce as much stigma as sympathy.
“But pet loss is a very real form of grief,” she said.
Raquel Halfond, a licensed clinical psychologist with the American Psychological Association, says children’s behavior often indicates how they are feeling even if they are not expressing it verbally.
“Maybe you notice your child is having more tantrums. Suddenly there’s stu that they used to love doing, they no longer want to do. Maybe they start to refuse to go to school. It’s really normal to have these for a while,” Halfond said.
Other signs to look for include uncharacteristic sadness, tears, anger and even silence, she said. A child’s emotional response is often independent of their willingness to talk about death, but she said it might be time to seek professional help if their emotions or behavior affect their ability to function.
It’s OK for adults to grieve with children
Much like they do in other situations or developmental stages, children often learn how to handle grief by watching their caregivers. The way adults respond to loss is likely to set an example for their children.
“Parents, or caregivers, must be con dent in how they deal with pet loss,” Rolland said, adding that parents who are unfamiliar with grief or display unhealthy behaviors might teach children to act in the same manner.
Two of Meaghan Marr’s dogs died in Euharlee, Georgia, when her two children were young. The rst to go, Sadie, had ongoing health issues, so Marr was able to have continuous conversations and prepare her then-7-year-old son and 4-year-old daughter.
“My son de nitely understood what was going on. While my daughter was sad, it didn’t quite reach her as deeply,” Marr said. She said it seemed like a lot of the children’s’ emotions were in response to her own grieving for a pet she refers to as her “soulmate dog.”
Halfond advises parents not to hide their feelings from their children.
“If you’re feeling sad, it’s OK for the child to see you feeling sad. In fact, it could be confusing if something sad happened and they don’t see that emotion re ected in their parents,” she said.
Leave room for closure and lifelong memories
One way to help children come to terms with the death of a pet is by memorializing the lives of the late companions through activities such as raising money for animals in need, drawing pictures, holding funerals or doing the things their pets loved to do.
Before their dog Sadie died, Marr said many of the conversations with her kids centered around how dogs don’t live forever and would one day go to heaven. The di cult part for her was explaining that was true of every pet.
“We talked about if they still wanted animals even though they are not going to last as long as we do,” she said. “It hurts to lose them, but they make your life so much better while they are here.”
PHOTOS BY BRYNN ANDERSON / ASSOCIATED PRESS
Top, Meaghan and Chris Marr pose with their children and dogs for a photograph last month in Cartersville, Georgia. Bottom, Meaghan Marr holds the ashes her previous dog, Jewels, last month.
MOORE SPORTS
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL ROUNDUP
Union Pines, Pinecrest extend winning streaks
North State Journal sta
North Moore
The Mustangs had a week o to dwell on their two-game losing streak. North Moore stands at 3-4, 0-1 in the Four Rivers 3A/4A conference. They have the week o before hosting Northwood.
Week 9: Northwood at North Moore (Friday at 7 p.m.)
Northwood (2-5) hopes to carry the momentum from Friday’s win into a meeting at North Moore (3-4).
North Moore is coming o a bye which followed two straight losses to Thomasville and Jordan-Matthews. The Mustangs, who last beat the Chargers in 2023, failed to score more than 13 points in their last two games.
Northwood’s shorthanded offense found ways to still be effective against Jordan-Matthews thanks to a solid o ensive line performance, unpredictable formations and strong runs from quarterback Grayson Cox and receiver Raje Torres.
Replicating that newfound success will be huge against a solid North Moore defensive line. The Chargers could also use another dominant performance from its own defensive line with multiple tackles for loss and plays stopped in the back eld.
Union Pines
The Vikings won their fth straight, 45-13 at Southern Lee. Tyler Thomas led the way with 149 yards and four touchdowns. Ian Hicks threw for 111 yards and a score. The defense had four sacks and a fumble recovery.
Union Pines is 6-1, 4-0 in the
Carolina Pines 6A conference. This week, the Vikings will host Triton.
Pinecrest
The Patriots won their sixth straight, 38-29 against Overhills on homecoming. Chris Najm ran for 281 yards and four touchdowns.
Pinecrest is now 6-1, 2-0 in conference. This week, the
Patriots travel to Pine Forest. Moore County Week 9 High School Schedule:
Friday Oct. 17, 7 p.m., Northwood Chargers (2-5, 1-1) at North Moore Mustangs (3-4, 0-1)
Friday Oct. 17, 7 p.m., Triton Hawks (3-4, 2-2) at Union Pines Vikings (5-1, 3-0)
Friday Oct. 17, 7:30 p.m., Pinecrest Patriots (6-1, 2-0) at Pine Forest Trojans (1-6, 0-2)
ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Union Pines, volleyball
Madeline Adair is a junior outside hitter on the Union Pines volleyball team.
The Vikings closed the regular season on a four-game winning streak, cruising to a Carolina Pines 6A conference title. They then opened the conference tournament with a straight-set win. Their record stands at 20-2.
Adair led the way in a win over Western Harnett to close the regular season, getting 18 kills, eight digs, two aces and 15 receptions. For the season, she ranks 15th in the NCHSAA in hitting percentage and is second in the Carolina Pines in hitting percentage and kills.
What’s in Burns’ backpack? Maybe the secret to Avalanche defenseman playing in 1,500 NHL games
The former Hurricane is seeking a Stanley Cup to go with his milestones
By Pat Graham The Associated Press
DENVER — Brent Burns carries a lot of weight on his shoulders these days.
Not pressure-related or anything, just from his heavy, military-style backpack that’s crammed with all the necessities to keep the 40-year-old Colorado defenseman humming along.
The precise contents remain a mystery, but whatever’s stu ed inside sure is working. Burns, who’s embarking on his 22nd NHL season and rst in Colorado, played in his 1,500th NHL game Saturday. Delving deeper, he hasn’t missed a contest since 2013, running his streak to 927 straight, which is the league’s fourth-longest “Iron Man” streak of all time.
Burns is chasing his rst Stanley Cup title late in his hockey tenure. The Avalanche would love nothing more than to make that title happen, too.
“He came here for a reason,” fellow defenseman Cale Makar said of Burns. “We’ll get there at some point, but right now we’ve got to focus on the day-to-day.”
Milestone alert
On Saturday, Burns skated in game No. 1,500, becoming the league’s eighth defenseman to reach the milestone.
If Burns were to suit up in every game this season, he could move up to No. 2 on the all-time consecutive games played list with 1,007. At that point, he would trail only Phil Kessel’s streak of 1,064.
For this sort of healthy run in a hard-hitting sport, some credit goes to the contents of Burns’
“I love the personality that he brings to our team. He’s hungry to win.”
Colorado coach Jared Bednar
backpack. It’s the stu of legend around the locker room.
“Don’t even try to pick it up,” captain Gabriel Landeskog warned. “You’ll blow your back out.”
The backpack supposedly contains everything from stretching bands to assorted recovery gear to his own co ee setup.
“It’s a secret,” he said with a laugh, adding the backpack has been part of his routine since his San Jose days. “De nitely too heavy, and it keeps getting heavier and heavier.”
Age just a number
Avalanche forward Gavin Brindley was still a year away from even being born when Burns made his NHL debut on Oct. 8, 2003, with Minnesota after being a rst-round pick by the Wild.
“That’s wild, just wild,” Brindley said of Burns’ longevity. “It’s so impressive what he does on the ice.” Burns has quickly emerged as another leader for the Avalanche, joining Landeskog as a respected voice. He assists by keeping things loose.
“I’m a little bit more of a goof — I screw drills up all the time,” Burns said. “I’m just a little different.
“Obviously, we’re not all around the same age, so it’s kind of fun to hear what they’re doing. It keeps me feeling better and energized — just to talk to other
guys and mess around and make them feel good.”
Added coach Jared Bednar: “I love the personality that he brings to our team. He’s hungry to win.”
Burns got to the Stanley Cup nal in 2016 with the Sharks, where they lost in six games to Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins. Burns has played in 135 career playo contests.
“We’re so happy to have him here,” Landeskog said. “He wanted to be here. He wanted to be
a part of this group, and I think that says a lot about where we’re at as a team.”
Over the summer, Burns signed a one-year deal with the Avalanche, his fourth NHL team. He joined a squad that’s a Stanley Cup favorite.
One thing that Burns quickly realized was that it’s lled with players who get to the rink early.
“I feel like I’m going to be one of the rst cars in the parking lot, and it’s packed,” Burns said. “I’m like, ‘Holy crap.’” As an older player — “I know
you’re not saying old player,” he playfully interjected — there are extra things he does to stay ready.
“But I’d be here until tomorrow, trying to tell you all the new things,” Burns cracked.
More than anything, he stays young at heart.
“Just a big kid in a big man’s body,” goaltender Scott Wedgewood said. “Just down to earth, fun to be around. Just has a little bit of a joking side, a high-energy side. He loves the game, cares about it and he’s chasing that ultimate goal.”
DAVID SINCLAIR FOR NORTH STATE JOURNAL Pinecrest’s Joshua Mandell kicks o the Patriots’ homecoming game. He was then named homecoming king at halftime, with homecoming queen Amoni Goin.
DAVID ZALUBOWSKI / AP PHOTO
Colorado Avalanche defenseman Brent Burns pursues the puck against the Utah Mammoth.
SIDELINE REPORT
NCAA FOOTBALL
Penn State res
coach Franklin amid midseason free fall in lost season
State College, Pa.
James Franklin is out at Penn State. The school red the longtime head coach less than 24 hours after a 22-21 home loss to Northwestern. Terry Smith will serve as interim head coach for the rest of the season. The Nittany Lions began the year with hopes of winning the national title, but those hopes evaporated by early October amid a string of losses. Penn State, which reached the CFP semi nal 10 months ago, lost at home to Oregon in overtime in late September. A road loss at UCLA followed.
WNBA
Wilson scores 31, Aces win 3rd WNBA title in 4 seasons
Phoenix
A’ja Wilson scored 31 points, Chelsea Gray and Jackie Young both added 18 and the Las Vegas Aces beat the Phoenix Mercury 97-86 in Game 4 of the WNBA Finals, sweeping their way to a third championship in four seasons. Vegas scored 54 points in the rst half and averaged more than 90 points per game in the series.
NCAA BASKETBALL
Sister Jean, Loyola Chicago’s beloved chaplain, dead at 106
Chicago Sister Jean Dolores Schmidt, the beloved chaplain for Loyola Chicago’s men’s basketball team, has died at 106. She became an international celebrity during the team’s 2018 Final Four run, and there was even a bobblehead of her likeness. Health issues led her to step down in August, but she remained an adviser. Loyola President Mark C. Reed praised her as a source of wisdom and grace for more than 60 years.
PGA
Woods has seventh back surgery to have disk replaced
Tiger Woods is recovering from a seventh back surgery. Woods says he was experiencing some pain and lack of mobility. He says scans revealed a collapsed disk in his lower back and with some disk fragments. He decided to have his disk replaced in New York during last Friday surgery. It’s his second surgery on his back in the last 13 months and seventh overall dating to April 2014. Woods also had surgery in March for a ruptured left Achilles tendon. He hasn’t played since the PNC Championship with his son Charlie last December.
NFL Browns owners, Cleveland reach $100M settlement for new stadium
Cleveland Mayor Justin M. Bibb and the ownership group of the Cleveland Browns have reached a $100 million settlement that will clear the way for the franchise to build its new suburban stadium while preparing the site of the current lakefront stadium for future development by the city of Cleveland. The proposed $2.4-billion domed stadium would be built in Brook Park, about 15 miles south of downtown Cleveland.
ACC’s 1st Atlantic-to-Paci c travel o ers tweaks, lessons for Year 2
Stanford and Cal will make logistical changes to make the schedule more bearable
By Aaron Beard The Associated Press
CHARLOTTE — Ask California women’s coach Charmin Smith about her team’s rst run of cross-country travel for Atlantic Coast Conference games last year, and she’ll shrug o the question about the challenges of doing it.
“We’re in the ACC, we’re happy to be in the ACC,” she said during preseason media days. “And we get on a plane and we go.”
Still, the league’s expansion to stretch from the Paci c to the Atlantic coastlines last year led to lots of ight hours, airborne study halls and sleep-altering routines as men’s and women’s teams criss-crossed the country. The losses piled up at a much higher rate than other road games too. And the challenges were particularly acute for teams like California and Stanford
as the ACC’s western outposts, forced to cross all four continential U.S. time zones multiple times in the same season.
“It’s just something we can’t change,” Stanford men’s coach Kyle Smith said with a chuckle. “We can’t move the school closer.”
Losses accumulate
The league revamped its scheduling model with the arrivals of Cal and Stanford, along with SMU, to have teams making the lengthy trip play twice on the same outing. That typically meant men’s teams would cross the country to play a Wednesday-Saturday set, while the women followed a Thursday-Sunday model.
It’s been a tough ask.
ACC women’s teams crossing between the Eastern and Paci c U.S. time zones went just 7-23 — a 23.3% win percentage, far lower than that of all other league road games (67-65, .508).
It was worse on the men’s side, with teams going just 6-26 (18.8%) in road games when crossing all four U.S. continental time zones com-
pared to 61-87 (41.2%) in all other league road games. Neither Cal nor Stanford won both games on a single men’s or women’s trip east, while only the UNC women and Wake Forest men managed to sweep the Bears and Cardinal on the same trip.
Changing logistics
Charmin Smith tinkered with her plans last year, following player feedback by leaving earlier the day before the game so the team could practice after ying out rather than before leaving campus. Stanford women’s coach Kate Paye is altering her schedule to go out the day before a game instead of two days earlier, saying she thought the long stints away from home had a “cumulative e ect.”
“It was brand new,” Paye said. “You make the best choices you can. But again, experience is the best teacher.”
Both the men’s and women’s Cardinal programs will also use a bigger charter plane this year to avoid having to stop to refuel, with Kyle Smith noting: “Getting
home nonstop is important.”
“Our guys never really complained about it,” he said, adding: “I just sell them on, ‘Look, we get to do it, you play in the ACC, you’re going to Stanford and you’re getting paid. And it’s pretty awesome.’”
Heading west
For the Eastern-footprint teams, that challenge comes only every other year. Yet it’s still something that teams are thinking about, some more than others.
Louisville women’s coach Je Walz’s team plays at Stanford on Jan. 29, followed by at Cal on Feb. 1. He joked simply that he’s ruled out taking a bus, adding: “We were trying to see how many national parks we could stop at on the way.”
Louisville sophomore guard Tajianna Roberts is looking forward to the trip, at least. Her hometown is San Diego, and she’ll be able to play in front of family.
“It’s going to be an adjustment for sure,” Roberts said. “But I think if we eat right, sleep right, we’ll be OK.”
Hamlin’s controversial move: Did he make right call in Cup Series playo s?
His late pass of Ross Chastain allowed Joey Logano to advance
By Jenna Fryer The Associated Press
LAS VEGAS — The rst thing Denny Hamlin said when he climbed from his car after advancing into the third round of the Cup Series playo s was he wish he’d known not to pass Ross Chastain on the nal lap. In racing Chastain for that position, it knocked Chastain out of the playo s and gave the nal spot in the round of eight to Joey Logano, the reigning Cup Series champion and winner of two of the last three titles.
In fact, Logano and Team Penske teammate Ryan Blaney have combined to win the last three consecutive championships, so Hamlin was ercely criticized for not taking Logano out of contention.
There’s controversy surrounding the Hamlin and Chastain incident two Sundays ago in part because a year ago Logano was initially eliminated from the playo s at Charlotte. He learned later that night he was back in the eld when Bowman’s car failed inspection, then Logano won Las Vegas a week later to lock up a spot in the championship-deciding nale.
“Denny would have to ask
himself, ‘What’s going to give me the best chance to win the championship?’ if that’s your No. 1 goal. If that’s your main goal to do that, ‘What gives me the best chances to win the whole thing?’” Logano wondered. “Is one competitor tougher than the other? I don’t know. I don’t know if you want to race against either one of us. Ross has proven to do whatever it takes to get to the next round or to win. He’s done that multiple times. Do you want to race against him? I don’t know.
“Do you want to race against us? I don’t think so either. You’re probably in a no -win situation, so you might as well just pass him and go and get a better spot.”
The entire situation is also being scrutinized by NASCAR, which said this week it would be carefully monitoring potentials of race manipulation over the nal month of the season. NASCAR managing director of communications Mike Forde said on the series’ “Hauler Talk” podcast that series o cials would have acted if it had heard Joe Gibbs Racing telling Hamlin not to pass Chastain.
“If we heard that radio transmission say, ‘Hey, (Chastain) needs this point to advance to the next round over (Logano)’ or something of that ilk, and all of a sudden, (Hamlin) let o the gas, that would probably raise a
red ag on our side,” Forde said. Hamlin believes that isn’t right.
“I don’t see any reason why I can’t know what the point situation is,” Hamlin said. “I had no allegiance to either party, and so at that point, my question would be: ‘Do I have a right to choose my competitor?’
“I think the some of the sensitivity around this is obviously probably gambling focused because I know that NASCAR is very, very sensitive, as they should be, with that to make sure everyone’s getting a fair shake,” Hamlin continued.
The entire eld of eight had the same question for NASCAR.
“It’s a slippery slope either way because where is the line? Is just telling somebody where you are in points and what’s going on around you, is that too far?” Logano said. “Saying straight-up what to do is probably too far. We can kind of understand that, but just saying what the point situation is, I don’t think that’s too far.
“I think just feeding someone data it still leaves it in the driver’s hands to do what they please with it. It’s just giving information. That’s all you’re doing.”
“But on the race track, I feel as though, as long as you’re you don’t have a bias to one party or another. ... I don’t know why you can’t make the best decision for yourself. I’m more wondering, what is going to be allowed?”
MATT KELLEY / AP PHOTO
STEPHEN LAM / SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE VIA AP
Denny Hamlin, left, and Ross Chastain, right, jockey for position behind Brad Keselowski heading into Turn 3 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Nova Wooten
Oct. 6, 2025
A celebration of Life for Baby Nova Wooten will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, October 14, at The Kenneth M. Purcell Memorial Chapel. Interment will follow in the Goodwin Cemetery, Ho man. Services are entrusted to Purcell Funeral Home & Cremation Services.
Charles Gene Lewis
May 18, 1934 – Oct. 2, 2025
Charles Gene Lewis, 91, of Southern Pines and formerly of Red Springs, passed away on October 2, 2025, at Terra Bella in Southern Pines.
Born on May 18, 1934, in Red Springs, NC, to the late Knox and Margaret Lewis.
Charles married his high school sweetheart, Gale Simpson, in 1954. They made their home on the Simpson family farm in Shannon, NC, and raised three children. Charles served as president of his high school class, attended NC State, and along with Gale built a successful insurance business. Along the way, he earned his title as “Mr. Civic” in Red Springs, NC, serving on the town council, school board, as a deacon at First Baptist Church, and leading e orts to hold an Appreciation Parade following the 1984 Tornado, which devastated Red Springs. Charles lived to serve his fellow man.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two children, Lori Lewis Schipper and Eric Simpson Lewis and one sister, Helen Lewis Ne .
He is survived by his loving wife, Gale Simpson Lewis; one son, Charles Edward Lewis (Janet); brother, William Lewis (Dorothy); also survived by ve grandchildren, seven great grandchildren, nieces, nephews and other family and friends.
A visitation will be held on Saturday, October 11, 2025, from 1:30 to 2 p.m. at Brownson Memorial Presbyterian Church in Southern Pines, with a service following at 2 p.m. A graveside service will be held on Tuesday, October 14, 2025, at 2 p.m. at Alloway Cemetery in Red Springs.
In lieu of owers, the family requests donations be made to Brownson Memorial Presbyterian Church.
Services are entrusted to Boles Funeral Home of Southern Pines.
James Collins “Jim” Chandler Jr.
Jan. 19, 1941 – Oct. 6, 2025
James Collins “Jim” Chandler Jr., age 84, passed away peacefully on Monday, October 6, 2025, at Moore Regional Hospital. Jim, son of the late James Collins and Ila Alice Stout Chandler, was a native of Wadesboro and called Mt. Gilead his home. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Delores Chandler, and three special cousins, Chuck, Bill, and Walter Norris. A proud member of the United States Naval Reserves, Jim served his country with honor before beginning a long and ful lling career in the travel industry. A world traveler, he had the opportunity to escort groups around the globe—from Australia to France to China and countless destinations in between.
Jim was a dedicated member of the Lions Club, serving in various leadership roles both locally and throughout the district, most recently as a member of the Wadesboro Lions Club. In addition to his career in travel, Jim loved life on the farm. He had a deep connection with the land and took pride in his work as a member of the Soil and Water Conservation and Cattleman’s Association. Above all, Jim was a devoted father and grandfather who adored his family.
Known for his generosity, commitment, and willingness to help others, Jim freely shared his time and talents with everyone around him. As a Lion, he volunteered his time taking the visually impaired shing each year at the Outer Banks, distributing hundreds of turkeys to folks in need during the holidays, and selling thousands of brooms.
Jim is survived by his wife of 19 years, Lois Chandler of Rockingham; mother to his children, Jeannette Chandler; two daughters, Resa Chandler (Amy Stringer) of Lake Toxaway and Alice Dixon (Kevin) of Granite Falls; two sons, Jamie Chandler, III of Hickory and John Chandler (Kim) of Hickory; cousins, John, Eddie, Tom, and Sally Norris; beloved grandchildren, Chayse Chandler, Chandler and Piper Dixon, Ryan Marshall, Adam Chandler, and Kerri Murray; and seven amazing greatgrandchildren.
Rosary services will be held at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 205 South Rutherford Street, Wadesboro, NC 28170, at 1 p.m. on Saturday, October 18, 2025. Funeral mass will follow at 2 p.m.
A reception with refreshments will follow the mass at the church.
As a life-long Lion, Jim would be proud if, in lieu of owers, donations were made to either Lions Clubs International Foundation (lionsclubs.org/en/ donate) or the North Carolina Lions Foundation (NCLF.org).
Issac Lester
Williams Jr.
April 26, 1947 – Oct. 3, 2025
Issac Lester Williams Jr, age 78, of Pineblu , NC, passed away at Pinehurst Healthcare & Rehabilitation Center on October 3, 2025. Lester was born in Montgomery County, NC, on April 26, 1947, to Issac Lester Williams and Eva Safrona Maxine Muse.
Peanut, as he was known to everyone, served his country in the Air Force during Vietnam. He was an electrician at Proctor Silex for many years, enjoyed his gardens, plants, and family. He played football for the Aberdeen Red Devils in high school and will be remembered as a family man, who could x just about anything he touched, and a teller of tall tales and a fantastic joker.
Peanut is survived by his wife, Joan Williams, daughter Tracy (Timothy) He ner, granddaughter BriarRose Marie He ner, sister Cathy (Zane) Shell, niece Jessica “JJ” (Kevin), and Ethan & Elaina Lea Toy. He was preceded in death by his mother and father, along with his niece Allison Woodcock.
Services are entrusted to Boles Funeral Home of Southern Pines.
William “Sean” VanBoskerck
Jan. 14, 1968 – Oct. 7, 2025
William “Sean” VanBoskerck, 57, passed away suddenly of natural causes at his home in Aberdeen on Tuesday, October 7, 2025.
Sean was born in Jacksonville, North Carolina, to Herbert and Patricia Buchanan Van Boskerck.
Whether driving a truck or on his motorcycle, he loved being on the road. He was a loving father, brother, and friend to those who knew him. He enjoyed helping others and loved animals, especially his dog, Duke.
Sean is preceded in death by his father, Herbert “Bill” Van Boskerck. He is survived by his mother, Patricia VanBoskerck; his two children, Hayley and Zackery VanBoskerck; his brother, Rodney (Kathy) VanBoskeck; and his ex-wife of 40 years, Jennifer VanBoskerck.
A memorial service will be held on Friday, October 17, 2025, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Powell Funeral Home in Aberdeen, NC.
Anthony “Tony” Lennon
Oct. 5, 1940 – Oct. 5, 2025
Anthony Lennon (Tony) of Southern Pines passed away peacefully on Sunday, October 5, 2025 (his 85th birthday) at Terra Bella Memory Care after a long illness with Parkinsons Disease.
Tony was born in Flushing, NY in 1940 to the late Joseph & Vera Lennon. After high school, Tony enlisted in the U. S. Navy in 1958 and spent four years on ight crew as a ELINT intercept o cer.
Following the Navy, Tony spent his career working for the U.S. Government (28 years), retiring from the Central Intelligence Agency in early 1991 as a SIS-3 (Senior Intelligence Service). Tony received the Intelligence Medal of Merit for especially meritorious service that contributed signi cantly to the CIA Mission. Between his Navy service and government career, Tony travelled extensively in Europe, the Middle East, Central and South America, Africa and Asia & Australia; a total of 28 countries. Following retirement from government service, he started Choices Home Improvements, an incorporated private business in Northern Virginia. The business was closed in 1998 when he & his wife, Alane, relocated to Southern Pines with her job.
After moving to North Carolina, Tony volunteered with Habitat for Humanity & the animal rescue community in Moore County. In 2009, Tony began working with Military Missions in Action (MMIA), a 501(c) (3) non-pro t organization serving veterans with disabilities, members of the Armed Forces and their families. In 2013, when MMIA established an o ce in Southern Pines, Tony was named MMIA’s Southern Region Program Director. In 2021, health issues forced Tony to leave his position with MMIA. Besides volunteering, Tony enjoyed ying, playing golf and spending time with his family and friends, especially the “EAGLES” (his grammar school classmates) and his beloved dogs.
Tony leaves behind his wife of 41 years, Alane Gaeta Lennon of Southern Pines, NC, nieces, Kelli Dodds of Mesa, Az, and Crosby Gaeta of N.Y.C., NY, nephews Christopher Lennon (Mimi), Sean Lennon of Malibu, CA and Walker Gaeta of Washington, DC. He also leaves behind a great nephew, Cameron (Margita) Geller of Irvine, CA, and three great nieces, Talyor Dodds & Brienna Dodds of Mesa, AZ, and Sienna del Gado of Arleta, CA. There will be a private service at a later date. Donations in his memory can be made to Moore Humane Society, moorehumane. org, Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, bestfriends.org, or a veteran’s organization of your choice.
Dale Cruickshank
Feb. 4, 1944 – Oct. 5, 2025
Dale Cruickshank, 81, of Pinehurst, NC, passed away peacefully on Sunday, October 5, 2025, at FirstHealth Hospice House in Pinehurst.
Dale was born February 4, 1944, in Cleveland, OH,to the late Ralph and Helen Sabo Cruickshank.
Dale graduated from Ohio State University. He was very active in his church in Berea, OH. Locally, he was a faithful member of Trinity Christian Fellowship in Pinehurst. There, he served as an usher and was very active in the Men’s Fellowship. He was an avid golfer.
Dale is survived by his wife of 21 years, Marquerite Cruickshank; son, Brian Cruickshank (wife, Poorina), daughter, Ami Cruickshank; step-sons, Dale and Dennis Thornburg (wife, Michelle); four grandchildren, Deven, Anya, Matthew and Ellie; and his brother Ralph Cruickshank. A memorial service will be held at Trinity Christian Fellowship, 425 Magnolia Rd, Pinehurst, NC 28374 at 11 a.m. on Saturday, October 25, 2025. In lieu of owers, memorial contributions should be directed to FirstHealth Hospice & Palliative Care, 150 Applecross Road, Pinehurst, NC 28374, or Trinity Christian Fellowship, 425 Magnolia Road, Pinehurst, NC 28374. Services entrusted to Boles Funeral Home of Pinehurst.
Timothy Pierce
June 29, 1984 – Oct. 4, 2025
Timothy Pierce, 41, of Laurinburg, departed this life on October 4, 2025. A funeral service will be held at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, October 11, 2025, at The Kenneth M. Purcell Chapel. Interment will follow in the Hillside Memorial Park. A viewing and visitation will be held from 1 until 5 p.m. Friday, October 10, 2025, at Purcell Funeral Home. Services are entrusted to Purcell Funeral Home & Cremation Services.
STATE & NATION
Missing Va. store cat found after hitching a ride
The cat, who lives at a Lowe’s store, snuck into a distribution truck
By Julie Walker and John Raby The Associated Press
FRANCINE THE calico cat is back home at a Lowe’s store in Virginia after going missing for a few weeks, hitching a ride on a truck that turned up at a sister facility in another state.
Two employees from a Lowe’s in Richmond made the 90-minute drive early last Monday to pick up Francine, who disappeared in September and recently was discovered at the company’s distribution center in Garysburg, North Carolina.
She was back on the job a day later, playing with customers, posing for photos and soaking in a ection.
“Francine is one of us,” store supervisor Wayne Schneider said in a telephone interview.
“She’s just amazing. What she means here to the store and the employees, you really can’t imagine the outpouring that the employees and also the customers give her daily.”
Francine spends much of her time either at the customer service desk or in the store’s seasonal area. But things went awry in September as the store brought in items for the upcoming Christmas season. Store general manager Mike Sida said that disruption may have prompted Francine to seek comfort elsewhere.
After store employees hadn’t seen Francine for a few days,
WIC
they reviewed past surveillance video. There were glimpses of her in the appliance section and then the receiving department, where she darted into a truck.
An overnight manager is then seen shutting the truck’s door, and o it went to Garysburg, about 85 miles to the south.
“And then, of course, when she got down to the distribution center, she shot o the truck,” Sida said. “That’s when we found out where she was and she was missing.”
An animal control o ce set up humane traps at the distribution center, where photos of Francine were posted throughout. The
center had dozens of monitoring cameras, and Lowe’s brought in thermal drones to survey the area. An Instagram account una liated with Lowe’s dedicated to nding Francine grew to more than 34,000 followers.
On Saturday, Francine was spotted on camera near the distribution center. After more humane traps were installed, a volunteer checked each trap throughout the night. Finally, one of the traps triggered, and Francine’s meows could be heard. Schneider and Sida got in a car early last Monday and drove to get Francine.
“That ride going down, knowing that we were going to get her, was just heartwarming. Knowing she’s safe and that she’s coming back to the store to get o her two-week vacation,” Schneider said.
Francine was a stray when she started living at the Lowe’s store more than eight years ago. Cats are common sightings around feed stores and garden centers, which contain large amounts of grain and seed that can be attractive to mice and rats. In New York City, cats are beloved xtures of the city’s bodegas and delis. At the Lowe’s store, Francine “just showed up,” Sida said. “We
food program receives $300M to keep running during government shutdown
Unspent tari revenue was reallocated to fund it
By Moriah Balingit
The Associated Press
WASHINGTON, D.C. — A food aid program that supports millions of low-income mothers and their young children received a $300 million infusion from the Trump administration this week, alleviating some anxiety that it would run out of money during the government shutdown.
The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children helps more than 6 million low-income mothers, young children and expectant parents to purchase nutritious staples like fruits and vegetables, low-fat milk and infant formula. The program, known as WIC, was at risk of running out of money this month because of the government shutdown, which occurred right before it was slated to receive its annual appropriation.
This week, White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt posted on X the White House
being loaded into a vehicle in Jackson, Mississippi, in October 2013.
had found “a creative solution” to use tari revenues to keep the program a oat. By last Thursday, at least some states were receiving WIC money. Alaska and Washington said they received enough federal funds to keep their programs running until at least the end of October.
The Inter-Tribal Council of Nevada, which had closed its o ce last week after running out of money, received money that allowed it to reopen Friday, radio station KUNR reported.
O cials from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which runs WIC, told congressional sta ers they were using $300 million in unspent tari revenue from the last scal year to keep the program a oat, two people briefed on the call told AP. The people declined to be named because they were not authorized to share details from the call.
Tari revenue supports many USDA programs. The law permits the administration to
transfer money allocated for other programs to WIC.
Without the additional money, state and local governments would have had to step in to pay for their WIC programs and later seek reimbursement from the federal government when funding was restored. Washington state, which is dealing with a massive budget shortfall, said it could not a ord to use state money for the WIC program.
In Alaska, the WIC program only had enough federal money to operate through Saturday, meaning the state would have had to step in with its own funding to keep the program running. But this week, ocials learned they were receiving nearly $900,000, enough to fully fund the program through Nov. 8, according to Shirley Sakaye, a spokesperson with the state’s health department. About half a million of that came from leftover funds from other programs, she said.
The government has been shut down since Oct. 1, after Republicans and Democrats in Congress failed to pass a bill to continue funding the government. Congressional Democrats want to re-
“What she means here to the store and the employees, you really can’t imagine the outpouring that the employees and also the customers give her daily.”
Wayne Schneider, Lowe’s store supervisor
had a bit of a mice problem. So, of course, I’m like, wow. I like this cat a lot because it’s helping me.”
Lowe’s doesn’t have an ocial policy about cats in stores. Asked why Francine wasn’t taken to someone’s residence after showing up, Sida said she is loved by employees and the community.
“Francine picked us. We didn’t pick her,” Sida said. “Later, we would embrace her being our store cat. But at the end of the day, she came to us. Where she’s at is where she wants to be. She does whatever she wants.”
Unlike Lowe’s employees, Francine does not wear a vest. She had been previously out tted with several collars but escaped them all. Now they intend to t her with a harness that includes identifying information. A local brewery hosted a “Francine Fest” community event last Wednesday to celebrate the homecoming, while the store is planning its own team party.
verse cuts to Medicaid that were passed earlier this year as part of President Donald Trump’s mega-bill. They also want to extend subsidies that cut the cost of A ordable Care Act insurance plans, which cover more than 24 million Americans.
The White House and Republicans in Congress have hammered Democrats for the shutdown, highlighting the potential damage it could do to WIC.
“The Democrats are so cruel in their continual votes to shut down the government that they forced the WIC program for the most vulnerable women and children to run out this week,” Leavitt posted on X.
But House Republicans and the White House have also sought to cut the program. Trump’s budget proposal and a budget bill passed by House Republicans last month would not have fully funded the program, meaning it would have to turn away eligible applicants.
“Since President Trump is now signaling he cares about the WIC program, he shouldnally get to the negotiating table to reopen the government,” said Sen. Patty Murray, a Democrat from Washington state. “And he should immediately disavow his budget request to signi cantly cut bene ts for millions of moms and kids — and tell House Republicans to back o their proposed cuts as well.”
ROGELIO V. SOLIS / AP PHOTO
Grocery bags with food from the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children, WIC, sit in a shopping cart before
