North State Journal Vol. 10, Issue 44

VOLUME 10 ISSUE 44 | THURSDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2025

NSJONLINE.COM

KAREN TAM / AP PHOTO

Four-term North Carolina Gov. Jim Hunt, pictured in 1996, died last Thursday at 88.

the

Jim Hunt, 4-term NC governor, dead at 88

BRIEF this week

Trump hosts rally in Rocky Mount

The Democrat held the state’s top office in four straight decades

Rocky Mount President Donald Trump, looking to boost approval for his agenda that has been weighed down by cost-ofliving concerns and the Jeffrey Epstein scandal, held a rally in Rocky Mount last Friday. In his speech, Trump railed against his predecessor, blaming former President Joe Biden and Democrats for the ongoing economic distress Americans may be feeling that helped propel Trump’s return to the White House last year.

Trump boasted of generating billions of dollars of revenue through tariffs and pressing pharmaceutical giants to slash the prices of some medicines, claiming his administration is winning the battle against inflation and has the economy steered in the right direction.

NCGA tackles public safety, hurricane relief, immigration

Turning Point USA’s Kirk backs Vance for president in 2028

RALEIGH — As 2025 wraps up, the General Assembly has yet to agree on and pass a budget, but the legisla-

Phoenix Erika Kirk, widow of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk and the organization’s new leader, endorsed a potential presidential bid by Vice President JD Vance on the opening night of the conservative youth group’s annual conference. Kirk’s statement last week is the most explicit backing of Vance’s possible candidacy by a woman who has been positioned as a steward to her late husband’s legacy. Charlie Kirk had become a power broker and bridge builder within the conservative movement before he was assassinated in September. After the assassination, Vance and his wife joined Erika Kirk in Utah to fly her husband’s remains home to Arizona aboard Air Force Two.

$2.00

By Gary D. Robertson The Associated Press

2025 YEAR IN REVIEW

Congressional redistricting passed, but a budget impasse drags on

By A.P. Dillon North State Journal

ture passed laws this session in the areas of public safety, hurricane relief, immigration and redistricting, as well as changes impacting powers of state agencies such as the state auditor.

The year kicked off with Rep. Destin Hall (R-Granite Falls) being sworn in as the new speaker of the House. Hall See NCGA, page A8

RALEIGH — Four-term North Carolina Democratic Gov. Jim Hunt, a towering figure in state politics in the late 20th century who helped leaders from both major parties strive for public education reform, died last Thursday at the age of 88, his daughter Lt. Gov. Rachel Hunt announced.

Hunt, whose career provided a prototype for the modern “education governor,” served an unprecedented 16 years as governor as the state received the rewards and stings of shifting from textiles and tobacco to a high-tech economy.

Rachel Hunt’s office said that her father died peacefully Thursday at his Wilson County home.

“He devoted his life to serving the people of North Carolina, guided by a belief that

2025 YEAR IN REVIEW

School choice on rise in NC 6.1% Growth in the number of charter school students in North Carolina from 2023-24 to 2024-25

Charter schools and homeschooling have joined private schools as readily available alternatives

By A.P. Dillon North State Journal RALEIGH — School choice in North Carolina continued to thrive in 2025 through the Opportunity Scholarship program, homeschooling and support from the Trump administration.

The 15th annual National School Choice Week kicked things off, taking place from Jan. 26 to Feb. 1 with more than 27,600 events nationwide across 37 states. Twenty such events took place in

North Carolina. Also in January, President Donald Trump issued an executive order on “Expanding Educational Freedom and Opportunities for Families.”

The number of homeschools and homeschooled students in the state rose again this year.

The number of homeschools for 2024-25 rose 5.54% over 2023-24, while the number of students grew 4.82% from 2023-24 to 2024-25. Homeschooling data for 2024-25 shows there were 101,880 homeschools and 165,243 students in North Carolina. For the previous year, there were 96,529 homeschools and 157,642 students.

At the start of the school year, there were 211 charters, See SCHOOL, page A2

public service should expand opportunity, strengthen communities, and always put people first,” Rachel Hunt said in a news release that also referenced “my beloved daddy and hero.”

Considered a business-oriented progressive, Hunt was a giant in state government and influential in the national education reform movement of the late 20th and early 21st centuries. He was first elected governor in 1976 and, after a constitutional change, became the first North Carolina governor elected to successive fouryear terms.

Following an epic U.S. Senate campaign loss to Republican icon Jesse Helms in 1984, Hunt’s political career resumed eight years later with a third term at the Executive Mansion, followed by reelection in 1996.

Hunt remained active in Democratic politics after leaving office in 2001, particularly as he watched protégés such as See HUNT, page A3

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North State Journal for Thursday, December 25, 2025

THURSDAY

12.25.25 #521

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the word | Today with me Few words ever spoken by Christ have carried greater comfort to a dying sinner than these: “Verily I say unto thee, today shalt thou be with me in paradise.” They were spoken from the cross, in the hour of deepest suffering; yet in them shine the mercy, authority and nearness of the Savior. One word gathers into itself the comfort and glory of Christmas: today.

The prayer spoke of a coming kingdom.

Faith had looked forward to a distant day, when the King should appear in power and glory. But Christ answered, not by denying that hope, but by bringing mercy nearer still. “Today shalt thou be with Me in paradise.”

Here is the message of Christmas. The King for whom Advent waits does not remain afar off. He draws near. He enters our time, our sorrow, our need. He does not merely promise future blessedness; He bestows present grace. He is not only the King who will come; He is the Savior who comes now.

The birth of Christ declares that God has visited His people. Heaven has stooped to earth. Eternity has touched time. The same Lord who once lay in a manger speaks words of peace to burdened souls: Today. Not tomorrow, when life is amended. Not at some distant hour, when worthiness is achieved. Today, for the helpless, the guilty, the believing.

This word assures us that death is not the end, nor the grave a barrier to Christ’s care. The promise of paradise is the promise of life with Him. To be with Christ is heaven begun. Wherever He is, there is peace, rest, and safety. And this fellowship does not wait upon the last day alone. It begins the moment faith lays hold of Him. The promise also teaches us where our confidence must rest. The thief brought no merit, no service, no claim — only his need. He cast himself wholly upon the mercy of Christ, and Christ did not cast him out. Salvation was not earned; it was given. It was not delayed; it was immediate.

So it is still. Christmas proclaims a

PUBLIC DOMAIN

“The Adoration of the Shepherds” by Georges de La Tour (c. 1645) is a painting in the collection of the Louvre in Paris.

Savior who receives sinners as they are.

The weary, the broken, the fearful may come without reserve. To trust Him is enough. To be remembered by Him is life.

Yet the grace that remembers us also calls us to remembrance in return. Christ would not be forgotten by those whom He has redeemed. He bids us carry His name through all our days — remembering His love, His sacrifice, His promises, and His presence. He asks not for perfect service, but for faithful hearts.

Blessed are those whom Christ remembers. If He is with us, no loss can undo us, no darkness overwhelm us, no death separate us from His care. His

remembrance is stronger than our frailty, and His presence is our peace.

Christmas gives us more than a promise of glory to come. It gives us Christ Himself.

Today He comes near. Today He saves.

Today He gives paradise.

George Everard was a 19th-century Anglican minister and devotional writer who served as vicar of St. Mark’s in Regent’s Park, London, from 1868 to 1884. He wrote widely read devotional addresses during the Victorian era. His works are now in the public domain. This is an edited version of his original.

2025 YEAR IN REVIEW

Enrollment gains, possible tuition hikes mark year in higher education The UNC System added more than 250,000 students this year

By A.P. Dillon North State Journal RALEIGH — Highlights from the UNC System in 2025 included enrollment growth, a possible tuition hike and several schools garnering positive free speech rankings.

The UNC System saw record student enrollment gains this year, with preliminary student enrollment reported at 256,438 for 2025, a 3.4% increase over 2024. The 2025 total enrollment count is more than 31,500 higher than a decade ago and shows a continued rebound following the COVID-19 pandemic enrollment level drops in 2021 (244,500) and 2022 (239,663).

The UNC Chapel Hill Board of Trustees approved a 3% tuition rate hike for in-state undergraduate students and 10% increase for out-of-state undergraduate students. The 3% increase translates to an added $211 for in-state students, and the 10% hike means an additional $4,320 for out-of-state undergraduates. The UNC System Board of Governors will still need to approve any increase and

SCHOOL from page A1 but the number dropped slightly after the closure of two schools at the start of the year. This was the first dip in number of schools since the cap on the number of charter schools was lifted in 2011 by the General Assembly.

Charter school enrollment did not follow the same pattern, instead increasing by 8,845 to 153,480 students, a 6.1% bump over 2023-24. Demand for charters also persisted, with 77% of public charter schools citing a waitlist. Statewide, the waitlist total was around 74,287, though some may be duplicates with

is expected to take up the issue in early 2026.

The UNC System has kept tuition rates frozen for the past eight years. The idea of a possible 3% hike had been floated by UNC Board of Governors Chair Wendy Murphy during that body’s September meeting. Murphy cited inflation as driving a potential tuition hike.

A push for more attention to civics, particularly for K-12 students, is the focus of the UNC Chapel Hill’s School of Civic Life and Leadership’s launch of a “Summer Civics Institutes for Educators and High School Students.” The civics institutes will begin next summer and are funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Education.

The North Carolina Community Colleges System (NCCCS) kicked off 2025 with five new board members: Lt. Gov. Rachel Hunt, state Treasurer Brad Briner, state Labor Commissioner Luke Farley, entrepreneur Robert B. Moore Jr. and Autumn Queen, president of the North Carolina Comprehensive Community College Student Government Association.

Like the UNC System, NCCCS also saw enrollment increases this year. According to NCCCS data dashboards, there were 631,890 students enrolled

in 2024-25, an increase from 615,387 in 2023-24.

Another NCCCS highlight was a 10% increase in enrollment and a 24% increase in the number of credentials earned through the Career and College Promise (CPP) program in 2023-24. The CCP is a dual-enrollment program for high school students to enroll in college courses for credit.

NCCCS announced it will be searching for a new president to replace Jeff Cox, who in August announced he would retire in 2026.

students applying to multiple schools.

A new report by the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools showed North Carolina’s charter enrollment was the fourth fastest growing in the nation between the 201920 and the 2024-25 school years. During that period, the state’s enrollment rose by 26.4%.

State data shows the number of private schools and students attending them also increased this year. In 2023-24, there were 131,230 private school students, and in 2024-25, the number increased by 3.44% to 135,738. For schools, there

were 881 in 2023-24, which went up by 49 to 930, or 5.56%, in 2024-25.

The increase in private school attendance can be linked to the state’s Opportunity Scholarship program (OSP) enrollment, which surpassed 114,000 students this year. The OSP gives grants to all student applicants in the state to attend the private school of their choice and are awarded based on a sliding household income scale, with lower-income families receiving priority.

Parents for Educational Freedom in North Carolina (PEFNC), which has constantly backed the

Free speech in UNC schools Free speech on college campuses is still a major issue according to the 2025 Free Speech Rankings report issued by the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, which found 64% of schools surveyed receiving an “F” for free speech.

Of the 10 North Carolina colleges in the report, three made the top 10 for best free speech climate: UNC Greensboro (sixth), Appalachian State (eighth) and NC State (10th). The rest landed in the top 50: East Carolina (14th), UNC Chapel Hill (19th), UNC Charlotte (20th) and Duke (37th).

North Carolina A&T was ranked

President Donald Trump’s Department of Education issued a Dear Colleague letter to the states directing the elimination of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs from public schools by Feb. 28 or risk losing federal funding.

Related to DEI, the group Accuracy in Media published several undercover videos of UNC System employees claim-

ing to be evading the DEI ban.

The first video featured a now-former employee at UNC Charlotte, Assistant Director of Leadership and Community Engagement Janique Sanders. That video was followed by two more: one of UNC Asheville Dean of Students Megan Pugh and another of Karen Price, the director of assessments at Western Carolina University.

The U.S. Department of Education also issued warning letters to 60 higher education institutions about Title VI violations regarding antisemitic harassment and discrimination. UNC was among the schools named, and the warnings were aligned with a presidential executive order.

Duke was among 45 schools that were later issued a notice of an investigation over Title IV violations. In August, Duke University, Duke Law Journal and Duke University School of Medicine became subjects of investigations by two federal agencies over alleged racial discrimination violations of Title IV of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act. Later in the year, Western Carolina received notification that the department’s Civil Rights Office had opened a Title IX investigation into the school “amid allegations that WCU has openly refused to comply with Title IX and to ensure sex-separated intimate spaces in federally funded institutions of higher education.” As of early December, the case was still ongoing.

OSP, celebrated its 20th anniversary in June. U.S. Department of Education Secretary Linda McMahon headlined the gala. PEFNC also rolled out “EduBuilder,” billed as a “firstof-its-kind initiative” to help entrepreneurs expand school access and seat capacity into rural areas.

The U.S. Department of Education issued $53 million to the North Carolina Association for Public Charter Schools out of $500 million in charter school program grants announced by the agency in early October. The money will be put toward the group’s NC Growing Results-Oriented Wins with

Charter Schools Program over the next five years to support charter school expansion with a focus on career and technical education, STEM and AI charter models.

In July, Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill was signed into law on Independence Day, which included a nationwide school choice program through a federal tax credit for individuals contributing up to $1,700 annually to scholarship granting organizations. The North Carolina General Assembly ran a bill to immediately take advantage of the program, but it was vetoed by Gov. Josh Stein.

10%

Proposed tuition hike for UNC System out-of-state students 51st, followed by Davidson (78th) and Wake Forest (186th).

Thirty-four percent of students said using violence to stop someone from speaking on campus is acceptable, “at least in rare cases,” according to the report.

That’s an increase of 10 points from four years ago. The rate was higher for North Carolina students — 36% said using violence to stop someone from speaking on campus is acceptable.

Education Department, Title IX, Title VI

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North State Journal for Thursday, December 25, 2025

NCInnovation announces funding for more university research projects

2025 YEAR IN REVIEW

Thirteen projects were approved for a total of $10 million in funding

By A.P. Dillon North State Journal

COURTESY CHARLOTTE-MECKLENBURG SCHOOLS

State Superintendent Mo Green, pictured in October, released his five-year strategic plan eight months into his first term leading North Carolina’s public schools.

Year of change, tumult in public education North Carolina got a new superintendent and also had its share of issues

By A.P. Dillon North State Journal RALEIGH — In 2025, North Carolina’s K-12 education saw a new state superintendent, decreases in teacher attrition, small decreases in school crime and the naming of various educators of the year.

The year kicked off with a new state superintendent, Democrat Mo Green, who rolled out his five-year strategic plan in mid-August. The plan has eight pillars centered on student achievement and operational excellence, as well as a primary objective of increasing public K-12 schools’ share of student enrollment from the current rate of 84% to 89% by 2030. It also calls for the fouryear graduation rate to increase from 86.9% to 92% and bumping up ACT composite scores from 18.5 to 20.

Green’s plan also seeks to raise the state’s National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) scores — an item that needs attention given the 2024 NAEP scores in reading and math showed U.S. students were still losing ground following the COVID-19 pandemic.

The average national NAEP math score for eighth grade students remained unchanged from 2022, and reading scores fell 2 points in fourth and eighth grade. North Carolina was among 19 states scoring significantly higher than the rest of the nation for math scores that were “at or above proficient,” and reading scores were not statistically different from 2024.

State level testing saw some small gains, school growth remained largely unchanged, and the graduation rate rose to 87.7%, up 0.7% from 2023-24.

Despite small gains in various grade levels, this year’s testing report found grades 3-8 failed to meet target grade level proficiency goals in reading and math.

The State Board of Education produced a legislative agenda in January that included raising teacher and principal pay, additional pay for teachers who earn master’s degrees, the need for expanded professional development, stronger mental health support systems and a comprehensive mentoring program for teacher retention.

Crime, teacher attrition Crime and violent incidents decreased by 7.7% over the previous year, and 77% of schools reported five or fewer incidents, according to an annual report on the state’s public schools.

The top two reportable crimes

$446M Winston-Salem-Forsyth Public Schools System budget deficit

were possession of a controlled substance and possession of a firearm, followed by assault on school personnel. The year-toyear crime rate dropped less than 1% between 2022-23 and 2023-24, going from 15.10 to 14.19.

Teacher attrition decreased during the 2023-24 school year.

The attrition rate dropped to 9.88% in 2023-24, down from 11.5% in 2022-23. Beginning teachers (less than three years of experience) had an attrition rate of 12.92%, new teacher attrition (0-5 years) left at rates between 11.7% and 17.5%, and veteran educators (28 years or more) had departure rates between 18.5% and 26.8%.

Top educators of 2025 Pitt County Schools’ Rachel Candaso was named the 2025 Burroughs Wellcome Fund North Carolina Teacher of the Year in April. Orange High School Principal Jason Johnson was named the Wells Fargo 2025 Principal of the Year in May. Person County Schools Superintendent Rodney Peterson was named the Burroughs Wellcome Fund A. Craig Phillips North Carolina Superintendent of the Year for 2026 in October.

PowerSchool data breach The 2025 school year also featured a PowerSchool data breach. PowerSchool, the student information system formerly used by all 115 North Carolina school districts, said the breach included sensitive personally identifiable information of students and staff, and PowerSchool paid an undisclosed ransom to hackers, claiming to have verified that the stolen data was destroyed.

The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) worked with districts to enhance data protection.

However, in early May, “threat actors” emailed 20 districts in the state demanding ransoms for data stolen in the December 2024 breach. NCDPI advised districts to ignore and report the emails without engagement, as the state prepares to phase out PowerSchool for Infinite Campus. PowerSchool continues providing two years of free credit monitoring and identity theft protection, with enrollment deadlines under discussion for extension.

The FBI and state cybersecurity officials investigated the breach despite Power-

School’s prior assurance that the data was destroyed after their ransom payment, and in May, 19-year-old Matthew D. Lane from Worcester, Massachusetts, entered a guilty plea to four federal charges, including cybercrimes and aggravated identity theft.

Winston-Salem/Forsyth budget crisis A state audit of the Winston-Salem/Forsyth Public Schools System (WS/ FCS) found millions in fiscal mismanagement, which led to the district overspending and resulting in a $46 million budget deficit. One of the major issues the audit found was the district’s $75 million in COVID-era temporary federal funding used to support staff salaries and bonuses. When the funds ended, WS/FCS absorbed those costs instead of removing positions.

WS/FCS also owed around $11.3 million to NCDPI as of June 30. The district’s July request to waive any penalties was rejected by NCDPI. The State Board of Education met in September and approved extending a grace period on the $3.4 million WS/FCS still owed to NCDPI. The $3.4 million was reported by WS/ FCS as paid in full at a hearing in mid-November.

The district’s audits are not over, with the Local Government Commission — which oversees the fiscal health of local government units — unanimously approving in September an independent audit for the district. In early November, the State Board of Education unanimously approved a six-month internal controls review contract for WS/FCS using the accounting firm Mauldin & Jenkins, with a report due by Dec. 31 and public presentation by Feb. 15, 2026.

Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools officials grilled In mid-December, Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools’ Board Chair George Griffin and Superintendent Rodney Trice were grilled by House Oversight lawmakers for more than two hours over the district’s failure to uphold portions of the Parents’ Bill of Rights Law involving pronouns and gender identity lessons in K-4.

The hearing included examples of books legislators deemed inappropriately sexual for elementary students, accusations of Griffin perjuring himself, and Rep. Brenden Jones (R-Columbus), the committee’s co-chair, telling the two men that their picking and choosing which parts of the law they wanted to follow was a “coordinated middle finger to this legislature and to every parent in your district.”

RALEIGH — NCInnovation, the university research accelerator nonprofit, has announced the approval of $10 million in funding for 13 projects spanning 11 schools in the UNC System.

“NCInnovation’s December 2025 slate represents some of the strongest university-to-industry opportunities emerging anywhere in the country,” said Michelle Bolas, the group’s acting president and CEO, in a press release.

Bolas was named to her role in mid-November. She replaced CEO J. Bennet Waters, who stepped down Nov. 30.

According to the press release, the latest round of funding brings NCInnovation’s (NCI) “cumulative commitment” to $29 million.

“Our universities are solving real problems, such as, improving manufacturing reliability, advancing next-generation medical treatments, and strengthening cybersecurity education,” said Bolas. “The overall goal is to support innovations that keep value in North Carolina by contributing to economic development throughout the state.”

“These projects show how

applied research, when rigorously reviewed and matched with the right support, can meaningfully strengthen North Carolina’s competitiveness,” said Deanna Ballard, the chair of the Programs Committee and member of the NCI Board of Directors.

“I’m grateful to our external reviewers and staff for the diligence they bring to this work.”

The announcement comes as the state budget is still in limbo, with provisions in both the House and the Senate versions containing a clawback of the $500 million endowment given to NCI by the legislature in 2023.

Some projects listed include: • Advanced manufacturing and materials science (NC State, UNC Charlotte, WCU) • Therapeutics and medical innovation (UNC Greensboro, UNC Charlotte) • Cybersecurity and educational technologies (UNC Wilmington) • Defense and simulation technologies (Fayetteville State) • AI-enabled tools for health, mobility, and safety (UNC Chapel Hill, Appalachian State, NC Central) • Agriculture and environmental technologies (Winston-Salem State University, ECU) A full list of the projects and their descriptions can be found by visiting NCInnovation.org.

HUNT from page A1 former Gov. Roy Cooper and the late U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan achieve higher office. He campaigned for President Barack Obama in 2012 and Hillary Rodham Clinton and Cooper in 2016.

“I can think of no one who shaped North Carolina’s recent successes as much as Governor Jim Hunt,” current Democratic Gov. Josh Stein said Thursday. And Cooper called Hunt the “greatest Governor in North Carolina history.”

Even entering his 80s, Hunt urged Republicans in charge of the legislature to fund “big things” for public education, rather than pass more income tax cuts.

“I’m proud of what we’ve done together,” Hunt said in a May 2017 interview. “But I’m far from satisfied about where we are and determined to keep doing my little bit, I guess, to help us keep changing things and improving things in North Carolina. And I know you do it mainly through education.”

Hunt concentrated relentlessly on public schools, talking about the connection between education achievement and competing in the world economy. In the 1970s, while lieutenant governor, he worked with Republican Gov. Jim Holshouser to make North Carolina the first state with full-day kindergarten.

In the 1980s, he helped create the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards and pressed for standardized testing for public school students nationwide so that states could compare themselves.

Returning as governor in the 1990s, he championed the Smart Start early childhood initiative, viewed as a national model to prepare children for school, and higher teacher pay.

And after the end of his career in office, The Hunt Institute began training up and coming political stars nationwide about public education policy.

“If there is one person that is responsible for remaking and reforming education in the nation, particularly in the Southeast and starting

“I can think of no one who shaped North Carolina’s recent successes as much as Governor Jim Hunt.”

Gov. Josh Stein with North Carolina, it is Jim Hunt,” former Democratic Georgia Gov. Roy Barnes said in a 2009 interview. “We will feel the effect of Jim Hunt’s leadership for generations to come.”

James Baxter Hunt Jr. was born May 16, 1937, in Greensboro. He grew up on the family’s tobacco and dairy farm in Wilson County. After law school graduation, Hunt, his wife, Carolyn, and their young children lived in Nepal for two years while working for the Ford Foundation.

Hunt rose quickly in Democratic politics, serving as president of the state’s Young Democrats in 1968 and getting elected lieutenant governor four years later.

In a controversial move during his first term as governor, Hunt commuted the sentences of nine black men and one white woman convicted of the 1971 firebombing of a Wilmington grocery store during days of violence that included the shooting of a black teenager by police.

Key witnesses in the case had recanted their testimony. Full pardons for the “Wilmington 10” didn’t come until 2012.

His second four-year term closed with his political battle with Helms. Hunt lost as Helms’ campaign blistered him with ads portraying Hunt as a flip-flopper on the issues.

A defeated Hunt returned to practicing law but remained in public life. His comeback to state politics in the early 1990s helped delay a growing Republican tide in North Carolina politics.

Republican U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis, a former state House speaker in the 2010s, called Hunt on Thursday “one of the most consequential public servants in North Carolina’s history.”

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North State Journal for Thursday, December 25, 2025

THE CONVERSATION Trip Hoffend, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor VISUAL VOICES

EDITORIAL | FRANK HILL

What can be learned from church vestry elections

Are we going to take our church elections more seriously than our elections for president, Senate and Congress?

WE RECENTLY HAD elections for the vestry in our local church. After it was over, there were no protests and no lawsuits filed.

Everyone walked away with confidence that every vote had been cast in the proper manner and counted swiftly and correctly.

Here’s what impressed me the most about the recent vestry election: The rules of voting were very clearly stated before the election took place and repeated several times. There could not possibly be any doubt about what was expected of each voting member of the congregation.

All voting would take place on a single day. Only bonafide church members could vote during any of the three services during the day, but they had to vote on-site while on church property. Each vote was verified through immediate checks on the church membership roll. The votes were tallied quickly, and the nominees who won the most votes were notified within 24 hours.

Perhaps another layer of security that could have been added to the vestry election would have been putting your writing hand on the Bible and swearing to be the person whom you said you were and promising to cast your ballot as a full member of the church, “so help me God.” Such an act in our civic elections would be difficult to demand in our pluralistic society when so many people are of different faiths or have no faith at all.

However, there was no doubt when the

vestry elections concluded — the process of following the rules was not questioned by the voting members. It made me yearn for the days when our local, state and national elections could be conducted with the same degree and level of confidence and trust.

The basic maxim of “the simpler the better” is as true in vestry elections as in any other walk of life.

The vestry election is a good model to follow. Are we going to take our church elections more seriously than our elections for president, Senate, Congress, and every state and local office in the land?

There is pushback from some quarters on the left about single-day elections and total verification of a person’s citizenship to be able to cast a vote. To carry out a comparison of the vestry election to the absurd, would or should any congregation allow an atheist to cast a vote for a leader of a Bible-believing church dedicated to spreading the Gospel and bringing new people into the household of the Christian faith? To begin with, they don’t share the common stated goals of the church.

Should any person be able to just walk in off the streets to any church and cast a vote for leaders of the church without having joined the church or shown any interest or commitment to attend the services, classes or try to make friends within that particular church community?

It would be analogous to a person

walking into the Alabama football locker room and demanding the right to vote on who should be the captain of the team without being a part of the team from spring through fall practice. Coaches from Bear Bryant to Nick Saban would find such a request to be completely out of bounds, as would the current Alabama Crimson Tide players, who would no doubt politely escort the intruder out of the locker room.

Any election is serious and should be treated as such. The sanctity of voting for elected officers in any church is elevated by the religious commitment behind it.

However, at the very minimum, shouldn’t we treat our civic elections as seriously as any local vestry, elder or diaconate election? After all, there is a moral contract our founders made with us, the future generations. They put everything they had at extreme risk to establish a unique country based on liberty, equality, duty and responsibility while putting muchneeded checks on the innate proclivities of mankind to gain and abuse political power at the expense of others unable to defend themselves.

We should, at the very least, be able to ensure our elections are conducted in the most honorable and dependable way possible in the 21st century. Our local vestry elections proved it can be. That model should be followed for all civil elections to follow.

EDITORIAL | STACEY MATTHEWS

Christmas 2025 came and went so quickly Between her stuff and mine, it literally takes a full day to wrap.

AROUND THIS TIME of year, I like to write a column wishing everyone a Merry Christmas. But by the time you see this, Christmas will have come and gone, and we’ll be coasting to New Year’s Day. Christmas did come and go rather quickly in 2025, partly because of how Thanksgiving fell. There are some years (like 2023) where you have nearly a week between Thanksgiving and when December starts, which gives you a little time to mentally prepare. But this year, there were just three days before Dec. 1 hit.

I like to have our Christmas tree up and decorated no later than the middle of the following week so we can get full enjoyment of it for a good three weeks or so. But the struggle was real for me between offline and online responsibilities. Plus, I was still trying to get myself in the right mindset since December got here so fast after Thanksgiving.

So instead of getting the tree done in what I would consider a timely manner, I slowly got the tabletop, wall and outdoor decorations done, putting out the garden flags and front door wreath, making sure the net lights still worked, and jazzing up the fireplace mantle to make up for the fact that the tree was operating on a delay.

I eventually did get the tree up and

decorated, but it wasn’t until there were about 10 days left before Christmas. That might not be a big deal to some folks, especially those who like to wait to put their tree up closer to Christmas, but that was probably the latest I’ve ever done that.

This means I’ll leave the tree up for about a week or so after Christmas, instead of taking it down a day or two after, which is the normal routine. Everything else will get put away, but the tree will stay while we admire the lights a little while longer.

Getting Christmas cards together was uneventful, outside of the 30 or so addresses I needed to verify prior to mailing. Thankfully, social media DMing and texting make it pretty easy to get things like verifying mailing addresses a fairly painless and quick process.

Christmas holiday shopping was a wee bit on the dramatic side this year. For the last few years, I’ve taken to primarily doing most of my shopping online to avoid the crowds and for convenience’s sake. Being a caregiver, I don’t want to be away from Mom for too long.

Mom does her ordering online because her mobility challenges make getting out and getting into the stores a less-thanoptimal option this time of year.

Between us, we got our ordering done in

two days, and the good news was that most of it was projected to be delivered within three days of when we ordered.

But one box of gifts Mom had coming in from Amazon ended up getting delayed three days. By last Thursday, we were starting to get a little panicky, but thankfully, it was sorted out, with the box being delivered Friday, in time for us to do all of our wrapping over the weekend.

And that is what takes the longest time to do. Whew. Between her stuff and mine, it literally takes a full day to wrap. We start off feeling festive and ready to roll, but by midday, we’re grumbling about losing the scissors and not being able to find the right-sized bag.

Anyway, we soldiered through as people always do ahead of Christmas Day in eager anticipation of spending time with our family and eating a good meal.

Hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas. And now it’s time to do those year-end cleanouts and make those resolutions we know we won’t keep. Cheers!

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

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North State Journal for Thursday, December 25, 2025

COLUMN | WILLIAM J. WATKINS JR.

COLUMN

The Constitution and the drug boat strikes In a republican government, only the representatives of the people in the legislature should be able to send America’s sons and daughters into hostile situations.

SINCE SEPTEMBER, the U.S. military has conducted 22 strikes and killed 87 people in operations against Venezuelan drug-smuggling vessels. The Trump administration has labeled the drug traffickers as “foreign terrorist organizations” and justifies these attacks as measures of national self-defense. Just a few weeks ago, the USS Gerald R. Ford, the Navy’s most advanced aircraft carrier, arrived in the Caribbean Sea. The administration has promised that land attacks are next, and Venezuela has placed its military forces in a state of maximum alert. Warplanes from the carrier will likely be integral to expanded operations.

A critical question arises: Are the drug boat and possible land attacks legal?

The U.S. Constitution marked a dramatic departure from British and European practices related to war and foreign affairs. As constitutional scholar Louis Fisher has noted, in the 1780s “existing models of government in Europe placed the war power securely in the hands of the monarch.” The framers not only rejected monarchy but also structured power so that only Congress could commit the nation to armed conflict.

The Constitution delegates to Congress the power to declare war, commission privateers to prey on enemy shipping, enact rules concerning captures on land and water, raise armies, maintain a navy, create rules for the governing of the armed forces, and to call forth the militia. The verdict of the Framers is clear: In a republican government, only the representatives of the people in the legislature should be able to send America’s sons and daughters into hostile situations.

The president is commander-in-chief of the armed forces, but this designation exists merely to preserve civilian control over the military. It is not a magic word that negates the Constitution’s enumeration of congressional powers over war.

The framers recognized that the president should have the discretion to repel sudden attacks. The debates in the Philadelphia Convention reveal that originally, Congress was vested with the power to “make” rather than “declare” war. Virginia’s James Madison and Massachusetts’ Elbridge Gerry suggested that current language to ensure the executive could act if a surprise attack was launched by an enemy nation.

The White House claims that it is simply defending the United States from sudden incursions by foreign drug traffickers. But

illegal drugs have been smuggled into the country for decades. Perpetrators are subject to penalties in criminal law. Smuggling is a law enforcement issue and not a military issue. To the extent it creates such a problem that the military should have a role, Congress is in session and can make decisions about committing military resources.

There are rumblings in Congress about invoking the War Powers Resolution of 1973.

The resolution was passed in the wake of the Vietnam War to limit the president’s discretionary use of military forces. At base, if the president introduces troops into hostilities, he must withdraw them within 60 days unless Congress approves continued U.S. involvement. The president may extend the deadline by 30 days if he believes the additional time is needed for the safety of American forces.

On Dec. 3, U.S. Sens. Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Rand Paul (R-Ky.) and Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) and Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) filed a War Powers Resolution to block the use of the U.S. Armed Forces to engage in hostilities within or against Venezuela unless authorized by Congress. The recent killing of drug boat survivors by a second and unnecessary strike should cause lawmakers of all parties to consider the measure.

However, we must be careful in supporting invocation of the War Powers Resolution of 1973. Arguably, rather than confining the president’s power to constitutional limitations, the resolution recognizes the extraconstitutional authority of the president to unilaterally wage war for 90 days. In that length of time, the president can so embroil the United States in a conflict that Congress’ only option is recognition of a war instigated by the executive.

The drug boat strikes and presidential promises of land attacks should trouble Americans. Madison described war as “the true nurse of executive aggrandizement.” The administration’s aggression toward Venezuela — without congressional authorization — is the latest example of why we need to return to the Constitution’s conservative view of executive power.

William J. Watkins Jr. is a research fellow at the Independent Institute. He is the author of the forthcoming book “The Independent Guide to the Constitution: Original Intentions, Modern Inventions.”

COLUMN | BEN SHAPIRO

The dumbest assumption in all of politics At the level of moral outrage, that reaction is understandable. At the level of analysis, it is childlike.

ONE OF THE MOST persistent mistakes in modern politics is the insistence on flattening all ideologies — pretending that all human beings think the same way, want the same things and are motivated by the same forces. Every time policymakers fall into this trap, the result is not compassion or clarity but some of the worst public policy imaginable.

The assumption usually begins with a comforting but false premise: that all people harbor the same yearning for freedom in precisely the same way. That belief animated much of the George W. Bush administration’s foreign policy, when the president famously declared that America’s mission was to end tyranny on planet Earth. Noble as the sentiment sounded, it was never sustainable.

It presumed that every society shares America’s priorities, values and political instincts. History has shown otherwise.

The same flattening impulse appears whenever violence is discussed. Instead of examining the specific causes behind specific acts — who committed them, why they were committed and which ideas justified them — many commentators abstract everything into a vague moral generality. Violence is bad, they say. All people should know that violence is bad. And with that, the inquiry ends.

But ending the inquiry there ensures that real solutions never begin.

If policymakers and cultural leaders refuse to acknowledge that some ideas are worse than others, that some ideological frameworks are more prone to producing violence, they miss the central motivating factor in human behavior. The result is a blunderbuss approach to policy — one that treats unlike things as if they were identical, striking indiscriminately and often unjustly.

A recent example came from “The View.”

Commenting on a mass shooting at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia, that targeted Jews and was carried out by Islamists, cohost Sunny Hostin lamented what she described as a global spread of “sickness and hatred.”

She grouped that attack together with an unrelated shooting at Brown University, asking why such violence seems to be happening everywhere.

At the level of moral outrage, that reaction is understandable. At the level of analysis, it is childlike.

Different ideological groups commit different types of crimes. Some promote peace. Some commit virtually no crimes at all. Others explicitly endorse terror and mass violence. Radical Islamism falls squarely into that last category. To reduce an ideologically driven antisemitic attack to just another instance of generic “violence,” or to focus exclusively on the instrument used, is to erase the very facts that might help prevent the next attack.

The motive matters. The ideology matters.

In Sydney, the ideological motive was clear.

That clarity points directly toward possible policy responses: limiting the importation of radicalized individuals, monitoring extremist mosques, strengthening security and refusing to grant legitimacy to radical Islamist arguments. These measures target a specific problem rooted in a specific belief system.

None of that is possible if every incident is flattened into the same category and labeled simply “gun violence.” Abstraction becomes an excuse for inaction.

This divide — between those who see ideas as central drivers of human behavior and those who do not — often marks the core disagreement between the traditional right and the left. Classical conservative thought holds that human beings are shaped by the ideas they embrace and that human nature itself is deeply flawed. People are capable of greatness but also of cruelty and sin.

That understanding is woven into the American founding. In Federalist No. 51, James Madison famously observed that if men were angels, no government would be necessary. The entire constitutional system rests on the opposite assumption: that human beings are imperfect and must be governed accordingly.

Once that reality is accepted, policy can be shaped around it. Specific ideologies can be confronted. Dangerous ideas can be named and opposed. Refusing to do so does not make society more humane — it only guarantees bad, and often very stupid, public policy.

Ben Shapiro is a graduate of UCLA and Harvard Law School, host of “The Ben Shapiro Show,” and co-founder of Daily Wire+. He is a three-time New York Times bestselling author.

LARRY ELDER

What Rob Reiner said about and did to Donald Trump YES, PRESIDENT Donald Trump could have taken the high ground rather than excoriating Rob Reiner, the actor, director and producer found stabbed to death, along with his wife. The Reiners’ son, Nick, has been arrested in connection with the murders.

Trump doubled down in a Truth Social post, telling reporters, “I think he hurt himself career-wise. He became like a deranged person, Trump derangement syndrome. So, I was not a fan of Rob Reiner at all in any way, shape or form. I thought he was very bad for our country.”

Criticism about Trump’s harsh remarks even came from Trump supporters. But consider Rob Reiner’s actions against and statements about candidate and President Trump.

Reiner, months after Trump won the presidency in 2016, co-founded the “nonpartisan” Committee to Investigate Russia. Its mission, said Reiner, was to serve as a “one-stop shop where people can come and be made aware of what the breaking news stories are today, the various investigations, what stages they are in, but also to understand the history and what the Soviet Union and now Russia has been trying to do for many, many years. ... My concern is people don’t understand the gravity of what they were able to do.”

This committee’s advisory board included former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper; former Director of the Central Intelligence Agency Michael Hayden; former Secretary of Defense, Director of the CIA and former White House Chief of Staff Leon Panetta; and former Acting Director of the CIA Michael Morell. They were among the 51 “senior” former intelligence officials who signed the letter claiming the Hunter Biden laptop story “has all the classic earmarks of a Russian information operation.”

The Trump-Russian collusion narrative has been debunked. The Russians failed to change a single vote tally. As to the Russia-interfered-to-help-Trump narrative, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard stated, “President (Barack) Obama and his national security cabinet members manufactured and politicized intelligence to lay the groundwork for what was essentially a years-long coup against President Trump.”

And the Hunter Biden laptop story was not only true, but it also revealed President Joe Biden clearly lied when he denied knowing anything about his son’s overseas business dealings.

In a 2017 interview with Variety, Reiner described Trump as “mentally unfit” to serve as commander in chief and called him the “single most unqualified human being to ever assume the presidency of the United States.”

In another interview, Reiner said, “I’m going to tell you the truth. You have a complete and utter lying buffoon. He’s a fraud. He lies. He cheats people. Everything that comes out of his mouth virtually is a lie. And he’s a con man. And if you look at what he’s done with his career and how he’s tricked people into things, it’s abhorrent.

I never liked George W. Bush, his policies, but I didn’t hate the guy. I hate this man.”

Reiner has been a continuous “one-stop shop” for anti-Trump insults: “Not only does he not understand how government works. He has no interest in trying to find out how it works.”

“You have one candidate, Trump, who actually tells you he’s going to govern like an authoritarian.”

“Do we want fascism, or do we want to continue the 248 years of self-rule? Do we want to continue democracy, or do we want to slip into fascism?”

“He wants to destroy the Constitution, go after his political enemies and turn America into an autocracy. We see autocracy making its move around the world. And, so, if we crumble, there’s a danger that democracy crumbles around the world.”

“It’s really gotten to a very, very scary place in this country.”

Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) struck the right tone when asked about Trump’s condemnation of Reiner. Kennedy said, “A wise man once said nothing. Why? Because he was a wise man. I think President Trump should have said nothing.”

Agreed. It appears Reiner made no public comment about the Butler, Pennsylvania, assassination attempt against Trump.

But saying, as Trump did about Reiner, “I’m not a fan,” is a far cry from saying he “hates” him, as Reiner said about Trump.

The question is whether it is fair and reasonable for Trump to show grace to someone who never offered the slightest bit of it to him.

Larry Elder is a bestselling author and nationally syndicated radio talk-show host.

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North State Journal for Thursday, December 25, 2025

North State Journal for Thursday, December 25, 2025

Murphy to Manteo NC’s most historic Christmas Eve services Across North Carolina, Christmas Eve worship reflects the state’s deep and varied religious history. The oldest traditions come from the Moravian churches of Winston-Salem, where congregations such as Bethabara continue the Lovefeast and Candlelight Service first held in the 1750s. These services feature simple hymns, shared coffee and buns, and the lighting of beeswax candles symbolizing Christ as the Light of the World. Along the coast, Colonial Episcopal churches like St. Paul’s in Edenton and St. James in Wilmington observe Christmas Eve with candlelit Eucharists rooted in early Anglican worship, echoing practices from North Carolina’s Colonial era. In the Triangle, historic churches such as Christ Church in Raleigh and the Chapel of the Cross in Chapel Hill offer lessons and carols and richly liturgical services with traditional music, chants and incense. In the mountains, St. John in the Wilderness in Flat Rock and Trinity Episcopal Church in Asheville celebrate Christmas Eve in historic sanctuaries that recall frontier and 19th-century mountain life. Early Presbyterian and Baptist churches in places like Greensboro and New Bern add simple, reverent candlelight services. Together, these traditions form a living tapestry of North Carolina’s spiritual and cultural heritage.

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Trinity Episcopal Church (Asheville), founded 1847 St. John in the Wilderness (Flat Rock), founded 1836 Bethabara Moravian Church (Winston-Salem), founded 1753 Chapel of the Cross (Chapel Hill), founded 1842 Christ Church (Raleigh), founded 1821 St. James Episcopal Church (Wilmington), founded 1729 First Baptist Church (New Bern), founded 1809 St. Paul’s Episcopal Church (Edenton), founded 1701

EAST

Felon receives major weapons, drug charges after traffic stop

Man arrested after stealing from local convenience store

Community mourns longtime county commissioner

Haywood County A routine traffic stop conducted by the Haywood County Sheriff’s Office Crime Suppression Unit escalated into a significant drug and weapons bust this week, resulting in the arrest of a local man. The investigation began when detectives pulled over a vehicle driven by Phillip Burnette of Canton. During the initial roadside interaction, detectives discovered approximately two grams of methamphetamine and a quantity of marijuana. Burnette faces multiple charges related to the possession and intended distribution of narcotics, as well as weapons charges stemming from his prior felony convictions.

Alamance County A man was arrested last week after deputies say he stole $676.37 in cash and merchandise. Deputies responded to a business alarm at the Convenience Store and Grill south of Graham. Henry Hamid Kamara Jr., 44, told deputies he was experiencing homelessness and had recently been released from jail.

Deputies confirmed that merchandise and cash had been taken, but all items were recovered and returned to the store owner. No estimate was given for building damage.

Lenior County Lenoir County is mourning the death of longtime County Commissioner Roland Best Jr., who served the community for more than a decade and was remembered as a dedicated public servant and advocate for the county.

Best, 74, died last week at Greenville Nursing and Rehab Center, according to his family and R. Swinson Funeral Services. He represented District 5 on the Lenoir County Board of Commissioners since 2013.

McDowell County A Marion man was arrested and charged following the theft of utility wire and fixtures near an elementary school. Sammy Burleson, 23, faces two felony counts of injuring utility wires and fixtures in the thefts, according to a McDowell County Sheriff’s Office press release. The sheriff’s office said Burleson stole cable on two separate occasions.

“After speaking with a Frontier employee, it was determined that 250 feet of cable had been removed,” the press release said.

By A.P. Dillon North State Journal

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Utility wire theft alleged near elementary school

Winslow will not seek reelection to NC House 8

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ASU introduces AI platform for families Watauga County App State University is launching a two-year project to build an AIdriven platform aimed at helping families recognize and respond to early movement-related developmental delays in children from birth to age 3. The effort, led by Dr. Gavin Colquitt through App State’s Appalachian Institute for Health and Wellness, received $1.1 million in funding from NCInnovation.

The tool is expected to guide parents with interactive coaching and athome strategies, along with features like tailored videos, progress tracking and peer support. Colquitt says the project also addresses how child care shortages hit families hardest when children need added therapy or support.

App State plans to start the platform rollout in western North Carolina, with an eye toward broader expansion.

NCInnovation helps inventions advance toward commercialization — accelerating the transition from academia to industry — by supporting university applied research through the critical research and development phase between proof of concept and readiness for the private market.

NSJ

WGHP

Tenants evicted after apartment building deemed unsafe Guilford County At least 180 people were evacuated from a Greensboro apartment building that was deemed unsafe last week.

After receiving a long list of issues from people who live at the District at West Market apartments, city inspectors went to check it out and found the building unsafe during an inspection. City officials say inspectors found burnedout electrical wiring and faulty breakers that posed a serious fire hazard. They said some repairs previously done on the building also did not meet code compliance.

K-9 finds missing 9-year-old Forsyth County A missing 9-year-old child was safely found last week in Winston-Salem thanks to the efforts of a K-9 officer.

Police say they quickly deployed multiple resources in their search due to the child’s young age, the fact that it was nighttime and inclement weather conditions. Those resources included patrol officers on foot, police canvassing the surrounding neighborhood in patrol vehicles and a police drone assisting above. A K-9 bloodhound team was also brought in to help focus the search effort. K-9 Bocephus, or Bo for short, and his handler responded to the scene and used “specialized tracking techniques” to follow the child’s scent through the neighborhood. K-9 Bo succeeded in leading officers to a home on a neighboring street where the child was safely found. The child was reunited with their family without further incident.

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WCTI

Raid yields weapons and gun charges near Fayetteville Cumberland County The raid of a Cumberland County felon’s home last week led to the discovery of three guns and illegal drugs, deputies said. A search of the house near Hope Mills was spurred by a tip to CrimeStoppers and a sting operation by deputies, according to a Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office news release.

An arrest warrant and photos indicate deputies found two handguns and a Derya Arms 20-gauge shotgun, which the gunmaker said features “AR-15 inspired ergonomics.”

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Havelock bypass opens after 6 years of construction Craven County Local and state officials celebrated the opening of the Havelock Bypass last Friday morning that will provide a high-speed alternative to using U.S. 70. The bypass is a 10-mile, four-lane, median-divided highway created with the goal of connecting the Morehead City Port to more points out West. It cost a total of $323 million. Deputy Division II Engineer for NCDOT Cadmus Capehart said it will also improve traffic and safety for Havelock by bypassing 15 traffic lights. “It’ll bypass the town of Havelock, so it will improve safety drastically in the town and help commuters and freight to get from the Port of Morehead to points West a lot easier,” Capehart said.

Multiple people gave remarks at the ribbon-cutting ceremony, including NCDOT Secretary Daniel H. Johnson.

“We stand here today to celebrate delivering vital infrastructure to Craven and Carteret Counties and all who travel through this area across North Carolina,” Johnson said.

RALEIGH — Rep. Matthew Winslow (R-Franklin) will finish out the remainder of his term but will not be seeking reelection in 2026.

“Serving in the North Carolina House of Representatives has been one of the greatest honors of my life,” wrote Winslow in a letter to N.C. House members. “For a kid raised by a single mom in northeastern North Carolina, the opportunity to stand in the North Carolina General Assembly and work on your behalf was something I never imagined growing up. I will forever be grateful for the trust you placed in me.”

Winslow is in his third term in the House and is the vice chairman of the House Appropriations Committee.

He also serves as chair for the Energy and Public Utilities Committee as well as the Appropriations, Capital and Information Technology Committee.

“After much prayer and reflection earlier this year, I decided not to run for re-election so that I can focus on my family and my future endeavors as a small business owner,” wrote Winslow. “Although I will not be seeking another term, my commitment to Franklin County and North Carolina will remain unchanged. I will always fight for what is right, good, and true, and that does not matter if I’m elected to office or a private citizen.”

Winslow is the owner/operator of Winslow Homes, a homebuilding company located in his hometown of Youngsville.

In his letter, Winslow also gave his “full support” to Cory Thornton, who has already filed to run for Winslow’s seat.

“He’s a Christian, husband, father (of five girls!), and a Marine,” Winslow wrote of Thornton. “As a local business owner, he will serve our district well, and I’m excited to see what he accomplishes once elected to office.”

Democrat Mark Speed, a Franklin County commissioner from Louisburg, has also filed to run for the seat, which spans Franklin and Vance counties. In 2022, Speed unsuccessfully challenged Sen. Lisa Barnes (R-Nash) for her District 11 Senate seat.

According to the Civitas Partisan

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Rep. Matthew Winslow (R-Franklin) will not seek reelection in 2026.

“I will always fight for what is right, good, and true, and that does not matter if I’m elected to office or a private citizen.”

Rep. Matthew Winslow (R-Franklin) Index ratings, Winslow’s District 7 seat is designated as a +4 lean Republican.

In his resignation letter, Winslow also thanked his family for their support and his research assistant, Michelle Kenny.

Winslow was the first person in his family to go to college and earned a bachelor’s degree in urban and regional planning from East Carolina University.

Winslow has served in roles for multiple organizations in his county, including as chair of the Franklin County Economic Development, vice chair of the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce and as a board member for the Franklin County Education Foundation.

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North State Journal for Thursday, December 25, 2025

NATION & WORLD

AP-NORC poll: Americans’ priorities for government in 2026 Health care, immigration and rising costs top the list The Associated Press WASHINGTON, D.C. — Julia Dvorak is worried her 83-yearold mother’s emergency room trips for seizures are depleting her retirement savings and will soon force her to go on Medicaid.

At the same time, Dvorak, who’s 56 and suffers from a chronic knee condition that keeps her on state and federal assistance, expects her health costs to go up next year.

It’s the kind of financial squeeze that has made health care a growing concern for Americans, according to a new AP-NORC poll that asked people to share their top priorities for the government to address in 2026.

The uptick on health care was much sharper than on other commonly mentioned issues.

It comes after President Donald Trump’s Republican administration reduced spending on Medicaid, a safety net program for poor people, and decided to end coronavirus pandemic-era subsidies for the Affordable Care Act, essentially guaranteeing that millions of people will see a steep rise in costs early next year.

The changes could return health care to center stage in next year’s midterm elections, which will determine control of Congress.

“I see how it affects me and my loved ones,” Dvorak, who lives outside Cedar Rapids, Iowa, said about the cost of health care. “But I also know it’s affecting other people, and it’s getting worse.”

Despite the spike in health care concerns, immigration and broader worries about rising costs remain pressing issues, according to the December poll from The Associated PressNORC Center for Public Affairs Research.

But Americans are also less confident that the government will be able to make progress on the important problems facing the country in 2026. About 66% of U.S. adults say they are “slightly” or “not at all confident,” down from 58% last year.

NCGA from page A1 is the first millennial to serve in that role and was also the first millennial picked to chair the powerful House Rules Committee back in 2021.

Hall’s communication style differed a good deal from his predecessor, Tim Moore, leveraging social media in a more aggressive and deliberate fashion. Under his tenure, an NC House Press account on X was created, weekly newsletters went out, and Hall utilized “member minute” videos touting House achievements.

Social media use by lawmakers also involved controversy, specifically, a social media post made by Rep. Julie von Haefen (D-Wake) that included an image of an effigy of beheaded President Donald Trump taken at a “No Kings” protest.

Some legislation statistics for the session include 108 bills becoming law. Fifteen bills have been vetoed by Gov. Josh Stein, with eight overridden. One bill became law without the governor’s signature, the Regulatory Reform Act of 2025.

Public safety through criminal justice reforms took center stage in mid-September following the August murder of Ukrainian immigrant Iryna Zarutska on Charlotte’s light rail system. Her accused killer, Decarlos Brown, had been previously arrested 14 times. Brown has been indicted at both the state and federal level for charges that

ALEX BRANDON / AP PHOTO

Federal immigration officers conduct a traffic stop and detain people in Washington, D.C., in November.

More Americans focused on health care About 4 in 10 U.S. adults named health care or health issues in an open-ended question that asked respondents to share up to five issues they want the government to work on in the coming year. That’s up from about one-third last year.

The high cost of health care came as a shock to Republican Joshua Campbell when he and his wife recently sought a medical plan for their young daughter. The 38-year-old small business owner from Hot Springs Village, Arkansas, voted for Trump last year, and he mostly approves of the way Trump is handling his job, particularly on immigration. But health care expenses have become a major priority for him going into 2026.

“Health care costs are pretty crazy,” he said. “I just thought, ‘Man, there’s got to be something better than what we have.’”

Health care is a particularly high concern for adults between the ages of 45 and 59 — people who may have higher health care costs than younger adults but aren’t yet eligible for Medicare.

The poll shows a similar landscape to the one Trump faced at the end of his first year in office during his first term, when health care reform was at the top of many Americans’ minds.

But Trump has an added complication now. At the end of 2017, very few mentioned costof-living concerns — now, about one-third do.

Campbell described his politics as conservative, and while he recalled viewing the

include first-degree murder.

The case drew national attention after video of the stabbing was released and led to the U.S. House Judiciary Committee holding a field hearing in Charlotte featuring parents of victims of repeat offenders.

During the mid-September press event, General Assembly leaders announced their intent to pursue criminal justice reforms, with Hall stating Zarutska’s murder was due to “somebody being released from a jail who should not have been released from a jail.”

The result was Iryana’s Law, which ends cashless bail for certain defendants. It also creates a new offense category that requires a secured bond or GPS-monitored house arrest for first-time offenders and makes house arrest and monitoring mandatory for any released repeat offenders.

Iryna’s law also scales back the discretion of magistrates and judges to release a person on a promissory note to appear, which is what previously happened with Brown.

There was also a focus on immigration this session, with the passage of an ICE cooperation bill that tightened requirements for state law enforcement in dealing with arrests of illegal immigrants. The bill requires communication with ICE officials and for prisoners subject to an ICE detainer being held until transferred to ICE custody or released under specific conditions. Stein issued a veto

voted for Trump and had been concerned before Trump took office again about illegal immigration. But it doesn’t register even as a priority for him now, in light of action the administration is taking.

“It’s a lot better,” he said. “It’s not really one of the main concerns I have now. I mean, don’t stop. That’s for sure. But I don’t think it’s something that’s a top concern.”

About 2 in 10 U.S. adults want the federal government to focus on housing costs next year. That issue has been rising in recent years, with young adults being especially likely to mention it. About one-quarter of adults under age 30 want the government to focus on housing expenses, compared with about 1 in 10 of those 60 or older.

Immigration worries remain

Inflation and the high cost of living have been a priority for many Americans since the end of 2021. Tommy Carosone is reminded every time his wife returns from the grocery store, especially with their two kids, both teenagers, still at home.

“My wife is spending so much more money on groceries than just a few years ago. Every time she comes home from the grocery store, I hear about it,” said Carosone, from St. Peter’s, Missouri. “She tells me it’s stupid expensive, especially meat.

Ground beef, bacon, anything from the deli. It’s outrageous.”

The 44-year-old jet aircraft mechanic, the sole wage earner for his family of four, doesn’t see the cost of living coming down any time soon. He voted for Trump and generally agrees with his tariff agenda as a way to make the U.S. more competitive, and he figures prices will stay higher until the trade war ends.

“In the meantime, what are you going to do, not eat?” he said.

Carosone said he is glad he

Many Americans were hoping Trump would bring a hardline approach to immigration when he returned to the White House in January.

Immigration was the top issue Americans wanted the government to focus on last year, with about half of U.S. adults citing it. A large number, 44%, said they want the government to prioritize immigration this year, too — but Democrats have grown increasingly concerned about the issue, while Republicans and independents have declined.

About 4 in 10 Democrats listed it as a concern this year, an apparent increase from 32% last year. Majorities of Republicans still consider it a priority -about 6 in 10 mentioned it, but that’s down from about 7 in 10 last year.

Roxanna Holper, 64, is worried about the Trump administration’s approach to immigration, even though she believes Democrats have fumbled the issue in the past by failing to curb the “insanity” at the border. The Minnesota native describes herself as not ideological, and she has voted for Republicans as well as Democrats. Lately, she’s been voting Democratic. “(Trump) campaigned with, you know, ‘We’re going to get the worst of the worst ... off the streets,’” she said. “Well, who doesn’t want that?”

She said she believes that’s not what’s actually happening.

“You hear stories where a mom was deported with her two children,” she said. “Like, what the hell — well, who are we as a society that we would treat anybody like that? That is so appalling.”

on the bill, which was overridden by lawmakers in late July.

The legislature also enacted a new congressional map, following the lead of other Republican-led states in reaction to California beginning redistricting to add Democratic seats to its congressional maps after redistricting changes in Texas added more Republican seats. North Carolina’s new map changed two seats, the 1st and 3rd Districts held by Reps.

Don Davis (D-Snow Hill) and Greg Murphy (R-Greenville), respectively. The change effectively made Davis’ already vulnerable seat a safe Republican seat. Lawsuits followed. But the arguments were rejected, and a federal judge upheld the maps for use in 2026.

Relief for Hurricane Helene-impacted counties was a major focus early in the 2025 session. In February, lawmakers allocated $500 million, which Stein signed into law. A second wave of $700 million in funding came in the summer, which was also signed by the governor.

A new law was also enacted barring political discrimination in the distribution of disaster aid.

The legislative committee on hurricane relief and recovery also held several hearings this session. Hearings in January and February focused on former Gov. Roy Cooper’s North Carolina Office of Recovery and Resilience (NCORR).

Both hearings involved grill-

ing NCORR Director Pryor Gibson over the continued slow pace and fiscal mismanagement of the agency. Gibson was picked by former Cooper to replace former NCORR chief Laura Hogshead, who abruptly left the post in November 2024. Another hearing centered on “pay to play” concerns with Stein’s new hurricane recovery organizations.

The legislature powered up the role of the state auditor, currently held by Dave Boliek, giving the post purview over the State Board of Elections, as well as allowing his agency to investigate any group or entity that “receives, disburses, or handles” state dollars.

The latter powers were part of House Bill 549, which Stein vetoed but the General Assembly successfully overrode.

Several actions this session followed Trump’s agenda, such as setting up a DOGE-style committee, the holding of agency “reset” hearings and proposing a “no tax on tips” bill, which stalled in the House Finance Committee. Additionally, a DOGE-style bill aimed at requiring General Assembly approval for state agency rules costing more than $20 million over a five-year period became law after overriding Stein’s veto.

To see more of the bills filed, passed and vetoed, as well as summaries of substantive legislation enacted for this session and past sessions, visit the General Assembly website’s Bills and Laws page.

Affordable Care Act somewhat negatively when it first passed, he said he now views it as a step toward helping improve health care.

“I do think they were at least trying, and at least trying to do something,” he said. “And I don’t really see that — it’s one of the things from the Republican Party as well that I don’t necessarily agree with. Or I think that they should be doing better at it.”

Cost, inflation concerns remain

Stefanik ends N.Y. gubernatorial run, won’t seek House reelection Albany, N.Y. Rep. Elise Stefanik announced Friday that she is suspending her campaign for New York governor and will not seek reelection to Congress, bowing out of the race in a surprise statement that said “it is not an effective use of our time” to stay in what was expected to be a bruising Republican primary.

Stefanik, a Republican ally of President Donald Trump, said in a post on X that she was confident of her chances in the primary against Bruce Blakeman, a Republican county official in New York City’s suburbs. But she said she wanted to spend more time with her young son and family.

Lummis won’t seek reelection for Wyoming Senate seat Cheyenne, Wyo. First-term U.S. Sen. Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming announced Friday she won’t seek reelection in 2026, but she said she’s committed to retaining Republican control of the Senate. Lummis said her stamina “doesn’t match up” with the energy required for another term. Lummis is a former state legislator and two-term state treasurer who served as Wyoming’s lone congresswoman from 2009-17. She joined the state legislature at 24 at the outset of a career in politics and government that spans nearly a half-century. In 2020, she defeated nine Republican rivals to secure the party nomination for Senate in an open race.

Judge lets Bolsonaro leave prison for hernia surgery Sao Paulo Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, who has been serving a 27-year prison sentence for an attempted coup since November, was granted permission on Friday to leave prison for a hernia surgery. The date of the surgery has not been announced. Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes gave the far-right leader the goahead after federal police doctors confirmed he needs the procedure. Doctors say Bolsonaro’s hernia affects both of his groins and causes him pain. The former Brazilian president, in power between 2019 and 2022, has gone through several other surgeries since he was stabbed in the abdomen during a campaign rally in 2018.

Louvre reopens fully after staff vote to suspend strike Paris The Louvre in Paris reopened fully on Friday after staff voted to suspend a strike that had disrupted access to the world’s most visited museum, management and unions said. The decision was taken during a general assembly of museum workers, who voted unanimously to pause the strike to allow the museum to welcome visitors, unions said in a statement. The walkout had led to a full closure earlier in the week and a partial reopening last Wednesday.

nsstrophe about when A7 normal

EDITORIAL | FRANK HILL

COLUMN | BEN SHAPIRO

to this get back to norm The comfo How Chinawe willbegin payThe for COVID-19 3 big questionsc A9

North State Journal for Thursday, December 25, 2025 WITH MOST STATES under either shelter-in-place or stay-at China lied about the origin of the ONE THING IS CERTAIN; after thisthanks COVID-19 virus cavalierofmanner orders to local ordissipates state governments,The a majority Ameri THIS WEEK, virus, according to members tried to tell the world there were only “THIS around the globe and in the United States, China will pay for this covered up its spI are having to adjust to what is being called the “new normal.” and state and local governments, Amer worldwide panic, economic collapse and in it” (Psal catastrophe one way or another.

3,341 related deaths ha Some of these orders extend at least through the end of this m or stay-at-home fallen into place. I understand the seriousness of the virus thetoneed the curve in the novel coronavirus outbrt ylace being thrown out of work.

I know Inand order put the crisis causedVirginia’s

by Chinastay-at-home in perspective, zero millions of Americans orders go into June. ority of at Americans to take precautions, but I’m uneasy with how people who simply ask — after all, trends canhas easily xpayer least $2.4 trillion in added working fr worldwide pandemics can trace their source to theCarolina, Unitedmuted States over costreve th Here in North Democratic Gov.The Roycrisis Cooper stated d walnormal.” questions about the data, and when things can start getting back to have abided by recommendations and o Reserve backup liquidity to the be glad” as our 231-year history. At least fourainrecent the 20th century alone can be debt plus trillions more coronavirus press briefing that “we just don’t know yet” end of this month. are treated in some circles with contempt. to flu,” stay 1977 at home; they’ve practiced socialto the U.S. dollar were notnormal the reserve dad, directly traced to China: 1957 “Asian flu,” 1968 “Hong orders Kong markets financial state’s stay-at-home will extend into May. andand Since when did They’re treated as though we as a society simply must accept without they’ve donned masks. o fund any of these emergency have tonot bet “Russian flu” and the 2002 SARS outbreak.

There is evidence that the currency, would Perhaps If he it, questions should bewe asked as to Wedoes needdecide to extend WALTER E. WILLIAMS questioning ooper stated during question what the government tells us about when it’s massive safe to begin the The result: a reduction inwithout expected ho Lenten and ar of rampant inflation and currency pandemic.

1918 “Spanish flu” pandemic also had its origins in China. measures imm justification for it. And the answers should not be vague ones like COVID-19 n’t know yet” if the process of returning back to normalcy. transparency According to the University of Washing seasons government There is 100% agreement, outside of do China, thatofCOVID-19 depreciation. For me, must this out an abundance Easter of caution.” is China’s No. The government works for us, and we have the right to askin those Metrics and Evaluation model most oftA rrant ways and decisions through and honesty originated Wuhan Province probably from the completely has to pay for provide a China at all levels It will need to be explained in detail to the people ofmaking. this state e asked as to the questions.

And the longer stay-at-home orders are in place all over the Trump administration, the expected ne Diplomacy has obviously not worked Corinthian Chernobyl. unregulated and unsanitary wet markets. believe it came of at a home economic and financial fromSome our to are being told remain joblessout and message offor an undetermine become a ague ones like “we country, and the stricter some of them get in states, such as Michigan, peak outbreak was revised down by ove world of 21st century health, hygiene affliction, biowarfare lab run by the communist Chinese army. to we bring China into the scientific experts amount of time why models predicting hundreds thousands of hope that willof bad thing? thethe more people, sitting at home feeling isolated and/or anxious about ventilators by nearly 13,000 and the num munist regimes never take blame affliction, Until China adopts rigorous verifiable policing and regulation of and fair trade.

Totalita are reliable.

— we need to again enjoy sincere e of this state who when will demand August byonce nearly 12,000. morse, because that is not whatthey can get back to providing for their families,their God.” That is what food safety and health protocols, American business nowhat other or express To know date, what I’ve gone alonghas with the state has asked andregre then they undetermined answers.

Here’s the problem: We still don’t kno sporting events, ey take advantage of every weakness If you ar choice than tofree build redundant manufacturing plants elsewhere purely totalitarian governmen citizens mandated that we do, but along the way I’ve also had questions a fp thousands of cases Leaders at the local and state levels should be as forthcoming as they know, what they questions that will allow the economy tot pushing until they win or the reflect on concerts, family for national security and safety reasons as well as supply and delivery they find in adversaries the data.

State Republican leaders have, too. as living in a free can be with those answers — and again, not vague answers, but concerns. answer First, what is the true coronavirus fat God’sback. exam don’t and when reliability adversaries gatherings, Unfortunately, when certain types of questions get push asked, ther AMERICA’S COLLEGES are rife with society were asked and then with details that give their statements believability. important because it determines wheth event happens such asThe thefinancial Chernobyl this difficu The most direct way to make China “pay”hope for this is to offer That is, unless an exo they to disaster h corruption. squeeze resulting sometimes a disturbing tendency among people to treat tho church some services ad questions about We should families, be open or closed,meltdown whether we oughtSom to w s believe that event, not the Star Warsall continue confident supposed from COVID-19 offers opportunities for a to do what we can to keep our U.S. tax credits to companies who will source at least half of their in 1986. know what they simply questioning the data and asking when we can start gettin Economists expect and many more that presumes Sponsored

by Union and our communities safe. But we still continue more liberalized society w Sponsored by should also to the dissolution of theourselves, Soviet In thisled sw bit of remediation.

Let’s first examine what production back in the States.

There is though approximately program of are Reagan, to do, lastUnited I to normal they are$120 conspiracy theorists or people don’t.as average 30-year after our own get asked, there to of ask questions about the data, because while reasonable stay-at-home ought to lock down further. mightisbe the root academic corruption, neighbors billion worth checked. of American direct investment in plants and equipment “It’s possible in that 2025,sick. otherwise don’t care if they get themselves or1989. others rates to stay s. title of a recent study,mortgagethey ple to treatsuggested those by the measures are understandable, should also have an expiration date. direct investment in the U.S. is about $65We’ve seen case fatality rates — Conc the ni temporary Chernobyl.

In in China.

Chinese billion by Perhaps COVID-19 Since when did questioning government at all levels become a unless December (sales) just above 6% next year “Academic Grievance Studies and the North State Journal for Wednesday, April 15, an start getting back This is all new to Americans, and it is not normal.

Not in any way, the number of identified COVID-19 cas lready talking about the possibility to b sacrifices are society comparison.

Senators inmoney Washing thing? That is what free citizens living in a free were supp Corruption of Scholarship.”

The study was figures really of improve, or are people who shape, or form.

So while we should remain vigilant and stay safe, at and theChina denominator are likely wrong.

W n debt we owe them as one way to get health car An investment tax credit of 30% on half of U.S. investment in China forgiving $1.2 over. to do, last I checked. done by Areo, an opinion and analysis s sick. same time we shouldn’t comfortable with this so-called “newbillion, applied to repatriated American manufacturing

By Alexget Veiga people havebeactually died coronaviru wealong may hey have caused US. the Don’t hold your today, or $60 China to of “pay” d digitalthe magazine.

By the way, Areo is short My first concern as we go in alltechnically this, of course, isfor mythe fam The Associated Press vels become a bad normal.” number has been overestimated, given t bilee” to happen but ask your elected n for Areopagitica, a speech delivered by investment to the U.S. would costworried the U.S.about Treasury $18 billion in breath waiting for a Ch slightly down from them catching the virus, and I’m worried I will. A iety were supposed Not one little bit. of death, particularly among elderly pat countableJohn in tangible financial Milton in defense ways of freefor speech. tax revenue spread over a few years. $18 billion lost revenue hold suffering fromin the H1N1 virus flu) representatives during the 2009topande oneis(swine year ago.” in.

Authors Helen Pluckrose, James A. SALES OF PREVIOUSLY sources suggest the number is dramatic decimal dust compared to the $6 trillion+ Marshall Plan we are now this disaster.

I’ve been trying to take extra precautions, because all of this brin U.S. homes rose in Lindsay and Peter Boghossian say has thatoccupied rse, to is my family.

Stacey Matthews also written under the pseudonym Sister Toldjah many people are dying home.

Yun, cted operate as I’m responsible citizens of undertaking to save our own economy, notmany of defeated enemies as in the It is at about timenot they November from the previous way too memories ofLawrence a painful experience I’d prefer to something has gone drastically wrong rried I will.

After and is a regular contributor to RedState and Legal Insurrection.

Even more importantly, we have no cl NAR chief economist nation. month but slowed compared past. the world like any othe But what also makes me lose sleep is how easily most everyone in academia, especially within certain he 2009 pandemic, actually have coronavirus. Some scienti China has been cheating, stealing, pirating and pillaging American fields within the humanities. They callto a year earlier for the first all of this brings up time since May despite averof identified business now for the past 30 years. They have made no secret that theycases could be an order of m these fields “grievance studies,” where North Carolina has reclaimed Neal Robbins, publisher | Frank Hill,coronav senio 30-year ranged from age long-term mortgage rates prefer notthe to repeat. number ofmortgage people who have had scholarship is not so much based upon intend to replace the U.S. as the premier superpower in the world and top spot as America’s best 6.5% to 6.17%, according to holding near their low point for most everyone has finding but upon attending to state for truth business, edging out replace the dollar as the reserve currency with their renminbi.

Freddie Mac. Mortgage rates the year.

business & economy Fixing college n.c. corruption FAST

FACTS

November home sales rose, down from 2024 as prices climb A6

CNBC again names NC best state for business

Approved Logos

north STA

socialand grievances.

Texas Florida inGrievance CNBC’s scholars have mostly remained close bully students, administrators and other Existing home sales rose 2025 annual ranking and to their October low in recent 0.5% last month from October departments adhering to their reinforcing theinto state’s reputation weeks. to a seasonally adjusted annuworldview. worldview is Jason as a leading The destination for they promote Home shoppers who can afal rate of 4.13 million units, the n neither scientific nor rigorous.

Grievance NAM Y. HUH / AP PHOTO EDITORIAL | STACEY MATTHEWS employers, investment and ford to buy at current mortose studies consist of disciplines such as National Association of Realeconomic growth. The honor gage rates benefited from a tors said Friday.

A “For Sale” sign is displayed in front of a home this year in sociology, anthropology, gender studies, marks the third time in four wider selection of properties Sales fell 1% compared with Prospect Heights, Illinois.

COLUMN | REP. RICHARD HUDSON queer studies, sexuality and critical race on the market last month than November last year. The latest years that North Carolina has studies. a year ago, although the numsales figure came in slightly befinished No.and 1. It2018, narrowly lost Pluckrose, In 2017 authors an annual basis for 29 months isting home to put toward a ber of homes for sale in Nolow the 4.14 million pace econthe title to neighboring Virginia Lindsay and Boghossian started in a row, even as the hous- new home purchase. Uncer- vember declined from the prelast year. s submitting bogus academic papers to omists were expecting, according market has been mired in tainty over the economy and vious month. ing to FactSet. The ranking is a point of pride academic journals in cultural, queer, There were 1.43 million una slump that began in 2022 job market are also keeping Through the first 11 months for state leaders and economic race, gender, fat and sexuality studies sold homes at the end of last many would-be buyers on the when mortgage rates began of this year, home sales are developers who to determine if routinely they would pass peer month, 5.9%DAY fromthe Octo- has mad sidelines. climbing from historic lows. down 0.5% compared to the cite business climate metrics “THISdown IS THE he seriousness of and the be virus and the review accepted for need publication.

MOST STATES shelter-in-place or stay-at-home into lord place. I unde ber and up 7.5%fallen from Novemshortage of homes for sale, SalesWITH of previously occupiedunderAeither same period last year. when courting new employers, Acceptance of dubious research that in it” (Psalm 118:24). asy with how people who simply ask orders thanks to local or state governments, a majority of Americans to take precautions, bu “It’s possible that 2025, un- U.S. homes sank last year to especially in the more afford- ber last year, NAR said. journal editors found sympathetic to their expansions and major I know that during this challenging hen thingscorporate can start getting back to arelowest havinglevel to adjust to what being “new normal.” questions about the datt The latest inventory snapable endcalled of thethe market, contheir in nearly 30 is less December (sales) figures intersectional or postmodern events.

This year’s comeback leftist vision working from home or losing a job, it es with contempt. shot remains well below tinues to weigh especially really improve, we may be years.Some of these orders extend at least through the endon of this month. normal arethe treated inm s of the world would prove the problem of comes despite lingering glad” as Bible tells us to do.

How as a societylow simply must accept without 2 the million homes for homebuyers. They beroughly Sales havestay-at-home been stuck orders at first-time technically slightly down from Virginia’s go into June.

They’re treated as th academic concerns aboutstandards. tariffs, natural saledad, that the wasEaster typical beforewhat the accounted Gov. for 30% of homestated annual Democratic and holiday hasthe remind ells us about Several when it’s safefake to begin thepapers one year ago,” said Lawrence around Herea in4-million North Carolina, Roy Cooper during question gove of the research disasters and broader economic COVID-19 pandemic. sales last month.

Historicalpace now going back to 2023.

Yun, NAR’s chief economist. have to be thankful and hopeful for, eve malcy. uncertainty. were accepted for publication.

The Fat a recent coronavirus press briefing that “we just don’t know yet” if the process of returning ba Virginia slipped to November’s month-end up 40% of home pandemic.

One factor limiting home That’s well short of the 5.2-mil- ly, they made Lenten and r us, and we have the right to ask those Studies journal published a hoax paper state’s stay-at-home orders will extend into May. No. The government fourth place, its lowest standing Since when did lion annual pace that’s histori- sales. inventory translates to a that argued the term wassales is weaker demand for For me, my faith is an par t-home orders are inwhile place all bodybuilding over the Easter seasons since 2018, Texas ranked If he does decide to extend it,An questions should behomeasked as4.2-month to the questions.

And the long supply at theimportant curannual survey of cally been the norm. condominiums.

Sales of conquestioning exclusionary andas should be replaced making.

As pace.

I celebrated Easter my f them getsecond in states, Michigan, andsuch Florida third. justification forait.boost Andthis the answers be vague likesales “we country, and thewith stricte a rent Traditionally, buyers should by provide NARnot showed first-ones Home sales got dos are down 6% so far this with “fat bodybuilding, as a fat-inclusive government Corinthians 1:4, which reminds us our feeling isolated and/or anxious CNBC credited North about a fiveto six-month supply is accounted for an fallmust as the average rate on a time buyers year, Yun noted. do this out of an abundance of caution.” the more people, sitting message of politicized performance.” One reviewer Carolina’s continued we may becan able com ding for their families, will demand considered balanced market lowto21% of homeof purmortgage at all-time home 30-year at allsales, levels It will need todeclined be explained in detail the people thisaffliction, state whosoathat when they gettoback ns said, “I thoroughly enjoyed reading this Despite sluggish hope that we willand momentum, noting that between buyers and sellers. which we ou chases between July 2024 theare end of October to 6.17%, prices continued to climb last affliction, with the comfort being told to remain jobless and at home for an undetermined answers. , article and believe it has an important becomemedian a once again Yun is forecasting that existwhile theenjoy average God.” the lowest level in more than a June 2025, month. The national last year’s finish levels should be as runner-up forthcoming contribution to make to as thethey field and this amount of time why models predicting hundreds ofrose thousands of cases Leaders at the local a ing U.S.are home sales will the jump age of such homebuyers to year. sales price increased 1.2% in bad thing? did little to slow the flow sporting events, If you celebrating Easter seas d again, not vague answers, but answer journal.” are reliable. can be with those answ 14% next year. That’s more opEven so, affordability re- a record high of 40.

November from a year earlier of new “Ourinvestment.

Struggle IsThe My Struggle: Solidarity That is what reflect on this message and be comforte ments believability. concerts, family To date, I’ve gone along with what the state has asked and then with details that give th Homes purchased last timistic than several other to $409,200, an all-time high mains a challenge for many network pointed to recent Feminism anfamilies, Intersectional Reply to God’s example andWe comfort allallthose in what we can to keep as our free citizens mandated that we do, but along the way I’ve also had questions about should contin gatherings, housing economist forecasts, month likely went under conaspiring homeowners, espefor any November on data goannouncements from firms such se Neoliberal and Choice Feminism,” was difficult faith and by safe. But as we shouldand alsoAmazon, still continue which range time. from aThrough 1.7% to 9% tract in September and Octo- this first-time who leaders the data.

State buyers Republican have, too. services ourselves, and our com JetZero as church living in a free cially accepted for publication bywell Affilia, a ing back to 1999. confident we will emerge out of this pan increase. because while reasonable stay-at-home ber, when the average rate on a don’t have equity from an exHome prices have risen on Unfortunately, when certain types of questions get asked, there is to ask questions about as financial services s feminist journal forexpansions social workers. The and many more society were this same spirit, I continue to be in hey shouldinpaper also have an expiration Charlotte.

Just this week, sometimes a disturbing tendency among some people to treatInthose measures are understa consisted in part of adate. rewritten after our own supposed helping neighbors. and it is not normal. in any way, Citigroup andNot AssetMark saidTwo other passage from Mein Kampf. simply questioning the data and asking when we can start neighbors getting back This is all new to Am temporary In Concord, a shape, high school senior nam uld remainthey vigilant and stay safe,ofat including hoax papers were published, would add hundreds to do, last I to normal as though they are conspiracy theorists or are people who or form.

So whil .

“Rape Culture and Queer Performativity jobs in the region.

Earlier“new this money to buy a 3-D printer andwe plastic comfortable with this so-called sacrifices are otherwise don’t care if they get themselves or others sick. the same time shou checked. at UrbanCalifornia-based Dog Parks.” This paper’s subject summer, health care workers out of his own hom Since when did questioning government a bad normal.” over. at all levels become was dog-on-dog rape.

But for the dog rape BuildOps announced plans thing?

That is what free citizens living in a free society were supposed Not one little bit. eventually forcedwhile Boghossian, apaper sizable Raleigh office, to do, last I checked.

Pluckrose and Lindsay to prematurely out Amazon disclosed a multibillionn under the pseudonym Sister Toldjah My first concern as we go along in all this, of course, is my family. I’m Stacey Matthews has a themselves.

A Wall Street Journal writer dollar investment tied to new RedState and Legal Insurrection. had figured out what they were doing. worried about them catching the virus, and I’m worried I will. After and is a regular contri data centers in eastern North Some papers accepted for publication suffering from the H1N1 virus (swine flu) during the 2009 pandemic, Carolina. inCNBC academic journals advocated training I’ve been trying to take extra precautions, because all of this brings up evaluates all 50 states men like dogs and punishing white male across 10 weighted categories, way too many memories of a painful experience I’d prefer not to repeat. college students for historical slavery by awarding up to 2,500 points.

But what also makes me lose sleep is how easily most everyone has asking them to sit in silence on the floor in North Carolina finished with n chains during class and to be expected to agreement The new app will be held by ByteD1,614 bolstered by a Other papers learnpoints, from the discomfort. is expected to ance itself, and another 30.1% strong showing in the economy ity celebrated morbid obesity as a healthy life will be held by affiliates of exclose on Jan. 22 category, where it placed third choice and advocated treating privately isting ByteDance investors, behind Florida and Texas. The conducted masturbation as a form of according to the memo. The study solid against gross domestic d sexualcited violence women. Typically, memo did not say who the othBy Barbara Ortutay product growth and robust job ANJUM NAVEED / AP PHOTO as academic journal editors send submitted er investors are, and both TikThe Associated Press gains over year.for “While papers outthe to past referees review. In Tok and the White House de- TikTok will spin off a new U.S.-based company controlled by no state is more politically recommending acceptance for publication, clined to comment.

American investors, allowing the platform to keep operating SAN FRANCISCO — Tikmany reviewers these papers glowing divided than deepgave purple North The U.S. venture will have domestically.

Tok has signed agreements praise. both parties seem Carolina, a new, seven-member, majorwith three major investors — Political scientist Zach Goldberg ran to agree on the importance Oracle, Silver Lake and MGX ity-American board of direcss certain grievance of keeping businessstudies happy,”concepts through For several hours, it did. But on — to form a new TikTok U.S. tors, the memo said. It will also d the Lexis/Nexis database, to see how often CNBC’s report noted. his first day in office, President be subject to terms that “projoint venture, ensuring the they in our press over the years.

Theappeared ranking also highlighted “With these agreements Donald Trump signed an exectect Americans’ data and U.S. popular social video platform He found huge in the usages weaknesses.

Theincreases state placed utive order to keep it running national security.” can continue operating in the in place, our focus of “white privilege,” “unconscious bias,” near the bottom nationally while his administration tried U.S. user data will be stored United States. ng “critical theory” and “whiteness.” must stay where it’s in qualityrace of life, with CNBC to reach an agreement for the locally in a system run by OrThe deal is expected to close All of this is being taught to college pointing to limited worker sale of the company. acle.

The memo said U.S. usalways been — firmly on Jan. 22, according to an interstudents, many of whom become primary protections and gaps in Three more executive ornal memo seen by The Asso- ers will continue “enjoying the delivering for our users, c. and secondary school teachers who then antidiscrimination laws. The ders followed, as Trump, withsame experience as today” and ciated Press.

In the commuindoctrinate our young people. out a clear legal basis, continnication, CEO Shou Zi Chew advertisers will continue to creators, businesses state’s business climate was n I doubt whether the coronavirusued to extend the deadline for serve global audiences with no confirmed to employees that described as vulnerable to and the global TikTok caused financial crunch will give college a TikTok deal. The second was impact from the deal.

ByteDance and TikTok signed disasters, trade disruptions and o? and university administrators, who are a community.” in April, when White House ofTikTok’s algorithm — the the binding agreements with potential fallout from health care crossbreed between a parrot and jellyfish, ficials believed they were nearsecret sauce that powers its adthe consortium. policy changes.

The economic Shou Zi Chew, TikTok CEO the guts and backbone to restore academic ing a deal to spin off TikTok dictive video feed — will be re“I want to take this opportuimpact of Hurricane Helene, respectability. Far too often, they get much into a new company with U.S. which struck late in 2024, was of their political support from campusnity to thank you for your con- trained on U.S. user data to ownership that fell apart af“ensure the content feed is free tinued dedication and tireless not included in thewho analysis. grievance people are members of the ter China backed out followU.S. regulation passed with bifrom outside manipulation,” work.

Your efforts keep us opReaction stateand multicultural faculty andfrom diversity ing Trump’s tariff announcepartisan support said any dithe memo said.

The U.S. venerating at the highest level and administrative offices. leaders was swift.

Republican ment. The third came in June, vestment of TikTok must mean ture will also oversee content will ensure that TikTok continThe bestincluding hope liesHouse with boards of lawmakers, ues to grow and thrive in the moderation and policies with- the platform cuts ties — spe- then another in September, trustees, though many serve as yes-men Speaker Destin Hall (R-Granite cifically the algorithm — with which Trump said would alU.S. for the university president. a and around the world,” in the country.

Falls) and Rep. Brenden JonesI think that low TikTok to continue operByteDance.

American officials have preChew wrote in the memo to good start would be to GOPfind 1950s or 1960s (R-Columbus), credited The deal marks the end of ating in the United States in a employees.

“With these agree- viously warned that ByteDcatalogs.

Look at the course offerings at led reforms for the result. ments in place, our focus must ance’s algorithm is vulnerable years of uncertainty about the way that meets national secua time whenGov. college knew how Democratic Joshgraduates Stein rity concerns. to read, write and tone, compute, and makestay where it’s always been — to manipulation by Chinese fate of the popular video-sharstruck a bipartisan TikTok has more than 170 ing platform in the United authorities, who can use it firmly on delivering for our usthem today’s curricula. thanking former Gov. RoyAnother helpful million users in the U.S. About States.

After wide bipartisan to shape content on the platers, creators, businesses and tool would be to give careful consideration Cooper and lawmakers from the global TikTok community.” form in a way that’s difficult to majorities in Congress passed 43% of U.S. adults under the to eliminating all classes/majors/minors both parties, saying the state’s — and President Joe Biden age of 30 say they regularly get containing the word “studies,” such as Half of the new TikTok U.S. detect. people, universities, community signed — a law that would ban news from TikTok, higher than The algorithm has been a joint venture will be owned by women, Asian, black or queer studies. a group of investors — among central issue in the securi- TikTok in the U.S. if it did not any other social media app, incolleges andby infrastructure I’d bet that restoring the traditional them Oracle, Silver Lake and ty debate over TikTok. China find a new owner in the place cluding YouTube, Facebook continue help businesses andthey would academictomission to colleges, and Instagram, according to workers thrive. put a serious dent into the COVID-19the Emirati investment firm previously maintained the al- of China’s ByteDance, the plat-

VISUAL VOICES

s’

It’s okay to ask questions about when The we begin to get back to comfort normal and ho

TikTok deal forms new US unit with investors Oracle, Silver Lake

budget shortfall.

NORTH STATE JOURNAL STAFF

MGX, who will each hold a 15% share. Also, 19.9% of the

Walter E. Williams is a professor of economics at George Mason University.

gorithm must remain under Chinese control by law. But the

form was set to go dark on the law’s January 2025 deadline.

a Pew Research Center report published this fall.

A10 Musk recovers $55B pay package Elon Musk, already the world’s richest man, scored another huge windfall last Friday when the Delaware Supreme Court reversed a decision that deprived him of a $55 billion pay package that Tesla doled out in 2018 as an incentive for its CEO to steer the automaker to new heights. Besides padding Musk’s current fortune of $679 billion, the restoration of the 2018 pay package vindicates his long-held belief that the Delaware legal system had overstepped its bounds in January 2024 when Chancellor Kathaleen St. Jude McCormick rescinded the compensation in a case brought by a disgruntled Tesla shareholder.

Ford recalls over 270K electric, hybrid vehicles Ford is recalling more than 270,000 electric and hybrid vehicles in the U.S. because of a parking function problem that could lead to them rolling away. The Detroit automaker says the recall includes some 2022-26 F-150 Lightnings, 2024-26 Mustang Mach-Es and 2025-26 Mavericks. At issue is the integrated park module, which may fail to lock into the park position when the driver shifts into park. Ford says that it will implement a park module software update for free. Vehicle owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-4367332 for additional information.

Sony buys majority stake in “Peanuts” comic for $457M Sony is taking control of the beloved comic strip Peanuts.

The company is buying a 41% stake from Canadian owner WildBrain for $457 million. This deal, announced last Friday, increases Sony’s shareholding to 80%. The Schulz family will continue to own the remaining 20%.

Sony Music Entertainment’s president said the company is excited to elevate the Peanuts brand using Sony’s global network. Peanuts debuted in 1950 and has become a global phenomenon. Sony acquired its first stake in Peanuts Holdings in 2018. WildBrain also owns other kids’ entertainment franchises like Strawberry Shortcake and Teletubbies.

Instacart settles with FTC, faces pricing questions Delivery company Instacart will pay $60 million in customer refunds under a settlement reached with the Federal Trade Commission. The FTC said last Thursday that Instacart has been falsely advertising free deliveries and not disclosing service fees. It also said Instacart failed to disclose that customers who enrolled in a free trial would be charged membership fees. Instacart denied the allegations but said it reached a settlement to move forward. The San Francisco company is also facing questions about its pricing tools after a Consumer Reports study that showed customers were charged different prices by Instacart even though they were shopping the same store at the same time.

NCDOT CASH REPORT FOR THE WEEK ENDING DEC. 19

Beginning Cash

$2,467,778,189 Receipts (income)

$93,493,353 Disbursements

$184,730,727 Cash Balance

$2,376,540,815

North State Journal for Thursday, December 25, 2025

Walmart, US companies want to build pipeline of skilled tradespeople The retail giant aims to put 4,000 workers through their training program by 2030

By Anne D’Innocenzio The Associated Press BENTONVILLE, Ark. — As the number of skilled tradespeople dwindles in the United States, Walmart is trying to build up its workforce to keep conveyor belts moving, refrigerated grocery cases cold, and drains and parking lots flowing.

The nation’s largest retailer and private employer revamped its training program last year to increase the pipeline of maintenance technicians who do everything from repair equipment to electrical work at Walmart’s distribution centers and stores — jobs that have become increasingly difficult to fill because of a shrinking labor pool.

The shortage has opened opportunities for people like Liz Cardenas, 24, who started at Walmart in May 2023 as an automation equipment operator at a distribution center in Lancaster, Texas, making sure boxes were securely taped and went through a conveyor belt upright.

Today, she is responsible for fixing conveyor belts and other equipment when they break at distribution centers.

Cardenas, who nearly doubled her hourly pay to $43.50 per hour, said she plans to pursue more training, which will mean an even higher salary and more responsibility. It also means financial freedom.

“I was able to move out of my parents’ house,” she said. “I have my own apartment. I was able to get a car, and I’m able to give more to my 401(k).”

A surge of retirements, along with a slowdown in immigration that began during the pandemic but now is accelerating with President Donald Trump’s aggressive deportations, are among the main factors behind

labor shortages that bedevil some employers, analysts say.

But in skilled trades, the problem is even more acute.

Consulting firm McKinsey analyzed 12 types of trade job categories, including maintenance technicians, welders and carpenters, and predicted an estimated imbalance of 20 job openings for every one net new employee from 2022 to 2032.

Business Roundtable, a lobbying group of CEOs from roughly 150 companies representing millions of employees nationwide, launched in June a new initiative to address worker shortages in skilled trades, including maintenance technicians.

“While technology continues to evolve, it cannot replace plumbers, electricians, construction workers, maintenance and repair pros, or other tradespeople,” said Marvin Ellison, chairman and CEO of Lowe’s.

For its part, Lowe’s in 2022 started a 90-day online training program for employees who want to pursue jobs like carpentry and utility maintenance.

Separately, its charitable arm has invested $43 million since 2023 to 60 organizations, including technical colleges and nonprofit groups, to help recruit and train skilled tradespeople like maintenance technicians and plumbers.

Mervin Jebaraj of the University of Arkansas’s Walton College of Business in Fayetteville, Arkansas, noted these programs will help ease the shortages, but they won’t eliminate the gap, particularly given Trump’s clampdown on immigration.

“For as long as somebody physically needs to fix this, the shortage will persist, even though on the margins it’ll mitigate some of the shortage,” he said. “We don’t have enough people.”

Walmart CEO Doug McMillon recently said he believes part of the reason for the

CHARLIE RIEDEL / AP PHOTO

Maintenance technician Liz Cardenas works on an electronics test platform at a training area in a Walmart distribution center in September in Bentonville, Arkansas.

“While technology continues to evolve, it cannot replace plumbers, electricians, construction workers, maintenance and repair pros, or other tradespeople.”

Marvin Ellison, chairman and CEO of Lowe’s shortages is “lack of awareness.”

“I think most Americans probably don’t know what a tech makes that helps take care of our stores and clubs and that we can help them learn how to be a tech,” he said. “So we have a need to get the word out so that people know there are some great jobs.”

Walmart revamped its training program in the spring of 2024, focusing on its own workers with a tuition-free training initiative in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. This year, it added new training sites in Vincennes, Indiana, and Jacksonville, Flor-

Ga. regulators approve huge electric generation increase for data centers Many opponents oppose any new generation fueled by natural gas

By Jeff Amy The Associated Press ATLANTA — Georgia’s only private electric utility plans to increase power capacity by 50% after state regulators on Friday agreed 5-0 that the plan is needed to meet projected demand from data centers.

It would be one of the biggest buildouts in the U.S. to meet the insatiable electricity demand from developers of artificial intelligence. The construction cost would be $16.3 billion, but staff members say customers will pay $50 billion to $60 billion over the coming decades, including interest costs and guaranteed profit for the monopoly utility.

Georgia Power Co. and the Public Service Commission pledge large users will more than pay for their costs, and that spreading fixed costs over more customers could help significantly cut residents’ power bills beginning in 2029.

“Large energy users are paying more so families and small businesses can pay less, and that’s a great result for Georgians,” Georgia Power CEO Kim Greene said in a statement after the vote.

But opponents say the five elected Republicans on the commission are greenlighting a risky bet by the utility to chase data center customers with existing ratepayers left holding the bag if demand doesn’t materialize.

“The need for 10,000 megawatts of new capacity resources on the system in the next six years isn’t here,” said Bob Sherrier, a lawyer representing some

JEFF AMY / AP PHOTO

Protestors are escorted out of a Georgia Public Service Commission meeting Dec. 19 in Atlanta. opponents. “It just isn’t, and it may never be.”

The approval came less than two months after voters rebuked GOP leadership, ousting two incumbent Republicans on the commission in favor of Democrats by overwhelming margins. Those two Democrats won in campaigns that centered on six Georgia Power rate increases commissioners have allowed in recent years, even though the company agreed to a three-year rate freeze in July.

Peter Hubbard and Alicia Johnson — the Democrats who will take office Jan. 1 — opposed Friday’s vote. But current commissioners refused to delay.

Electric bills have emerged as a potent political issue in Georgia and nationwide, with grassroots opposition to data centers partly based on fears that other customers will subsidize power demands of technology behemoths.

Georgia Power is the largest

unit of Atlanta-based Southern Co. It says it needs 10,000 megawatts of new capacity — enough to power 4 million Georgia homes — with 80% of that flowing to data centers. The company has 2.7 million customers today, including homes, businesses and industries.

Whether the company’s projections of a huge increase in demand will pan out has been the central argument. Georgia Power and commission staff agreed Dec. 9 to allow the company to build or acquire all the desired capacity, despite staff earlier saying the company’s forecast included too much speculative construction.

In return, the company agreed that after the current rate freeze ends in 2028, it would use revenue from new customers to place “downward pressure” on rates through 2031. That would amount to at least $8.50 a month, or $102 a year, for a typical residential

ida. The initiative combines hands-on instruction and classroom learning in fields like heating, ventilation, air conditioning, electrical work and general maintenance.

As of mid-November, almost 400 employees had graduated from the program, Walmart said. With its first class of 108 associates who completed the Dallas/Fort Worth pilot program, every graduate secured a technician role, putting them on a path to earn an average of $32 per hour.

Maintenance technician roles are crucial to keeping Walmart’s operations running smoothly, but especially so during the holiday season.

For example, if a refrigeration system goes down within a Walmart store, it could cost up to $300,000 to $400,000 worth of lost product, according to Zanes.

“We’ve got to stay out in front of that,” he said. “We have to ensure that we’ve got the right skills there to do preventative maintenance, and when we do have a breakdown, to make sure that we get it back up as fast as possible to minimize that cost of downtime.”

customer. That customer currently pays more than $175 a month, including taxes.

“So we’re taking advantage of the upsides from this additional revenue but allow it to shift the downside and the risk over to the company. And I’m real proud of that,” Commission Chairman Jason Shaw said after the vote.

But “downward pressure” doesn’t guarantee a rate decrease.

“It doesn’t mean your bills are going down,” said Liz Coyle, executive director of consumer group Georgia Watch. “It means that maybe they’re not going up as fast.”

Existing customers would pay for part of the construction program that doesn’t serve data centers. More importantly, opponents fear Georgia Power’s pledge of rate relief can’t be enforced or won’t hold up over the 40-plus years needed to pay off new natural gas-fired power plants.

In a news conference, Hubbard likened it to a mortgage “to build a massive addition to your home for a new roommate, big tech.”

“If in 10 years, the AI bubble bursts or the data centers move to a cheaper state, then the roommate moves out, but the mortgage doesn’t go away,” he said.

Staff members say the commission must watch demand closely and that if data centers don’t use as much power as projected, Georgia Power must drop agreements to purchase wholesale power, close its least efficient generating plants and seek additional customers.

Many opponents warn carbon emissions will worsen climate change. Some opponents were escorted out of the commission meeting by police after they began chanting, “Nay! Nay! Nay! The people say nay!”

“Increased natural gas output for the sake of these silicon billionaire kings seems like a lose-lose,” opponent Zak Norton told commissioners Friday.

A11

North State Journal for Thursday, December 25, 2025

features Greensboro venue built by music fans, for music fans on schedule The Pyrle takes shape on Elm Street

By Dan Reeves North State Journal GREENSBORO — What once felt like a construction site with a dream attached now feels unmistakably real. On this visit, with paint going up, tile going down and bar stools on order, Will Stewart and Dom Amendum say the finish line is finally in sight. Outside, The Pyrle sign now hangs over Elm Street — a symbolic milestone that makes the whole thing feel official.

“We’re basically working on getting all of our final inspections done,” Stewart said, ticking off city signoffs and a certificate of occupancy as the last major hurdles. Windows are about to be painted, interior finishes are being installed, and furniture and fixtures are being locked in. “It’s getting close.”

The project grew out of a simple, shared frustration. Stewart is one of five friends — alongside Durant Bell, Daniel McCoy, Arthur Samet and Jeff Yetter — with deep Greensboro ties who bought the former Triad Stage building in 2024 because they were tired of leaving town to see the kinds of shows they wanted to experience. Rather than complain about it, they decided to build the room they wished already existed.

From the start, the goal was to design a venue the way music fans actually experience shows.

The group brought in WORKS Architecture, a nationally recognized firm, and paired them with local contractors to translate that vision into bricks, steel and soundproofing.

That local fingerprint shows up everywhere. Stewart’s brother is handling the millwork.

Thompson Traders is fabricating sinks for the lobby and VIP bathrooms. Vivid Interiors, just down the road, helped land on finishes and furniture.

“It’s been fun having five members, their spouses and now a whole team weighing in,” Amendum said with a laugh.

“Everyone’s got an opinion.”

Behind the scenes, the business side is moving just as quickly. ABC permits will be filed as soon as the certificate of occupancy is issued.

“We’ve already done the fingerprinting,” Stewart said.

“We’ve got an attorney and everything lined up so we can move as soon as we’re allowed.”

That urgency matters because The Pyrle’s dance card is already penciled in. The first public show is scheduled for Feb.

PJ WARD-BROWN / NORTH STATE JOURNAL

A sign for The Pyrle theater hangs in front of the new venue in Greensboro.

“In five years, you’ll see that gap fill in between the Tanger Center and the south end of Elm Street. The Pyrle will be the anchor.”

Will Stewart

PJ WARD-BROWN / NORTH STATE JOURNAL

A view of the main room at The Pyrle in Greensboro, seen from the upper level while still under construction.

27, bridging a run of soft openings into full national booking.

“We went back and forth on that first date,” Amendum said.

“At some point you have to start the calendar and take the leap.

We felt like we could.”

By March, they expect to be at a full sprint.

“The calendar’s pretty stacked,” Amendum said.

“We’re going to hit the ground running.”

A big reason that’s possible is the venue’s partnership with Knitting Factory, the longtime national promoter. Knitting Factory handles the calendar and talent buying, but the owners keep control of the room.

“If we’ve got a special event, that always takes priority,” Amendum said. “They’re incredibly plugged in. If there’s an art-

ist we believe in, they know exactly who to call.”

The structure itself is doing a lot of work. The first two and a half floors house the venue and a cocktail bar that will operate six days a week, whether there’s a show on the calendar or not.

Upstairs, Stitch Design Shop has signed a lease for part of the second floor, while the rear of the building is being carved into a proper artist compound: a green room, three private dressing rooms, showers and laundry.

That layout came directly from conversations with touring musicians living a nomadic existence, hopping from one town to another for months at a time.

“They all say the same thing,” Stewart said. “Shower. Washer. Dryer. Anything after that is gravy.”

The team is also building out a menu of local services for visiting artists — everything from yoga and haircuts to IV therapy. One idea that’s already proven popular elsewhere: puppy playdates with adoptable dogs.

“Artists are on a tour bus all the time,” Amendum said. “Apparently having puppies show up for an hour or two is a huge win.”

Another floor is designed as flexible space, able to shift from VIP meet-and-greets and after-show DJ sets to comedy nights, graduation parties and corporate events. One of The Pyrle’s marketing partners, Ricochet, will also take office space there.

Community use is baked into the plan. Amendum recently walked the building with Greensboro police officials to talk security and broader collaboration. Not long after, GPD asked to host its GSO CAN public safety initiative in the space on select Saturday mornings.

Southern sleuth Benoit Blanc charms in ‘Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery’ The third installment of Rian Johnson’s mystery franchise is not the best

By Bob Garver The Sun SINCE THIS weekend’s highest-grossing-as-yet-unreviewed theatrical film, 205-minute Indian actioner “Dhurandhar,” is playing on only 377 screens in the entire country, I thought I’d take this opportunity to review something a little more accessible. “Wake Up Dead Man” is the third installment of Rian Johnson’s “Knives Out” mystery franchise. Like its predecessor “Glass Onion,” “Wake Up Dead Man” is treating fans to a brief theatrical run to supplement its Dec. 12 Netflix debut.

As with the original “Knives Out” from 2019, the whodunit largely follows a character so likely to be the killer that they

start to suspect themselves. Jud Duplenticy (Josh O’Connor) is the assistant pastor at Our Lady of Perpetual Fortitude Church in upstate New York, having been assigned there as punishment for punching a rude deacon at his old church. He clashes with head pastor Monsignor Jefferson Wicks (Josh Brolin) over the church leader’s tendency to verbally browbeat unfamiliar parishioners until they leave.

Duplenticy wants people to feel welcome in the church, and he also takes issue with Wicks’ drinking, greed and general corruption. A rivalry and power struggle develop between the two, and it seems like control of both the church and the souls of Wicks’ inner circle are on the line.

Wicks’ inner circle consists of lawyer Vera Draven (Kerry Washington) and her adopted brother Cy (Daryl McCormack), doctor Nat Sharp

(Jeremy Renner, sadly making no reference to the actor lending his name to a brand of hot sauce in “Glass Onion”), washed-up sci-fi author Lee Ross (Andrew Scott), disabled cellist Simone Vivane (Cailee Spaeny), church groundskeeper Samson Holt (Thomas Haden… Church, appropriately), and longtime church assistant Martha Delacroix (Glenn Close). These people and Duplenticy are the only ones near the pulpit during a Good Friday service when Wicks is found murdered in a closet off to one side. And the one who went closest to the closet during the service was Duplenticy.

Local police chief Geraldine Scott (Mila Kunis) decides that the case is too bizarre for her department to solve on their own.

So she reaches out to an… outside resource. In comes private investigator and franchise face Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig). Although Blanc can’t exactly rule

out Duplenticy as a suspect, he’s a good enough judge of character to know that the kindhearted redemption-seeker probably didn’t kill Wicks, even if the evidence says otherwise. Still, both Blanc and Duplenticy have a job ahead of them, uncovering layer after layer of secrets involving illegitimate children, a crazed mother, a missing family fortune, more deaths and a person in a pastoral robe emerging from a sealed mausoleum containing the recently deceased body of Wicks and the skeletal remains of his grandfather. Did a Dead Man truly Wake Up in a Christ-like miracle? Devout Duplenticy believes one may have.

Atheist Blanc highly doubts it, but then what did happen?

Fans of the “Knives Out” movies (and the similarly timed Kenneth Branagh Hercule Poirot trilogy) will know to wait patiently for Blanc to unravel the convoluted mystery. For

“It was a no-brainer,” Amendum said. “It brings people from all parts of Greensboro into the same room to talk about issues that affect public safety.”

Local institutions are lining up too. UNCG’s new popular music program is exploring student showcases and “final exam” concerts at the venue. There are also conversations about apprenticeships in sound, lighting and arts administration with UNCG, Guilford College and GTCC’s audio engineering program.

“That’s a pipeline for us,” Amendum said. “We can help train young professionals and, at the same time, give 18- to 22-year-olds a great place to experience live music.”

Underneath all of it is a serious audiovisual backbone.

The Pyrle is installing a top-tier Meyer sound system, including new subwoofers, along with a large LED wall and high-end projection setup. The goal is flexibility — concerts, film festivals, talks and corporate presentations for organizations tired of hotel ballrooms.

Then there’s the bar. Amendum and Stewart are betting on a cocktail program that feels like a destination, not an afterthought. Full craft cocktails will sit alongside tallboys, and the bar will stay open after shows so people can linger.

“At a lot of venues, the lights come up and everyone’s pushed out,” Amendum said. “Here, the show ends and you go grab a drink, talk about the night. Maybe the artist comes out. That’s how you build connection.”

On nonshow nights, the space will still lean into music — concert films, live recordings, themed video nights on the screens.

“You’re still in a music venue,” Stewart said. “Even if there isn’t someone on stage.”

Looking ahead, both see The Pyrle as a missing link in Greensboro’s live-music ecosystem — a room sized for acts that have outgrown small clubs but want something more intimate than the Tanger Center.

“No shade on Tanger — it’s a great addition to the city,” Amendum said. “But that’s a seated, buttoned-up experience.

This is going to feel like a party.

You can stand. You can dance.

You can have a drink.”

Stewart believes the ripple effects will extend beyond the building itself.

“In five years, you’ll see that gap fill in between the Tanger Center and the south end of Elm Street,” he said. “The Pyrle will be the anchor.”

Amendum imagines something even simpler: A downtown where the default weekend plan is just to head for Elm Street.

“I’d love for this to be the first place people think of,” he said.

“You don’t need a plan. You just come down here because there’s always something going on.”

as twisty as these stories are, there’s a loose but recognizable formula to them. Characters take turns as prime suspects as lies are uncovered and secrets revealed until likely theories are disproven and the solution has to be something else. The solution, at least as it pertains to the “How?” is never apparent from the outset, so it’s up to the audience to just enjoy the ride, usually courtesy of Blanc and his ridiculous Southern charm. This ride is less fun than the other “Knives Out” movies, with its often-serious looks at faith, betrayal and forgiveness, and also because it takes Blanc longer than usual to show up. But it’s still fun and certainly clever enough for me to recommend.

“Wake Up Dead Man” may not be the sharpest of the “Knives Out” franchise, but it fits into the drawer just fine.

Grade: B“Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery” is now available on Netflix. The film is rated PG13 for violent content, bloody images, strong language, some crude sexual material and smoking. Its running time is 144 minutes.

A12

North State Journal for Thursday, December 25, 2025

PEN & PAPER PURSUITS

sudoku

solutions LAST WEEK

TAKE NOTICE

CUMBERLAND NOTICE TO CREDITORS ESTATE OF JACK BEHAR CUMBERLAND County Estate File No. 25E001653-250 All persons, firms and corporations having claims against Jack Behar, deceased, of Cumberland County, North Carolina, are notified to present their claims to Carlee Cummings, Co-Executor, at P.O. Box 81, Pembroke, NC 28372 and Benjamin David Crumpler, Co-Executor, at 105 John St., Fayetteville, NC 28305, on or before the 12th day of March, 2026 (which date is three months after the day of the first 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 CoExecutors named above.

This the 2nd day of December, 2025.

Carlee Cummings Benjamin Davis Crumpler Co-Executors of the Estate of Jack Behar Davis W. Puryear Hutchens Law Firm Attorneys for the Estate 4317 Ramsey Street Fayetteville, NC 28311 Run dates: December 11, December 18, December 25, 2025 and January 1, 2026

NOTICE TO CREDITORS In The General Court of Justice Superior Court Division Before the Clerk Estate File #23E001865-250 State of North Carolina County of Cumberland Estate of Marilyn Whichard Cashwell, deceased.

The undersigned, having qualified as Executor of the estate of Marilyn Whichard Cashwell, deceased, late of Cumberland County, North Carolina, hereby notifies all persons, firms, and corporations having claims against said estate to present their claim to the undersigned on or before March 18, 2026,(which date is three months after the day of the first 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.

Mail claims to: Jill Cashwell Newlan, Executor 2720 H Bullard Road Hope Mills, NC 28348 This 15th day December, 2025.

Jill Cashwell Newlan, Executor

NOTICE In the General Court of Justice of Justice Superior Court Division Before the Clerk Estate File #25E001083-250 STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA CUMBERLAND COUNTY ADMINISTRATION NOTICE The undersigned having Qualified as Executor of the Estate of Denny Davis, 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 4h day of March 2026, (which date is three months after the day of the first publication of this notice) or this notice will be in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to the estate will make immediate payment to the undersigned. This is the 24th day of November, 2025. Administrator of the Estate of Denny Davis.

Sandra Davis 651 Wood Church Rd. Louisburg, NC 27549

NOTICE

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

NOTICE

NOTICE

In The General Court of Justice Superior Court Division Before the Clerk Estate file #25E001671-250 STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA CUMBERLAND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR NOTICE The undersigned having qualified as Executor of the Estate of Doris Ann Maxwell English, 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 11th day of March, 2026, (which date is three months after the day of the first 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 8th day of December 2025.

Administrator of the Estate of Doris Ann Maxwell English PO Box 53473 Fayetteville, NC 28305

ESTATE OF DEREK JON GERDESa CUMBERLAND County Estate File No. 25E001817-250 All persons, firms and corporations having claims against Derek Jon Gerdes, deceased, of Cumberland County, North Carolina, are notified to present their claims to Kathryn Marie Gerdes, Administrator, at 11807 Breton Ct 22, Reston, VA 20191, on or before the 19th day of March, 2026 (which date is three months after the day of the first 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 15th day of December, 2025.

Kathryn Marie Gerdes Administrator of the Estate of Derek Jon Gerdes Davis W. Puryear Hutchens Law Firm Attorneys for the Estate 4317 Ramsey Street Fayetteville, NC 28311 Run dates: December 18 and December 25, 2025, January 1 and January 8, 2026

NORTH CAROLINA CUMBERLAND COUNTY IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION BEFORE THE CLERK FILE NUMBER: 25E001903-250 In the Matter of the Estate of: ARTHUR EARL MCCOY Deceased.

ADMINISTRATOR’S NOTICE The undersigned, having qualified as Administrator of the Estate of Arthur Earl McCoy, deceased, late of Cumberland County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against said Estate to present them to the undersigned on or before March 25, 2026 (which is three (3) months after the day of the first publication of this notice), or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons, firms and corporations indebted to said estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned.

THIS the 25th day of December, 2025.

Shirlean McCoy, Administrator of the Estate of Arthur Earl McCoy, Deceased c/o J. Thomas Neville Yarborough, Winters & Neville, P.A. P.O. Box 705 Fayetteville, NC 28302-0705 Publish: 12/25/2025, 01/01/2026, 01/08/2026 and 01/15/2026

STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA In The General Court Of Justice County of Cumberland Superior Court Division Estate File #25E001927-250 Administrator’s/ Executor’s Notice The undersigned, having qualified as the executor of the Estate of Etsuko Smith, deceased, late of Cumberland County, hereby notifies all persons, firms, and corporations having claims against said estate to present their claim to the undersigned on or before the 25th day of March, 2026, (which is three months after the date of the first 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 25th day of December, 2025.

Carolyn Bounds (Executor) 5201 Rockingham Rd. (Address) Fayetteville, NC, 28311 (City, State, Zip) Of the Estate of Etsuko Smith, Deceased

NOTICE State of North Carolina County of Cumberland In The General Court Of Justice Superior Court Division Estaate File # 25E001785-250 Executor’s Notice The undersigned, having qualified as executor of the Estate of Mrs. Hattie Mace Fowler, Deceased, late of Cumberland County, hereby notifies all persons, firms, and corporations, having claims against said estate to present their claim to the undersigned on or before the 11 day of March, 2026, (which date is three months after the day of the first 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 11 day of December, 2025.

Executor 1019 Hillsboro Street Fayetteville, NC 28301 Of The Estate of Hattie Mace Fowler, Deceased.

NOTICE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA CUMBERLAND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR NOTICE The undersigned having qualified as Executor of the Estate of Gregory G. Gates, deceased, late of Cumberland County, hereby notifies all persons, firms, and corporations having claims against said estate to present their claim to the undersigned on or before the 4th day for March 2026 (which date is three months after the day of the first 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 24th day of November 2025.

Stephanie Keating 289 Tree Pharm Dr St. Pauls, NC 28384 Executor of the Estate of Gregory G. Gates.

NOTICE TO CREDITORS ESTATE OF ERIC COLIN HENDERSON CUMBERLAND County Estate File No. 25E001692-250 All persons, firms and corporations having claims against Eric Colin Henderson, deceased, of Cumberland County, North Carolina, are notified to present their claims to Davis W. Puryear, Administrator, at 4317 Ramsey St., Fayetteville, NC 28311, on or before the 19th day of March, 2026 (which date is three months after the day of the first 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 15th day of December, 2025.

Davis W. Puryear Administrator of the Estate of Eric Colin Henderson Davis W. Puryear Hutchens Law Firm Attorneys for the Estate 4317 Ramsey Street Fayetteville, NC 28311 Run dates: December 18 and December 25, 2025, January 1 and January 8, 2026

NOTICE TO CREDITORS ESTATE OF MIHOKO KNOX CUMBERLAND County Estate File No. 25E001672-250 All persons, firms and corporations having claims against Mihoko Knox, deceased, of Cumberland County, North Carolina, are notified to present their claims to Jewett D. Brown, Executor, at 1416 Elma St., Spring Lake, NC 28390, on or before the 5th day of March, 2026 (which date is three months after the day of the first publication of this notice), or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery.

Debtors of the Decedent are requested to make immediate payment to the Executor named above.

This the 25th day of November, 2025.

Jewett D. Brown Executor of the Estate of Mihoko Knox Davis W. Puryear Hutchens Law Firm Attorneys for the Estate 4317 Ramsey Street Fayetteville, NC 28311 Run dates: December 4, December 11, December 18 and December 25, 2025

NOTICE CUMBERLAND COUNTY NOTICE TO CREDITORS IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION ESTATE FILE NO. 25E001770-250 STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF CUMBERLAND Having qualified as Executor of the Estate of Ronnie V. McCumber, deceased, the undersigned does hereby notify all persons, firms, and corporations having claims against the Estate of said decedent, to exhibit them to the undersigned at 405 13th Ave. S Apt. C, Myrtle Beach, SC 29577 on or before 30th day of March, 2026, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons, firms, and corporations indebted to the Estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned.

This the 25th day of December, 2025.

Won C. McCumber, Executor Estate of Ronnie V. McCumber

Notice to Creditors ALL PERSONS, firms and corporations having claims against George Franklin Mitchell Jr., deceased, of Cumberland County N.C., are notified to exhibit the same to the undersigned on or before March 18, 2026, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of recovery. Debtors of the decedent are asked to make immediate payment.

This 18th day of December, 2025.

Mark D. Mitchell Administer, 310 75th Ave N. Unit 10, Myrtle Beach, SC 29572.

The North State Journal December 18, 25, 2025, Jan.1, 8, 2026.

NOTICE TO CREDITORS Estate of Robert Leslie Smith, Jr. a/k/a Robert L. Smith, Jr. a/k/a Robert L. Smith Cumberland County Estate File No. 25E001779-250 All persons, firms and corporations having claims against Robert Leslie Smith, Jr. a/k/a Robert L. Smith, Jr. a/k/a Robert L. Smith, Deceased, of Cumberland County, North Carolina, are notified to present their claims to David Neal Smith, Executor of the Estate of Robert Leslie Smith, Jr. a/k/a Robert L. Smith, Jr. a/k/a Robert L. Smith, at 4010 Bankshire Lane, Raleigh, NC 27603, on or before the 6th day of March, 2026, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. Debtors of Robert Leslie Smith, Jr. a/k/a Robert L. Smith, Jr. a/k/a Robert L. Smith are requested to make immediate payment to the Executor named above.

This the 4th day of December, 2025.

David Neal Smith, Executor of the Estate of Robert Leslie Smith, Jr. a/k/a Robert L. Smith, Jr. a/k/a Robert L. Smith Williford McCauley - Attorney for the Estate of Robert Leslie Smith, Jr. a/k/a Robert L. Smith, Jr. a/k/a Robert L. Smith Mailing address: P. O. Box 53606 Fayetteville, NC 28305 Physical address: 235 Green Street Fayetteville, NC 28301

NSJ’s 2025 athlete and college team of the year, B3

BRYNN ANDERSON / AP PHOTO

Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young (9) “breathes through the pain” after throwing a late-game touchdown pass to help lead a comeback win over the Falcons and win the NSJ 2025 Play of the Year award.

the Thursday SIDELINE REPORT

MLS

NC State’s Markovic taken first overall in SuperDraft NC State defender Nikola Markovic was the first overall draft pick in the 2026 MLS SuperDraft. Markovic went to D.C. United, becoming the highest-drafted Wolfpack player in history. Other area players drafted in the first round included Wake Forest’s Harvey Sarajian (Orlando, fifth), UNC Greensboro’s Enzo Dovlo (Atlanta, 12th) and Issah Haruna (Orlando, 20th), NC State’s Justin McLean (Portland, 15th) UNC’s Jack Sandmeyer (Chicago, 18th) and Dylan Kropp (Salt Lake, 25th), and High Point’s Daniel Lugo (Vancouver, 29th)

7 area players taken in later rounds The MLS SuperDraft went a total of three rounds. Here are the players from area schools who were taken in round two: Kenan Hot, Duke (Miami, 32nd), Calem Tommy, NC State (Houston, 39th), Jefferson Amaya, High Point (Salt Lake, 42nd). And round three: Tate Lorentz, Wake Forest (Montreal, 63rd), Koven Johnson, High Point (Colorado, 70th), Isaac Heffess, NC State (Columbus, 79th) and Luca Nikolai, UNC (New York, 87th).

Charlotte FC takes 3 players Charlotte FC had the No. 22 pick in each of the 2026 MLS SuperDraft’s three rounds.

Here’s a look at the newest additions to the team.

Round 1 (22 overall):

Defender Will Cleary, Stanford

Round 2 (52 overall):

Defender Luke Adams, Tulsa

Round 3 (82 overall):

Goalkeeper Jahiem Wickham, South Florida

NSJ PLAY OF THE YEAR

Young returns from injury to lead Panthers rally

2017: Luke Maye’s shot leads UNC past Kentucky 2018: Graham Gano hits 63-yard field goal

A return from a midgame ankle injury symbolized Carolina’s never-say-die season

2019: Andrei Svechnikov’s lacrosse goal 2020: Aamir Simms’ shot gives Clemson its first win at UNC

By Shawn Krest North State Journal AT THE TIME North State Journal staff selected the 2025 end of year award winners, it wasn’t clear if the Carolina Panthers would make the playoffs. The team alternated wins and losses for literally half the season, and a road loss to New Orleans dropped the team to .500.

If the NFL graded on drama, however, the Panthers would have already wrapped up the home field advantage as the top team in the league.

There were comebacks, late-game scoring drives and razor-thin margins of victory.

All-time winners NSJ Play of the Year

2021: Cam Newton scores touchdowns in first two snaps of return 2022: UNC and Duke tip off at Final Four

MIKE STEWART / AP PHOTO

Panthers quarterback Bryce Young is helped up after a play against the Falcons during the Panthers’ dramatic overtime win.

After a 30-0 shutout of Atlanta for Carolina’s first win of the season, the Panthers’ next six wins came by a total of 22

points — all one-possession margins and five by just a field

2023: Sam Hartman’s 4th-and-16 conversion breaks Duke’s heart 2024: Michael O’Connell’s shot keeps NC State’s miracle run alive 2025: Bryce Young returns from mid-game injury to lead Panthers’ comeback

See PLAY, page B2

NSJ PRO TEAM OF THE YEAR

23XI helped reshape NASCAR for the future in monumental lawsuit All-time winners NSJ Pro Team of the Year 2017: Durham Bulls 2018: Team Penske racing 2019: Carolina Hurricanes 2020: Hendrick Motorsports 2021: Carolina Hurricanes 2022: Durham Bulls 2023: Carolina Hurricanes 2024: Charlotte FC 2025: 23XI Racing

Michael Jordan’s racing team stood up to the sport’s governing body

By Shawn Krest North State Journal OUR CHOICE for North State Journal’s 2025 professional team of the year was eliminated from the championship hunt with a month to go in the season. Their best driver finished ninth in the final standings, and the team’s three drivers combined for one win, one exhibition win and two poles.

There are plenty of teams — men’s and women’s, major and minor league — who can make a case that they had a better year on the courts, fields, tracks and ice around the state.

“If I have to fight this to the end for the betterment of the sport, I will do it.”

Michael Jordan The Hurricanes reached the Eastern Conference final and are midway through another successful season as 2025 comes to an end. The Panthers took a big step forward, competing for their first playoff berth since the days of Cam Newton. Charlotte FC made the playoffs.

Years from now, however, no one will remember the battle for the NFC South division crown, the AHL Calder Cup

Finals or even Tyler Reddick’s top-10 finish in the NASCAR Cup Series points race.

On the other hand, the accomplishments of the pro team of the year for 2025 will reshape a sport for years to come and should stand as a milestone in the evolution of the entire industry.

NASCAR’s 23XI team, co-owned by Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin, is North State Journal’s pro team of the year for 2025 on the basis of its historic win over the racing organization in a court case that occupied most of the year before getting settled in December.

Throughout the last decade, NASCAR’s charter system has evolved, adding stability to the sport. The organization grants charters to a number of racing teams, ensuring that they can enter every Cup Series race of the season and giving them a guaranteed share of income.

They serve a role similar to franchise agreements and were See TEAM, page B2

B2

North State Journal for Thursday, December 25, 2025

NSJ NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR

From Duke to Charlotte, Knueppel exceeds expectations In addition to threatening rookie shooting records, Kon Knueppel has a well-rounded game

PLAY from page B1 goal. There was an overtime win and two last-second field goals.

Obviously, that leaves a large number of candidates for the 2025 play of the year.

It could be Bryce Young’s pass to Tetairoa McMillan on fourth down, with the Panthers trailing Miami 17-0. The play went 21 yards for a first, setting up a 10-point rally that had the Panthers down by just a score at halftime. Young threw touchdowns to Xavier Legette, who was battling an early-season slump, and backup tight end Mitchell Evans as Carolina got a comeback win.

Young also had another fourth-down pass, to Hunter Renfrow, to continue the game-winning drive against Dallas. Kicker Ryan Fitzgerald knocked down the decisive kick as time expired.

There was Rico Dowdle’s touchdown against Green Bay

2018: Marvin Bagley III, Duke basketball

2020: Social justice in sports 2021: 4 people filling big shoes (Nina King, Jon Scheyer, Hubert Davis, Mike Elko) 2022: Drake Maye, UNC football 2023: Joey Aguilar, App State football 2024: Sports gambling in N.C. 2025: Kon Knueppel, Charlotte Hornets

just five free throws, for a .923 percentage. That’s fourth in the entire league, behind all-stars Kawhi Leonard and Ja Morant as well as Desmond Bane.

The deeper you look into the numbers, the better Knueppel is. Over the three-game stretch starting just after he won the NSJ Newcomer voting, Knueppel scored 90 points, with 19 assists and a True Shooting Percentage (which combines free throws, 3s and twos) of .733.

He’s the first NBA rookie to have a three-game stretch that hits those marks since Michael Jordan in 1985.

Five times this season, Knueppel has scored at least 25 points with five rebounds, five assists and five 3-pointers. Only Curry and Cade Cunningham had more as rookies.

Knueppel has blended with playmaker LaMelo Ball and wing Brandon Miller, giving the Hornets a core of three young

players. The trio helped light up Cleveland in mid-December, tying an NBA record for most 3-pointers in a half.

“It didn’t feel, at least to me, like we were taking turns or whatever,” Knueppel said. “It felt very natural within the flow of the offense. We were just creating great shots for each other, and that’s how we want to play. … We ended with 39 assists on 49 made shots. That’s pretty good ball.”

Ball seems thrilled to have Knueppel on the floor with him.

“We’ve got so many weapons now, so I ain’t got to force anything,” he said.

“The thing that I love about Kon is his mentality to do whatever it takes to win,” coach Charles Lee said.

“Dude is fearless. He has one thing on his mind, and that is to win and compete. He has done it from the first day he got to Charlotte. You see it in his individual workouts. You see it in what he did to help our summer league team win a championship.”

It took him two seasons to get it, but you also see it in his North State Journal Newcomer of the Year award.

the charter agreement. Instead, they filed suit against NASCAR and drove without a charter last year. That meant that their drivers could only enter a race if there was room, and their prize money payout was significantly lower than chartered teams.

“I grew up watching (NASCAR chairman Jim France’s) father build this sport,” Jordan said. “I didn’t want to have to tear it down.”

As pretrial hearings, which were confrontational at times, went on and the battle between the two groups raged on in the media, it was clear that Jordan was willing to do just that, if necessary.

“If I have to fight this to the end for the betterment of the sport, I will do it,” he said, at one point.

The trial finally started in December and had all the fireworks the 16 months of build-up promised. France took the stand. So did Jordan. After nine days of testimony, the two sides announced

they had a deal, agreeing to a settlement and ending the trial.

While not all terms have been made public, it’s clear that it creates a brave new world for auto racing. Teams will now have “evergreen” charters, meaning they don’t run the risk of being booted out of the club during contentious negotiations. The teams’ share of the pie will likely increase significantly, as well. According to some sports business outlet reports, the value of NASCAR teams doubled overnight after the settlement was reached.

“From the beginning, this lawsuit was about progress,” a statement from Jordan read. “It was about making sure our sport evolves in a way that supports everyone: teams, drivers, partners, employees, and fans.”

So while the accomplishment may not have been on a track, field or even in a court, it stands for years to come. And that earns 23XI the title of pro team of the year.

a game earlier this season and had to be helped off the field.

Young was taken back to the locker room for treatment, and backup Andy Dalton began to get loose on the sidelines.

Hearts fell in the chests of many of Young’s teammates.

“What was going through my mind was, ‘F---, I can’t believe I let that happen,’’’ said Dowdle, who failed to pick up the blitzing safety.

“I was very upset,’’ said right tackle Taylor Moton. “It hurt my heart to see when he didn’t get back up immediately.”

Things still seemed bleak when the Panthers offense took the field for the next drive. Fox sideline reporter Sarah Kustok was in the process of telling viewers that Young was being evaluated for the ankle injury and his prospects of returning were questionable when the network’s cameras showed Young trotting out onto the field to lead the team. He

didn’t miss an offensive snap.

“He said, ‘I’m good’,” said Panthers coach Dave Canales.

“He gave me a thumbs up and said, ‘I’m good’. I said, ‘That’s good enough for me’. He was getting back out there.”

Good may have been a stretch. “‘Pain’ is an accurate way to sum it up,”’ Young said later.

“You just breathe through the pain.’”

Young went on to set the franchise record for passing yards in a game with 448. The team converted three out of five fourth downs and won in overtime.

“He’s tough, tough as nails,” said Moton. “I’ve never questioned his toughness.’’

“He’s a warrior, man,” said tight end Tommy Tremble, who caught a 54-yard pass in overtime to set up the winning kick.

He’s also the architect of the North State Journal’s 2025 play of the year.

NELL REDMOND / AP PHOTO

Charlotte Hornets guard Kon Knueppel, right, looks to drive against Atlanta. without playing in the McDonald’s game.

At Duke, he showed an ability to score inside and create off the dribble, but he was considered a second fiddle to Flagg. There were some raised eyebrows and snarky comments about “another Hornets draft mistake” (including in our own newsroom) when reports surfaced that Charlotte was considering taking him with the fourth overall pick in the draft.

Instead, Knueppel has done what he always did — scored points and proved doubters wrong. He’s put together an NBA debut season that has him on the short list of Rookie of the Year frontrunners.

His 19.4 points per game lead all NBA rookies, with Flagg nearly a full point per game behind him. His 97 assists are second among rookies to Derik Queen. He’s fifth in rookie rebounding, sixth in steals.

“Dude is fearless.

He has one thing on his mind, and that is to win and compete.”

Charles Lee, Hornets coach Clearly, he’s more than “just a shooter” … but oh, what a shooter he is. He has made more 3-pointers than any two other NBA rookies combined. He’s hit .409 from 3, which leads the rookie class. The only other player so far this season to hit 80 3s at a rate higher than .400? A guy named Steph Curry.

He’s also hitting 58% of his two-point attempts, which is fifth among the rookies.

Knueppel’s .477 overall shooting is one point behind Flagg and Dylan Harper at the top of the rookie list, and he’s missed

TEAM from page B1 an important step in the evolution of a sport that had its roots in the days of outlaw bootleggers competing to see whose car was fastest. Think of pro basketball teams traveling the country to play a hastily assembled group of the best local players in each town, rather than the 30 teams that make up the NBA. The charters needed to be renewed each year, allowing NASCAR to cut ties with teams that weren’t up to standard, and for teams to renegotiate their financial share as the organization made more money.

As time went by, however, the process became more and more one-sided, as teams grew increasingly dissatisfied with the amount of revenue NASCAR was sharing with them.

Last year, the relationship between teams and NASCAR hit rock bottom when, after two years of negotiations, team owners were given a “take-it-or-leave-it”

2017: Sebastian Aho, Carolina Hurricanes

2019: Will Healy, Charlotte football

By Shawn Krest North State Journal IT’S TOUGH for a college basketball player to win our newcomer of the year award. It’s happened, but the timing of the season makes it difficult.

You can either vote them as the top newcomer in the middle of their freshman season, with maybe 10 games of college experience to show for it. Or you can wait until the next year, when their last college game took place more than eight months prior, and they’re off playing in Dallas or New Orleans.

Occasionally, though, you get the guy who qualifies twice as a newcomer. Last year, Kon Knueppel was a Duke freshman, giving the Blue Devils an outside scoring option to keep defenses honest with Cooper Flagg. This year, he’s outplaying Flagg — the top pick in the draft — and doing it right here in North Carolina as a Charlotte Hornet.

It’s easy to overlook Knueppel. On the court, he often has tousled hair, a sweaty red face and an aw-shucks expression — far from the impression of a star in the making. Many observers also look at his stat line or highlights and assume that he’s in the “just a shooter” mold — deadly from one spot outside, but not a real threat to create offense.

That’s why he was snubbed by the McDonald’s All-American game coming out of high school, becoming one of the game’s biggest misses of recent years. Only Marvin Bagley — who reclassified and graduated a year early, making him ineligible for the game — scored more than Knueppel as a Duke freshman

All-time winners NSJ Newcomer of the Year

BUTCH DILL / AP PHOTO

23XI Racing co-owner Michael Jordan, right, celebrates a win by his driver Tyler Reddick at Talladega in 2024, back when the team still had a charter. charter renewal to sign on the eve of the 2024 playoffs.

The situation had similarities to pre-free agency team sports, when teams held all the leverage and used it to hold down play-

that came with the “two pumps” end zone celebration tribute to “Key & Peele.” The dance drew a flag and inspired a midweek call to the team from Keegan Michael Key following another game-winning field goal at the final gun.

When the Rams brought the best record in the league to Bank of America Stadium, the Panthers were missing three defensive starters due to suspension or injury. Carolina got three turnovers, including a pick-six and a game-clinching strip sack. Young also had another fourth-down conversion — to McMillan again — for the game-winning touchdown.

In a normal season, any of those plays, or a dozen other long runs, clutch passes or defensive gems the Panthers produced, would be a shoo-in for play of the year.

In 2025, however, that honor goes to the one that signifies the most important recurring

er salaries. That’s when Jordan decided to play the role of Curt Flood.

Jordan’s team, along with fellow team Front Row Motorsports, chose “leave it” and refused to sign

“It hurt my heart to see when he didn’t get back up immediately.”

Taylor Moton, Panthers lineman theme of the Panthers’ season.

Young added a significant record to his growing resume this season. With five game-winning drives in the fourth quarter or overtime, Young now has 11 for his career, more than any other quarterback in the league since he entered the NFL in 2023. He’s also the youngest to reach the 11-comeback mark in history.

The play that best shows Young’s comeback spirit came in Carolina’s overtime win at Atlanta. On the Panthers’ second drive of the game, the Falcons blitzed, and Young was sacked. He aggravated the ankle injury that kept him out of

B3

North State Journal for Thursday, December 25, 2025

NSJ 2025 ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

NC State product crowned world champion Trent Hidlay pulled off one of wrestling’s greatest comebacks to win gold

All-time winners NSJ Athlete of the Year

By Ryan Henkel North State Journal

2017: Bradley Chubb, NC State football

IT’S NOT TOO often you see a local product turn into a world champion, but Trent Hidlay did just that when he got his name engraved in history back in September.

The NC State alumnus claimed gold at the 2025 World Wrestling Championships in the men’s freestyle 92 kg event, overcoming an eight-point deficit to Russian Amanula Gadzhimagomedov in the championship match to secure his title.

“It’s satisfying knowing that your work is paying off,” Hidlay said to USA Wrestling. “I just put so much into it, and you’re just waiting for the day it comes through. To do it on this stage, with the people in the stands that you love and with Team USA.” It was an unprecedented comeback for Hidlay, who almost lost early due to a technical fall less than two minutes in, but his perseverance and determination were exemplified on the mat as he never gave up and battled back to take the lead with just 28 seconds remaining in the match.

Following a challenge that could have awarded Hidlay an immediate loss, the American scored 11 straight points to not only steal the win but make a statement doing so.

“It was chaotic,” Hidlay said.

“You were a challenge away from losing in two minutes and getting your ass kicked, but I just said a quick prayer, asked for one more chance, one more life, and I’ll figure out a way out.

2018: Kemba Walker, Charlotte Hornets 2019: Christian McCaffrey, Carolina Panthers 2020: David Ayres, Carolina Hurricanes 2021: Kyle Larson, NASCAR 2022: Erin Matson, UNC field hockey 2023: Payton Wilson, NC State football

JEFF ROBERSON / AP PHOTO

Trent Hidlay, left, pictured wrestling for the Wolfpack in the 2021 NCAA wrestling championships, won a world championship this year.

I don’t remember anything else past that, but it hurt bad. It felt real bad doing it, but you just never give up, man.”

Hidlay’s route to the gold was a dominant showing as well, as he defeated four other wrestlers by a combined score of 42-6, with three technical falls in total, to secure his spot in the championship match in Zagreb, Croatia.

Obviously that final match proved to be the most difficult, but again, Hidlay showed just what he’s capable of.

“I just couldn’t believe it,” Hidlay said. “I just kept looking at the score like, ‘Did I really just score 13 points?’ I don’t really know how it happened, but it happened. I’ve never felt this before. Just a wave of emotion. Everything I’ve put into

this sport felt like it showed in those six minutes. You’re up big, you’re attacking, you get put on your head, you get one more chance, and so you get back and you make the most of it, and you don’t quit until the clock says zero. That’s what I did.”

The 26-year-old is the first wrestler from NC State to earn a world championship title and also the first ACC product to capture gold since 1998.

In fact, Hidlay was also just the fourth American to ever win in the 92 kg event and the first since 2019.

Overall, the Americans finished second in the men’s freestyle team ranking, and Hidlay’s outstanding performance was a big part of that, being one of just four gold medalists for the U.S.

“You just never give up.”

Trent Hidlay “Representing the USA is the coolest thing ever,” Hidlay said. “Just how much it means to me and to other people to see guys from the United States come out here and wrestle that hard, that’s why you do it. You wrestle to represent your country and wrestle to represent yourself and the people that build you up for it, and I felt like I tried to do that the best I can.”

Winning isn’t anything new to Hidlay, though, as the Pennsylvania native captured four straight ACC titles

2024: Stephen Curry, Team USA basketball 2025: Trent Hidlay, NC State wrestling

and was a national runner-up twice in college. But being the best in the world is something greater than anything he’s ever accomplished.

“I don’t know if there’s anything that emulates my style more than that,” Hidlay said.

“My career in a nutshell there, so it was kind of fitting the way it happened. It’s everything I ever dreamed of. In that fashion too, it’s probably the most me thing I’ve ever done. Just proud of myself for figuring a way out.”

Hidlay still lives and trains in Raleigh under NC State coach Pat Popolizio.

“This tournament was all about mission, drive, and determination,” Popolizio posted on X. “He set out to be the best in the world — and delivered.”

NSJ COLLEGE TEAM OF THE YEAR

Duke men’s basketball: Young, talented team grew into excellence despite falling short

By Asheebo Rojas North State Journal A GENERATIONAL talent.

A top-10 defense. And a coach looking to get over another hump.

For one of the most memorable Duke teams to grace Coach K Court, although it fell short of the ultimate goal, that was the recipe for dominance for the 2025 North State Journal College Team of the Year.

After the Blue Devils secured the No. 1 recruiting class entering the 2024-25 season, including the consensus No. 1 overall pick in the subsequent NBA Draft in Cooper Flagg, the media went all in on the young but talented roster.

Duke was tabbed the preseason ACC champion and landed at No. 7 in the preseason AP poll. Flagg and freshman Kon Knueppel landed on the Naismith Player of the Year Watchlist with others being looked at as one of the nation’s best in their respective positions.

So how quickly did the Blue Devils justify the hype?

It was complicated at first.

Flagg backed up the praise immediately, recording 18 points and seven rebounds while shooting 6 for 15 from the floor in the season-opening win over Maine. In his third game, against No. 19 Kentucky, he exploded for 26 points with three others in double-digit scoring.

However, two turnovers from Flagg in the final 12 seconds of what was a tie game led to a loss.

After Flagg bounced back with 24 points in a win over No. 17 Arizona, déjà vu hit Flagg and the Blue Devils in another early-season ranked matchup. Down by 1 in the final minute of a test at No. 1 Kansas, two turnovers from Flagg and Knueppel soiled Duke’s chances at a marquee road upset.

Duke’s Cooper Flagg (2) dunks the ball as Houston’s Terrance Arceneaux (23), Mylik Wilson (8) and Milos Uzan (7) watch during the national semifinals at the Final Four.

ERIC GAY / AP PHOTO

17

Wins, and zero losses, for the Blue Devils at home

All-time winners NSJ College Team of the Year 2017: UNC basketball 2018: Wake Forest tennis

The Blue Devils were clearly one of the best teams in the country, however, a lack of experience in high-pressure situations exposed a crack in their identity. But, and it’s true for any team, championships aren’t won in November.

Duke wouldn’t lose again until Feb. 8, which was its final defeat before the NCAA Tournament. In a two-month stretch of 16 straight wins that saw victories over No. 2 Auburn and all three of their Tobacco Road foes, Flagg continued to ascend. He recorded 10 games with at least 20 points, including a season-high 42 against Notre Dame (shooting 11 for 14 from the field). Knueppel reached at least 10 points

2019: UNC field hockey 2020: NC State wrestling 2021: NC State baseball 2022: NC State cross country 2023: Wake Forest women’s golf 2024: NC State women’s basketball 2025: Duke basketball

in 13 games and shot at least 40% from 3 seven times in that stretch. Duke also hit the 80-point mark nine times in that win streak.

The defense shined just as bright in the Blue Devils’ relentless regular season run. Every starter brought defensive intensity as Duke held all but two ACC opponents to no more than 70 points in the regular season. Flagg and freshman Khaman Maluach finished top 10 in the ACC in blocks, and Duke ended the year allowing the fourth-lowest field goal percentage and the seventh-fewest points per game in the country.

The Blue Devils also achieved a 17-0 home record.

When the stakes were raised in the ACC Tournament, Duke, debuting as the No. 1 team in college basketball, appeared to have learned its lesson.

The Blue Devils took the best swings from Georgia Tech and UNC and came out on top, reminding the nation that it could win close games after a streak of blowouts. A conference title win over Louisville put the bow on an 31-3 campaign (the nation’s best winning percentage) and a top seed in the Big Dance.

Before last year’s March Madness run, Duke coach Jon Scheyer, in his third season as head coach, proved he could win in the offseason, the regular season and conference tournament season. However, the NCAA Tournament was where he’d fallen short.

His first season saw the Blue Devils fall to Tennessee in the second round. The next year, Duke, a victim of the Cardiac Pack’s improbable run to an ACC title, then became NC State’s springboard past the Elite Eight and into the Final Four.

So what’s the result after entering the tournament with the nation’s best team and arguably the best player?

With the continued emergence of junior Tyrese Proctor’s scoring, Duke smothered Mount St. Mary’s and Baylor by more than 20 points in the first two rounds. Then Flagg and Knueppel combined for 50 of the Blue Devils’ 100 points to outlast Arizona in the Sweet 16.

In the Elite Eight, Proctor stepped up big again with 17 points (7-for-10 shooting) alongside Flagg’s 21, and Duke held Alabama, the nation’s highest-scoring offense, to 65 points to cruise to Scheyer’s first Final Four berth as a coach.

Yet the season ended on the sword of Duke’s biggest flaw.

Leading by six in the final minute of a Final Four thriller against Houston, late-game mistakes led to an unforgettable comeback for the Cougars.

A finale that was disappointing, yet not surprising given the team’s history, put a blemish on what was otherwise a season of excellence from Duke. Big given the circumstances of their experience, preseason expectations and the obstacles they not only overcame but obliterated, the Blue Devils proved themselves as arguably the best college team in North Carolina.

B4

North State Journal for Thursday, December 25, 2025

NSJ 2025 COACH OF THE YEAR

Wake Forest’s Jake Dickert revives Demon Deacons in debut season The first-year coach guided his team to eight wins

All-time winners NSJ Coach of the Year

By Jesse Deal North State Journal

2017: Kevin Keatts, NC State basketball

FOR MORE THAN A decade, Dave Clawson built Wake Forest into one of the steadiest football programs in the Atlantic Coast Conference, crafting a developmental model that produced seven consecutive bowl appearances.

Clawson’s approach to making the Demon Deacons a fixture in North Carolina’s college football landscape was deliberate: recruit under-the-radar prospects, develop them patiently for two or three seasons, then rely on experienced upperclassmen to carry the program.

As the transfer portal and NIL opportunities reshaped college football, that model became harder to sustain. After back-to-back 4-8 seasons, Clawson resigned, citing a rapidly changing landscape and acknowledging he could no longer give the job everything it required.

Wake Forest suddenly faced a reset as a coaching change, roster turnover and evolving expectations left the program searching for direction. When Jake Dickert, former coach at Washington State, arrived in Winston-Salem ahead of the 2025 season, optimism was cautious at best.

What followed was one of the ACC’s most striking turnarounds.

In his first season, Dickert — North State Journal’s 2025 Coach of the Year — restored stability and belief, guiding Wake to an 8-4 record and a return to bowl eligibility.

Capping off Dickert’s debut

2018: Scott Satterfield, App State football 2019: Eli Drinkwitz, App State football 2020: Wes Moore, NC State women’s basketball 2021: Dave Clawson, Wake Forest football 2022: Mike Elko, Duke football 2023: Erin Matson, UNC field hockey MATT KELLEY / AP PHOTO)

Wake Forest coach Jake Dickert looks on during the second half of a game against Georgia Tech on Sept. 27 in Winston-Salem.

“There has never been a better time to be a Demon Deacon.”

Wake Forest coach Jake Dickert season, the Demon Deacons (8-4) will face SEC representative Mississippi State Bulldogs (5-7) in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl on Jan. 2 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte.

In their 2025 campaign, the Deacs tied for the most victories among all FBS programs in the Carolinas, underscoring the program’s rapid rebound. Wake Forest defeated two teams ranked at the time, including a road victory at Virginia (the

Cavaliers’ only home loss of the season) and a home win that snapped SMU’s 20-game regular-season conference winning streak.

After back-to-back losses in September, Wake responded by winning six of seven games before closing the regular season with a loss at Duke. The Deacs finished 4-4 in ACC play.

On the field, Dickert leaned on a blend of experience and toughness. Graduate transfer quarterback Robby Ashford brought leadership to an offense that had struggled for consistency in recent seasons, while senior running back Demond Claiborne anchored the ground game and emerged as a physical focal point in key moments.

Defense again proved to be the program’s backbone. The

2024: Manny Diaz, Duke football 2025: Jake Dickert, Wake Forest football

Demon Deacons ranked sixth in the ACC and 38th nationally in scoring defense, finished top five in the league in total and passing defense, and did not allow a touchdown against either Virginia or UNC. Dickert’s impact extended well beyond Saturdays.

Before the season, he overhauled Wake Forest’s recruiting and scouting infrastructure, assembling a 10-person staff dedicated to identifying talent and building depth in a new era of college football. The early returns have been promising.

During the recent National Signing Day, Wake Forest announced a 30-player 2026 recruiting class — the highest-ranked in program history — currently inside the national top 50. The class includes one

four-star and 29 three-star recruits, signaling a shift toward broader talent acquisition and immediate competitiveness.

Dickert’s efforts were rewarded following the regular season. On Dec. 2, Wake Forest Vice President and Athletics Director John Currie announced Dickert had signed a long-term contract extension.

“Jake Dickert has proven himself to be one of college football’s rising head coaches and one of the truly special leaders in the ACC,” Currie said. “He has galvanized our locker room, our campus, and our community. Coach Dickert is exactly the type of leader who inspires players, and he and his family fit seamlessly into the Wake Forest and Winston-Salem community.”

Dickert echoed that sentiment, pointing to long-term investment as central to Wake Forest’s direction.

“Our family could not be more grateful to call Wake Forest and Winston-Salem home,” he said. “Over the last 11-plus months, our staff and student-athletes have embraced a new process of being ‘Built in the Dark.’ When John approached me a few weeks ago about the university’s desire to further invest in our program, I was both humbled and energized.”

“This commitment ensures that our staff has the stability, resources and support necessary to continue elevating Wake Forest football,” Dickert added.

“I’m proud of this team, our staff and our seniors who built the foundation for this new era, and excited for what’s ahead. There has never been a better time to be a Demon Deacon.”

While roster turnover remains a reality, Wake Forest’s trajectory is still heading upward. With a retooled staff, a revamped recruiting approach and renewed confidence throughout the program, Dickert has revived the Demon Deacons and positioned them for sustained relevance for years to come.

NSJ 2025 COMEBACK PLAYER OF THE YEAR

‘Grandpa’ Philip Rivers returns to NFL

2017: Julius Peppers, Carolina Panthers

After nearly five years of retirement, Philip Rivers is back on the field

2018: Mack Brown, UNC football 2019: Mack Brown and Chazz Surratt, UNC football

By Ryan Henkel North State Journal 1,800 DAYS. That was the exact amount of time between the last two career starts for NC State and NFL legend Philip Rivers, who made his return to the field this month after nearly five years in retirement.

From walking away from the game after a playoff loss in Buffalo in 2021 to returning as the starting quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts in 2025, it’s been some kind of moment for the 44-year-old.

“It’s simple as a coach that I love and an organization that I really enjoyed being with and they wanted me,” Rivers said in his introductory press conference.

The opportunity for Rivers materialized after all three of the Colts’ quarterbacks were on the shelf with injuries, as former Duke quarterbacks Daniel Jones (torn Achilles) and Riley Leonard (knee injury) as well as Anthony Richardson (orbital bone fracture) were unavailable to play in December.

So with a strong start slipping away, Colts general manager Chris Ballard and head coach Shane Steichen — who also worked closely with Rivers with the Chargers — put in the call to the former starter, now coaching high school ball down in Alabama, and less than a week later, he was named the starting quarterback.

Rivers had just three days of practice with the Colts before hitting the field, but despite that, he nearly led Indianapolis to a strong road win against the Seattle Seahawks as he threw the game’s lone touchdown and

All-time winners NSJ Comeback of the Year

2020: Duke hits buzzer-beaters in regulation and OT to beat UNC 2021: NC State football’s 132 seconds of mayhem to beat UNC 2022: App State Hail Mary beats Troy 2023: North Wilkesboro Speedway 2024: Martin Necas, Carolina Hurricanes 2025: Philip Rivers, Indianapolis Colts

STEPHEN BRASHEAR / AP PHOTO

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Philip Rivers leaves the field after his first NFL game in five years. completed 18 of 27 passes for 120 yards.

“He went out there and we had a chance to win it,” said Indianapolis Colts coach Shane Steichen. “For him to go out there and do what he did after five years off, to have a chance to win it in a hostile environment and against a top defense just shows his commitment to coming back.

“Grateful,” Rivers said when asked to describe his emotions from that moment. “Running out for warmups and all that, out there for the anthem, and as the game just got going, I was just thankful, grateful that I was out there. It was a blast.

“I’m just thankful, I really am. Certainly the first time you get the ball and you go out there, that thing gets cranked up and you go, ‘Dang.’ It felt a little bit

“Maybe it will inspire or teach someone not to run or be scared of what may or may not happen.”

Philip Rivers like a dream. I’ve stood right here before in 2018, but I hadn’t been in an NFL stadium like that — in the center of it, calling the play — obviously, well noted, in a long time.”

The Colts were so comfortable with his performance, in fact, that they had already named him the starter for the following week.

“If I can stay healthy, I feel good, and it’s going to get better as we go,’ Rivers said. “But the

catch is that we’ve gotta win. It doesn’t matter if it’s getting better if we don’t win because it’ll all be over in three weeks.”

Before his comeback, Rivers — who ranks seventh all time in passing yards and has the sixthmost touchdown passes — was a semifinalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2026 in his first year of eligibility.

But with his return to action, the clock resets for another five years, but Rivers doesn’t care too much about that.

“It’s a real honor to be mentioned with those other 25 guys, certainly, but I’m not holding my breath on that,” Rivers said. “I hadn’t been counting down the years. If one day I can be a part of that group, it’ll be special, no question about it, but the extension of that time was not a factor in my thinking.”

Before making it to the NFL, Rivers spent four seasons with the NC State Wolfpack, where he started 51 consecutive games.

Rivers is NC State’s all-time leader in passing yards, single-season passing yards, passing touchdowns and total touchdowns, and he led the Wolfpack to three bowl wins and a program best 11 wins in 2002.

The story for Rivers is an inspiring one, as the NFL’s lone active grandpa is proving that you just never know what you are capable of until you give it a try.

“Maybe it will inspire or teach someone not to run or be scared of what may or may not happen,” Rivers said. “I certainly think of my sons and those ball players I’ve been in charge of with the school that they’ll see like, ‘Crap.

Coach wasn’t scared.’ Sometimes there is doubt and it’s real.

The guaranteed safe bet is to go home or not to go for it, but the other one is, ‘Shoot, let’s see what happens.’ I hope that, in that sense, it can be a real positive to some young people.”

B5

North State Journal for Thursday, December 25, 2025

TAKE NOTICE

CUMBERLAND

DAVIDSON

NOTICE

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

State of North Carolina In the General Court of Justice Superior Court Division County of Cumberland Estate File# 25E001906-250 Administrator’s /Executor’s Notice The undersigned, having qualified as CoAdministrator of the Estate of Alfredo Suarez-Martinez, deceased, late of Cumberland County, hereby notifies all persons, firms and corporations having claims against said Estate to present their claim to the undersigned on or before 18th day of March, 2026 ( which date is three months after the day of the first publication of this notice) or this notice will be pleaded in bar of recovery. All Debtors of the decedent are requested to make immediate payment to the Undersigned.

This day 18th of December, 2025 Daniela Suarez-Evans 3684 Pioneer Drive Hope Mills, NC 283348 Co-Administrator Alfredo Suarez Jr. 3686 Pioneer Drive Hope Mils, NC 28348 Co-Administrator Of the Estate of Alfredo Suarez-Martinez, Deceased

Having qualified as Co-Executors of the Estate of Paul Leon Yates, late of Davidson County, North Carolina, the undersigned does hereby notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against the estate of the decedent to exhibit them to the undersigned at the office of Ivey & Eggleston, Attorneys at Law, 111 Worth Street, Asheboro, North Carolina 27203, on or before March 30, 2026, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons, firms or corporations indebted to said estate should make immediate payment to the undersigned.

NOTICE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF CUMBERLAND AND IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION ESTATE FILE: 24E002856250 IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF : DEALTON THAGGARD. Administrator’s Notice The undersigned, having qualified as Administrator of the Estate of Dealton Thaggard, Deceased, late of Cumberland County, this is to notify all persons, firms, and corporations having claims against said Estate to present them to the undersigned on or before the 11th day of March, 2026, (which date is three months after the day of the first publication of this notice) or this notice will be pleaded in the bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned.

This the 11th day of December, 2025.

Charisma McKoy, 2300 Cumberland Gap Drive, Apt. 106, Fayetteville, NC 28306Administrator of the Estate of Dealton Thaggard; Deceased; September 3, 2024, December 11, 2025.

NOTICE TO CREDITORS ESTATE OF DENNIS CURTIS VANDEVENDER CUMBERLAND County Estate File No. 001788-250 All persons, firms and corporations having claims against Dennis Curtis Vandevender, deceased, of Cumberland County, North Carolina, are notified to present their claims to Linda Walker Vandevender, Administrator, at 738 Southview Cir., Fayetteville, NC 28311, on or before the 5th day of March, 2026 (which date is three months after the day of the first publication of this notice), or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. Debtors of the Decedent are requested to make immediate payment to the Administrator named above.

This the 1st day of December, 2025.

Linda Walker Vandevender Administrator of the Estate of Dennis Curtis Vandevender Davis W. Puryear Hutchens Law Firm Attorneys for the Estate 4317 Ramsey Street Fayetteville, NC 28311 Run dates: December 4, December 11, December 18 and December 25, 2025

Notice to Creditors ALL PERSONS, firms and corporations having claims against George Franklin Mitchell Jr., deceased, of Cumberland County N.C., are notified to exhibit the same to the undersigned on or before March 18, 2026, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of recovery. Debtors of the decedent are asked to make immediate payment.

This 18th day of December, 2025.

Mark D. Mitchell Administer, 310 75th Ave N. Unit 10, Myrtle Beach, SC 29572.

The North State Journal December 18, 25, 2025, Jan.1, 8, 2026.

NOTICE TO CREDITORS Estate of Charles White, Deceased Date of Death: October 12, 2025 Notice is hereby given that Domonique, acting as Executor of the Estate of Charles White, deceased, has been appointed to administer said estate.

All persons having claims against the estate are required to present them, with proper documentation, to the undersigned Personal Representative at the address below on or before March 20, 2026, or such claims may be forever barred.

Claims may be mailed or delivered to: Domonique Personal Representative of the Estate of Charles White 123 Willborough Avenue Fayetteville, NC 28303 Dated: December 11, 2025

This 25th day of December, 2025 Jeffrey Todd Yates and Ston Ray Yates Co-Executors of the Estate of Paul Leon Yates Marion “Beth” McQuaid, Attorney IVEY & EGGLESTON, ATTORNEYS AT LAW 111 Worth Street Asheboro, NC 27203 (336) 625-3043 PUBL/DATES: 12/25/25, 01/01/26, 01/08/26, 01/15/26

NEW HANOVER NORTH CAROLINA NEW HANOVER COUNTY NOTICE TO CREDITORS THE UNDERSIGNED, Shannon Clayboss, having qualified on the 9th day of December 2025, as Collector of the Estate of Urban D. Burk (25E002599640), deceased, does hereby notify all persons, firms, 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 23rd day of March, 2026, or the claims will be forever barred thereafter, and this notice will be pleaded in bar of recovery.

All persons, firms, and corporations indebted to said Estate will please make prompt payment to the undersigned at the above address.

This 18th day of December 2025.

Shannon Clayboss Collector ESTATE OF URBAN D. BURK David Anderson Attorney at Law 9111 Market St, Ste A Wilmington, NC 28411 Publish: December 18, 2025, December 25, 2025, January 1, 2026, January 8, 2026

NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND DEBTORS Having qualified as Personal Representative of the Estate of Linda A. Ellis, deceased, late of New Hanover County, North Carolina, the undersigned hereby notifies all persons, firms and corporations having claims against said Estate to present them, duly verified, to the undersigned, care of their attorney, on or before March 26, 2026 (which date is at least three (3) months from the first publication of this notice), or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons, firms and corporations indebted to said Estate will please make immediate settlement with the undersigned, care of their attorney.

This the 25th day of December, 2025.

Richard J. Kaufmann, Jr., Executor of the Estate of Linda A. Ellis, Deceased c/o Randall S. Hoose, Jr. Hoose Law, PLLC 705 Princess Street Wilmington, NC 28401-4146 Please publish 12/25, 01/01, 01/08, 01/15

NOTICE NORTH CAROLINA NEW HANOVER COUNTY NOTICE TO CREDITORS THE UNDERSIGNED, Eileen Marie Hillicke, having qualified on the 25th day of September 2025, as Limited Personal Representative of the Estate of Charles P. Hillicke, Jr. (25E002162-640), deceased, does hereby notify all persons, firms, 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 9th day of March, 2026, or the claims will be forever barred thereafter, and this notice will be pleaded in bar of recovery. All persons, firms, and corporations indebted to said Estate will please make prompt payment to the undersigned at the above address.

This 4th day of December 2025.

Eileen Marie Hillicke Limited Personal Representative ESTATE OF CHARLES P. HILLICKE, JR. David Anderson Attorney at Law 9111 Market St, Ste A Wilmington, NC 28411 Publish: December 4, 2025 December 11, 2025 December 18, 2025 December 25, 2025

NOTICE NORTH CAROLINA NEW HANOVER COUNTY NOTICE TO CREDITORS THE UNDERSIGNED, David E. Anderson, having qualified on the 3rd day of November 2025, as Administrator of the Estate of Stefan Linscheid (25E002482640), deceased, does hereby notify all persons, firms, 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 16th day of March, 2026, or the claims will be forever barred thereafter, and this notice will be pleaded in bar of recovery.

All persons, firms, and corporations indebted to said Estate will please make prompt payment to the undersigned at the above address.

This 11th day of December 2025.

David E. Anderson Administrator ESTATE OF STEFAN LINSCHEID David Anderson Attorney at Law 9111 Market St, Ste A Wilmington, NC 28411 Publish: December 11, 2025 December 18, 2025 December 25, 2025 January 1, 2026

NOTICE NORTH CAROLINA NEW HANOVER COUNTY NOTICE TO CREDITORS THE UNDERSIGNED, Amy M. Perry, having qualified on the 1st day of December 2025, as Administrator of the Estate of Neil William Perry (25E002598640), deceased, does hereby notify all persons, firms, 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 16th day of March, 2026, or the claims will be forever barred thereafter, and this notice will be pleaded in bar of recovery.

All persons, firms, and corporations indebted to said Estate will please make prompt payment to the undersigned at the above address.

This 11th day of December 2025.

Amy M. Perry Administrator ESTATE OF NEIL WILLIAM PERRY David Anderson Attorney at Law 9111 Market St, Ste A Wilmington, NC 28411 Publish: December 11, 2025, December 18, 2025, December 25, 2025, January 1, 2026

NOTICE NORTH CAROLINA NEW HANOVER COUNTY NOTICE TO CREDITORS THE UNDERSIGNED, John Talbot, having qualified on the 10th day of December 2025, as Executor of the Estate of Albert Talbot (25E002615-640), deceased, does hereby notify all persons, firms, 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 23rd day of March, 2026, or the claims will be forever barred thereafter, and this notice will be pleaded in bar of recovery. All persons, firms, and corporations indebted to said Estate will please make prompt payment to the undersigned at the above address.

This 18th day of December 2025.

John Talbot Executor ESTATE OF ALBERT TALBOT David Anderson Attorney at Law 9111 Market St, Ste A Wilmington, NC 28411 Publish: December 18, 2025, December 25, 2025, January 1, 2026, January 8, 2026

NOTICE NORTH CAROLINA WAKE COUNTY NOTICE TO CREDITORS THE UNDERSIGNED, Christa Ritchie, having qualified on the 25th day of November 2025, as Executor of the Estate of Stephen Joseph Veno (24E003678-910), deceased, does hereby notify all persons, firms, 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 16th day of March, 2026, or the claims will be forever barred thereafter, and this notice will be pleaded in bar of recovery. All persons, firms, and corporations indebted to said Estate will please make prompt payment to the undersigned at the above address.

This 11th day of December 2025.

Christa Ritchie Executor ESTATE OF STEPHEN JOSEPH VENO David Anderson Attorney at Law 9111 Market St, Ste A Wilmington, NC 28411 Publish: December 11, 2025 December 18, 2025 December 25, 2025 January 1, 2026

NOTICE NORTH CAROLINA NEW HANOVER COUNTY NOTICE TO CREDITORS THE UNDERSIGNED, Charles J. Sumner, having qualified on the 21st day of November 2025, as Ancillary Executor of the Estate of Nancy Peters Vermilyea (25E002410-640), deceased, does hereby notify all persons, firms, 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 9th day of March, 2026, or the claims will be forever barred thereafter, and this notice will be pleaded in bar of recovery. All persons, firms, and corporations indebted to said Estate will please make prompt payment to the undersigned at the above address.

This 4th day of December 2025.

Charles J. Sumner Ancillary Executor ESTATE OF NANCY PETERS VERMILYEA David Anderson Attorney at Law 9111 Market St, Ste A Wilmington, NC 28411 Publish: December 4, 2025 December 11, 2025 December 18, 2025 December 25, 2025

ORANGE NOTICE TO CREDITORS All persons, firm and corporations having claims against Philip M. Pavlik, late of Orange County, North Carolina are hereby notified to present them to John Christopher Bartoldus, as Executor of the decedent’s estate in care of Kendall H. Page, Attorney, 210 N Columbia Street, Chapel Hill, NC 27514 on or before the 4th day of March, 2026, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons, firms and corporations indebted to the said estate will please make immediate payment to the above named Executor.

Kendall H. Page 210 N Columbia Street Chapel Hill, NC 27514 Bar # 14261 Notice to Run: 12/4/2025,12/11/2025, 12/18/2025 & 12/25/2025

NOTICE TO CREDITORS Probate #25E000490-670 All persons, firm and corporations having claims against Beatrix Preyer Witten , late of Orange County, North Carolina are hereby notified to present them to Susannah Elise Smith, as Executor of the decedent’s estate in care of Kendall H. Page, Attorney, 210 N Columbia Street, Chapel Hill, NC 27514 on or before the 18th day of March, 2026, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons, firms and corporations indebted to the said estate will please make immediate payment to the above-named Executor.

Kendall H. Page 210 N Columbia Street Chapel Hill, NC 27514 Bar # 14261 Notice to Run: 12/18/2025, 12/25/2025, 1/01/2026 & 1/08/2026

RANDOLPH NOTICE TO CREDITORS Having qualified as Administrator CTA of the Estate of Jacob Charles Bodenhamer, late of Randolph County, North Carolina, the undersigned does hereby notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against the estate of the decedent to exhibit them to the undersigned at the office of Ivey & Eggleston, Attorneys at Law, 111 Worth Street, Asheboro, North Carolina 27203, on or before March 23, 2026, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons, firms or corporations indebted to said estate should make immediate payment to the undersigned.

This 18th day of December, 2025 Aaron Charles Bodenhamer Administrator CTA of the Estate of Jacob Charles Bodenhamer MARION “BETH” MCQUAID, Attorney IVEY & EGGLESTON, ATTORNEYS AT LAW 111 Worth Street Asheboro, NC 27203 (336) 625-3043 PUBL/DATES: 12/18/25 12/25/25 01/01/26 01/08/26

NOTICE TO CREDITORS Having qualified as Executor of the Estate of Edgar Dale Clise a/k/a Edgar D. Clise, of Randolph County, NC, this is to notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against the estate of said deceased to exhibit them to the undersigned Executor at the Law Office of Andrew J. Weiner, 113 Worth Street, Asheboro, NC 27203 on or before March 15th 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 11th day of December 2025.

Dianna L. Clise Edgar Dale Clise a/k/a Edgar D. Clise, Estate Andrew J. Weiner, Attorney Gavin & Cox 113 Worth Street Asheboro, NC 27203 Telephone: 336-629-2600

NOTICE TO CREDITORS Having qualified as Administrator of the estate of: TRUDY BEAMON HUDSON 950 Cliff Road Asheboro, NC 27203 This is to notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against the said decedent to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before the: 03-15-2026 This Notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons, firms and corporations indebted to said estate are notified to make immediate payment.

TODAY’S DATE: 12-08-2025 TERENCE R. HEGLAR, ADMINISTRATOR FOR THE ESTATE OF TRUDY BEAMON HUDSON, DECEASED, FILE NO. 25 E 001159-750 315 Belmont Place Rockwell, NC 28138 704-798-6146 ATTORNEY AT LAW: JOHN T. HUDSON 122 NORTH LEE STREET SALISBURY, NC 28144 704-633-1947

NOTICE TO CREDITORS Having qualified as Administrator of the Estate of Thomas David Malone, of Randolph County, NC, this is to notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against the estate of said deceased to exhibit them to the undersigned Administrator at the Law Office of Andrew J. Weiner, 113 Worth Street, Asheboro, NC 27203 on or before March 15th 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 11th day of December 2025.

Victoria Alicia Miller Thomas David Malone, Estate Andrew J. Weiner, Attorney Gavin & Cox 113 Worth Street Asheboro, NC 27203 Telephone: 336-629-2600

NOTICE TO CREDITORS Having qualified as Executor of the Estate of Janet Pruitt aka Janet Starling aka Janet Warren, late of Randolph County, North Carolina, the undersigned does hereby notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against the estate of the decedent to exhibit them to the undersigned at the office of Ivey & Eggleston, Attorneys at Law, 111 Worth Street, Asheboro, North Carolina 27203, on or before March 23, 2026, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons, firms or corporations indebted to said estate should make immediate payment to the undersigned.

This 18th day of December, 2025 Donna Warren Roach aka Donna Roach Executor of the Estate of Janet Pruitt aka Janet Starling aka Janet Warren MARION “BETH” MCQUAID, Attorney IVEY & EGGLESTON, ATTORNEYS AT LAW 111 Worth Street Asheboro, NC 27203 (336) 625-3043 PUBL/DATES: 12/18/25 12/25/25 01/01/26 01/08/26

WAKE Notice to Creditors Having qualified as Administrator CTA of the Estate of LAURANCE A. BECK, aka, LAURANCE ALBERT BECK (25E004259910), late of Wake County, North Carolina, the undersigned does hereby notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against the estate of said decedent to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before the 14th day of March, 2026 or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons, firms and corporations indebted to the said estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned.

This the 11th day of December 2025.

Katherine M. Bard Administrator CTA of the Estate of Laurance A. Beck, aka, Laurance Albert Beck c/o Lisa M. Schreiner Attorney at Law P.O. Box 446 114 Raleigh Street Fuquay Varina, NC 27526 (For publication: 12/11, 12/18, 12/25/2025, 1/1/2026)

Notice to Creditors Having qualified as Executor of the Estate of JOSEPH GROSSANO (25E004502910), late of Wake County, North Carolina, the undersigned does hereby notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against the estate of said decedent to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before the 14th day of March, 2026 or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons, firms and corporations indebted to the said estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned.

This the 11th day of December 2025.

Joe S. Grossano Executor of the Estate of Joseph Grossano c/o Linda Funke Johnson Attorney at Law P.O. Box 446 114 Raleigh Street Fuquay Varina, NC 27526 (For publication: 12/11, 12/18, 12/25/2025, 1/1/2026)

Notice to Creditors Having qualified as Administrator of the Estate of RONALD GLENN HORTON, late of Wake County, North Carolina (25E004469-910), the undersigned does hereby notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against the estate of said decedent to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before the 21st day of March, 2026 or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons, firms and corporations indebted to the said estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned.

This the 18th day of December 2025.

Mildred Horton Judd Administrator of the Estate of Ronald Glenn Horton c/o Lisa M. Schreiner Attorney at Law P.O. Box 446 114 Raleigh Street Fuquay Varina, NC 27526 (For publication: 12/18, 12/25, 1/1/2026, 1/8/2026)

B6

North State Journal for Thursday, December 25, 2025

TAKE NOTICE

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CUMBERLAND NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE NORTH CAROLINA, CUMBERLAND COUNTY 25 SP 001079-250 Under and by virtue of a Power of Sale contained in that certain Deed of Trust executed by Sharlene Etta Williams, Mortgagor(s), in the original amount of $145,500.00, to Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc., (“MERS”) as beneficiary, as nominee for United Wholesale Mortgage, LLC, Mortgagee, dated March 11th, 2022 and recorded on March 14th, 2022 in Book 11416, Page 0794, Cumberland County Registry.

Default having been made in the payment of the note thereby secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Anchor Trustee Services, LLC having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed

NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE FILE NUMBER: 25SP000653-250 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust executed by NICOLE EVANS AND BETTY JEAN WHITE dated September 6, 2006 in the amount of $66,965.00 and recorded in Book 7357 , Page 839 of the Cumberland County Public Registry by ANTHONY MASELLI OR GENEVIEVE JOHNSON, EITHER OF WHOM MAY ACT, Substitute Trustee, default having been made in the terms of agreement set forth by the loan agreement secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, ANTHONY MASELLI OR GENEVIEVE JOHNSON, EITHER OF WHOM MAY ACT, having been substituted as Successor Trustee in said Deed of Trust by an instrument duly recorded in the Official Records of Cumberland County, North Carolina, in Book 12106, Page 611, and the holder of the note evidencing said indebtedness having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the courthouse door in Cumberland County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, on December 29, 2025 at 11:00 AM, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in the County of Cumberland, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: PARCEL IDENTIFICATION NUMBER(S): 0479524346000

NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 25SP000725-250 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by John T. Vu and Elena P. Vu (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): John T. Vu and Elena P. Vu) to H Terry Hutchens, Trustee(s), dated April 16, 2013, and recorded in Book No. 09164, at Page 0568 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 Office 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 Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the courthouse door in Fayetteville, Cumberland County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, at 12:00

NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE NORTH CAROLINA, CUMBERLAND COUNTY 25 SP001120-250 Under and by virtue of a Power of Sale contained in that certain Deed of Trust executed by Eddie Williams, Jr. and Jannie Cummings, Mortgagor(s), in the original amount of $232,323.00, to Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc., (“MERS”) as beneficiary, as nominee for Lower, LLC, Mortgagee, dated February 17th, 2022 and recorded on February 18th, 2022 in Book 11397, Page 0445, Cumberland County Registry.

Default having been made in the payment of the note thereby secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Anchor Trustee Services, LLC having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust by an instrument duly recorded in the Office of the Register of Deeds of Cumberland County, North Carolina, and the holder of the note evidencing said indebtedness having directed that the Deed

NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 24SP000232-250 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Harley T. Fries and Sandra Denise Cabble Hooks Fries (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Sandra D. Cabble Hooks and Harley Thomas Fries and Sandra Denise Cabble Hooks Fries) to Reid, Lewis, Deese, Nance & Person LLP, Trustee(s), dated November 28, 2005, and recorded in Book No. 7078, at Page 709 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 Office 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 Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the courthouse

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 filing of a bankruptcy petition prior to the confirmation 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 Substitute Trustee, in their sole discretion, if they believe the challenge to have merit, may request the court to declare the sale to be void and return the deposit. The purchaser will have no further remedy.

of Trust by an instrument duly recorded in the Office of the Register of Deeds of Cumberland 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 offer for sale at the courthouse door or other usual place of sale in Cumberland County, North Carolina, at 1:30 PM on January 7th, 2026, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following described property, to wit: Being all of Lot 33, in a Subdivision known as Deerfield, Section 4, according to a plat of the same duly recorded in Book of Plats 54, Page 41, Cumberland County, North Carolina, Registry.

Together with improvements located hereon; said property being located at 110 Maranatha Circle, Spring Lake, NC 28390 Tax ID: 0502-38-3278 000 Third party purchasers must pay the recording costs of the trustee’s deed, any land transfer taxes, the excise tax, pursuant North Carolina General Statutes §105228.30, in the amount of One Dollar ($1.00) per each Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00)

or fractional part thereof, and the Clerk of Courts fee, pursuant to North Carolina General Statutes §7A-308, in the amount of Forty-five Cents (0.45) per each One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) or fractional part thereof with a maximum amount of Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00). A deposit of five percent (5%) of the bid or Seven Hundred Fifty Dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, will be required at the time of the sale and must be tendered in the form of certified funds. Following the expiration of the statutory upset bid period, all the remaining amounts will be immediately due and owing.

Said property to be offered pursuant to this Notice of Sale is being offered 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 offered for sale. This sale is made subject to all prior liens, unpaid taxes, special assessments, land transfer taxes, if any, and encumbrances of record. To the best of the knowledge and belief of the

undersigned, the current owner(s) of the property is/are Sharlene Etta Williams.

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE: An order for possession of the property may be issued pursuant to North Carolina General Statutes §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.

ADDRESS: 3135 JAMES DAIL RD EASTOVER, NC 28312 PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): BETTY JEAN WHITE THE LAND DESCRIBED HEREIN IS SITUATED IN THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA, COUNTY OF CUMBERLAND, AND IS DESCRIBED IN DEED BOOK 7357 , PAGE 839, AS FOLLOWS: CERTAIN LAND DESCRIBED AS FOLLOWS: EASTOVER TOWNSHIP, CUMBERLAND COUNTY NORTH CAROLINA: BEGINNING AT A SET NO.6 RE-BAR IN THE NORTHWEST RIGHT-OF-WAY MARGIN OF SR 1828, JAMES DALE ROAD (30 FOOT FROM CENTER), BEING ALSO THE THIRD CORNER OF THAT TRACT CONVEYED TO EDWARD LEE WHITE BY DEED RECORDED IN BOOK 2241,PAGE 619 AND RUNS THENCE ALONG THE NORTH WEST MARGIN OF THE AFORESAID ROAD SOUTH 38 DEGREES 53 MINUTES WEST 222.65 FEET TO A SET NO.6 RE-BAR; THENCE NORTH 51 DEGREES 07 MINUTES WEST 207.78 FEET TO A SET NO.6 RE-BAR; THENCE NORTH 38 DEGREES 53 MINUTES EAST 196.64 FEET TO A SET NO.6 RE-BAR, BEING THE FOURTH CORNER OF THE AFOREMENTIONED EDWARD LEE WHITE TRACT; THENCE ALONG THE THIRD LINE OF SAID TRACT SOUTH 58 DEGREES 15 MINUTES EAST 209.40 FEET TO THE POINT OF BEGINNING. CONTAINING 1.00 ACRES BEING THE SAME PROPERTY CONVEYED BY FEE SIMPLE DEED FROM MILIA BERTHA WHITE WIDOWED TO JAMES WHITE, JR. AND WIFE BETTY JEAN

WHITE WIDOWED TO JAMES WHITE, JR. AND WIFE BETTY JEAN WHITE, DATED 01/19/1983 RECORDED ON 01/21/1983 IN BOOK 2903, PAGE 407 IN CUMBERLAND COUNTY RECORDS, STATE OF NC. THE SAID JAMES WHITE, JR. HAVING DEPARTED THIS LIFE ON 12/05/1984, THEREBY VESTING FEE SIMPLE TITLE IN BETTY JEAN WHITE. Trustee may, in the Trustee’s sole discretion, delay the sale for up to one hour 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 offered pursuant to this notice of sale is being offered 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 officers, 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 offered 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 five percent (5%) of the purchase price, or seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, is required and must be tendered in the form of certified 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 filing of a bankruptcy petition prior to the confirmation 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 trustee, in its sole discretion, if it believes the challenge to have merit, may request the court to declare the sale to be void and return the deposit.

The purchaser will have no further remedy.

Additional Notice for Residential Property with Less than 15 rental units, including Single-Family Residential Real Property: An order for possession of the property may be issued pursuant to N.C.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 foreclosure sale, terminate the rental agreement by providing written notice of termination to the landlord, to be effective on a date stated in the notice

that is at least 10 days but not more than 90 days, after the sale date contained in this notice of sale, provided that the mortgagor has not cured the default at the time the tenant provides the notice of termination.

Upon termination of a rental agreement, the tenant is liable for rent due under the rental agreement prorated to the effective date of the termination.

THIS IS A COMMUNICATION FROM A DEBT COLLECTOR. THE PURPOSE OF THIS COMMUNICATION IS TO COLLECT A DEBT AND ANY INFORMATION OBTAINED WILL BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE, except as stated below in the instance of bankruptcy protection.

IF YOU ARE UNDER THE PROTECTION OF THE BANKRUPTCY COURT OR HAVE BEEN DISCHARGED AS A RESULT OF A BANKRUPTCY PROCEEDING, THIS NOTICE IS GIVEN TO YOU PURSUANT TO STATUTORY REQUIREMENT AND FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES AND IS NOT INTENDED AS AN ATTEMPT TO COLLECT A DEBT OR AS AN ACT TO COLLECT, ASSESS, OR RECOVER ALL OR ANY PORTION OF THE DEBT FROM YOU PERSONALLY.

PM on January 5, 2026 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in Fayetteville in the County of Cumberland, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: BEING all of Lot Number 2 in a subdivision known as ARRAN LAKES WEST, SECTION I and the same being duly recorded in Book of Plats 45, at page 49, Cumberland County Registry, North Carolina. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 1999 Westcliff Road, Fayetteville, North Carolina.

Parcel Identification No. 0405-49-5029 Property Address: 1999 Westcliff Road, Fayetteville, NC 28304

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 filing of a bankruptcy petition prior to the confirmation 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 trustee, in its sole discretion, if it believes the challenge to have merit, may request the court to declare the sale to be void and return the deposit.

The purchaser will have no further remedy.

Additional Notice for Residential Property with Less than 15 rental units, including Single-Family Residential Real Property An order for possession of the property may be issued pursuant to N.C.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 foreclosure sale, terminate the rental agreement by providing written notice of termination to the landlord, to be effective on a date stated in the notice that is at least 10 days but not more than 90 days, after the sale date contained in this notice of sale, provided that the mortgagor has not cured the default at the time the tenant provides the notice of termination. Upon termination of a rental agreement, the tenant is liable for rent due under the rental agreement prorated to the effective date of the termination.

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 offered pursuant to this notice of sale is being offered 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 officers, 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 offered 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 five percent (5%) of the purchase price, or seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, is required and must be tendered in the form of certified funds at the time of the sale.

of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the courthouse door or other usual place of sale in Cumberland County, North Carolina, at 1:30 PM on January 7th, 2026, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following described property, to wit: BEING all of Lot 201 of that subdivision known as SHEFFIELD FARMS NORTH, SECTION THREE, as per plat of the same duly recorded in Plat Book 122, Pages 93 to 94, Cumberland County, North Carolina Registry.

Also known as: 4610 Cedar Pass Drive, Hope Mills, NC 28348.

Together with improvements located hereon; said property being located at 4610 Cedar Pass Drive, Hope Mills, NC 28348 Tax ID: 0403-75-9364 Third party purchasers must pay the recording costs of the trustee’s deed, any land transfer taxes, the excise tax, pursuant North Carolina General Statutes §105228.30, in the amount of One Dollar ($1.00) per each Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) or fractional part thereof, and the Clerk of Courts fee, pursuant to North Carolina General Statutes §7A-308, in the amount

of Forty-five Cents (0.45) per each One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) or fractional part thereof with a maximum amount of Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00). A deposit of five percent (5%) of the bid or Seven Hundred Fifty Dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, will be required at the time of the sale and must be tendered in the form of certified funds. Following the expiration of the statutory upset bid period, all the remaining amounts will be immediately due and owing.

Said property to be offered pursuant to this Notice of Sale is being offered 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 offered for sale. This sale is made subject to all prior liens, unpaid taxes, special assessments, land transfer taxes, if any, and encumbrances of record. To the best of the knowledge and belief of the undersigned, the current owner(s) of the property is/are Eddie Williams, Jr..

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE: An order for possession of the property may be issued

pursuant to North Carolina General Statutes §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.

petition prior to the confirmation 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 Substitute Trustee, in their sole discretion, if they believe the challenge to have merit, may request the court to declare the sale to be void and return the deposit. The purchaser will have no further remedy.

door in Fayetteville, Cumberland County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, at 12:00 PM on January 5, 2026 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in Fayetteville in the County of Cumberland, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: BEING all of Lot 75 in a subdivisioin known as “WOODS EDGE, SECTION TWO”, a plat of which is duly recorded in Book of Plats 46, Page 31, Cumberland County, North Carolina Registry. Together with improvements located thereon; and said property being located at 2221 Wingate Road, Fayetteville, North Carolina.

The property to be offered pursuant to this notice of sale is being offered 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 officers, 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 offered 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 five percent (5%) of the purchase price, or seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, is required and must be tendered in the form of certified 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 filing of a bankruptcy petition prior to the confirmation 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 trustee, in its sole discretion, if it believes the challenge to have merit, may request the court to declare the sale to be void and return the deposit.

The purchaser will have no further remedy.

Additional Notice for Residential Property with Less than 15 rental units, including Single-Family Residential Real Property An order for possession of the property may be issued pursuant to N.C.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

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.

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).

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 effective 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 (North Carolina General Statutes §4521.16A(b)(2)). Upon termination of a rental agreement, the tenant is liable for rent due under the rental agreement prorated to the effective date of termination. If the Trustee is

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 effective 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 (North Carolina General Statutes §4521.16A(b)(2)). Upon termination of a rental agreement, the tenant is liable for rent due under the rental agreement prorated to the effective date of termination. 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 filing of a bankruptcy

Anchor Trustee Services, LLC Substitute Trustee By: David Neill, NCSB #23396 McMichael Taylor Gray, LLC Attorney for Anchor Trustee Services, LLC 3550 Engineering Drive, Suite 260 Peachtree Corners, GA 30092 404-474-7149 (phone) 404-745-8121 (fax) dneill@mtglaw.com 25-001448-01

Sarah A. Waldron or Terrass Scott Misher, Esq ROBERTSON, ANSCHUTZ, SCHNEID, CRANE & PARTNERS, PLLC Attorneys for the Substitute Trustee 13010 Morris Rd., Suite 450 Alpharetta, GA 30004 Telephone: (470) 321-7112

SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE SERVICES, INC. SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE c/o Hutchens Law Firm, LLP P.O. Box 1028 Fayetteville, NC 28302 4317 Ramsey Street Fayetteville, NC 28311 Phone No: (910) 864-3068 https://sales.hutchenslawfirm.com Firm Case No: 17325 - 81709

Anchor Trustee Services, LLC Substitute Trustee By: David Neill, NCSB #23396 McMichael Taylor Gray, LLC Attorney for Anchor Trustee Services, LLC 3550 Engineering Drive, Suite 260 Peachtree Corners, GA 30092 404-474-7149 (phone) 404-745-8121 (fax) dneill@mtglaw.com 25-001448-01

of foreclosure sale, terminate the rental agreement by providing written notice of termination to the landlord, to be effective on a date stated in the notice that is at least 10 days but not more than 90 days, after the sale date contained in this notice of sale, provided that the mortgagor has not cured the default at the time the tenant provides the notice of termination. Upon termination of a rental agreement, the tenant is liable for rent due under the rental agreement prorated to the effective date of the termination.

SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE SERVICES, INC. SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE c/o Hutchens Law Firm, LLP P.O. Box 1028 Fayetteville, NC 28302 4317 Ramsey Street Fayetteville, NC 28311 Phone No: (910) 864-3068 https://sales.hutchenslawfirm.com Firm Case No: 10453 - 43818

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North State Journal for Thursday, December 25, 2025

TAKE NOTICE

CUMBERLAND NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 25SP001075-250 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Cheryl Meyers (Deceased) (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): ) to Elizabeth Ells, Trustee(s), dated May 15, 2001, and recorded in Book No. 5472, at Page 0121 in Cumberland County Registry, North Carolina. The Deed of Trust was modified by the following: A Loan Modification recorded on April 10, 2023, in Book No. 11708, at Page 0435 A Loan Modification recorded on November 14, 2024, in Book No. 12110, at Page 0245, 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 Office of the Register of Deeds Cumberland County, North Carolina and the holder of

NOTICE OF SERVICE OF PROCESS BY PUBLICATION STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA Cumberland COUNTY In the Superior Court MEB REO TRUST VIII C/O SHELLPOINT

DAVIDSON NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 25SP000458-280 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Melvin Larry Murphy, II and Buffy Z. Murphy (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Melvin Larry Murphy, II and Buffy Z. Murphy) to Mark E. Randolph, Trustee(s), dated July 24, 2015, and recorded in Book No. 2188, at Page 2091 in Davidson 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 Office of the Register of Deeds Davidson 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 offer for sale at the courthouse door in Lexington, Davidson County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, at 11:30 AM on December 29, 2025 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in Winston Salem in the County of Davidson, North Carolina,

DURHAM 24-119324 IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE OF NORTH CAROLINA SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION DURHAM COUNTY 24SP002114-310 IN THE MATTER OF THE FORECLOSURE OF A DEED OF TRUST EXECUTED BY RONALD OHARA THOMAS JR AND LAYLE D. THOMAS DATED DECEMBER 4, 2021 AND RECORDED IN BOOK 9552 AT PAGE 588 IN THE DURHAM COUNTY PUBLIC REGISTRY, NORTH CAROLINA NOTICE OF SALE Under and by virtue of the power and authority contained in the above-referenced

19-108679 IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE OF NORTH CAROLINA SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION DURHAM COUNTY 25sp000131-310 IN THE MATTER OF THE FORECLOSURE OF A DEED OF TRUST EXECUTED BY GLENN NELSON DATED APRIL 19, 2006 AND RECORDED IN BOOK 5184 AT PAGE 678 IN THE DURHAM 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

FORSYTH NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE NORTH CAROLINA, FORSYTH COUNTY 25 SP 001729-330 Under and by virtue of a Power of Sale contained in that certain Deed of Trust executed by Lashonder Sharee Bennett, Mortgagor(s), in the original amount of $280,721.00, to Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc., (“MERS”) as beneficiary as nominee for Movement Mortgage, LLC, Mortgagee, dated March 23rd, 2022 and recorded on March 23rd, 2022 in Book RE3683, Page 3507, Forsyth County Registry.

Default having been made in the payment of the note thereby secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Anchor Trustee Services, LLC having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust by an instrument duly recorded in the

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 offered pursuant to this notice of sale is being offered 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 officers, 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 offered 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 five percent (5%) of

the purchase price, or seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, is required and must be tendered in the form of certified 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 filing of a bankruptcy petition prior to the confirmation 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 trustee, in its sole discretion, if it believes the challenge to have merit, may request the court to declare the sale to be void and return the deposit.

The purchaser will have no further remedy.

Additional Notice for Residential Property with Less than 15 rental units, including Single-Family Residential Real Property An order for possession of the property may be issued pursuant to N.C.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 foreclosure sale, terminate the rental agreement by providing written notice of termination to the landlord, to be effective on a date stated in the notice that is at least 10 days but not more than 90 days, after the sale date contained in this notice of sale, provided that the mortgagor has not cured the default at the time the tenant provides the notice of termination. Upon termination of a rental agreement, the tenant is liable for rent due under the rental agreement prorated to the effective date of the termination.

against you has been filed in the aboveentitled special proceeding. The nature of the relief being sought is as follows: Plaintiff requests the Clerk to determine the owner of surplus funds following the foreclosure sale of real property located at 5044 Tangerine Drive Fayetteville, NC 28304

You are required to make defense to such pleading not later than January 19, 2026, and upon your failure to do so the party seeking service against you will apply to the court for the relief sought.

Gregory P. Cowan, NC Bar #39608 Attorney for Petitioner Robertson, Anschutz, Schneid, Crane & Partners, PLLC 13010 Morris Road, Suite 450 Alpharetta, GA 30004

and being more particularly described as follows: BEGINNING at an existing iron in or near the northeast right-of-way line of John Green Road, said iron being located also in the southwest corner of Terri Hampton (Deed Book 1358, at Page 305, Davidson County Registry); thence from said beginning point, with Hampton’s southern line, South 84 deg. 54 min. 59 sec. East 195.04 feet to an existing iron in the common southeast corner of Hampton and the southwest corner of Mary Tate (Deed Book 1726, at Page 1119, Davidson County Registry); thence continuing with Tate’s southern line South 84 deg. 54 min. 59 sec. East 127.09 feet to an existing iron in the common southeast corner of Tate and the southwest corner of Zachary Motsinger (Deed Book 1701, at Page 677, Davidson County Registry); thence continuing with Motsinger’s southern line South 84 deg. 54 min. 59 sec. East 126.95 feet to an existing iron in the common southeast corner of Motsinger and the southwest corner of Ricky Gobble (Deed Book 909, at Page 160, Davidson County Registry); thence continuing with Gobble’s southern line South 84 deg. 54 min. 59 sec. East 147.78 feet to a stone; thence South 20 deg. 50 min. 32 sec.

West 109.31 feet to a new iron; thence South 76 deg. 41 min. 02 sec. West 439.48 feet to a new iron, in or near the northeast right-ofway line of John Green Road; thence with the

northeast right-of-way of John Green Road North 26 deg. 31 min. 59 sec. West 286.44 feet to the point and place of BEGINNING, and containing 2.127 acres, more or less, designated as “P/O Tax Lot 1” and also designated as “Tract A”, according to a “Map for Mike Hedgecock” prepared by Coe Forestry & Surveying, dated June 2, 2015, and designated as Job #15105. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 1616 John Green Road, Winston Salem, North Carolina.

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 offered pursuant to this notice of sale is being offered 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 officers, 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 offered 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 five percent (5%) of the purchase price, or seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, is required and must be tendered in the form of certified 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 filing of a bankruptcy petition prior to the confirmation 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 trustee, in its sole discretion, if it believes the challenge to have merit, may request the court to declare the sale to be void and return the deposit.

The purchaser will have no further remedy.

Additional Notice for Residential Property with Less than 15 rental units, including Single-Family Residential Real Property

An order for possession of the property may be issued pursuant to N.C.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 foreclosure sale, terminate the rental agreement by providing written notice of termination to the landlord, to be effective on a date stated in the notice that is at least 10 days but not more than 90 days, after the sale date contained in this notice of sale, provided that the mortgagor has not cured the default at the time the tenant provides the notice of termination. Upon termination of a rental agreement, the tenant is liable for rent due under the rental agreement prorated to the effective date of the termination.

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 of the secured debt, the undersigned will expose for sale at public auction at the usual place of sale at the Durham County courthouse at 10:00AM on January 7, 2026, the following described real estate and any improvements situated thereon, in Durham County, North Carolina, and being more particularly described in that certain Deed of Trust executed Ronald Ohara Thomas Jr and Layle D. Thomas, dated December 4, 2021 to secure the original principal amount of $200,000.00, and recorded in Book 9552 at Page 588 of the Durham County Public Registry. The terms of the said Deed of Trust may be modified 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: 2641 Kirk Road, Durham, NC 27705

Tax Parcel ID: 126474 Present Record Owners: Ronald Ohara Thomas, Jr. and Layle D. Thomas The record owner(s) of the property, according to the records of the Register of Deeds, is/are Ronald Ohara Thomas, Jr. and Layle D. Thomas.

The property to be offered pursuant to this notice of sale is being offered 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 officers, 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 offered 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 five percent (5%) of the amount of the bid or seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, is required from the highest bidder and must be tendered in the form of certified funds at the time of the sale. Cash will not be accepted. 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 purchaser. Also, if your lease began or was renewed on or after October 1, 2007, be advised that you may terminate the rental agreement upon 10 days written notice to the landlord. You may be liable for rent due under the agreement prorated to the effective date of the termination.

The date of this Notice is December 4, 2025. __________________ ___________________ Jason K. Purser N.C. State Bar No. #28031 Aaron Gavin N.C. State Bar No. #59503 Attorney for LLG Trustee, LLC, Substitute Trustee LOGS Legal Group LLP 8520 Cliff Cameron Dr., Suite 330 Charlotte, NC 28269 (704) 333-8107 | (704) 333-8156 Fax | www.LOGS.com Posted: By:

of the secured debt, the undersigned will expose for sale at public auction at the usual place of sale at the Durham County courthouse at 11:00AM on January 7, 2026, the following described real estate and any improvements situated thereon, in Durham County, North Carolina, and being more particularly described in that certain Deed of Trust executed Glenn Nelson, dated April 19, 2006 to secure the original principal amount of $92,000.00, and recorded in Book 5184 at Page 678 of the Durham County Public Registry. The terms of the said Deed of Trust may be modified 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: 3345 Tarleton West, Durham, NC 27713 Tax Parcel ID: 197948 Present Record Owners: Glenn Nelson

The record owner(s) of the property, according to the records of the Register of Deeds, is/are Glenn Nelson.

The property to be offered pursuant to this notice of sale is being offered 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 officers, 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 offered 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 five percent (5%) of the amount of the bid or seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00),

whichever is greater, is required from the highest bidder and must be tendered in the form of certified funds at the time of the sale. Cash will not be accepted. 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 purchaser. Also, if your lease began or was renewed on or after October 1, 2007, be advised that you may terminate the rental

agreement upon 10 days written notice to the landlord. You may be liable for rent due under the agreement prorated to the effective date of the termination.

The date of this Notice is November 7, 2025. __________________ ___________________ Jason K. Purser N.C. State Bar No. #28031 Aaron Gavin N.C. State Bar No. #59503 Attorney for LLG Trustee, LLC, Substitute Trustee LOGS Legal Group LLP 8520 Cliff Cameron Dr., Suite 330 Charlotte, NC 28269 (704) 333-8107 | (704) 333-8156 Fax | www.LOGS.com Posted: By:

Office of the Register of Deeds of 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 offer for sale at the courthouse door or other usual place of sale in Forsyth County, North Carolina, at 10:00 AM on January 6th, 2026, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following described property, to wit: Being all of Lot 48 as shown on a plat entitled “Plat for Reagan Village”, recorded in Plat Book 72, Page 11, in the Forsyth County Public Registry.

Together with improvements located hereon; said property being located at 4462 Wesmar Drive, Pfafftown, NC 27040 Tax ID: 5898-85-3652 Third party purchasers must pay the recording costs of the trustee’s deed, any land transfer taxes, the excise tax, pursuant North Carolina General Statutes §105228.30, in the amount of One Dollar ($1.00) per each Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) or fractional part thereof, and the Clerk of Courts fee, pursuant to North Carolina

General Statutes §7A-308, in the amount of Forty-five Cents (0.45) per each One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) or fractional part thereof with a maximum amount of Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00). A deposit of five percent (5%) of the bid or Seven Hundred Fifty Dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, will be required at the time of the sale and must be tendered in the form of certified funds. Following the expiration of the statutory upset bid period, all the remaining amounts will be immediately due and owing.

Said property to be offered pursuant to this Notice of Sale is being offered 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 offered for sale. This sale is made subject to all prior liens, unpaid taxes, special assessments, land transfer taxes, if any, and encumbrances of record. To the best of the knowledge and belief of the undersigned, the current owner(s) of the property is/are LaShonder Sharee Bennett.

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE: An order for possession of the property may be issued pursuant to North Carolina General Statutes §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.

is the return of the deposit. Reasons of such inability to convey include, but are not limited to, the filing of a bankruptcy petition prior to the confirmation 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 Substitute Trustee, in their sole discretion, if they believe the challenge to have merit, may request the court to declare the sale to be void and return the deposit. The purchaser will have no further remedy.

the note evidencing said indebtedness having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer 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 December 29, 2025 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in Fayetteville in the County of Cumberland, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: BEING all of Lot No. 70 in a Subdivision known as recombination of Lots 68-71 of GREENBRIAR HILLS, SECTION SIX, PHASE 1 according to a plat of the same duly recorded in Plat Book 90, Page 142 Cumberland County, North Carolina Registry. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 3237 Melba Drive, Fayetteville, 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

MORTGAGE SERVICING v. BETTY R OUTLAW F/K/A BETTY R HOLT RYLANDER; VALERIA RYLANDER; ASTRID RYLANDER; CLIFFORD CARPENTER RYLANDER; 24SP000342-250 Party to be served: Rylander, Clifford C Holt Take notice that a pleading seeking relief

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.

This, the 10th day of December, 2025.

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 effective 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 (North Carolina General Statutes §4521.16A(b)(2)). Upon termination of a rental agreement, the tenant is liable for rent due under the rental agreement prorated to the effective date of termination. If the Trustee is unable to convey title to this property for any reason, the sole remedy of the purchaser

SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE SERVICES, INC. SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE c/o Hutchens Law Firm, LLP P.O. Box 1028 Fayetteville, NC 28302 4317 Ramsey Street Fayetteville, NC 28311 Phone No: (910) 864-3068 https://sales.hutchenslawfirm.com Firm Case No: 1266326 - 141233

SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE SERVICES, INC. SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE c/o Foundation Legal Group P.O. Box 1028 Fayetteville, NC 28302 4317 Ramsey Street Fayetteville, NC 28311 Phone No: (910)864-3068 https://sales.hutchenslawfirm.com Firm Case No: 20647 - 145310

24-119324

19-108679

Anchor Trustee Services, LLC Substitute Trustee By: David Neill, NCSB #23396 McMichael Taylor Gray, LLC Attorney for Anchor Trustee Services, LLC 3550 Engineering Drive, Suite 260 Peachtree Corners, GA 30092 404-474-7149 (phone) 404-745-8121 (fax) dneill@mtglaw.com 25-002807-01

B8

North State Journal for Thursday, December 25, 2025

TAKE NOTICE

FORSYTH NOTICE OF SERVICE OF PROCESS BY PUBLICATION STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF FORSYTH GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION 25CV007870-330 Towd Point Mortgage Trust 2015-6, U.S. Bank National Association as Indenture Trustee; and Towd Point Master Funding Trust 2014R4, Plaintiffs, v.

David Wayne Davis a/k/a David W. Davis; Any Spouse of David Wayne Davis a/k/a

AMENDED NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE FILE NUMBER: 25SP001633-330 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust executed by CATHERINE PLEASANTS FULP dated April 27, 2021 in the amount of $186,558.00 and recorded in Book RE 3605, Page 668 of the Forsyth County Public Registry by ANTHONY MASELLI OR GENEVIEVE JOHNSON, EITHER OF WHOM MAY ACT, Substitute Trustee, default having been made in the terms of agreement set forth by the loan agreement secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, ANTHONY MASELLI OR GENEVIEVE JOHNSON, EITHER OF WHOM MAY ACT, having been substituted as Successor Trustee in said Deed of Trust by an instrument duly recorded in the Official Records of Forsyth County, North Carolina, in Book RE 3881, Page 3136, and the holder of the note evidencing said indebtedness having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the courthouse door in Forsyth County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, on January 7, 2026 at 1:00 PM, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in the County of Forsyth, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: PARCEL IDENTIFICATION NUMBER(S):

NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE NORTH CAROLINA, FORSYTH COUNTY 25 SP 001520-330 Under and by virtue of a Power of Sale contained in that certain Deed of Trust executed by Calvin Ward, Mortgagor(s), in the original amount of $93,978.00, to Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc., (“MERS”) as beneficiary, as nominee for Plaza Home Mortgage Inc., Mortgagee, dated March 1st, 2018 and recorded on March 1st, 2018 in Book RE 3392, Page 4145, Forsyth County Registry.

Default having been made in the payment of the note thereby secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Anchor Trustee Services, LLC having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust by an instrument duly recorded in the Office of the Register of Deeds of Forsyth County, North Carolina, and the holder of the note evidencing said indebtedness having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed,

NOTICE OF SERVICE OF PROCESS BY PUBLICATION STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA FORSYTH COUNTY In the Superior Court MOVEMENT MORTGAGE, LLC v. JUMOKE

IREDELL NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 25SP001456-480 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Beatrice Mayfield and Clifford Mayfield (deceased) (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Clifford Mayfield and Beatrice Mayfield) to Pope, Mcmillan, Kutteh, Simon & Privette, Trustee(s), dated January 10, 2008, and recorded in Document No. 010906730009, in Book No. 1910, at Page 1939 in Iredell County Registry, North Carolina. The Deed of Trust was modified by the following: A Loan Modification recorded on June 13, 2013, in Book No. 2248, at Page 765 A Loan Modification recorded on July 31, 2024, in Book No. 3076, at Page 1946 A Loan Modification recorded on February 5, 2024, in Book No. 3041, at Page 1660 A Loan Modification recorded on January 21, 2014, in Book No. 2283, at Page 2255 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 Office of the Register of Deeds Iredell

NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE FILE NUMBER: 25SP001469-480 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a Deed of Trust executed by CHARLES B ENGLAND dated June 2, 2015 in the amount of $67,969.00 and recorded in Book 2360, Page 2094 of the Iredell County Public Registry by ANTHONY MASELLI OR GENEVIEVE JOHNSON, EITHER OF WHOM MAY ACT, Substitute Trustee, default having been made in the terms of agreement set forth by the loan agreement secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, ANTHONY MASELLI OR GENEVIEVE JOHNSON, EITHER OF WHOM MAY ACT, having been substituted as Successor Trustee in said Deed of Trust by an instrument duly recorded in the Official Records of Iredell County, North Carolina, in Book 3168, Page 110, and the holder of the note evidencing said indebtedness having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the courthouse door in Iredell County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, on January 6, 2026 at 11:00 AM, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in the County of Iredell, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows:

David W. Davis; Sandra P. Davis a/k/a Sandra Phifer Davis; Any Spouse of Sandra P. Davis a/k/a Sandra Phifer Davis; Ingle Law Firm, PA; Allegacy Federal Credit Union; Truliant Federal Credit Union, Defendants.

To: David Wayne Davis a/k/a David W. Davis Any Spouse of David Wayne Davis a/k/a David W. Davis 710 Newton Street Winston Salem, NC 27105 David Wayne Davis a/k/a David W. Davis Any Spouse of David Wayne Davis a/k/a David W. Davis 1310 Aurora Glen Drive Rural Hall, NC 27045 Take notice that a pleading seeking relief against you has been filed in the aboveentitled action. The nature of the relief being sought is as follows: That the Court declare that Plaintiff is entitled to enforce the Note and Deed of

Trust; That Plaintiff’s valid, first position lien or trust on the Property be foreclosed by judicial sale pursuant to the provisions of N.C.G.S. § 1-339.1, et seq., by Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC, as Commissioner specially appointed by the Court to serve without bond, with proceeds of the sale applied as follows: To the cost of this action; To the compensation allowed by the Court for a person holding the sale pursuant to the N.C.G.S. § 1-339.11; To the amount due to the Plaintiff under the Note and Deed of Trust, including reasonable attorney’s fees and costs provided therein; and The surplus, if any, to be paid to the Office of the Clerk of Superior Court of Forsyth County pending a determination of those persons entitled thereto.

That the Property located at 710 Newton Street, Winston Salem, North Carolina

27105 shall be sold at a public sale to the highest bidder; That Plaintiff have and recover judgment against Borrowers in the amount of all principal, interest, late fees, costs, charges, expenses, fees, and attorneys’ fees due under the terms of the Note, which amount is in excess of $25,000.00, together with any pre- or post-judgment interest allowed by law; In the alternative, that a constructive trust, resulting trust or equitable lien be declared in favor of Plaintiff upon the interests of Borrowers in the Property, consistent in all regards with the terms and conditions of the Deed of Trust; That the Court direct that any final Order resulting from this action be duly recorded in the Forsyth County Register of Deeds, and indexed according to those parties named in said Deed of Trust for the purpose of establishing record notice of this proceeding in the chain of title to the Property;

That the Plaintiff have and recover its cost in this action including reasonable attorney’s fees; and For such other and further relief as the Court deems just and proper.

You are required to make defense to such pleading not later than January 28, 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 10th day of December, 2025.

BROCK & SCOTT, PLLC /s/ Alan M. Presel_________________ Alan M. Presel, NC Bar #24470 6701 Carmel Road, Suite 315 Charlotte, NC 28226 Telephone: 704-643-0290 Facsimile: 704-332-7225 Email: Alan.Presel@brockandscott.com Attorney for Plaintiffs 24-29098 CXLIT01

6824-50-6094 ADDRESS: 1636 OLD SALISBURY RD WINSTON SALEM, NC 27127 PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): CATHERINE PLEASANTS FULP THE LAND DESCRIBED HEREIN IS SITUATED IN THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA, COUNTY OF FORSYTH, AND IS DESCRIBED IN DEED BOOK RE 3605, PAGE 668, AS FOLLOWS: BEGINNING AT A NEW IRON PIPE IN THE EASTERN RIGHT OF WAY LINE OF OLD SALISBURY ROAD (SR NO. 3011), SAID IRON PIPE BEING ALSO THE SOUTHWEST CORNER OF THE PROPERTY OF R.M. KIMEL AND WIFE, CLEVE KIMEL, BEING MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED IN DEED BOOK 311 AT PAGE 200 OF THE FORSYTH COUNTY REGISTRY; RUNNING THENCE NORTH 87 DEGREES 55’ 24” EAST A DISTANCE OF 139.70 FEET TO AN EXISTING IRON PIPE; RUNNING THENCE SOUTH 02 DEGREES 49’ 39” WEST A DISTANCE OF 75.0 FEET TO AN EXISTING IRON PIPE; RUNNING THENCE SOUTH 86 DEGREES 02’ 51” WEST A DISTANCE OF 142.96 FEET TO A REBAR; RUNNING THENCE ALONG THE EASTERN RIGHT OF WAY OF OLD SALISBURY ROAD (SR NO. 3011) NORTH 04 DEGREES 49’00” EAST A DISTANCE OF 79.98 FEET TO THE POINT AND PLACE OF THE BEGINNING. SAID TRACT BEING A PORTION OF LOTS 12 AND 13 OF PATTERSON KNOLL AS RECORDED IN PLAT BOOK 3, PAGE 70A OF THE FORSYTH COUNTY REGISTRY AND ALSO KNOWN AS TAX LOTS 12A AND 13A OF TAX

BLOCK 2287 OF WINSTON TOWNSHIP, DATED MAY 18, 1990. FOR FURTHER REFERENCE SEE DEED BOOK 1619 AT PAGE 3048 OF THE FORSYTH COUNTY REGISTRY. A MAP SHOWING THE ABOVE DESCRIBED PROPERTY IS RECORDED IN PLAT BOOK 3, PAGE 70A Trustee may, in the Trustee’s sole discretion, delay the sale for up to one hour 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 offered pursuant to this notice of sale is being offered 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 officers, 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 offered 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 five percent (5%) of the purchase price, or seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, is required and must be tendered in the form of certified 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 filing of a bankruptcy petition prior to the confirmation 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 trustee, in its sole discretion, if it believes the challenge to have merit, may request the court to declare the sale to be void and return the deposit.

The purchaser will have no further remedy.

Additional Notice for Residential Property with Less than 15 rental units, including Single-Family Residential Real Property: An order for possession of the property may be issued pursuant to N.C.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 foreclosure sale, terminate the rental agreement by providing written notice of termination to the landlord, to be effective on a date stated in the notice that is at least 10 days but not more than 90 days, after the sale date contained in this

notice of sale, provided that the mortgagor has not cured the default at the time the tenant provides the notice of termination.

Upon termination of a rental agreement, the tenant is liable for rent due under the rental agreement prorated to the effective date of the termination.

THIS IS A COMMUNICATION FROM A DEBT COLLECTOR. THE PURPOSE OF THIS COMMUNICATION IS TO COLLECT A DEBT AND ANY INFORMATION OBTAINED WILL BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE, except as stated below in the instance of bankruptcy protection.

IF YOU ARE UNDER THE PROTECTION OF THE BANKRUPTCY COURT OR HAVE BEEN DISCHARGED AS A RESULT OF A BANKRUPTCY PROCEEDING, THIS NOTICE IS GIVEN TO YOU PURSUANT TO STATUTORY REQUIREMENT AND FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES AND IS NOT INTENDED AS AN ATTEMPT TO COLLECT A DEBT OR AS AN ACT TO COLLECT, ASSESS, OR RECOVER ALL OR ANY PORTION OF THE DEBT FROM YOU PERSONALLY.

the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the courthouse door or other usual place of sale in Forsyth County, North Carolina, at 10:00 AM on January 6th, 2026, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following described property, to wit: Being known and designated as Lot 208 of Smith Farm, Phase 2D, a map and plat of which is recorded in Plat Book 47, Page 162 in the Office of the Register of Deeds of Forsyth County, North Carolina, reference to which map is hereby made for a more particular description.

Together with improvements located hereon; said property being located at 623 Denny Drive, Winston Salem, NC 27107 Tax ID: 6865-20-3435.000 Third party purchasers must pay the recording costs of the trustee’s deed, any land transfer taxes, the excise tax, pursuant North Carolina General Statutes §105228.30, in the amount of One Dollar ($1.00) per each Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) or fractional part thereof, and the Clerk of Courts fee, pursuant to North Carolina General Statutes §7A-308, in the amount

of Forty-five Cents (0.45) per each One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) or fractional part thereof with a maximum amount of Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00). A deposit of five percent (5%) of the bid or Seven Hundred Fifty Dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, will be required at the time of the sale and must be tendered in the form of certified funds. Following the expiration of the statutory upset bid period, all the remaining amounts will be immediately due and owing.

Said property to be offered pursuant to this Notice of Sale is being offered 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 offered for sale. This sale is made subject to all prior liens, unpaid taxes, special assessments, land transfer taxes, if any, and encumbrances of record. To the best of the knowledge and belief of the undersigned, the current owner(s) of the property is/are The Heirs of Calvin Ward.

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE: An order for possession of the property may be issued pursuant to North Carolina General Statutes §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.

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 filing of a bankruptcy petition prior to the confirmation 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 Substitute Trustee, in their sole discretion, if they believe the challenge to have merit, may request the court to declare the sale to be void and return the deposit. The purchaser will have no further remedy.

BABALOLA; ANY SPOUSE OF JUMOKE BABALOLA; UNITED STATES OF AMERICA ACTING BY AND THROUGH ITS AGENCY THE DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT; GODDARD & PETERSON, PLLC; JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.; 25CVS003237-330 Party to be served: JUMOKE BABALOLA;

ANY SPOUSE OF JUMOKE BABALOLA

27265

This, the 17TH day of December, 2025

Take notice that a pleading seeking relief against you has been filed in the aboveentitled special proceeding. The nature of the relief being sought is as follows: Plaintiff is seeking the foreclosure of real property at 4050 TRANSITION ST, HIGH POINT, NC

You are required to make defense to such pleading not later than February 16, 2026 and upon your failure to do so the party seeking service against you will apply to the court for the relief sought.

Gregory P. Cowen NC Bar #39608 Attorney for Petitioner Robertson, Anschutz, Schneid, Crane & Partners, PLLC 13010 Morris Road, Suite 450 Alpharetta, GA 30004

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 offer for sale at the courthouse door in Statesville, Iredell County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, at 11:00 AM on January 8, 2026 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in Statesville in the County of Iredell, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: BEGINNING at as iron stake on the Eastern margin of Holland Circle West, grid iron stake being the Southwest corner of Lot No. 4 in Block III. Of the Holland Farm Development, map of which is recorded in Plat Book 5, page 15. Iredell County Registry: thence with the easterly margin of Holland Circle West, N. 48 deg. 24 min. 11 sec. West 85.82 feet to an iron pin, Leonard R. Marlowe’s corner; thence with Marlowe’s line, N. 48 deg. 55 min. 31 sec. East 143.21 feet to an iron pin, Marlowe’s corner in Nationwide Homes, Inc.’s line; thence with Nationwide Homes.

Inc.’s Line and S. R. Holland. Jr.’s line. S. 51 deg. 38 min. 30 sec. East 100 feet to an Iron pin, corner of said Lot No. 4 and being McLeon’s corner; thence with the line of Lot No. 4 and McLeon’s line, S. 48 deg. 8 min. 30 sec. West 102.18 feet to the Beginning, and being the identical land conveyed by James A. Belcher and wife, to Ray Junior Wooten

and wife. Edith P. Wooten, by deed recorded August 21, 1981, and recorded in Book 666, page 687. Deed Records for Iredell County.

Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 402 Holland Drive, Statesville, North Carolina.

conditions existing in, on, at or relating to the property being offered for sale, and any and all responsibilities or liabilities arising

Single-Family Residential Real Property

PARCEL IDENTIFICATION NUMBER(S): 4724-35-4777.000 ADDRESS: 706 WINTERFIELD RD STATESVILLE, NC 28677 PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): CHARLES B ENGLAND THE LAND DESCRIBED HEREIN IS SITUATED IN THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA, COUNTY OF IREDELL, AND IS DESCRIBED IN DEED BOOK 2360, PAGE 2094, AS FOLLOWS: THE PROPERTY ORDERED SOLD BY THE COURT IS MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED AS FOLLOWS:

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 offered pursuant to this notice of sale is being offered 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 officers, 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 offered 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 five percent (5%) of the purchase price, or seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, is required and must be tendered in the form of certified funds at the time of the sale.

If the trustee is unable to convey title to this property for any reason, the sole

BEING ALL OF LOT NO. THIRTY-FOUR (34) OF THE REAVIS-TSUMAS ADDITION TO WESTOVER, AS THE SAME IS PLATTED AND PLANNED ON THE GENERAL MAP OF SAID ADDITION, AS PREPARED BY L. B. GRIER, REGISTERED SURVEYOR, AND RECORDED IN PLAT BOOK 7, PAGE 32, IREDELL COUNTY REGISTRY. BEING THE SAME PROPERTY CONVEYED TO CHARLES B. ENGLAND BY DEED FROM CAROLYN H. GREENE ACTING AS ADMINISTRATRIX OF THE ESTATE OF TONY MARVIN GREENE RECORDED 05/25/2006 IN DEED BOOK 1750 PAGE 1941, IN THE REGISTER OF DEEDS OFFICE OF IREDELL COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA. Trustee may, in the Trustee’s sole discretion, delay the sale for up to one hour as provided in N.C.G.S. §45-21.23.

The above described is subject to all of the restrictions as to the use thereof as are contained in the instrument recorded in Book 248, page 385, Deed Records for Iredell County.

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 offered pursuant to this notice of sale is being offered 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 officers, 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

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 effective 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 (North Carolina General Statutes §4521.16A(b)(2)). Upon termination of a rental agreement, the tenant is liable for rent due under the rental agreement prorated to the effective date of termination. If the Trustee is unable to convey title to this property for any

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 five percent (5%) of the purchase price, or seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, is required and must be tendered in the form of certified 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 filing of a bankruptcy petition prior to the confirmation 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 trustee, in its sole discretion, if it believes the challenge to have merit, may request the court to declare the sale to be void and return the deposit.

The purchaser will have no further remedy.

Additional Notice for Residential Property with Less than 15 rental units, including

remedy of the purchaser is the return of the deposit. Reasons of such inability to convey include, but are not limited to, the filing of a bankruptcy petition prior to the confirmation 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 trustee, in its sole discretion, if it believes the challenge to have merit, may request the court to declare the sale to be void and return the deposit.

The purchaser will have no further remedy.

Additional Notice for Residential Property with Less than 15 rental units, including Single-Family Residential Real Property: An order for possession of the property may be issued pursuant to N.C.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 foreclosure sale, terminate the rental agreement by providing written notice of termination to the landlord, to be effective on a date stated in the notice that is at least 10 days but not more than 90 days, after the sale date contained in this notice of sale, provided that the mortgagor has not cured the default at the time the tenant provides the notice of termination.

Upon termination of a rental agreement, the

Sarah A. Waldron or Terrass Scott Misher, Esq ROBERTSON, ANSCHUTZ, SCHNEID, CRANE & PARTNERS, PLLC Attorneys for the Substitute Trustee 13010 Morris Rd., Suite 450 Alpharetta, GA 30004 Telephone: (470) 321-7112

Anchor Trustee Services, LLC Substitute Trustee By: David Neill, NCSB #23396 McMichael Taylor Gray, LLC Attorney for Anchor Trustee Services, LLC 3550 Engineering Drive, Suite 260 Peachtree Corners, GA 30092 404-474-7149 (phone) 404-745-8121 (fax) dneill@mtglaw.com 25-001061-01

An order for possession of the property may be issued pursuant to N.C.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 foreclosure sale, terminate the rental agreement by providing written notice of termination to the landlord, to be effective on a date stated in the notice that is at least 10 days but not more than 90 days, after the sale date contained in this notice of sale, provided that the mortgagor has not cured the default at the time the tenant provides the notice of termination.

Upon termination of a rental agreement, the tenant is liable for rent due under the rental agreement prorated to the effective date of the termination. c/o Hutchens Law Firm, LLP P.O. Box 1028 Fayetteville, NC 28302 4317 Ramsey Street Fayetteville, NC 28311 Phone No: (910) 864-3068 https://sales.hutchenslawfirm.com Firm Case No: 27520 - 140226 SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE SERVICES, INC. SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE

tenant is liable for rent due under the rental agreement prorated to the effective date of the termination.

THIS IS A COMMUNICATION FROM A DEBT COLLECTOR. THE PURPOSE OF THIS COMMUNICATION IS TO COLLECT A DEBT AND ANY INFORMATION OBTAINED WILL BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE, except as stated below in the instance of bankruptcy protection.

IF YOU ARE UNDER THE PROTECTION OF THE BANKRUPTCY COURT OR HAVE BEEN DISCHARGED AS A RESULT OF A BANKRUPTCY PROCEEDING, THIS NOTICE IS GIVEN TO YOU PURSUANT TO STATUTORY REQUIREMENT AND FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES AND IS NOT INTENDED AS AN ATTEMPT TO COLLECT A DEBT OR AS AN ACT TO COLLECT, ASSESS, OR RECOVER ALL OR ANY PORTION OF THE DEBT FROM YOU PERSONALLY. Sarah A. Waldron or Terrass Scott Misher, Esq ROBERTSON, ANSCHUTZ, SCHNEID, CRANE & PARTNERS, PLLC Attorneys for the Substitute Trustee 13010 Morris Rd., Suite 450 Alpharetta, GA 30004 Telephone: (470) 321-7112

B9

North State Journal for Thursday, December 25, 2025

TAKE NOTICE

JOHNSTON 24-118933 IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE OF NORTH CAROLINA SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION JOHNSTON COUNTY 25SP000471-500 IN THE MATTER OF THE FORECLOSURE OF A DEED OF TRUST EXECUTED BY ADAIR F. WILLIAMS DATED MAY 25, 2016 AND RECORDED IN BOOK 4770 AT PAGE 702 IN THE JOHNSTON COUNTY PUBLIC REGISTRY, NORTH CAROLINA NOTICE OF SALE Under and by virtue of the power and authority contained in the abovereferenced deed of trust and because of

NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 25SP000522-500 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made

by Ryan Todd Martin (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Ryan Martin) to WFG National Title Insurance Company, Trustee(s), dated April 14, 2022, and recorded in Book No. 6235, at Page 81 in Johnston 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 Office of the Register of Deeds Johnston 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 offer for sale at the courthouse door in Smithfield, Johnston County, North Carolina, or the customary location

NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 25SP000530-500 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made

by George W. Adams (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): George W. Adams) to Heather Lovier, Trustee(s), dated June 10, 2023, and recorded in Book No. 6490, at Page 888 in Johnston 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 Office of the Register of Deeds Johnston 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 offer for sale at the courthouse door in Smithfield, Johnston County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, at 11:00 AM on January 6, 2026 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real

IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION 25SP000464-500 STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF JOHNSTON IN THE MATTER OF THE FORECLOSURE OF A DEED OF TRUST EXECUTED BY JAMES F. KENNEDY, JR AND JAMES F. KENNEDY, SR DATED MARCH 24, 2004 RECORDED IN BOOK NO. 2662, AT PAGE 757 IN THE JOHNSTON COUNTY PUBLIC REGISTRY, NORTH CAROLINA NOTICE OF SALE Under and by virtue of the power and authority contained in the abovereferenced 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

NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE FILE NUMBER: 24SP000425-500 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain DEED OF TRUST EXECUTED BY JAY SPILLANE JR AND MARIE SPILLANE DATED JUNE 10, 2022 IN THE AMOUNT OF $313,500.00 AND RECORDED IN BOOK 6277 AT PAGE 432 IN THE JOHNSTON COUNTY PUBLIC REGISTRY, NORTH CAROLINA, by Anthony Maselli or Genevieve Johnson, either of whom may act, Substitute Trustee, default having been made in the terms of agreement set forth by the loan agreement secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, ANTHONY MASELLI OR GENEVIEVE JOHNSON, EITHER OF WHOM MAY ACT, having been substituted as Successor Trustee in said Deed of Trust by an instrument duly recorded in the Official Records of Johnston County, North Carolina, in Book 6716, Page 166, and the holder of the note evidencing said indebtedness having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the courthouse door in Johnston County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, on December 30, 2025 at 11:00am, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in the County of Johnston, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: PARCEL IDENTIFICATION NUMBER(S):

NEW HANOVER 23-117436 IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE OF NORTH CAROLINA SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION NEW HANOVER COUNTY 25SP001563-640 IN THE MATTER OF THE FORECLOSURE OF A DEED OF TRUST EXECUTED BY BRENDA MILLER WILHALF DATED APRIL 23, 2016 AND RECORDED IN BOOK 5965 AT PAGE 1603 IN THE NEW HANOVER COUNTY PUBLIC REGISTRY, NORTH CAROLINA NOTICE OF SALE Under and by virtue of the power and

default in payment of the secured debt and failure to perform the agreements contained therein and, pursuant to demand of the holder of the secured debt, the undersigned will expose for sale at public auction at the usual place of sale at the Johnston County courthouse at 11:00AM on January 6, 2026, the following described real estate and any improvements situated thereon, in Johnston County, North Carolina, and being more particularly described in that certain Deed of Trust executed Adair F. Williams, dated May 25, 2016 to secure the original principal amount of $277,000.00, and recorded in Book 4770 at Page 702 of the Johnston County Public Registry. The terms of the said Deed of Trust may be modified 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: 200 Fieldtrial Circle, Garner, NC 27529

Tax Parcel ID: 06D02030B Present Record Owners: Adair F. Williams The record owner(s) of the property, according to the records of the Register of Deeds, is/are Adair F. Williams.

The property to be offered pursuant to this notice of sale is being offered 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 officers, 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 offered 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 five percent (5%) of the amount of the bid or seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, is required from the highest bidder and must be tendered in the form of certified funds at the time of the sale. Cash will not be accepted. 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 re-sale. 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

purchaser. Also, if your lease began or was renewed on or after October 1, 2007, be advised that you may terminate the rental agreement upon 10 days written notice to the landlord. You may be liable for rent due under the agreement prorated to the effective date of the termination.

The date of this Notice is December 3, 2025.

Jason K. Purser N.C. State Bar No. #28031 Aaron Gavin N.C. State Bar No. #59503 Attorney for LLG Trustee, LLC, Substitute Trustee LOGS Legal Group LLP 8520 Cliff Cameron Dr., Suite 330 Charlotte, NC 28269 (704) 333-8107 | (704) 333-8156 Fax | www.LOGS.com Posted: By:

designated for foreclosure sales, at 11:00 AM on January 6, 2026 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in Garner in the County of Johnston, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: Being all of Lot 98 in The Village at Cleveland Springs, Phase II J, as shown on plat recorded in Plat Book 81, Pages 102104, Johnston County Registry. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 15 Davelyn Court, 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 FortyFive Cents ($0.45) per One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) required by N.C.G.S. §7A-308(a)(1).

The property to be offered pursuant to this notice of sale is being offered 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 officers, 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 offered 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

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 filing of a bankruptcy petition prior to the confirmation 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 trustee, in its sole discretion, if it believes the challenge to have merit, may request the court to declare the sale to be void and return the deposit. The purchaser will have no further remedy.

Additional Notice for Residential Property with Less than 15 rental units, including Single-Family Residential Real Property An order for possession of the property may be issued pursuant to N.C.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 foreclosure sale, terminate the rental agreement by providing written notice of termination to the landlord, to be effective on a date stated in the notice that is at least 10 days but not more than 90 days, after the sale date contained in this notice of sale, provided that the mortgagor has not cured the default at the time the tenant provides the notice of termination.

Upon termination of a rental agreement, the tenant is liable for rent due under the rental agreement prorated to the effective date of the termination. c/o Hutchens Law Firm, LLP P.O. Box 1028 Fayetteville, NC 28302 4317 Ramsey Street Fayetteville, NC 28311 Phone No: (910) 864-3068 https://sales.hutchenslawfirm.com Firm Case No: 28185 - 144107 SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE SERVICES, INC. SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE

estate situated in Benson in the County of Johnston, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: Tax Id Number(s): 164100-12-6101 Land situated in the County of Johnston in the State of NC Being All of Lot 7R, Glenfield Estates Subdivision, as shown on a map recorded in Plat Book 66, Page 416, Johnston County Registry, to which plat reference is hereby made for a full and complete description of said lot. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 124 Sycamore Court, Benson, North Carolina.

The aforesaid real property is hereby conveyed subject to those restrictive covenants that are recorded in Deed Book 1943, Page 87, Johnston County Registry.

Commonly known as: 124 Sycamore Ct, Benson, NC 27504-6579 The property address and tax parcel identification number listed are provided solely for informational purposes. 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 FortyFive Cents ($0.45) per One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) required by N.C.G.S. §7A-308(a)(1).

The property to be offered pursuant to this notice of sale is being offered 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 officers, 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 offered 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 five percent (5%) of the purchase price, or seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, is required and must be tendered in the form of certified 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 filing of a bankruptcy petition prior to the confirmation 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 trustee, in its sole discretion, if it believes the challenge to have merit, may request the court to declare the sale to be void and return the deposit. The purchaser will have no further remedy.

Additional Notice for Residential Property with Less than 15 rental units, including Single-Family Residential Real Property An order for possession of the property may be issued pursuant to N.C.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 foreclosure sale, terminate the rental agreement by providing written notice of termination to the landlord, to be effective on a date stated in the notice that is at least 10 days but not more than 90 days, after the sale date contained in this notice of sale, provided that the mortgagor has not cured the default at the time the tenant provides the notice of termination.

Upon termination of a rental agreement, the tenant is liable for rent due under the rental agreement prorated to the effective date of the termination. c/o Foundation Legal Group P.O. Box 1028 Fayetteville, NC 28302 4317 Ramsey Street Fayetteville, NC 28311 Phone No: (910)864-3068 https://sales.hutchenslawfirm.com Firm Case No: 28234 - 144352

tax associated with the foreclosure.

A deposit of five percent (5%) of the amount of the bid or seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, is required from the highest bidder and must be tendered in the form of certified 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 re-sale. 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.

purchaser. Also, if your lease began or was renewed on or after October 1, 2007, be advised that you may terminate the rental agreement upon 10 days written notice to the landlord. You may be liable for rent due under the agreement prorated to the effective date of the termination.

for sale at public auction at the usual place of sale at the Johnston County courthouse at 12:00 PM on January 6, 2026, the following described real estate and any improvements situated thereon, in Johnston County, North Carolina, and being more particularly described in that certain Deed of Trust executed by James F. Kennedy, Jr; James F. Kennedy, Sr, dated March 24, 2004 to secure the original principal amount of $91,350.00, and recorded in Book No. 2662, at Page 757 of the Johnston County Public Registry. The terms of the said Deed of Trust may be modified 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.

encumbrances of record and any recorded releases. Said property is also being sold subject to applicable Federal and State laws.

A deposit of five percent (5%) of the purchase price, or seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, is required and must be tendered in the form of certified funds at the time of the sale.

If the trustee is unable to convey title to

The record owner(s) of the property, according to the records of the Register of Deeds, is/are James F. Kennedy, Jr and Rachel Kennedy and Tammy Harms and Tony Kennedy.

24-118933

SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE SERVICES, INC. SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE

Address of property: 223 Barewood Drive, Four Oaks, NC 275247318 Tax Parcel ID: 07-G-09-008-B

The property to be offered pursuant to this notice of sale is being offered 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 officers, 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 offered 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

14021020 ADDRESS: 312 N SUMNER ST SELMA, NC 27576 PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): JAY SPILLANE JR AND MARIE SPILLANE THE LAND DESCRIBED HEREIN IS SITUATED IN THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA, COUNTY OF JOHNSTON, AND IS DESCRIBED IN DEED BOOK 6277, PAGE 432, AS FOLLOWS: BEGINNING AT AN EXISTING IRON STAKE IN THE EASTERN RIGHT-OF-WAY OF NORTH SUMNER STREET, SAID IRON STAKE BEING LOCATED 219.6 FEET, MORE OR LESS, FROM THE NORTHERN RIGHT-OF-WAY OF OAK STREET; THENCE LEAVING SAID BEGINNING POINT AND ALONG SAID RIGHT-OF-WAY OF NORTH SUMNER STREET NORTH 38 DEG. 11’ 31” EAST 100.87 FEET TO A PAINTED SPOT ON THE CONCRETE OF THE JOINT DRIVE, A CORNER WITH NOW OR FORMERLY KATHERINE STEPHENS ON; THENCE LEAVING THE RIGHT-OF-WAY OF NORTH SUMNER STREET AND WITH THE STEPHENSON PROPERTY LINE SOUTH 53 DEG. 54’ 26” EAST 153.76 FEET TO AN EXISTING IRON PIPE, A CORNER WITH NOW OR FORMERLY A.Z. THOMPSON; THENCE SOUTH 42 DEG. 16’ 41” WEST 105.00 FEET TO AND IRON PIPE SET AT A FENCE POST, A CORNER WITH NOW OR FORMERLY RALPH L. BASS; THENCE WITH THE BASS PROPERTY LINE SOUTH 52 DEG. 30’ 00” WEST 146.19 FEET TO THE POINT AND PLACE OF BEGINNING AND CONTAINING 15,398 SQUARE FEET, 0.353 ACRES, MORE OR

LESS, ACCORDING TO A SURVEY AND PLAT PREPARED BY BARBOUR LAND SURVEYING DATED JUNE 10, 1993, AND ENTITLED “ SURVEY FOR ROSALINE SIAU-LING DERKA”.

Trustee may, in the Trustee’s sole discretion, delay the sale for up to one hour 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 FortyFive Cents ($0.45) per One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) required by N.C.G.S. §7A-308(a)(1).

The property to be offered pursuant to this notice of sale is being offered 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 officers, 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 offered 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 five percent (5%) of the purchase price, or seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, is required and must be tendered in the form of certified 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 filing of a bankruptcy petition prior to the confirmation 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 trustee, in its sole discretion, if it believes the challenge to have merit, may request the court to declare the sale to be void and return the deposit. The purchaser will have no further remedy.

Additional Notice for Residential Property with Less than 15 rental units, including Single-Family Residential Real Property: An order for possession of the property may be issued pursuant to N.C.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 foreclosure sale, terminate the rental agreement by providing written notice of termination to the landlord, to be effective on a date stated in the notice that is at

least 10 days but not more than 90 days, after the sale date contained in this notice of sale, provided that the mortgagor has not cured the default at the time the tenant provides the notice of termination.

Upon termination of a rental agreement, the tenant is liable for rent due under the rental agreement prorated to the effective date of the termination.

THIS IS A COMMUNICATION FROM A DEBT COLLECTOR. THE PURPOSE OF THIS COMMUNICATION IS TO COLLECT A DEBT AND ANY INFORMATION OBTAINED WILL BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE, except as stated below in the instance of bankruptcy protection.

IF YOU ARE UNDER THE PROTECTION OF THE BANKRUPTCY COURT OR HAVE BEEN DISCHARGED AS A RESULT OF A BANK-RUPTCY PROCEEDING, THIS NOTICE IS GIVEN TO YOU PURSUANT TO STATUTORY REQUIREMENT AND FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES AND IS NOT INTENDED AS AN ATTEMPT TO COLLECT A DEBT OR AS AN ACT TO COLLECT, ASSESS, OR RECOVER ALL OR ANY PORTION OF THE DEBT FROM YOU PERSONALLY.

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 of the secured debt, the undersigned will expose for sale at public auction at the usual place of sale at the New Hanover County courthouse at 11:00AM on January 6, 2026, the following described real estate and any improvements situated thereon, in New Hanover County, North Carolina, and being more particularly described in that certain Deed of Trust executed Brenda Miller Wilhalf, dated April 23, 2016 to secure the original principal amount of $236,138.00, and recorded in Book 5965 at Page 1603 of the New Hanover County Public Registry. The terms of the said Deed of Trust may be modified 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: 3519 Kirby Smith Dr, Wilmington, NC 28409 Tax Parcel ID: R06611-002-012-000 Present Record Owners: Brenda Miller Wilhalf The record owner(s) of the property, according to the records of the Register of Deeds, is/are Brenda Miller Wilhalf.

The property to be offered pursuant to this notice of sale is being offered 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 officers, 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 offered 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 five percent (5%) of the amount of the bid or seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, is required from the highest bidder and must be tendered in the form of certified funds at the time of the sale. Cash will not be accepted.

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 purchaser. Also, if your lease began or was renewed on or after October 1, 2007, be advised that you may terminate the rental agreement upon 10 days written notice to the landlord. You may be liable for rent due under the agreement prorated to the effective date of the termination.

The date of this Notice is December 3, 2025. __________________ ___________________ Jason K. Purser N.C. State Bar No. #28031 Aaron Gavin N.C. State Bar No. #59503 Attorney for LLG Trustee, LLC, Substitute Trustee LOGS Legal Group LLP 8520 Cliff Cameron Dr., Suite 330 Charlotte, NC 28269 (704) 333-8107 | (704) 333-8156 Fax | www.

LOGS.com 23-117436

The date of this Notice is 16th day of December, 2025.

Grady I. Ingle, Attorney for Substitute Trustee Ingle Law Firm, PA 13801 Reese Blvd West Suite 160 Huntersville, NC 28078 (980) 771-0717 Ingle Case Number: 37914-65090

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

Sarah A. Waldron or Terrass Scott Misher, Esq ROBERTSON, ANSCHUTZ, SCHNEID, CRANE & PARTNERS, PLLC Attorneys for the Substitute Trustee 13010 Morris Rd., Suite 450 Alpharetta, GA 30004 Telephone: (470) 321-7112

B10

North State Journal for Thursday, December 25, 2025

TAKE NOTICE

NEW HANOVER NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 25SP001381-640 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Storehouse Holdings, LLC, a North Carolina Limited Liability Company (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Storehouse Holdings, LLC, a North Carolina Limited Liability Company) to Becton Law Firm, P.C., Trustee(s), dated August 7, 2023, and recorded in Book No. RB 6656, at Page 1493 in New Hanover 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 Office of the Register of Deeds New Hanover County, North Carolina and the holder of the note evidencing said indebtedness having

25SP001449-640 NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE NORTH CAROLINA, COUNTY

NEW

HANOVER

Under and by virtue of a Power of Sale contained in that certain Deed of Trust executed by Sandra O Donnell a/k/a Sandra Saadeh to Trste, Inc., Trustee(s), which was dated October 12, 2007 and recorded on November 6, 2007 in Book 5248 at Page 1786, New Hanover 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 offer for sale at the courthouse door of the county courthouse where the property is located, or the usual and customary location at the

24SP000536-640 NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE NORTH CAROLINA, COUNTY

NEW

HANOVER

Under and by virtue of a Power of Sale contained in that certain Deed of Trust executed by Nancy J. Baxley to Thomas E. Black, Jr., Trustee(s), which was dated August 18, 2020 and recorded on August 25, 2020 in Book RB 6347 at Page 1401, New Hanover 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 offer 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 January 6, 2026 at 01:00 PM, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following described property situated in New Hanover County, North Carolina, to wit: BEING Unit 43, PHASE II, of SOUTH RIDGE MOBILE HOME PARK, a Condominium, as the same is described in the Declaration establishing a plan of condominium ownership of certain lands and improvements thereto in

NOTICE OF DEFAULT AND FORECLOSURE SALE WHEREAS, on May 9, 2011, a certain Deed of Trust was executed by Charles G. Bowen and Margie Bowen, “Mortgagor(s)” in favor of MetLife Home Loans, a Division of MetLife Bank, N.A., “Mortgagee” and was recorded on May 11, 2011, in Book 5562, Page 2011 in the Official Land Records of New Hanover County, North Carolina; and WHEREAS, the Deed of Trust was insured by the United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (the Secretary) pursuant to the National Housing Act for the purpose of providing single family housing; and WHEREAS, the Mortgage is now owned by the Secretary, pursuant to an assignment dated March 6, 2017 and recorded on March 27, 2017, in Book 6046, Page 826 in the Official Records of New Hanover County, North Carolina; and WHEREAS, a default has been made in the covenants and conditions of the Mortgage in that the Borrower has died and the Property is not the principal residence of at least one surviving borrower, and the outstanding balance remains wholly unpaid as of the date of this notice, and no payment has been made sufficient to restore the loan to currency; and WHEREAS, the entire amount delinquent as of December 1, 2025 is $209,056.94; and WHEREAS, by virtue of this default, the Secretary has declared the entire amount of the indebtedness secured by the Mortgage to be immediately due and payable;

ONSLOW NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 25SP001276-660 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Alan Flowers and Nao Flowers (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Alan Flowers and Nao Flowers) to Investors Title Insurance Company, Trustee(s), dated April 14, 2023, and recorded in Book No. 5946, at Page 452 in Onslow County Registry, North Carolina. The Deed of Trust was modified by the following: A Loan Modification recorded on August 28, 2024, in Book No. 6209, at Page 234, 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 Office of the Register of Deeds Onslow County, North

RANDOLPH 19-105661 IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE OF NORTH CAROLINA SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION RANDOLPH COUNTY 19SP000361-750 IN THE MATTER OF THE FORECLOSURE OF A DEED OF TRUST EXECUTED BY JAMIE LEE HOWELL AND KIMBERLY GAYLE BECK HOWELL DATED JULY 11, 2003 AND RECORDED IN BOOK 1827 AT PAGE 3254 IN THE RANDOLPH COUNTY PUBLIC REGISTRY, NORTH CAROLINA NOTICE OF SALE

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 foreclosure sale, terminate the rental agreement by providing written notice of termination to the landlord, to be effective on a date stated in the notice that is at least 10 days but not more than 90 days, after the sale date contained in this notice of sale, provided that the mortgagor has not cured the default at the time the tenant provides the notice of termination.

Upon termination of a rental agreement, the tenant is liable for rent due under the rental agreement prorated to the effective date of the termination.

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 five percent (5%) of the

purchase price, or seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, is required and must be tendered in the form of certified 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 filing of a bankruptcy petition prior to the confirmation 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 trustee, in its sole discretion, if it believes the challenge to have merit, may request the court to declare the sale to be void and return the deposit. The purchaser will have no further remedy.

Additional Notice for Residential Property with Less than 15 rental units, including Single-Family Residential Real Property An order for possession of the property may be issued pursuant to N.C.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.

county courthouse for conducting the sale on January 6, 2026 at 01:30 PM, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following described property situated in New Hanover County, North Carolina, to wit: ALL THAT REAL PROPERTY SITUATED IN THE COUNTY OF NEW HANOVER, STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA: BEING THE SAME PROPERTY CONVEYED TO THE GRANTOR BY DEED RECORDED 05/01/1994 IN BOOK 1774, PAGE 586 NEW HANOVER COUNTY REGISTRY, TO WHICH DEED REFERENCE IS HEREBY MADE FOR A MORE PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION OF THIS PROPERTY. And being more particularly described on said Deed as follows: Being all of Lot 6, Pine Hills as shown on the map thereof recorded in Map Book 6 at Page 59 of the New Hanover County Registry.

Subject to restrictions recorded in Book 563 at Page 474 of the aforesaid Registry.

Save and except any releases, deeds of release or prior conveyances of record.

Said property is commonly known as 315 N Wallace Ave, Wilmington, NC 28403.

A Certified Check ONLY (no personal checks) of five 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 offered pursuant to this Notice of Sale is being offered 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 offered 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 Sandra O’Donnell.

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 effective 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 effective 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 filing of a bankruptcy petition prior to the confirmation 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 trustee, in their sole discretion, if they believe the challenge to have merit, may request the court to declare the sale to be void and return the deposit. The purchaser will have no further remedy.

Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC Substitute Trustee Brock & Scott, PLLC Attorneys for Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC 5431 Oleander Drive Suite 200 Wilmington, NC 28403 PHONE: (910) 392-4988 File No.: 25-20992-FC01

said County of New Hanover, said Declaration being dated April 22, 1988, and recorded in Book 1412, at Page 1310, of the Land Records of New Hanover County, North Carolina, as amended by the First Amendment thereto recorded in Book 1459, at Page 345, and as amended in Book 1869, Page 345 of said Registry, and which said Units are herewith conveyed in conformity with Chapter 47-C of the North Carolina General Statutes referred to as the “Condominium Act” of the State of North Carolina and any amendments thereto and includes the fee in an undivided 4% interest per lot in the common areas and common elements in Phase II of SOUTH RIDGE MOBILE HOME PARK and the real property described in said Declaration.

As a further aid in this Declaration, reference, is hereby made to Unit Ownership Book 10, at Page 186, which is recorded in the lands record of New Hanover County, North Carolina, and which contains the official recorded Map of Phase II Of SOUTH RIDGE MOBILE HOME PARK, a Condominium.

This conveyance is made subject to the provisions of said Condominium Act of the State of North Carolina and any amendments thereto and to the conditions, restrictions, easements, covenants and agreements set forth in said Declaration of the SOUTH RIDGE MOBILE HOME PARK CONDOMINIUM dated April 22, 1988, and recorded in Book 1412, at Page 1310, of the land records of New Hanover County, North Carolina, as amended by the First Amendment thereto recorded in

Book 1459, at Page 345, and Book 1488, at Page 1221, and as amended in Book 1869, Page 345, of said Registry, and to the ByLaws of SOUTH RIDGE MOBILE HOME PARK OWNERS ASSOCIATION annexed to the aforementioned Declaration and any amendments thereto.

Also included herein is an easement to be used in common with other unit owners to the use of any common areas and common elements as set forth in the Declaration. This conveyance is made subject to an easement in common with other unit owners to use the common areas common elements located within or appurtenant to SOUTH RIDGE MOBILE HOME PARK as set forth in the Declaration.

Also included herein is an exclusive easement for the use and enjoyment of any limited common areas appurtenant to the unit conveyed herein as so designated on the recorded map of the Condominium.

Save and except any releases, deeds of release or prior conveyances of record.

Said property is commonly known as 6140 Carolina Beach Rd Trlr 43, Wilmington, NC 28412.

A Certified Check ONLY (no personal checks) of five 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 offered pursuant to this Notice of Sale is being offered 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 offered 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 Nancy J. Baxley.

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 effective 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 effective 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 filing of a bankruptcy petition prior to the confirmation 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 trustee, in their sole discretion, if they believe the challenge to have merit, may request the court to declare the sale to be void and return the deposit. The purchaser will have no further remedy.

Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC Substitute Trustee Brock & Scott, PLLC Attorneys for Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC 5431 Oleander Drive Suite 200 Wilmington, NC 28403 PHONE: (910) 392-4988 File No.: 24-31055-FC01

NOW THEREFORE, pursuant to powers vested in me by the Single Family Mortgage Foreclosure Act of 1994, 12 U.S.C. 3751 et seq., by 24 CFR part 27, subpart B, and by the Secretary’s designation of me as Foreclosure Commissioner, recorded on August 17, 2022 in Book 6588, Page 1299, notice is hereby given that on January 8, 2026 at 2:00 PM local time, all real and personal property at or used in connection with the following described premises (“Property”) will be sold at public auction to the highest bidder: All that certain parcel of land situated in New Hanover County, State of North Carolina, being known and designated as Lot 299, Section 5, Kings Grant, filed in Plat Book 10, Page 25.

By fee simple deed from Robert Hill Construction Company, Inc. as set forth in Book 919, Page 661 dated 10/06/1971 and recorded 10/06/1971, New Hanover County Records, State of North Carolina.

Commonly known as 1005 Lord Thomas Road, Wilmington, NC 28405 Parcel ID#: R04317-006-021-000 The sale will be held at the New Hanover County Courthouse, 316 Princess Street, Wilmington, NC 28401, at the location designated by the Clerk of Court for public auctions.

extensions of time granted by the Secretary, the high bidder may be required to forfeit the cash deposit or, at the election of the foreclosure commissioner after consultation with the HUD representative, will be liable to HUD for any costs incurred as a result of such failure. The Commissioner may, at the direction of the HUD representative, offer the property to the second highest bidder for an amount equal to the highest price offered by that bidder.

There is no right of redemption, or right of possession based upon a right of redemption, in the mortgagor or others subsequent to a foreclosure completed pursuant to the Act. Therefore, the Foreclosure Commissioner will issue a Deed to the purchaser(s) upon receipt of the entire purchase price in accordance with the terms of the sale as provided herein.

HUD does not guarantee that the property will be vacant.

The scheduled foreclosure sale shall be cancelled or adjourned if it is established, by documented written application of the mortgagor to the Foreclosure Commissioner not less than 3 days before the date of sale, or otherwise, that the default or defaults upon which the foreclosure is based did not exist at the time of service of this notice of default and foreclosure sale, or all amounts due under the mortgage agreement are tendered to the Foreclosure Commissioner, in the form of a certified or cashier’s check payable to the Secretary of HUD, before public auction of the property is completed.

The amount that must be paid if the mortgage is to be reinstated prior to the scheduled sale is $209,056.94 as of December 1, 2025, plus

all other amounts that would be due under the mortgage agreement if payments under the mortgage had not been accelerated, advertising costs and postage expenses incurred in giving notice, mileage by the most reasonable road distance for posting notices and for the Foreclosure Commissioner’s attendance at the sale, reasonable and customary costs incurred for title and lien record searches, the necessary out-ofpocket costs incurred by the Foreclosure Commissioner for recording documents, a commission for the Foreclosure Commissioner, and all other costs incurred in connection with the foreclosure prior to reinstatement.

Tender of payment by certified or cashier’s check or application for cancellation of the foreclosure sale shall be submitted to the address of the Foreclosure Commissioner provided below.

Date: ___________________ __________________________________ David W. Neill, NCSB 23396 MCMICHAEL TAYLOR GRAY, LLC Foreclosure Commissioner

The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development will bid $214,035.08.

There will be no proration of taxes, rents or other income or liabilities, except that the purchaser will pay, at or before closing, his prorata share of any real estate taxes that have been paid by the Secretary to the date of

the foreclosure sale.

When making their bids, all bidders except the Secretary must submit a deposit totaling $21,403.51 (10% of the Secretary’s bid), in the form of a certified check or cashier’s check made out to the Secretary of HUD. A deposit need not accompany each oral bid. If the successful bid is oral, a deposit of $21,403.51 must be presented before the bidding is closed. The deposit is nonrefundable. The remainder of the purchase price must be delivered within 30 days of the sale or at such other time as the Secretary may determine for good cause shown, time being of the essence.

This amount, like the bid deposits, must be delivered in the form of a certified or cashier’s check. If the Secretary is the highest bidder, he need not pay the bid amount in cash. The successful bidder will pay all conveying fees, all real estate and other taxes that are due on or after the delivery date of the remainder of the payment and all other costs associated with the transfer of title. At the conclusion of the sale, the deposits of the unsuccessful bidders will be returned to them.

The Secretary may grant an extension of time within which to deliver the remainder of the payment. All extensions will be for 15day increments for a fee of $500.00, paid in advance. The extension fee shall be in the form of a certified or cashier’s check made payable to the Secretary of HUD. If the high bidder closes the sale prior to the expiration of any extension period, the unused portion of the extension fee shall be applied toward the amount due.

If the high bidder is unable to close the sale within the required period, or within any

Carolina and the holder of the note evidencing said indebtedness having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the courthouse door in Jacksonville, Onslow County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, at 10:00 AM on January 7, 2026 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in Hubert in the County of Onslow, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: BEING all of Lot 10 as shown on map entitled “ Queens Ridge, Section II”, recorded in Map Book 24, Page 127 in the Office of Register of Deeds of Onslow County, North Carolina.

Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 203 West Volant Street, Hubert, 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 offered pursuant to this notice of sale is being offered 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 officers, 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 offered 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 five percent (5%) of the purchase price, or seven hundred fifty

dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, is required and must be tendered in the form of certified 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 filing of a bankruptcy petition prior to the confirmation 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 trustee, in its sole discretion, if it believes the challenge to have merit, may request the court to declare the sale to be void and return the deposit. The purchaser will have no further remedy.

Additional Notice for Residential Property with Less than 15 rental units, including Single-Family Residential Real Property An order for possession of the property may be issued pursuant to N.C.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 foreclosure sale, terminate the rental agreement by providing written notice of termination to the landlord, to be effective on a date stated in the notice that is at least 10 days but not more than 90 days, after the sale date contained in this notice of sale, provided that the mortgagor has not cured the default at the time the tenant provides the notice of termination. Upon termination of a rental agreement, the tenant is liable for rent due under the rental agreement prorated to the effective date of the termination.

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 of the secured debt, the undersigned will expose for sale at public auction at the usual place of sale at the Randolph County courthouse at 11:00AM on January 7, 2026, the following described real estate and any improvements situated thereon, in Randolph County, North Carolina, and being more particularly described in that certain Deed of Trust executed Jamie Lee Howell and Kimberly Gayle Beck Howell, dated July 11, 2003 to secure the original principal amount of $76,000.00, and recorded in Book 1827 at Page 3254 of the Randolph County Public Registry.

The terms of the said Deed of Trust may be modified 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: 115 E Academy St, Randleman, NC 27317 Tax Parcel ID: 7765233322 Present Record Owners: Jamie Howell The record owner(s) of the property, according to the records of the Register of Deeds, is/are Jamie Howell.

The property to be offered pursuant to this notice of sale is being offered 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 officers, 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 offered 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 five percent (5%) of the amount of the bid or seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, is required from the highest bidder and must be tendered in the form of certified funds at the time of the sale. Cash will not be accepted.

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

purchaser. Also, if your lease began or was renewed on or after October 1, 2007, be advised that you may terminate the rental agreement upon 10 days written notice to the landlord. You may be liable for rent due under the agreement prorated to the effective date of the termination.

The date of this Notice is November 7, 2025. __________________ ___________________ Jason K. Purser N.C. State Bar No. #28031 Aaron Gavin N.C. State Bar No. #59503 Attorney for LLG Trustee, LLC, Substitute Trustee LOGS Legal Group LLP 8520 Cliff Cameron Dr., Suite 330 Charlotte, NC 28269 (704) 333-8107 | (704) 333-8156 Fax | www.

LOGS.com Posted: By:

directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the courthouse door in Wilmington, New Hanover County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, at 12:00 PM on January 6, 2026 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in Wilmington in the County of New Hanover, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: BEING all of Tract “D” of the Mildred Hobbs Heir Division as the same is shown on a map of said division recorded in Map Book 39 at Page 199 of the New Hanover County Registry. Less and except that portion of the property released by instrument recorded in Book 6678, Page 646, New Hanover Registry. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 1508 Marsh Cove Lane, Wilmington, 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 offered pursuant to this notice of sale is being offered 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 officers, 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 offered for sale, and any and all responsibilities or liabilities arising out of or in any way relating to any such condition are expressly

c/o Hutchens Law Firm, LLP P.O. Box 1028 Fayetteville, NC 28302 4317 Ramsey Street Fayetteville, NC 28311 Phone No: (910) 864-3068 https://sales.hutchenslawfirm.com Firm Case No: 26121 - 131808 SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE SERVICES, INC. SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE

3550 Engineering Drive, Suite 260 Peachtree Corners, GA 30092 Phone: 404.474.7149 Fax: 404.745.8121 Email: dneill@mtglaw.com NC2025-00153

SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE SERVICES, INC. SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE c/o Hutchens Law Firm, LLP P.O. Box 1028 Fayetteville, NC 28302 4317 Ramsey Street Fayetteville, NC 28311 Phone No: (910) 864-3068 https://sales.hutchenslawfirm.com Firm Case No: 25298 - 126937

19-105661

B11

North State Journal for Thursday, December 25, 2025

TAKE NOTICE

RANDOLPH 24SP001296-750 NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE NORTH CAROLINA, RANDOLPH COUNTY Under and by virtue of a Power of Sale contained in that certain Deed of Trust executed by Cindy J. Trotter and Douglas W. Trotter to Darren S. Cranfill Attorney at Law, PLLC, Trustee(s), which was dated January 7, 2022 and recorded on January 7, 2022 in Book 2787 at Page 2019, Randolph 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 offer 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 January 7, 2026 at 01:00 PM, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following described property situated in Randolph

NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 25SP000234-750 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Homes By Storybrooke LLC, a(n), Nevada Limited Liability Company (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Homes

By Storybrooke LLC, a(n), Nevada Limited Liability Company) to Wilhoit Hatchel, LLP, Trustee(s), dated September 22, 2023, and recorded in Book No. 2876, at Page 1533 in Randolph 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 Office of the Register of Deeds Randolph 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 offer for sale at the courthouse door in Asheboro, Randolph County,

AMENDED NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 25SP000131-750 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Thomas H. Melone (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Thomas H. Melone) to Real Advantage Title Insurance Company, Trustee(s), dated July 20, 2021, and recorded in Book No. 2827, at Page 814 in Randolph 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 Office of the Register of Deeds Randolph 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 offer for sale at the courthouse door in Asheboro, Randolph County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, at 10:00 AM on January 7, 2026 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in Seagrove in the County of Randolph, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: All that certain lot or parcel of land situated in Brower Township, Randolph County, North Carolina and more particularly described as follows: BEGINNING at the center line of S.R. 1002, said point being located in a western

25SP000281-750 NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE NORTH CAROLINA, RANDOLPH COUNTY Under and by virtue of a Power of Sale contained in that certain Deed of Trust executed by Thomas W. McGee and Mitzi B. McGee to Old Republic National Title Insurance Company, Trustee(s), which was dated January 31, 2005 and recorded on February 23, 2005 in Book RE1909 at Page 1303, Randolph 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 offer 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 January 7, 2026 at 01:00 PM, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following described property situated in Randolph County, North Carolina, to wit: ALL THAT CERTAIN LOT OR PARCEL OF LAND SITUATED IN NEW MARKET TOWNSHIP, RANDOLPH COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA AND MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED AS FOLLOWS:

ROBESON NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 25SP001327-770 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made

by Harlie Maynor and Kenan Robeson (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Harlie Maynor and Kenan Robeson) to Milestone Settlement, LLC, Trustee(s), dated May 25, 2024, and recorded in Book No. D 2462, at Page 158 in Robeson 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 Office of the Register of Deeds Robeson 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 offer for sale at the courthouse door in Lumberton, Robeson County, North Carolina, or the customary

County, North Carolina, to wit: Randleman County,

Township, North

Randolph Carolina:

TRACT NO. 1: BEGINNING at an iron pipe at the point of intersection of the Eastern right of way line of the Island Ford Road and the Northern right of way line of U.S. Highway No. 311; thence with the Eastern right of way line of the Island Ford Road North 17 degrees 01 minute East 217.23 feet to an iron pipe, Fowler’s Southwest corner; thence along Fowler’s line in part and Barker’s line in part, South 50 degrees 04 minutes East 234.73 feet to an iron pipe; thence South 39 degrees 56 minutes West 200 feet to an iron pipe in the Northern right of way line of U.S. Highway No. 311; thence North 50 degrees 04 minutes West 150 feet to the BEGINNING. TRACT NO. 2: BEGINNING at an iron pipe in the Eastern right of way line of U.S. Highway No. 311, at a point South 50 degrees 04 minutes East 150 feet from the Southern right of way line of the Island Ford Road, Charlie Briles, Jr. corner; thence with the Briles line North 39 degrees 56 minutes East 200 feet to an iron pipe in J. O. Barker’s line; thence with the Barker line South 50 degrees 04 minutes East 25 feet to an iron pipe; thence South 39 degrees 56 minutes West 200 feet to an iron pipe in the Eastern right of way line of U.S. Highway No. 311;

North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, at 10:00 AM on January 7, 2026 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in Randleman in the County of Randolph, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: Being Lot No. 16 of Naomi Mill Village as shown recorded in Plat Book I, Page 276, Randolph County Registry. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 332 East Naomi Street, Randleman, North Carolina.

SAVE AND EXCEPT a portion of Lot 16 deeded in Book 1170, Page 1255.

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 offered pursuant to

direction 0.25 miles from s. R. 2873 and in the western line of James Goldston: thence from said beginning point In a western direction along the center lines. R. 1002 the following courses and distances: south 78 degrees 54 minutes west 100 feet to a point, south 76 degrees 36 minutes west 100 feet to a point, south 75 degrees 52 minutes west 100 feet to a point, south 71 degrees 46 minutes West 100 feet to a point, south 70 degrees 22 minutes west 100.10 feet to a point, and south 69 degrees 42 minutes West 224.07 feet to a railroad spike, the center of s. R. 1002 and the center of the Intersection of a 20-foot private easement with the centerline of s, R. 1002; thence with the centerline of a private easement drive the following courses and distances: south 29 degrees 45 minutes East 328.70 feet to a point, south 22 degrees 36 minutes East 77.63 feet, south 15 degrees 12 minutes East 189.60 feet to a point, South 8 degrees 10 minutes east 70.88 feet to a point, south 1 degree 22 minutes west 74.38 feet to a point, and south 14 degrees 43 minutes West 146.13 feet to an existing Iron stake In the northern line of Ernest Gatlin; thence with Gatlin’s northern line North 76 degrees 31 minutes East 192.99 feet to an existing Iron stake in the western line of James Goldston; thence with Goldstons western lane the following two courses: Norm 4 degrees 07 minutes East 765.02 feet to an Iron stake, and North 47 degrees 29 minutes East 345.23 feet to the point and place of Beginning, containing 6.09 acres, more or less. Together with improvements located

BEGINNING AT A UTILITY POLE, A COMMON CORNER WITH BYRON DAVIS (DEED BOOK 507, PAGE 235, WAYNE NELSON (DEED BOOK 729, PAGE 30) AND BYRON DAVIS (DEED BOOK 385, PAGE 305), THENCE NORTH 75 DEG. 47’ 36” WEST 170.73 FEET TO AN EXISTING IRON PIN; THENCE NORTH 73 DEG. 14’ 39” WEST 199.34 FEET TO AN EXISTING IRON PIN; THENCE NORTH 75 DEG. 36’ 06” WEST 105.11 FEET TO AN EXISTING IRON PIN, THE SOUTHEAST CORNER OF KENNETH SCOTT ADAMS (DEED BOOK 1654, PAGE 82); THENCE NORTH 15 DEG. 18’ 21” EAST 521.68 FEET TO AN EXISTING IRON PIN, THENCE SOUTH 78 DEG. 34’ 07” EAST 305.38 FEET TO AN EXISTING IRON PIN; THENCE SOUTH 85 DEG. 13’ 29” EAST 259.48 FEET TO AN EXISTING IRON PIN; THENCE SOUTH 86 DEG. 39’ 25” EAST 299.65 FEET TO AN EXISTING IRON PIN; THENCE SOUTH 45 DEG. 24’ 04” WEST 753.53 FEET TO THE POINT AND PLACE OF BEGINNING, CONTAINING 8.40 ACRES, MORE OR LESS, AND BEING AS SHOWN ON SURVEY BY MARK TERRY & ASSOC., INC., P.C., ARCHDALE, NC, JOB NO. 7661-120-22, ENTITLED “SURVEY FOR THOMAS W. MCGEE AND MITZI B. MCGEE”, TOGETHER WITH A RIGHT OF WAY OF INGRESS, EGRESS AND REGRESS, IN PERPETUITY OVER, ACROSS AND UPON A ROADWAY 30 FEET IN WIDTH, LYING 15 FEET ON EITHER SIDE OF THE FOLLOWING DESCRIBED LINE; BEGINNING AT A POINT WHICH IS NORTH 75 DEG. 47’ 36” WEST 6.25 FEET FROM THE BEGINNING POINT

location designated for foreclosure sales, at 2:30 PM on January 7, 2026 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in Lumberton in the County of Robeson, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: All that certain lot or parcel of land situated in Lumberton Township, Robeson County, North Carolina and more particularly described as follows: Being all of Lot No. Fifty-Eight (58) as shown on survey entitled “VILLAGE AT RIVER RUN SUBDIVISION-Section Two”, prepared by Johnny Nobles & Associates dated March 28, 2008 and recorded in Book of Official Maps No. 44, at Page 55, Robeson County Registry.

Reference to said map is hereby made for a more complete and accurate description of said lot. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 23 Naturalbrook Drive, Lumberton, North Carolina.

SUBJECT to those Protective Covenants for the Village at River Run Subdivision, Phase I dated April 1, 2003 and more fully described in Deed Book 1299, at Page 299, Robeson County Registry and SUBJECT to those Protective Covenants for the Village at River Run Subdivision, Section Two and Amended Protective Covenants for the Village at River

thence with said right of way line North 50 degrees 04 minutes West 25 feet to the BEGINNING. Save and except any releases, deeds of release or prior conveyances of record.

Said property is commonly known as 4540 US Hwy 311, Sophia, NC 27350.

A Certified Check ONLY (no personal checks) of five 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 offered pursuant to this Notice of Sale is being offered 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 offered 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

this notice of sale is being offered 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 officers, 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 offered 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 five percent (5%) of the purchase price, or seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, is required and must be tendered in the form

thereon; said property being located at 6790 Bennett Road, Seagrove, North Carolina.

This conveyance is made subject to a perpetual easement for ingress, egress and regress over the westernmost ten feet of the above-described property as described In that certain deed recorded in Book 1222, Page 966, Randolph county Registry, which deed is referred to for back title reference.

In the county of Randolph and the state of North Carolina.

Being the same property conveyed to Thomas H. Melone, deed dated 7/6/2020, recorded 7/7/2020, Book/Page 2709/800 in Instrument No. 20101205, in the County of Randolph, State of North Carolina.

More commonly known as: 6790 Bennett Road, Seagrove, NC 27341.

Parcel Id: 69366.

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 offered pursuant to this notice of sale is being offered 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,

OF THE ABOVE-DESCRIBED 8.4 ACRE TRACT AND RUNNING THENCE SOUTH 14 DEG. 07’ 28” WEST 623.49 FEET TO A POINT IN THE CENTER LINE OF NCSR 1537, WHICH SAID POINT IS SOUTH 68 DEG. 53’ 49” EAST 995.64 FEET FROM THE CENTER LINE OF NCSR 1004, WHICH SAID RIGHT OF WAY AND EASEMENT IS ALSO SHOWN ON THE SURVEY PREPARED BY MARK TERRY CITED ABOVE. BEING THE SAME PROPERTY CONVEYED TO THOMAS W. MCGEE AND WIFE, MITZI B. MCGEE BY DEED FROM SANDRA K. STUTTS RECORDED 08/18/2000 IN DEED BOOK 1673 PAGE 1269, IN THE REGISTER OF DEEDS OFFICE OF RANDOLPH COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA. Save and except any releases, deeds of release or prior conveyances of record.

Said property is commonly known as 3898 Nelson Rd, Sophia, NC 27350.

A Certified Check ONLY (no personal checks) of five 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 offered pursuant to

Run Subdivision dated May 5, 2008 and recorded in Deed Book 1669, at Page 349, Robeson County Registry.

Parcel ID: 1007-11-017 Commonly known as: 23 Natural Brook Drive, Lumberton, NC 28360 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 offered pursuant to this notice of sale is being offered 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 officers, 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 offered 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

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 Cindy Jeanette Trotter and spouse, Douglas Wayne Trotter.

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 effective 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 effective date of the termination.

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 filing of a bankruptcy petition prior to the confirmation 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 trustee, in their sole discretion, if they believe the challenge to have merit, may request the court to declare the sale to be void and return the deposit. The purchaser will have no further remedy.

Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC Substitute Trustee Brock & Scott, PLLC Attorneys for Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC 5431 Oleander Drive Suite 200 Wilmington, NC 28403 PHONE: (910) 392-4988 File No.: 22-14855-FC02

Pursuant to NCGS §45-21.25A, this sale may be subject to remote bids placed by

of certified 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 filing of a bankruptcy petition prior to the confirmation 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 trustee, in its sole discretion, if it believes the challenge to have merit, may request the court to declare the sale to be void and return the deposit.

The purchaser will have no further remedy.

Additional Notice for Residential Property with Less than 15 rental units, including Single-Family Residential Real Property An order for possession of the property may be issued pursuant to N.C.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 foreclosure sale, terminate the rental agreement by providing written notice of termination to the landlord, to be effective on a date stated in the notice that is at least 10 days but not more than 90 days, after the sale date contained in this notice of sale, provided that the mortgagor has not cured the default at the time the tenant provides the notice of termination.

Upon termination of a rental agreement, the tenant is liable for rent due under the rental agreement prorated to the effective date of the termination. c/o Hutchens Law Firm, LLP P.O. Box 1028 Fayetteville, NC 28302 4317 Ramsey Street Fayetteville, NC 28311 Phone No: (910) 864-3068 https://sales.hutchenslawfirm.com Firm Case No: 26634 - 135444 SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE SERVICES, INC. SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE

being foreclosed, nor the officers, 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 offered 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 five percent (5%) of the purchase price, or seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, is required and must be tendered in the form of certified 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 filing of a bankruptcy petition prior to the confirmation 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 trustee, in its sole discretion, if it believes the challenge to have merit, may request the court to declare the sale to be void and return the deposit.

The purchaser will have no further remedy.

Additional Notice for Residential Property with Less than 15 rental units, including

Single-Family Residential Real Property An order for possession of the property may be issued pursuant to N.C.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 foreclosure sale, terminate the rental agreement by providing written notice of termination to the landlord, to be effective on a date stated in the notice that is at least 10 days but not more than 90 days, after the sale date contained in this notice of sale, provided that the mortgagor has not cured the default at the time the tenant provides the notice of termination. Upon termination of a rental agreement, the tenant is liable for rent due under the rental agreement prorated to the effective date of the termination.

this Notice of Sale is being offered 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 offered 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 Greenporkday, LLC.

rental agreement, the tenant is liable for rent due under the rental agreement prorated to the effective date of the termination.

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 effective 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

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 five percent (5%) of the purchase price, or seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, is required and must be tendered in the form of certified 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 filing of a bankruptcy petition prior to the confirmation 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 trustee, in its sole discretion, if it believes the challenge to have merit, may request the court to declare the sale to be void and return the deposit. The purchaser will have no further remedy.

Additional Notice for Residential Property with Less than 15 rental units, including Single-Family Residential Real Property An order for possession of the property may be issued pursuant to N.C.G.S. § 45-21.29 in favor of the purchaser and against the

SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE SERVICES, INC. SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE c/o Hutchens Law Firm, LLP P.O. Box 1028 Fayetteville, NC 28302 4317 Ramsey Street Fayetteville, NC 28311 Phone No: (910) 864-3068 https://sales.hutchenslawfirm.com Firm Case No: 8624 - 66590

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 filing of a bankruptcy petition prior to the confirmation 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 trustee, in their sole discretion, if they believe the challenge to have merit, may request the court to declare the sale to be void and return the deposit. The purchaser will have no further remedy.

Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC Substitute Trustee Brock & Scott, PLLC Attorneys for Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC 5431 Oleander Drive Suite 200 Wilmington, NC 28403 PHONE: (910) 392-4988 File No.: 25-24931-FC01

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 foreclosure sale, terminate the rental agreement by providing written notice of termination to the landlord, to be effective on a date stated in the notice that is at least 10 days but not more than 90 days, after the sale date contained in this notice of sale, provided that the mortgagor has not cured the default at the time the tenant provides the notice of termination.

Upon termination of a rental agreement, the tenant is liable for rent due under the rental agreement prorated to the effective date of the termination.

SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE SERVICES, INC. SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE c/o Hutchens Law Firm, LLP P.O. Box 1028 Fayetteville, NC 28302 4317 Ramsey Street Fayetteville, NC 28311 Phone No: (910) 864-3068 https://sales.hutchenslawfirm.com Firm Case No: 27776 - 141493

B12

North State Journal for Thursday, December 25, 2025

TAKE NOTICE

ROBESON NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE NORTH CAROLINA, ROBESON COUNTY 24CVS000629-770 Under and by virtue of that Judgment filed on August 11, 2025 in Robeson County by the presiding superior court judge, default having been made in the payment of the note thereby secured by the Deed of Trust recorded on January 11, 2021 in Book 2264, Page 557, Robeson County Registry, and the undersigned, Anchor Trustee Services, LLC having been appointed as Commissioner in this case, the undersigned Commissioner will offer for sale at the courthouse door or other usual place of sale in Robeson County, North Carolina, at 2:00PM on January 8, 2026 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following described property, to wit:

UNION NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 25 SP000378-890 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Kenneth John Coppola (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Kenneth John Coppola) to John B. Third, Trustee(s), dated October 25, 2021, and recorded in Book No. 08292, at Page 0592 in Union 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 int he Office of the Register of Deeds Union County, North Carolina and the holder of the note evidencing said indebtedness having directed that the Deed ofT rust before closed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the Judicial Center in Monroe, Union County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, at1:00 PM on January 8, 2026 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in Monroe in the County of Union, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: A tract or parcel of land lying and being in Goose Creek Township, Union County, being allof Lot 29 as shown on subdivision plattitled “Watson Glen, PhaseIII, recorded in Plat Cabinet F, File1 93 of the Union County Register of Deeds and being more

WAKE NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 25SP001524-910 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Bettie M. Robinson and Michael A. Robinson (deceased) (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Michael A. Robinson and Bettie M. Robinson) to *Wake* Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC, Trustee(s), dated March 29, 2005, and recorded in Book No. 011297, at Page 02182 in Wake County Registry, North Carolina. The Deed of Trust was modified by the following: A Loan Modification recorded on April 21, 2022, in Book No. 018999, at Page 00237 A Loan Modification recorded on December 16, 2019, in Book No. 017684, at Page 00717 A Loan Modification recorded on August 30, 2017, in Book No. 016892, at Page 01004 A Loan Modification recorded on December 18, 2013, in Book No. 015535, at Page 00298, default having been made in the payment of the promissory note secured by the said Deed of Trust and the

NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 25SP002269-910 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Arianna P. Smith (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Arianna P. Smith) to William T. Morrison and Phillip M. Rudisill, Trustee(s), dated August 5, 2022, and recorded in Book No. 019111, at Page 00404 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 Office 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 offer for sale at the Wake County Courthouse door, the Salisbury Street entrance in Raleigh, Wake County,

NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 25SP002114-910 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by John Warrick, III and Renee A. Warrick (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): John Warrick, III and Renee A. Warrick) to Moore & Alphin, PLLC, Trustee(s), dated September 15, 2023, and recorded in Book No. 019434, at Page 02618 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 Office 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 offer 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

NOTICE OF SERVICE OF PROCESS BY PUBLICATION STATE OF CAROLINA WAKE COUNTY In the Superior Court PLANET HOME LENDING,

NORTH LLC

v.

Being all of Lot Number TWO HUNDRED TWENTY-EIGHT (228), as shown on map entitled “Oakridge Section 12, Part 2”, prepared by Moorman, Kizer & Reitzel, Inc. dated February 2011 and recorded in Book of Official Maps No. 46, at Page 106, Robeson County Registry, reference to which map is hereby made for a more particular description of said lot and for the purpose of incorporating the same in this description of said lot as if the same were fully set forth herein.

Subject to that certain Declaration of Restrictive and Protective Covenants and Conditions dated March 4, 1992 and recorded in Book 755, Page 783, Robeson County Registry and that certain Supplemental Declaration of Restrictive and Protective Covenants and Conditions dated April 13, 2011 and recorded in Book 1805, at Page 695, Robeson County Registry.

Together with improvements located hereon; said property being located at 5100 Pin Oak Drive, Lumberton, NC 28358. Tax ID: 10040208034

Third party purchasers must pay any land transfer tax, costs of recording the commissioner’s deed, the excise tax, pursuant North Carolina General Statutes §105-228.30, in the amount of One Dollar ($1.00) per each Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) or fractional part thereof. A deposit of five percent (5%) of the bid or Seven Hundred Fifty Dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, will be required at the time of the sale and must be tendered in the form of certified funds. Following the expiration of the statutory upset bid period, all the remaining amounts will be immediately due and owing.

Said property to be offered pursuant to this Notice of Sale is being offered 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 offered for sale. This sale is made subject to all prior liens, unpaid taxes, special assessments, land transfer taxes, if any, and encumbrances of record.

To the best of the knowledge and belief of the undersigned, the current owners of the property are Robbie Glenn Revels.

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE: An order for possession of the property may be issued pursuant to North Carolina General Statutes §1-339.29 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 effective 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 (North Carolina General Statutes §45-21.16A(b)(2) or other applicable statute).

Upon termination of a rental agreement, the tenant is liable for rent due under the rental

agreement prorated to the effective date of termination. If the Commissioner 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 filing of a bankruptcy petition prior to the confirmation of the sale and reinstatement of the loan without the knowledge of the Commissioner. If the validity of the sale is challenged by any party, the Commissioner, in their sole discretion, if they believe the challenge to have merit, may request the court to declare the sale to be void and return the deposit. The purchaser will have no further remedy.

Anchor Trustee Services, LLC Commissioner By: ________________________________ ________ Goddard & Peterson, PLLC 125-B Williamsboro Street Oxford, NC 27565

particularly described as follows: Beginning at a existing rebar in the center of a 20’ private drive easement, said point being a common corner with Lots 28, 29 and 30; thence with the Western Line of Lot 30 North 28 degrees 58 minutes 06 seconds West 323.07’ to a existing rebar in the Southern Line of Lot36 thence with the line of said Lot South 58 degrees 09 minutes 52 seconds West 80.95’ to a existing rebar said point being the South Eastern corner of Lot 37; thence with said Lot South 58 degrees 10 minutes 21 seconds West 293.73’ to a point in the center of Wolf Creek; thence with the center of said creek seven calls,South 14 degrees 21 minutes 07 seconds East 48.49’ to a point, South 06 degrees 49 minutes 27 seconds West 84.65’ to a point, South 06 degrees 28 minutes 00 seconds East 105.93’ to a point,South 62 degrees 54 minutes 00 seconds East 55.03’ to a point, South 75 degrees 55 minutes 50 seconds East 97.45’ to a point, North 60 degrees 59 minutes 49 seconds East 108.39’ to a point, and North 83 degrees 38 minutes 26 seconds East 37.14’ to a point, said point being a common corner with lot 28; thence with said lot North 52 degrees 20 minutes 17 seconds East 234.57’ to the point of beginning containing 3.26 acres more or less as shown on a unrecorded plat tilled “Boundary Survey of the R.L. Rushing & Co. (Watson Glenn Property”, dated April 05, 2017, prepared by George w.

Simpson,PLS. TractNo.Two An existing tract of land being a portion of Lot28 as shown on recorded subdivision plat titled “WatsonGlennPhaseIIIand being more particularly described as follows: Beginning at an existing rebar, said

point being a common corner with Lots 28, 29, and 30; thence with the center of a 20’ private drive easement North58degrees08minutes42seconds East 150.23’ to a existing rebar, said point being the South East corner with Lot 30; thence North 58 degrees 06 minutes 30 seconds East 35.00; to a existing rebar, said point being a common Northwestern corner with Tract describe in Deed Book 6279, Page 455; thence with said tract South 11 degrees 36 minutes 13 seconds West 451.34’ to a existing rebar on the northern bank of Wolf Creek; thence South 11 degrees 36 minutes 13 seconds West 18.08’ to a point in the center of saidcreek; thence with the center of said creek four calls, North 55 degrees 04 minutes 56 seconds West 87.19’ to a point, North 41 degrees 02 minutes 09 seconds West 69.32’ to a point North 50 degrees 56 minutes 38 seconds West 147.28’ feet to a point, and North 35 degrees 58 minutes 19 seconds Wes t29.32’ to a point, said point being a common corner with Lot29; thence with the line of Lot 29 North 52 degrees 220 minutes 17 seconds East 234.57’ to the point of beginning containing 1.63 Acres more or less as shown on a recorded plat titled “Boundary Survey of : the R L Rushing & Co. (Watson Glenn) Property”, dated April 05, 2017, prepared by George W. Simpson, PLS Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 6901 Oxbow Lane, Monroe, NorthCarolina.

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 paytheexcisetax,aswellasthecourtcostsof

Forty-Five Cents ($0.45) per One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) required by N.C.G.S. §7A-308(a)(1).

believes the challenge to have merit, may request the courtto declare the sale to be void and return the deposit. The purchaser will have no further remedy.

Additional Notice for Residential Property with Less than 15 rental units, including

undersigned, Substitute Trustee Services, Inc. having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust by an instrument duly recorded in the Office 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 offer 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 January 5, 2026 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in Wendell in the County of Wake, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: Being all of Lot 2, Section D, of the H.L. Harris Subdivision as shown by a map and survey recorded in Book of Maps 1960, Page 106, Wake County Registry. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 110 Harris Street, Wendell, 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 offered pursuant to this notice of sale is being offered 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 officers, 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 offered 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.

North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, at 1:30 PM on December 29, 2025 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in Raleigh in the County of Wake, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: BEING all of Lot 45, Townes at Oakview Subdivision, as shown on that plat recorded in Book of Maps 2021, Pages 1363-1367, Wake County Registry. Including the Unit thereon; said Unit being located at 826 Oak Center Drive, Raleigh, North Carolina.

Property Address: 826 Oak Center Drive, Raleigh NC 27610 Parcel ID: 0487412 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 offered

pursuant to this notice of sale is being offered 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 officers, 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 offered 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 five percent (5%) of the purchase price, or seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, is required and must be tendered in the form of certified 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 filing of a bankruptcy petition prior to the confirmation 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 trustee, in its sole discretion, if it believes the challenge to have merit, may request the court to declare the sale to be void and return the deposit.

The purchaser will have no further remedy.

Additional Notice for Residential Property with Less than 15 rental units, including Single-Family Residential Real Property An order for possession of the property may be issued pursuant to N.C.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 foreclosure sale, terminate the rental agreement by providing written notice of termination to the landlord, to be effective on a date stated in the notice that is at least 10 days but not more than 90 days, after the sale date contained in this notice of sale, provided that the mortgagor has not cured the default at the time the tenant provides the notice of termination. Upon termination of a rental agreement, the tenant is liable for rent due under the rental agreement prorated to the effective date of the termination.

1:30 PM on December 29, 2025 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in Wendell in the County of Wake, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: Lying and being in the Town of Wendell, Marks Creek Township, Wake County, North Carolina and more particularly described as follows: All of Lot 58, of Watson Tract Subdivision, as shown on a map recorded in Book of Maps 2022, Pages 2422-2427, Wake County Registry, to which map reference is hereby made for a more particular description.

Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 609 Embrun Run, Wendell, North Carolina.

Property Address: 609 Embrun Run, Wendell, NC 27591 PIN/PARCEL NO.: 0503177 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 offered pursuant to this notice of sale is being offered 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 officers, 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 offered 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 five percent (5%) of the purchase price, or seven hundred fifty

dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, is required and must be tendered in the form of certified 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 filing of a bankruptcy petition prior to the confirmation 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 trustee, in its sole discretion, if it believes the challenge to have merit, may request the court to declare the sale to be void and return the deposit.

The purchaser will have no further remedy.

Additional Notice for Residential Property with Less than 15 rental units, including Single-Family Residential Real Property An order for possession of the property may be issued pursuant to N.C.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 foreclosure sale, terminate the rental agreement by providing written notice of termination to the landlord, to be effective on a date stated in the notice that is at least 10 days but not more than 90 days, after the sale date contained in this notice of sale, provided that the mortgagor has not cured the default at the time the tenant provides the notice of termination. Upon termination of a rental agreement, the tenant is liable for rent due under the rental agreement prorated to the effective date of the termination.

CHARLES DALTON; SHAYLA CANTYFORTE; HEATHERBROOK RECREATION ASSOCIATION, INC.; SECRETARY OF THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT; GODDARD & PETERSON, PLLC; Docket 25CV025658-910 Party to be served: SHAYLA CANTY-FORTE

A deposit of five percent (5%) of the purchase price, or seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, is required and must be tendered in the form of certified funds at the time of the sale.

Take notice that a pleading seeking relief against you has been filed in the aboveentitled special proceeding. The nature of the relief being sought is as follows: Plaintiff is seeking the foreclosure of real property at You are required to make defense to such

The property tobeoffered pursuant to this notice ofsale is beingoffered for sale, transferand 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 officers, 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 offered 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 five percent (5%) of the purchase price, or seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00),w hichever is greater, is required and must be tendered in the form of certified 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 ofthe deposit. Reasons of such inability to convey include, but are not limited to, the filing of a bankruptcy petition prior to the confirmation of the sale and reinstatement of the loan without the knowledge of the trustee. If thevalidity of the sale is challenged by any party, the trustee,in its sole discretion, if it

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 filing of a bankruptcy petition prior to the confirmation 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 trustee, in its sole discretion, if it believes the challenge to have merit, may request the court to declare the sale to be void and return the deposit. The purchaser will have no further remedy.

Additional Notice for Residential Property with Less than 15 rental units, including Single-Family Residential Real Property An order for possession of the property may be issued pursuant to N.C.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.

Single-Family Residential Real Property Anorderforpossessionoftheproperty maybeissuedpursuanttoN.C.G.S.§4521.29infavorofthepurchaserand 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 thenotice offoreclosure sale,terminate the rentalagreement by providing written notice of termination to the landlord, to be effective on a date stated in the notice that is at least 10 days but not more than 90 days, after the sale date contained in this notice of sale, provided that the mortgagor has not cured the default at the time the tenant provides the notice of termination. Upon termination of a rental agreement, the tenant is liable for rent due under the rental agreement prorated to the effective date of the termination. c/o HutchensLawFirm,LLP P.O. Box 1028 Fayetteville, NC 28302 4317 Ramsey Street Fayetteville, NC 28311 PhoneNo:(910)864-3068 https://sales.hutchenslawfirm.comFirm Case No: 24910 - 125078 SUBSTITUTETRUSTEESERVICES,INC. SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE

after receiving the notice of foreclosure sale, terminate the rental agreement by providing written notice of termination to the landlord, to be effective on a date stated in the notice that is at least 10 days but not more than 90 days, after the sale date contained in this notice of sale, provided that the mortgagor has not cured the default at the time the tenant provides the notice of termination.

Upon termination of a rental agreement, the tenant is liable for rent due under the rental agreement prorated to the effective date of the termination.

SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE SERVICES, INC. SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE c/o Hutchens Law Firm, LLP P.O. Box 1028 Fayetteville, NC 28302 4317 Ramsey Street Fayetteville, NC 28311 Phone No: (910) 864-3068 https://sales.hutchenslawfirm.com Case No: 11883 - 132521

Firm

Any person who occupies the property pursuant to a rental agreement entered into or renewed on or after October 1, 2007, may

pleading not later than February 10, 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 12 day of December, 2025 Gregory P. Cowen NC Bar #39608

SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE SERVICES, INC. SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE c/o Foundation Legal Group P.O. Box 1028 Fayetteville, NC 28302 4317 Ramsey Street Fayetteville, NC 28311 Phone No: (910)864-3068 https://sales.hutchenslawfirm.com Firm Case No: 28422 - 145350

SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE SERVICES, INC. SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE c/o Hutchens Law Firm, LLP P.O. Box 1028 Fayetteville, NC 28302 4317 Ramsey Street Fayetteville, NC 28311 Phone No: (910) 864-3068 https://sales.hutchenslawfirm.com Firm Case No: 28026 - 143083

Attorney for Petitioner Robertson, Anschutz, Schneid, Crane & Partners, PLLC 13010 Morris Road, Suite 450 Alpharetta, GA 30004

VOLUME 148 ISSUE 44 | THURSDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2025

CHATHAMNEWSRECORD.COM

THE CHATHAM COUNTY EDITION OF NORTH STATE JOURNAL

ALEX BRANDON / AP PHOTO

President Donald Trump arrives to speak at a campaign event last Friday in Rocky Mount.

the

BRIEF this week

Minaj surprises conservatives with praise for Trump, Vance at Arizona event Rapper Nicki Minaj made a surprise appearance at a gathering of conservatives in Arizona. Speaking on stage at Turning Point USA’s AmericaFest convention, the artist praised President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance, calling them “role models” for young men. The rap star was interviewed by Erika Kirk, the widow of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who has since taken over as leader of Turning Point.

Kirk asked Minaj about her newly found support for Trump, whom she had condemned in the past.

Minaj’s appearance Sunday at the flagship event for the powerful conservative youth organization may shore up her status as a MAGA acolyte.

“60 Minutes” pulls critical piece on Trump deportation policy Hours before airtime on Sunday, CBS News’ “60 Minutes” held a planned story on President Donald Trump’s deportation policy at the order of the network’s new editor-in-chief, Bari Weiss. Weiss, the founder of the Free Press website, had sought to get Trump administration perspective included in the story. The move is sure to increase scrutiny on CBS and “60 Minutes,” which Trump sued last fall over an interview with Kamala Harris and has recently complained about stories critical of him.

Weiss said in a statement that holding stories that aren’t ready, because they lack context or are missing critical voices, happen every day in newsrooms.

Trump touts economic progress during Rocky Mount visit For many, the promised golden age hasn’t yet arrived

By Makiya Seminera The Associated Press ROCKY MOUNT — She had worked 22 days straight in her job as a technician at an engine plant to save up, and now Daijah Bry-

Christmas all at the same time, it is very, very hard,” she said with exasperation.

Ahead of President Donald Trump’s Friday evening visit to Rocky Mount, some residents said they were feeling an economic squeeze that seems hard to escape. The uneasy feeling spans political affiliation in the town, which is split between two largely rural and somewhat impover-

Chatham County commissioners make change in leadership Amanda Robertson will serve as chair with Franklin Gomez Flores serving as vice chair

By Ryan Henkel Chatham News & Record PITTSBORO — The Chatham County Board of Commissioners has new leader-

ship figures as part of its yearly restructuring.

At the board’s Dec. 15 meeting, the board elected Amanda Robertson as board chair and Franklin Gomez Flores as Vice Chair, both by 3-2 votes.

“I would like to thank all the commissioners for the work in the past year serving this county,” Robertson said. “I think we’ve done an exceptional job

together, we’ve done some great work together. I look forward to working with you all in the coming year.”

Previously serving in those roles was Karen Howard and Katie Kenlan respectively.

“I would like to thank the board for entrusting me with the leadership of vice chair,” Kenlan said. “I’ve learned a lot serving in that role and I plan

Retired NASCAR driver Greg Biffle, family among 7 killed in Statesville plane crash “One thing is certain: They were low.

They were too low to make a safe landing on that runway.”

Jeff Guzzetti, former NTSB and FAA crash investigator

$2.00

ant could finally do what she was putting off: Christmas shopping.

Bryant pushed her cart out of a Walmart in Rocky Mount and loaded her sedan’s backseat with bags of gifts. While they would soon bring joy to her friends and family, it was difficult for the 26-year-old to feel good about the purchases.

“Having to pay bills, if you happen to pay rent and try to do

Investigators are trying to determine what happened

By Gary D. Robertson and Josh Funk The Associated Press STATESVILLE — Federal investigators are trying to figure out why a business jet carrying retired NASCAR driver Greg Biffle and six others tried to return to Statesville Regional Airport just after takeoff but plowed into light poles and a tree line short of the runway, killing everyone on board.

The Cessna C550 erupted

into a large fire when it hit the ground last Thursday morning, about a third of a mile from the airport’s runway.

They also don’t know who the was the lead pilot. Biffle was one of three people on board with a pilot’s license.

The jet had departed Statesville, about 45 miles north of Charlotte, 10 minutes earlier, but crashed while trying to return and land, authorities said.

Flight records indicate the plane was registered to a company run by Biffle. Investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board began See CRASH, page A7

ished counties, although some were more hopeful than others that there are signs of reprieve on the horizon.

It was Trump’s second event this month aimed at championing his economic policies ahead of a consequential midterm election next year, both held in presidential battleground states. Similar See TRUMP, page A2

to continue that leadership in the other boards and committees that I serve on.”

Howard did not seem keen to seek reelection for the leadership positions, but urged the board to appoint Kenlan to both the chair and then ultimately the vice chair position after she wasn’t elected as chair.

“We want to be cautious and thoughtful in how we place people in these positions,” Howard said. “They’re not greater power, but it is a voice for Chatham and missing an opportunity to have elected leadership that is See CHATHAM, page A3

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Chatham News & Record for Thursday, December 25, 2025

THURSDAY

12.25.25 #122

Deputy shot, hostage rescued CHATHAM happening in Pittsboro standoff Senior Deputy Matthew Mitchell is expected to make a full recovery Chatham News & Record staff

“Join the conversation” Chatham News & Record www.chathamnewsrecord.com

North State Media LLC 303 West Raleigh Street Siler City, North Carolina 27344 Copyright 2025 Trip Hoffend Publisher Jim Sills VP of Local Newspapers Jordan Golson Local News Editor Shawn Krest Sports Editor Dan Reeves Features Editor Asheebo Rojas Sports Reporter Ryan Henkel Reporter PJ Ward-Brown Photographer BUSINESS David Guy Advertising Manager Chatham News & Record (USPS #101160) is published weekly, 52 weeks a year, by North State Media LLC 303 West Raleigh Street Siler City, NC 27344 POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: Chatham News & Record PO Box 290 Siler City, NC 27344 CONTACT US For a vacation hold or to report a delivery problem: 919-663-3232 To place a classified or display ad: 919-663-3232; Fax: 919-663-4042 To submit a news tip or correction: 919-663-3232; news@chathamnewsrecord.com

SUBSCRIPTION RATES Annual subscription rate: $104.

CRIME LOG Dec. 15 • Billy Tanner Grey, 33, of Ramseur, was arrested for assault on a government official/employee and resisting a public officer.

• Yshecia Evette Smith, 45, of Stoneville, was arrested for felony possession of a schedule 2 narcotic, possession with intent to sell and distribute a schedule 2 narcotic and felony possession of marijuana.

Dec. 16 • Jostin Josue Ramirez-Duarte, 18, of Durham, was arrested for first degree burglary, larceny after breaking and entering, breaking and entering into a motor vehicle, breaking and entering, breaking and entering into a motor vehicle with theft, larceny of a firearm and larceny.

• Randall Lee Stitt, 66, was arrested for communicating threats.

Dec. 18 • Kimberly Quay Williams, 53, of Chapel Hill, was arrested for misuse of 911 system.

• Billy Joe Phillips, 36, was arrested for assault by strangulation, felony stalking and assault on a female.

Dec. 19 • Daniel Forest Kloeffler, 24, was arrested for assault inflicting serious bodily injury, damage to property, assault on a female and attempted breaking or entering.

• Andres M. Diaz, 35, was arrested for child support violation.

Dec. 20 • Cody Jerad Nettles, 32, was arrested for assault by pointing a gun and injury to personal property.

• Jose De Jesus Munoz Gonzalez, 35, was arrested for indecent liberties with child and sexual battery.

Dec. 21 • Trey Alexander Robinson, 22, was arrested for assault by strangulation, assault inflicting serious bodily injury and sexual battery.

A Chatham County sheriff’s deputy was shot and a hostage rescued after an armed standoff at a Pittsboro-area residence on Dec. 16.

Senior Deputy Matthew Mitchell sustained gunshot wounds to his arm and leg during the incident on Pittsboro Goldston Road. He was transported to a hospital and is in stable condition, according to the Chatham County Sheriff’s Office. Mitchell, who has served with the department since January 2020, is expected to make a full recovery.

The suspect, Kevin Dean Hammer, 50, of Goldston, is

COURTESY CCSO

Senior Deputy Matthew Mitchell deceased. The Sheriff’s Office has not released details about the circumstances of his death.

Hammer had pending criminal charges in Lee, Moore, Randolph and Chatham counties at the time of his death, including domestic violence, assault with a deadly weapon, communicating threats, resisting a public officer and possession of a firearm by a felon.

Deputies responded to the residence last Tuesday afternoon and encountered an armed standoff that escalated into a hostage situation. After developing serious concerns for the hostage’s safety, deputies made entry into the residence and successfully rescued the hostage.

Pittsboro Goldston Road was closed for several hours during the incident. A portion of the road near the intersection with U.S. Highway 421 remained closed as investigators continued their work.

The N.C. State Bureau of Investigation is conducting an independent investigation, which is standard procedure in officer-involved shootings. The Moore County Sheriff’s Office, N.C. Highway Patrol and FirstHealth EMS assisted at the scene.

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

Dec. 26 Live Music at The Plant 5-8 p.m.

Featuring musician Ryan Melquist, also known as Qwister, playing a variety of genres. No cover charge, tips encouraged.

The Plant 220 Lorax Lane Pittsboro

Dec. 27 Bluegrass Jam Circle

TRUMP from page A1 to Trump’s earlier stop in Pennsylvania, Rocky Mount sits in a U.S. House district that has been historically competitive.

But earlier this year, the Republican-controlled legislature redrew the boundaries for the eastern North Carolina district to favor their party as part of Trump’s push to have GOP-led states gerrymander their congressional districts to help his party retain its House majority for the last half of his term.

Rocky Mount may be in a politically advantageous location, but the hardships its residents report mirror the tightening financial strains many Americans say they are feeling, with high prices for groceries, housing and utilities among their top concerns. Polls show persistently high prices have put Americans in a grumpy mood about the state of the economy, which a large majority say is performing poorly.

Trump has insisted the economy is trending upward and the country will see some relief in the new year and beyond. In some cases, he has dismissed affordability concerns and encouraged Americans to decrease their consumption.

In his Friday night speech, he leaned into a persistent refrain: Democratic President Joe Biden alone was to blame for any economic distress Americans may be feeling, but things are getting better under his watch.

He boasted that steps he’s taken — including generating billions of dollars of revenue through tariffs, pressing pharmaceutical giants to slash the prices of some medicines, and a so-called $1776 “warrior dividend” for U.S. troops that is being paid through a provision in a tax cut extensions and expansions bill he signed into law in July—will have real impact on American’s pocketbooks.

“I inherited the mess. I got the prices down and they are going down still further,” Trump

10 a.m. to noon

said. He added, “Over the past 11 months, we have brought more positive change to Washington than any administration in the history of our country.”

“Without the businesses, it’s dead” Crimson smokestacks tower over parts of downtown Rocky Mount, reminding the town’s roughly 54,000 residents of its roots as a once-booming tobacco market. Through the heart of downtown, graffiti-covered trains still lug along on the railroad tracks that made Rocky Mount a bustling locomotive hotspot in the last century.

Those days seem long gone for some residents who have watched the town change over the decades. Rocky Mount has adapted by tapping into other industries such as manufacturing and biopharmaceuticals, but it’s also had to endure its fair share of challenges. Most recently, financial troubles in the city’s government have meant higher utility prices for residents.

The city has been investing to try to revitalize its downtown, but progress has been slow. Long stretches of empty storefronts that once contained restaurants, furniture shops and drug stores line the streets. Most stores were closed Thursday morning, and not much foot traffic roamed the area.

That’s left Lucy Slep, who coowns The Miner’s Emporium jewelry store with her husband, waiting for Trump’s promised “Golden Age of America.”

The jewelry store has been in downtown Rocky Mount for nearly four decades, just about as long as the 64-year-old said she has lived in the area. But the deterioration of downtown Rocky Mount has spanned at least a decade, and Slep said she’s still hoping it will come back to life.

“Every downtown in every little town is beautiful,” she said.

“But without the businesses, it’s dead.”

Slep’s store hasn’t escaped the challenges other Rocky Mount small businesses have endured.

Instead of buying, more people have recently been selling their jewelry to the shop, Slep said.

Customers have been scarce.

About a week out from Christmas, the store — with handmade molded walls and ceilings resembling cave walls — sat empty aside from the rows of glass cases containing jewelry.

It’s been hard, Slep said, but she and her husband are trying to make it through.

“This year is just not a jewelry Christmas, for whatever reason,” she said.

Better times on the horizon — depending on whom you ask Slep is already looking ahead to next year for better times. She is confident that Trump’s economic policies — including upcoming tax cuts — will make a marked difference in people’s cost of living. In her eyes, the financial strains people are feeling are residual effects from the Biden administration that eventually will fade.

Optimism about what’s to come under Trump’s economy might also depend on whether residents feel their economic conditions have changed drastically in the past year.

Shiva Mrain, an engineer in Rocky Mount, said his family’s situation has not “become worse nor better.” He’s been encouraged by seeing lower gas prices.

Bryant, the engine technician, feels a bit more disillusioned. She didn’t vote in the last election because she didn’t think either party could enact changes that would improve her life. Nearly a year into the Trump administration, Bryant is still waiting to see whether the president will deliver.

“I can’t really say ... that change is coming,” she said. “I don’t think anything is going to change.”

This free acoustic jam session is open to musicians and singers of all ages and skill levels. There is no admission fee, and the public is welcome to attend.

Front Porch, Bynum General Store 950 Bynum Road Bynum

Dec. 30 Yoga at BFP 6-7 p.m.

Yoga class for all fitness levels. Bring your own mat.

Free to attend; suggested donation of $15.

Front Porch, Bynum General Store 950 Bynum Road Bynum

Jan.3 Holidays at Carolina Tiger Rescue 2-4 p.m.

Spend the holidays with the cats at this nonprofit rehab center. Tickets are $32 each.

Contact 919-542-4684 to order tickets.

1940 Hanks Chapel Road Pittsboro

Chatham News & Record for Thursday, December 25, 2025

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Everything you need to know about Christmas, including how it’s evolved into global holiday From Father Christmas to nativity scenes, the holiday has different meanings everywhere

By Luis Andres Henao The Associated Press CHRISTMAS is a Christian holiday that observes the birth of Jesus. But did you know that the earliest followers of Jesus did not annually commemorate his birth? Or that Santa Claus is inspired by the acts of kindness of a fourth-century Christian saint?

And have you heard about the modern-day Japanese tradition of eating Kentucky Fried Chicken on Christmas?

Since the early 20th century, Christmas has evolved from a religious holiday to a hugely popular cultural holiday observed

by Christian and secular people across the globe who gather with families, exchange gifts and cards and decorate Christmas trees.

Here’s a look at the history, beliefs and the evolution of Christmas.

MICHAEL PROBST / AP PHOTO

An annual Christmas Market is a hub of activity in the city center of Frankfurt, Germany, on Saturday.

Origins, early history of Christmas Early followers of Jesus did not annually commemorate his birth but instead focused on commemorating their belief in his resurrection at Easter.

The story of the birth of Jesus appears only in two of the four Gospels of the New Testament: Matthew and Luke.

They provide different details, though both say Jesus was born in Bethlehem.

The exact day, month and even year of Jesus’s birth are unknown, said Christine Shepardson, a professor at the University of Tennessee who studies early Christianity.

The tradition of celebrating Jesus’ birth on Dec. 25, she said, only emerged in the fourth century.

“It’s hard to overemphasize how important the fourth century is for constructing Christianity as we experience it in our world today,” Shepardson said.

It was then, under Emperor Constantine, that Christians began the practice of gathering at churches instead of meeting at homes.

Some theories say the date coincides with existing pagan winter solstice festivals, including the Roman celebration of Sol Invictus, or the “Unconquered Sun,” on Dec 25.

While most Christians celebrate Christmas on Dec. 25, some Eastern Orthodox traditions celebrate the holy day on Jan. 7. That’s because they follow the ancient Julian calen-

ALESSANDRA TARANTINO / AP PHOTO

dar, which runs 13 days behind the Gregorian calendar, used by Catholic and Protestant churches as well as by much of the secular world.

Rowdy medieval celebrations For centuries, especially during the Middle Ages, Christmas was associated with rowdy street celebrations of feasting and drinking, and for many Christians, it “was not in good standing as a holiday,” said Thomas Ruys Smith, a professor of American literature and culture at the University of East Anglia in England.

“Puritans,” he said, “were not fond of Christmas.”

But in the 19th century, he said, Christmas became “respectable” with “the domestic celebration that we understand today — one centered around the home, the family, children, gift-giving.”

The roots of modern-day Christmas can be traced back to Germany. In the late 19th century, there are accounts of Christmas trees and gift-giving that, according to Smith, later spread to Britain and America, helping to revitalize Christmas on both

A 27-meter fir tree from the Ultimo valley in South Tyrol, Italy, is lit up as Christmas tree together with a crib in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican last Monday.

sides of the Atlantic.

Christmas became further popularized with the publication of “A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens in 1843, and the writings of Washington Irving, who was a fan of St. Nicholas and helped popularize the celebration of Christmas in America.

The first Rockefeller Center Christmas tree was put up by workers in 1931 to raise spirits during the Great Depression.

The tradition stuck as the first tree-lighting ceremony was held in 1933 and remains one of New York City’s most popular holiday attractions.

America’s secular Santa inspired by Christian saint St. Nicholas was a fourth-century Christian bishop from the Mediterranean port city of Myra (in modern-day Turkey). His acts of generosity inspired the secular Santa Claus legend.

The legends surrounding jolly old St. Nicholas — celebrated annually on Dec. 6 — go way beyond delivering candy and toys to children. He is believed to have interceded on behalf of wrongly condemned prisoners and miraculously

saved sailors from storms.

Devotion to St. Nicholas spread during the Middle Ages across Europe and he became a favorite subject for medieval artists and liturgical plays. He is the patron saint of sailors and children, as well as of Greece, Russia and New York.

Devotion to St. Nicholas seems to have faded after the 16th century Protestant Reformation, except in the Netherlands, where his legend remained as Sinterklaas. In the 17th century, Dutch Protestants who settled in New York brought the Sinterklaas tradition with them.

Eventually, St. Nicholas morphed into the secular Santa Claus.

Not just Santa who delivers gifts In the U.K., it’s Father Christmas; in Greece and Cyprus, St. Basil (who arrives on New Year’s Eve). In some parts of Italy, it’s St. Lucy (earlier in December) and in other Italian regions, Befana, a witch-like figure, who brings presents on the Epiphany on Jan. 6.

Instead of a friendly Santa Claus, children in Iceland enjoy favors from 13 mischievous troll brothers, called the Yule Lads. They come down from their mountain cave 13 days before Christmas, according to folklore.

Christian traditions of Christmas One of the oldest traditions around Christmas is bringing greenery — holly, ivy or evergreen trees — into homes.

But determining whether it’s a

CHATHAM from page A1 experienced and has been in these conversations is not a personal preference, but is one that certainly does Chatham some good and it’s a disservice to disregard that.”

“I think all board members up here are qualified,” Robertson said in response. “Nobody is any further privileged to be chair or vice chair than any other members.”

The board also approved the first plat review for the Riverbend Estates, a 107-lot, 622-acre major subdivision, located off of Rock Rest Road.

The development will have lot sizes of at least three acres

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••• Send your birth, death, marriage, graduation and other announcements to community@chathamnewsrecord.com.

Weekly deadline is Monday at noon.

Christian tradition is harder.

“For many people, the evergreen can symbolize Christ’s promise of eternal life and his return from death,” Smith said. “So, you can interpret that evergreen tradition within the Christian concept.”

The decorating of evergreen trees is a German custom that began in the 16th century, said Maria Kennedy, a professor at Rutgers University— New Brunswick’s Department of American Studies. It was later popularized in England and America.

“Mistletoe, an evergreen shrub, was used in celebrations dating back to the ancient Druids — Celtic religious leaders — some 2,000 years ago,” Kennedy writes in The Surprising History of Christmas Traditions.

“Mistletoe represented immortality because it continued to grow in the darkest time of the year and bore white berries when everything else had died.”

Other traditions include Christmas services and Nativity scenes at homes and churches.

More recently, Nativity scenes — when erected on public property in the U.S. — have triggered legal battles over the question of the separation of church and state.

Christmas caroling, Kennedy writes, can also be traced back to European traditions, where people would go from home to home during the darkest time of the year to renew relationships within their communities and give wishes for good luck, health and wealth for the forthcoming year.

“They would recite poetry, sing and sometimes perform a skit. The idea was that these acts would bring about good fortune to influence a future harvest,” Kennedy writes.

Kentucky Fried Chicken for Christmas in Japan Among the many Christmas traditions that have been adopted and localized globally, there’s one that involves KFC. In 1974, KFC launched a Christmas campaign where they began to sell fried chicken with a bottle of wine so it could be used for a Christmas party.

KFC says the idea for the campaign came from an employee who overheard a foreign customer at one of its Tokyo restaurants saying that since he couldn’t get turkey in Japan, he’d have to celebrate Christmas with Kentucky Fried Chicken.

“That really stuck,” Smith said. “And still today, you have to order your KFC months in advance to make sure that you’re going to get it at Christmas Day.”

and overall, have an average size of five acres.

“This is a by-right plat application, which must be granted by state law because the objective standards of the ordinance have been met,” said attorney Nicolas Robinson, who was representing the client. “Not asking for any rezoning, we’re not asking for a special-use permit, we’re just fulfilling the requirement as set out in your ordinance.”

The project will have 36 months to submit construction plans for Phase 1 once the first plat is approved.

The Chatham County Board of Commissioners will next meet Jan. 20.

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Chatham News & Record for Thursday, December 25, 2025

THE CONVERSATION Trip Hoffend, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor VISUAL VOICES

COLUMN | ANDREW TAYLOR-TROUTMAN

Dear Santa I confess that I am prone to fits of unbelief about the world and the people in it.

YOU ALREADY KNOW from his Christmas wish list that my middle child loves basketball. Instead of “visions of sugar-plums,” video highlights of slam dunks dance in his head. Like a well-known poem, he can recite the stats of LeBron, Shaq and George Mikan — George Mikan!

Doesn’t that take you back, Santa?

For my son, Saturday morning is the holy day, for that’s when his rec team plays their games. Thursday evenings are sacred, too, because his team practices at Perry Harrison Elementary School. But ’twas the week before Christmas, and when we arrived for practice, not a creature was stirring — the parking lot was otherwise empty and the school gym darkened. I would have driven back home, but he insisted on checking the doors. Of course, they were locked. But he began to knock anyway, whether out of desperation, faith or a combination of both.

Then, the doors opened! And there you stood. White hair, white beard and festive red shirt. You had a broom in your hand instead of a pack and a trash can instead of a sleigh. But your eyes — how they twinkled! Your dimples, how merry! I won’t comment about your belly, but your laugh echoed in the hallway as you invited us inside, opened the gym and turned on the lights. You of all people, Santa, know how to make wishes come true.

I confess that I am prone to fits of unbelief about the world and the people in it. Things can seem cruel and cold instead of merry and bright.

And yet, without glossing over any suffering, it’s also true that there is kindness, tenderness and generosity — Christmas magic. There are people who do their jobs and

ALEX BRANDON/ AP PHOTO

still go out of their way to help others, and sometimes those people make all the difference.

As my son dribbled onto the court, I turned to thank you once again. But you had already gone back to work, disappeared into the school as if up a chimney. You’ll forgive me, then, if I steal your line: Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night.

Andrew Taylor-Troutman’s newest book is “This Is the Day.” He serves as pastor of Chapel in the Pines Presbyterian Church as well as a writer, pizza maker, coffee drinker and student of joy.

COLUMN | BOB WACHS

There’s more than just one side to Christmas Christmas at its simplest and its best is about gifts and giving, starting with the Gift of God, and that’s a tradition the world needs more of.

CHRISTMAS, LIKE MANY THINGS, means different things to different people. Baskins and Robins figured that kind of thing out long ago; that’s why they have 31 flavors.

As we wind down to the day — and by now it’s here — I find myself thinking about what it means to me and a couple of thoughts keep jumping to the head of the line.

One is traditions. The other day the older of the two 40-somethings who used to be one of the two teenagers who lived at my house long ago and I did our regular daddy-daughter outing that we’ve been doing for years, the one where she helps me select gifts for her mother. I think I could probably do it but then I wouldn’t get to be with her and it wouldn’t seem like Christmas. She says that, too, which is also a part of the tradition.

What makes this outing different from how it started is that usually one or more of her own brood accompanies us. This year, among the crowd of grandkids who went, was her first-born, my oldest grandchild, who is no longer the little guy, except in my heart, but who is in his second year of college. Long ago, I took him Christmas shopping for his mama and watched him pick out chewing gum, pencils, rubber balls and an assortment of gifts for her.

He took seriously the idea that you should buy as presents for other folks the things you would like to receive yourself. This year, his siblings and some of his cousins were also with us.

Not complaining.

Along with that bit of activity is the tradition which says I must wait until the last minute anyway. Maybe it’s my own feeble nature or weakness or who knows what but it’s hard for me to get caught up in the mood in mid-November or even early December. But when that mood does show up, well, then I’ve got it.

Another tradition for me is the music. I can’t quite get into “Black Sabbath Sings the Great Carols of Christmas”

or whatever LP or CD is on the “must-have” list of the hour. But let me hear Burl Ives do “Frosty” or Gene Autry conjure up “Rudolph” or The Percy Faith Orchestra take off on “Joy to the World” and it’s a different game. Throw in Harry Simeon’s Chorale with the official version of “Little Drummer Boy” and I’m with my dad, who loved that tune. And when I break out the Kingston Trio’s album “Last Month of the Year” then I’m a little boy in the warmth of my mama’s living room and kitchen.

I miss my folks at Christmas. One of their traditions was the shoe boxes of candy and fruit and gum and nuts they helped Santa put together for my brothers and me.

Being the youngest of three boys, I got the short end of the stick quite a bit and it was never more obvious than at Christmas when my two older brothers would raid my shoe box, swapping their Brazil nuts for my Mr. Goodbar, something I never would have done, of course … or even thought about.

There are others; I’m sure you have yours if you have Christmas. But at the same time there’s another side to what Christmas is and it’s not just the memories.

It’s the future. It’s the promise we can do better and things can be better and there’s a second chance in many things in many ways.

I love the traditions, the ones that were mine as a child and the ones that have come along later with other people.

But I also love the realization that Christmas at its simplest and its best is about gifts and giving, starting with the Gift of God, and that’s a tradition the world needs more of.

Merry Christmas … and may you find your own traditions and a bright future.

Bob Wachs is a native of Chatham County and emeritus editor at Chatham News & Record.

He serves as pastor of Bear Creek Baptist Church.

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Chatham News & Record for Thursday, December 25, 2025

COLUMN | JAN HUTTON

COLUMN

So much for my being the sun …

I’m sad for the life stories I missed when I mistakenly thought I was the sun, and only my light mattered.

TELLING ON MYSELF …

I was born an only child to much older parents who had been “trying” for years to have a bundle of joy. I (finally) received the message and made my appearance on planet earth. Ta dah! Not too many years thereafter, my father died and I became the sun in my mother’s life. A perk of being the sun in someone’s life is the belief that all the other planets (also known as people like you) revolve around me.

I was spoiled! Really spoiled. There was no negative intent in creating this condition of being spoiled. My life circumstances were a result of my mother’s deep desire for all the best directed toward this late-in-life only child, who was also fatherless very early on. I was cocooned in deep caring and over-protection to avoid more loss to my remaining parent.

I mean, I was the sun, what else were all you planets going to do, but revolve around me? (Ouch.) For the most part, my expectation was that all the other orbs would be interested in my life. Hearing or asking about the lives of others just never occurred to me. As the sun, after all, people turned their faces, with great interest, toward me.

Honesty can be a bitch.

Somewhere in my life’s evolving journey, I began to realize I wasn’t really the sun, but

just another regular ‘ol planet, riding around that real shining orb. Riding in tandem with all you other planetary bodies, held in thrall by the universe. We all mattered. All of us…

Whoa, it was akin to the clouds parting! I wanted to know more about all you heavenly orbs sharing space and gravity with me.

How our paths impacted each other’s orbital trajectories. Suddenly, I was swimming in this collective pool of planetary sharing.

Wow! I’m sad for the life stories I missed when I mistakenly thought I was the sun, and only my light mattered. Now, however, I welcome curiosity and excitement about you, all of us in the same constellation of planets.

Currently, we orbs are all inhabiting the proverbial Holiday Season. Please remember that each person in our planetary path has a different story to share this time of year.

Some are difficult and lonely, others are joyous. Let’s each bring the gift of caring to the seasonal darkness we collectively inhabit.

We can be a light — small, blinking maybe — but still a light for our fellow planetary travelers.

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

COLUMN | KEVIN FRAZIER

Trump AI executive order protects Americans from Tower of Babel approach The problem is that many states have misinterpreted their expansive authority.

THE ANSWER TO two questions will shape the future of AI in the United States: Who gets to write the national rules for AI development?

Who gets to write the rules for how AI is adopted at the state level?

This is not a pop quiz. These are the same questions that we had to answer in the late 1700s with respect to shipping in the late 1800s with respect to the railroads, and in the late 1900s with respect to the Internet.

The right answers then, remain the correct answers today.

The executive order on AI announced by President Donald Trump provides a clear answer to the first question: Congress. It’s the right answer given the unequivocal allocation of constitutional authority to Congress to resolve matters that implicate America’s economic and national security.

AI development refers to the training, evaluation and deployment of AI models.

In short, it’s the tasks that determine how quickly U.S. companies can continue to push the technological frontier as our adversaries race to do the same. Any pause, delay or diversion to these efforts may have irreversible effects on our ability to economically and militarily keep pace. It’s not hyperbole to stress that America requires a cohesive strategy on this frontier so that our leading AI labs and emerging startups can focus more on AI research, rather than attempting to navigate a patchwork of state AI laws.

The order also answers the second question. States may dictate who uses AI, for what purposes, and subject to what limitations.

Again, this is the right answer as mandated by the Constitution and its reservation of extensive police powers to the states. It has long been recognized that it is the duty “of a state to advance the safety, happiness, and prosperity of its people, and to provide for its general welfare.” That’s precisely why the order does not contest the authority of states to enact and enforce laws related to child safety, data centers, state government use of AI and other issues that reflect that important duty.

To use an imperfect analogy, the order acknowledges and welcomes state laws related to speed limits, road designs and driver’s license requirements, so long as they do not interfere with how the engine is designed and distributed.

The problem is that many states have misinterpreted their expansive authority.

Some have enacted laws that will impede the ability of other states to look out for the distinct wants and needs of their respective

community. As mentioned in the order, states like Colorado want to dictate how AI models respond to certain queries — this akin to messing with the engine of AI. If labs comply, then the rest of America will have to live with what Denver thinks is best.

Other states — namely, California — have enacted laws with the explicit purpose of shielding the rest of the nation from speculative risks. That’s akin to Californians prohibiting Montanans from driving trucks with V8 engines because Californians think they are too powerful. Worse yet, such laws may inhibit the ability of American innovators to move forward on devising new strategies to deploy more capable and reliable AI systems.

Congress alone has the authority to dictate such consequential decisions. Americans are rightfully eager for Congress to use that authority. But impatience must not become acquiesce to efforts by state legislators to step into the shoes of U.S. representatives and senators.

The order’s core provision — the creation of an AI Litigation Task Force — will protect the American people from a Tower of Babel approach to AI development. States may think they’re enacting similar laws with similar provisions related to AI training, but they’re oftentimes speaking different languages — their bills are riddled with contradictory definitions and vague standards.

This task force is overdue but far from an overreach of presidential authority.

The order does not grant the U.S. attorney general any new authority nor permit the task force to “neuter” any constitutionally valid state laws, as alleged by The New York Times. Instead, the order is again to the president putting certain questions at the top of the AG’s agenda: specifically, challenging unconstitutional, unlawful or preempted state laws. None of that is new. It has been and always will be the case that state laws that run afoul of the Constitution or otherwise violate the law can and should be challenged. The order merely directs a focus on state AI laws that fall within any of those categories.

State legislators may be forgiven for rushing to regulate AI amid the public’s uncertainty over how the technology will impact our economy, our schools, and our communities. AI’s disruptive effects warrant a national framework and soon. Congress must act. However, as signaled by this executive order, that forgiveness has limits: states that intentionally seek to impose their legislative will on others must be held accountable.

Kevin Frazier is the AI and innovation fellow at the University of Texas School of Law.

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SEN. TOMMY TUBERVILLE

Sharia law fuels jihadist terror in Nigeria; is America next?

OVER THE LAST few months, I’ve been increasingly vocal about the rise of radical Islam in the U.S. As a result, the left has predictably lost their minds — calling me a “racist” and an “Islamophobe.” The truth is I’m an American, and I care about the safety of our country. I’m not afraid of Chuck Schumer calling me names.

What I am afraid of is losing the greatest country on Earth to radical Islam. Look no further than the Thanksgiving shooting of two National Guardsmen in D.C. by a Biden-imported Afghan Islamic terrorist to know that we are under attack.

There’s a lot of good people that come from Middle Eastern countries who go by our laws and assimilate with our culture. But if you come here otherwise, refuse to go by our laws and chant “Death to America,” I have a message for you — we do not want you here. If you’re a peaceful Muslim who has assimilated, now is the time to speak out and condemn these acts of Islamic terrorism.

What’s taking place in Nigeria is a sad example of the dangers of Islam. We are seeing firsthand the poisonous impact that Radical Islam can have on a country when it is allowed to take root.

In the 1990s, Nigerian Christians and Muslims lived in relative harmony. But Muslims began gaining a foothold, and sharia law was soon installed by 12 of Northern Nigeria’s states in the early 2000s. There are now 101 references to sharia law and Islam in the Nigerian Constitution and zero references to Christianity. Now, 35 Christians a day are being murdered in Nigeria for their faith. Unfortunately, this statistic isn’t surprising. Islam openly teaches to “kill all infidels” — which includes Christians.

Since 2002, an estimated 62,000 Christians in Nigeria have been murdered, and 350,000 people have died because of the instability that Radical Islam breeds. In 2024, 70% of all Christians martyred for their faith in the entire world were in Nigeria. Kidnappings in Nigeria are also on the rise because Jihadists use this to extort ransom payments and fund more terrorism.

In November, the world reacted with horror when 315 schoolchildren were kidnapped from a Catholic school in Niger State.

Yet you won’t hear much about any of these tragedies because the mainstream media in America would rather bury their heads in the sand than report the facts. They don’t cover the wholesale slaughter of Christians, and when they do, they claim it’s equal opportunity murder of Christians and Muslims alike.

Thankfully, President Donald Trump recently reclassified Nigeria as a “country of particular concern,” placing a spotlight on persecuted Christians in the country. I also appreciate other members of Congress like Republican Rep. Marlin Stutzman of Indiana and Republican Rep. Riley Moore of West Virginia who have joined me in the fight to end the slaughtering of Christians in Nigeria.

However, there is much more that needs to be done to hold the Nigerian government accountable for the genocide happening right under its nose. I am grateful for organizations like Across Nigeria that are working day and night to bring the killing to an end. I recently heard from Brad Brandon, who serves as CEO of Across Nigeria. He described the horrors of Islam firsthand, and how he has stood at the edge of large graves filled with entire families and villages of Christian believers. In 2021, a pastor who worked for Brandon’s organization was hacked to death by machetes in his bed. His church, home, and village were set on fire — all because he refused to deny his Christian faith and stop spreading the gospel. It reminds me of some of the disciples in the earliest days of the church who were martyred for their faith rather than denying Jesus Christ.

Unfortunately, this isn’t just a problem overseas. I’ve said it many times and have taken some heat for it, but Islam isn’t a religion, it is a death cult. And this type of poisonous ideology is alive and well in this country, just waiting to attack. Just this week, FBI Director Kash Patel announced they caught several Islamist terrorists who had planned terror attacks for New Year’s Eve in Los Angeles and New Orleans. If we don’t act now, these types of attacks will become commonplace.

That’s why I refuse to be silent about this. Islam is fundamentally opposed to our Constitutional values. These people openly chant “death to America” and would like to see every single freedom-loving American dead. The threat of sharia law becoming a reality in America is not a hypothetical. It’s a real and present danger lurking in our own backyards. Nigeria is an example of what can happen when Radical Islam and sharia law overtake a once prosperous and free nation. Those who practice Radical Islam would love nothing more than to destroy this country. Our freedom is a gift, and I hope that more of our leaders will wake up and defend it before it’s too late.

Sen. Tommy Tuberville represents Alabama in the United States Senate. This column was first published by Daily Caller News Foundation.

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Chatham News & Record for Thursday, December 25, 2025

obituaries

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396 West St., Pittsboro, NC 27312 | 919-542-3057 | www.donaldsonfunerals.com Lord and was active in his church. He was a member of Shiloh Baptist Church in Garner where he was a Sunday School teacher, sang in the church choir, worked the sound system, and he was a deacon and was awarded Deacon emeritus. Don loved his church and his church family. In his The iconic show ran on spare time, Don loved music, NBC from 1979 to 1981 computers, and taking photos.

Don and Ruth lived on a farm and raised horses while living The Associated Press in Asheboro. Don’s biggest love was his family and making GIL GERARD, who played memories with them all. television’s hunky sci-fi hero WilLeft to cherish Don’s liam “Buck” Rogers soon after the memory is his wife of 43 years, Ruth Simmons Heard; Star Wars franchise took hold in his children, Donna Smith, the late 1970s, has died. He was and Tonya McManus and her 82.

REED SAXON / AP PHOTO husband, Al, and Joseph Heard; Gerard died Tuesday in hoshis grandchildren, Hannah pice as a result of a rare, aggres- Actor Gil Gerard poses in Murphy and her husband, Dan, sive form of cancer, said his man- Los Angeles in 1990.

Elaina Staley, Adam Rierson, ager, Tina Presley Borek. His and Caitlin McManus; his wife, Janet Gerard, posted a three great grandchildren, posthumous Facebook message ties I’ve had, the people I’ve met Zoe Murphy, Avery Murphy, he left behind for fans that read and the love I have given and reand Charlie Parrish; his sister, ceived have made my 82 years on in part: Carole Barr, and her husband, the planet deeply satisfying.”

“Don’t waste your time on anyWayne; his niece, Keri Henley As the TV story goes, Rogthing that doesn’t thrill you or and her husband, Mark, and bring you love. See you out some- ers was a 20th century NASA their daughter, Kiya; and his pilot who was placed in frozen where in the cosmos.” nephew, Chris Barr and his wife, Gerard starred in NBC’s animation when his ship was Michelle, and their sons, Alex campy “Buck Rogers in the 25th hit by a meteor storm. He pops and Andrew.

Century,” which ran for two sea- awake 500 years later in the year A Celebration of Life service sons from 1979 to 1981. A theat- 2491. He gazes upon a futuristic, will be held January 4th, rical film based on the series also domed Earth with all its threats, 2026, at 3 pm, at Smith & Buckner Chapel. There will be delighted youngsters and their including aliens, space pilots and a visitation from 2-3 pm prior parents alike. It was Rogers’ sec- the evil Draconians. to the service. Services will He had helpers: The robot ond turn on TV after a show in be officiated by Pastor Mitch the 1950s, a radio series and a sidekick Twiki and a beautiLockamy and Pastor Matt ful space pilot Wilma Deering, 1939 film serial.

Whaley.

The story was based on Phil- played by Erin Gray.

In lieu of flowers, memorials A native of Little Rock, Arkanip Francis Nowlan’s serialized can be made to Randolph 1928 pulp novella “Armageddon sas, Gerard worked steadily in TV Hospice, 416 Vision Dr., 2419 A.D.” Nowlan’s character commercials. He was featured in Asheboro, NC 27203 in Don’s was named Anthony Rogers. The a number of other TV shows and name. name was changed when the sto- movies, including starring roles Smith & Buckner Funeral ry began running in newspapers in the 1982 TV movie “Hear No Home will be assisting the Evil” as Dragon and the shortas a comic strip.

Heard family. lived “Sidekicks” in 1986.

“My life has been an amazing Online condolences can be In 1992, he hosted the realijourney,” Gerard wrote in his somade at www.smithbucknerfh. ty series “Code 3,” following firecial media post.

“The opportunicom

‘Buck Rogers’ star Gil Gerard dead at 82

Donald “Don” Melvin Heard July 17, 1950 – Dec. 14, 2025 Donald “Don” Melvin Heard, 75, of Garner, went to his Heavenly home on December 14th, 2025, at TerraBella Asheboro, surrounded by family.

Don was born on July 17th, 1950, in Cherokee County, GA, to the late Claude Junior and Dorothy Ellen Bobo Heard.

He is preceded in death by his parents and his grandchildren, Sarah and Haley Rierson.

Don was a 1968 graduate of Jordan-Matthews High School.

Then he went to Wingate College where he graduated in 1970 with his associates. He then went back to college and graduated in 1975 from Rowan Technical Institute where he received his associates degree in fire protection technology.

In 1972, Don was a firefighter for Guilford College Fire Department, after which he worked briefly in insurance. He then worked for Mecklenburg County Fire Administration Office. In 1979, he started working with the Randolph County as Fire Marshall and stayed with them until 1988. After that, he went to work for the North Carolina Crime Control and Public Safety Division in Emergency Management. Don loved the

“Greg spent countless hours of his time helping the citizens of North Carolina during the disasters that followed Hurricane Helene. His tireless work saved lives.”

NASCAR statement fighters responding to emergency calls around the U.S. Gerard and Gray were together again in 2007 for the TV film “Nuclear Hurricane.” They also returned to the Buck Rogers universe as Rogers’ parents in the pilot episode of James Cawley’s “Buck Rogers Begins” internet video series in 2009.

Gerard spoke openly about addictions to drugs, alcohol and compulsive overeating. He was the subject of a one-hour documentary, “Action Hero Makeover,” in 2007 after his weight ballooned to 350 pounds.

Done by Adrienne Crow, the film documented his progress after gastric bypass surgery.

Gerard was married and divorced four times before Janet.

He had a son, actor Gilbert Vincent Gerard, with model and actor Connie Sellecca. Their divorce included a bitter custody battle for “Gib,” who was born in 1981. Sellecca was granted main custody.

“My journey has taken me from Arkansas to New York to Los Angeles, and finally, to my home in North Georgia with my amazing wife, Janet, of 18 years,” Gerard wrote in the post put on Facebook after his death.

“It’s been a great ride, but inevitably one that comes to a close as mine has.”

NASCAR mourns loss of Greg Biffle, family He died last week in a Statesville plane crash

By Jenna Fryer The Associated Press CHARLOTTE — Greg Biffle was picked by NASCAR as one of its top 75 drivers in history. He was a Hall of Fame nominee for the stock car series and he drove for 18 years at the top of the sport.

Yet for all the races and the handful of memorable wins, he is perhaps best remembered for his selfless and tireless work helping others as a helicopter pilot supplying aid a year ago in the devastation left behind by Hurricane Helene.

Biffle loved flying and he was in the air again last Thursday, aboard a small jet that crashed at the Statesville airport north of Charlotte, authorities said.

He was among seven people killed, including his wife and two children. He was 55.

“This tragedy has left all of our families heartbroken beyond words,” said a joint statement released on behalf of the victims. “Greg and Cristina were devoted parents and active philanthropists whose lives were centered around their young son Ryder and Greg’s daughter Emma. Emma was a wonderful human being with a kind soul who was loved by many people. Ryder was an active, curious and infinitely joyful child.”

The statement identified the others on board as Dennis Dutton, his son, Jack. and Craig Wadsworth, all “beloved by many in the NASCAR community.”

“Each of them meant everything to us, and their absence leaves an immeasurable void in our lives,” the statement said.

Biffle won championships in both the lower-tier national Truck and Xfinity Series — the first driver to do so — and spent almost his entire career driving for Roush Fenway Racing, headquartered about 40 miles south of the crash site.

BRYNN ANDERSON / AP PHOTO

NASCAR driver Greg Biffle holds his daughter, Emma Elizabeth, during driver introductions at Talladega Superspeedway in 2016.

“I have lost a dear friend and partner in our NASCAR program,” team owner Jack Roush said on social media. “His contributions to our race team over the years are immeasurable.”

Anguish swept across the closely-knit auto racing community, from drivers to team owners like Chip Ganassi. North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein singled out Biffle for his “courage and compassion” and for helping the hurricane victims. So did NASCAR. “Greg was more than a champion driver, he was a beloved member of the NASCAR community, a fierce competitor, and a friend to so many,” the series said. “Beyond his racing career, he gave of himself for the betterment of our community. Most notably, Greg spent countless hours of his time helping the citizens of North Carolina during the disasters that followed Hurricane Helene. His tireless work saved lives.”

A native of Vancouver,

Washington, Biffle made more than 800 starts across NASCAR’s three series and won the Truck Series title in 2000 and the Xfinity title in 2002. In all, he won 54 races across NASCAR’s three national circuits, including 19 at the top Cup Series level. He finished second in the championship standings to Tony Stewart in 2005, his best season, and three years later become the first driver to win two playoff races in a single year.

Biffle made his Cup debut in 2002. He earned his slot with Roush through its old “Gong Show” method of picking drivers in which candidates would go head to head trying to earn a job with one of the top teams in NASCAR. He transitioned into semiretirement in 2016 but returned in 2022 to run five races, including the Daytona 500. He was 52 at the time.

“I had such tremendous respect for Greg as a driver, and we shared countless tough

battles on the track,” retired Hall of Fame driver Jeff Gordon wrote on social media. “Like so many others, I was inspired by his tireless relief work during Hurricane Helene. My heart goes out to the Biffle family and everyone hurting.”

Piloting was a deep love, and Biffle’s YouTube channel and social accounts were filled with joyful outings with friends and family. In 2024, Biffle won the National Motorsports Press Association’s Myers Brothers Award for his humanitarian aid efforts in the wake of Helene.

Biffle piloted his personal helicopter to deliver supplies and aid to hard-hit communities in Western North Carolina and East Tennessee.

During one of his trips to the mountains, a trapped man signaled Biffle for help with a mirror. After multiple attempts, Biffle was able to land his helicopter and provide supplies to the man and his neighbors. He returned this year to check in.

“I had no idea at that point in time how devastating this storm was,” Biffle explained later.

“What started out to be rescuing one family … turned into 4,000 messages. … It went viral.”

One of his partners in the effort was friend Garrett Mitchell, a YouTuber and race car driver known as Cleetus McFarland.

Mitchell said the Biffle family was on its way to spend last Thursday afternoon with him in Florida.

“We are devastated,” Mitchell wrote on Facebook.

So was U.S. Rep. Richard Hudson of North Carolina.

“The Biffles flew hundreds of rescue missions in Western North Carolina after Hurricane Helene,” Hudson wrote on social media. “The last time I spoke with Cristina, just a couple of weeks ago, she reached out to ask how she could help with relief efforts in Jamaica. That’s who the Biffles were.”

Roush, the team owner, was involved in several plane crashes during his years as a pilot and nearly died in a 2002 crash in which he landed upside down in a lake near Talladega Superspeedway in Alabama.

Larry Hicks, a retired member of the U.S. Marine Corps, rescued Roush from the overturned wreckage before Roush drowned.

Many of his former drivers have gone on to achieve their pilot’s licenses, including Carl Edwards, Matt Kenseth and Mark Martin, all Hall of Fame drivers.

Biffle spent his years in retirement fabricating cars in his shop, running a quarry in Virginia and keeping up with his two children. Less than a week ago, Biffle posted a video of his family — 14-year-old daughter Emma, 5-year-old son Ryder and wife Cristina — picking out a Christmas tree on an outing that included a trip for ice cream.

“It’s been a successful day,” Biffle said. “Now it’s time to get the decorations out and get her going.”

Chatham News & Record for Thursday, December 25, 2025

Prosecutors say $9B in Minnesota social safety net claims may be fraud Authorities describe “industrial-scale” schemes targeting Medicaid and child nutrition programs The Associated Press HALF OR MORE of the roughly $18 billion in federal funds that supported 14 Minnesota-run programs since 2018 may have been stolen, a federal prosecutor said last week, describing the massive and multilayered fraud schemes as staggering.

First Assistant U.S. Attorney Joe Thompson said the scale of fraud puts services at risk for people who need them, including adults leaving addiction treatment centers who needed help finding a stable place to live and children with autism who were seeking one-on-one therapy.

While prosecutors typically see fraud manifest as providers overbilling, Thompson said during a news conference in Minneapolis that companies have been created to provide zero services while submitting claims to Medicaid and pocketing federal funds for international travel, luxury vehicles and lavish lifestyles.

“The magnitude cannot be overstated,” Thompson said.

“What we see in Minnesota is

not a handful of bad actors committing crimes. It’s staggering, industrial-scale fraud.”

Somali Americans make up 82 of the 92 defendants charged so far, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for Minnesota. Minnesota has the largest Somali population in the U.S. Local community leaders have urged officials and the public not to stigmatize Somali Americans in the state, warning against conflating alleged crimes by a handful of defendants with more than 80,000 people of Somali descent in the Twin Cities.

“Fraud is an issue of individual wrongdoing, not community identity,” said Yusuf Abdulle, the Minneapolis-based imam who directs the Islamic Association of North America.

Thompson said a significant amount of the fraudulently obtained funds have been sent abroad, and much of it has been used to purchase real estate in Nairobi, Kenya’s capital, which has a large Somali diaspora.

While Thompson said money sent to Somalia might have indirectly gotten into the hands of al-Shabab, he emphasized that there was no evidence that defendants were sending money to or otherwise supporting terrorist organizations.

“There’s no indication that the

“Every day, we look under a rock and find a new $50 million fraud scheme.”

Joe Thompson, First Assistant U.S. Attorney defendants that we’ve charged were radicalized or seeking to fund al-Shabab or other terrorist groups,” Thompson said.

The announcements follow years of investigation that began with the $300 million Feeding Our Future scheme, for which 57 defendants have been convicted. Prosecutors said the Feeding Our Future nonprofit was at the center of the country’s largest COVID-19-related fraud scam, when defendants exploited a state-run, federally funded program intended to provide food for children.

Thompson said the investigation into a state program to support children on the autism spectrum, the Early Intensive Developmental and Behavioral Intervention benefit, grew out of Feeding Our Future.

“Roughly two dozen or so Feeding Our Future defendants were getting money from autism clinics,” Thompson said.

“That’s how we learned about the autism fraud.”

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Prosecutors named a new defendant accused of defrauding the program, alleging he approached parents in the Somali community to “recruit their children” for the clinic and paid them kickbacks to drive up enrollment, according to court filings. His clinic ultimately submitted $6 million worth of claims for Medicaid reimbursement, prosecutors say.

Five new defendants were charged in connection with a Minnesota housing services fraud, in which they stole the money instead of helping Medicaid recipients find stable housing, Thompson said. The program has been shuttered entirely.

Authorities also served a search warrant in an investigation of a third state-run program, Integrated Community Supports, which was intended to support adults with disabilities who want to live independently. Payments to providers are on track to reach $180 million this year — exponentially more than when the state program was introduced in 2021 — leading prosecutors to believe it’s another program that has been abused.

“Every day, we look under a rock and find a new $50 million fraud scheme,” Thompson said.

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CRASH from page A1 examining the wreckage last Friday to help determine the cause of the crash and why the plane had returned to the airport in drizzle and cloudy conditions.

Investigators recovered the cockpit voice recorder, which could provide important clues about what happened. They were not aware of any emergency calls from the jet, NTSB member Michael Graham said at a Friday news conference.

There were three pilots on board. Federal Aviation Administration records show Biffle was rated to fly helicopters, and single- and multiengine planes. Also on board was pilot Dennis Dutton, Dutton’s son, Jack — who had a private pilot’s license for single-engine planes — and Biffle’s friend Craig Wadsworth.

Biffle’s wife, Cristina, and children Ryder, 5, and Emma, 14, were also killed in the crash, the North Carolina State Highway Patrol said.

Cristina Biffle’s mother told People magazine that her daughter sent her a text message saying, “We’re in trouble,” before she didn’t hear from her again.

Federal investigators on Friday didn’t have answers yet about the crew.

Dennis Dutton was licensed and rated to fly this model of plane, but even then, he was supposed to fly with a co-pilot. Even though Biffle was rated to fly a multiengine plane, he wasn’t listed as qualified to fly this particular jet or be a second officer. Dutton’s son, Jack, also had a pilot’s license but was only rated for single-engine planes.

“There is nobody else that has a second-in-command type rating in the airplane. So there’s a question on the crew,” aviation safety expert John Cox said.

The plane’s speed and altitude fluctuated significantly during the brief flight, and its path was consistent with a flight crew that experienced an issue and needed to return quickly, said former NTSB and FAA crash investigator Jeff Guzzetti.

At one point, the plane quickly soared from 1,800 feet up to 4,000 feet before descending again. Just before the crash, it was only a couple of hundred feet off the ground.

“One thing is certain: They were low. They were too low to make a safe landing on that runway,” Guzzetti said.

It’s unclear why the pilots didn’t make an emergency call, but their top priori-

A7 payer money can be slow and incomplete. Thompson said authorities have seized between $60 million and $70 million connected to the Feeding Our Future case. About $30 million of that amount is liquid cash or funds recovered from bank accounts. The remaining assets include real estate and vehicles that must be sold, often at auction, and that process can take months or years.

Court records show Feeding Our Future defendants spent millions on homes in the Minneapolis metro area, lakefront property elsewhere in Minnesota and real estate in other states, including Ohio and Kentucky.

Prosecutors said luxury purchases included more than $88,000 on a GMC truck, $93,250 on a Porsche and over $100,000 on a Mercedes.

Some of the money, however, is permanently lost. Prosecutors said defendants spent funds on travel, entertainment and services that cannot be recovered, including a lavish honeymoon trip to a private villa in the Maldives and the purchase of a suite at a Minnesota Timberwolves game.

In October, Gov. Tim Walz initiated a third-party audit of and paused payments to the 14 high-risk Medicaid programs for 90 days.

“We will not tolerate fraud, and we will continue to work with federal partners to ensure fraud is stopped and fraudsters are caught,” Walz said in a statement.

Walz last week appointed a director of program integrity, who is tasked with finding and preventing fraud statewide.

ties are flying the plane and figuring out where to land — not radioing for help. It’s possible they were too busy trying to control the plane and dealing with the problem.

But Cox said it’s also possible that the problem they encountered wasn’t considered an emergency. And the pilots may not have made it a priority to make a radio call with no tower or firefighters at the airport.

Biffle, 55, won more than 50 races across NASCAR’s three circuits, including 19 at the Cup Series level. He also won the Trucks Series championship in 2000 and the Xfinity Series title in 2002.

In 2024, Biffle was honored for his humanitarian efforts after Hurricane Helene struck the U.S., even using his personal helicopter to deliver aid to flooded, remote western North Carolina.

The last time I spoke with Cristina, just a couple of weeks ago, she reached out to ask how she could help with relief efforts in Jamaica.

That’s who the Biffles were,” U.S. Rep. Richard Hudson (R-N.C.) said.

Wadsworth was Biffle’s friend and helped him with odd jobs, including delivering supplies to places hit by Hurricane Helene, roommate Benito Howell said.

“He didn’t know how to say no,” Howell said of Wadsworth, who had worked for several NASCAR teams. “He loved everybody. He always tried to help everybody.”

A memorial with flowers sprouted up Friday by Biffle’s marble star in his hometown of Mooresville, honoring him as a member of the North Carolina Auto Racing Hall of Fame.

Steve Miller dropped by to pay his respects. He met Biffle at a huge party after he was inducted in October. He told Biffle he hoped the racecar driver could help knock an item off his bucket list — taking a flight in a helicopter.

“Come knock on my door, I’ll take you up,” Miller recalled Biffle telling him. “Never happened.”

Cessna Citations like the one that crashed Thursday are known as reliable, easy-tofly jets. While the plane is in flight, one pilot is at the controls while the other pilot is the monitoring pilot, Cox said.

Roughly 1,000 of these 550 series jets have been made, and they have a very good safety record. “What accidents have occurred in this type were mostly due to very poor pilot decisions,” Guzzetti said.

A8

Chatham News & Record for Thursday, December 25, 2025

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A9

Chatham News & Record for Thursday, December 25, 2025

TAKE NOTICE NOTICE NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY NOTICE TO CREDITORS The undersigned, having qualified on the 20th day of November 2024, as Executor of the Estate of Scobie I. Arnott, Sr., deceased, of Chatham County, North Carolina, does hereby notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against said Estate to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before the 18th day of March 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.

This 18th day of December 2025.

Roger W. Arnott, Executor of the Estate of Scobie I. Arnott, Sr. c/o Gwendolyn C. Brooks, Kennon Craver, PLLC 4011 University Drive, Suite 300 Durham, North Carolina 27707 THE CHATHAM NEWS: 12/18; 12/25; 1/1/2026; 1/8/2026

NOTICE TO CREDITORS NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY The undersigned, having qualified as Executor of the Estate of MATTHEW T. FLYER AKA MATTHEW THOMAS FLYER, of Chatham County, North Carolina, does hereby notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against said estate to present them to the undersigned on or before March 19, 2026 or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons, firms or corporations indebted to said estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned.

This the 18th day of December, 2025.

Lynn Marie Flyer Executor of the Estate of Matthew T. Flyer aka Matthew Thomas Flyer 177 Pine View Acres P.O. Box 535 Goldstone, NC 27252 Leigh Anne Kasia Wyatt Early Harris Wheeler LLP 1912 Eastchester Drive, Ste 400 High Point, NC 27265 336-884-4444 Publication dates: December 18, 25, 2025; January 1 and 8, 2026.

NOTICE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA NOTICE TO CREDITORS COUNTY OF CHATHAM File Number 25E000652-180 THE UNDERSIGNED, having qualified on the 1st day of December 2025, as Executor of the ESTATE OF GRANT FRANKLIN KOHER, Deceased, of Chatham County, North Carolina, does hereby notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against said Estate to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before the 5th of March, 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 4th day of December, 2025.

Blanche Guay Koher EXECUTOR ESTATE OF GRANT FRANKLIN KOHER c/o Shirley Diefenbach, Attorney Walker Lambe, PLLC Post Office Box 51549 Durham, North Carolina 27717

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

The undersigned, having qualified as Executor of the Estate of Billy Hugh Elkins, deceased, late of Chatham County, North Carolina, notifies all persons, firms and corporations having claims against the estate of said deceased to present them to the undersigned at her address, P. O. Box 266, Goldston, North Carolina, 27252, on or before the 4th day of March, 2026, or this Notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery.

All persons indebted to said estate will please make immediate payment.

This 26th day of November, 2025.

Rebecca L. Elkins P. O. Box 266 Goldston, North Carolina 27252 GUNN & MESSICK, PLLC P. O. Box 880 Pittsboro, North Carolina 27312-0880 December 4, 11, 18, 25

NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY FILE#24E001626-180 The undersigned, DEREK RILE GREEN, having qualified on the 20TH Day of OCTOBER 2025 as EXECUTOR of the Estate of ANN BLANKENSHIP GREEN, deceased, of Chatham County, North Carolina, does hereby notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against said Estate to exhibit them on or before the 4th Day OF MARCH 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 4th DAY OF DECEMBER 2025.

DEREK RILE GREEN, EXECUTOR 4551 STALEY SNOW CAMP RD. STALEY, NC 27355 Run dates: D4,D11,18,25p

NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY FILE#25E000588-180 The undersigned TERRY WALLACE, having qualified on the 24TH Day of OCTOBER 2025 as EXECUTOR of the Estate of JOHN ROMIE WOMBLE, deceased, of Chatham County, North Carolina, does hereby notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against said Estate to exhibit them on or before the 18th Day OF MARCH 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 18th DAY OF DECEMBER 2025.

TERRY WALLACE, EXECUTOR 866 JUNO ROAD BROADWAY, NC 27505 Run dates: D18,25,J1,8p

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY FILE#25E000644-180 The undersigned, LESLIE LEIGH LAFOSSE, having qualified on the 24TH Day of NOVEMBER 2025 as ADMINISTRATOR of the Estate of BETTY OLIVE FARLESS, deceased, of Chatham County, North Carolina, does hereby notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against said Estate to exhibit them on or before the 4th Day OF MARCH 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 4th DAY OF DECEMBER 2025.

LESLIE LEIGH LAFOSSE, ADMINISTRATOR 6923 WILLIAMS COUNTRY ROAD STALEY, NC 27355 Run dates: D4,D11,18,25p

NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY FILE#25E000629-180 The undersigned REBA THOMAS, having qualified on the 25TH Day of NOVEMBER 2025 as EXECUTOR of the Estate of LOUISE HARTON STULTZ, deceased, of Chatham County, North Carolina, does hereby notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against said Estate to exhibit them on or before the 11th Day OF MARCH 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 11th DAY OF DECEMBER 2025.

REBA THOMAS, EXECUTOR 2459 WALTER BRIGHT RD. SANFORD, NC 27330 Run dates: D11,18,25,J1p

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY FILE#25E000651-180 The undersigned ROBIN ZENICK, having qualified on the 26TH Day of NOVEMBER 2025 as EXECUTOR of the Estate of BEVERLY A. WHITBECK, deceased, of Chatham County, North Carolina, does hereby notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against said Estate to exhibit them on or before the 11th Day OF MARCH 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 11th DAY OF DECEMBER 2025.

ROBIN ZENICK, EXECUTOR 725 S. CLARKSON ST. DENVER, CO 80209 Run dates: D11,18,25,J1p

NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY FILE#25E000659-180 The undersigned DELTABLUE LEFLEUR CHEVALIER, having qualified on the 2ND Day of DECEMBER 2025 as EXECUTOR of the Estate of RICHARD MINTER NORWOOD, III, deceased, of Chatham County, North Carolina, does hereby notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against said Estate to exhibit them on or before the 11th Day OF MARCH 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 11th DAY OF DECEMBER 2025.

DELTABLUE LEFLEUR CHAVALIER, EXECUTOR 91 WELDON DRIVE NORTH CHAPEL HILL, NC 27516 Run dates: D11,18,25,J1p

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

NOTICE

NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY FILE#25E000653-180 The undersigned TATANISHEA AMINA BRANTLEY, having qualified on the 26TH Day of NOVEMBER 2025 as ADMINISTRATOR of the Estate of DALLAS IRVIN JACOBS, deceased, of Chatham County, North Carolina, does hereby notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against said Estate to exhibit them on or before the 11th Day OF MARCH 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 11th DAY OF DECEMBER 2025.

TATANISHEA AMINA BRANTLEY, ADMINISTRATOR 302 LACE CAROL LANE ELGIN, SC 29045 Run dates: D11,18,25,J1p

TOWN OF SILER CITY NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARINGS COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION PROGRAMS Notice is hereby given that the Siler City Board of Commissioners will conduct two Public Hearings on Monday, January 12, 2026, beginning at 6:30 p.m., or as soon thereafter as the meeting agenda will allow, in the Courtroom at City Hall, 311 North Second Avenue, Siler City, NC 27344. The purpose of these Public Hearings is to consider program amendments to the town’s 2020 and 2024 CDBG-NR programs.

Grant #19-C-1939 (2020 CDBG-NR Program): The proposed amendment seeks additional funding for public facilities improvements and equipment.

Grant #23-C-4171 (2024 CDBG-NR Program): The proposed amendment seeks to add an additional housing unit to the project as an alternate.

All interested citizens are encouraged to attend this public hearing, and all comments are welcome.

Anyone wishing to submit written comments should do so by submitting them directly or by mail to Sara Martin at the Siler City Office of Planning & Community Development, PO Box 769, Siler City, NC 27344, email smartin@silercity.gov or phone 919726-8625. Comments should be postmarked by Wednesday, January 7, 2026.

Persons with disabilities or who otherwise need assistance should contact the Town Manager’s Office at 919-742-4731 by Friday, January 9, 2026.

Accommodation will be made for all who request assistance participating in the public hearing.

This information is available in Spanish and any other language upon request. Please contact Sara Martin, Community Development Planner, at 919-7268625 or at 311 N. Second Avenue, Siler City, NC, for accommodations for this request.

Esta información está disponible en español o en cualquier otro idioma bajo petición. Por favor, póngase en contacto con Sara Martin, Community Development Planner, al 919-726-8625 o en 311 N. Second Avenue, Siler City, NC, de alojamiento para esta solicitud.

NOTICE TO CREDITORS ESTATE OF JENNIFER GODFREY SCOTT 25E000648-180 ALL PERSONS, firms and corporations having claims against Jennifer Godfrey Scott, deceased of Chatham County, N.C., are notified to exhibit the same to the undersigned on or before March 12, 2026 or this notice will be pleaded in bar of recovery. This 11th day of December, 2025. Amber Paige Bonde, Administrator, c/o The Walls Law Firm, 5511 Capital Center Dr., Ste 180 Raleigh, NC 27606.

Chatham News & Record: December 11, 18, 25 2025; January 1, 2026.

NOTICE TO CREDITORS Having qualified as Executor of the Estate of Mary L. D. Wilkinson, late of Chatham County, North Carolina, the undersigned does hereby notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against the estate of said decedent to exhibit them to Ellen L. W. Proctor, Executor of the Estate of Mary L. D. Wilkinson, c/o Patrick E. Bradshaw, Attorney for the Estate, at Bradshaw Robinson Slawter & Rainer LLP, PO Box 607, Pittsboro, NC 27312, on or before the 11th day of March, 2026, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons, firms and corporations indebted to the said estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned.

This 11th day of December, 2025.

Ellen L. W. Proctor Executor of the Estate of Mary L. D. Wilkinson Patrick E. Bradshaw Bradshaw Robinson Slawter & Rainer LLP PO Box 607 Pittsboro, NC 27312 (For Publication: 12/11, 12/18 and 12/25/2025 and 1/1/2026)

Notice to Creditors ALL Persons firm and corporation having claims against Patsy Louise Wolfe Truelove, deceased of Chatham County, N.C. 24E001659-180, are notified to exhibit the same to the undersigned on or before March 19, 2026, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of recovery. Debtors of the decedent are asked to make immediate payment. This the 18th day of December, 2025. Ralston Lane Truelove, Executor, C/O Horsley Law Firm, P.A. 5720 Six Forks Rd., Ste. 101, Raleigh, NC 27609, 919-847-3880.

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

NOTICE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA NOTICE TO CREDITORS COUNTY OF CHATHAM THE UNDERSIGNED, having qualified on the 18th day of December, 2025, as Executor of the ESTATE OF PETER JAMES MEEHAN, Deceased, of Chatham County, North Carolina, does hereby notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against said Estate to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before March 26, 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 25th day of December, 2025.

PRUDENCE F. MEEHAN EXECUTOR ESTATE OF PETER JAMES MEEHAN c/o Jennifer Dalman, Attorney Walker Lambe, PLLC Post Office Box 51549 Durham, North Carolina 27717

NOTICE NORTH CAROLINA NOTICE TO CREDITORS CHATHAM COUNTY HAVING QUALIFIED as Administrator of the Estate of Chad Eric Sexton late of Chatham County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against the estate of said deceased to present them to the undersigned on or before the 12th day of March, 2026, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery.

This the 2nd day of December, 2025.

Yvonne Sexton Goldston, Administrator Of the Estate of Chad Eric Sexton 1102 N. Hampton Street Siler City, North Carolina 27344 MOODY, WILLIAMS, ATWATER & LEE ATTORNEYS AT LAW BOX 629 SILER CITY, NORTH CAROLINA 27344 (919) 663-2850

NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY 25E000628-180 ALL persons having claims against Gisela Hilda Hecken, deceased, late of Chatham County, North Carolina, are notified to exhibit the same to the undersigned on or before Mar 04 2026, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of recovery. Debtors of the decedent are asked to make immediate payment.

This the 4th day of December, 2025.

Margit H. Iwanowicz, Executor C/O Howard Stallings Law Firm PO Box 12347 Raleigh, NC 27605 D4, 11, 18 and 25

NOTICE TO CREDITORS ESTATE OF JERRY WILLIS MOODY FILE NO. 25E000339-180 All persons, firms and corporations having claims against Jerry Willis Moody, deceased, of Chatham County, North Carolina are notified to exhibit the same to the undersigned on or before March 18, 2026 or this notice will be pleaded in bar of recovery. Debtors of the decedent are asked to make immediate payment.

This 18th day of December 2025.

Scarlett M. Blue, Executor 148 Morrison Bridge Rd Vass, NC 28394 The Chatham News December 18, 25, January 1 and 8, 2025

4tp

24SP001109-180 AMENDED NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE NORTH CAROLINA, CHATHAM COUNTY Under and by virtue of a Power of Sale contained in that certain Deed of Trust executed by Barry D Edwards and Sandra B Edwards to Trste, Inc, Trustee(s), which was dated January 16, 2003 and recorded on February 24, 2003 in Book 997 at Page 902, Chatham 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 offer 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 January 8, 2026 at 01:00 PM, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following described property situated in Chatham County, North Carolina, to wit: ALL THAT CERTAIN PROPERTY SITUATED IN THE TOWNSHIP OF MATTHEWS IN THE COUNTY OF CHATHAM AND STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA AND BEING MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED IN A DEED DATED 12-28-1983 AND RECORDED 12-29-1983 IN BOOK 466 PAGE 569 AMONG THE LAND RECORDS OF THE COUNTY AND STATE SET FORTH ABOVE.

And being more particularly described by metes and bounds according to said Deed as follows: FIRST TRACT: Lying and being in Matthews Township, Chatham County, North Carolina, and more particularly described as follows: BEGINNING at an iron spike in the center of U.S. Highway #421, Elizabeth C. Saunders southeast corner and running thence with Saunders’ line North 00 degrees 20’ West 503.48 feet to an old iron stake, Lyndal Joines Estate’s southeast corner; thence with Joines’ line North 00 degrees 20’ West 417.47 feet to an old iron stake and pointers, Jeff Joyce’s southeast corner; thence with Joyce’s line North 00 degrees 20’ West 539.06 feet to an iron stake in McPherson’s line; thence with McPherson’s line South 83 degrees 10’ East 421.86 feet to an iron stake the northwest corner of Parcel B as shown on a plat entitled “Division of a Portion of the Glosson & Esther Dale Edwards Land”, dated August 6, 1981, by James D. Hunter, R.L.S.; thence with the western margin of Parcel B South 09 degrees 26’ West 600.00 feet to an iron stake, Fred Burton’s northwest corner; thence with Burton’s line South 9 degrees 26’ West 1,500.37 feet to a point in the centerline of U.S. Highway #421; thence with the centerline of U.S. Highway #421 North 66 degrees 08’ West 42.96 feet; thence continuing with the centerline of U.S. Highway #421 North 67 degrees 03’ West 135.56 feet to a railroad spike, the point and place of BEGINNING, and containing 10.00 acres, more or less, and being all of Parcel A as shown on a plat hereinbefore referred to.

NOTICE TO CREDITORS NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY FILE#25000649-180 The undersigned, LORETTA WHITEHEAD BATCHELOR, having qualified on the 26TH Day of NOVEMBER 2025 as EXECUTOR of the Estate of DIANE B. WHITEHEAD aka BARBARA DIANE BOWERS WHITEHEAD, deceased, of Chatham County, North Carolina, does hereby notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against said Estate to exhibit them on or before the 4th Day OF MARCH 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 4th DAY OF DECEMBER 2025.

LORETTA WHITEHEAD BATCHELOR, EXECUTOR 2465 ROSSER ROAD BEAR CREEK, NC 27207 Run dates: D4,D11,18,25p

NOTICE TO CREDITORS NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY FILE#09E000257-180 The undersigned SHIRLENE THOMAS, having qualified on the 10TH Day of DECEMBER 2025 as ADMINISTRATOR of the Estate of JAMES ERNEST THOMAS, deceased, of Chatham County, North Carolina, does hereby notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against said Estate to exhibit them on or before the 18th Day OF MARCH 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 18th DAY OF DECEMBER 2025.

SHIRLENE THOMAS, ADMINISTRATOR 3800 OLD US #1 NEW HILL, NC 27562 Mail to: ARLENE RAINEY 209 TREVOR RIDGE DR. HOLLY SPRINGS, NC 27540 Run dates: D18,25,J1,8p

SECOND TRACT: BEGINNING at an iron stake, Fred and Sharon Burton’s northwest corner and being designated Point 31 on a plat entitled “Division of a Portion of the Glosson and Esther Dale Edwards Land”,

by James D. Hunter, R.L.S., dated August 6, 1981, and running thence with the eastern margin of Parcel A as shown on said plat North 09 degrees 26’ East 600.00 feet to an iron stake in McPherson’s line; thence with McPherson’s southern boundary South 83 degrees 10’ East 348.75 feet to an iron stake; thence continuing on South 83 degrees 10’ East 46.34 feet to an iron stake, the northwest corner of Gary and Brenda Edwards; thence with Gary Edwards’ western line South 17 degrees 33’ West 655.02 feet to an iron stake, Fred Burton’s northeast corner; thence with Burton’s northern line North 74 degrees 48’ West 303.74 feet to an iron stake, the point and place of BEGINNING, and containing 5.00 acres, more or less, and being all of Parcel B as shown on a plat hereinbefore referred to.

Save and except any releases, deeds of release or prior conveyances of record.

Said property is commonly known as 3476 Old US Hwy 421 N, Siler City, NC 27344.

A certified check only (no personal checks) of five 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 offered pursuant to this Notice of Sale is being offered 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 offered 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 Barry D. Edwards.

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 effective 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 effective 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 filing of a bankruptcy petition prior to the confirmation 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 trustee, in their sole discretion, if they believe the challenge to have merit, may request the court to declare the sale to be void and return the deposit. The purchaser will have no further remedy.

Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC Substitute Trustee Brock & Scott, PLLC Attorneys for Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC 5431 Oleander Drive Suite 200 Wilmington, NC 28403 PHONE: (910) 392-4988 File No.: 24-21473-FC01

A10

Chatham News & Record for Thursday, December 25, 2025

NORAD continues decades-long tradition of tracking Santa’s trip around the world Reindeer aren’t a threat to our airspace, but they keep an eye anyway

By Colleen Slevin The Associated Press PETERSON SPACE FORCE BASE, Colo. — Sometimes kids drop the phone after hearing Santa won’t show up if they’re not asleep. Others who call the NORAD Tracks Santa hotline wonder if St. Nick will be able to find them.

Adults who also remain devoted to the jolly figure said to deliver presents around the world are checking up on his journey.

For 70 years, that’s been the tradition at the North American Aerospace Defense Command — a joint United States and Canadian operation charged with monitoring the skies for threats since the Cold War. More than 1,000 volunteers took calls to 1-877-HI-NORAD on Christmas Eve from 4 a.m. to midnight Mountain Standard Time. For the first time this year, Santa seekers could place a call through the program’s website, which organizers say is easier for people outside North America.

The website allows people to follow Santa’s journey in nine languages, including English and Japanese.

Last year, about 380,000 calls came into a hangar festooned with Christmas decorations at Peterson Space Force Base in Colorado Springs — the home of NORAD. While Santa is no threat, the same combination of radar, satellites and jets that help NORAD carry out its mission throughout the year make it capable of tracking the progress of Santa starting from the international date line over the Pacific Ocean, said Col. Kelly Frushour, a NORAD spokesperson.

Rudolph’s nose gives off a heat signature similar to a missile that is picked up by NORAD’s satellites, she said.

THOMAS PAUL / NORTH AMERICAN AEROSPACE DEFENSE COMMAND. VIA AP

Volunteers take phone calls from children asking where Santa is and when he will deliver presents to their house during the annual NORAD Tracks Santa Operation at the North American Aerospace Defense Command at Peterson Air Force Base, in Colorado Springs, Colorado, last Christmas Eve.

1,000

Number of volunteers taking calls at 1-877 HI-NORAD on Christmas Eve from 4 a.m. to midnight MST “Faster than starlight” Last year, Frushour said one girl was upset after hearing Santa was on his way to the International Space Station, where two astronauts were stranded.

“Thankfully, by the time the call was over, Santa Claus had moved on to another destination and the child was reassured that Santa was not trapped in space and was going to make it to her house later

that evening,” Frushour said.

A special needs man named Henry who calls every year once asked if the jet pilot escorting Santa through North America could put a note in the plane letting Santa know he was in bed and ready for him to come, said Michelle Martin, a NORAD staffer and Marine veteran.

She said she explained that Santa travels “faster than starlight.”

“I don’t know that our pilot can catch up with him fast enough.

He just waves and he goes,” she recalled saying.

A tradition started by mistake The tradition started in 1955 when NORAD’s predecessor, the Continental Air Defense Command, was on the lookout for any sign of a possible nuclear at-

tack from the then-Soviet Union.

NORAD says a child mistakenly called the combat operations center and asked to speak to Santa Claus. The commander on duty, Air Force Col. Harry Shoup didn’t want to disappoint the child, so he ordered staffers to start tracking Santa and take calls from children.

The story goes that the first phone call was either the result of a misprint or a misdial of a number included in a Sears advertisement in the Colorado Springs newspaper encouraging children to call Santa.

The legend developed into the first call coming into a dedicated hotline that connected the command with a general in case of an attack. In 2015, The Atlantic magazine doubted the flood of calls to the secret line, saying a call to a public phone line was more probable and noting

that Shoup had a flair for public relations.

In a 1999 interview with The Associated Press, Shoup recalled playing along once he figured out what was happening, telling the first caller, “Ho, ho, ho, I am Santa.”

“The crew was looking at me like I had lost it,” he recalled.

He said he told his staff what was happening and told them to play along, too.

It’s not clear what day the first call came in, but by Dec. 23 of that first year, The Associated Press reported that CONAD was tracking Santa.

CONAD soon became North American Aerospace Defense Command. It used to operate inside nearby Cheyenne Mountain.

A network of tunnels had been blasted out of the mountain’s hard granite so NORAD officers could survive a nuclear attack.

TAKE NOTICE NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE NORTH CAROLINA, CHATHAM COUNTY 25 SP 000169-180 Under and by virtue of a Power of Sale contained in that certain Deed of Trust executed by Alvin Ray Marguerat and Alice Kimberly Marguerat, Mortgagor(s), in the original amount of $342,087.00, to Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc., (“MERS”) as beneficiary, as nominee for Calcon Mutual Mortgage LLC dba One Trust Home Loans, Mortgagee, dated March 9th, 2022 and recorded on March 10th, 2022 in Book 2289, Page 0573, and subsequently modified by Loan Modification recorded on February 14th, 2023 in Book 02348 at Page 0158, Chatham County Registry.

Default having been made in the payment of the note thereby secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Anchor Trustee Services, LLC having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust by an instrument duly recorded in the Office of the Register of Deeds of Chatham 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 offer for sale at the courthouse door or other usual place of sale in Chatham County, North Carolina, at 2:00PM on January 6th, 2026, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following described property, to wit: Being all of Lot 24, which is 7.320 acres gross, minus 0.994 acres R/W netting 6.326 acres, more or less, as shown and described on the Plat and Survey entitled “Major Subdivision for Maple Springs Estates Phase 3, Sheet 1” for Lots 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23 and 24, prepared

by Charles Eliason, RLS dated the 22nd day of March 1999, and revised March 29, 1999 and recorded in Plat Slide 99241, Chatham County Registry, to which plat reference is hereby made for a more accurate description.

Being the same property conveyed to Alvin Ray Marguerat and spouse, Alice Kimberly Marguerat from Matthew F. Grillo and spouse, Virginia C. Slane, by General Warranty Deed dated July 6, 2021, and recorded July 6, 2021, in Book 2228, Page 0235.

Parcel #72505 / PIN 8658-00-99-5022 (Lot 24, Maple Springs Estates) Property address commonly known as 88 Maple Springs Ln., Bear Creek, NC 27207.

Together with improvements located hereon; said property being located at 88 Maple Springs Lane, Bear Creek, NC 27207 Tax ID: 0072505 Third party purchasers must pay the recording costs of the trustee’s deed, any land transfer taxes, the excise tax, pursuant North Carolina General Statutes §105-228.30, in the amount of One Dollar ($1.00) per each Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) or fractional part thereof, and the Clerk of Courts fee, pursuant to North Carolina General Statutes §7A308, in the amount of Forty-five Cents (0.45) per each One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) or fractional part thereof with a maximum amount of Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00). A deposit of five percent (5%) of the bid or Seven Hundred

Fifty Dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, will be required at the time of the sale and must be tendered in the form of certified funds. Following the expiration of the statutory upset bid period, all the remaining amounts will be immediately due and owing.

Said property to be offered pursuant to this Notice of Sale is being offered 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 offered for sale.

This sale is made subject to all prior liens, unpaid taxes, special assessments, land transfer taxes, if any, and encumbrances of record. To the best of the knowledge and belief of the undersigned, the current owner(s) of the property is/are Alvin Ray Marguerat and Alice Kimberly Marguerat .

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE: An order for possession of the property may be issued pursuant to North Carolina General Statutes §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 effective 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 (North Carolina General Statutes §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 effective date of termination. 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 filing of a bankruptcy petition prior to the confirmation 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 Substitute Trustee, in their sole discretion, if they believe the challenge to have merit, may request the court to declare the sale to be void and return the deposit. The purchaser will have no further remedy.

Anchor Trustee Services, LLC Substitute Trustee Anchor Trustee Services, LLC Substitute Trustee By: David Neill, NCSB #23396 McMichael Taylor Gray, LLC Attorney for Anchor Trustee Services, LLC 3550 Engineering Drive, Suite 260 Peachtree Corners, GA 30092 404-474-7149 (phone) 404-745-8121 (fax) dneill@mtglaw.com 25-002138-01

CHATHAM SPORTS

GENE GALIN FOR CHATHAM NEWS & RECORD

Seaforth’s Duncan Parker (7) hands off to Nick Gregory in a game against Orange earlier this season. The pair both won player of the year honors for Chatham County.

2025 CNR All-County Football Team Gregory named county Player of the Year

By Asheebo Rojas Chatham News & Record THE CHATHAM News & Record All-County Football Team has returned to highlight Chatham’s top high school football players from the 2025 season.

All-County selections were determined by the area’s four head coaches. The Chatham

News & Record determined the first team, second team and honorable mention designations based on the players’ statistics and impact on team success.

In addition to first and second team honors, the Chatham News & Record crowned three athletes as the county offensive, defensive and overall players of the year.

Here’s the full list of All-County honorees: Offensive Player of the Year: Duncan Parker (Seaforth, junior)

Parker led a fiery passing attack this season, throwing for 2,604 yards and 29 touchdowns. He recorded three games with over 300 passing yards, including the Hawks’ two playoff games. Parker also rushed for over 600 yards and seven touchdowns.

Defensive Player of the Year: Gavin Williams (Chatham Central, sophomore) Williams was the ultimate playmaker from the linebacker position, finishing the year with 126 total tackles (100 solos), 18

tackles for loss, nine sacks, two forced fumbles and an interception. He notched multiple tackles for loss in six of the Bears’ 10 played games.

Chatham County Player of the Year: Nick Gregory (Seaforth, senior) Gregory did anything necessary to help his team win and succeeded wherever the Seaforth coaching staff put him.

As a corner, he logged 72 tackles (26 solos), 13 passes defended, and four interceptions. On offense, he caught 38 passes for

126

Tackles for Chatham Central’s Gavin Williams 753 yards and 11 touchdowns while also rushing for six scores.

On special teams, Gregory returned 11 kickoffs for 843 yards and five touchdowns. He also notched a punt return touchdown. (confirm Nick’s offensive numbers and special teams TDs).

See FOOTBALL, page B4

Sports greats we lost in 2025 J-M wrestling hosts conference foes on senior night Hulk Hogan, George Foreman, Rodney Rogers among the losses to the sports world The Associated Press THIS YEAR SAW the deaths of several spots greats who crossed over into mainstream appeal. Even the most casual sports fan has heard of boxing great George Foreman, who memorably lost a muchwatched match to Muhammad Ali but whose career had inspiring second and third acts as a world champion and successful business owner.

Similarly, baseball player turned comic actor Bob Uecker was known and beloved by all. After a Wrestlemania cameo, Uecker was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame, joining one of sports-entertainment’s biggest names, Hulk Hogan, who also left us this year.

Here is a roll call of some influential figures who have died this year (cause of death cited, if available): JANUARY Bob Uecker, 90. He parlayed a forgettable playing career into a punch line for movie and TV appearances as “Mr.

Baseball” and a Hall of Fame broadcasting tenure. Jan. 16.

Dick Button, 95. He was one of the most accomplished men’s figure skaters in history, and one of his sport’s great innovators and promoters.

Jan. 30.

FEBRUARY Kultida Woods, 80. Tiger Woods credited his Thai-born mother with instilling his dominant spirit and encouraging him to wear red shirts on Sundays as his power color. Feb. 4.

Mabel Staton, 92. The

See GREATS, page B4

DON FERIA/AP IMAGES FOR WWE

Hulk Hogan poses at his WWE Hall of Fame Ceremony in 2015.

The Jets went 1-1 against conference opponents

By Asheebo Rojas Chatham News & Record

91

Career wins for Jakari Blue

SILER CITY — The Jordan-Matthews boys’ wrestling team split its two conference back with a 54-30 win over dual matches at its final home Central Carolina Academy.

After a loss by fall in the meet of the season on Dec. 17.

The Jets opened their se- 132-pound match and seven nior night with a 55-24 loss to bouts decided by forfeit in the first eight matches against the Southwestern Randolph.

Jordan-Matthews led 18-3 Eagles, the Jets led 30-18. In a after two wins by forfeit and pivotal matchup, Blue pinned a pin by sophomore Jhona- Central Carolina’s Elijah Soto than Saldana against South- in 53 seconds.

The Eagles climbed back western Randolph freshman Tony Bustos Avendano in the within 12 points with another 120-pound match. The Cou- win by forfeit in the 190-pound gars stormed back with fresh- match, but Jordan-Matthews man Dante Lattanzi pinning sophomore Angel Lavariega freshman Bentley Walston in put the lead back to 18 with a the 132-pound bout, and after 54-second pin against senior winning the following match Samuel Echeverri.

Freshman CJ Crutchfield by forfeit, Southwestern Randolph took its first lead with (113) closed the night with a sophomore Ryan Owens (144) pin over Central Carolina’s Tywinning by tech fall over fresh- ler Hunter.

Southwestern Randolph man Jamari Headen.

The Cougars held the lead also defeated Central Carolithrough the rest of the dual, na 60-22.

Jordan-Matthews moved to losing one more match with Jordan-Matthews’ senior Ja- 6-8 in duals this season.

During the meet, Jorkari Blue (165) pinning sophomore Dallas Rambo sec- dan-Matthews honored its onds before the end of the first three seniors, Blue, William period.

Jordan-Matthews bounced See WRESTLING, page B2

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Chatham News & Record for Thursday, December 25, 2025

NFL postseason will miss all of Mahomes, Brady, Manning for first time since 1998 season Six quarterbacks not born by 1998 could star in this year’s postseason

By Josh Dubow The Associated Press JOHN ELWAY and Dan Marino were still starting quarterbacks, Tom Brady was a little-known college player at Michigan and at least six starting quarterbacks for potential 2025 playoffs teams weren’t even alive the last time the NFL had a postseason like this.

With Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs officially eliminated from playoff contention, the upcoming playoffs will be the first since the 1998 season that don’t feature at least one of Mahomes, Brady or Peyton Manning at quarterback.

Those three prolific passers have defined the past quarter-century of NFL football, especially when it comes to the postseason. Since Manning made his playoff debut in his second season in 1999, at least one of those quarterbacks has been on center stage almost every January.

WRESTLING from page B1 Coykendall and David Kjemald.

Coykendall is 10-12 in varsity matches this season while Blue is 17-0.

“The seniors always mean something to any team,” Long said. “This is my third year coaching. I’ve created bonds with them. William Coykendall, he came into my first year of coaching. He came off his freshman year as a sophomore and had no wins. He came in and got his first win ever in wrestling my first year coaching. He’s had a huge turnaround.”

Blue reached 91 career wins, the most in Jordan-Matthews wrestling history, on Dec. 17 and is on pace to become the Jets’ first ever wrestler to reach 100 career wins. He’s also chasing former school records he once held, including single season wins, that former heavyweight Kaleb Moffitt broke last season.

“He’s different,” Long said.

“And I say that because he’s broken just about every record for wrestling at Jordan-Matthews high school. He was my first state qualifier as a coach, and now a two-time state qualifier. I’m hoping this

ROBERT F. BUKATY / AP PHOTO

New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye (10) passes against the Buffalo Bills during a game earlier this month.

In the past 26 seasons, that trio combined for 42 playoff berths, 96 postsea-

year he can get on that podium.”

Blue said wrestling on his home mat for the final time was “emotional.”

“Freshman year, coming in 13-12 at the end of the regular season, then building my strength up, my speed up, being coached by Coach Long who was helping me get better and now being able to see 17-0 is crazy,” Blue said.

With the goals of reclaiming his records and setting a historic mark for program, Blue’s mindset is to “dominate.”

Long hopes Blue and the senior class’ growth inspires his team of young wrestlers to see what work and a “don’t quit” attitude can do for a wrestling career.

“I still consider us a young team experience wise,” Long said. “I’m looking for all of them to get more experience, more wins and to be able to see the full aspect of wrestling and be able to grow from it. They’re going to see history this year. 100 wins, first wrestler at J-M to do it. And I think some of these wrestlers have built from it, even the senior ones, from year to year because they see rewards from their progress.”

son starts, 66 playoff wins and 12 Super Bowl titles, with Brady winning seven, Ma-

homes three and Manning two.

At least one of the three made it to the conference championship weekend in 20 of the 26 postseasons — including either Brady or Mahomes in the last 15 — with 18 Super Bowls featuring at least one, including when Brady beat Mahomes in Super Bowl 55 following the 2020 season.

Brady and Mahomes stand on top of the leaderboard when it comes to several postseason quarterback stats, including wins (Brady 35, Mahomes 17) and TD passes (Brady 88, Mahomes 46).

The absence of Mahomes and the Chiefs could open the door for someone like Josh Allen or Lamar Jackson to make their first Super Bowl trip or even give an opportunity to a newer generation that features six quarterbacks whose teams are currently in playoff position and weren’t born during the 1998 playoffs: Drake Maye, C.J. Stroud, Trevor Lawrence, Bo Nix, Caleb Williams and Brock Purdy.

Carolina’s Bryce Young could be a seventh if the Panthers surpass Tampa Bay in the NFC South race.

Of course, there’s the possibility that the vacancy on the podium could be filled by a veteran quarterback who already has a Super Bowl ring. Philadelphia’s Jalen Hurts, Pittsburgh’s Aaron Rodgers, the Rams’ Matthew Stafford and Detroit’s Jared Goff all fit that bill.

The quarterbacks from that 1998 postseason featured five future Hall of Famers in Elway, Marino, Steve Young, Troy Aikman and Brett Favre; other longtime quarterbacks like Vinny Testaverde, Mark Brunell and Randall Cunningham; as well as Chris Chandler, Jake Plummer, Doug Flutie and Scott Zolak.

Elway finished that postseason run by winning his second straight Super Bowl for Denver over Chandler and the Atlanta Falcons. He retired after that game, with Marino, Young and Aikman following in the next two years.

Brady was just about ready to step through the door left open at the time, just as Mahomes took the baton from him decades later. Now, the opportunity is there for someone else to join the elite group.

ASHEEBO ROJAS / CHATHAM NEWS & RECORD

Jordan-Matthews’ Jakari Blue pins Southwestern Randolph’s Dallas Rambo on Dec. 17.

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Chatham News & Record for Thursday, December 25, 2025

Chatham Central boys, girls avenge earlier losses to J-M Albright scored 21 points to lead the Bears over J-M’s boys

By Asheebo Rojas Chatham News & Record Boys: Chatham Central 56, Jordan-Matthews 49 BEAR CREEK — Chatham Central sophomore Brooks Albright scored 21 points and helped the Bears pull away in the third quarter of a 56-49 win over Jordan-Matthews on Dec. 16.

“Just making my own shot,” Albright said. “The screens helped a lot too. They were setting good screens for me all night.”

Entering the second half with a 23-18 lead, Chatham Central outscored the Jets 19-8 in the third quarter and led by 16 going into the final period.

Albright scored eight of those 19 points, including two of his three made triples on the night.

“Sometimes you get to a point where you get up by a certain amount, and you may not be up by a certain amount, but the work is what compels you to get to the next step,” Chatham Central coach Stacey Harris said.

“At halftime, we talked about making sure we keep working and doing the right things. Big hands, boxing out, rebounding.

I thought they came out in the third quarter and did that a little bit better than they did in the first half.”

Chatham Central carried its third quarter momentum into the fourth quarter and extended its lead to as much as 23.

However, the Jets forced multiple late-game turnovers, and Jordan-Matthews senior Kamarie Hadley, junior Zaeon Auguste and sophomore Nolan Mitchell combined for 23 fourth-quarter points to bring the deficit to single digits with under two minutes left to play.

Following a timeout, Chatham Central stopped the bleeding by holding the basketball and running time off the clock.

“I thought that we had to make sure that we did a good job of not turning the ball over in that moment,” Harris said.

“And getting this group of right here with bunch of sophomores (to know) they don’t have to rush everything.”

Albright got hot early, scoring eight first quarter points and leading the Bears on a game-opening 8-0 run. Yet, Hadley, who ended the game with 19 points, and Mitchell, who finished with 16 points, combined for 10 points during a 12-2 Jordan-Matthews run in the final three minutes of the first quarter.

In the second quarter, senior Jeremiah Young, who finished the game with 13 points, came alive with five points, and junior Brett Phillips, who contributed 10 points on the night, came away with a couple of buckets and multiple steals to build Chatham Central’s halftime lead.

“Our games we’ve won is because of defense.”

Aedrin Albright Although turnovers were an issue for the Jets early on, they shot 2 for 15 from beyond the arc.

Chatham Central evened the season series against the Jets and improved to 7-3 with the win. Jordan-Matthews fell to 4-5.

Girls: Chatham Central 48, Jordan-Matthews 18 Chatham Central sophomore Addison Goldston recorded her fifth double-double of the season to help the Bears rout Jordan-Matthews 48-18 on Dec. 16.

Goldston finished the night with team-highs of 15 points, 11 rebounds and seven steals.

“My point guard and my shooting guard and all of them, they get the ball inside often,” Goldston said. “And if they don’t, I get put backs. Getting in the right position is really big for rebounds.”

The Bears started the game on a 12-0 run and finished the first quarter up 15-4 thanks to a combined 13 points from Goldston and junior Ansley Preslar, who scored eight points in the opening period. Preslar finished the night with 12 points.

“Working on the press of-

ASHEEBO ROJAS / CHATHAM NEWS & RECORD

Chatham Central’s Brooks Albright (1) dribbles through Jordan-Matthews defenders on Dec. 16. fense at the beginning gave us a little bit of confidence because they ended up pulling their press off,” Chatham Central coach Aedrin Albright said.

Unlike the first meeting, a comeback effort was not in the works for Jordan-Matthews.

In the second quarter, Chatham Central stifled the Jets to one made basket while scoring 23 points. Five Bears recorded a point in the second period.

Meanwhile, Jordan-Matthews, like it did all night, struggled to hit shots. The Jets shot 6 for 51 from the field and 1 for 21 from three, and they committed 25

turnovers.

“Our games we’ve won is because of defense,” Albright said.

Said Preslar, “The first time we played J-M, we were all freaked out and jittery. And I think that loss against J-M really just showed us that we’re not getting beat on our home court by them or anyone else, so we really need to step it up and play as a team.”

Chatham Central avenged a loss to the Jets in their first meeting this year and improved to 6-3. Jordan-Matthews fell to 1-8.

Silver says NBA taking gambling scandal seriously The league may look into Heat relief over Terry Rozier

By Tim Reynolds The Associated Press LAS VEGAS — It is critical for the NBA to be perceived as having integrity, Commissioner Adam Silver said, adding that the gambling scandals that led to the arrests of Miami guard Terry Rozier, Portland coach Chauncey Billups and others are being taken with the utmost seriousness.

Silver’s comments were his first since Rozier, Billups and others were arrested in October. He spoke in Las Vegas, a gambling mecca that the league has used for major events like the NBA Cup final and Summer League.

“I think the fans care a lot,” Silver said. “It’s hard to make judgments, either anecdotally over what some fans are say-

YUKI IWAMURA / AP PHOTO

Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier, leaves Brooklyn federal court earlier this month. ing or what’s even on social media. Fans definitely care. And I mean it when I say, if this game isn’t viewed as being honest and the competition being on the level and at the highest integrity, over time we will lose our

fan base. I have no doubt about that. And so, I take it incredibly seriously.”

The NBA is not sure how long the investigations and legal processes surrounding gambling charges faced by Rozier, Billups — a Basketball Hall of Fame inductee — and others will take to be completed, Silver said.

But the league will look into the possibility of giving Miami some sort of “satisfactory relief” because Rozier currently can’t play, Silver added, though he stopped short of saying such a move would be possible.

“This is an unprecedented situation,” Silver said.

It’s a multi-layered issue for the league and the Heat, given that Rozier’s $26.6 million salary takes up about 17% of the team’s cap space — and that the team still owes Charlotte a first-round pick in either 2027 or 2028 to satisfy the terms of the trade that brought Rozier to Miami. It’s unclear who was aware that Rozier was under

federal investigation when the Heat made the trade with the Hornets.

Rozier pleaded not guilty earlier this month to wire fraud and money laundering conspiracy charges stemming from accusations that he helped some friends win bets that revolved around his statistical performance in a game played in March 2023, when he was with Charlotte. Rozier isn’t expected back in court until March, and he remains on unpaid leave from the Heat.

Prosecutors say Rozier informed the bettors that he intended to leave the game against the New Orleans Pelicans early with a supposed injury, allowing gamblers to place wagers earning them tens of thousands of dollars. Rozier played the first nine minutes and 36 seconds of the game before leaving, citing a foot issue.

Rozier isn’t receiving his pay, but his salary is still on the Heat’s books and is being sent

Local Service Directory

to an interest-bearing account pending resolution of his case or some other agreement.

“We’re going to try to work something through, work this out with them,” Silver said. “But there’s no obvious solution here.

I would just say that there’s no doubt at the moment they have a player that can’t perform services for them. ... Obviously, he hasn’t been convicted of anything yet either — but this is an unfortunate circumstance.

Sometimes there’s these unique events and maybe sometimes they require a unique solution.”

Billups also pleaded not guilty last month to charges related to a separate scheme to fix high-stakes, Mafia-backed poker games. Rozier, Billups and former NBA guard Damon Jones were among more than 30 people — including several Mafia figures — arrested in October as part of a sprawling federal takedown of illegal gambling operations linked to pro sports.

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Chatham News & Record for Thursday, December 25, 2025

FOOTBALL from page B1 FIRST TEAM Offense Quarterback: Duncan Parker (Seaforth, junior) Running Back: Jakari Blue (Jordan-Matthews, senior) Wide Receiver: Max Hinchman (Seaforth, junior); Nolan Mitchell (JordanMatthews, sophomore); Raje Torres (Northwood, junior) Tight End: Mason Pooley (Seaforth, sophomore) Offensive Line: Max Hohenwarter (Northwood, sophomore); Connor Clark (Northwood, senior); Cole Seder (Seaforth, senior); Josiah Torain (JordanMatthews, senior) Athlete: Nick Gregory (Seaforth, senior) Defense Defensive Line: Wilson Hinshaw (Chatham Central, junior); Mickell Wilson (Northwood, senior); De’Antaye Smith (JordanMatthews, senior); Alejandro Riley (Seaforth, senior) Linebacker: Aidan Hohenwarter (Northwood, senior); Tyler Truesdale (Seaforth, sophomore); Gavin Williams (Chatham Central, sophomore); Nolan Greiner (Seaforth, freshman) Defensive Back: Nick Gregory (Seaforth, senior); Noah Williams (Seaforth, senior); Raje Torres (Northwood, senior); Namir Wiley (Jordan-Matthews, junior) Return Specialist: Nick Gregory (Seaforth, senior) Kicker: Leo Mortimer (Northwood, senior)

GENE GALIN FOR CHATHAM NEWS & RECORD

Seaforth’s Max Hinchman (11) runs past Northwood defenders in 2025 matchup

SECOND TEAM Offense Quarterback: Grayson Cox (Northwood, senior) Running Back: Tyler Congrove (Chatham Central, sophomore) Wide Receiver: Patrick Miller (Seaforth, senior); Nick Armstrong (Northwood, junior); Hance Ramirez (Chatham Central, junior) Tight End: Campbell Parks (Northwood, junior) Offensive Line: Jaxon Green (Northwood, sophomore); Kamorie Foxx (Jordan-

Matthews, sophomore); Brycen White (JordanMatthews, freshman); Austin Ingram (Seaforth, senior) Athlete: Nicholas Glover (Chatham Central, senior) Defense Defensive Line: Ben Porter (Northwood, senior); Dylan Watkins (Seaforth, senior); Kieran Pooley (Seaforth, freshman); Andrew Johnson (Chatham Central, freshman) Linebackers: Evan Minor (Seaforth, senior); Leo Mortimer (Northwood, senior); Omar Sanford (Jordan-Matthews, junior); Douglass Lucas

(Jordan-Matthews, senior) Defensive Back: Grayson Cox (Northwood, senior);Matthew Victorino (Jordan-Matthews, sophomore);Jaydin Glover (Chatham Central, sophomore);Jude O’Neill (Seaforth, sophomore) Return Specialist: Namir Wiley (Jordan-Matthews, junior) Kicker: Jacob Winger (Seaforth, senior) HONORABLE MENTION Raiden Flowers (Seaforth, running back, senior);Owen Murray (Seaforth, offensive line, junior);Robert Tripp (Northwood, running back,

senior);Willie Boynton (Northwood, defensive back, junior);Kamarie Hadley (Jordan-Matthews, quarterback, senior);Urijah McSwain (JordanMatthews, defensive line, junior);Jose Patino (JordanMatthews, defensive line, sophomore);Brooks Albright (Chatham Central, quarterback, sophomore);Jorge Gomez (Chatham Central, offensive line, junior);Jose Alva-Ibarra (Chatham Central, offensive line, senior);Logan Robinson (Chatham Central, defensive line, senior);Bryson Alston (Chatham Central, linebacker, junior);Sayvion Burnette (Chatham Central, defensive back, junior)

GREATS from page B1

Heavyweight boxer George Foreman weighs in for a 1997 fight. After winning a world title in the 1970s, he repeated the feat in the 1990s, then became a well-known grill pitchman.

Black track and field standout broke through barriers as the only woman to compete for the United States in the long jump at the 1952 Helsinki Olympics.

Feb. 20.

Joe Fusco, 87. A College Football Hall of Fame coach, he won four NAIA Division II national championships in 19 years at Westminster College.

Feb. 22.

Boris Spassky, 88. A Soviet-era world chess champion, he lost his title to American Bobby Fischer in a legendary 1972 match. Feb. 27.

MARCH Junior Bridgeman, 71. A basketball standout who led Louisville to a Final Four, he starred for the NBA’s Milwaukee Bucks and then launched an even more successful career as a business owner. March 11.

Eddie Jordan, 76. He was a Formula 1 team owner and media personality and popular TV pundit after selling the team.

March 20.

George Foreman, 76. The fearsome heavyweight boxer lost the “Rumble in the Jungle” to Muhammad Ali before his inspiring second and third acts as a 45-year-old world champion and a successful business owner. March 21.

APRIL Octavio Dotel, 51. He pitched for 13 major league teams in a 15-year career and won a World Series with the St. Louis Cardinals, and died in a roof collapse in the Dominican Republic. April 8.

Steve McMichael, 67. A star defensive tackle on the Chicago Bears’ 1985 Super Bowl championship team whose larger-thanlife personality later made him a natural for professional wrestling. He died after battling ALS. April 23.

Dick Barnett, 88. A basketball Hall of Famer, he played on both New York Knicks NBA championship teams. April 27.

JUNE Shigeo Nagashima, 89. He was known in Japan as “Mr. Pro Baseball.” June 3.

CHARLES REX ARBOGAST / AP PHOTO

Jim Marshall, 87. The former Minnesota Vikings defensive end was one of four members of the famed Purple People Eaters. June 3.

Nina Kuscsik, 86. She campaigned for women’s inclusion in long-distance running and then won the Boston Marathon the first year women were officially allowed to run. June 8.

D. Wayne Lukas, 89. The Hall of Famer became one of horse racing’s most accomplished trainers. June 28.

JULY Alex Delvecchio, 93. A member of the Hockey Hall of Fame, he helped the Detroit Red Wings win three Stanley Cups in the 1950s. July 1.

Fauja Singh, 114. An Indian-born runner nicknamed the Turbaned Torpedo, believed to be the world’s oldest marathoner, died after being hit by a car.

July 14.

Felix Baumgartner, 56.

The extreme athlete stunned the world in 2012 by skydiving faster than the speed of sound during a 24-mile leap from the stratosphere. He died in a paragliding crash. July 17.

Rex White, 95. NASCAR’s oldest living champion and a 2015 inductee into its Hall of Fame. July 18.

Joey Jones, 70. The Welsh soccer hero won two European Cups with Liverpool and was dubbed “Mr. Wrexham.”

July 22.

Hulk Hogan, 71. The mustachioed, headscarf-wearing, bicep-busting icon of professional wrestling turned the sport into a massive business and stretched his influence into TV, pop culture and conservative politics during a long and scandal-plagued second act. July 24.

Dwight Muhammad Qawi, 72. The Hall of Fame fighter took up boxing in prison and became a two-weight world champion. July 25.

Ryne Sandberg, 65. The Hall of Fame second baseman starred for the Chicago Cubs.

July 28.

AUGUST Humpy Wheeler, 86. He was a pioneering motorsports promoter as president and general manager of Charlotte Motor Speedway. Aug. 20.

Ron Turcotte, 84. The Hall of Fame jockey rode Secretariat to the Triple Crown in 1973.

Aug. 22.

SEPTEMBER Ricky Hatton, 46. The former boxing world champion who rose to become one of the most popular fighters in the sport had mental health struggles and was found dead due to hanging. Sept. 14.

Bernie Parent, 80. Considered one of the greatest hockey goalies, the Hall of Famer anchored the net for the Philadelphia Flyers’ two Stanley Cup championships in the 1970s.

Sept. 21.

OCTOBER Daniel Naroditsky, 29. The chess grandmaster who started as a child prodigy quickly became one of the most influential American voices in the sport. Oct. 20.

Nick Mangold, 41. As a New York Jets center he was one of the franchise’s greatest players, twice helping lead the team to the AFC championship game. He died of complica-

tions of kidney disease. Oct. 25.

NOVEMBER Paul Tagliabue, 84. He helped bring labor peace and riches to the NFL during his 17 years as commissioner but was criticized for not taking stronger action on concussions.

Nov. 9.

Lenny Wilkens, 88. Basketball Hall of Famer as both an NBA player and a coach.

Nov. 9.

Rodney Rogers, 54. Legendary Wake Forest basketball star played 12 years in the NBA. A post-retirement ATV injury left him paralyzed from the shoulders down since 2008.

Nov. 21 Fuzzy Zoeller, 74. One of golf’s most gregarious characters, the two-time major champion’s career was tainted by a racially insensitive joke about Tiger Woods. Nov. 27.

DECEMBER Greg Biffle, 55. The NASCAR driver and members of his family perished in a private plane crash in North Carolina.

Dec. 18.

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Chatham News & Record for Thursday, December 25, 2025

SIDELINE REPORT NFL

Receiver Meyers, Jaguars agree to 3-year, $60M extension Jacksonville, Fla. Receiver Jakobi Meyers and the Jacksonville Jaguars have agreed to terms on a three-year, $60 million contract extension that includes $40 million guaranteed. The Jaguars traded two 2026 draft picks — fourth- and sixth-rounders — to Las Vegas to acquire Meyers at the trade deadline in early November. The 29-year-old Meyers has 27 catches for 355 yards and three touchdowns in six games with Jacksonville, becoming Trevor Lawrence’s most dependable receiver.

NCAA FOOTBALL

Mensah to return to Duke in 2026 Durham Duke quarterback Darian Mensah announced he would return to the Blue Devils next season. He had briefly explored entered the NFL draft after leading his team to a victory over Virginia in the ACC title game. The sophomore, who transferred from Tulane this past offseason, threw for 3,645 yards with 30 touchdown passes and just five interceptions for the Blue Devils. His yardage ranked third in the Football Bowl Subdivision, and he was fifth in touchdown passes.

BOXING

Crawford, boxing’s top pound-for-pound fighter, retires on top with 42-0 record Terence Crawford announced his retirement from boxing.

The 38-year-old is going out on top, having claimed the title of best pound-for-pound boxer with a convincing victory over Canelo Alvarez in September. Crawford is the only male boxer to capture three unified division titles, which he accomplished with his unanimous decision over Alvarez. That gave Crawford the super middleweight championship and a 42-0 record with 31 knockouts. His final 20 bouts came with a belt on the line. Crawford said he’s at peace with his decision.

NCAA BASKETBALL

Miami’s Allen diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma, will miss remainder of season Miami Miami sophomore forward Marcus Allen has been diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma and will miss the rest of the season. The school announced his diagnosis after routine medical tests. Allen, a Miami native, started his college career at Missouri before joining the Hurricanes this year. He averaged 5.3 points and 3.1 rebounds per game this season. He has already started chemotherapy treatments. Miami coach Jai Lucas praised Allen’s toughness and selflessness, saying the team will support him. Allen led Miami Norland High to a state championship in 2024.

Poggi tells signees, parents Michigan hopes to hire coach by end of month, AP source says The former Charlotte coach is leading the scandal-plagued Wolverines

By Larry Lage The Associated Press ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Michigan interim football coach Biff Poggi had a Zoom call with the program’s signees and their parents just hours after Sherrone Moore was fired last week, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press.

Poggi told the players and their parents that athletic director Warde Manuel hoped to have a new coach hired by the end of the month, said the person, who spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to share details from the call.

Moore’s firing left the No. 18 Wolverines scrambling to retain recruits and give current players reasons to stay out of the transfer portal.

That’s going to be quite a challenge.

Michigan has begun practicing for its bowl game with Poggi and assistants, none of whom know if they will be a part of the team’s staff in 2026.

The Wolverines announced less than two weeks ago that 27 prospects signed commitments to play football for the maize and blue and the class was ranked No. 11 by 247Sports.

Two of those players, however, asked for and were granted their release by the school.

Matt Ludwig, a four-star tight end from Montana, has already switched his commitment to Texas Tech and Bear McWhorter, a three-star offensive lineman from Georgia, opened up his recruitment last week.

“In light of recent events, I’ve made the very difficult decision to withdraw,” McWhorter posted Friday on Instagram.

McWhorter made his decision Monday, committing to Auburn.

Moore was fired Wednesday after the school said an investigation uncovered evidence of

JOE BURBANK/ORLANDO SENTINEL VIA AP

Michigan interim head coach Biff Poggi answers questions at a Citrus Bowl news conference ahead of his team’s New Year’s Eve appearance against Texas in the bowl in Orlando, Fla.

“You have a coaching staff, not knowing if they’ll be back, preparing for a game while trying to hold onto signees and current players — and everybody is impatient.”

Allen Trieu, Recruiting analyst his inappropriate relationship with a staffer. He was later jailed for two nights and charged with three crimes.

While a search firm helps Michigan quickly look for a new coach, other colleges are taking advantage of the opportunity to make offers to the Wolverines’ signees because they’re in

a 30-day window to potentially get released.

“Every day that a new coach isn’t in place, there’s a risk in more players asking for their release and current players planning to go in the portal,” Allen Trieu, 247Sports national recruiting analyst, said in a telephone interview. “Time is of es-

sence, if the primary goal is to keep the recruiting class in place.

“Those families are waiting with bated breath — as many are who are invested in Michigan football — to see who the next coach is going to be.”

Current players, including starting quarterback Bryce Underwood, will have a chance to enter the transfer portal between Jan. 2-16 if they don’t like the direction of the program or how they fit with the new coach.

“It’s a very unique time,” Trieu said. “You have a coaching staff, not knowing if they’ll be back, preparing for a game while trying to hold onto signees and current players — and everybody is impatient.”

ACC’s shift to football scheduling model will have 12 of 17 teams playing 9 league games in 2026 Uneven league schedules aren’t a new thing for the ACC

20

By Aaron Beard The Associated Press THE ATLANTIC COAST Conference’s transition to a nine-game football schedule will feature 12 of 17 football-playing members playing nine games next fall while the remaining five stay at eight.

The league announced details of the new model Tuesday, including the league matchups for each school. Next year will operate as a bridge to accommodate conference games already on the books, with the plan to have 16 of 17 teams playing nine football games regularly by 2027.

Reigning champion Duke will join California, Louisville, Miami, N.C. State, Pittsburgh, SMU, Stanford, Syracuse, Virginia, Virginia Tech and Wake Forest in playing nine league games for the 2026 season. That leaves Boston College, Clemson, Florida State, Georgia Tech and North Carolina to play eight.

The league in September announced plans to have a ninegame slate, aligning with power-conference peers in the Big 12, Big Ten and Southeastern conferences. That came after debates and disagreement about the impact of unbalanced scheduling and access to the 12team College Football Playoff.

Seasons before all ACC teams played the same number of league games

JACOB KUPFERMAN / AP PHOTO

ACC commissioner Jim Phillips (suit and tie) prepares to present Duke players with the ACC football championship trophy.

The ACC is the only one of those leagues with an odd number of football members, creating a variable that will mean one team will play only eight games once the scheduling model is fully implemented in 2027.

ACC teams regularly played a different number of conference games in the early days of the league. Teams played as few as three ACC games and as many as seven from 1953 to 1956, and the league was split between teams playing six and seven-game league schedules for much of the next two decades.

The first season that every ACC team played the same number of conference games was 1972, the league’s 20th year of existence.

The ACC’s new schedule is designed to have teams play a total of 10 games against Power Four opponents as a baseline in a so-called 9+1 model. The rotating team playing an eightgame league slate would aim to play an 8+2 model to meet that 10-game target.

The question as to how an eight-game league record might compare with a nine-game record is unclear.

The ACC used winning percentage during the COVID-19 pandemic in multiple sports with teams playing unequal totals of games because of numerous cancellations, but Commissioner Jim Phillips said publicly last week that the league is ex-

amining its football tiebreaker process for the ACC championship game. ACC officials said Tuesday an updated tiebreaker policy will be announced sometime before the 2026 season.

The current policy came under scrutiny when five-loss Duke won a five-team tiebreaker — which included now-No. 10 and CFP-bound Miami — to reach the title game and ultimately beat No. 20 Virginia earlier this month for its first outright ACC title since 1962.

The ACC had used an eightgame football schedule since Florida State’s arrival for the 1992 season, the outlier being a 10-game schedule in 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic. That included Notre Dame giving up its cherished independent status for one year and playing a full ACC schedule.

The Fighting Irish, a member of all other league sports, typically play four to six football games per year against ACC schools. Those games would fit into the nonconference column in the 9+1 or 8+2 scheduling models.

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Chatham News & Record for Thursday, December 25, 2025

entertainment Songwriters Hall of Fame posthumously inducts singer Donna Summer The Queen of Disco won five Grammys

By Maria Sherman The Associated Press NEW YORK — There are giants, and then there is Donna Summer. The Queen of Disco and then some, known for such timeless tunes as “Love to Love You Baby,” “I Feel Love,” “Bad Girls,” “Dim All the Lights,” “On the Radio” and “She Works Hard for the Money,” has been posthumously inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, the hall said.

Summer, who died in 2012 at age 63, was welcomed into the Songwriters Hall last week at a ceremony at The Butterfly Room at Cecconi’s in Los Angeles. It was led by Academy Award-winning songwriter Paul Williams. Summer’s husband, Bruce Sudano and their daughters, Brooklyn Sudano and Amanda Sudano Ramirez, were in attendance.

“Donna Summer is not only one of the defining voices and performers of the 20th century; she is one of the great songwriters of all time who changed the

“Donna Summer is not only one of the defining voices and performers of the 20th century; she is one of the great songwriters of all time who changed the course of music.”

Paul Williams course of music,” said Williams in a statement. “She wrote timeless and transcendent songs that continue to captivate our souls and imaginations, inspiring the world to dance and, above all, feel love.”

Summer’s smooth blend of R&B, soul, pop, funk, rock, disco and electronica launched numerous chart-topping hits in the ’70s and ’80s as well as three multiplatinum albums. She won five Grammys. She was unstoppable — both as a performer and a writer.

“It’s important to me because I know how important it was for Donna,” said Sudano in a press

release. “The backstory is, with all the accolades that she received over her career, being respected as a songwriter was always the thing that she felt was overlooked. So, for her to be accepted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame I know that she’s very happy … somewhere.”

The Songwriters Hall of Fame was established in 1969.

A songwriter with a notable catalog of songs qualifies for induction 20 years after the first commercial release of a song.

The annual Songwriters Hall of Fame gala does not usually include posthumous inductions; those are reserved for separate events.

Songwriter Pete Bellotte — known for his work with Summer on “Hot Stuff,” “I Feel Love” and “Love To Love You Baby” — is a current nominee for the 2026 Songwriters Hall of Fame class. “Love To Love You Baby” was co-written with Summer and producer Giorgio Moroder.

One of Summer’s best-known hits, the song has been sampled many times, including in tracks by Beyoncé, LL Cool J and Timbaland.

The 2026 inductees will be announced early next year.

JOHN MCCONNICO / AP PHOTO

Donna Summer performs at the Nobel Peace Prize Concert in Oslo, Norway, in 2009. The “Queen of Disco” died in 2012 at age 63.

Chatham News & Record for Thursday, December 25, 2025

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Chatham News & Record for Thursday, December 25, 2025

this week in history

2

nd

Washington crosses Delaware, USSR dissolved, Radio City Music Hall opens

1904: James Barrie’s play “Peter Pan: The Boy Who Wouldn’t Grow Up” opened at the Duke of York’s Theatre in London.

1932: New York City’s Radio City Music Hall opened to the public.

The Associated Press DEC. 25 1066: William the Conqueror was crowned King of England.

1776: Gen. George Washington and his troops crossed the Delaware River for a surprise attack against Hessian forces at Trenton, New Jersey, during the American Revolutionary War. 1818: “Silent Night (Stille Nacht)” was publicly performed for the first time during the Christmas Midnight Mass at the Church of St. Nikolaus in Oberndorf, Austria.

DEC. 26

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1908: Jack Johnson became the first black boxer to win the world heavyweight championship as he defeated Canadian Tommy Burns in Sydney, Australia.

1941: During World War II, Winston Churchill became the first British prime minister to address a joint meeting of the U.S. Congress, just

On Dec. 27, 1904, J.M. Barrie’s play “Peter Pan: The Boy Who Wouldn’t Grow Up” premiered at the Duke of York’s Theatre in London. two weeks after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor that plunged the U.S. into the war.

1991: The USSR was formally dissolved through a declaration by the Supreme Soviet.

2006: Former President Gerald R. Ford died in Rancho Mirage, California, at age 93.

DEC. 27 1831: Naturalist Charles Darwin set out on a round-the-world voyage from Plymouth, England, aboard the HMS Beagle.

DEC. 30

1895: The Lumiere brothers, Auguste and Louis, held the first public showing of their films in Paris.

1908: A major earthquake followed by a tsunami devastated the Italian cities of Messina and Reggio Calabria, killing at least 70,000 people.

1945: Congress officially recognized the Pledge of Allegiance.

1860: Ten days after South Carolina seceded from the Union, the state militia seized the United States Army arsenal in Charleston.

1922: The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) officially came into existence.

2006: Former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein was executed after being convicted of crimes against humanity by the Iraqi High Tribunal.

2015: Actor and comedian Bill Cosby was charged with drugging and sexually assaulting a woman at his suburban Philadelphia home in 2004.

DEC. 29

DEC. 31

1170: Thomas Becket, the archbishop of Canterbury, was killed inside Canterbury Cathedral by knights loyal to King Henry II. 1890: The Wounded Knee massacre took place in South Dakota, where more than 250 Lakota people were killed

by U.S. troops sent to disarm them.

1940: During World War II, the German Luftwaffe dropped incendiary bombs on London, triggering what

1879: Thomas Edison first demonstrated his electric incandescent lights for the public by illuminating some 100 bulbs in and around his laboratory in Menlo Park, New Jersey.

1904: New York’s Times Square saw its first New Year’s Eve celebration, with an estimated 200,000 people in attendance.

1995: The syndicated comic strip “Calvin and Hobbes,” created by Bill Watterson, came to an end after a 10-year run.

DEC. 28

VIA WIKIPEDIA

became known as the Second Great Fire of London.

Oscars move to YouTube in 2029, leaving longtime home ABC Nearly 13% of all television and streaming content in November was consumed on the platform

By Jake Coyle The Associated Press IN A SEISMIC SHIFT for one of television’s marquee events, the Academy Awards will depart ABC and begin streaming on YouTube beginning in 2029, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced last week.

ABC will continue to broadcast the annual ceremony through 2028. That year will mark the 100th Oscars.

But starting in 2029, YouTube will retain global rights to streaming the Oscars through 2033. YouTube will effectively be the home to all things Oscars, including red-carpet coverage, the Governors Awards and the Oscar nominations announcement.

“We are thrilled to enter into a multifaceted global partnership with YouTube to be the future home of the Oscars and our year-round Academy programming,” said academy chief executive Bill Kramer and academy president Lynette Howell Taylor.

“The Academy is an international organization, and this partnership will allow us to expand access to the work of

MATT SAYLES / INVISION / AP PHOTO

The Oscars will move to YouTube beginning in 2029, ending their long TV run on ABC after the 100th ceremony in 2028, as the Academy shifts its marquee event to a streaming-first future. the Academy to the largest worldwide audience possible — which will be beneficial for our Academy members and the film community.”

While major award shows have added streaming partnerships, the YouTube deal marks the first of the big four — the Oscars, Grammys, Emmys and Tonys — to completely jettison broadcast television. It puts one of the most watched non-

solutions

NFL broadcasts in the hands of Google. YouTube boasts some 2 billion viewers.

The Academy Awards will stream for free worldwide on YouTube, in addition to YouTube TV subscribers. It will be available with audio tracks in many languages, in addition to closed captioning.

Financial terms were not disclosed.

“The Oscars are one of our

essential cultural institutions, honoring excellence in storytelling and artistry,” said Neal Mohan, chief executive of YouTube. “Partnering with the academy to bring this celebration of art and entertainment to viewers all over the world will inspire a new generation of creativity and film lovers while staying true to the Oscars’ storied legacy.”

The Walt Disney Co.-owned

ABC has been the broadcast home to the Oscars for almost its entire history. NBC first televised the Oscars in 1953, but ABC picked up the rights in 1961. Aside from a period between 1971 and 1975, when NBC again aired the show, the Oscars have been on ABC. “ABC has been the proud home to The Oscars for more than half a century,” the network said in a statement.

“We look forward to the next three telecasts, including the show’s centennial celebration in 2028, and wish the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences continued success.”

The 2025 Academy Awards were watched by 19.7 million viewers on ABC, a slight increase from the year before.

That remains one of the biggest TV broadcasts of the year, though less than half of Oscar ratings at their peak. In 1999, more than 55 million watched James Cameron’s “Titanic” win best picture.

The film academy, in choosing YouTube over other options such as Netflix or NBC Universal/Peacock, selected a platform with a wide-ranging and massive audience but one without as much of an established production infrastructure.

Still, more people — especially young people — watch YouTube than any other streaming platform.

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Chatham News & Record for Thursday, December 25, 2025

famous birthdays this week Annie Lennox is 71, Jon Voight turns 87, Ted Danson celebrates 78, Tiger Woods hits 50

THESE CELEBRITIES have birthdays this week DEC. 25 Football Hall of Famer Larry Csonka is 79. Country singer Barbara Mandrell is 77. Actor Sissy Spacek is 76. Former White House adviser Karl Rove is 75. Actor CCH Pounder is 73.

Singer Annie Lennox is 71.

DEC. 26

VIANNEY LE CAER / INVISION / AP PHOTO

“America’s Most Wanted” host John Walsh is 80. Baseball Hall of Fame catcher Carlton Fisk is 78. Baseball Hall of Famer Ozzie Smith is 71. Humorist David Sedaris is 69. Rock musician Lars Ulrich (Metallica) is 62. Actor-musician Jared Leto is 54.

Singer, songwriter and poet Patti Smith, a key figure in New York’s 1970s punk scene, turns 79 on Tuesday.

DEC. 27 Basketball Hall of Fame coach Nolan Richardson is 84. Rock musician Mick Jones (Foreigner) is 81. Actor Gérard Depardieu is 77. Rock musician David Knopfler (Dire Straits) is 73. TV journalist Savannah Guthrie is 54. Rock singer Hayley Williams (Paramore) is 37.

DEC. 28 Actor Denzel Washington is 71. TV personality Gayle King is 71. Hockey Hall of Famer Ray Bourque is 65. Linux creator Linus Torvalds is 56. Political commentator Ana Navarro is 54. TV host-comedian Seth Meyers is 52. Actor Joe Manganiello is 49. Musician John Legend is 47.

DEC. 29 Actor Jon Voight is 87. Actor Ted Danson is 78. Actor Patricia Clarkson is 66. Filmmaker Lilly Wachowski is 58. Actor Jennifer Ehle is 56. Actor Jude Law is 53.

Actor Mekhi Phifer is 51.

DEC. 30 Baseball Hall of Famer Sandy Koufax is 90. TV director James Burrows is 85. Singer-author Patti Smith is 79. Musician Jeff Lynne is 78. Actor-comedian

RICHARD SHOTWELL / INVISION / AP PHOTO

John Walsh arrives at the Fox winter junket in 2023 in Los Angeles. The “America’s Most Wanted” host turns 80 on Friday.

Tracey Ullman is 66. TV commentator Sean Hannity is 64.

Golfer Tiger Woods is 50.

DEC. 31 Actor Anthony Hopkins is 88. Rock musician Andy Summers (The Police) is 83. Actor Ben Kingsley is 82. Filmmaker Taylor Hackford is 81. Actor Tim Matheson is 78. Actor Bebe Neuwirth is 67. Author Nicholas Sparks is 60. Businessman Donald Trump Jr. is 48.

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Chatham News & Record for Thursday, December 25, 2025

the stream

KENSLIE MCGUIRE / DISNEY VIA AP

Mickey Mouse and other Disney characters return with special performances by Gwen Stefani and others for the annual Disney Parks Magical Christmas Day Parade.

‘Stranger Things,’ ‘Ne Zha II,’ Jennifer Lawrence, Kate Winslet Spy thriller “The Copenhagen Test” lands on Peacock

SERIES TO STREAM

The Associated Press JENNIFER LAWRENCE playing a new mother whose behavior becomes increasingly erratic in “Die My Love” and three more “Stranger Things” episodes are some of the new television, films, music and games headed to a device near you.

Also among the streaming offerings worth your time this week: Disney Parks Magical Christmas Day Parade featuring Gwen Stefani and Nicole Scherzinger, the Chinese animated epic “Ne Zha II,” and Simu Liu starring as an intelligence analyst whose brain has been hacked in Peacock’s “The Copenhagen Test.”

MOVIES TO STREAM Lawrence plays a new mother whose behavior becomes increasingly erratic in Lynne Ramsay’s “Die My Love,” streaming now on Mubi. Robert Pattinson plays her husband in this story adapted from Ariana Harwicz’s novel. In his review for The Associated Press, Film Writer Jake Coyle wrote called it “a jagged, go-for-broke psychodrama” raging with a “primal punk spirit.” He added, “there’s plenty to admire in Ramsay’s uncompromising and delirious portrait of marital hell, particularly in the bracingly raw performance of Lawrence.”

The Chinese animated epic “Ne Zha II,” which is the highest grossing animated movie of all time with more than $2.2 billion in ticket sales, is now streaming on HBO Max. The film tells the story of a rebellious child, Ne Zha, born as the reincarnation of a demon to mortal parents, who is out to prove his fate is not predetermined. Michelle Yeoh lent her voice to the English language dub, which she said, “immerses you into our culture.” The first film is available to stream on Netflix, but it’s possible to just dive right into the sequel.

If you like holiday mov-

and the Disney YouTube channel on Christmas Day, music fans can tune into the annual Disney Parks Magical Christmas Day Parade. It’s not just for the kids: The special will feature musical performances from Stefani, Scherzinger, Coco Jones, Iam Tongi, Lady A, Mariah the Scientist and Bebe Rexha.

EVAN AGOSTINI / INVISION / AP PHOTO

Ross Duffer, from left, Gaten Matarazzo, Finn Wolfhard, Charlie Heaton and Jamie Campbell Bower attend the PaleyLive “Stranger Things” final season celebration at the Paley Museum on Dec. 18 in New York.

“‘Die My Love’ is a jagged, go-for-broke psychodrama, raging with a primal punk spirit.”

Jake Coyle, AP Film Writer

KIMBERLY FRENCH / MUBI VIA AP

Jennifer Lawrence stars in the suspenseful drama “Die My Love.” ies with a side of tears, “Goodbye June,” streaming on Netflix, might just be the ticket.

Kate Winslet directs and stars in this family drama about four

adult children (Winslet, Andrea Riseborough, Johnny Flynn and Toni Collette) coming to terms with the fact that their mother, June (Helen Mirren), is dying.

In my review, I wrote that it was an admirably solid, if generic, drama that’s elevated by a distinguished cast and moments of humor, grace and insight.

Speaking of holiday viewing, it’s also worth noting that Prime Video is getting two of the year’s biggest movies: “A Minecraft Movie” on Monday and “Sinners” on Friday.

MUSIC TO STREAM It’s wholesome holiday fun for the whole family! Kicking off at 10 a.m. on ABC and streaming at 11 a.m. on Disney+, Hulu

Make your Christmas stranger. The next block of installments of “ Stranger Things” — that’s episodes 5-7 — drop like a present as the fifth and final season continues. When we last checked out Hawkins, Vecna was deep into a dastardly plan, Demogorgons were menacing, and Will Byers was coming into his own powers. The very last episodes will stream on New Year’s Eve. Liu stars as an intelligence analyst whose brain has been hacked in Peacock’s new espionage thriller, “The Copenhagen Test.” In addition to Liu, the series’ regulars include Melissa Barrera, Sinclair Daniel, Brian d’Arcy James, Mark O’Brien and Kathleen Chalfant. All episodes debut Saturday.

“Members Only: Palm Beach” is a new Netflix reality show that follows the exclusive, high-end social scene of one of Florida’s most affluent areas, as experienced by five women who are part of the community. “There’s a lot more beneath the sunshine than anyone expects, because nobody goes lower than high society,” Taja Abitbol, one of the stars, explains. It premieres Monday.

VIDEO GAMES TO PLAY You may be getting — or giving — a new gaming device for Christmas. If so, you should look beyond heavily promoted AAA games and download some of the gems that independent studios released in 2025. Some made The Associated Press’ top 10 list; don’t miss Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, The Séance of Blake Manor and The Alters. The indie sequels Hades II and Hollow Knight: Silksong more than lived up to fans’ expectations.

Mystery lovers should test their wits against Blue Prince and The Roottrees are Dead.

And if you want a heartfelt story about an Ecuadoran kid dreaming about soccer’s World Cup (who doesn’t?), check out Despelote.

VOLUME 10 ISSUE 44 | THURSDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2025

DUPLINJOURNAL.COM

Duplin Journal THE DUPLIN COUNTY EDITION OF NORTH STATE JOURNAL

Merry Christmas from Duplin Journal the

BRIEF this week

Fugitive wanted on attempted murder charges captured Beulaville A coordinated operation last week led to the arrest of a woman wanted on several charges. Lekeyia Petteway, sought on active bench warrants from Greenville County, South Carolina, for alleged attempted murder, assault and battery, and child abuse was located at a Beulaville residence.

Authorities said officers from the Beulaville Police Department, the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation’s Criminal Apprehension Team and Coastal District agents worked together to take Petteway into custody safely and without incident.

Memorial bricks available for courtyard tribute Faison The Town of Faison and the Faison Improvement Group are inviting the public to help update the Dr. William Thornton Memorial Courtyard.

Personalized memorial bricks, starting at $100, can honor loved ones or organizations. Proceeds benefit the Faison Recreation & Wellness Center and Faison Improvement Group.

Bricks are tax-deductible and engraved for life.

Local fire department retains Class 3 rating Wallace The Wallace Fire Department kept its ISO rating of 3, a distinction held by just 3,000–3,500 of 27,000 U.S. fire departments.

Commissioner Glenn Price praised the volunteers’ professionalism on a social media post, noting that the rating helps ensure lower homeowners insurance rates for the community.

Magnolia partners to fight food insecurity Magnolia With the holiday season in full swing, the Town of Magnolia recently helped spread warmth and generosity by assembling 23 Meals-in-a-Bag kits, donated by Marine Federal Credit Union. The kits, featuring corn chowder or chili meals, were delivered to the Duplin County Partnership for Children to support local families experiencing food insecurity. The Partnership worked with the Duplin County Department of Social Services to identify families in need.

$2.00

MARK GRADY FOR DUPLIN JOURNAL

Saluting a dedicated workforce Duplin County employees filled the Duplin Event Center for the Employee Appreciation Luncheon on Friday afternoon. The event featured a barbeque lunch, recognition for years of service, as well as games and door prizes.

A year of growth, change From major infrastructure projects and economic gains to leadership turnover and public transparency debates

By Ena Sellers Duplin Journal DUPLIN COUNTY experienced a year of growth, leadership changes, and infrastructure development in 2025.

County officials focused on economic development, fiscal man-

agement, and public engagement, while recognizing local leaders and volunteers.

In January, the Board of Commissioners approved the $430,000 purchase of a building on Limestone Road in Kenansville for Water Department administrative operations. The

board said the purchase would improve efficiency and customer service through features such as drive-through payments.

The board also approved the use of $252,183 in opioid settlement funds for early intervention programs for school-aged children ($127,889.91), naloxone distribution ($60,855.92), collaborative strategic planning ($38,037.20), and addiction treatment for incarcerated individuals ($25,400). The

plan added two part-time positions and eliminated one fulltime role. The board also approved a $7,000 revision of the county’s personnel policy for the first time in more than a decade to clarify conflicting provisions.

Auditors presented the FY 2024 audit in February, the general fund stood at $46.5 million, with nearly 80% available, and property tax revenues remained stable.

In March, County Commissioner Dexter Edwards was recognized for his induction into the North Carolina See GROWTH, page A5

Wallace mayor reflects on 2025’s big projects A new fire department, remodeled community spaces and airport improvements signal growth and progress

By Mark Grady For Duplin Journal WHEN WALLACE MAYOR Jason Wells looks back on 2025, he sees it as a year of major projects in town. In an interview with Duplin Journal, he said one of the biggest projects has

been construction of the new fire department.

“We do have construction on the new fire department underway,” Wells said. “We anticipate that will be fully completed by mid-2026. That’s a big project for us.”

In addition to the new fire

department, the town has been renovating existing buildings for new uses, Wells said.

“We finished remodeling the Clement Building, which is a community building where Parks and Rec is now housed,” he said. “There is also community space that folks can rent out. We got that building fully renovated with grants.”

The old Parks and Rec building by Clement Park is being

Dixon earns top public safety award for legislative leadership The local lawmaker's efforts resulted in stricter penalties and retirement protections for officers

By Ena Sellers Duplin Journal THE NORTH CAROLINA Sheriffs’ Association (NCSA) recently recognized Rep. Jimmy Dixon as a 2025 Defender of Public Safety for his leadership during the 2025 legislative session, which advanced key policies to strengthen law enforcement and protect communities.

“Nothing is more important than public safety in this troubled world. I will continue my absolute support for all our law enforcement and first responders,” Dixon told Duplin Journal.

Dixon’s legislative district is served by Sheriff Stratton Stokes in Duplin County and Sheriff Larry Pierce in Wayne County.

According to NCSA, during a session marked by numerous public safety and law enforcement bills, Dixon worked closely with sheriffs and community leaders to champion legislation addressing fentanyl distribution, illegal firearms, and retirement protections for law enforcement officers.

Sheriff Ricky T. Buchanan, president of the NCSA, praised Dixon’s efforts, noting that he has been a steadfast partner in the legislature, advocating for policies that support sheriffs and enhance public safety.

See DIXON, page A2

COURTESY

Rep. Jimmy Dixon

remodeled to become the new town hall. Town administrative offices are expected to move there soon.

“We anticipate we will be in that building [the new town hall] by the end of the year,” Wells said. “That will free up space in the current town hall to be remodeled for the police department.”

Not all major projects involve See PROJECTS, page A5

A2

Duplin Journal for Thursday, December 25, 2025

THURSDAY

12.25.25 #105

Stability, preparation for growth define 2025 in Beulaville Infrastructure projects and housing plans positioned the town for the future

“Join the conversation”

land, who was appointed town clerk and finance officer.

Beulaville continued positioning itself for economic and residential growth. Multiple water and infrastructure projects remained underway, while several housing developments advanced toward construction. A 40-unit apartment complex is expected to be completed in 2026. Two additional subdivisions — one with 25 homes and another with 122 homes — are also in development.

To support the town’s growing population, Beulaville expanded its recreational offerings. The town relocated and expanded a park on Broad Street and began planning a walking trail, along with new basketball and volleyball courts.

new appointments and ongoing development.

In September, Justin Smith was appointed to the Zoning Board. In November, Lori Williams officially became town manager after serving in the role on an interim basis for eight years. Voters reelected Mayor Hutch Jones and Commissioners Gene Wickline and Delmas Highsmith. In December, those officials were sworn in along with Jennifer Strick-

By Rebecca Whitman Cooke For Duplin Journal RESILIENCE, stability and preparation for growth marked 2025 in Beulaville, where the town saw leadership continuity alongside

Duplin Journal

Trip Hoffend Publisher

Jim Sills VP of Local Newspapers

Ena Sellers News Editor

Michael Jaenicke Sports Editor

Patsy Teachey Advertising Representative

Loretta Carey Office Manager

CONTACT US Office Phone: 910 463-1240 To place a legal ad: 919 663-3232; Fax: 919 663-4042

Town of Faison builds on community roots in 2025 Residents celebrated local traditions while town leaders advanced recreation, development

ed the death of employee Brent Turner.

“We all miss Brent, he was a great friend and co-worker,” Ward said.

Later in the year, the town added several part-time Parks and Recreation employees, and a full time employee in Public Works.

Voters returned familiar leadership during the municipal election. Ward was reelected, along with Commissioners Sandy McCarty, Ken Avent Jr. and Juan Carlos Quintanilla.

Residential and commercial development also moved forward in 2025. Construction began on Everwoods, an 18-home subdivision in Faison’s extraterritorial jurisdiction along N.C. Highway 403 between North Duplin Junior/Senior High School and the town. Plans were also announced for a truck stop near the intersection of N.C. 403 and U.S. Highway 117.

In November, Hearts Desire Candle Co. relocated from Calypso to Faison, expanding its footprint. Owner Jimmy Tyndall said he welcomed the opportunity to “move home.”

ture and remains one of Faison’s well-attended events.

Parks and Recreation programming expanded in 2025, with increased participation across age groups. The town’s after-school program continued to grow, and adult volleyball was added, drawing nine teams in its first year.

“We have a thriving recreation department,” Mayor “Billy” Ward said in an interview with Duplin Journal. “Faison is a small town with a lot going on — especially for young people.”

Several facility improvements were completed during the year. Bathrooms were finished at the Sports Complex, and covered picnic shelters and tables were added at both Faison Park and the Sports Complex.

The town experienced both growth and loss among its staff. In April, Faison mourn-

By Rebecca Whitman Cooke For Duplin Journal FROM COMMUNITY events to expanded parks and recreation programming, 2025 brought a year of steady activity in the town of Faison.

Seasonal events highlighted Faison’s agricultural roots and military history, including the annual Farmer’s Parade in the spring, a Memorial Day program, a World War II Ghost Walk in the fall and participation in Wreaths Across America during the winter.

More than 100 people attended the Ghost Walk alone. Town leaders said the long-running Farmer’s Parade continues to honor the area’s farming cul-

Dec. 15 • Derrick Allen Bradley, 47, was arrested by DCSO for misdemeanor crime of domestic violence.

Wishing YOU and YOURS a VERY

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

• Kendall Darrell Broadnax, 45, was arrested by DCSO for failure to register as a sex offender.

• Melvin Cruz-Morales, 40, was arrested by Wallace PD for murder.

• Fred Abraham JacoboHernandez, 22, was arrested by DCSO for carrying a concealed gun and resisting a public officer.

Dec. 16 • Quvontre Harper, 26, was arrested by DCSO for child support.

Dec. 17 • Jennifer Sue Brown, 53, was arrested by DCSO for misdemeanor larceny and possession of stolen goods or property.

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Here’s a quick look at what’s coming up in Duplin County.

Dec. 31 7 p.m.

Ring in the New Year at Wallace's annual Strawberry Drop.

Wallace Train Depot

Jan. 19 Freedom Ride 9:30 a.m.

Join the Freedom Ride, an MLK Observance, beginning at KEMBA in Warsaw at 9:30 a.m. Riders will travel around Warsaw and conclude at Missionary Baptist Church for a 10 a.m. worship service honoring Martin Luther King Jr. Guest speakers will include the mayors of Fayetteville and Apex.

Jan. 23 Basics of Air Frying Workshop 10 a.m. to noon

CRIME LOG

• Kevin Hall, 53, was arrested

by DCSO for possession of methamphetamine, misdemeanor crime of domestic violence and communicating threats.

happening

New Year’s Eve Strawberry Drop

www.duplinjournal.com North State Media LLC 104 W Main Street Wallace, NC 28466 Copyright 2025

DUPLIN

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WE ARE A WOMEN’S, MEN’S AND HOME BOUTIQUE WITH A HUGE VARIETY OF MERCHANDISE FROM: • Carhartt • Rainbow • Bridgewater Candle • Tyler Candle

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Have an air fryer you haven’t used yet, thinking about buying one or looking for new recipes? Join the Duplin County Cooperative Extension Family and Consumer Sciences team for a hands-on Basics of Air Frying Workshop.

Participants will learn how to cook with and care for an air fryer and explore different models during a live cooking demonstration.

The workshop will be held at the Cooperative Extension Office. The cost is $15. Space is available on a first-come, first-served basis. To register, call 910-296-2143.

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Got a local event? Let us know and we’ll share it with the community here.

Email our newsroom at community@duplinjournal. com. Weekly deadline is Monday at noon.

& SO MUCH MORE! We also offer shoe repair! • Thank you for shopping local!

• Mary Bryant, 42, was arrested by DCSO for misdemeanor crime of domestic violence.

• Tyree Deshawn Best, 31, was arrested by DCSO for possession with intent to manufacture, sell or deliver cocaine, felony possession of Schedule II controlled substance, maintaining a vehicle or dwelling place for controlled substances and possession of drug paraphernalia.

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OVER 80 Duplin County Merchants in ONE Location

• Saltino Cerrell Branch, 41, was arrested by DCSO for larceny, possession of methamphetamine, possession of a firearm by a felon, larceny of a firearm and felony conspiracy.

• Lareka Reshel Brinson, 44, was arrested by DCSO for habitual impaired driving, fleeing or eluding arrest with a motor vehicle, reckless driving, failure to heed light or siren and resisting a public officer.

Dec. 18 • Dustin J Cobb, 39, was arrested

by DCSO for driving while impaired, failure to yield to emergency vehicle, possession of open container of alcohol in passenger area, possession of marijuana paraphernalia and possession of drug paraphernalia.

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DIXON from page A1 “As a result, our sheriffs will see harsher punishments for criminals who poison our communities with fentanyl and for felons who illegally possess firearms.

Additionally, thanks to legislators like Representative Dixon, law enforcement officers will no longer have to choose between continuing to serve their communities and losing a retirement benefit they have earned over their careers.”

Dixon expressed gratitude, saying he was “pleased to once again receive this recognition from the Sheriffs’ Association.”

The NCSA serves as the statewide voice for North Carolina’s 100 sheriffs, advocating for sheriffs, public safety, and citizens’ rights through education, training, and legislative initiatives.

The 2026 session will begin in April.

A3

Duplin Journal for Thursday, December 25, 2025

Celebrating 2025 | Community, culture and tradition From parades and festivals to holiday traditions and cultural celebrations, 2025 was a year that brought Duplin County communities together time and again. These images capture the moments that best captured the year — musicians playing through downtown streets, families gathering to celebrate heritage, and neighbors sharing joy at long-standing traditions that continue to shape the spirit of our towns.

Mount Olive Black History Month Parade, Feb. 27

Magnolia Easter Celebration, April 24

Downtown Mount Olive came alive as the community gathered for the town’s Black History Month Parade. Participants and spectators alike danced, cheered, and celebrated a day filled with pride, culture, and unity.

Magnolia’s Easter Celebration brought families together for a joyful day of music, food and activities, including egg hunts, face painting, piñatas, K.D. BEARD / DUPLIN JOURNAL soccer tournaments, and bouncy houses.

At left, Magnolia cooks proudly display free plates prepared for the community.

K.D. BEARD / DUPLIN JOURNAL

Faison Farmers’ Day Parade, March 20 Hundreds lined West Main Street in Faison for the annual Farmers’ Day Parade, a beloved hometown tradition celebrating the community’s deep agricultural roots and small-town charm.

ENA SELLERS / DUPLIN JOURNAL

Carolina Strawberry Festival, May 8 Thousands packed historic downtown Wallace for the Carolina Strawberry Festival for the two-day event featuring food, entertainment, and family-friendly fun. Each year, the festival brings lively energy and large crowds to the heart of town.

NC Pickle Festival, May 1

Latino Cultural Festival, Oct. 30

Crowds filled the streets of Mount Olive for the annual NC Pickle Festival, enjoying live music, spirited performances, pickle-eating contests, costume competitions with ENA SELLERS / DUPLIN JOURNAL Ollie Q. Cumber, and hundreds of vendors showcasing all things pickled.

Colorful dancers perform in front of the main stage at Duplin's Latino Cultural Festival. Now in its second year, the event celebrated Latino heritage through music, dance and traditional cuisine, with vibrant rhythms and festive energy that filled Clement Park in Wallace.

COURTESY OF ASOCIACIÓN LATINA DEL CONDADO DE DUPLIN

Veterans Day Parade, Nov. 6 The Sudan Drum and Bugle Corps of Wilmington filled the streets with powerful sound and patriotic spirit during the 105th North Carolina Veterans Day Parade in Warsaw on Saturday, drawing applause from spectators lining the route.

ENA SELLERS / DUPLIN JOURNAL

Hog Wild Festival, April 10 Carolina Beach music favorites Band of Oz brought high energy and classic hits to the stage during Beulaville's Hog Wild Festival, keeping the crowd dancing well into the evening.

K.D. BEARD / DUPLIN JOURNAL

Garden Gala, May 1

K.D. BEARD / DUPLIN JOURNAL

The Blackwater Band had the crowd singing along as they performed a cover of Van Morrison’s “Brown Eyed Girl” during the Carolina Strawberry Festival’s Garden Gala.

Merry christmas!

MARK GRADY / DUPLIN JOURNAL

Poultry Jubilee, Nov. 13 Downtown Rose Hill buzzed with excitement as families gathered for the annual Poultry Jubilee, savoring fried chicken from the World’s Largest Frying Pan, browsing vendor booths, sampling food trucks, and enjoying carnival rides. The twoday celebration honored the town’s proud poultry heritage with fun for all ages.

REBECCA WHITMAN COOKE / DUPLIN JOURNAL

Pickles, Pigs & Swigs, Nov. 13 Music, food, and family fun filled downtown Mount Olive during the annual Pickles, Pigs & Swigs festival. Laura Bryan snaps a photo of her children, Mamie Elizabeth and Hardy, beside the giant pink pig near the University of Mount Olive’s mobile laboratory bus, a popular attraction at the annual event.

Locally owned and operated since 1995

Best customer service around!

MASSIVE year end sale!

MARK GRADY / DUPLIN JOURNAL

Christmas at Twilight, Nov. 27 Wallace Mayor Jason Wells reads ’Twas the Night Before Christmas to a stage full of children during Christmas at Twilight celebration at the Wallace Depot, delighting families gathered for the holiday tradition.

MARK GRADY / DUPLIN JOURNAL

A4

Duplin Journal for Thursday, December 25, 2025

THE CONVERSATION Trip Hoffend, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor VISUAL VOICES

COLUMN | SEN. TOMMY TUBERVILLE

Sharia law fuels jihadist terror in Nigeria; is America next?

Islam breeds. In 2024, 70% of all Christians martyred for their faith in the entire world were in Nigeria. Kidnappings in Nigeria are also on the rise because Jihadists use this to extort ransom payments and fund more terrorism.

In November, the world reacted with horror when 315 schoolchildren were kidnapped from a Catholic school in Niger State.

Yet you won’t hear much about any of these tragedies because the mainstream media in America would rather bury their heads in the sand than report the facts. They don’t cover the wholesale slaughter of Christians, and when they do, they claim it’s equal opportunity murder of Christians and Muslims alike.

Thankfully, President Donald Trump recently reclassified Nigeria as a “country of particular concern,” placing a spotlight on persecuted Christians in the country. I also appreciate other members of Congress like Republican Rep. Marlin Stutzman of Indiana and Republican Rep. Riley Moore of West Virginia who have joined me in the fight to end the slaughtering of Christians in Nigeria.

However, there is much more that needs to be done to hold the Nigerian government accountable for the genocide happening right under its nose. I am grateful for organizations like Across Nigeria that are working day and night to bring the killing to an end. I recently heard from Brad Brandon, who serves as CEO of Across Nigeria. He described the horrors of Islam firsthand, and how he has stood at the edge of large graves filled with entire families and villages of Christian believers. In 2021, a pastor who worked for Brandon’s organization was hacked to death by machetes in his bed. His church, home, and village were set on fire — all because he refused to deny his Christian faith and stop spreading the gospel. It reminds me of some

of the disciples in the earliest days of the church who were martyred for their faith rather than denying Jesus Christ.

Unfortunately, this isn’t just a problem overseas. I’ve said it many times and have taken some heat for it, but Islam isn’t a religion, it is a death cult. And this type of poisonous ideology is alive and well in this country, just waiting to attack. Just this week, FBI Director Kash Patel announced they caught several Islamist terrorists who had planned terror attacks for New Year’s Eve in Los Angeles and New Orleans. If we don’t act now, these types of attacks will become commonplace.

That’s why I refuse to be silent about this. Islam is fundamentally opposed to our Constitutional values. These people openly chant “death to America” and would like to see every single freedom-loving American dead. The threat of sharia law becoming a reality in America is not a hypothetical. It’s a real and present danger lurking in our own backyards. Nigeria is an example of what can happen when Radical Islam and sharia law overtake a once prosperous and free nation. Those who practice Radical Islam would love nothing more than to destroy this country. Our freedom is a gift, and I hope that more of our leaders will wake up and defend it before it’s too late.

Trump AI executive order protects Americans from Tower of Babel approach

and reliable AI systems. Congress alone has the authority to dictate such consequential decisions.

Americans are rightfully eager for Congress to use that authority. But impatience must not become acquiesce to efforts by state legislators to step into the shoes of U.S. representatives and senators.

The order’s core provision — the creation of an AI Litigation Task Force — will protect the American people from a Tower of Babel approach to AI development. States may think they’re enacting similar laws with similar provisions related to AI training, but they’re oftentimes speaking different languages — their bills are riddled with contradictory definitions and vague standards.

This task force is overdue but far from an overreach of presidential authority. The order does not grant the U.S. attorney general any new authority nor permit the task force to “neuter” any constitutionally valid state laws, as alleged by The New York Times. Instead, the order is again to the president putting certain questions at the top of the AG’s agenda: specifically, challenging unconstitutional, unlawful or preempted state laws. None of that is new. It has been and always will be the case that state laws that run afoul of the Constitution or otherwise violate the law can and should be challenged. The order merely directs a focus on state AI laws that fall within any of those categories.

State legislators may be forgiven for rushing to regulate AI amid the public’s uncertainty over how the technology will impact our economy, our schools, and our communities. AI’s disruptive effects warrant a national framework and soon.

Congress must act. However, as signaled by this executive order, that forgiveness has limits: states that intentionally seek to impose their legislative will on others must be held accountable.

What’s taking place in Nigeria is a sad example of the dangers of Islam.

OVER THE LAST few months, I’ve been increasingly vocal about the rise of radical Islam in the U.S. As a result, the left has predictably lost their minds — calling me a “racist” and an “Islamophobe.” The truth is I’m an American, and I care about the safety of our country. I’m not afraid of Chuck Schumer calling me names.

What I am afraid of is losing the greatest country on Earth to radical Islam. Look no further than the Thanksgiving shooting of two National Guardsmen in D.C. by a Biden-imported Afghan Islamic terrorist to know that we are under attack.

There’s a lot of good people that come from Middle Eastern countries who go by our laws and assimilate with our culture. But if you come here otherwise, refuse to go by our laws and chant “Death to America,” I have a message for you — we do not want you here. If you’re a peaceful Muslim who has assimilated, now is the time to speak out and condemn these acts of Islamic terrorism.

What’s taking place in Nigeria is a sad example of the dangers of Islam. We are seeing firsthand the poisonous impact that Radical Islam can have on a country when it is allowed to take root.

In the 1990s, Nigerian Christians and Muslims lived in relative harmony. But Muslims began gaining a foothold, and sharia law was soon installed by 12 of Northern Nigeria’s states in the early 2000s. There are now 101 references to sharia law and Islam in the Nigerian Constitution and zero references to Christianity. Now, 35 Christians a day are being murdered in Nigeria for their faith. Unfortunately, this statistic isn’t surprising. Islam openly teaches to “kill all infidels” — which includes Christians.

Since 2002, an estimated 62,000 Christians in Nigeria have been murdered, and 350,000 people have died because of the instability that Radical

Sen. Tommy Tuberville represents Alabama in the United States Senate. This column was first published by Daily Caller News Foundation.

COLUMN | KEVIN FRAZIER

The problem is that many states have misinterpreted their expansive authority.

THE ANSWER TO two questions will shape the future of AI in the United States: Who gets to write the national rules for AI development?

Who gets to write the rules for how AI is adopted at the state level?

This is not a pop quiz. These are the same questions that we had to answer in the late 1700s with respect to shipping in the late 1800s with respect to the railroads, and in the late 1900s with respect to the Internet. The right answers then, remain the correct answers today.

The executive order on AI announced by President Donald Trump provides a clear answer to the first question: Congress. It’s the right answer given the unequivocal allocation of constitutional authority to Congress to resolve matters that implicate America’s economic and national security.

AI development refers to the training, evaluation and deployment of AI models. In short, it’s the tasks that determine how quickly U.S. companies can continue to push the technological frontier as our adversaries race to do the same. Any pause, delay or diversion to these efforts may have irreversible effects on our ability to economically and militarily keep pace.

It’s not hyperbole to stress that America requires a cohesive strategy on this frontier so that our leading AI labs and emerging startups can focus more on AI research, rather than attempting to navigate a patchwork of state AI laws.

The order also answers the second question.

States may dictate who uses AI, for what purposes, and subject to what limitations.

Again, this is the right answer as mandated by the Constitution and its reservation of extensive police powers to the states. It has long been recognized that it is the duty “of a state to advance the safety, happiness, and prosperity of its people, and to provide for its general welfare.”

That’s precisely why the order does not contest the authority of states to enact and enforce laws related to child safety, data centers, state government use of AI and other issues that reflect that important duty.

To use an imperfect analogy, the order acknowledges and welcomes state laws related to speed limits, road designs and driver’s license requirements, so long as they do not interfere with how the engine is designed and distributed.

The problem is that many states have misinterpreted their expansive authority. Some have enacted laws that will impede the ability of other states to look out for the distinct wants and needs of their respective community. As mentioned in the order, states like Colorado want to dictate how AI models respond to certain queries — this akin to messing with the engine of AI. If labs comply, then the rest of America will have to live with what Denver thinks is best.

Other states — namely, California — have enacted laws with the explicit purpose of shielding the rest of the nation from speculative risks. That’s akin to Californians prohibiting Montanans from driving trucks with V8 engines because Californians think they are too powerful.

Worse yet, such laws may inhibit the ability of American innovators to move forward on devising new strategies to deploy more capable

Kevin Frazier is the AI and innovation fellow at the University of Texas School of Law.

A5

Duplin Journal for Thursday, December 25, 2025

PROJECTS from page A1 buildings. Infrastructure improvements have also been a focus.

“We completed the ‘830 project,’ which was a sewer line that runs essentially from the River Landing area all the way

back to the wastewater treatment plant,” Wells said. “That’s going to allow future development. That was about an eightyear project. We’re excited that it’s done.”

Another major infrastructure project is taking place at the Wallace-Pender

Airport, owned by the town.

“The other big project is the road out by the airport,” Wells said. “We’ve had DOT relocate that road so that the airport can continue moving forward with their expansion. That road should be completed in the next week or two.”

2025: Year of transition, scrutiny for Mount Olive Management upheaval, the state audit and infrastructure problems dominated town business

By Ena Sellers Duplin Journal

MARK GRADY FOR DUPLIN JOURNAL

Construction of the new Wallace Fire Department is one of several major projects the town has undertaken in 2025, which Mayor Jason Wells described as milestones over the past year.

Merry Christmas from Our Family to Yours!

MOUNT OLIVE’S 2025 was marked by leadership changes, financial scrutiny and ongoing infrastructure challenges. In January, the Board of Commissioners dismissed Town Manager Jammie Royall and appointed Utilities Superintendent Glenn Holland as interim town manager. The decision revealed divisions among board members and set the tone for a year of heightened public attention to town governance.

State and local oversight intensified following the release of a North Carolina State Auditor report and a subsequent State Bureau of Investigation inquiry. The audit documented financial mismanagement within town operations, including the Water Department and Municipal Airport, citing billing errors, improper fee waivers and unverified expenditures that resulted in more than $210,000 in lost revenue. The town suspended and later terminat-

GROWTH from page A1

Serving our Community since 1959 106 Front St. Kenansville, NC 910.296.0514

413 S Norwood St. Wallace, NC 910.289.5081

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Pork Hall of Fame. In April, James Sprunt Community College broke ground on its 22,000-square-foot Workforce Development Center. The stateof-the-art facility is expected to open by summer 2026. Economic growth continued, with Duplin County ranking fourth statewide in sales tax growth through April. Residential development advanced in Wallace, where plans were announced for more than 600 new lots, and Warsaw issued at least 60 zoning permits for new homes. In May, Greenevers Volunteer Fire Department Chief Gregory Carr received the Governor’s Medallion Award for contributing more than 700 volunteer hours.

Solar energy was an important topic this year as Commissioners expressed concern about potential state legislation that could limit local land-use authority. The county currently has 35 solar farms with an initial investment of $267.6 million. Equipment receives an 80% state tax exemption, but the county collects $393,369 in taxes annually, or $244,583 after depreciation.

In June, the Board of Commissioners dissolved the Tourism Development Authority, bringing tourism operations under county management. The Room Occupancy Tax rate was lowered, expected to reduce gross revenue by $58,000 but generate a net positive of about $100,000 through salary savings with two positions that were eliminated, according to then County Manager Brian Miller.

Following the dissolution of the TDA, and the purchase of a corporate golf membership, public interest surged over county spending decisions, which officials addressed publicly after residents and advocacy groups called for greater transparency.

Officials stated publicly that the golf membership is available to all county employees, prompting questions from residents about usage limits and eligibility. When asked for clarification, Miller noted that employee communication regarding access and procedures was being handled internally. In July, the county mourned the Duplin County Schools Superintendent Austin Obasohan who died at 65 on July 24.

September featured several infrastructure milestones.

The county broke ground on a $3 million, 50,000-square-foot state-funded shell building at the SouthPark Industrial Center near Wallace. It also began construction on a $3.6 million, 15,000-square-foot corporate aircraft hangar at Duplin County Airport. That month, residents experienced steep prop-

ed employees named in the audit, authorized forensic reviews, and implemented new financial controls.

Water, wastewater and stormwater issues dominated board discussions throughout the year. Mount Olive remained under a state-imposed sewer moratorium due to excessive wastewater flows, limiting new development. Residents raised concerns over increased water and sewer rates, billing inaccuracies and drainage problems.

The town pursued engineering studies, grant-funded projects, equipment purchases and required repairs under a state consent order in an effort to address system deficiencies.

Despite ongoing challenges, the town took steps aimed at stabilization and compliance.

Financial records were reconciled, oversight policies were updated, and new infrastructure planning efforts moved forward. In December, three newly elected commissioners were sworn in, and departmental oversight responsibilities were reassigned, marking the start of a new board term as Mount Olive continues work toward regulatory compliance and long-term infrastructure improvements.

1,479

Ballots cast in the Duplin County municipal election erty tax increases following countywide revaluation, despite a rate reduction to $0.58 per $100 valuation. The county received approximately 1,500 appeals, with about 30% resulting in adjustments.

In October, local and state officials broke ground on the first of two shell buildings at the Duplin Airpark Industrial Complex as part of the county’s industrial development plan.

Also, Wendell Murphy, founder of Murphy Farms, was inducted into the National Agricultural Hall of Fame.

The same month, the Board of County Commissioners accepted Miller’s resignation after a special-called meeting. To date Miller’s resignation is unexplained as county officials have cited they cannot comment on personnel matters.

The top county official’s unexplained resignation came amid scrutiny of procurement practices. While county officials declined to offer details, referring to state statute G.S. 153A98, which governs the privacy of county employee personnel records, Miller’s resignation came after the media was copied on a complaint email sent to county commissioners alleging irregularities in the procurement practices along with a 147-page packet of documents detailing payments to an unlicensed contractor over a two-year period.

Lisa Hughes, former Yadkin County manager, was appointed interim county manager on Nov. 4.

Also in November voters in Duplin County participated in municipal elections casting 1,479 ballots out of 7,509 registered voters. In Calypso, Mayor Pro Tem Marvin “Marty” Taylor defeated JoAnne Bowden-Wilson. Wesley Boykin unseated longtime Warsaw Mayor A.J. Connors. On Nov. 17, the Duplin County Animal Services Shelter was cited by the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, resulting in a $1,700 civil penalty.

In December, Duplin County officially broke ground on the highly anticipated $13.1 million North Carolina Forest Service Region One Headquarters at the Duplin County Airport.

This new headquarters marks a major milestone in enhancing regional emergency response capabilities and supporting forest management operations across eastern North Carolina.

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Duplin Journal for Thursday, December 25, 2025

2025: A year of impact, intention From civic action and historic honors to groundbreaking projects that will shape Duplin County’s future, 2025 was marked by moments of purpose, progress and pride. These were the defining moments of the year.

Duplin families ask DEQ to revisit Lear’s draft permit

Duplin Hall of Fame honors Brinson

Jan. 22 A young boy holds a sign urging leaders to put “people before profits” during a North Carolina ENA SELLERS / DUPLIN JOURNAL Department of Environmental Quality meeting public comment session on Lear Corporation’s draft permit held at James Sprunt Community College’s Monk Auditorium in Kenansville. Residents voiced concerns over proposed PFAS discharges into the Northeast Cape Fear River, citing the health and safety of families who live, swim and fish downstream of the facility.

April 17 Former Duplin County Manager Davis Brinson stands with his wife, Brandi, following his induction into the 2025 Duplin County Hall of Fame on April 8. Brinson was recognized during the annual awards banquet for his distinguished service and lasting contributions to the county.

NC Pork Hall of Fame inducts Dexter Edwards March 6 Commissioner Elwood Garner (right) presents Chairman Dexter Edwards (left) with a resolution honoring him for his induction to the North Carolina Pork Hall of Fame during the County Commissioners meeting on March 3.

ENA SELLERS / DUPLIN JOURNAL

Wallace breaks ground on $20M airport improvement project Feb. 27 Members of the Wallace Town Council and airport board gather Tuesday morning, Feb. 25, for a groundbreaking ceremony launching a $20 million airport improvement project that includes road relocations and runway expansion.

K.D. BEARD FOR DUPLIN JOURNAL

ENA SELLERS / DUPLIN JOURNAL

Parents turn loss into hope, raise $75K for Riley’s Army Oct. 2 Hosts Denny and Donna Lanier organized Camo for a Cause in honor of their sons, Hill and Wright, turning MARK GRADY / DUPLIN JOURNAL personal loss into communitydriven hope. The event, held at Tara Creek in Faison, raised an estimated $75,000 for Riley’s Army, a nonprofit supporting children with cancer and their families.

K.D. BEARD FOR DUPLIN JOURNAL

Duplin breaks ground on $3.6M corporate hangar at county airport Sept. 25 County leaders, airport commissioners, and contractors gather Sept. 16 to break ground on a new $3.6 million corporate aircraft hangar at Duplin County Airport.

The 15,000-square-foot facility is designed to support corporate aviation and drive regional economic growth.

April 17 James Sprunt Community College leaders and local officials break ground April 9 on the college’s new 22,000-square-foot Workforce Development Center. Designed to train students for in-demand careers in electrical, plumbing, HVAC, and other skilled trades, the state-of-the-art facility is expected to open by summer 2026.

Courtesy Kyle Tyndall, James Sprunt Community College

Oct. 16 Local and state leaders gather Oct. 14 at the Duplin Airpark Industrial Complex to break ground on the first of two shell buildings as part of Duplin County’s long-term master plan for economic growth and industrial development.

Oct. 30 Wendell Murphy, founder of Murphy Farms, stands with family and colleagues following his induction into the National Agricultural Hall of Fame on Oct. 23 in Bonner Springs, Kansas. Murphy’s innovation and leadership reshaped pork production, earning him a place among agriculture’s most influential figures.

COURTESY MURPHY FAMILY VENTURES

Duplin breaks ground on new Forest Service Region One Headquarters

MARK GRADY / DUPLIN JOURNAL

JSCC breaks ground on Workforce Development Center

Duplin breaks ground at Airpark

Wendell Murphy inducted into National Agricultural Hall of Fame

Duplin celebrates ribbon cutting of $4.27M transportation building Feb. 27 Commissioner Dexter Edwards (left), Angel Venecia, and Brennan Fuquay smile as they prepare to cut the ribbon marking the official opening of Duplin County’s new $4.27 million Transportation facility on Feb. 18.

Commissioners Wayne Branch and Elwood Garner look on in the background during the milestone celebration.

MARK GRADY / DUPLIN JOURNAL

$3M state-funded shell building breaks ground near Wallace

Dec. 11 State and local leaders turn the first shovels of dirt to mark the long-awaited groundbreaking of the new $13.1M facility that will be home to the N.C. Forest Service Region One Headquarters at Duplin County Airport.

The facility will include office space and a dedicated training center on the 12-acre site.

Sept. 11 Officials from Duplin County, the Town of Wallace, the Economic Development Commission, and Daniels and Daniels Construction break ground Sept. 3 on a new 50,000-square-foot shell building at the SouthPark Industrial Center near Wallace, a key step in the county’s efforts to attract new industry and jobs.

ENA SELLERS / DUPLIN JOURNAL

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Duplin Journal for Thursday, December 25, 2025

obituaries

Sara Jane (Shelton) Evans March 15, 1944 – Dec. 15, 2025 Sara Jane Shelton Evans, a gracious, loving, and sharing lady, passed from her earthly life on Monday, December 15, 2025, at home at the age of 81 years.

She was born March 15, 1944, in Delaware, Ohio, the daughter of Hubert C. Shelton and Mary Jane Brown Shelton. In addition to her parents, Sara was preceded in death by her daughter, Elizabeth “Lisa” Ann Evans-Newman, and brother, Jay Shelton.

Sara is survived by her beloved husband of 62 blessed years, Rev. Ralph McKnight Evans; son, Brian Keith Evans; daughter, Susan Rebecca Witherspoon (Dax); grandchildren, Xan Witherspoon (Katie), MaryBeth Kratovel (Tyler), Kristopher Evans-Newman (Lynn), Rebecca Anne Doris (Ashton), and Emily Witherspoon; great grandchildren, Bentley and Charlotte; brother, Bruce Shelton (Anna); many nieces, nephews, and friends.

Sara lived a life rooted in service, faith, and an unwavering commitment to others. As one of the first paid EMTs in Pender County, beginning at Pender East, she answered the call to help long before it was common to do so. Wherever life took her, she found ways to immerse herself in the community --founding a childcare center at their church in Gulf Beach, Florida, that continues to thrive today. As a minister’s wife, she embraced each move without complaint, working alongside her husband to help run The Highlands, a Presbyterian Camp in Ohio and later Camp Kirkwood in Watha, upon their return home to North Carolina. A force to be reckoned with, she would help anyone in a moment’s need. She drove school buses for Pender County Schools and later retired from the Pender County School System, where she devoted her career to working with special needs children, specializing in supporting students with autism.

Loyal, resilient, and a fighter to the very end, her legacy of service, compassion, and strength will live on through the countless lives she touched.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, December 20, 2025, at Hopewell Presbyterian Church with Rev. Ralph Evans conducting the service. The family will receive friends at the church following the service.

To Sara’s many friends and the entire community, Ralph and their family would like to thank you for every kindness shown … prayers, cards, visits, and genuine expressions of concern. We thank God, our Heavenly Father, for the gift of family and friends and pray His eternal blessings to all during this Holy Season and always.

Prince Monroe Lee Sept. 20, 1955 – Dec. 18, 2025 Prince Monroe Lee, 70, of Warsaw, NC, passed away December 18, 2025, at Kitty Askins Hospice Center in Goldsboro, NC. Funeral service will be 1 p.m. Tuesday, December 23, 2025, at Rainbow Missionary Baptist Church in Warsaw, NC. Public viewing is noon – 1 p.m. (one hour prior to the service).

Interment following the service at Middleton Cemetery in Kenansville, NC.

Natasha Pease Aug. 8, 1990 – Dec. 16, 2025 Natasha Nicole Pease, 35, passed from her earthly life on Tuesday, December 16, 2025, at her home.

She was born August 8, 1990, in Roanoke, Virginia. Natasha is survived by her father, Randal Scott Pease; her mother, Amanda Sampson Pease; her husband, Michael Ratajczak; her grandmother, Anna Million; several aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Natasha was a very creative, talented lady. She was artistic and enjoyed drawing and painting.

She has written and published several fiction books. Natasha had a loving and compassionate spirit and was always reaching out to help others. She was loved and will be truly missed.

QUINN MCGOWEN FUNERAL HOME

Samuel Enriqe Martinez

Calvin Robert Beckwith Jr.

June 25, 1963 – Dec. 17, 2025

April 22, 1955 – Dec. 18, 2025

Mr. Samuel Enrique Martinez, age 62, of Magnolia, NC, passed away on Wednesday, December 17, 2025, at home.

Funeral services will be held at Rose Hill Funeral Home Chapel in Rose Hill, NC, on Sunday, December 21, 2025, from 11 am to 2 pm. Burial will follow at Riverview Memorial Park in Watha, NC. Left to cherish his precious memories are his wife, Maria Martinez, of the home; two sons: Daniel Martinez of Magnolia, NC and Mosis Martinez (Yensy) of Wallace, NC; three daughters: Melyna Martinez of Magnolia, NC, Sharna Martinez of Warsaw, NC and Daisy Martinez of El Salvador; three brothers: Daniel Talavera-Martinez of Honduras, Otoniel Talavera-Martinez of Colorado and Fernando Martinez of California; one sister, Elsa Martinez of Newton Grove, NC; eight grandchildren; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends that will miss him dearly.

Calvin Robert Beckwith Jr., 70, passed away on Thursday, December 18, 2025.

The memorial service is Saturday, December 27, 2025, at noon with visitation one hour prior to the service. Their will be a private burial.

He is survived by his son, Tony Beckwith (Kim) of Richlands, NC; grandchildren James Beckwith and Tony Beckwith Jr. Community Funeral Home is honored to serve the Beckwith family.

Joseph “Joe” D. Teachey

Vernella “Nell” Casteen

Aug. 4, 1948 – Dec. 15, 2025 Joseph “Joe” D. Teachey, 77, of Teachey, North Carolina, passed from this life to his eternal rest on Monday, December 15, 2025.

He was born on August 4, 1948, in Duplin County, the son of the late-Dallas Daniel and Myrtle Ann Merritt Teachey. Joe was also preceded in death by his devoted wife of 34 years Joyce Fussell Teachey and brother James “Bobby” Teachey.

Surviving is his daughter, Tammy Teachey Quinn and husband, Robert of Rose Hill; sons, Mathew Teachey of Rose Hill and Joseph Scott Teachey and wife, Sheri of Wallace; grandchildren, Gary Dylan Sessoms, Sarah Elizabeth Sessoms, Emily Caroline Quinn, Ethan Robert Quinn, Elijah Teachey, Steven Teachey, Chase Teachey and Laken Murray and husband Patrick; grandchildren, Lucas Joel Wilkenson and Ray Higgins; sister, Dallas Faye Lancaster, numerous nieces, nephews, extended family and friends that loved Joe dearly.

Joe was a dedicated husband and father who loved his family with all his heart. He was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed spending time doing anything that involved the outdoors, including hunting and fishing. Joe loved animals. Earlier in his life, he had ‘show horses’ that he was very proud of. Joe was usually a calm and quiet man who tended to his own business. He will surely be missed but never forgotten.

The family will receive friends from 9-10 a.m. on Saturday, December 20, 2025, at QuinnMcGowen Funeral Home, Wallace, NC. Graveside funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, inside the Mausoleum Chapel at Riverview Memorial Park. Pastor Philip Eakins will be conducting the service. After the service, Joe will be entombed in Riverview Memorial Park Mausoleum.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made in memory of Joseph Teachey to NC Wildlife Federation, PO Box 10626, Raleigh, NC 27690-6586.

SPONSORED BY

Oct.10, 1943 – Dec. 18, 2025

Miriam Barnhill Core June 28, 1937 – Dec. 15, 2025 Miriam Barnhill Core, 88, passed peacefully from her earthly life on Monday, December 15, 2025, at her home, surrounded by love from her family.

She was born June 28, 1937, in Bladen County, the daughter of Archie Lee Barnhill and Docia Moore Barnhill. In addition to her parents, Miriam was preceded in death by her brother, Norman Barnhill, and sister, Marilyn B. Horrell.

Miriam is survived by her husband, William “Bill” Norman Core; son, Donald M. Barnhill Jr. (Wendy); sisters, Kay B. Beasley (Donald) and Reba B. Eakins (David); sister-in-law, Wanda Barnhill; several nieces and nephews.

Miriam loved her family, and she was a joy to know. Always enjoyed being outdoors working in her yard and tending to her flower gardens. Not only did she have beautiful yard flowers, but pretty potted plants inside. She was a devoted wife, mother, sister and aunt. Miriam had a love of animals and often took care some cats and dogs that appeared at her door. Currently she had a special canine companion, Lucky.

Through the years Miriam and Bill were very supportive of Pender Adult Services and all of their programs. Miriam was loved and will truly be missed.

There will be no services planned at this time.

With grateful appreciation, Miriam’s family would like to thank the staff of Lower Cape Fear LifeCare and Miriam’s caregivers, Pearlene Wells, Cyretta Page, Nancy Register, Naomi Bland, Eukia Wiggins, and Jondaya Williams, for their excellent and devoted care of Miriam.

In memory and honor of Miriam, memorial gifts may be given to Lower Cape Fear Life Care Foundation, 1414 Physician's Drive, Wilmington, NC 28401.

Vernell “Nell” Carter Casteen, 82, passed away Thursday, December 18, 2025, at Wayne UNC Hospital in Goldsboro, NC. Mrs. Casteen was born on October 10, 1943, to the late Charlie Carter and Pearl Daniels Carter.

Mrs. Casteen is survived by son, Charles Allen Casteen, and wife, Lisa of Warsaw; daughters, Crystal Pullen and husband, Kirk of Mount Olive, NC, and Carol Barwick of Kinston; seven grandchildren, Gaige, Trey, Tessa, Max, Isabelle, Kristen, and Steve, and eight greatgrandchildren.

In addition to her parents, Mrs. Casteen was preceded in death by her husband, James Casteen; brothers, Edward, Elwood, Lynwood, and C. H. Carter; and sisters, Betty Inez Lane, Vivian Grey Carter, Edna Bell Murphy, and Gladys Watkins.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, January 17, 2026, at Faison Baptist Church.

Nell was a member of the Faison Baptist Church. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Faison Baptist Church Scholarship Fund, P. O. Box 280, Faison, NC 28341.

Larry Allen Butts June 28, 1946 – Dec. 17, 2025 Larry Allen Butts, 79, passed away on Thursday, December 17, 2025, VA Hospital, Durham, NC. He is preceded in death by his parents, Hartwell and Madge Butts and a brother, Charlie Butts.

The graveside service is Sunday, December 21, 2025, at 2 p.m. at Bostic-Sandlin Cemetery on 904 Cornmill Road in Beulaville, NC. Visitation will take place at the cemetery.

He is survived by his wife, Nancy Bostic Butts of Sanford, NC; sons John Butts of Cary, NC, Scott Hunt of Charlotte, NC, and Trey Womble (Katharine) of Wilmington, NC; daughters Jennifer Stone (Mike) of Sanford, NC, and Kimberly Butts, Santa Cruz, CA, grandchildren Gabrielle Stone, Connor Stone, Malia Womble, Quinn Womble and Willa Womble.

Mattie Louise Glaspie Underwood March 9, 1948 – Dec. 13, 2025 Mattie Louise Glaspie Underwood, 77, of Warsaw, NC, passed away December 13, 2025, at her residence.

Funeral service will be 2:30 p.m.

Sunday, December 21, 2025, at First Baptist Church in Turkey.

Public viewing will be 1:30pm - 2:30pm Sunday, December 21, 2025 (one hour prior to the service). Interment will be 10:30 a.m. Monday, December 22, 2025, at Devotional Gardens in Warsaw, NC. Mattie Louise Glaspie Underwood was born in Warsaw, North Carolina, where she began a life rooted in faith, family, and service. Mattie was a devoted and hardworking woman who spent many years serving her community through her work at Hamilton Beach, Carolina Turkey, the Duplin County Sheriff’s Department, and later at the Warsaw Rest Area. Her strong work ethic and dedication were evident in everything she did.

Known affectionately by many as “Wezzy,” Mattie was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, greatgrandmother, sister, aunt, and friend. She was a pillar of strength for her family and a guiding light within her community.

Mattie was also a breast cancer survivor, and she faced that journey with courage, faith, and determination—never allowing it to diminish her spirit or her praise.

Faith was at the center of Mattie’s life. She played a significant role in her church family, faithfully serving in various capacities, including usher, minister, and honored Mother of the Church.

She often joked that she had a “big mouth,” explaining that it was easier to praise God that way—and she truly lived by those words. Throughout her life, Mattie was a source of wisdom, prayer, and encouragement. You could always go to her for guidance, and she would tell you whether you were right, wrong, or simply needed to take your situation to God in prayer. Every conversation ended the same way—with a heartfelt “Hallelujah,” a reminder of her love, and her saying, “I love you,” followed by her warm and reassuring smile. Mattie was a giver at heart, always willing to help, pray, or give whatever she could to others. She will forever remain in our hearts—our Wezzy, our mother, our grandmother, our great-grandmother, our prayer warrior, and our guiding light.

Mattie leaves to cherish her precious memories, her husband Douglas Underwood; sons Lavon Bracey and Robert Glaspie; special daughter Sharon Garnett; special niece Alexander Bracey; grandchildren Lavell Bracey (Sonia), Latisha Bracey and James Henry Andrew; greatgrandchildren Tatiana Bracey, Rodriquez Bracey and Miracle Scarboro; special aunt, Delores Hodges; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives' and friends In addition to her parents, Mattie Louise was also preceded in death by one son, Rodney Glaspie; one grandson, Robert Jr. Andrew; sisters Eunice Dancer, Alberta Bracey, Geneva Johnson, Glendora Bracey and Maggie Lee Bracey-Jefferson; special sister Luedell Washington; and two brothers Jessie Hodges and Garner Bracey.

More obituaries on page B6

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Duplin Journal for Thursday, December 25, 2025

OBITUARIES

Food, games and gratitude highlight Duplin County employee luncheon

Bobby Allen Dail

David E. Johnson

May 28, 1963 – Dec. 15, 2025

Feb 7, 1964 – Dec. 16, 2025

Bobby Allen Dail, 62, passed from his earthly life on Monday, December 15, 2025, at Novant Health New Hanover Regional Medical Center.

He was born May 28, 1963, in Cordell, Oklahoma, the son of Robert Allen Dail and Ella Frances Ezzell Dail, both of whom preceded Bobby in death.

Bobby is survived by his son, Bobby Allen Dail Jr. and his wife, Arlisa; grandchildren, Mia Avery Dail, Madyson Wills, and Micah Wills; brother, Robert Allen Dail Jr.; sister, Robin Flynn and her husband, Thomas; and many extended family and friends.

Bobby was proficient and enjoyed working on cars. He was an avid NASCAR fan and loved watching the races. Bobby had an excellent memory and could recall events from years past that no one else could. It is said that Bobby lived his life on his own terms.

There will be a graveside service at 1 p.m. on Friday, December 19, 2025, at Riverview Memorial Park with the family conducting the service. The family will receive friends at the cemetery following the service.

David Earl Johnson, 61, Faison resident, went home to be with his Lord on Tuesday evening at Novant Health New Hanover Regional Medical Center, surrounded by the love of his family.

David, as he was affectionately known to many, was born in Johnston County on February 7, 1964, to the late Earl Johnson and Brenda Johnson.

A dedicated public servant, David spent 10 years serving as a paramedic, answering the call to help others in their most critical moments. He proudly served with Johnston County Emergency Services, Clayton Rescue, and Johnston Ambulance Service, where his compassion, steady presence, and commitment to service made a meaningful difference in countless lives.

Helping others was not just his profession—it was his calling.

In addition, David worked for more than 20 years as a field technician for Transformer Maintenance & Service (TMS), bringing the same dedication, skill, and reliability to his work in the energy industry.

PHOTOS BY MARK GRADY FOR DUPLIN JOURNAL

Employees line up to select bingo cards during the Duplin County Employee Appreciation Luncheon last Friday at the Duplin Event Center. In addition to bingo, employees enjoyed door prizes, a cake-walk-style game awarding gift cards to local restaurants and cornhole.

Left, Deputy County Manager Carrie Shields explains the rules for a cake walk-style game awarding gift cards to local restaurants during the Duplin County Employee Appreciation Luncheon on Friday at the Duplin Event Center. Right, Russell Teachey, left, and George Young, employees with the Duplin County Transportation Department, practice cornhole during the Duplin County Employee Appreciation Luncheon on Friday at the Duplin Event Center. Teachey and Young were defending their title as last year’s cornhole champions.

Interim County Manager Lisa Hughes, with microphone, recognizes Duplin County employees who have served from five to more than 25 years during the Employee Appreciation Luncheon on Friday at the Duplin Event Center. Hughes was joined by members of the Duplin County Board of Commissioners.

DUPLIN COUNTY SCHOOLS

Pathways with purpose

JANUARY 2026

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• Mandatory Teacher Workday • Board of Education Meeting (O.P. Johnson Education Bldg.)

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JSCC Classes Begin

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Duplin County Public Schools • www.duplinschools.net • 910-296-1521

DUPLIN SPORTS MS. VOLLEYBALL 2025

HEART OF CHAMPION

Play of ‘complete’ player Page sends her into history books

Leadership role comes natural for Panthers’ three-sport Cave

Jansley Page was fourth in kills in 3A and showed her all-around game by landing third in 66 blocks, 156 digs (156) and and 53 aces.

WRH’s Jansley Page rises to the top by doing just about anything to help the ’Dawgs win on the volleyball court

ED’s Kinsey Cave is a coaches’ dream — in any sport

By Michael Jaenicke Duplin Journal

By Michael Jaenicke Duplin Journal

TEACHEY — Jansley Page is a talented hitter on a volleyball court.

She’s also had a serve that zips the ball into a vacant spot on the floor.

And the Wallace-Rose Hill senior covered a lot of the surface during any given point, there to dig it up, or set it in motion toward the net on the second touch.

Covering nearly every statistical category in the scorebook, Page catapulted her way past teammate Angelina Cavallaro and East Duplin’s Kinsey Cave to become Ms. Volleyball in Duplin County.

Page, the NCHSAA 3A Player of the Year overcame Cavallaro, who captured the honor the previous two seasons, by playing from baseline-to-baseline and backline to above the net.

Both were highly-ranked hitters, with Cavallaro zipping 435 kills and Page 433, making decoys for setter Maddie Gavin, the leading assist player in Duplin County. All three were on the NC Volleyball Coaches Association’s all-stats 3A list.

Cavallaro was second in kills in 3A and 18th among all classifications. Page was fourth and 19th, respectively.

The duo is 1-2 in Duplin in kills, yet Page’s resume also includes three top-five finishes among her Duplin rivals.

See PAGE, page B3

BEULAVILLE — Kinsey Cave is an extreme competitor.

Perhaps not, but that’s sure how it looks to anyone who comes to the East Duplin campus, whether they see her in one of her four sports or during the school’s Powder Puff flag football game.

The word offseason doesn’t appear on her calendar. The only real question is: What sport is she currently playing?

She’s been Ms. Basketball the previous two See HEART, page B4

Jansley Page was named 3A Player of the Year by the N.C. Volleyball Coaches Association.

She will play volleyball next fall for Fayetteville Tech.

EDWARDO PUAC / DUPLIN JOURNAL

Kinsey Cave is all-Duplin first team in three sports — volleyball, basketball and softball.

PHOTOS BY EDWARDO PUAC / DUPLIN JOURNAL

COACH OF THE YEAR

Williams connections with players huge reason for ’Dawgs’ success WRH’s head coach captured his 100th win and fourth-straight top coach award

By Michael Jaenicke Duplin Journal

EDWARDO PUAC / DUPLIN JOURNAL

WRH won its 100th match under head coach Kevin Williams in 2025. He led the Bulldogs to successive seasons of 13-7, 17-5, 18-5, 21-3 and 21-5 from 2021-25.

TEACHEY — Developing talent is one aspect.

Drawing the road map, driving the bus and getting six players to connect on and off the court is much harder.

An influx of players with fundamental volleyball skills was key in turning Wallace-Rose Hill into a power team the past five years.

So, too, was head coach Kevin Williams, who has captured his third-consecutive Coach of the Year award in Duplin County.

Williams, who beat East Duplin’s Susan Raynor in what can only be described as a photo finish, captured his 100th career win just before the postseason.

The connection between the two cannot be overlooked, as Wiliams was an assistant for Raynor for a handful of seasons before she returned the coach the Panthers.

WRH won the ECC 2A in 2024 and tied Midway for the Swine Valley 2A/3A Conference title last fall to complete its second-consecutive 21-win campaign.

The Bulldogs’ progression under Williams has been a steady upward climb.

After going 20-35 from his first season in ’18 to ’20, WRH carved out consecutive campaigns that blossomed from 13-7 to 17-5 to 18-5 to 21-3 to it

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21-5 swansong that figured six seniors.

Most nights, Angelina Cavallaro, who had 1,186 kills during her career, or Jansley Page (909 kills) would dominate, with 1,000-assist hustler Mattie Gavin spinning the drink on the floor.

Credit Williams getting players such as Gabby Debman to log a Duplin-high 117 blocks, while Kaylee Lovette repelled 72 and Sally Martinez and Isabella Parker to combined for 258 digs.

Teamwork on and off the court was facilitated by Williams and that bond was both necessary and instrumental in WRH’s success. His “life” huddles provided increased communication and an opportunity See COACH, page B2

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Duplin Journal for Thursday, December 25, 2025

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Mattie Gavin Wallace Rose-Hill, volleyball

Mattie Gavin was the queen of assists in Duplin County in 2025. ‘ The Bulldog senior had 775 pre-point pushes and collected 139 digs.

She was not a flashy front-liner, but rather a player who gave opportunities to her teammates.

EDWARDO PUAC / DUPLIN JOURNAL Gavin was exceptional in helping teammates Angelina Cavallaro and Jansley Page combine for 868 kills as WRH went 21-5 and tied Midway for the Swain Valley Conference crown.

Gavin will play volleyball next season at Louisburg College.

COLUMN MICHAEL JAENICKE

Talented volleyball players bring on difficult decisions THREE DUPLIN County volleyball teams played topnotch this fall, as WallaceRose Hill, East Duplin and North Duplin combined for a 60-6 record, two conference championships and many scorching kills, dynamite digs and fluffy sets made for a royal table setting.

While there is no team of the year, a bigger task is selecting the best players is far from science yet not biased.

First-, second- and thirdteam players were picked by comparing statistics and through conversations from the four county coaches.

Unfortunately, there are not enough spots on the first team given this season’s talent. That’s not always the case, and in fact, on occasion I’ve not selected a player of the year. One basketball season, every first-team player had alarmingly similar statistics and next to impossible to find differences or special talents between five players, leading me to spout, “Is there really a Mr. Basketball this season?”

I wanted more individual awards this time but then found out that, much like cheesecake, more is still not enough.

Why couldn’t Angelina Cavallaro win the Queen of Kills award?

Mattie Gavin, Karsyn Parker and Marissa Bernal could have fought over the Backcourt Battler award.

Nine was the magic

There’s simply not enough spots on the all-star lists given this season’s talent.

number for the first team and that pushed several deserving players to the second team.

But I settled on just three marquee awards, which brings us to Coach of the Year, where strong cases can be made for WRH’s Kevin Williams and ED’s Susan Raynor, two coaches who teach the game exceptionally well and have super-charged relationships with their players.

So does ND’s Heather Best, the underdog choice, though comparing coaches is somewhat unimportant as all three, and also first-year JK coach Heather Blaylock, a former Methodist College player and energizer, are making an impact on their players on multiple fronts.

Interest in volleyball has spiked in Duplin County the past few seasons, leading to success and more victory dances and that’s a direct result of quality coaching.

In case you missed it, here were a few highlights from the fall.

• WRH (21-5) beat Midway to stop the Raider’s 55-match conference winning streak and tied the Spivey’s Corner gang for the Swine Valley Conference title. It’s the second flag the Bulldogs have collected in the past two seasons. They also advanced to the fourth round of the 3A playoff, falling to Midway for the third time in Teachey.

• East Duplin (22-3) picked up speed after getting a revenge win over WRH. The Panthers won 15 in a row to end the season and ended their season in the fourth round of the 4A playoffs.

• But Rebel fans had plenty to cheer as well, as ND went 17-8, landing second in the new seven-school Carolina Conference and won a firstround 2A playoff match. ND also logged a winning record in back-to-back seasons, a rarity in its history.

• James Kenan (7-15) had nearly the same record as it did in 2024 (7-14), yet the Tigers’ play improved under first-year coach Heather Blaylock. Next fall, the former Methodist University player will be seeking to bring JK its first winning record since 2008’s mark of 9-8.

Holiday cheer to all during the Christmas and New Year’s Eve holidays. Look for the all-Duplin boys’ soccer team on Jan. 9.

Lilly Fulghum logged more than 1,000 assists during her career at ND.

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EDWARDO PUAC / DUPLIN JOURNAL

COACH from page B1 for players to grow and develop together.

The Bulldogs gobbled up teams for the better part of the regular season aside from Midway and a loss to 6A Jackson-

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ville in which Gavin missed the match for preventative measures following a fall three days earlier.

The face of WRH volleyball will no doubt change next fall after a run from obscurity to being contender.

Williams’ coaching career extended to his two daughters, Hailey, and Haven, a twotime Ms. Softball at WRH (’18 and ’19) who played the sport at Louisburg College for a season.

He’s still a bench coach for Bulldog head coach Cory Lovelace.

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B3

Duplin Journal for Thursday, December 25, 2025

2025 ALL-DUPLIN VOLLEYBALL

Full-court coverage Four Panthers, three ’Dawgs and a pair of Rebels burned up area volleyball courts as first-team stars

Angelina Cavallaro (WRH) Jansley Page (WRH) Kinsey Cave (ED) Maggie Brown (ND) Zoe Cavanaugh (ED) Zoe Turner (ED) Abby Norris (ND) Sophie Jones (ED) Sophia Jones (ED) Bennett Holley (ED)

Fulghum was second in assists (249) and aces (63), while landing ninth in digs (131). The senior had 1,437 assists during her career.

SECOND TEAM Maggie Brown, ND, So. Made 172 kills and the top net player for the Rebels.

Gabby Debman, WRH, Jr. Her 117 blocks were tops in Duplin.

Bennett Holley, ED, Fr. Upstart fit right in with 110 digs, 71 kills and 39 aces.

Y’Anna Rivers, JK, Jr. The Tigers’ top hitter showcased the rest of her game from midseason forward.

Sophia Jones, ED, So. Her 55 blocks were fourth most in Duplin.

Abigeal Norris, ND, Jr. Pushed in her 100th kill in the second round of the playoffs.

Angelina Cavallaro, WRH, Sr.

Turner might have been the

Lilly Fulghum, ND, Sr.

Cavanaugh’s 189 digs were third most in Duplin, while her 138 kills was fifth highest.

She had 38 aces, while playing a slightly different role than in ’24 when she landed 174 kills.

TEACHEY — It was an exceptional fall for volleyball, one of the best-ever for Wallace-Rose Hill, East Duplin and North Duplin.

The top individual marquee awards this season go to the following: Ms. Volleyball: Jansley Page, WRH, Sr. Heart of a Champion: Kinsey Cave, ED, Jr. Coach of the Year: Kevin Williams, WRH (See B1 for stories on these award winners.)

The first-team also includes and would not be complete without the following:

Zoe Turner, ED, Sr.

2025 VOLLEYBALL STATS

Zoe Cavanaugh, ED, Sr.

By Michael Jaenicke Duplin Journal

The two-time Ms. Volleyball led the Duplin in kills with 435, which was No. 2 in 3A and No. 18th among all players in the state. The opposing coaches shuddered when she left her feet as defenders scrambled to cover the floor from her rocket shots.

Though just 5-foot-8, this senior had a vertical leap of 24 inches and played with a presence, focus and fly-to-thenet-and-hammer-it-home approach that was intimidating.

She finished with 1,186 career kills, 249 aces and 416 digs.

She will play Division 2 volleyball next year at the University of Mount Olive.

itor. It backed up ’24 in which she had 709 assists. She was also fourth in aces (54) and fifth in digs (139).

EDWARDO PUAC / DUPLIN JOURNAL

WRH’s Angelina Cavallaro was second in 3A in kills with 435. most improved player in the county and did her share to carry East Duplin early in the season. She paced Duplin in kills with 70 and was sixth in kills (122) and seventh in digs (147) Marissa Bernal, ND, Sr. Bernal, who will play volleyball at Louisburg College, had a Duplin-high 384 digs and had 397 in ’24 to finish her career with 894. Her 57 aces were third best among her peers.

She also had 55 winners as a junior.

Karsyn Parker, ED, Jr. Parker was second in digs (249) and fourth in aces (54) and a constantly moving force in the back court for the Panthers.

Mattie Gavin, WRH, Sr. Gavin, an all-state 3A player, led the county with a whopping 775 assists, which was 94 more than her nearest compet-

THIRD TEAM Peyton Ezzell, JK, Fr. Landed in the top 20 because of her setting consistency and serve.

Kaylee Lovette, WRH, Sr. Second in Duplin with 72 blocks.

Gracie Higginbotham, ND, Fr. Made her presence known as first-year player with 51 aces and 74 digs.

Isabella Parker, WRH, Jr. Had 107 digs as a strong support player.

Sally Martinez, WRH, Jr. Had back-to-back 83 assist seasons.

Lauren Cottle, ED, Jr. Came through for 81 digs and 150 assists.

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Page, who will play volleyball at Fayetteville Tech, was third in blocks (66), fourth in digs (156) and fifth in aces (53).

After each match point this winter, fans left Steve Robinson Court remembering at least one aspect of her game.

And her do-it-all spurts were often infectious to her teammates.

WRH had back-to-back 21win seasons and went 77-18 with Page as a four-year starter.

Page had 603 career assists, including 386 as a sophomore, consecutive 50-ace seasons in ’24 and ’25, and at moderate pace, six to eight matches away from logging 1,000 kills. She finished with 909.

Cave, who had far less kills (178) than the Bulldog combo, passed the eye-ball test as a leader and had solid numbers across all other stat categories (third in kills and blocks, fifth in assists, sixth in digs, seventh in aces).

The Panther junior is the Heart of a Champion honoree.

KILLS 435 433 178 172 138 122 100 80 72 71

ACES Zoe Turner (ED) Lilly Fulghum (ND) Marissa Bernal (ND) Karsyn Parker (ED) Jansley Page (WRH) Karysn Parker (ED) Kinsey Cave (ED) Gracie Higginbotham (ND) Angelina Cavallaro (WRH) Sophia Jones (ED) Angelina Cavallaro (WRH) Bennett Holley (ED)

70 63 57 54 53 52 52 51 46 46 39 39

ASSISTS Mattie Gavin (WRH) Lilly Fulghum (ND) Kinsey Cave (ED) Lauren Cottle (ED) Bennett Holley (ED)

775 386 205 150 114

DIGS Marissa Bernal (ND) Karsyn Parker (ED) Zoe Cavanaugh (ED) Kinsey Cave (ED) Jansley Page (WRH) Sally Martinez (WRH) Zoe Turner (ED) Mattie Gavin (WRH) Angelina Cavallaro (WRH) Lilly Fulghum (ND) Bennett Holley (ED) Isabella Parker (WRH) Carrly Strickland (ND)

384 249 189 159 156 151 147 139 129 131 110 107 107

BLOCKS Gabby Debman (WRH) Kaylee Lovette (WRH) Jansley Page (WRH) Sophia Jones (ED) Kinsey Cave (ED)

MS. VOLLEYBALL 2025: Jansley Page, Wallace-Rose Hill 2024: Angelina Cavallaro, Wallace-Rose Hill 2023: Angelina Cavallaro, Wallace-Rose Hill 2022: Mary Hadden Braswell, Wallace-Rose Hill 2021: Emily Lanier, East Duplin 2020: Maddie Simpson, East Duplin 2019: Maddie Simpson, East Duplin 2018: Maddie Simpson, East Duplin 2017: Anna Thornton, North Duplin 2016: Lauren Brooks, Wallace-Rose Hill

117 72 66 55 30

B4

Duplin Journal for Thursday, December 25, 2025

NFL postseason will miss all of Mahomes, Brady, Manning for first time since 1998 season Six quarterbacks not born by 1998 could star in this year’s postseason

By Josh Dubow The Associated Press JOHN ELWAY and Dan Marino were still starting quarterbacks, Tom Brady was a little-known college player at Michigan and at least six starting quarterbacks for potential 2025 playoffs teams weren’t even alive the last time the NFL had a postseason like this.

With Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs officially eliminated from playoff contention, the upcoming playoffs will be the first since the 1998 season that don’t feature at least one of Mahomes, Brady or Peyton Manning at quarterback.

Those three prolific passers have defined the past quarter-century of NFL football, especially when it comes to the postseason. Since Manning made his playoff debut in his second season in 1999, at least one of those quarterbacks has been on center stage almost every January.

In the past 26 seasons, that trio combined for 42 playoff

berths, 96 postseason starts, 66 playoff wins and 12 Super Bowl titles, with Brady winning seven, Mahomes three and Manning two.

At least one of the three made it to the conference championship weekend in 20 of the 26 postseasons — including either Brady or Mahomes in the last 15 — with 18 Super Bowls featuring at least one, including when Brady beat Mahomes in Super Bowl 55 following the 2020 season.

Brady and Mahomes stand on top of the leaderboard when it comes to several postseason quarterback stats, including wins (Brady 35, Mahomes 17) and TD passes (Brady 88, Mahomes 46).

The absence of Mahomes and the Chiefs could open the door for someone like Josh Allen or Lamar Jackson to make their first Super Bowl trip or even give an opportunity to a newer generation that features six quarterbacks whose teams are currently in playoff position and weren’t born during the 1998 playoffs: Drake Maye, C.J. Stroud, Trevor Lawrence, Bo Nix, Caleb Williams and Brock Purdy.

Carolina’s Bryce Young could be a seventh if the Panthers sur-

pass Tampa Bay in the NFC South race.

Of course, there’s the possibility that the vacancy on the podium could be filled by a veteran quarterback who already has a Super Bowl ring. Philadelphia’s Jalen Hurts, Pittsburgh’s Aaron Rodgers, the Rams’ Matthew Stafford and Detroit’s Jared Goff all fit that bill.

The quarterbacks from that 1998 postseason featured five future Hall of Famers in Elway, Marino, Steve Young, Troy Aikman and Brett Favre; other longtime quarterbacks like Vinny Testaverde, Mark Brunell and Randall Cunningham; as well as Chris Chandler, Jake Plummer, Doug Flutie and Scott Zolak.

Elway finished that postseason run by winning his second straight Super Bowl for Denver over Chandler and the Atlanta Falcons. He retired after that game, with Marino, Young and Aikman following in the next two years.

Brady was just about ready to step through the door left open at the time, just as Mahomes took the baton from him decades later. Now, the opportunity is there for someone else to join the elite group.

SIDELINE REPORT NFL

Receiver Meyers, Jaguars agree to 3-year, $60M extension Jacksonville, Fla. Receiver Jakobi Meyers and the Jacksonville Jaguars have agreed to terms on a three-year, $60 million contract extension that includes $40 million guaranteed. The Jaguars traded two 2026 draft picks — fourth- and sixth-rounders — to Las Vegas to acquire Meyers at the trade deadline in early November.

The 29-year-old Meyers has 27 catches for 355 yards and three touchdowns in six games with Jacksonville, becoming Trevor Lawrence’s most dependable receiver.

NCAA FOOTBALL

Mensah to return to Duke in 2026 Durham Duke quarterback Darian Mensah announced he would return to the Blue Devils next season. He had briefly explored entered the NFL draft after leading his team to a victory over Virginia in the ACC title game. The sophomore, who transferred from Tulane this past offseason, threw for 3,645 yards with 30 touchdown passes and just five interceptions for the Blue Devils. His yardage ranked third in the Football Bowl Subdivision, and he was fifth in touchdown passes.

EDWARDO PUAC / DUPLIN JOURNAL

Kinsey Cave was the East Central 3A/4A Conference’s Player of the Year.

HEART from page B1

ROBERT F. BUKATY / AP PHOTO

New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye (10) passes against the Buffalo Bills during a game earlier this month.

seasons and an all-county, allECC infielder for the softball team and she runs track when championship season comes around.

Last fall, Cave did what always does — compete and lead on the volleyball court with her play and direction.

She guided the Panthers to a 22-3 mark and an East Central 4A Conference title, before falling in the fourth round to eventual champ state Uwharrie Charter.

The Panther head coach called her, “quarterback,” was key to a 15-match winning

streak as her production and leadership progressed.

Cave blitzed her way to 178 kills, 52 aces and 205 assists, while producing 30 blocks and 159 digs in the defensive set, to land her in the top seven in Duplin County in five categories.

ECC volleyball coaches voted her as their Player of the Year.

Arguably the best all-around female athlete in Duplin County, Cave hit .362 in softball last spring and this winter is averaging 19.5 points, 8.5 rebounds and 3.8 steals in basketball.

This comes after being the point guard on a team that has gone 29-8 the past two seasons.

WARSAW PLANNING BOARD VACANCY Warsaw Planning Board has a vacancy for an in-town member. A North Carolina Municipal Planning Board member is a citizen appointed to review and recommend land use development applications, including zoning changes, subdivisions, site plans, and other development proposals, to the governing board of a municipality, ultimately guiding the community’s growth and development by ensuring proposed projects align with the comprehensive plan and local ordinances; their primary responsibility is to analyze plans, gather data, and provide informed recommendations to the town council on matters related to the physical development of the municipality. Interested individuals need to submit interest letter/resume to Town Manager, Lea Turner at manager@townofwarsawnc.com. Resumes and interest letters need to be received no later than January 7th.

WARSAW RECREATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE VACANCY Warsaw Recreation Advisory Committee has a vacancy. This committee serves as an advisory body to the Board of Commissioners regarding parks and recreation resources and programs. The committee also reviews matters pertaining to the planning, development, improvement, equipping and maintenance of recreation facilities and resources of the Town.

The recreation advisory committee meets. Interested individuals need to submit interest letter/resume to Town Manager, Lea Turner at manager@townofwarsawnc.com. Resumes and interest letters need to be received no later than January 7th.

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VOLUME 145 ISSUE 101 | WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2025 | STANLYNEWSJOURNAL.COM

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Stanly NewS Journal THE STANLY COUNTY EDITION OF NORTH STATE JOURNAL

WHAT’S HAPPENING Minaj surprises conservatives with praise for Trump, Vance at Arizona event Rapper Nicki Minaj made a surprise appearance at a gathering of conservatives in Arizona. Speaking on stage at Turning Point USA’s AmericaFest convention, the artist praised President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance, calling them “role models” for young men. The rap star was interviewed by Erika Kirk, the widow of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who has since taken over as leader of Turning Point. Kirk asked Minaj about her newly found support for Trump, whom she had condemned in the past.

Minaj’s appearance Sunday at the flagship event for the powerful conservative youth organization may shore up her status as a MAGA acolyte.

“60 Minutes” pulls critical piece on Trump deportation policy Hours before airtime on Sunday, CBS News’ “60 Minutes” held a planned story on President Donald Trump’s deportation policy at the order of the network’s new editor-in-chief, Bari Weiss.

Weiss, the founder of the Free Press website, had sought to get Trump administration perspective included in the story. The move is sure to increase scrutiny on CBS and “60 Minutes,” which Trump sued last fall over an interview with Kamala Harris and has recently complained about stories critical of him. Weiss said in a statement that holding stories that aren’t ready, because they lack context or are missing critical voices, happen every day in newsrooms.

NSA employee sues Trump administration over transgender rights, “immutable” genders A transgender employee of the National Security Agency is suing the Trump administration and seeking to block enforcement of a presidential executive order and other policies the employee says violate federal civil rights law. Sarah O’Neill, a NSA data scientist who is transgender, is challenging the order requiring the federal government to recognize only two “immutable” sexes: male and female. O’Neill says it has led to a hostile work environment that denies her very existence, claiming that she is unable to use the women’s restroom and can’t use her preferred pronouns.

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President Donald Trump arrives to speak at a campaign event last Friday in Rocky Mount.

Trump touts economic progress during Rocky Mount visit For many, the promised golden age hasn’t yet arrived

By Makiya Seminera The Associated Press ROCKY MOUNT — She had worked 22 days straight in her job as a technician at an engine plant to save up, and now Daijah Bryant could finally do what she was putting off: Christmas shopping.

Bryant pushed her cart out of a Walmart in Rocky Mount and loaded her sedan’s backseat with bags of gifts. While they would soon bring joy to her

friends and family, it was difficult for the 26-year-old to feel good about the purchases.

“Having to pay bills, if you happen to pay rent and try to do Christmas all at the same time, it is very, very hard,” she said with exasperation.

Ahead of President Donald Trump’s Friday evening visit to Rocky Mount, some residents said they were feeling an economic squeeze that seems hard to escape. The uneasy feeling spans political affiliation in the town, which is split between two largely rural and somewhat impoverished counties, although some were more hopeful than others that there are signs

“I inherited the mess.

I got the prices down and they are going down still further.”

President Donald Trump of reprieve on the horizon.

It was Trump’s second event this month aimed at championing his economic policies ahead of a consequential midterm election next year, both held in presidential battleground states. Similar to Trump’s earlier stop in Pennsylvania, Rocky

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Albemarle reveals health inside clinic project details

Former Wake Forest basketball star Rodney Rogers was among the sports figures who died in 2025. See more in Sports.

“The city’s work to support this project is part of the city’s strategic plan goal of enhancing community and economic growth opportunities.”

Albemarle Mayor Ronnie Michael

The facility at 410 Pee Dee Ave. will create 28 new jobs

By Jesse Deal Stanly News Journal ALBEMARLE — More details have been released about a new Atrium Health medical facility planned for downtown Albemarle following the city’s recent receipt of a $350,000 Rural Infrastructure Grant from the North Carolina Department of Commerce.

In early December, Gov. Josh Stein announced that Albemarle had been awarded

the grant to help redevelop a long-vacant 17,000-squarefoot building into a health clinic. On Thursday, the city issued a news release outlining additional specifics about the project at 410 Pee Dee Ave. The city describes the family medical facility as a “transformational investment in modern family medicine, an urgent care clinic, workforce development and downtown revitalization.”

The clinic, expected to create 28 high-paying jobs and leverage $1,235,500 in private investment, will offer a range of services, including See CLINIC, page A5

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Rocky Mount may be in a politically advantageous location, but the hardships its residents report mirror the tightening financial strains many Ameri-

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A2

Stanly News Journal for Wednesday, December 24, 2025

WEDNESDAY

12.24.25 #69

Stanly County Arts Council seeks award nominations The deadline for nominations is Jan. 23, 2026

“Join the conversation” North State Journal (USPS 518620) (ISSN 2471-1365) Trip Hoffend Publisher Jim Sills VP of Local Newspapers Cory Lavalette Senior Editor Jordan Golson Local News Editor Shawn Krest Sports Editor Dan Reeves Features Editor Lauren Rose Design Editor Jesse Deal Reporter PJ Ward-Brown Photographer BUSINESS David Guy Advertising Manager Published Wednesday and Sunday as part of North State Journal 1548 NC 24-27 BYP W Albemarle NC 28001 TO SUBSCRIBE: 704-982-2121 STANLYNEWSJOURNAL.COM Annual Subscription Price: $100.00 Periodicals Postage Paid at Albemarle N.C. and at additional mailing offices POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: North State Journal 1201 Edwards Mill Rd. Suite 300 Raleigh NC 27607

STANLY

happening Here’s a quick look at what’s coming up in and around Stanly County:

By Jesse Deal Stanly News Journal

Dec. 30

ALBEMARLE — The Stanly County Arts Council is now accepting nominations for its 2026 Arts Person of the Year award, recognizing individuals who have made a lasting impact on the arts community across Stanly County.

The honor will be presented during the SCAC’s eighth-annual Celebration of the Arts on March 21, 2026, at the Stanly County Agri-Civic Center. The recipient will be recognized with a $250 donation made in their name to the Stanly County arts organization of their choosing.

“This award was created in 2014 by the Arts Council to recognize those who have made a significant positive impact on the arts in Stanly County, and who have worked diligently to support, promote and create quality arts experiences for the whole community,” the SCAC wrote in a press release.

Nominations must be submitted by Jan. 23, 2026. Anyone who lives or works in Stanly County may submit a nomination, and all nominees must also live or work within the county to be considered eligible.

Previous Arts Person of the Year recipients include Charlotte Maness, Angela Moore, Wes Tucker, Carmella Hedrick, Tim Harris, John Williams, Aza Hudson, Kent Harkey, Edna-Lipe Harkey, Tim Hedrick, Lisa Ewers and Christian Payne.

Nomination forms are available at stanlycountyartscouncil.org or may be re-

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The glass fused awards are uniquely designed and created for the Arts Council by the art program at GHA Autism Supports. quested by emailing stanlycountyartscouncil1974@gmail. com.

The Celebration of the Arts event is open to the public from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., with the 2026 Arts Person of the Year award scheduled to be presented at 1:45 p.m.

In addition to that honor, the Arts Council is also accepting nominations for its Fine Arts Educator of the Year award, commonly referred to as the Jim Kennedy award.

The award is named in dedication to James D. Kennedy, a longtime Stanly County arts advocate, teacher and coach.

According to SCAC guidelines, the Jim Kennedy award recognizes a fine arts teacher in the county’s public school system “who has made a significant positive impact on the arts in education and has inspired students to pursue, appreciate, and respect the fine arts.”

The recipient of the Jim Kennedy award will receive a $250 classroom grant to assist with the purchase of supplies and instructional materials.

Past recipients of the Fine Arts Educator of the Year honor include Lori Watson, Michelle Osborne, Stacy Bottoms, Jessica Kiser, Frank Poolos, Rebekah Crisco, Derek Smith, Randy Fike, Wanda Maness, Julie Starnes and Daniel Dickens.

Unlike the Arts Person of the Year award, nominations for the Jim Kennedy award may only be submitted by Stanly County Schools principals. Students and parents who wish to support a teacher’s nomination are encouraged to share their ideas with their school principal as early as possible.

For more information on nominations or upcoming events, visit stanlycountyartscouncil.org.

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Exhibit of fine arts on display through January 31, 2026.

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A3

Stanly News Journal for Wednesday, December 24, 2025

THE CONVERSATION Trip Hoffend, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor VISUAL VOICES

COLUMN | SEN. TOMMY TUBERVILLE

Sharia law fuels jihadist terror in Nigeria; is America next?

What’s taking place in Nigeria is a sad example of the dangers of Islam.

OVER THE LAST few months, I’ve been increasingly vocal about the rise of radical Islam in the U.S. As a result, the left has predictably lost their minds — calling me a “racist” and an “Islamophobe.” The truth is I’m an American, and I care about the safety of our country. I’m not afraid of Chuck Schumer calling me names.

What I am afraid of is losing the greatest country on Earth to radical Islam. Look no further than the Thanksgiving shooting of two National Guardsmen in D.C. by a Biden-imported Afghan Islamic terrorist to know that we are under attack.

There’s a lot of good people that come from Middle Eastern countries who go by our laws and assimilate with our culture. But if you come here otherwise, refuse to go by our laws and chant “Death to America,” I have a message for you — we do not want you here. If you’re a peaceful Muslim who has assimilated, now is the time to speak out and condemn these acts of Islamic terrorism.

What’s taking place in Nigeria is a sad example of the dangers of Islam. We are seeing firsthand the poisonous impact that Radical Islam can have on a country when it is allowed to take root.

In the 1990s, Nigerian Christians and Muslims lived in relative harmony. But Muslims began gaining a foothold, and sharia law was soon installed by 12 of Northern Nigeria’s states in the early 2000s. There are now 101 references to sharia law and Islam in the Nigerian Constitution and zero references to Christianity. Now, 35 Christians a day are being murdered in Nigeria for their faith. Unfortunately, this statistic isn’t surprising. Islam openly teaches to “kill all infidels” — which includes Christians.

Since 2002, an estimated 62,000 Christians in Nigeria have been murdered, and 350,000 people have died because of the instability that Radical Islam breeds. In 2024, 70% of all Christians martyred for their faith in the entire world were in Nigeria. Kidnappings in Nigeria are also on the rise because Jihadists use this to extort ransom payments and fund more terrorism.

In November, the world reacted with horror when 315 schoolchildren were kidnapped from a Catholic school in Niger State.

Yet you won’t hear much about any of these tragedies because the mainstream media in America would rather bury their heads in the sand than report the facts. They don’t cover the wholesale slaughter of Christians, and when they do, they claim it’s equal opportunity murder of Christians and Muslims alike.

Thankfully, President Donald Trump recently reclassified Nigeria as a “country of particular concern,” placing a spotlight on persecuted Christians in the country. I also appreciate other members of Congress like Republican Rep. Marlin Stutzman of Indiana and Republican Rep. Riley Moore of West Virginia who have joined me in the fight to end the slaughtering of Christians in Nigeria.

However, there is much more that needs to be done to hold the Nigerian government accountable for the genocide happening right under its nose. I am grateful for organizations like Across Nigeria that are working day and night to bring the killing to an end. I recently heard from Brad Brandon, who serves as CEO of Across Nigeria. He described the horrors of Islam firsthand, and how he has stood at the edge of large graves filled with entire families

and villages of Christian believers. In 2021, a pastor who worked for Brandon’s organization was hacked to death by machetes in his bed. His church, home, and village were set on fire — all because he refused to deny his Christian faith and stop spreading the gospel. It reminds me of some of the disciples in the earliest days of the church who were martyred for their faith rather than denying Jesus Christ.

Unfortunately, this isn’t just a problem overseas. I’ve said it many times and have taken some heat for it, but Islam isn’t a religion, it is a death cult. And this type of poisonous ideology is alive and well in this country, just waiting to attack. Just this week, FBI Director Kash Patel announced they caught several Islamist terrorists who had planned terror attacks for New Year’s Eve in Los Angeles and New Orleans. If we don’t act now, these types of attacks will become commonplace.

That’s why I refuse to be silent about this. Islam is fundamentally opposed to our Constitutional values. These people openly chant “death to America” and would like to see every single freedom-loving American dead. The threat of sharia law becoming a reality in America is not a hypothetical. It’s a real and present danger lurking in our own backyards. Nigeria is an example of what can happen when Radical Islam and sharia law overtake a once prosperous and free nation. Those who practice Radical Islam would love nothing more than to destroy this country. Our freedom is a gift, and I hope that more of our leaders will wake up and defend it before it’s too late.

Sen. Tommy Tuberville represents Alabama in the United States Senate. This column was first published by Daily Caller News Foundation.

COLUMN | KEVIN FRAZIER

Trump AI executive order protects Americans from Tower of Babel approach The problem is that many states have misinterpreted their expansive authority.

THE ANSWER TO two questions will shape the future of AI in the United States: Who gets to write the national rules for AI development?

Who gets to write the rules for how AI is adopted at the state level?

This is not a pop quiz. These are the same questions that we had to answer in the late 1700s with respect to shipping in the late 1800s with respect to the railroads, and in the late 1900s with respect to the Internet. The right answers then, remain the correct answers today.

The executive order on AI announced by President Donald Trump provides a clear answer to the first question: Congress. It’s the right answer given the unequivocal allocation of constitutional authority to Congress to resolve matters that implicate America’s economic and national security.

AI development refers to the training, evaluation and deployment of AI models. In short, it’s the tasks that determine how quickly U.S. companies can continue to push the technological frontier as our adversaries race to do the same. Any pause, delay or diversion to these efforts may have irreversible effects on our ability to economically and militarily keep pace. It’s not hyperbole to stress that America requires a cohesive strategy on this frontier so that our leading AI labs and emerging startups can focus more on AI research, rather than attempting to navigate a patchwork of state AI laws.

The order also answers the second question.

States may dictate who uses AI, for what purposes, and subject to what limitations.

Again, this is the right answer as mandated

by the Constitution and its reservation of extensive police powers to the states. It has long been recognized that it is the duty “of a state to advance the safety, happiness, and prosperity of its people, and to provide for its general welfare.” That’s precisely why the order does not contest the authority of states to enact and enforce laws related to child safety, data centers, state government use of AI and other issues that reflect that important duty.

To use an imperfect analogy, the order acknowledges and welcomes state laws related to speed limits, road designs and driver’s license requirements, so long as they do not interfere with how the engine is designed and distributed.

The problem is that many states have misinterpreted their expansive authority. Some have enacted laws that will impede the ability of other states to look out for the distinct wants and needs of their respective community. As mentioned in the order, states like Colorado want to dictate how AI models respond to certain queries — this akin to messing with the engine of AI. If labs comply, then the rest of America will have to live with what Denver thinks is best.

Other states — namely, California — have enacted laws with the explicit purpose of shielding the rest of the nation from speculative risks. That’s akin to Californians prohibiting Montanans from driving trucks with V8 engines because Californians think they are too powerful. Worse yet, such laws may inhibit the ability of American innovators to move forward on devising new strategies to deploy more capable and reliable AI systems. Congress alone

has the authority to dictate such consequential decisions. Americans are rightfully eager for Congress to use that authority. But impatience must not become acquiesce to efforts by state legislators to step into the shoes of U.S. representatives and senators.

The order’s core provision — the creation of an AI Litigation Task Force — will protect the American people from a Tower of Babel approach to AI development. States may think they’re enacting similar laws with similar provisions related to AI training, but they’re oftentimes speaking different languages — their bills are riddled with contradictory definitions and vague standards.

This task force is overdue but far from an overreach of presidential authority. The order does not grant the U.S. attorney general any new authority nor permit the task force to “neuter” any constitutionally valid state laws, as alleged by The New York Times. Instead, the order is again to the president putting certain questions at the top of the AG’s agenda: specifically, challenging unconstitutional, unlawful or preempted state laws. None of that is new. It has been and always will be the case that state laws that run afoul of the Constitution or otherwise violate the law can and should be challenged. The order merely directs a focus on state AI laws that fall within any of those categories.

State legislators may be forgiven for rushing to regulate AI amid the public’s uncertainty over how the technology will impact our economy, our schools, and our communities. AI’s disruptive effects warrant a national framework and soon. Congress must act. However, as signaled by this executive order, that forgiveness has limits: states that intentionally seek to impose their legislative will on others must be held accountable.

Kevin Frazier is the AI and innovation fellow at the University of Texas School of Law.

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Stanly News Journal for Wednesday, December 24, 2025

Prosecutors say $9B in Minnesota social safety net claims may be fraud Authorities describe “industrial-scale” schemes targeting Medicaid and child nutrition programs ALEX BRANDON / AP PHOTO

Former RNC Chairman Michael Whatley, a 2026 U.S. Senate candidate, is greeted onstage by President Donald Trump last Friday in Rocky Mount.

TRUMP from page A1 cans say they are feeling, with high prices for groceries, housing and utilities among their top concerns. Polls show persistently high prices have put Americans in a grumpy mood about the state of the economy, which a large majority say is performing poorly.

Trump has insisted the economy is trending upward and the country will see some relief in the new year and beyond. In some cases, he has dismissed affordability concerns and encouraged Americans to decrease their consumption.

In his Friday night speech, he leaned into a persistent refrain: Democratic President Joe Biden alone was to blame for any economic distress Americans may be feeling, but things are getting better under his watch.

He boasted that steps he’s taken — including generating billions of dollars of revenue through tariffs, pressing pharmaceutical giants to slash the prices of some medicines, and a so-called $1776 “warrior dividend” for U.S. troops that is being paid through a provision in a tax cut extensions and expansions bill he signed into law in July—will have real impact on American’s pocketbooks.

“I inherited the mess. I got the prices down and they are going down still further,” Trump said. He added, “Over the past 11 months, we have brought more positive change to Washington than any administration in the history of our country.”

“Without the businesses, it’s dead” Crimson smokestacks tower over parts of downtown Rocky Mount, reminding the town’s roughly 54,000 residents of its roots as a once-booming tobacco market. Through the heart of downtown, graffiti-covered trains still lug along on the railroad tracks that made Rocky Mount a bustling locomotive hotspot in the last century.

Those days seem long gone for some residents who have watched the town change over the decades. Rocky Mount has adapted by tapping into other industries such as manufacturing and biopharmaceuticals, but it’s also had to endure its fair share of challenges. Most recently, financial troubles in the city’s government have meant higher utility prices for residents.

The city has been investing to try to revitalize its downtown, but progress has been slow. Long stretches of empty storefronts that once contained restaurants, furniture shops and drug stores line the streets.

Most stores were closed Thursday morning, and not much foot traffic roamed the area.

That’s left Lucy Slep, who coowns The Miner’s Emporium jewelry store with her husband, waiting for Trump’s promised “Golden Age of America.”

The jewelry store has been in downtown Rocky Mount for nearly four decades, just about as long as the 64-year-old said she has lived in the area. But the deterioration of downtown Rocky Mount has spanned at least a decade, and Slep said she’s still hoping it will come back to life.

“Every downtown in every little town is beautiful,” she said. “But without the businesses, it’s dead.”

Slep’s store hasn’t escaped the challenges other Rocky Mount small businesses have endured. Instead of buying, more people have recently been selling their jewelry to the shop, Slep said.

Customers have been scarce.

About a week out from Christmas, the store — with handmade molded walls and ceilings resembling cave walls — sat empty aside from the rows of glass cases containing jewelry. It’s been hard, Slep said, but she and her husband are trying to make it through.

“This year is just not a jewelry Christmas, for whatever reason,” she said.

Better times on the horizon — depending on whom you ask Slep is already looking ahead to next year for better times.

She is confident that Trump’s economic policies — including upcoming tax cuts — will make a marked difference in people’s cost of living. In her eyes, the financial strains people are feeling are residual effects from the Biden administration that eventually will fade.

Optimism about what’s to come under Trump’s economy might also depend on whether residents feel their economic conditions have changed drastically in the past year.

Shiva Mrain, an engineer in Rocky Mount, said his family’s situation has not “become worse nor better.” He’s been encouraged by seeing lower gas prices.

Bryant, the engine technician, feels a bit more disillusioned. She didn’t vote in the last election because she didn’t think either party could enact changes that would improve her life. Nearly a year into the Trump administration, Bryant is still waiting to see whether the president will deliver.

“I can’t really say ... that change is coming,” she said. “I don’t think anything is going to change.”

The Associated Press HALF OR MORE of the roughly $18 billion in federal funds that supported 14 Minnesota-run programs since 2018 may have been stolen, a federal prosecutor said last week, describing the massive and multilayered fraud schemes as staggering.

First Assistant U.S. Attorney Joe Thompson said the scale of fraud puts services at risk for people who need them, including adults leaving addiction treatment centers who needed help finding a stable place to live and children with autism who were seeking one-on-one therapy.

While prosecutors typically see fraud manifest as providers overbilling, Thompson said during a news conference in Minneapolis that companies have been created to provide zero services while submitting claims to Medicaid and pocketing federal funds for international travel, luxury vehicles and lavish lifestyles.

“The magnitude cannot be overstated,” Thompson said.

“What we see in Minnesota is not a handful of bad actors committing crimes. It’s staggering, industrial-scale fraud.”

Somali Americans make up 82 of the 92 defendants charged so far, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for Minnesota.

Minnesota has the largest Somali population in the U.S. Local community leaders have urged officials and the public not to stigmatize Somali Americans in the state, warning against conflating alleged crimes by a handful of defendants with more than 80,000 people of Somali descent in the Twin Cities.

“Fraud is an issue of individual wrongdoing, not community identity,” said Yusuf Abdulle, the Minneapolis-based imam who directs the Islamic Association of North America.

Thompson said a significant amount of the fraudulently obtained funds have

been sent abroad, and much of it has been used to purchase real estate in Nairobi, Kenya’s capital, which has a large Somali diaspora.

While Thompson said money sent to Somalia might have indirectly gotten into the hands of al-Shabab, he emphasized that there was no evidence that defendants were sending money to or otherwise supporting terrorist organizations.

“There’s no indication that the defendants that we’ve charged were radicalized or seeking to fund al-Shabab or other terrorist groups,” Thompson said.

The announcements follow years of investigation that began with the $300 million Feeding Our Future scheme, for which 57 defendants have been convicted. Prosecutors said the Feeding Our Future nonprofit was at the center of the country’s largest COVID-19-related fraud scam, when defendants exploited a state-run, federally funded program intended to provide food for children.

Thompson said the investigation into a state program to support children on the autism spectrum, the Early Intensive Developmental and Behavioral Intervention benefit, grew out of Feeding Our Future.

“Roughly two dozen or so Feeding Our Future defendants were getting money from autism clinics,” Thompson said. “That’s how we learned about the autism fraud.”

Prosecutors named a new defendant accused of defrauding the program, alleging he approached parents in the Somali community to “recruit their children” for the clinic and paid them kickbacks to drive up enrollment, according to court filings.

His clinic ultimately submitted $6 million worth of claims for Medicaid reimbursement, prosecutors say.

Five new defendants were charged in connection with a Minnesota housing services fraud, in which they stole the money instead of helping Medicaid recipients find stable housing, Thompson said. The program has been shuttered entirely.

Authorities also served a search warrant in an investigation of a third state-run

program, Integrated Community Supports, which was intended to support adults with disabilities who want to live independently. Payments to providers are on track to reach $180 million this year — exponentially more than when the state program was introduced in 2021 — leading prosecutors to believe it’s another program that has been abused.

“Every day, we look under a rock and find a new $50 million fraud scheme,” Thompson said.

Even when authorities identify fraud, recovering stolen taxpayer money can be slow and incomplete. Thompson said authorities have seized between $60 million and $70 million connected to the Feeding Our Future case. About $30 million of that amount is liquid cash or funds recovered from bank accounts. The remaining assets include real estate and vehicles that must be sold, often at auction, and that process can take months or years.

Court records show Feeding Our Future defendants spent millions on homes in the Minneapolis metro area, lakefront property elsewhere in Minnesota and real estate in other states, including Ohio and Kentucky.

Prosecutors said luxury purchases included more than $88,000 on a GMC truck, $93,250 on a Porsche and over $100,000 on a Mercedes.

Some of the money, however, is permanently lost. Prosecutors said defendants spent funds on travel, entertainment and services that cannot be recovered, including a lavish honeymoon trip to a private villa in the Maldives and the purchase of a suite at a Minnesota Timberwolves game.

In October, Gov. Tim Walz initiated a third-party audit of and paused payments to the 14 high-risk Medicaid programs for 90 days.

“We will not tolerate fraud, and we will continue to work with federal partners to ensure fraud is stopped and fraudsters are caught,” Walz said in a statement.

Walz last week appointed a director of program integrity, who is tasked with finding and preventing fraud statewide.

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Stanly News Journal for Wednesday, December 24, 2025

Retired NASCAR driver Greg Biffle, family among 7 killed in Statesville plane crash

on that runway,” Guzzetti said.

It’s unclear why the pilots didn’t make an emergency call, but their top priorities are flying the plane and figuring out where to land — not radioing for help. It’s possible they were too busy trying to control the plane and dealing with the problem. But Cox said it’s also possible that the problem they

encountered wasn’t considered an emergency. And the pilots may not have made it a priority to make a radio call with no tower or firefighters at the airport.

Biffle, 55, won more than 50 races across NASCAR’s three circuits, including 19 at the Cup Series level. He also won the Trucks Series championship in 2000 and the Xfinity Series title in 2002.

In 2024, Biffle was honored for his humanitarian efforts after Hurricane Helene struck the U.S., even using his personal helicopter to deliver aid to flooded, remote western North Carolina.

The last time I spoke with Cristina, just a couple of weeks ago, she reached out to ask how she could help with relief efforts in Jamaica. That’s who the Biffles were,” U.S. Rep. Richard Hudson (R-N.C.) said.

Wadsworth was Biffle’s friend and helped him with odd jobs, including delivering supplies to places hit by Hurricane Helene, roommate Benito Howell said.

“He didn’t know how to say no,” Howell said of Wadsworth, who had worked for several NASCAR teams. “He loved everybody. He always tried to help everybody.”

A memorial with flowers sprouted up Friday by Biffle’s marble star in his hometown of Mooresville, honoring him as a member of the North Carolina Auto Racing Hall of Fame.

Steve Miller dropped by to pay his respects. He met Biffle at a huge party after he was inducted in October. He told Biffle he hoped the racecar driver could help knock an item off his bucket list — taking a flight in a helicopter.

“Come knock on my door, I’ll take you up,” Miller recalled Biffle telling him. “Never happened.”

Cessna Citations like the one that crashed Thursday are known as reliable, easy-to-fly jets. While the plane is in flight, one pilot is at the controls while the other pilot is the monitoring pilot, Cox said.

Roughly 1,000 of these 550 series jets have been made, and they have a very good safety record. “What accidents have occurred in this type were mostly due to very poor pilot decisions,” Guzzetti said.

Track, a program in which resident physicians train alongside faculty physicians while serving rural communities. With average annual wages expected to exceed $100,000, the clinic aims to attract attending physicians, resident physicians and clinical staff.

The city is supporting the project through its Albemarle Downtown Area Revitalization (ADAR) program, which promotes infill development, historic restoration and commercial growth within the city’s Municipal Service District. An estimated $79,931.85 ADAR grant will be distributed over five years based on the increased taxable value of the property once the project is completed.

“The establishment of a medical facility in this space demon-

strates how strategic public-private partnerships can address blight, expand healthcare access and create high-wage jobs,” said Lindsey Almond, Albemarle’s economic development director. “The Rural Infrastructure Grant and the city’s ADAR investment close a critical funding gap and support Atrium Health’s long-term rural health strategy.”

The grant awarded to Albemarle was part of a broader initiative announced by state officials, with the Rural Infrastructure Authority providing grants to 15 rural communities totaling more than $5 million. Statewide, the projects include commitments to create 702 jobs and are expected to attract more than $104 million in private sector investment.

Investigators are trying to determine what happened

By Gary D. Robertson and Josh Funk The Associated Press STATESVILLE — Federal investigators are trying to figure out why a business jet carrying retired NASCAR driver Greg Biffle and six others tried to return to Statesville Regional Airport just after takeoff but plowed into light poles and a tree line short of the runway, killing everyone on board.

The Cessna C550 erupted into a large fire when it hit the ground last Thursday morning, about a third of a mile from the airport’s runway. They also don’t know who the was the lead pilot. Biffle was one of three people on board with a pilot’s license.

The jet had departed Statesville, about 45 miles north of Charlotte, 10 minutes earlier, but crashed while trying to return and land, authorities said.

Flight records indicate the plane was registered to a company run by Biffle. Investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board began examining the wreckage last Friday to help determine the cause of the crash and why the plane had returned to the airport in drizzle and cloudy conditions.

Investigators recovered the cockpit voice recorder, which could provide important clues about what happened. They were not aware of any emergency calls from the jet, NTSB member Michael Graham said at a Friday news conference.

There were three pilots on board. Federal Aviation Administration records show Biffle was rated to fly helicopters, and single- and multiengine planes.

Also on board was pilot Dennis Dutton, Dutton’s son, Jack — who had a private pilot’s license for single-engine planes — and Biffle’s friend Craig Wadsworth.

Biffle’s wife, Cristina, and children Ryder, 5, and Emma, 14, were also killed in the crash,

MATT KELLEY / AP PHOTO

First responders tend to the scene of a plane crash in Statesville. the North Carolina State Highway Patrol said.

Cristina Biffle’s mother told People magazine that her daughter sent her a text message saying, “We’re in trouble,” before she didn’t hear from her again.

Federal investigators on Friday didn’t have answers yet about the crew.

Dennis Dutton was licensed and rated to fly this model of plane, but even then, he was supposed to fly with a co-pilot. Even though Biffle was rated to fly a multiengine plane, he wasn’t listed as qualified to fly this particular jet or be a second officer. Dutton’s son, Jack, also had a pilot’s license but was only rated for single-engine planes.

“There is nobody else that has a second-in-command type rating in the airplane. So there’s a question on the crew,” aviation safety expert John Cox said.

The plane’s speed and altitude fluctuated significantly during the brief flight, and its path was consistent with a flight crew that experienced an issue and needed to return quickly, said former NTSB and

MATT KELLEY / AP PHOTO

Flowers are displayed at the North Carolina Auto Racing Walk of Fame for Greg Biffle last Friday in Mooresville.

FAA crash investigator Jeff Guzzetti.

At one point, the plane quickly soared from 1,800 feet up to 4,000 feet before descending again. Just before the crash, it was only a couple of hundred feet off the ground.

“One thing is certain: They were low. They were too low to make a safe landing

CLINIC from page A1 primary and urgent care, mental health care, maternity care and treatment for substance use disorders.

“The city’s work to support this project is part of the city’s strategic plan goal of enhancing community and economic growth opportunities,” Mayor Ronnie Michael said. “The redevelopment of this vacant building into a medical facility ties directly to our priorities of diversifying economic investment, downtown revitalization and strengthening workforce development. Creating high-quality medical care, physician training and new jobs strengthens not just our downtown, but the entire region.”

According to city officials, lo-

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Albemarle has announced new details about a grant-funded health clinic project. cal developer PC and CB Investments, LLC, has been working on the redevelopment

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The facility will house Atrium Health’s Rural Health

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Stanly News Journal for Wednesday, December 24, 2025

OBITUARIES

Roger William Thomas

Michael Dale Lee

Betty Catherine Calloway Coley

Amanda Gail Miller Kiker

May 5, 1963 – Dec. 13, 2025

Dec. 26, 1942 - Dec. 17, 2025

Jan. 3, 2025 – Dec. 17, 2025

Roger William Thomas, 62, of Charlotte, passed away Saturday, December 13, 2025, at Sunrise Assisted Living Center in Charlotte.

Roger was born May 5, 1963, in South Carolina to the late Ralph Porter Thomas and the late Sara Jean Moss Thomas.

The family will receive friends from 1:00 pm - 1:45 pm, Saturday, December 20, 2025, at First Baptist Church of Albemarle. A memorial service will follow at 2:00 pm officiated by Rev. John Futterer.

Roger was born and raised in Gaffney, SC. Growing up in Gaffney, Roger attended Cherokee Avenue Baptist Church as a child and was a champion in Bible drill. In high school, he began writing his own plays and was a proud member of the Gaffney High School marching band, playing the xylophone.

After graduating high school, Roger received a BA in religion at Furman University and was a member of the Phi Mu Alpha music fraternity, later attending the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary In Louisville, KY. There he earned an MA of divinity in 1988, and shortly thereafter became a licensed and ordained minister.

In Roger’s professional career he served as the youth pastor at Tabernacle Baptist Church in Union, SC; the minister of education and Youth at First Baptist Church in Duncan, SC, and as the senior pastor of Lowries in Chester, SC; NorthEast Baptist in Atlanta; First Baptist Church in Albemarle, NC; and First Baptist Church in Mount Gilead, NC, respectively. During his time at FBC Albemarle he received his Doctorate from Gardner Webb University.

Roger’s pride and joy was being a father to his two children, SaraKate and Henry, and to his litter of neighborhood cats.

Second to his family, Roger had a love for movies and cinematography. After moving to Albemarle, he wrote movie reviews for the Stanly News and Press (now the NorthEast Journal) and became a member of the NC Film Critics Association. Roger also had a fervor for hosting, annually holding his Oscars and Christmas parties at his home in Albemarle.

Roger’s strength was his ability to build community and make friends wherever he went.

In the last years of his life, Roger was noted for the affection and kindness he showed the people who cared for him at Sunrise assisted living facility in Charlotte, NC. Survivors include daughter, Sara Kate (Andrew) Howard; son, Henry Thomas; brother, Richard (Hilda)Thomas.

Hartsell Funeral Home of Albemarle is serving the Thomas family.

Online condolences may be made at www.hartsellfh.com

Michael Dale Lee, 82, died Wednesday, December 17 surrounded by his loving family. He was born to the late Benton and Mae (Gaddy) Lee on December 26, 1942. He was a lifelong member of Wightman Methodist Church.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, December 20 at 2:00pm at Wightman Methodist Church. Rev. Donald Thompson and Rev. Bob Wells will officiate.

Burial will follow in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends in the church fellowship hall one hour prior to the service.

Michael graduated from Anson High School and completed an auto mechanic course to pursue his lifelong love of cars. He was happiest behind the wheel, watching NASCAR, or admiring classic cars, particularly his beloved 1956 Chevy. He also loved spending time on the water and enjoyed entertaining family and friends at Lake Tillery.

Michael spent his life devoted to building and growing several businesses. In his early years, Michael worked on the family poultry farm and later started a pulpwood business. In 1972, he and his father opened B & M Lee Oil Company, then began opening Fast Shop convenience stores 1977. The business added propane services in 1992, serving Anson and surrounding counties.

He was co-owner of Huntley Chevrolet and purchased Crawford Chevrolet - merging the two into one dealership. He also co-owned Beachum and Lee Ford dealership for 45 years. He was a businessman dedicated to helping those in his community.

He is survived by his son, Greg (Beth) Lee of Polkton and daughter, Tonya (Teddy) Huneycutt of Peachland; five grandchildren, Ashton (Zach) Allen of Polkton; Jordan Lee of Monroe; Leah (Evan) Spears of Wadesboro; Brooke (Quinton) Helms of Marshville; and Hailee Huneycutt and fiancé Cam Baucom of Marshville; and one great-granddaughter, Quinlee Helms. He is also survived by his sister, Charis (Marc) Acree of LaGrange, Georgia and three nieces. The family is grateful for his numerous caregivers over the past 10 years, especially Mae Richardson, who was very devoted and attentive to Michael.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to: Wightman Methodist Church Cemetery Fund, ´ Cindy Gaddy, 282 Gaddys Ferry Road, Polkton, NC 28135.

Betty Catherine Calloway Coley, 92, of Albemarle, passed away peacefully on December 17, 2025, at Spring Arbor.

A funeral service to celebrate her life will be held at 2:00 PM on Saturday, January 3, 2025, at Centerview Baptist Church, with Pastor Adam Hatley officiating.

Burial will follow at Stanly Gardens of Memory. The family will receive friends at the church from 1:00 until 1:45 PM prior to the service.

Born on March 1, 1933, in Stanly County, North Carolina, Betty was the daughter of the late Charlie Calloway and Bertha Shepherd Calloway. Betty was raised along with her siblings at the Baptist Children’s Home in Thomasville but returned to Stanly County in 1950 and graduated from New London High School in 1951. She was a devoted member of Centerview Baptist Church, where she was the oldest member, and was a retired employee of Federal Pacific.

Betty will be remembered by her family as a loving and meek woman whose life was marked by faith, kindness, curiosity, and forgiveness. She was a wonderful cook and homemaker, always caring for those around her with a gentle spirit and a sweet heart. She dearly loved the 23rd Psalm, and her favorite hymn was “Beulah Land.” One of the lessons she faithfully passed on to her children was, “If you don’t have anything good to say, don’t say anything at all.” She also lovingly taught all of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren how to make her cherished fried apple pies, a tradition that will continue to be passed down through the generations.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her beloved husband, D. L. “Jake” Coley and her sister Jenelle Calloway Cooper.

She is survived by her five children: Angela Mills (David) of Albemarle, Sharon Hathcock of Naples, Florida, Lynn Furr (Donnie) of Albemarle, Michael Coley (Dan) of Boomer, North Carolina, and Douglas Coley (Robin) of Gold Hill, North Carolina; a brother, John Henry “J. H.” Calloway of Salisbury; ten grandchildren, Candice Lopez, Chris Furr, Leigh Anne Hester, Angie Hatley, Amanda Hathcock, Jonathan Mills, Adam Furr, Rhianna Harris, Alisha Brewster and Sabrina Lowder; and 24 great-grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to Centerview Baptist Church at www. centerviewbaptistalbemarle.com or Tillery Compassionate Care at www.tillerycompassionatecare. org.

March 16, 1980 – Dec. 22, 2025

Celebrate the life of your loved ones.

Submit obituaries and death notices to be published in Stanly News Journal at obits@stanlynewsjournal.com

Amanda Gail Miller Kiker 45, of Rockwell, NC., passed away unexpectedly at her home, Wednesday December 10, 2025.

The family will receive friends on Monday, December 22, 2025, at Word of Faith and Worship Center, 757 Harris Street NW, Concord, NC from 12-1 pm, with a service following beginning at

1pm. Pastor Robert Jackson will officiate the service. Amanda was born March 16, 1980, in Rowan County. She earned her CNA degree through Rowan Technical College and in her early years worked as a CNA. She loved being a mother, wife, daughter, caregiver and friend, and was soon to be a first-time grandmother. Survivors include her husband, Shane Kiker of 16 years; sons, Bryson Kiker, Jeremiah Kiker, step daughter, Madison Kiker, sons, Trey Kesler, Ezekiel Kesler, (Diana), Heath Kesler; brother, Michael Miller; step brothers, Tim Jones and David Jones, (Morgan); mother, Jacquelyn “Jackie” Burris Jones (Randy); and father, William “Bill” Miller (Judy). In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Word of Faith And Worship Center, 757 Harris Street, NW Concord, NC 28025, 704-7884314. Carolina Cremation is assisting the Kiker family. Online condolences may be made at www.carolinacremation.com.

IN MEMORY

SHIRLEY MORTON BOWERS JULY 25, 1936 – DEC. 16, 2025 Shirley Morton Bowers, 89, of Albemarle, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, December 16, 2025, at her home, surrounded by her loving family.

A funeral service will be held at 3 p.m. on Friday, December 19, 2025, at North Albemarle Baptist Church, officiated by Pastor Brandon Bowers and Pastor Jonathan Blaylock. Burial will follow in the Canton Baptist Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the church prior to the service from 2-3 p.m.

Born on July 25, 1936, in Stanly County, Shirley was the daughter of the late Walter and Mary Morton. She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother whose life was marked by faith, creativity, and love for her family.

She is lovingly survived by her children: Rhonda Morgan (Joe) of New London, Chris Bowers (Robin) of Albemarle, and Angie Hudson (Kelly) of Hickory; grandchildren: Charity Curlee (Cary), Torrey Morgan (Tiffany), Brandon Bowers (Jessica), Trent Bowers (Kim), Angel Hudson, and Rachel Hudson; great-grandchildren: Colten Curlee, Jenna Curlee, Eli Curlee, Tilley Morgan, Elin Bowers, Ella Bowers, Zeb Bowers, Aubree Bowers, and Zion Raquet; and her great-great-grandchild, Luna Curlee. She is also survived by her sister, Lucy Eudy.

In addition to her parents, Shirley was preceded in death by her husband of many years, Dean Bowers, who passed away in 2017; and her siblings: Virginia Whitley, Bernice Huneycutt, Inez Harvel, Naomi Haigler, Patricia Scott, Ezra Morton, Hoover Morton, and Dale Morton.

Shirley was known as a loving and dedicated mother and grandmother. A talented seamstress throughout her life, she lovingly created wedding dresses, dolls, and countless handmade items for family and friends. She shared her love of music by singing in church and as a member of the “Morton Sisters,” recording music together. Shirley also enjoyed watching birds, gardening, canning, and traveling, especially trips to Fort Caswell Beach. She and her husband enjoyed attending auctions together and were deeply involved in their church, where Shirley faithfully served through Sunday School teaching and the bus ministry.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Shirley’s honor to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (https:// stjude.org) or Bible Broadcasting Network (https://bbn1. bbnradio.org).

BEULAH HUNEYCUTT SEPT. 30, 1924 – DEC. 17, 2025 Beulah Lucille Johnson Huneycutt, 101, of Locust, passed away peacefully on December 17, 2025, at Novant Mint Hill Medical Center.

Her funeral service will be held at 3 p.m. on Sunday, December 21, 2025, at Locust First Baptist Church, with Rev. Dr. Kinney Wallace and Rev. Tommy Ross officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends from 2-2:45 p.m. prior to the service at the church.

Born on September 30, 1924, in Surry County, North Carolina, Beulah was the daughter of the late Wesley Johnson and Mittie Coe Johnson. She was a faithful member of Locust First Baptist Church and a retired registered nurse, a profession through which she touched countless lives with compassion and care.

Beulah will be remembered by her family as kind, fair, wholesome, and exceptionally smart, with a fun-loving spirit and a wonderful sense of humor. She loved to play gentle tricks, tell stories, and laugh-often punctuating her tales in later years with her favorite phrase, “By Gosh.” A lover of old-time church music, she found joy in simple traditions and meaningful moments.

One of her most cherished stories came from her nursing days, when a young child she had cared for through a lengthy hospital stay and difficult surgery became so attached that he wanted to go home with her. The nurses joined together to buy him a tricycle, and he insisted on going home with “Mrs. Yoncy,” his sweet attempt at pronouncing “Johnson”-a memory that perfectly captured Beulah’s warmth and the impact she had on others.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Leonard Huneycutt, in 1987.

Survivors include her four children: Michael Huneycutt (Elaine) of Locust, Cathy McSwain (Andrew) of Albemarle, Jimmy Huneycutt of Greenacres, Florida, and Johnny Huneycutt (Lisa) of Locust; her brother, Landon Johnson of Yadkinville, North Carolina; nine grandchildren, April Huneycutt, Neal Huneycutt, Summer Broseau, Matthew Huneycutt, Tanner McSwain, Sarah Estep, Phillip Huneycutt, Jessie Alexander, and Katy Huneycutt; and eighteen great-grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to West Stanly Christian Ministries, 100 S. Love Chapel Road, Stanfield, NC 28163, or Baptist Children’s Home at https://www.bchfamily.org.

STANLY SPORTS West Stanly girls improve to 2-0 in conference play The Colts won their first RRC road game this season

By Jesse Deal Stanly News Journal OAKBORO — Coming off a home win over CATA to open Rocky River Conference play earlier this month, the West Stanly girls’ basketball team has carried that momentum onto the road.

On Friday night, the Colts (5-3, 2-0 RRC) improved to 2-0 against league opponents by defeating the Parkwood Wolfpack (6-4, 0-2 RRC) 45-35 in Monroe, picking up their first RRC road win of the 2025-26 season.

West Stanly jumped out early, building a 17-10 advantage after the first quarter as its defense limited Parkwood’s clean looks at the basket. The Wolfpack responded after halftime, trimming the deficit to 23-22 in the opening minutes of the third quarter and briefly shifting the game’s momentum.

Leading by six entering the fourth quarter, the Colts steadied themselves on offense and stretched the margin back to double figures. West Stanly out-

COURTESY NFHS NETWORK

West Stanly’s Raygan Gainey goes up for a layup during the Colts’ game at Parkwood on Dec. 19. scored Parkwood 12-6 over the final eight minutes to pull away from a Wolfpack team that had won five of its previous seven games.

Senior Scarlet Griffin led the Colts with a team-high 15 points, while junior Raygan Gainey added 12 points and senior Kennedy Foxx had 10. Grif-

fin and Foxx continue to anchor the West Stanly scoring attack this season, averaging 13.1 and 10.9 points per game, respectively.

The victory marked West Stanly’s fifth win in its past six games after the Colts opened the season with back-to-back losses to Albemarle and Charlotte Latin. In two conference victories so far, West Stanly has outscored CATA and Parkwood by a combined margin of 105-61.

Last season, the Colts finished fourth in the Rocky River Conference standings with a 14-12 overall record and a 7-6 league mark, securing their second straight year with winning records both overall and in conference play.

An early look at this season’s conference race shows West Stanly joining Forest Hills and Monroe as the league’s remaining unbeaten teams. Mount Pleasant and CATA sit at .500 in conference games, while Anson and Parkwood are still seeking their first league win.

West Stanly will close out the 2025 calendar year at the East Lincoln Winter Jam holiday tournament in Denver. The Colts open tournament play against Central Cabarrus on Dec. 27 before resuming conference action in 2026 with home games against Monroe on Jan. 2 and Forest Hills on Jan. 6.

DON FERIA / AP IMAGES FOR WWE

Hulk Hogan speaks at his WWE Hall of Fame Ceremony in 2015 .

Sports greats we lost in 2025 Hulk Hogan, George Foreman, Rodney Rogers among the losses to the sports world The Associated Press THIS YEAR SAW the deaths of several spots greats who crossed over into mainstream appeal. Even the most casual sports fan has heard of boxing great George Foreman, who memorably lost a muchwatched match to Muhammad Ali but whose career had inspiring second and third acts as a world champion and successful business owner.

Similarly, baseball player turned comic actor Bob Uecker was known and beloved by all.

After a Wrestlemania cameo, Uecker was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame, joining one of sports-entertainment’s biggest names, Hulk Hogan, who also left us this year.

Here is a roll call of some influential figures who have died this year (cause of death cited, if available): JANUARY Bob Uecker, 90. He par-

layed a forgettable playing career into a punch line for movie and TV appearances as “Mr. Baseball” and a Hall of Fame broadcasting tenure. Jan. 16.

Dick Button, 95. He was one of the most accomplished men’s figure skaters in history, and one of his sport’s great innovators and promoters.

Jan. 30.

FEBRUARY Kultida Woods, 80. Tiger Woods credited his Thai-born mother with instilling his dominant spirit and encouraging him to wear red shirts on Sundays as his power color. Feb. 4.

Mabel Staton, 92. The Black track and field standout broke through barriers as the only woman to compete for the United States in the long jump at the 1952 Helsinki Olympics.

Feb. 20.

Joe Fusco, 87. A College Football Hall of Fame coach, he won four NAIA Division II national championships in 19 years at Westminster College. Feb. 22.

Boris Spassky, 88. A Soviet-era world chess champion, he lost his title to American Bobby Fischer in a legendary 1972 match. Feb. 27.

MARCH Junior Bridgeman, 71. A basketball standout who led Louisville to a Final Four, he starred for the NBA’s Milwaukee Bucks and then launched an even more successful career as a business owner.

March 11.

Eddie Jordan, 76. He was a Formula 1 team owner and media personality and popular TV pundit after selling the team.

March 20.

George Foreman, 76. The fearsome heavyweight boxer lost the “Rumble in the Jungle” to Muhammad Ali before his inspiring second and third acts as a 45-year-old world champion and a successful business owner. March 21.

APRIL Octavio Dotel, 51. He pitched for 13 major league teams in a 15-year career and won a World Series with the St. Louis Cardinals, and died in a roof collapse in the Dominican Republic. April 8.

Steve McMichael, 67.

A star defensive tackle on the Chicago Bears’ 1985 Super Bowl championship team

whose larger-than-life personality later made him a natural for professional wrestling.

He died after battling ALS. April 23.

Dick Barnett, 88. A basketball Hall of Famer, he played on both New York Knicks NBA championship teams.

April 27.

JUNE Shigeo Nagashima, 89. He was known in Japan as “Mr. Pro Baseball.” June 3.

Jim Marshall, 87. The former Minnesota Vikings defensive end was one of four members of the famed Purple People Eaters. June 3.

Nina Kuscsik, 86. She campaigned for women’s inclusion in long-distance running and then won the Boston Marathon the first year women were officially allowed to run. June 8.

D. Wayne Lukas, 89. The Hall of Famer became one of horse racing’s most accomplished trainers. June 28.

JULY Alex Delvecchio, 93. A member of the Hockey Hall of Fame, he helped the Detroit Red Wings

win three Stanley Cups in the 1950s. July 1.

Fauja Singh, 114. An Indian-born runner nicknamed the Turbaned Torpedo, believed to be the world’s oldest marathoner, died after being hit by a car.

July 14.

Felix Baumgartner, 56. The extreme athlete stunned the world in 2012 by skydiving faster than the speed of sound during a 24-mile leap from the stratosphere. He died in a paragliding crash. July 17.

Rex White, 95. NASCAR’s oldest living champion and a 2015 inductee into its Hall of Fame. July 18.

Joey Jones, 70. The Welsh soccer hero won two European Cups with Liverpool and was dubbed “Mr. Wrexham.”

July 22.

Hulk Hogan, 71. The mustachioed, headscarf-wearing, bicep-busting icon of professional wrestling turned the sport into a massive business and stretched his influence into TV, pop culture and conservative politics during a long and scandal-plagued second act. July 24.

Dwight Muhammad Qawi, 72. The Hall of Fame fighter took up boxing in prison and became a two-weight world champion. July 25.

Ryne Sandberg, 65. The Hall of Fame second baseman starred for the Chicago Cubs. July 28.

See GREATS, page B2

B2

Stanly News Journal for Wednesday, December 24, 2025

GREATS from page B1 AUGUST

JACOB KUPFERMAN / AP PHOTO

ACC commissioner Jim Phillips (suit and tie) prepares to present Duke players with the ACC football championship trophy.

ACC’s shift to football scheduling model will have 12 of 17 teams playing 9 league games in 2026 Uneven league schedules aren’t a new thing for the ACC

By Aaron Beard The Associated Press THE ATLANTIC COAST Conference’s transition to a nine-game football schedule will feature 12 of 17 football-playing members playing nine games next fall while the remaining five stay at eight.

The league announced details of the new model Tuesday, including the league matchups for each school. Next year will operate as a bridge to accommodate conference games already on the books, with the plan to have 16 of 17 teams playing nine football games regularly by 2027.

Reigning champion Duke will join California, Louisville, Miami, N.C. State, Pittsburgh, SMU, Stanford, Syracuse, Virginia, Virginia Tech and Wake Forest in playing nine league games for the 2026 season.

That leaves Boston College, Clemson, Florida State, Georgia Tech and North Carolina to play eight.

The league in September announced plans to have a ninegame slate, aligning with power-conference peers in the Big 12, Big Ten and Southeastern conferences. That came after debates and disagreement about the impact of unbalanced scheduling and access to the 12-team College Football Playoff.

The ACC is the only one of those leagues with an odd number of football members, creating a variable that will mean one team will play only eight games once the scheduling model is fully implemented in 2027.

ACC teams regularly played a different number of conference games in the early days of the league. Teams played as few as three ACC games and as many as seven from 1953 to 1956, and the league was split between teams playing six and seven-game league schedules for much of the next two decades. The first season that every ACC team played the same number of conference games

Humpy Wheeler, 86. He was a pioneering motorsports promoter as president and general manager of Charlotte Motor Speedway. Aug. 20.

Ron Turcotte, 84. The Hall of Fame jockey rode Secretariat to the Triple Crown in 1973.

Aug. 22.

SEPTEMBER Ricky Hatton, 46. The former boxing world champion who rose to become one of the most popular fighters in the sport had mental health struggles and was found dead due to hanging.

Sept. 14.

Bernie Parent, 80. Considered one of the greatest hockey goalies, the Hall of Famer anchored the net for the Philadelphia Flyers’ two Stanley Cup championships in the 1970s.

Sept. 21.

OCTOBER

20

Seasons before all ACC teams played the same number of league games was 1972, the league’s 20th year of existence.

The ACC’s new schedule is designed to have teams play a total of 10 games against Power Four opponents as a baseline in a so-called 9+1 model. The rotating team playing an eightgame league slate would aim to play an 8+2 model to meet that 10-game target.

The question as to how an eight-game league record might compare with a ninegame record is unclear.

The ACC used winning percentage during the COVID-19 pandemic in multiple sports with teams playing unequal totals of games because of numerous cancellations, but Commissioner Jim Phillips said publicly last week that the league is examining its football tiebreaker process for the ACC championship game. ACC officials said Tuesday an updated tiebreaker policy will be announced sometime before the 2026 season.

The current policy came under scrutiny when five-loss Duke won a five-team tiebreaker — which included now-No. 10 and CFP-bound Miami — to reach the title game and ultimately beat No. 20 Virginia earlier this month for its first outright ACC title since 1962.

The ACC had used an eightgame football schedule since Florida State’s arrival for the 1992 season, the outlier being a 10-game schedule in 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic. That included Notre Dame giving up its cherished independent status for one year and playing a full ACC schedule.

The Fighting Irish, a member of all other league sports, typically play four to six football games per year against ACC schools. Those games would fit into the nonconference column in the 9+1 or 8+2 scheduling models.

Daniel Naroditsky, 29. The chess grandmaster who started as a child prodigy quickly became one of the most influential American voices in the sport. Oct. 20.

Nick Mangold, 41. As a New York Jets center he was

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one of the franchise’s greatest players, twice helping lead the team to the AFC championship game. He died of complications of kidney disease. Oct. 25.

NOVEMBER Paul Tagliabue, 84. He helped bring labor peace and riches to the NFL during his 17 years as commissioner but was criticized for not taking stronger action on concussions. Nov. 9.

Lenny Wilkens, 88. Basketball Hall of Famer as both an NBA player and a coach. Nov. 9.

Rodney Rogers, 54. Legendary Wake Forest basket-

ball star played 12 years in the NBA. A post-retirement ATV injury left him paralyzed from the shoulders down since 2008.

Nov. 21 Fuzzy Zoeller, 74. One of golf’s most gregarious characters, the two-time major champion’s career was tainted by a racially insensitive joke about Tiger Woods. Nov. 27.

DECEMBER Greg Biffle, 55. The NASCAR driver and members of his family perished in a private plane crash in North Carolina.

Dec. 18.

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B3

Stanly News Journal for Wednesday, December 24, 2025

SIDELINE REPORT NFL

Receiver Meyers, Jaguars agree to 3-year, $60M extension Jacksonville, Fla. Receiver Jakobi Meyers and the Jacksonville Jaguars have agreed to terms on a three-year, $60 million contract extension that includes $40 million guaranteed. The Jaguars traded two 2026 draft picks — fourth- and sixth-rounders — to Las Vegas to acquire Meyers at the trade deadline in early November. The 29-year-old Meyers has 27 catches for 355 yards and three touchdowns in six games with Jacksonville, becoming Trevor Lawrence’s most dependable receiver.

NCAA FOOTBALL

Mensah to return to Duke in 2026 Durham Duke quarterback Darian Mensah announced he would return to the Blue Devils next season. He had briefly explored entered the NFL draft after leading his team to a victory over Virginia in the ACC title game. The sophomore, who transferred from Tulane this past offseason, threw for 3,645 yards with 30 touchdown passes and just five interceptions for the Blue Devils. His yardage ranked third in the Football Bowl Subdivision, and he was fifth in touchdown passes.

BOXING

Crawford, boxing’s top pound-for-pound fighter, retires on top with 42-0 record Terence Crawford announced his retirement from boxing.

The 38-year-old is going out on top, having claimed the title of best pound-for-pound boxer with a convincing victory over Canelo Alvarez in September. Crawford is the only male boxer to capture three unified division titles, which he accomplished with his unanimous decision over Alvarez. That gave Crawford the super middleweight championship and a 42-0 record with 31 knockouts. His final 20 bouts came with a belt on the line. Crawford said he’s at peace with his decision.

JOE BURBANK / ORLANDO SENTINEL VIA AP

Michigan interim head coach Biff Poggi answers questions at a Citrus Bowl news conference ahead of his team’s New Year’s Eve appearance against Texas in the bowl in Orlando, Fla.

Poggi tells signees, parents Michigan hopes to hire coach by end of month, AP source says The former Charlotte coach is leading the scandal-plagued Wolverines

By Larry Lage The Associated Press ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Michigan interim football coach Biff Poggi had a Zoom call with the program’s signees and their parents just hours after Sherrone Moore was fired last week, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press.

Poggi told the players and their parents that athletic director Warde Manuel hoped to have a new coach hired by the end of the month, said the person, who spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to share details from the call.

Moore’s firing left the No. 18 Wolverines scrambling to retain recruits and give current players reasons to stay out of the transfer portal.

“You have a coaching staff, not knowing if they’ll be back, preparing for a game while trying to hold onto signees and current players — and everybody is impatient.”

Allen Trieu, recruiting analyst That’s going to be quite a challenge.

Michigan has begun practicing for its bowl game with Poggi and assistants, none of whom know if they will be a part of the team’s staff in 2026.

The Wolverines announced less than two weeks ago that 27 prospects signed commitments to play football for the maize and blue and the class was ranked No. 11 by 247Sports.

Two of those players, however, asked for and were granted their release by the school.

Matt Ludwig, a four-star tight end from Montana, has already switched his commitment to Texas Tech and Bear McWhorter, a three-star offensive line-

man from Georgia, opened up his recruitment last week.

“In light of recent events, I’ve made the very difficult decision to withdraw,” McWhorter posted Friday on Instagram.

McWhorter made his decision Monday, committing to Auburn.

Moore was fired Wednesday after the school said an investigation uncovered evidence of his inappropriate relationship with a staffer. He was later jailed for two nights and charged with three crimes.

While a search firm helps Michigan quickly look for a new coach, other colleges are taking advantage of the opportunity to make offers to the Wolverines’ signees because

they’re in a 30-day window to potentially get released.

“Every day that a new coach isn’t in place, there’s a risk in more players asking for their release and current players planning to go in the portal,” Allen Trieu, 247Sports national recruiting analyst, said in a telephone interview. “Time is of essence, if the primary goal is to keep the recruiting class in place.

“Those families are waiting with bated breath — as many are who are invested in Michigan football — to see who the next coach is going to be.”

Current players, including starting quarterback Bryce Underwood, will have a chance to enter the transfer portal between Jan. 2-16 if they don’t like the direction of the program or how they fit with the new coach.

“It’s a very unique time,” Trieu said. “You have a coaching staff, not knowing if they’ll be back, preparing for a game while trying to hold onto signees and current players — and everybody is impatient.”

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CAB $25,995 LT 4X4 NEW COLOR 15K SHARP 23K NISSAN RADIANTALTIMA RED 1 OWNER ............36,995 2021 SR WHITE 16K 2023 KIA SPORTAGE X-LINE AWD 4CLY LOW MILES NICE ................. $24,995 PANORAMIC SUNROOF LEATHER GRAY .............................................................26,995 2021 SUBARU IMPREZA SPORT 2022 FORD 4X4 5.0 V8 WAGON 4CLYF150 ALL CREW WHEELCAB DRIVE PACKAGE WHITE SHARP ...........35,995 1FX4 0WNER 23K ............................ $23,995 2022 SUBARU CROSSTREK SPORT 2020 HONDA CRV EXL DIAMOND WHITE LEATHER SUNROOF 74K 1 OWNER WHITE LIGHT BEIGE INTERIOR “21K” ........ $29,995 .............................................................21,995 2021SUBARU HONDA ODYSSEY 2019 FORESTERTOURING LIMITEDSUNROOF DIAMOND LEATHER MED GRAY ...................TOO LATE! WHITE 59K 59K LEATHER .............. $25,995 2021 JEEP GLADIATOR OVERLAND 4X4 2019 BLAZER ALL WHEEL 37K CHEV 1 OWNER MED PREMIER RED MET V6 SHARP .............................................................36,995 DRIVE 62K SILVER LEATHER .......... $24,995 2021 TOYOTA TACOMA SR5 DOUBLE CAB 2019 FORD FUSION SE 4CLY 65K RUBY RED TRD SPORT XP 4X4 GRAY ...........TOO LATE! MET AND TACOMA SHARP ONLY 2021NICE TOYOTA SR5 ..........

DOUBLE$18,995 CAB V6 4X4 SILVER COMPARELEATHER .................28,995 2019 MAZDA 3 PREMIUM 2021 SUBARU IMPREZA SPORT SUNROOF DIAMOND WHITE 43K WAGON 4CLY.......................................

ALL WHEEL DRIVE 1OWNER 23K JUST $19,995 .............................................................23,995 2019 TOYOTA CAMRY SE 4CLY POWER SEAT 2020 FORD RANGER XLT CREW CAB 4X4 PRETTY SPORT $19,995 FX4 OFFBLUE RD PKG MEDWHEELS RED 22K....... ........29,995 2019HONDA TOYOTACIVIC TACOMA DOUBLE CAB TRD 2019 LX WHITE SPORT 4X4 CEMENT GRAY 71K ........33,995 LOCAL 1 OWNER TRADE NEW TIRES 2020 CHEVY SILVERADO CREW CAB Z71 JUST .......................................

4X4 LEATHER 6.2 ENG 4X4 WHITE $12,995 ............................................................

38,995 2018 FORD EXPLORER XLT V6 LEATHER 2019 SUBARU FORESTER SILVER “LOW MILES 21K” LIMITED ........ TOO LATE !

DIAMOND WHITE 59K 59K LEATHER 2018 HONDA CRV EXL LEATHER SUNROOF .............................................................25,995 50K ALL WHEEL DRIVE TAN ........

TOO LATE! 2019 CHEV BLAZER PREMIER V6 ALL WHEEL DRIVE 62KAWD SILVER LEATHER 2018 HONDA CRV TOURING DIAMOND .............................................................24,995 WHITE 84K LOCAL ONE OWNER ...... $22,995 2017 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER XLE LEATHER 2018 TOYOTA COROLLA LE WHITE SILVER 3RD SEAT 79K LOOK ......TOO LATE! “26K” GREAT GAS MILEAGE .......... $18,995 2017 HONDA ACCORD LX 4DR 4CLY 64K WHITE ONE OWMER...........................18,995 2017 TOYOTA TACOMA DOUBLE CAB 2016 TOYOTA TACOMA TRD SPORT CREW LIMITED WHITE 70K ............... $34,995 CAB 4X44X4 WHITE “MUST SEE” ...........25,995 2016TOYOTA HONDA HIGHLANDER CIVIC EX 4DR MED GRAY 2017 XLE LEATHER “36K” 3RD SUNROOF .................18,995 SILVER SEAT SPORTY 79K LOOK .......... $26,995 2016 HONDA CRV EXL ALL WHEEL DRIVE 2016 FORD F150 CREW CAB XLT.........14,995 V6 BLACK LEATHER TITANIUM SUNROOF ALL POWER CHROME WHEELS ....... $21,995 2015 TOYOTA RAV4 XLE 4CLY WHITE LOW MILES “39K” ONE OF KIND 2016 FORD F150 CREW CAB...............18,995 XLT V6 RUBY 2015112K MAZDA CX-9 TOURING LEATHER V6 RED 2 WHEEL DRIVE............. $19,995 3RD SEAT ONE OWNER WHITE 36K 14,995 2016 TOURING 2015HONDA HONDACRV ACCORD LX 4 CLY DIAMOND WHITE 77KTO FIND ............15,995 WHITEDIAMOND “87K” HARD 2015 HONDA CRV EXL RED PEARL $19,995 LEATHER SUNROOF .....................

LEATHER SUNROOF ONE OWNER .....13,995 2016 HONDA ACCORD EX MED GRAY 4CLY 2014 BUICK LACROSSE V6 CXL LEATHER 71K 1 OWNER HARD TO FIND“66K” ......... $18,995 SEATS CHAMPANGE COLOR .............................................................16,995 2016 HONDA CRV SE AWD SILVER 107K 2014AND HONDA CRVJUST LX DIAMOND WHITE NEW NICE CLEAN ................. $16,995 TIRES 115K HARD TO FIND ............... 11,995 2016 FORD MUSTANG V6 SILVER 86K 2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER V6 LOCAL LOW MILES SPORTY BUY IT........

TOO7,995 LATE! TRADE “BLACK BEAUTY” CLEAN ......

2006JEEP GMCUNLIMITED SIERRA SLTRUBICON X-CAB 4X4 2015 4X4LOCAL SILVER ONELOADED OWNERNC TRADE WHITE............ ........TOO$26,995 LATE! 69K 1 OWNER

NOTICES

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2013 HONDA ACCORD EXL V6 LEATHER PEARL WHITED 125K LOCAL TRADE ........................... $12 ,995 2010 FORD F150 LARIAT CREW CAB DIAMOND WHITE 5.4 ENG “THE KIND” .............................. $17,995

Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made

by James Thomas (Deceased) and Jeanette Banister (Deceased) (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): James Thomas and Jeanette Banister) to Heather Lovier, Trustee(s), dated April 30, 2020, and recorded in Document No. 419260, in Book No. 1698, at Page 1574 in Stanly 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 Office of the Register of Deeds Stanly 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 offer for sale at the courthouse door in Albemarle, Stanly County, North Carolina, or the customary

25-119992 IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE OF NORTH CAROLINA SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION STANLY COUNTY 25SP000080-830 IN THE MATTER OF THE FORECLOSURE OF A DEED OF TRUST EXECUTED BY BOBBY JOE TALBERT AND FLORA M. TALBERT DATED DECEMBER 9, 2004 AND RECORDED IN BOOK 1035 AT PAGE 284 IN THE STANLY 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 of the secured debt, the undersigned will

NOTICE

NORTH CAROLINA STANLY COUNTY IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION BEFORE THE CLERK FILE NO. 25E000674-830 Having qualified as Executor of the estate of Gary Edward Dick deceased, of Stanly County, North Carolina, This is to notify all persons having claims against the Estate of said Gary Edward Dick to present them to the undersigned on or before March 25, 2026 or the same will be pleaded in bar of their recovery.

All persons indebted to said Estate please make immediate payment.

This 24th day of December, 2025 Brett Speight 1024 Austin Road New London, NC 28127 Executor

NORTH CAROLINA IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE STANLY COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION BEFORE THE CLERK FILE NO. 25E000538-830 NOTICE TO CREDITORS Having qualified as Executrix of the estate of Clarence Edward Mayo, deceased of Stanly County, North Carolina, This is to notify all persons having claims against the Estate of said Clarence Edward Mayo to present them to the undersigned on or before March 25, 2026, or the same will be pleaded in bar of their recovery.

All persons indebted to said Estate please make immediate payment.

This 24th day of December 2025 Amanda Hopson Mayo 8294 C Renee Ford Road Stanfield, North Carolina 28163 Executrix

NOTICE

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2014 BUICK LACROSSE V6 CXL LEATHER SEATS CHAMPAGNE COLOR “66K”...................................... $16,995

NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 25SP000140-830

NOTICE

IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION BEFORE THE CLERK FILE NO. 25E000498-830 NORTH CAROLINA STANLY COUNTY NOTICE TO CREDITORS Having qualified as Administator Of the estate of Kathleen Mary Francis, deceased, of Stanly County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons having claims against the Estate of said Kathleen Mary Francis to present them to the undersigned on or before March 17, 2026 or the same will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate please make immediate payment.

This the 17th day of December, 2025.

Charles W. Parnell, Jr. P.O. Box 2300 Albemarle, NC 28002 Publish: December 17, 2025, December 24, 2025, December 31, 2025, and January 7, 2026.

NOTICE NORTH CAROLINA STANLY COUNTY IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION BEFORE THE CLERK FILE NO. 25E000629-830 Having qualified as Co-Administrators of the estate of Vann Burleson, Jr. deceased, of Stanly County, North Carolina, This is to notify all persons having claims against the Estate of said Vann Burleson, Jr. to present them to the undersigned on or before March 11, 2026 or the same will be pleaded in bar of their recovery.

All persons indebted to said Estate please make immediate payment.

This 10th day of December, 2025 Amy Whitley 12827 Swaringen Road Norwood, NC 28128 Co-Administrator Laura Curcio 1919 Palmetto Drive Apt. C Albemarle, NC 28001 Co-Administrator

NOTICE NORTH CAROLINA STANLY COUNTY IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION BEFORE THE CLERK FILE NO. 25E000599-830 Having qualified as Administratrix of the estate of Rebecca Lee Thorne deceased, of Stanly County, North Carolina, This is to notify all persons having claims against the Estate of said Rebecca Lee Thorne to present them to the undersigned on or before March 11, 2026 or the same will be pleaded in bar of their recovery.

All persons indebted to said Estate please make immediate payment.

This 10th day of December, 2025 Shirley Horvath Garrett 49403 Deer Run Road Norwood, NC 28128

NOTICE NORTH CAROLINA STANLY COUNTY IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION BEFORE THE CLERK FILE NO. 25E000640-830 Having qualified as Administrator of the estate of Laceta Faye Smith deceased, of Stanly County, North Carolina, This is to notify all persons having claims against the Estate of said Laceta Faye Smith to present them to the undersigned on or before March 18, 2026 or the same will be pleaded in bar of their recovery.

All persons indebted to said Estate please make immediate payment.

This 17th day of December, 2025 Jeffrey Allan Smith 365 Montego Lane Salisbury, NC 28144 Administrator

NOTICE NORTH CAROLINA STANLY COUNTY IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION BEFORE THE CLERK FILE NO. 25E000582-830 Having qualified as Executor of the estate of Franklin D. Parker deceased, of Stanly County, North Carolina, This is to notify all persons having claims against the Estate of said Franklin D. Parker to present them to the undersigned on or before March 11, 2026 or the same will be pleaded in bar of their recovery.

All persons indebted to said Estate please make immediate payment.

This 10th day of December, 2025 Beth Parker Thompson 332 Spring Street New London, NC 28127 Executor

NOTICE TO CREDITORS Having qualified as Executor of the ESTATE OF TERRY H. BURLESON (aka TERRY HUNSUCKER BURLESON), deceased of 28908 Kendalls Church Road, Richfield, NC 28137 (Stanly County Clerk of Court Case No. 25E000666-830), the undersigned does hereby notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against the Estate of said Decedent TERRY H. BURLESON (aka TERRY HUNSUCKER BURLESON) to present them to the undersigned ANDREW W. BURLESON, Executor, 28198-A Rogers Road, New London, NC 28127, in care of Tanya N. Oesterreich, Oesterreich Law PLLC, at PO Box 2067, Concord, North Carolina 28026, on or before the 25th day of March, 2026, or this Notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons, firms and corporations indebted to the said TERRY H. BURLESON (aka TERRY HUNSUCKER BURLESON) will please make immediate payment to the undersigned.

This the 24th day of December, 2025.

ANDREW W. BURLESON, Executor ESTATE OF TERRY H. BURLESON (aka TERRY HUNSUCKER BURLESON) 28198-A Rogers Road New London, NC 28127

NOTICE OF SERVICE OF PROCESS BY PUBLICATION STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA, STANLY COUNTY In the District Court Division COURTNEY LEDFORD, Plaintiff, Vs. JOSE LUJANO, Defendant.

TO: COURTNEY LEDFORD, PLAINTIFF: TAKE NOTICE that a pleading seeking relief against you was filed June 26, 2025 in Stanly County, North Carolina in the aboveentitled action. The nature of the relief being sought is as follows: MOTION TO MODIFY CUSTODY ORDER (19CVD000376-830) You are required to make defense to such pleading not later than March 2, 2026 to the Stanly County Clerk of Court, P.O. Box 668, Albemarle, NC 28002, Attn: Civil Division and upon your failure to do so, the party seeking service against you will apply to the Court for the relief sought on the next hearing date of March 9, 2026 at 9:30am.

This the 17th of December, 2025.

PARNELL AND SCALES, PLLC Andrew T. Scales Attorney for Defendant P.O. Box 2300 Albemarle, NC 28002 PUBLISH: December 17, 2025, December 24, 2025 and December 31, 2025

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 foreclosure sale, terminate the rental agreement by providing written notice of termination to the landlord, to be effective on a date stated in the notice that is at least 10 days but not more than 90 days, after the sale date contained in this notice of sale, provided that the mortgagor has not cured the default at the time the tenant provides the notice of termination.

Upon termination of a rental agreement, the tenant is liable for rent due under the rental agreement prorated to the effective date of the termination.

encumbrances of record and any recorded releases. Said property is also being sold subject to applicable Federal and State laws.

A deposit of five percent (5%) of the purchase price, or seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, is

required and must be tendered in the form of certified 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 filing of a bankruptcy petition prior to the confirmation 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 trustee, in its sole discretion, if it believes the challenge to have merit, may request the court to declare the sale to be void and return the deposit. The purchaser will have no further remedy.

Additional Notice for Residential Property with Less than 15 rental units, including Single-Family Residential Real Property An order for possession of the property may be issued pursuant to N.C.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.

The record owner(s) of the property, according to the records of the Register of Deeds, is/are Bobby J. Talbert.

The property to be offered pursuant to this notice of sale is being offered 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 officers, 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 offered 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 five percent (5%) of the amount of the bid or seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00),

whichever is greater, is required from the highest bidder and must be tendered in the form of certified funds at the time of the sale. Cash will not be accepted. 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 purchaser. Also, if your lease began or was renewed on or after October 1, 2007, be advised that you may terminate the rental

agreement upon 10 days written notice to the landlord. You may be liable for rent due under the agreement prorated to the effective date of the termination.

The date of this Notice is December 12, 2025. __________________ ___________________ Jason K. Purser N.C. State Bar No. #28031 Aaron Gavin N.C. State Bar No. #59503 Attorney for LLG Trustee, LLC, Substitute Trustee LOGS Legal Group LLP 8520 Cliff Cameron Dr., Suite 330 Charlotte, NC 28269 (704) 333-8107 | (704) 333-8156 Fax | www.LOGS.com Posted: By: 25-119992

location designated for foreclosure sales, at 11:00 AM on January 7, 2026 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in Albemarle in the County of Stanly, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: BEING Lot No. 108 as shown on map of American & Efird Mills, Inc. Subdivision, Albemarle, North Carolina, made by Pickell and Pickell Engineers, of Greenville, South Carolina, and duly recorded in Plat Book No 1 at Pages 224 and 225 in the Office of the Register of Deeds for Stanly County, North Carolina, to which said map reference is hereby made for further description.

Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 710 Love Street, Albemarle, 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 offered pursuant to this notice of sale is being offered 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 officers, 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 offered 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

expose for sale at public auction at the usual place of sale at the Stanly County courthouse at 11:00AM on January 8, 2026, the following described real estate and any improvements situated thereon, in Stanly County, North Carolina, and being more particularly described in that certain Deed of Trust executed Bobby Joe Talbert and Flora M. Talbert, dated December 9, 2004 to secure the original principal amount of $50,000.00, and recorded in Book 1035 at Page 284 of the Stanly County Public Registry. The terms of the said Deed of Trust may be modified 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: 1356 Eastside Avenue, Albemarle, NC 28001 Tax Parcel ID: 655801075731 Present Record Owners: Bobby J. Talbert

c/o Hutchens Law Firm, LLP P.O. Box 1028 Fayetteville, NC 28302 4317 Ramsey Street Fayetteville, NC 28311 Phone No: (910) 864-3068 https://sales.hutchenslawfirm.com Firm Case No: 27523 - 140229 SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE SERVICES, INC. SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE

B5

Stanly News Journal for Wednesday, December 24, 2025

the stream

KENSLIE MCGUIRE / DISNEY VIA AP

Mickey Mouse and other Disney characters return with special performances by Gwen Stefani and others for the annual Disney Parks Magical Christmas Day Parade.

‘Stranger Things,’ ‘Ne Zha II,’ Jennifer Lawrence, Kate Winslet Spy thriller “The Copenhagen Test” lands on Peacock

SERIES TO STREAM

The Associated Press JENNIFER LAWRENCE playing a new mother whose behavior becomes increasingly erratic in “Die My Love” and three more “Stranger Things” episodes are some of the new television, films, music and games headed to a device near you.

Also among the streaming offerings worth your time this week: Disney Parks Magical Christmas Day Parade featuring Gwen Stefani and Nicole Scherzinger, the Chinese animated epic “Ne Zha II,” and Simu Liu starring as an intelligence analyst whose brain has been hacked in Peacock’s “The Copenhagen Test.”

MOVIES TO STREAM Lawrence plays a new mother whose behavior becomes increasingly erratic in Lynne Ramsay’s “Die My Love,” streaming now on Mubi. Robert Pattinson plays her husband in this story adapted from Ariana Harwicz’s novel. In his review for The Associated Press, Film Writer Jake Coyle wrote called it “a jagged, go-for-broke psychodrama” raging with a “primal punk spirit.” He added, “there’s plenty to admire in Ramsay’s uncompromising and delirious portrait of marital hell, particularly in the bracingly raw performance of Lawrence.”

The Chinese animated epic “Ne Zha II,” which is the highest grossing animated movie of all time with more than $2.2 billion in ticket sales, is now streaming on HBO Max. The film tells the story of a rebellious child, Ne Zha, born as the reincarnation of a demon to mortal parents, who is out to prove his fate is not predetermined. Michelle Yeoh lent her voice to the English language dub, which she said, “immerses you into our culture.” The first film is available to stream on Netflix, but it’s possible to just dive right into the sequel.

If you like holiday mov-

and the Disney YouTube channel on Christmas Day, music fans can tune into the annual Disney Parks Magical Christmas Day Parade. It’s not just for the kids: The special will feature musical performances from Stefani, Scherzinger, Coco Jones, Iam Tongi, Lady A, Mariah the Scientist and Bebe Rexha.

EVAN AGOSTINI / INVISION / AP PHOTO

Ross Duffer, from left, Gaten Matarazzo, Finn Wolfhard, Charlie Heaton and Jamie Campbell Bower attend the PaleyLive “Stranger Things” final season celebration at the Paley Museum on Dec. 18 in New York.

“‘Die My Love’ is a jagged, go-for-broke psychodrama, raging with a primal punk spirit.”

Jake Coyle, AP Film Writer

KIMBERLY FRENCH / MUBI VIA AP

Jennifer Lawrence stars in the suspenseful drama “Die My Love.” ies with a side of tears, “Goodbye June,” streaming on Netflix, might just be the ticket.

Kate Winslet directs and stars in this family drama about four

adult children (Winslet, Andrea Riseborough, Johnny Flynn and Toni Collette) coming to terms with the fact that their mother, June (Helen Mirren), is dying.

In my review, I wrote that it was an admirably solid, if generic, drama that’s elevated by a distinguished cast and moments of humor, grace and insight.

Speaking of holiday viewing, it’s also worth noting that Prime Video is getting two of the year’s biggest movies: “A Minecraft Movie” on Monday and “Sinners” on Friday.

MUSIC TO STREAM It’s wholesome holiday fun for the whole family! Kicking off at 10 a.m. on ABC and streaming at 11 a.m. on Disney+, Hulu

Make your Christmas stranger. The next block of installments of “ Stranger Things” — that’s episodes 5-7 — drop like a present as the fifth and final season continues. When we last checked out Hawkins, Vecna was deep into a dastardly plan, Demogorgons were menacing, and Will Byers was coming into his own powers. The very last episodes will stream on New Year’s Eve. Liu stars as an intelligence analyst whose brain has been hacked in Peacock’s new espionage thriller, “The Copenhagen Test.” In addition to Liu, the series’ regulars include Melissa Barrera, Sinclair Daniel, Brian d’Arcy James, Mark O’Brien and Kathleen Chalfant. All episodes debut Saturday.

“Members Only: Palm Beach” is a new Netflix reality show that follows the exclusive, high-end social scene of one of Florida’s most affluent areas, as experienced by five women who are part of the community. “There’s a lot more beneath the sunshine than anyone expects, because nobody goes lower than high society,” Taja Abitbol, one of the stars, explains. It premieres Monday.

VIDEO GAMES TO PLAY You may be getting — or giving — a new gaming device for Christmas. If so, you should look beyond heavily promoted AAA games and download some of the gems that independent studios released in 2025. Some made The Associated Press’ top 10 list; don’t miss Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, The Séance of Blake Manor and The Alters. The indie sequels Hades II and Hollow Knight: Silksong more than lived up to fans’ expectations.

Mystery lovers should test their wits against Blue Prince and The Roottrees are Dead.

And if you want a heartfelt story about an Ecuadoran kid dreaming about soccer’s World Cup (who doesn’t?), check out Despelote.

B6

Stanly News Journal for Wednesday, December 24, 2025

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VOLUME 8 ISSUE 4 | THURSDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2025

SUBSCRIBE TODAY: 919-663-3232

THE FORSYTH COUNTY EDITION OF NORTH STATE JOURNAL

ALEX BRANDON / AP PHOTO

President Donald Trump arrives to speak at a campaign event last Friday in Rocky Mount.

WHAT’S HAPPENING Minaj surprises conservatives with praise for Trump, Vance at Arizona event Rapper Nicki Minaj made a surprise appearance at a gathering of conservatives in Arizona. Speaking on stage at Turning Point USA’s AmericaFest convention, the artist praised President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance, calling them “role models” for young men. The rap star was interviewed by Erika Kirk, the widow of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who has since taken over as leader of Turning Point. Kirk asked Minaj about her newly found support for Trump, whom she had condemned in the past.

Minaj’s appearance Sunday at the flagship event for the powerful conservative youth organization may shore up her status as a MAGA acolyte.

“60 Minutes” pulls critical piece on Trump deportation policy Hours before airtime on Sunday, CBS News’ “60 Minutes” held a planned story on President Donald Trump’s deportation policy at the order of the network’s new editor-in-chief, Bari Weiss.

Weiss, the founder of the Free Press website, had sought to get Trump administration perspective included in the story. The move is sure to increase scrutiny on CBS and “60 Minutes,” which Trump sued last fall over an interview with Kamala Harris and has recently complained about stories critical of him.

Weiss said in a statement that holding stories that aren’t ready, because they lack context or are missing critical voices, happen every day in newsrooms.

$2.00

Trump touts economic progress during Rocky Mount visit For many, the promised golden age hasn’t yet arrived

By Makiya Seminera The Associated Press ROCKY MOUNT — She had worked 22 days straight in her job as a technician at an engine plant to save up, and now Daijah Bryant could finally do what she was putting off: Christmas shopping.

Bryant pushed her cart out of a Walmart in Rocky Mount and loaded her sedan’s backseat with bags of gifts. While they would soon bring joy to her friends and family, it was difficult for the 26-year-old to feel good about the purchases.

“Having to pay bills, if you happen to pay rent and try to do Christmas all at the same time, it is very, very hard,” she said with exasperation.

Ahead of President Donald Trump’s Friday evening visit to Rocky Mount, some residents said they were feeling an economic squeeze that seems hard to escape. The uneasy feeling spans political affiliation in the town, which is split between two largely rural and somewhat impoverished counties, although some were more hopeful than others that

ALEX BRANDON / AP PHOTO

Former RNC Chairman Michael Whatley, a 2026 U.S. Senate candidate, is greeted onstage by President Donald Trump last Friday in Rocky Mount. there are signs of reprieve on the horizon.

It was Trump’s second event this month aimed at championing his economic policies ahead of a consequential midterm election next year, both held in presidential battleground states. Similar to Trump’s earlier stop in Pennsylvania, Rocky Mount sits in a U.S. House district that has been historically competitive.

But earlier this year, the Republican-controlled legislature redrew the boundaries for the

“I inherited the mess.

I got the prices down and they are going down still further.”

President Donald Trump eastern North Carolina district to favor their party as part of Trump’s push to have GOP-led states gerrymander their congressional districts to help his

Board of Education reaches stalemate for new leadership The WSFCS Board of Education failed to elect a new chair and vice chair

By Ryan Henkel Twin City Herald WINSTON-SALEM — The Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools Board of Education failed to elect a new chair and vice chair after a majority vote could not be reached.

At the board’s Dec. 16 meeting, the board started the meet-

ing by holding its yearly restructuring, but no candidate managed to secure enough shares of the vote.

“Because we’re at a stalemate, what we need to do is move forward with the current lineup that we have and address this at our next meeting,” said Superintendent Don Phipps.

Per board policy, no candidate can be elected without a majority vote and the closest candidate was Alexandre Bohannon, who received only four votes.

Four members of the board voted for Bohannon: Trevonia Brown-Gaither, who first nominated him, Sabrina Coone, Richard Watts and Bohannon himself.

His nomination was brought forth four separate times, but each time, only those same four votes were cast for his nomination.

Deanna Kaplan and Leah Crowley initially supported Watts for board chair, although he was nominated just once in the four rounds of vot-

party retain its House majority for the last half of his term.

Rocky Mount may be in a politically advantageous location, but the hardships its residents report mirror the tightening financial strains many Americans say they are feeling, with high prices for groceries, housing and utilities among their top concerns. Polls show persistently high prices have put Americans in a grumpy mood about the state of the economy, which a large majority say is performing poorly.

Trump has insisted the economy is trending upward and the country will see some relief in the new year and beyond. In some cases, he has dismissed affordability concerns and encouraged Americans to decrease their consumption.

In his Friday night speech, he leaned into a persistent refrain: Democratic President Joe Biden alone was to blame for any economic distress Americans may be feeling, but things are getting better under his watch.

He boasted that steps he’s taken — including generating billions of dollars of revenue through tariffs, pressing pharmaceutical giants to slash the prices of some medicines, and See TRUMP, page A4

“The alternative is keeping what we have and that hasn’t been working well either.”

Board member Sabrina Coone ing. After the first attempt, neither cast another vote.

Robert Barr, Susan Miller and Steve Wood neither offered up a nomination nor cast a vote for chair at all during the process.

“It’s disappointing that several of you are not voting because you have been told by your conservative party not to See BOARD, page A2

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Twin City Herald for Thursday, December 25, 2025

THURSDAY

12.25.25 #380

Retired NASCAR driver Greg Biffle, family among 7 killed in Statesville plane crash Investigators are trying to determine what happened

By Gary D. Robertson and Josh Funk The Associated Press

“Join the conversation” North State Journal (USPS 20451) (ISSN 2471-1365) Trip Hoffend, Publisher Jim Sills, VP of Local Newspapers Cory Lavalette, Senior Editor Jordan Golson, Local News Editor Shawn Krest, Sports Editor Dan Reeves, Features Editor Ryan Henkel, Reporter PJ Ward-Brown, Photographer BUSINESS David Guy, Advertising Manager Published each Thursday as part of North State Journal 1201 Edwards Mill Rd. Suite 300 Raleigh, NC 27607 TO SUBSCRIBE: 919-663-3232 NSJONLINE.COM Annual Subscription Price: $100.00 Periodicals Postage Paid at Raleigh, NC and at additional mailing offices POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: North State Journal 1201 Edwards Mill Rd. Suite 300 Raleigh, NC 27607

BOARD from page A1 vote,” Coone said. “This is not about politics, it shouldn’t be, and I’m ashamed that we’re doing this. And I know one of you, for certain, has said that you’re not voting because you can’t vote for a democrat. That is a problem and that is what is wrong with this board and I’m so tired of it.”

The board of education race is partisan and in 2022, Crowley, Miller, Barr and Wood were all elected as republicans, while Bohannon, Brown-Gaither, Kaplan, Coone and Watts were all elected as democrats.

Kaplan, who was the previous chair, carried on leading the meeting, although another vote will be held at the board’s first meeting in January.

“The alternative is keeping what we have and that hasn’t been working well either, so can we do something and make a decision?” Coone said.

The WSFCS Board of Education will next meet Jan. 13.

Share with your community! Send us your births, deaths, marriages, graduations and other announcements: forsythcommunity@ northstatejournal.com Weekly deadline is Monday at Noon

STATESVILLE — Federal investigators are trying to figure out why a business jet carrying retired NASCAR driver Greg Biffle and six others tried to return to Statesville Regional Airport just after takeoff but plowed into light poles and a tree line short of the runway, killing everyone on board.

The Cessna C550 erupted into a large fire when it hit the ground last Thursday morning, about a third of a mile from the airport’s runway. They also don’t know who the was the lead pilot. Biffle was one of three people on board with a pilot’s license.

The jet had departed Statesville, about 45 miles north of Charlotte, 10 minutes earlier, but crashed while trying to return and land, authorities said.

Flight records indicate the plane was registered to a company run by Biffle. Investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board began examining the wreckage last Friday to help determine the cause of the crash and why the plane had returned to the airport in drizzle and cloudy conditions.

Investigators recovered the cockpit voice recorder, which could provide important clues about what happened. They were not aware of any emergency calls from the jet, NTSB member Michael Graham said at a Friday news conference.

There were three pilots on board. Federal Aviation Administration records show Biffle was rated to fly helicopters, and single- and multiengine planes. Also on board was pilot Dennis Dutton, Dutton’s son, Jack — who had a private pilot’s license for single-engine

MATT KELLEY / AP PHOTO

Flowers are displayed at the North Carolina Auto Racing Walk of Fame for Greg Biffle last Friday in Mooresville. planes — and Biffle’s friend Craig Wadsworth.

Biffle’s wife, Cristina, and children Ryder, 5, and Emma, 14, were also killed in the crash, the North Carolina State Highway Patrol said.

Cristina Biffle’s mother told People magazine that her daughter sent her a text message saying, “We’re in trouble,” before she didn’t hear from her again.

Federal investigators on Friday didn’t have answers yet about the crew.

Dennis Dutton was licensed and rated to fly this model of plane, but even then, he was supposed to fly with a co-pilot. Even though Biffle was rated to fly a multiengine plane, he wasn’t listed as qualified to fly this particular jet or be a second officer. Dutton’s son, Jack, also had a pilot’s license but was only rated for single-engine planes.

“There is nobody else that has a second-in-command type rating in the airplane. So there’s a question on the crew,” aviation safety expert John Cox said.

The plane’s speed and altitude fluctuated significantly during the brief flight, and

its path was consistent with a flight crew that experienced an issue and needed to return quickly, said former NTSB and FAA crash investigator Jeff Guzzetti.

At one point, the plane quickly soared from 1,800 feet up to 4,000 feet before descending again. Just before the crash, it was only a couple of hundred feet off the ground.

“One thing is certain: They were low. They were too low to make a safe landing on that runway,” Guzzetti said.

It’s unclear why the pilots didn’t make an emergency call, but their top priorities are flying the plane and figuring out where to land — not radioing for help. It’s possible they were too busy trying to control the plane and dealing with the problem. But Cox said it’s also possible that the problem they encountered wasn’t considered an emergency. And the pilots may not have made it a priority to make a radio call with no tower or firefighters at the airport.

Biffle, 55, won more than 50 races across NASCAR’s three circuits, including 19 at the Cup Series level. He also won the Trucks Series championship in

2000 and the Xfinity Series title in 2002.

In 2024, Biffle was honored for his humanitarian efforts after Hurricane Helene struck the U.S., even using his personal helicopter to deliver aid to flooded, remote western North Carolina.

The last time I spoke with Cristina, just a couple of weeks ago, she reached out to ask how she could help with relief efforts in Jamaica. That’s who the Biffles were,” U.S. Rep. Richard Hudson (R-NC) said.

Wadsworth was Biffle’s friend and helped him with odd jobs, including delivering supplies to places hit by Hurricane Helene, roommate Benito Howell said.

“He didn’t know how to say no,” Howell said of Wadsworth, who had worked for several NASCAR teams. “He loved everybody. He always tried to help everybody.”

A memorial with flowers sprouted up Friday by Biffle’s marble star in his hometown of Mooresville, honoring him as a member of the North Carolina Auto Racing Hall of Fame.

Steve Miller dropped by to pay his respects. He met Biffle at a huge party after he was inducted in October. He told Biffle he hoped the racecar driver could help knock an item off his bucket list — taking a flight in a helicopter.

“Come knock on my door, I’ll take you up,” Miller recalled Biffle telling him. “Never happened.”

Cessna Citations like the one that crashed Thursday are known as reliable, easy-to-fly jets. While the plane is in flight, one pilot is at the controls while the other pilot is the monitoring pilot, Cox said.

Roughly 1,000 of these 550 series jets have been made, and they have a very good safety record. “What accidents have occurred in this type were mostly due to very poor pilot decisions,” Guzzetti said.

NORAD continues decades-long tradition of tracking Santa’s trip around the world Reindeer aren’t a threat to our airspace, but they keep an eye anyway

By Colleen Slevin The Associated Press PETERSON SPACE FORCE BASE, Colo. — Sometimes kids drop the phone after hearing Santa won’t show up if they’re not asleep. Others who call the NORAD Tracks Santa hotline wonder if St. Nick will be able to find them.

Adults who also remain devoted to the jolly figure said to deliver presents around the world are checking up on his journey. For 70 years, that’s been the tradition at the North American Aerospace Defense Command — a joint United States and Canadian operation charged with monitoring the skies for threats since the Cold War. More than 1,000 volunteers will be taking calls to 1-877-HINORAD on Christmas Eve from 4 a.m. to midnight Mountain Standard Time. For the first time this year, Santa seekers can place a call through the program’s website, which organizers say will be easier for people outside North America.

The website allows people to follow Santa’s journey in nine languages, including English and Japanese.

Last year, about 380,000 calls came into a hangar festooned with Christmas decorations at Peterson Space Force Base in Colorado Springs — the home of NORAD. While Santa is no threat, the same combination of radar, satellites and jets that help NORAD carry out its mission throughout the year make it capable of tracking the progress of Santa starting from the

THOMAS PAUL / NORTH AMERICAN AEROSPACE DEFENSE COMMAND. VIA AP

Volunteers take phone calls from children asking where Santa is and when he will deliver presents to their house during the annual NORAD Tracks Santa Operation at the North American Aerospace Defense Command at Peterson Air Force Base, in Colorado Springs, Colorado, last Christmas Eve. international date line over the Pacific Ocean, said Col. Kelly Frushour, a NORAD spokesperson.

Rudolph’s nose gives off a heat signature similar to a missile that is picked up by NORAD’s satellites, she said.

“Faster than starlight” Last year, Frushour said one girl was upset after hearing Santa was on his way to the International Space Station, where two astronauts were stranded.

“Thankfully, by the time the call was over, Santa Claus had moved on to another destination and the child was reassured that Santa was not trapped in space and was going to make it to her house later that evening,” Frushour said.

A special needs man named

Henry who calls every year once asked if the jet pilot escorting Santa through North America could put a note in the plane letting Santa know he was in bed and ready for him to come, said Michelle Martin, a NORAD staffer and Marine veteran.

She said she explained that Santa travels “faster than starlight.”

“I don’t know that our pilot can catch up with him fast enough. He just waves and he goes,” she recalled saying.

A tradition started by mistake The tradition started in 1955 when NORAD’s predecessor, the Continental Air Defense Command, was on the lookout for any sign of a possible nuclear attack from the then-Soviet Union.

NORAD says a child mistakenly called the combat operations center and asked to speak to Santa Claus. The commander on duty, Air Force Col. Harry Shoup didn’t want to disappoint the child, so he ordered staffers to start tracking Santa and take calls from children.

The story goes that the first phone call was either the result of a misprint or a misdial of a number included in a Sears advertisement in the Colorado Springs newspaper encouraging children to call Santa.

The legend developed into the first call coming into a dedicated hotline that connected the command with a general in case of an attack.

In 2015, The Atlantic magazine doubted the flood of calls to the secret line, saying a call to a public phone line was more probable and noting that Shoup had a flair for public relations.

In a 1999 interview with The Associated Press, Shoup recalled playing along once he figured out what was happening, telling the first caller, “Ho, ho, ho, I am Santa.”

“The crew was looking at me like I had lost it,” he recalled.

He said he told his staff what was happening and told them to play along, too.

It’s not clear what day the first call came in, but by Dec. 23 of that first year, The Associated Press reported that CONAD was tracking Santa.

CONAD soon became North American Aerospace Defense Command. It used to operate inside nearby Cheyenne Mountain. A network of tunnels had been blasted out of the mountain’s hard granite so NORAD officers could survive a nuclear attack.

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Twin City Herald for Thursday, December 25, 2025

THE CONVERSATION Trip Hoffend, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor VISUAL VOICES

COLUMN | SEN. TOMMY TUBERVILLE

Sharia law fuels jihadist terror in Nigeria; is America next?

What’s taking place in Nigeria is a sad example of the dangers of Islam.

OVER THE LAST few months, I’ve been increasingly vocal about the rise of radical Islam in the U.S. As a result, the left has predictably lost their minds — calling me a “racist” and an “Islamophobe.” The truth is I’m an American, and I care about the safety of our country. I’m not afraid of Chuck Schumer calling me names.

What I am afraid of is losing the greatest country on Earth to radical Islam. Look no further than the Thanksgiving shooting of two National Guardsmen in D.C. by a Biden-imported Afghan Islamic terrorist to know that we are under attack.

There’s a lot of good people that come from Middle Eastern countries who go by our laws and assimilate with our culture. But if you come here otherwise, refuse to go by our laws and chant “Death to America,” I have a message for you — we do not want you here. If you’re a peaceful Muslim who has assimilated, now is the time to speak out and condemn these acts of Islamic terrorism.

What’s taking place in Nigeria is a sad example of the dangers of Islam. We are seeing firsthand the poisonous impact that Radical Islam can have on a country when it is allowed to take root.

In the 1990s, Nigerian Christians and Muslims lived in relative harmony. But Muslims began gaining a foothold, and sharia law was soon installed by 12 of Northern Nigeria’s states in the early 2000s. There are now 101 references to sharia law and Islam in the Nigerian Constitution and zero references to Christianity. Now, 35 Christians a day are being murdered in Nigeria for their faith. Unfortunately, this statistic isn’t surprising. Islam openly teaches to “kill all infidels” — which includes Christians.

Since 2002, an estimated 62,000 Christians in Nigeria have been murdered, and 350,000 people have died because of the instability that Radical Islam breeds. In 2024, 70% of all Christians martyred for their faith in the entire world were in Nigeria. Kidnappings in Nigeria are also on the rise because Jihadists use this to extort ransom payments and fund more terrorism.

In November, the world reacted with horror when 315 schoolchildren were kidnapped from a Catholic school in Niger State.

Yet you won’t hear much about any of these tragedies because the mainstream media in America would rather bury their heads in the sand than report the facts. They don’t cover the wholesale slaughter of Christians, and when they do, they claim it’s equal opportunity murder of Christians and Muslims alike.

Thankfully, President Donald Trump recently reclassified Nigeria as a “country of particular concern,” placing a spotlight on persecuted Christians in the country. I also appreciate other members of Congress like Republican Rep. Marlin Stutzman of Indiana and Republican Rep. Riley Moore of West Virginia who have joined me in the fight to end the slaughtering of Christians in Nigeria.

However, there is much more that needs to be done to hold the Nigerian government accountable for the genocide happening right under its nose. I am grateful for organizations like Across Nigeria that are working day and night to bring the killing to an end. I recently heard from Brad Brandon, who serves as CEO of Across Nigeria. He described the horrors of Islam firsthand, and how he has stood at the edge of large graves filled with entire families

and villages of Christian believers. In 2021, a pastor who worked for Brandon’s organization was hacked to death by machetes in his bed. His church, home, and village were set on fire — all because he refused to deny his Christian faith and stop spreading the gospel. It reminds me of some of the disciples in the earliest days of the church who were martyred for their faith rather than denying Jesus Christ.

Unfortunately, this isn’t just a problem overseas. I’ve said it many times and have taken some heat for it, but Islam isn’t a religion, it is a death cult. And this type of poisonous ideology is alive and well in this country, just waiting to attack. Just this week, FBI Director Kash Patel announced they caught several Islamist terrorists who had planned terror attacks for New Year’s Eve in Los Angeles and New Orleans. If we don’t act now, these types of attacks will become commonplace.

That’s why I refuse to be silent about this. Islam is fundamentally opposed to our Constitutional values. These people openly chant “death to America” and would like to see every single freedom-loving American dead. The threat of sharia law becoming a reality in America is not a hypothetical. It’s a real and present danger lurking in our own backyards. Nigeria is an example of what can happen when Radical Islam and sharia law overtake a once prosperous and free nation. Those who practice Radical Islam would love nothing more than to destroy this country. Our freedom is a gift, and I hope that more of our leaders will wake up and defend it before it’s too late.

Sen. Tommy Tuberville represents Alabama in the United States Senate. This column was first published by Daily Caller News Foundation.

COLUMN | KEVIN FRAZIER

Trump AI executive order protects Americans from Tower of Babel approach The problem is that many states have misinterpreted their expansive authority.

THE ANSWER TO two questions will shape the future of AI in the United States: Who gets to write the national rules for AI development?

Who gets to write the rules for how AI is adopted at the state level?

This is not a pop quiz. These are the same questions that we had to answer in the late 1700s with respect to shipping in the late 1800s with respect to the railroads, and in the late 1900s with respect to the Internet. The right answers then, remain the correct answers today.

The executive order on AI announced by President Donald Trump provides a clear answer to the first question: Congress. It’s the right answer given the unequivocal allocation of constitutional authority to Congress to resolve matters that implicate America’s economic and national security.

AI development refers to the training, evaluation and deployment of AI models. In short, it’s the tasks that determine how quickly U.S. companies can continue to push the technological frontier as our adversaries race to do the same. Any pause, delay or diversion to these efforts may have irreversible effects on our ability to economically and militarily keep pace. It’s not hyperbole to stress that America requires a cohesive strategy on this frontier so that our leading AI labs and emerging startups can focus more on AI research, rather than attempting to navigate a patchwork of state AI laws.

The order also answers the second question.

States may dictate who uses AI, for what purposes, and subject to what limitations.

Again, this is the right answer as mandated

by the Constitution and its reservation of extensive police powers to the states. It has long been recognized that it is the duty “of a state to advance the safety, happiness, and prosperity of its people, and to provide for its general welfare.” That’s precisely why the order does not contest the authority of states to enact and enforce laws related to child safety, data centers, state government use of AI and other issues that reflect that important duty.

To use an imperfect analogy, the order acknowledges and welcomes state laws related to speed limits, road designs and driver’s license requirements, so long as they do not interfere with how the engine is designed and distributed.

The problem is that many states have misinterpreted their expansive authority. Some have enacted laws that will impede the ability of other states to look out for the distinct wants and needs of their respective community. As mentioned in the order, states like Colorado want to dictate how AI models respond to certain queries — this akin to messing with the engine of AI. If labs comply, then the rest of America will have to live with what Denver thinks is best.

Other states — namely, California — have enacted laws with the explicit purpose of shielding the rest of the nation from speculative risks. That’s akin to Californians prohibiting Montanans from driving trucks with V8 engines because Californians think they are too powerful. Worse yet, such laws may inhibit the ability of American innovators to move forward on devising new strategies to deploy more capable and reliable AI systems. Congress alone

has the authority to dictate such consequential decisions. Americans are rightfully eager for Congress to use that authority. But impatience must not become acquiesce to efforts by state legislators to step into the shoes of U.S. representatives and senators.

The order’s core provision — the creation of an AI Litigation Task Force — will protect the American people from a Tower of Babel approach to AI development. States may think they’re enacting similar laws with similar provisions related to AI training, but they’re oftentimes speaking different languages — their bills are riddled with contradictory definitions and vague standards.

This task force is overdue but far from an overreach of presidential authority. The order does not grant the U.S. attorney general any new authority nor permit the task force to “neuter” any constitutionally valid state laws, as alleged by The New York Times. Instead, the order is again to the president putting certain questions at the top of the AG’s agenda: specifically, challenging unconstitutional, unlawful or preempted state laws. None of that is new. It has been and always will be the case that state laws that run afoul of the Constitution or otherwise violate the law can and should be challenged. The order merely directs a focus on state AI laws that fall within any of those categories.

State legislators may be forgiven for rushing to regulate AI amid the public’s uncertainty over how the technology will impact our economy, our schools, and our communities. AI’s disruptive effects warrant a national framework and soon. Congress must act. However, as signaled by this executive order, that forgiveness has limits: states that intentionally seek to impose their legislative will on others must be held accountable.

Kevin Frazier is the AI and innovation fellow at the University of Texas School of Law.

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Twin City Herald for Thursday, December 25, 2025

Everything you need to know about Christmas, including how it’s evolved into global holiday From Father Christmas to nativity scenes, the holiday has different meanings everywhere

By Luis Andres Henao The Associated Press CHRISTMAS is a Christian holiday that observes the birth of Jesus. But did you know that the earliest followers of Jesus did not annually commemorate his birth? Or that Santa Claus is inspired by the acts of kindness of a fourth-century Christian saint? And have you heard about the modern-day Japanese tradition of eating Kentucky Fried Chicken on Christmas?

Since the early 20th century, Christmas has evolved from a religious holiday to a hugely popular cultural holiday observed by Christian and secular people across the globe who gather with families, exchange gifts and cards and decorate Christmas trees.

Here’s a look at the history, beliefs and the evolution of Christmas.

Origins, early history of Christmas Early followers of Jesus did not annually commemorate his birth but instead focused on commemorating their belief in his resurrection at Easter.

The story of the birth of Jesus appears only in two of the four Gospels of the New Testament: Matthew and Luke.

They provide different details, though both say Jesus was born in Bethlehem.

The exact day, month and even year of Jesus’s birth are unknown, said Christine Shepardson, a professor at the University of Tennessee who studies early Christianity.

The tradition of celebrating Jesus’ birth on Dec. 25, she said, only emerged in the fourth century.

“It’s hard to overemphasize how important the fourth century is for constructing Christianity as we experience it in our world today,” Shepardson said. It was then, under Emperor Constantine, that Christians began the practice of gathering at churches instead of meeting at homes.

Some theories say the date coincides with existing pagan winter solstice festivals, including the Roman celebration of Sol Invictus, or the “Unconquered Sun,” on Dec 25.

While most Christians celebrate Christmas on Dec. 25, some Eastern Orthodox traditions celebrate the holy day on Jan. 7. That’s because they follow the ancient Julian calendar, which runs 13 days behind the Gregorian calendar, used by Catholic and Protestant churches as well as by much of the secular world.

Rowdy medieval celebrations For centuries, especially during the Middle Ages, Christmas was associated with rowdy street celebrations of feasting and drinking, and for many Christians, it “was not in good standing as a holiday,” said

TRUMP from page A1 a so-called $1776 “warrior dividend” for U.S. troops that is being paid through a provision in a tax cut extensions and expansions bill he signed into law in July—will have real impact on American’s pocketbooks.

“I inherited the mess. I got the prices down and they are going down still further,” Trump said.

He added, “Over the past 11 months, we have brought more positive change to Washington than any administration in the history of our country.”

“Without the businesses, it’s dead” Crimson smokestacks tower over parts of downtown Rocky Mount, reminding the town’s roughly 54,000 residents of its roots as a once-booming tobacco market. Through the heart

MICHAEL PROBST / AP PHOTO

An annual Christmas Market is a hub of activity in the city center of Frankfurt, Germany, on Saturday. tants who settled in New York brought the Sinterklaas tradition with them.

Eventually, St. Nicholas morphed into the secular Santa Claus.

Not just Santa who delivers gifts

ALESSANDRA TARANTINO / AP PHOTO

A 27-meter fir tree from the Ultimo valley in South Tyrol, Italy, is lit up as Christmas tree together with a crib in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican last Monday. in 1933 and remains one of New York City’s most popular holiday attractions.

Thomas Ruys Smith, a professor of American literature and culture at the University of East Anglia in England.

“Puritans,” he said, “were not fond of Christmas.”

But in the 19th century, he said, Christmas became “respectable” with “the domestic celebration that we understand today — one centered around the home, the family, children, gift-giving.”

The roots of modern-day Christmas can be traced back to Germany. In the late 19th century, there are accounts of Christmas trees and gift-giving that, according to Smith, later spread to Britain and America, helping to revitalize Christmas on both sides of the Atlantic.

Christmas became further popularized with the publication of “A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens in 1843, and the writings of Washington Irving, who was a fan of St. Nicholas and helped popularize the celebration of Christmas in America.

The first Rockefeller Center Christmas tree was put up by workers in 1931 to raise spirits during the Great Depression.

The tradition stuck as the first tree-lighting ceremony was held

St. Nicholas was a fourth-century Christian bishop from the Mediterranean port city of Myra (in modern-day Turkey).

His acts of generosity inspired the secular Santa Claus legend.

The legends surrounding jolly old St. Nicholas — celebrated annually on Dec. 6 — go way beyond delivering candy and toys to children. He is believed to have interceded on behalf of wrongly condemned prisoners and miraculously saved sailors from storms.

Devotion to St. Nicholas spread during the Middle Ages across Europe and he became a favorite subject for medieval artists and liturgical plays. He is the patron saint of sailors and children, as well as of Greece, Russia and New York.

Devotion to St. Nicholas seems to have faded after the 16th century Protestant Reformation, except in the Netherlands, where his legend remained as Sinterklaas. In the 17th century, Dutch Protes-

of downtown, graffiti-covered trains still lug along on the railroad tracks that made Rocky Mount a bustling locomotive hotspot in the last century.

Those days seem long gone for some residents who have watched the town change over the decades. Rocky Mount has adapted by tapping into other industries such as manufacturing and biopharmaceuticals, but it’s also had to endure its fair share of challenges. Most recently, financial troubles in the city’s government have meant higher utility prices for residents.

The city has been investing to try to revitalize its downtown, but progress has been slow. Long stretches of empty storefronts that once contained restaurants, furniture shops and drug stores line the streets.

Most stores were closed Thursday morning, and not much

foot traffic roamed the area.

That’s left Lucy Slep, who coowns The Miner’s Emporium jewelry store with her husband, waiting for Trump’s promised “Golden Age of America.”

The jewelry store has been in downtown Rocky Mount for nearly four decades, just about as long as the 64-year-old said she has lived in the area. But the deterioration of downtown Rocky Mount has spanned at least a decade, and Slep said she’s still hoping it will come back to life.

“Every downtown in every little town is beautiful,” she said. “But without the businesses, it’s dead.”

Slep’s store hasn’t escaped the challenges other Rocky Mount small businesses have endured.

Instead of buying, more people have recently been selling their jewelry to the shop, Slep said.

Customers have been scarce.

America’s secular Santa inspired by Christian saint

In the U.K., it’s Father Christmas; in Greece and Cyprus, St. Basil (who arrives on New Year’s Eve). In some parts of Italy, it’s St. Lucy (earlier in December) and in other Italian regions, Befana, a witch-like figure, who brings presents on the Epiphany on Jan. 6.

Instead of a friendly Santa Claus, children in Iceland enjoy favors from 13 mischievous troll brothers, called the Yule Lads. They come down from their mountain cave 13 days before Christmas, according to folklore.

Christian traditions of Christmas One of the oldest traditions around Christmas is bringing greenery — holly, ivy or evergreen trees — into homes.

But determining whether it’s a Christian tradition is harder. “For many people, the evergreen can symbolize Christ’s promise of eternal life and his return from death,” Smith said.

“So, you can interpret that evergreen tradition within the Christian concept.”

The decorating of evergreen trees is a German custom that began in the 16th century, said Maria Kennedy, a professor at Rutgers University— New Brunswick’s Department of American Studies. It was later popularized in England and America.

“Mistletoe, an evergreen shrub, was used in celebrations dating back to the ancient Druids — Celtic religious leaders — some 2,000 years ago,” Kennedy writes in The

About a week out from Christmas, the store — with handmade molded walls and ceilings resembling cave walls — sat empty aside from the rows of glass cases containing jewelry.

It’s been hard, Slep said, but she and her husband are trying to make it through.

“This year is just not a jewelry Christmas, for whatever reason,” she said.

Better times on the horizon — depending on whom you ask Slep is already looking ahead to next year for better times.

She is confident that Trump’s economic policies — including upcoming tax cuts — will make a marked difference in people’s cost of living. In her eyes, the financial strains people are feeling are residual effects from the Biden adminis-

Surprising History of Christmas Traditions.

“Mistletoe represented immortality because it continued to grow in the darkest time of the year and bore white berries when everything else had died.”

Other traditions include Christmas services and Nativity scenes at homes and churches.

More recently, Nativity scenes — when erected on public property in the U.S. — have triggered legal battles over the question of the separation of church and state.

Christmas caroling, Kennedy writes, can also be traced back to European traditions, where people would go from home to home during the darkest time of the year to renew relationships within their communities and give wishes for good luck, health and wealth for the forthcoming year.

“They would recite poetry, sing and sometimes perform a skit. The idea was that these acts would bring about good fortune to influence a future harvest,” Kennedy writes.

Kentucky Fried Chicken for Christmas in Japan Among the many Christmas traditions that have been adopted and localized globally, there’s one that involves KFC. In 1974, KFC launched a Christmas campaign where they began to sell fried chicken with a bottle of wine so it could be used for a Christmas party.

KFC says the idea for the campaign came from an employee who overheard a foreign customer at one of its Tokyo restaurants saying that since he couldn’t get turkey in Japan, he’d have to celebrate Christmas with Kentucky Fried Chicken.

“That really stuck,” Smith said. “And still today, you have to order your KFC months in advance to make sure that you’re going to get it at Christmas Day.”

trationthat eventually will fade.

Optimism about what’s to come under Trump’s economy might also depend on whether residents feel their economic conditions have changed drastically in the past year.

Shiva Mrain, an engineer in Rocky Mount, said his family’s situation has not “become worse nor better.” He’s been encouraged by seeing lower gas prices.

Bryant, the engine technician, feels a bit more disillusioned. She didn’t vote in the last election because she didn’t think either party could enact changes that would improve her life. Nearly a year into the Trump administration, Bryant is still waiting to see whether the president will deliver.

“I can’t really say ... that change is coming,” she said. “I don’t think anything is going to change.”

Forsyth SPORTS

SPONSORED BY

DON FERIA / AP IMAGES FOR WWE

Hulk Hogan speaks at his WWE Hall of Fame Ceremony in 2015.

Sports greats we lost in 2025

AUGUST

Hulk Hogan, George Foreman, Rodney Rogers among the losses to the sports world

Humpy Wheeler, 86. He was a pioneering motorsports promoter as president and general manager of Charlotte Motor Speedway. Aug. 20.

Ron Turcotte, 84. The Hall of Fame jockey rode Secretariat to the Triple Crown in 1973.

Aug. 22.

The Associated Press THIS YEAR SAW the deaths of several spots greats who crossed over into mainstream appeal. Even the most casual sports fan has heard of boxing great George Foreman, who memorably lost a much-watched match to Muhammad Ali but whose career had inspiring second and third acts as a world champion and successful business owner.

Similarly, baseball player turned comic actor Bob Uecker was known and beloved by all. After a Wrestlemania cameo, Uecker was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame, joining one of sports-entertainment’s biggest names, Hulk Hogan, who also left us this year.

Here is a roll call of some influential figures who have died this year (cause of death cited, if available):

SEPTEMBER Ricky Hatton, 46. The former boxing world champion who rose to become one of the most popular fighters in the sport had mental health struggles and was found dead due to hanging.

Sept. 14.

Bernie Parent, 80. Considered one of the greatest hockey goalies, the Hall of Famer anchored the net for the Philadelphia Flyers’ two Stanley Cup championships in the 1970s.

Sept. 21.

OCTOBER

JANUARY Bob Uecker, 90. He parlayed a forgettable playing career into a punch line for movie and TV appearances as “Mr. Baseball” and a Hall of Fame broadcasting tenure. Jan. 16.

Dick Button, 95. He was one of the most accomplished men’s figure skaters in history, and one of his sport’s great innovators and promoters.

Jan. 30.

FEBRUARY Kultida Woods, 80. Tiger Woods credited his Thai-born mother with instilling his dominant spirit and encouraging him to wear red shirts on Sundays as his power color. Feb. 4.

Mabel Staton, 92. The Black track and field standout broke through barriers as the only woman to compete for the United States in the long jump at the 1952 Helsinki Olympics.

Feb. 20.

Joe Fusco, 87. A College Football Hall of Fame coach, he won four NAIA Division II national championships in 19 years at Westminster College.

Feb. 22.

Boris Spassky, 88. A Soviet-era world chess champion, he lost his title to American Bobby Fischer in a legendary 1972 match. Feb. 27.

MARCH Junior Bridgeman, 71. A

Ryne Sandberg, 65. The Hall of Fame second baseman starred for the Chicago Cubs.

July 28.

CHARLES REX ARBOGAST / AP PHOTO

Heavyweight boxer George Foreman weighs in for a 1997 fight. After winning a world title in the 1970s, he repeated the feat in the 1990s, then became a well-known grill pitchman. basketball standout who led Louisville to a Final Four, he starred for the NBA’s Milwaukee Bucks and then launched an even more successful career as a business owner. March 11.

Eddie Jordan, 76. He was a Formula 1 team owner and media personality and popular TV pundit after selling the team. March 20.

George Foreman, 76. The fearsome heavyweight boxer lost the “Rumble in the Jungle” to Muhammad Ali before his inspiring second and third acts as a 45-year-old world champion and a successful business owner. March 21.

APRIL Octavio Dotel, 51. He pitched for 13 major league teams in a 15-year career and won a World Series with the St. Louis Cardinals, and died in a roof collapse in the Dominican Republic. April 8.

Steve McMichael, 67.

A star defensive tackle on the Chicago Bears’ 1985 Super Bowl championship team whose larger-than-life personality later made him a natural for professional wrestling.

He died after battling ALS. April 23.

Dick Barnett, 88. A basketball Hall of Famer, he played on both New York Knicks NBA championship teams. April 27.

JUNE Shigeo Nagashima, 89. He was known in Japan as “Mr. Pro Baseball.” June 3.

Jim Marshall, 87. The former Minnesota Vikings defensive end was one of four members of the famed Purple People Eaters. June 3.

Nina Kuscsik, 86. She campaigned for women’s inclusion in long-distance running and then won the Boston Marathon the first year women were officially allowed to run. June 8.

D. Wayne Lukas, 89. The Hall of Famer became one of horse racing’s most accomplished trainers. June 28.

JULY Alex Delvecchio, 93. A member of the Hockey Hall of Fame, he helped the Detroit Red Wings win three Stanley Cups in the 1950s. July 1.

Fauja Singh, 114. An Indi-

an-born runner nicknamed the Turbaned Torpedo, believed to be the world’s oldest marathoner, died after being hit by a car.

July 14.

Felix Baumgartner, 56.

The extreme athlete stunned the world in 2012 by skydiving faster than the speed of sound during a 24-mile leap from the stratosphere. He died in a paragliding crash. July 17.

Rex White, 95. NASCAR’s oldest living champion and a 2015 inductee into its Hall of Fame. July 18.

Joey Jones, 70. The Welsh soccer hero won two European Cups with Liverpool and was dubbed “Mr. Wrexham.”

July 22.

Hulk Hogan, 71. The mustachioed, headscarf-wearing, bicep-busting icon of professional wrestling turned the sport into a massive business and stretched his influence into TV, pop culture and conservative politics during a long and scandal-plagued second act. July 24.

Dwight Muhammad Qawi, 72. The Hall of Fame fighter took up boxing in prison and became a two-weight world champion. July 25.

Daniel Naroditsky, 29. The chess grandmaster who started as a child prodigy quickly became one of the most influential American voices in the sport. Oct. 20.

Nick Mangold, 41. As a New York Jets center he was one of the franchise’s greatest players, twice helping lead the team to the AFC championship game. He died of complications of kidney disease. Oct. 25.

NOVEMBER Paul Tagliabue, 84. He helped bring labor peace and riches to the NFL during his 17 years as commissioner but was criticized for not taking stronger action on concussions.

Nov. 9.

Lenny Wilkens, 88. Basketball Hall of Famer as both an NBA player and a coach.

Nov. 9.

Rodney Rogers, 54. Legendary Wake Forest basketball star played 12 years in the NBA. A post-retirement ATV injury left him paralyzed from the shoulders down since 2008.

Nov. 21 Fuzzy Zoeller, 74. One of golf’s most gregarious characters, the two-time major champion’s career was tainted by a racially insensitive joke about Tiger Woods. Nov. 27.

DECEMBER Greg Biffle, 55. The NASCAR driver and members of his family perished in a private plane crash in North Carolina.

Dec. 18.

the better pa ing to earn a stitutions,” U don’t know w now.”

The outbre for millions taking virtu while also d about tuition

B2 SIDELINE REPORT NFL

Receiver Meyers, Jaguars agree to 3-year, $60M extension Jacksonville, Fla. Receiver Jakobi Meyers and the Jacksonville Jaguars have agreed to terms on a three-year, $60 million contract extension that includes $40 million guaranteed. The Jaguars traded two 2026 draft picks — fourth- and sixth-rounders — to Las Vegas to acquire Meyers at the trade deadline in early November. The 29-year-old Meyers has 27 catches for 355 yards and three touchdowns in six games with Jacksonville, becoming Trevor Lawrence’s most dependable receiver.

NCAA FOOTBALL

Mensah to return to Duke in 2026 Durham Duke quarterback Darian Mensah announced he would return to the Blue Devils next season. He had briefly explored entered the NFL draft after leading his team to a victory over Virginia in the ACC title game. The sophomore, who transferred from Tulane this past offseason, threw for 3,645 yards with 30 touchdown passes and just five interceptions for the Blue Devils. His yardage ranked third in the Football Bowl Subdivision, and he was fifth in touchdown passes.

BOXING

Crawford, boxing’s top pound-for-pound fighter, retires on top with 42-0 record Terence Crawford announced his retirement from boxing.

The 38-year-old is going out on top, having claimed the title of best pound-for-pound boxer with a convincing victory over Canelo Alvarez in September. Crawford is the only male boxer to capture three unified division titles, which he accomplished with his unanimous decision over Alvarez. That gave Crawford the super middleweight championship and a 42-0 record with 31 knockouts. His final 20 bouts came with a belt on the line. Crawford said he’s at peace with his decision.

NCAA BASKETBALL

Miami’s Allen diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma, will miss remainder of season Miami Miami sophomore forward Marcus Allen has been diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma and will miss the rest of the season. The school announced his diagnosis after routine medical tests. Allen, a Miami native, started his college career at Missouri before joining the Hurricanes this year. He averaged 5.3 points and 3.1 rebounds per game this season. He has already started chemotherapy treatments. Miami coach Jai Lucas praised Allen’s toughness and selflessness, saying the team will support him. Allen led Miami Norland High to a state championship in 2024.

Twin City Herald for Thursday, December 25, 2025

Poggi tells signees, parents Michigan hopes to hire coach by end of month, AP source says The former Charlotte coach is leading the scandal-plagued Wolverines

By Larry Lage The Associated Press ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Michigan interim football coach Biff Poggi had a Zoom call with the program’s signees and their parents just hours after Sherrone Moore was fired last week, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press.

Poggi told the players and their parents that athletic director Warde Manuel hoped to have a new coach hired by the end of the month, said the person, who spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to share details from the call.

Moore’s firing left the No. 18 Wolverines scrambling to retain recruits and give current players reasons to stay out of the transfer portal.

That’s going to be quite a challenge.

Michigan has begun practicing for its bowl game with Poggi and assistants, none of whom know if they will be a part of the team’s staff in 2026.

The Wolverines announced less than two weeks ago that 27 prospects signed commitments to play football for the maize and blue and the class was ranked No. 11 by 247Sports.

Two of those players, however, asked for and were granted their release by the school.

Matt Ludwig, a four-star tight end from Montana, has already switched his commitment to Texas Tech and Bear McWhorter, a three-star offensive lineman from Georgia, opened up his recruitment last week.

“In light of recent events, I’ve made the very difficult decision to withdraw,” McWhorter posted Friday on Instagram.

McWhorter made his decision Monday, committing to Auburn.

Moore was fired Wednesday after the school said an investigation uncovered evidence of

JOE BURBANK/ORLANDO SENTINEL VIA AP

Michigan interim head coach Biff Poggi answers questions at a Citrus Bowl news conference ahead of his team’s New Year’s Eve appearance against Texas in the bowl in Orlando, Florida.

“You have a coaching staff, not knowing if they’ll be back, preparing for a game while trying to hold onto signees and current players — and everybody is impatient.”

Allen Trieu, Recruiting analyst his inappropriate relationship with a staffer. He was later jailed for two nights and charged with three crimes.

While a search firm helps Michigan quickly look for a new coach, other colleges are taking advantage of the opportunity to make offers to the Wolverines’ signees because they’re in

a 30-day window to potentially get released.

“Every day that a new coach isn’t in place, there’s a risk in more players asking for their release and current players planning to go in the portal,” Allen Trieu, 247Sports national recruiting analyst, said in a telephone interview. “Time is of es-

sence, if the primary goal is to keep the recruiting class in place.

“Those families are waiting with bated breath — as many are who are invested in Michigan football — to see who the next coach is going to be.”

Current players, including starting quarterback Bryce Underwood, will have a chance to enter the transfer portal between Jan. 2-16 if they don’t like the direction of the program or how they fit with the new coach.

“It’s a very unique time,” Trieu said. “You have a coaching staff, not knowing if they’ll be back, preparing for a game while trying to hold onto signees and current players — and everybody is impatient.”

ACC’s shift to football scheduling model will have 12 of 17 teams playing 9 league games in 2026 Uneven league schedules aren’t a new thing for the ACC

20

By Aaron Beard The Associated Press THE ATLANTIC COAST Conference’s transition to a nine-game football schedule will feature 12 of 17 football-playing members playing nine games next fall while the remaining five stay at eight.

The league announced details of the new model Tuesday, including the league matchups for each school. Next year will operate as a bridge to accommodate conference games already on the books, with the plan to have 16 of 17 teams playing nine football games regularly by 2027.

Reigning champion Duke will join California, Louisville, Miami, N.C. State, Pittsburgh, SMU, Stanford, Syracuse, Virginia, Virginia Tech and Wake Forest in playing nine league games for the 2026 season. That leaves Boston College, Clemson, Florida State, Georgia Tech and North Carolina to play eight.

The league in September announced plans to have a ninegame slate, aligning with power-conference peers in the Big 12, Big Ten and Southeastern conferences. That came after debates and disagreement about the impact of unbalanced scheduling and access to the 12team College Football Playoff.

Seasons before all ACC teams played the same number of league games

JACOB KUPFERMAN / AP PHOTO

ACC commissioner Jim Phillips (suit and tie) prepares to present Duke players with the ACC football championship trophy.

The ACC is the only one of those leagues with an odd number of football members, creating a variable that will mean one team will play only eight games once the scheduling model is fully implemented in 2027.

ACC teams regularly played a different number of conference games in the early days of the league. Teams played as few as three ACC games and as many as seven from 1953 to 1956, and the league was split between teams playing six and seven-game league schedules for much of the next two decades.

The first season that every ACC team played the same number of conference games was 1972, the league’s 20th year of existence.

The ACC’s new schedule is designed to have teams play a total of 10 games against Power Four opponents as a baseline in a so-called 9+1 model. The rotating team playing an eightgame league slate would aim to play an 8+2 model to meet that 10-game target.

The question as to how an eight-game league record might compare with a nine-game record is unclear.

The ACC used winning percentage during the COVID-19 pandemic in multiple sports with teams playing unequal totals of games because of numerous cancellations, but Commissioner Jim Phillips said publicly last week that the league is ex-

amining its football tiebreaker process for the ACC championship game. ACC officials said Tuesday an updated tiebreaker policy will be announced sometime before the 2026 season.

The current policy came under scrutiny when five-loss Duke won a five-team tiebreaker — which included now-No. 10 and CFP-bound Miami — to reach the title game and ultimately beat No. 20 Virginia earlier this month for its first outright ACC title since 1962.

The ACC had used an eightgame football schedule since Florida State’s arrival for the 1992 season, the outlier being a 10-game schedule in 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic. That included Notre Dame giving up its cherished independent status for one year and playing a full ACC schedule.

The Fighting Irish, a member of all other league sports, typically play four to six football games per year against ACC schools. Those games would fit into the nonconference column in the 9+1 or 8+2 scheduling models.

B3

Twin City Herald for Thursday, December 25, 2025

the stream

KENSLIE MCGUIRE / DISNEY VIA AP

Mickey Mouse and other Disney characters return with special performances by Gwen Stefani and others for the annual Disney Parks Magical Christmas Day

‘Stranger Things,’ ‘Ne Zha II,’ Jennifer Lawrence, Kate Winslet Spy thriller “The Copenhagen Test” lands on Peacock

SERIES TO STREAM

The Associated Press JENNIFER LAWRENCE playing a new mother whose behavior becomes increasingly erratic in “Die My Love” and three more “Stranger Things” episodes are some of the new television, films, music and games headed to a device near you.

Also among the streaming offerings worth your time this week: Disney Parks Magical Christmas Day Parade featuring Gwen Stefani and Nicole Scherzinger, the Chinese animated epic “Ne Zha II,” and Simu Liu starring as an intelligence analyst whose brain has been hacked in Peacock’s “The Copenhagen Test.”

MOVIES TO STREAM Lawrence plays a new mother whose behavior becomes increasingly erratic in Lynne Ramsay’s “Die My Love,” streaming now on Mubi. Robert Pattinson plays her husband in this story adapted from Ariana Harwicz’s novel. In his review for The Associated Press, Film Writer Jake Coyle wrote called it “a jagged, go-for-broke psychodrama” raging with a “primal punk spirit.” He added, “there’s plenty to admire in Ramsay’s uncompromising and delirious portrait of marital hell, particularly in the bracingly raw performance of Lawrence.”

The Chinese animated epic “Ne Zha II,” which is the highest grossing animated movie of all time with more than $2.2 billion in ticket sales, is now streaming on HBO Max. The film tells the story of a rebellious child, Ne Zha, born as the reincarnation of a demon to mortal parents, who is out to prove his fate is not predetermined. Michelle Yeoh lent her voice to the English language dub, which she said, “immerses you into our culture.” The first film is available to stream on Netflix, but it’s possible to just dive right into the sequel.

If you like holiday mov-

and the Disney YouTube channel on Christmas Day, music fans can tune into the annual Disney Parks Magical Christmas Day Parade. It’s not just for the kids: The special will feature musical performances from Stefani, Scherzinger, Coco Jones, Iam Tongi, Lady A, Mariah the Scientist and Bebe Rexha.

EVAN AGOSTINI / INVISION / AP PHOTO

Ross Duffer, from left, Gaten Matarazzo, Finn Wolfhard, Charlie Heaton and Jamie Campbell Bower attend the PaleyLive “Stranger Things” final season celebration at the Paley Museum on Dec. 18 in New York.

“‘Die My Love’ is a jagged, go-for-broke psychodrama, raging with a primal punk spirit.”

Jake Coyle, AP Film Writer

KIMBERLY FRENCH / MUBI VIA AP

Jennifer Lawrence stars in the suspenseful drama “Die My Love.” ies with a side of tears, “Goodbye June,” streaming on Netflix, might just be the ticket.

Kate Winslet directs and stars in this family drama about four

adult children (Winslet, Andrea Riseborough, Johnny Flynn and Toni Collette) coming to terms with the fact that their mother, June (Helen Mirren), is dying.

In my review, I wrote that it was an admirably solid, if generic, drama that’s elevated by a distinguished cast and moments of humor, grace and insight.

Speaking of holiday viewing, it’s also worth noting that Prime Video is getting two of the year’s biggest movies: “A Minecraft Movie” on Monday and “Sinners” on Friday.

MUSIC TO STREAM It’s wholesome holiday fun for the whole family! Kicking off at 10 a.m. on ABC and streaming at 11 a.m. on Disney+, Hulu

Make your Christmas stranger. The next block of installments of “ Stranger Things” — that’s episodes 5-7 — drop like a present as the fifth and final season continues. When we last checked out Hawkins, Vecna was deep into a dastardly plan, Demogorgons were menacing, and Will Byers was coming into his own powers. The very last episodes will stream on New Year’s Eve. Liu stars as an intelligence analyst whose brain has been hacked in Peacock’s new espionage thriller, “The Copenhagen Test.” In addition to Liu, the series’ regulars include Melissa Barrera, Sinclair Daniel, Brian d’Arcy James, Mark O’Brien and Kathleen Chalfant. All episodes debut Saturday.

“Members Only: Palm Beach” is a new Netflix reality show that follows the exclusive, high-end social scene of one of Florida’s most affluent areas, as experienced by five women who are part of the community. “There’s a lot more beneath the sunshine than anyone expects, because nobody goes lower than high society,” Taja Abitbol, one of the stars, explains. It premieres Monday.

VIDEO GAMES TO PLAY You may be getting — or giving — a new gaming device for Christmas. If so, you should look beyond heavily promoted AAA games and download some of the gems that independent studios released in 2025. Some made The Associated Press’ top 10 list; don’t miss Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, The Séance of Blake Manor and The Alters. The indie sequels Hades II and Hollow Knight: Silksong more than lived up to fans’ expectations.

Mystery lovers should test their wits against Blue Prince and The Roottrees are Dead.

And if you want a heartfelt story about an Ecuadoran kid dreaming about soccer’s World Cup (who doesn’t?), check out Despelote.

B4

Twin City Herald for Thursday, December 25, 2025

STATE & NATION

Kennedy Center board adds Trump’s name to building Some say the law forbids such a name change

By Darlene Superville The Associated Press WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Kennedy Center last Friday quickly added Donald Trump’s name to the performing arts center Congress designated as a living memorial to John F. Kennedy, a day after the center’s board of trustees voted to make the change.

Blue tarps were hung in front of the building to obscure workers on scaffolding as they executed the transformation.

Hours later it had a new name: The Donald J. Trump and The John F. Kennedy Memorial

Center for the Performing Arts.

The board of trustees, handpicked by Trump, voted unanimously Thursday to add his name to what was enshrined as a living memorial to the Democratic president. Trump, a Republican, also is the board’s chairman. The Kennedy Center said the vote recognized Trump’s work to revitalize the institution.

Critics of the vote, including Democratic members of Congress who are ex-officio board members, as well as some historians, insist that only Congress can change the name.

“The Kennedy Center was named by law. To change the name would require a revision of that 1964 law,” Ray Smock, a former House historian, said in

an email. “The Kennedy Center board is not a lawmaking entity. Congress makes laws.”

Congress named the performing arts center as a living memorial to Kennedy in 1964, the year after he was assassinated. The law explicitly prohibits the board of trustees from making the center into a memorial to anyone else, and from putting another person’s name on the building’s exterior.

Some Kennedy family members oppose the renaming. Kerry Kennedy, a niece of John F. Kennedy, said in a social post on X that she will remove Trump’s name herself when his term ends.

“Three years and one month from today, I’m going to grab a pickax and pull those letters

JACQUELYN MARTIN / AP PHOTO

New signage, The Donald J. Trump and The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts, is unveiled on the Kennedy Center last Friday in Washington, D.C. off that building, but I’m going to need help holding the ladder. Are you in?” she wrote on a photo of the center’s new name.

“Applying for my carpenter’s card today, so it’ll be a union job!!!”

The Kennedy Center is the

How surveillance tech, ‘Reddit Detective Agency’ helped search for Brown U. killer Some social media users are more useful than others

By Matt O’Brien The Associated Press PROVIDENCE, R.I. — More than a decade ago, a frenzied 5-day search for the Boston Marathon bombers left some lessons in its aftermath.

One was that increasingly pervasive surveillance technology could help catch the culprits.

Another was that amateur online sleuths on Reddit could not.

But the intense search this week for a suspect in a Brown University shooting that killed two students and wounded nine other people turned the tables on those expectations.

Sweeping surveillance, now found in doorbells, cars and a vast network of vehicle-tracking cameras, did eventually help track down the whereabouts of Claudio Neves Valente, the 48-year-old former Brown graduate student investigators believe was responsible for the Dec. 13 shooting and another killing two days later of an MIT professor in Brookline, Massachusetts.

But the latest artificial intelligence-powered surveillance was of little use in the early search for a gunman who walked away from the Brown campus after the shooting and slipped unnoticed into the surrounding neighborhoods of Providence, Rhode Island. He evaded detection for days, using a hardto-trace phone, avoiding facial recognition software by obscuring his face with a medical-type mask and switching the license plates on his rental cars.

It wasn’t until a local Reddit user “blew this case right open”

with an old-fashioned tip first posted on the social media platform that police were able to connect a car to Neves Valente, said Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha. They finally found the suspect dead Thursday in Salem, New Hampshire, days after he likely killed himself.

The Reddit tipster known only as John is “no less than a hero,” Providence Mayor Brett Smiley wrote Friday to FBI Director Kash Patel, asking for John to get the entirety of the FBI’s $50,000 reward for information leading investigators to the suspect.

Strangers have invited him to Christmas dinner and suggested he get a “key to the city and free coffee and doughnuts for life,” according to fellow contributors to Reddit’s Providence forum.

It was a stark turn from 2013 when commentators on Reddit and other online discussion boards falsely smeared a Brown University student as a potential suspect in the deadly attack at Boston’s famed marathon, just an hour north of Providence, because of a supposed resemblance to a grainy suspect image.

“Hey Reddit, enough Boston bombing vigilantism,” declared a headline in The Atlantic at the time.

“It definitely went sideways in the Boston Marathon situation,” said Liza Potts, a professor at Michigan State University and director of a digital humanities lab that studied the online response. “That’s why folks will jokingly refer to the ‘Reddit Detective Agency’ or the ‘Reddit Bureau of Investigations.’”

The mistaken connection between the 2013 bombers and a missing Brown student — who was later found dead of an apparent suicide — is still re-

“Of all the spaces that I study, Reddit seems to be getting it right more than not.”

Liza Potts, Michigan State professor membered by many at the Ivy League school and its surrounding community.

Brown officials this week sought to swiftly tamp down another smear campaign circulating on X and other social media platforms falsely tying a current Brown student to the campus shooting because of his ethnicity, perceived political views and supposed resemblance to a police video of a person of interest. The “unimaginable nightmare” of false accusations led to “non-stop death threats and hate speech,” the student said in a statement.

Frustrated that tip lines could be jammed with nonsense, U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, a Rhode Island Democrat and former state attorney general, urged social media speculators to “just shut up.”

“There is simply no need from an investigative point of view for people who have no idea what they’re talking about to offer their stupid and ill-informed views about what happened all over the internet,” Whitehouse said from Congress on Wednesday.

But Potts said some social media has been working better than others, and “of all the spaces that I study, Reddit seems to be getting it right more than not.”

Harmful accusations were largely absent from Reddit’s

Providence forum, in part because volunteer moderators who manage Reddit’s subject matter forums — known as subreddits — are largely responsible for keeping the peace.

Reddit’s chief moderator for the Providence subreddit said in an interview that he’s been on the platform for about 15 years and remembers the trauma that false Boston Marathon report caused.

“The Providence subreddit is very sensitive about (not) trying to go on a witch hunt or the mob mentality,” he said, speaking on condition of anonymity to avoid doxing and because of the platform’s culture of anonymity.

The Associated Press also reached out to the tipster on Tuesday, a day after he wrote on Reddit urging police to look into a Nissan sedan with Florida license plates. Fellow Redditors urged him to contact the FBI, and he said he did.

He didn’t respond to requests for comment and later posted that he doesn’t plan to talk with media. When he finally met with police on Wednesday — after approaching them on the street and identifying himself as the Reddit tipster — his information gave new life to a stalled investigation.

With a known vehicle, Providence police started looking through the footage from dozens of AI-powered cameras positioned around the city that can read license plates as well as other identifying details about a car, such as make, color, side damage or even bird droppings on the window.

The cameras, run by surveillance company Flock Safety, spotted his vehicle at least 14 times starting nearly two weeks before the shooting, according to a police affidavit. Prov-

latest building in Washington to have Trump’s name added to it. The U.S. Institute of Peace was recently renamed after him.

The Kennedy Center did not respond to an emailed request for comment Friday.

idence police could then ask Flock-using police agencies in nearby cities and states to look for the same car, although New Hampshire — because of privacy restrictions on how long they can hold images — doesn’t have any.

It was a breakthrough Flock was happy to boast about, especially as wariness remains in Providence’s immigrant communities about more aggressive federal immigration enforcement. Flock says each of its customers decides when to share camera data, and the city doesn’t share it with federal immigration agents. Some still want more safeguards.

“Once you know what they are, you see them everywhere,” said Madalyn McGunagle, a policy associate at the ACLU of Rhode Island. “People notice because they’re distinct-looking — a solar panel on top with a little oval camera underneath.”

But unlike the residential doorbell cameras that spotted him walking around Providence, had Neves Valente walked by a Flock camera, it wouldn’t have detected him, said Flock Safety CEO Garrett Langley.

“It is a technical impossibility. The camera does not have an ability for a user to search for people,” Langley said in an interview Friday. “Our cameras are focused on vehicles because if you look at America, people drive. It is very hard to get anywhere on foot.”

“For the majority of our cities, they want to just know who is coming in and who is leaving,” he said.

Still, without John the tipster — whom local Redditors dubbed “Reddit Guy” — no one would have known how he left.

“Someone who is in the area and sees stuff all the time, they’re going to be better in a lot of ways than a random camera,” said the Providence subreddit’s moderator. “John saw this guy going back and forth, unlocking his car and all that, and he just thought it was kind of weird.”

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VOLUME 10 ISSUE 44 | THURSDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2025 | RANDOLPHRECORD.COM

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Randolph record THE RANDOLPH COUNTY EDITION OF NORTH STATE JOURNAL

ALEX BRANDON / AP PHOTO

President Donald Trump arrives to speak at a campaign event last Friday in Rocky Mount.

WHAT’S HAPPENING Minaj surprises conservatives with praise for Trump, Vance at Arizona event Rapper Nicki Minaj made a surprise appearance at a gathering of conservatives in Arizona. Speaking on stage at Turning Point USA’s AmericaFest convention, the artist praised President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance, calling them “role models” for young men. The rap star was interviewed by Erika Kirk, the widow of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who has since taken over as leader of Turning Point. Kirk asked Minaj about her newly found support for Trump, whom she had condemned in the past. Minaj’s appearance Sunday at the flagship event for the powerful conservative youth organization may shore up her status as a MAGA acolyte.

“60 Minutes” pulls critical piece on Trump deportation policy Hours before airtime on Sunday, CBS News’ “60 Minutes” held a planned story on President Donald Trump’s deportation policy at the order of the network’s new editor-in-chief, Bari Weiss.

Weiss, the founder of the Free Press website, had sought to get Trump administration perspective included in the story. The move is sure to increase scrutiny on CBS and “60 Minutes,” which Trump sued last fall over an interview with Kamala Harris and has recently complained about stories critical of him.

Weiss said in a statement that holding stories that aren’t ready, because they lack context or are missing critical voices, happen every day in newsrooms.

$2.00

Trump touts economic progress during Rocky Mount visit For many, the promised golden age hasn’t yet arrived

By Makiya Seminera The Associated Press ROCKY MOUNT — She had worked 22 days straight in her job as a technician at an engine plant to save up, and now Daijah Bryant could finally do what she was putting off: Christmas shopping.

Bryant pushed her cart out of a Walmart in Rocky Mount and loaded her sedan’s backseat with bags of gifts. While they would soon bring joy to her friends and family, it was difficult for the 26-year-old to feel good about the purchases.

“Having to pay bills, if you happen to pay rent and try to do Christmas all at the same time, it is very, very hard,” she said with exasperation.

Ahead of President Donald Trump’s Friday evening visit to Rocky Mount, some residents said they were feel-

ing an economic squeeze that seems hard to escape. The uneasy feeling spans political affiliation in the town, which is split between two largely rural and somewhat impoverished counties, although some were more hopeful than others that there are signs of reprieve on the horizon.

It was Trump’s second event this month aimed at championing his economic policies ahead of a consequential midterm election next year, both held in presidential battleground states. Similar to Trump’s earlier stop in Pennsylvania, Rocky Mount sits in a U.S. House district that has been historically competitive.

But earlier this year, the Republican-controlled legislature redrew the boundaries for the eastern North Carolina district to favor their party as part of Trump’s push to have GOP-led states gerrymander their congressional districts to help his party retain its House majority for the last half of his term.

Rocky Mount may be in a po-

“I inherited the mess.

I got the prices down and they are going down still further.”

President Donald Trump litically advantageous location, but the hardships its residents report mirror the tightening financial strains many Americans say they are feeling, with high prices for groceries, housing and utilities among their top concerns. Polls show persistently high prices have put Americans in a grumpy mood about the state of the economy, which a large majority say is performing poorly.

Trump has insisted the economy is trending upward and the country will see some relief in the new year and beyond. In some cases, he has dismissed affordability concerns and encouraged Americans to decrease their consumption.

In his Friday night speech, he leaned into a persistent refrain: Democratic President Joe Biden alone was to blame for any economic distress Americans may be feeling, but things are getting better under his watch.

He boasted that steps he’s taken — including generating billions of dollars of revenue through tariffs, pressing pharmaceutical giants to slash the prices of some medicines, and a so-called $1776 “warrior dividend” for U.S. troops that is being paid through a provision in a tax cut extensions and expansions bill he signed into law in July—will have real impact on American’s pocketbooks.

“I inherited the mess. I got the prices down and they are going down still further,” Trump said. He added, “Over the past 11 months, we have brought more positive change to Washington than any administration in the history of our country.”

See TRUMP, page A2

Seabolt to face challengers in sheriff’s race The filing period for the 2026 elections ended, and there will be competition for county commissioners and school board

By Bob Sutton Randolph Record GREG SEABOLT, sheriff of Randolph County, will receive challenges as he bids to remain in office.

Three other Republicans have filed for the position. They are Brian Arrington of Climax, Eric Hicks of Trinity and Chris Toriello of Asheboro. There will be a Republican primary March 3 prior to November’s election.

Seabolt, who’s from Denton, was first elected as sheriff in 2018 and won reelection in 2022.

Arrington had been a captain in the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office prior this retirement earlier this year. He spent 27½ years in the department.

Hicks previously ran for sheriff as a Libertarian candidate.

Toriello, who goes by the nickname “Taco,” has a résumé that touts 32 years in law enforcement.

The filing period ended Friday.

Board of Commissioners chairman Darrell Frye, a Republican from Archdale, will be opposed by Robin Stevens of Trinity in District 2.

In District 3, incumbent commissioner David Allen of Liberty will be opposed by fellow Republican Carrie Guess-Slatosky of Randleman.

Duffy Johnson, an Asheboro Republican, is unopposed in District 4.

Others filing for ballot spots for countywide positions are Republican Pam Hill of Asheboro for Randolph County Clerk of Superior Court and Republican Krista Lowe of Randleman for Register of Deeds.

Numerous positions in the state house involve districts that include parts of Randolph County.

For the state Senate District 25, Republican Amy Galey of Burlington is seeking to keep the seat. Democrat Southey Blanton of Burlington also filed.

In District 29, incumbent Republican David Craven Jr. of Asheboro will be opposed

by Democrat Bob Morrison of Asheboro.

In the state House of Representatives, Democrat Robert Reives II of Goldston aims to remain in the District 54 seat.

For District 70, Trinity’s Brian Biggs, a Republican incumbent, will be opposed by William McCaskill, a Democrat from Asheboro.

For District 78, Republican incumbent Neal Jackson will be opposed by Democrat Matt Borja.

Several candidates for judgeships are connected to Randolph County.

In District 37, Republicans Jimmy Hill and Sarah Neely Lanier are vying for Seat 1.

They’re both from Asheboro.

For Seat 3, Republican Darren Allen of Asheboro is the lone candidate. For Seat 4, the candidates are Allison Layton of Archdale, Jodi Allred of Asheboro, Geoffrey Crawford of Asheboro and Chelsie Embler of Asheboro.

School board candidates Three incumbents are seeking to remain on the Randolph County School System’s Board of Education.

Shannon Whitaker of Franklinville, Fred Burgess of Climax and Phillip Lanier of Asheboro filed to retain seats.

Challengers are Hollie Smith of Pleasant Garden, Eric Welch of Thomasville and Ernie Thalasinos of Trinity.

For the Asheboro City Schools Board of Education, the candidates are Brad Thomas and Mike Brown for two seats for terms that will last four years. They’re both listed as Republicans as the party affiliations will be listed for the first time for the board.

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Randolph Record for Thursday, December 25, 2025

THURSDAY

12.25.25

Asheboro to fill council vacancy Randolph Members of the public can submit applications for a spot on the board Randolph Record staff

“Join the conversation”

North State Journal (USPS 20451) (ISSN 2471-1365)

ASHEBORO — There’s a vacancy on the Asheboro City Council, with the deadline to apply for a position on the board approaching in early January.

The position will be appointed by the city council.

The vacancy came when Joey Trogdon, who had been on the council, was elected as mayor in November. He was

swore in earlier this month.

It was clear that the council would have an opening because Trogdon ran against Eddie Burks, also a councilman, for the mayor’s position. The council terms for Trogdon and Burks weren’t expiring.

Burks remains on the council. There are seven positions on the council plus mayor.

Applications for the open council position will be accepted through 5 p.m. Jan. 9 at the city clerk’s office at City Hall on North Church Street. The application must be signed. Applications can be emailed to bdoerr@ci.asheboro.nc.us

To qualify for a spot on the council, the person must be a qualified voter, resident of the Asheboro corporate limits, and at least 21 years old.

The city released information regarding the candidates, pointing out that information about candidates becomes a matter of public record. So information submitted will be available to the public for inspection.

The city council already has three new members with Phillip Cheek, Mary Joan Pugh and Phil Skeen joining the board based on this fall’s election.

Randolph Record (ISSN 2768-5268) Trip Hoffend, Publisher Jim Sills, VP of Local Newspapers Cory Lavalette, Senior Editor Jordan Golson, Local News Editor Shawn Krest, Sports Editor Dan Reeves, Features Editor Lauren Rose, Design Editor Bob Sutton, Randolph Editor Ryan Henkel, Reporter PJ Ward-Brown, Photographer BUSINESS David Guy, Advertising Manager Published each Thursday as part of North State Journal 1201 Edwards Mill Rd. Suite 300 Raleigh, NC 27607 TO SUBSCRIBE: 919-663-3232 RANDOLPHRECORD.COM Annual Subscription Price: $100.00 Periodicals Postage Paid at Raleigh, NC and at additional mailing offices POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: North State Journal 1201 Edwards Mill Rd. Suite 300 Raleigh, NC 27607

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 Dec. 15 • Juan Arzuaga, 33, of Asheboro, was arrested by Asheboro PD for misdemeanor larceny, possession of drug paraphernalia and carrying a concealed weapon.

• Jorge Franco, 33, of High Point, was arrested by NC Highway Patrol for driving while impaired.

• Erica Harmon, 38, of Randleman, was arrested by Randleman PD for simple possession of Schedule IV controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, sale/delivery of controlled substance and simple possession of Schedule II, III or IV controlled substance.

• Shane Hill, 35, of High Point, was arrested by RCSO for contributing to delinquency of a juvenile and failure to report new address as a sex offender.

• Brittany Honeycutt, 35, of Asheboro, was arrested by RCSO for assault with a deadly weapon.

Dec. 16 • Luke Hodge, 44, of Asheboro, was arrested by RCSO for carrying a concealed weapon, shoplifting/ concealment of goods, possession with intent to manufacture/sell/ deliver Schedule II controlled substance, sale/delivery of Schedule II controlled substance, possession of marijuana paraphernalia and possession of marijuana up to 1/2 oz.

• Jeremiah McCree, 20, of Asheboro, was arrested by Asheboro PD for injury/tampering with vehicle and obstructing justice.

Dec. 17 • Crystal Batson, 41, of Asheboro, was arrested by RCSO for trafficking in methamphetamine.

• Jason Laughlin, 35, of Asheboro, was arrested by RCSO for communicating threats and assault on a female.

• Michael McLean, 36, of Asheboro, was arrested by Asheboro PD for possession of heroin, possession of drug paraphernalia, resisting a public officer and simple possession of Schedule IV controlled substance.

• Victor Moose, 65, of Archdale, was arrested by RCSO for contributing to delinquency of a juvenile.

• Karen Dorsey, 48, of Asheboro, was arrested by RCSO for felony larceny of motor vehicle, possession of stolen motor vehicle and breaking and entering a motor vehicle.

• Anna Strickland, 26, of Asheboro, was arrested by Asheboro PD for possession of heroin, simple possession of Schedule IV controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, misdemeanor larceny and felony possession of stolen property.

• Brandon Kinton, 37, of Asheboro, was arrested by Asheboro PD for felony larceny, felony possession of stolen property and obtaining property by false pretense.

Dec. 18 • Austin Campbell, 27, of Asheboro, was arrested by RCSO for felony possession of stolen property, breaking and entering, larceny after breaking and entering, felony larceny of motor vehicle, felony conspiracy, felony larceny, felony possession of Schedule II controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, communicating threats and injury to personal property.

• Howard McMurray, 65, of Thomasville, was arrested by RCSO for possession of stolen motor vehicle and contributing to delinquency of a juvenile.

• Mersadies Primm, 35, of Ramseur, was arrested by RCSO for obtaining property by false pretense, possession of stolen motor vehicle, felony larceny of motor vehicle and simple possession of Schedule IV controlled substance.

• Tommy Dotson, 56, of Asheboro, was arrested by Asheboro PD for possession of fentanyl, maintaining vehicle/dwelling/place for controlled substance and possession of methamphetamine.

• Samuel Scott, 43, of Seagrove, was arrested by Asheboro PD for possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia.

• Dustin Dunn, 33, of Reedsville, was arrested by Asheboro PD for assault on a female, misdemeanor crime of domestic violence, driving while license revoked with impaired revocation and multiple traffic violations.

• Eric Siler, 51, of Winston-Salem, was arrested by RCSO for felony possession of Schedule II controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

• Alicia Small, 35, of Sophia, was arrested by Asheboro PD for possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia.

• Frank Patinella, 59, of Trinity, was arrested by RCSO for impersonating law enforcement, possession of drug paraphernalia, trafficking in opium or heroin, trafficking in cocaine, possession with intent to sell/deliver cocaine, possession with intent to manufacture/sell/deliver Schedule II

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

Dec. 31 The Pharmacy and Four Saints Brewing Co. Presents Early Bird New Year’s Eve 4-9:30 p.m.

An early New Year’s Eve celebration that offers food truck options and free champagne to toast the New Year.

218 S. Fayetteville St. Asheboro

Jan. 2 Liberty Showcase Theater Presents: The Issacs 8-11 p.m.

An opportunity to enjoy the musical stylings of Grand Ole Opry members, The Issacs.

Tickets are $38-68.

101 S. Fayetteville St. Liberty

Jan. 9 Liberty Showcase Presents: The Lonesome River Band 7-10 p.m.

Multiple award-winning Bluegrass band. Tickets are $29-49.

101 S. Fayetteville St. Liberty

• Ryran Stanback, 45, of Asheboro, was arrested by NC Highway Patrol for larceny and felony possession of stolen property.

“Without the businesses, it’s dead”

ALEX BRANDON / AP PHOTO

Former RNC Chairman Michael Whatley, a 2026 U.S. Senate candidate, is greeted onstage by President Donald Trump last Friday in Rocky Mount. furniture shops and drug stores line the streets. Most stores were closed Thursday morning, and not much foot traffic roamed the area.

That’s left Lucy Slep, who coowns The Miner’s Emporium jewelry store with her husband,

• Joshua Varner, 36, of Asheboro, was arrested by Asheboro PD for possession of fentanyl, sale/ delivery of controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Dec. 19

TRUMP from page A1

Crimson smokestacks tower over parts of downtown Rocky Mount, reminding the town’s roughly 54,000 residents of its roots as a once-booming tobacco market. Through the heart of downtown, graffiti-covered trains still lug along on the railroad tracks that made Rocky Mount a bustling locomotive hotspot in the last century.

Those days seem long gone for some residents who have watched the town change over the decades. Rocky Mount has adapted by tapping into other industries such as manufacturing and biopharmaceuticals, but it’s also had to endure its fair share of challenges. Most recently, financial troubles in the city’s government have meant higher utility prices for residents.

The city has been investing to try to revitalize its downtown, but progress has been slow. Long stretches of empty storefronts that once contained restaurants,

controlled substance and purchase of firearm in violation of domestic order.

Guide

waiting for Trump’s promised “Golden Age of America.”

The jewelry store has been in downtown Rocky Mount for nearly four decades, just about as long as the 64-year-old said she has lived in the area. But the deterioration of downtown Rocky

Mount has spanned at least a decade, and Slep said she’s still hoping it will come back to life.

“Every downtown in every little town is beautiful,” she said.

“But without the businesses, it’s dead.”

Slep’s store hasn’t escaped the challenges other Rocky Mount small businesses have endured.

Instead of buying, more people have recently been selling their jewelry to the shop, Slep said.

Customers have been scarce.

About a week out from Christmas, the store — with handmade molded walls and ceilings resembling cave walls — sat empty aside from the rows of glass cases containing jewelry. It’s been hard, Slep said, but she and her husband are trying to make it through.

“This year is just not a jewelry Christmas, for whatever reason,” she said.

Better times on the horizon — depending on whom you ask Slep is already looking ahead to next year for better times. She

is confident that Trump’s economic policies — including upcoming tax cuts — will make a marked difference in people’s cost of living. In her eyes, the financial strains people are feeling are residual effects from the Biden administration that eventually will fade.

Optimism about what’s to come under Trump’s economy might also depend on whether residents feel their economic conditions have changed drastically in the past year. Shiva Mrain, an engineer in Rocky Mount, said his family’s situation has not “become worse nor better.” He’s been encouraged by seeing lower gas prices.

Bryant, the engine technician, feels a bit more disillusioned.

She didn’t vote in the last election because she didn’t think either party could enact changes that would improve her life.

Nearly a year into the Trump administration, Bryant is still waiting to see whether the president will deliver.

“I can’t really say ... that change is coming,” she said. “I don’t think anything is going to change.”

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Randolph Record for Thursday, December 25, 2025

THE CONVERSATION Trip Hoffend, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor VISUAL VOICES

COLUMN | SEN. TOMMY TUBERVILLE

Sharia law fuels jihadist terror in Nigeria; is America next?

What’s taking place in Nigeria is a sad example of the dangers of Islam.

OVER THE LAST few months, I’ve been increasingly vocal about the rise of radical Islam in the U.S. As a result, the left has predictably lost their minds — calling me a “racist” and an “Islamophobe.” The truth is I’m an American, and I care about the safety of our country. I’m not afraid of Chuck Schumer calling me names.

What I am afraid of is losing the greatest country on Earth to radical Islam. Look no further than the Thanksgiving shooting of two National Guardsmen in D.C. by a Biden-imported Afghan Islamic terrorist to know that we are under attack.

There’s a lot of good people that come from Middle Eastern countries who go by our laws and assimilate with our culture. But if you come here otherwise, refuse to go by our laws and chant “Death to America,” I have a message for you — we do not want you here. If you’re a peaceful Muslim who has assimilated, now is the time to speak out and condemn these acts of Islamic terrorism.

What’s taking place in Nigeria is a sad example of the dangers of Islam. We are seeing firsthand the poisonous impact that Radical Islam can have on a country when it is allowed to take root.

In the 1990s, Nigerian Christians and Muslims lived in relative harmony. But Muslims began gaining a foothold, and sharia law was soon installed by 12 of Northern Nigeria’s states in the early 2000s. There are now 101 references to sharia law and Islam in the Nigerian Constitution and zero references to Christianity. Now, 35 Christians a day are being murdered in Nigeria for their faith. Unfortunately, this statistic isn’t surprising. Islam openly teaches to “kill all infidels” — which includes Christians.

Since 2002, an estimated 62,000 Christians in Nigeria have been murdered, and 350,000 people have died because of the instability that Radical Islam breeds. In 2024, 70% of all Christians martyred for their faith in the entire world were in Nigeria. Kidnappings in Nigeria are also on the rise because Jihadists use this to extort ransom payments and fund more terrorism.

In November, the world reacted with horror when 315 schoolchildren were kidnapped from a Catholic school in Niger State.

Yet you won’t hear much about any of these tragedies because the mainstream media in America would rather bury their heads in the sand than report the facts. They don’t cover the wholesale slaughter of Christians, and when they do, they claim it’s equal opportunity murder of Christians and Muslims alike.

Thankfully, President Donald Trump recently reclassified Nigeria as a “country of particular concern,” placing a spotlight on persecuted Christians in the country. I also appreciate other members of Congress like Republican Rep. Marlin Stutzman of Indiana and Republican Rep. Riley Moore of West Virginia who have joined me in the fight to end the slaughtering of Christians in Nigeria.

However, there is much more that needs to be done to hold the Nigerian government accountable for the genocide happening right under its nose. I am grateful for organizations like Across Nigeria that are working day and night to bring the killing to an end. I recently heard from Brad Brandon, who serves as CEO of Across Nigeria. He described the horrors of Islam firsthand, and how he has stood at the edge of large graves filled with entire families

and villages of Christian believers. In 2021, a pastor who worked for Brandon’s organization was hacked to death by machetes in his bed. His church, home, and village were set on fire — all because he refused to deny his Christian faith and stop spreading the gospel. It reminds me of some of the disciples in the earliest days of the church who were martyred for their faith rather than denying Jesus Christ.

Unfortunately, this isn’t just a problem overseas. I’ve said it many times and have taken some heat for it, but Islam isn’t a religion, it is a death cult. And this type of poisonous ideology is alive and well in this country, just waiting to attack. Just this week, FBI Director Kash Patel announced they caught several Islamist terrorists who had planned terror attacks for New Year’s Eve in Los Angeles and New Orleans. If we don’t act now, these types of attacks will become commonplace.

That’s why I refuse to be silent about this. Islam is fundamentally opposed to our Constitutional values. These people openly chant “death to America” and would like to see every single freedom-loving American dead. The threat of sharia law becoming a reality in America is not a hypothetical. It’s a real and present danger lurking in our own backyards. Nigeria is an example of what can happen when Radical Islam and sharia law overtake a once prosperous and free nation. Those who practice Radical Islam would love nothing more than to destroy this country. Our freedom is a gift, and I hope that more of our leaders will wake up and defend it before it’s too late.

Sen. Tommy Tuberville represents Alabama in the United States Senate. This column was first published by Daily Caller News Foundation.

COLUMN | KEVIN FRAZIER

Trump AI executive order protects Americans from Tower of Babel approach The problem is that many states have misinterpreted their expansive authority.

THE ANSWER TO two questions will shape the future of AI in the United States: Who gets to write the national rules for AI development?

Who gets to write the rules for how AI is adopted at the state level?

This is not a pop quiz. These are the same questions that we had to answer in the late 1700s with respect to shipping in the late 1800s with respect to the railroads, and in the late 1900s with respect to the Internet. The right answers then, remain the correct answers today.

The executive order on AI announced by President Donald Trump provides a clear answer to the first question: Congress. It’s the right answer given the unequivocal allocation of constitutional authority to Congress to resolve matters that implicate America’s economic and national security.

AI development refers to the training, evaluation and deployment of AI models. In short, it’s the tasks that determine how quickly U.S. companies can continue to push the technological frontier as our adversaries race to do the same. Any pause, delay or diversion to these efforts may have irreversible effects on our ability to economically and militarily keep pace. It’s not hyperbole to stress that America requires a cohesive strategy on this frontier so that our leading AI labs and emerging startups can focus more on AI research, rather than attempting to navigate a patchwork of state AI laws.

The order also answers the second question.

States may dictate who uses AI, for what purposes, and subject to what limitations.

Again, this is the right answer as mandated

by the Constitution and its reservation of extensive police powers to the states. It has long been recognized that it is the duty “of a state to advance the safety, happiness, and prosperity of its people, and to provide for its general welfare.” That’s precisely why the order does not contest the authority of states to enact and enforce laws related to child safety, data centers, state government use of AI and other issues that reflect that important duty.

To use an imperfect analogy, the order acknowledges and welcomes state laws related to speed limits, road designs and driver’s license requirements, so long as they do not interfere with how the engine is designed and distributed.

The problem is that many states have misinterpreted their expansive authority. Some have enacted laws that will impede the ability of other states to look out for the distinct wants and needs of their respective community. As mentioned in the order, states like Colorado want to dictate how AI models respond to certain queries — this akin to messing with the engine of AI. If labs comply, then the rest of America will have to live with what Denver thinks is best.

Other states — namely, California — have enacted laws with the explicit purpose of shielding the rest of the nation from speculative risks. That’s akin to Californians prohibiting Montanans from driving trucks with V8 engines because Californians think they are too powerful. Worse yet, such laws may inhibit the ability of American innovators to move forward on devising new strategies to deploy more capable and reliable AI systems. Congress alone

has the authority to dictate such consequential decisions. Americans are rightfully eager for Congress to use that authority. But impatience must not become acquiesce to efforts by state legislators to step into the shoes of U.S. representatives and senators.

The order’s core provision — the creation of an AI Litigation Task Force — will protect the American people from a Tower of Babel approach to AI development. States may think they’re enacting similar laws with similar provisions related to AI training, but they’re oftentimes speaking different languages — their bills are riddled with contradictory definitions and vague standards.

This task force is overdue but far from an overreach of presidential authority. The order does not grant the U.S. attorney general any new authority nor permit the task force to “neuter” any constitutionally valid state laws, as alleged by The New York Times. Instead, the order is again to the president putting certain questions at the top of the AG’s agenda: specifically, challenging unconstitutional, unlawful or preempted state laws. None of that is new. It has been and always will be the case that state laws that run afoul of the Constitution or otherwise violate the law can and should be challenged. The order merely directs a focus on state AI laws that fall within any of those categories.

State legislators may be forgiven for rushing to regulate AI amid the public’s uncertainty over how the technology will impact our economy, our schools, and our communities. AI’s disruptive effects warrant a national framework and soon. Congress must act. However, as signaled by this executive order, that forgiveness has limits: states that intentionally seek to impose their legislative will on others must be held accountable.

Kevin Frazier is the AI and innovation fellow at the University of Texas School of Law.

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Randolph Record for Thursday, December 25, 2025

Everything you need to know about Christmas, including how it’s evolved into global holiday

jolly old St. Nicholas — celebrated annually on Dec. 6 — go way beyond delivering candy and toys to children. He is believed to have interceded on behalf of wrongly condemned prisoners and miraculously saved sailors from storms.

Devotion to St. Nicholas spread during the Middle Ages across Europe and he became a favorite subject for medieval artists and liturgical plays. He is the patron saint of sailors and children, as well as of Greece, Russia and New York.

Devotion to St. Nicholas seems to have faded after the 16th century Protestant Reformation, except in the Netherlands, where his legend remained as Sinterklaas. In the 17th century, Dutch Protestants who settled in New York brought the Sinterklaas tradition with them.

Eventually, St. Nicholas morphed into the secular Santa Claus.

around Christmas is bringing greenery — holly, ivy or evergreen trees — into homes.

But determining whether it’s a Christian tradition is harder.

“For many people, the evergreen can symbolize Christ’s promise of eternal life and his return from death,” Smith said. “So, you can interpret that evergreen tradition within the Christian concept.”

The decorating of evergreen trees is a German custom that began in the 16th century, said Maria Kennedy, a professor at Rutgers University— New Brunswick’s Department of American Studies. It was later popularized in England and America.

“Mistletoe, an evergreen shrub, was used in celebrations dating back to the ancient Druids — Celtic religious leaders — some 2,000 years ago,” Kennedy writes in The Surprising History of Christmas Traditions.

“Mistletoe represented immortality because it continued to grow in the darkest time of the year and bore white berries when everything else had died.”

Other traditions include Christmas services and Nativity scenes at homes and churches.

More recently, Nativity scenes — when erected on public property in the U.S. — have triggered legal battles over the question of the separation of church and state.

Christmas caroling, Kennedy writes, can also be traced back to European traditions, where people would go from home to home during the darkest time of the year to renew relationships within their communities and give wishes for good luck, health and wealth for the forthcoming year.

“They would recite poetry, sing and sometimes perform a skit. The idea was that these acts would bring about good fortune to influence a future harvest,” Kennedy writes.

Not just Santa who delivers gifts

Kentucky Fried Chicken for Christmas in Japan

In the U.K., it’s Father Christmas; in Greece and Cyprus, St. Basil (who arrives on New Year’s Eve). In some parts of Italy, it’s St. Lucy (earlier in December) and in other Italian regions, Befana, a witch-like figure, who brings presents on the Epiphany on Jan. 6.

Instead of a friendly Santa Claus, children in Iceland enjoy favors from 13 mischievous troll brothers, called the Yule Lads. They come down from their mountain cave 13 days before Christmas, according to folklore.

Among the many Christmas traditions that have been adopted and localized globally, there’s one that involves KFC. In 1974, KFC launched a Christmas campaign where they began to sell fried chicken with a bottle of wine so it could be used for a Christmas party.

KFC says the idea for the campaign came from an employee who overheard a foreign customer at one of its Tokyo restaurants saying that since he couldn’t get turkey in Japan, he’d have to celebrate Christmas with Kentucky Fried Chicken.

“That really stuck,” Smith said. “And still today, you have to order your KFC months in advance to make sure that you’re going to get it at Christmas Day.”

From Father Christmas to nativity scenes, the holiday has different meanings everywhere

By Luis Andres Henao The Associated Press CHRISTMAS is a Christian holiday that observes the birth of Jesus. But did you know that the earliest followers of Jesus did not annually commemorate his birth? Or that Santa Claus is inspired by the acts of kindness of a fourth-century Christian saint?

And have you heard about the modern-day Japanese tradition of eating Kentucky Fried Chicken on Christmas?

Since the early 20th century, Christmas has evolved from a religious holiday to a hugely popular cultural holiday observed

by Christian and secular people across the globe who gather with families, exchange gifts and cards and decorate Christmas trees.

Here’s a look at the history, beliefs and the evolution of Christmas.

MICHAEL PROBST / AP PHOTO

An annual Christmas Market is a hub of activity in the city center of Frankfurt, Germany, on Saturday.

Origins, early history of Christmas Early followers of Jesus did not annually commemorate his birth but instead focused on commemorating their belief in his resurrection at Easter.

The story of the birth of Jesus appears only in two of the four Gospels of the New Testament: Matthew and Luke.

They provide different details, though both say Jesus was born in Bethlehem.

The exact day, month and even year of Jesus’s birth are unknown, said Christine Shepardson, a professor at the University of Tennessee who studies early Christianity.

The tradition of celebrating Jesus’ birth on Dec. 25, she said, only emerged in the fourth century.

“It’s hard to overemphasize how important the fourth century is for constructing Christianity as we experience it in our world today,” Shepardson said. It was then, under Emperor Constantine, that Christians began the practice of gathering at churches instead of meeting at homes.

Some theories say the date coincides with existing pagan winter solstice festivals, including the Roman celebration of Sol Invictus, or the “Unconquered Sun,” on Dec 25.

While most Christians celebrate Christmas on Dec. 25, some Eastern Orthodox traditions celebrate the holy day on Jan. 7. That’s because they follow the ancient Julian calendar, which runs 13 days behind the Gregorian calendar, used by

ALESSANDRA TARANTINO / AP PHOTO

A 27-meter fir tree from the Ultimo valley in South Tyrol, Italy, is lit up as Christmas tree together with a crib in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican last Monday.

Catholic and Protestant churches as well as by much of the secular world.

Rowdy medieval celebrations For centuries, especially during the Middle Ages, Christmas was associated with rowdy street celebrations of feasting and drinking, and for many Christians, it “was not in good standing as a holiday,” said Thomas Ruys Smith, a professor of American literature and culture at the University of East Anglia in England.

“Puritans,” he said, “were not fond of Christmas.”

But in the 19th century, he said, Christmas became “respectable” with “the domestic celebration that we understand today — one centered around the home, the family, children, gift-giving.”

The roots of modern-day Christmas can be traced back to Germany. In the late 19th century, there are accounts of Christmas trees and gift-giving that,

according to Smith, later spread to Britain and America, helping to revitalize Christmas on both sides of the Atlantic.

Christmas became further popularized with the publication of “A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens in 1843, and the writings of Washington Irving, who was a fan of St. Nicholas and helped popularize the celebration of Christmas in America.

The first Rockefeller Center Christmas tree was put up by workers in 1931 to raise spirits during the Great Depression.

The tradition stuck as the first tree-lighting ceremony was held in 1933 and remains one of New York City’s most popular holiday attractions.

America’s secular Santa inspired by Christian saint St. Nicholas was a fourth-century Christian bishop from the Mediterranean port city of Myra (in modern-day Turkey). His acts of generosity inspired the secular Santa Claus legend.

The legends surrounding

Christian traditions of Christmas One of the oldest traditions

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Randolph Record for Thursday, December 25, 2025

A5

obituaries

Vicki Lynn Rutledge

Sue Ellen Ward

Feb. 8, 1954 – Dec. 14, 2025

Sue Ellen Ward, age 63, of Asheboro, passed away on December 17, 2025, at the Randolph Hospice House.

Ms. Ward was born in Sodus Point, NY, on November 5, 1962, to Arthur and Wilma Tierson Ward. Sue was employed with the NC Zoo for 30 years. Sue loved her New York Yankees, going

to the beach, and fishing. She loved everyone, especially her six grandchildren.

In addition to parents, Sue was preceded in death by her son, Travis Halterman, brother, Montgomery Ward, and nephew, Michael Ward.

She is survived by her husband, Franklin Hancock; daughter, Barbara Halterman (Israel Lira); grandchildren, Ivan Cruz, Hayle Cruz, Nicholas Lira, Aayron Hunt, and Nate Hunt; brother, Dean Ward (Karen); sister, Joan Pulliam (Cody); nieces and nephews, Becky Guerieri, Luke Ward, Steven Demay, Jennifer Demay, and Christi Pearson.

The family will receive friends on Friday, December 19, 2025, from noon to 2 p.m. at Pugh Funeral Home, 437 Sunset Avenue in Asheboro. Funeral services will follow on Friday at 2 p.m. at the Glenn “Mac” Pugh Chapel.

Billy York Brower

Helen Elizabeth Hicks

June 29, 1928 – Dec. 14, 2025

Sept. 16, 1945 – Dec. 15, 2025

Billy York Brower, a lifelong resident of Randolph County, passed away peacefully on December 14, 2025, at the age of 97, at Siler City Center. Born on June 29, 1928, Billy was a dedicated and beloved member of his community, known for his unwavering commitment to his family, his farm, and his faith.

Billy devoted his life to farming, operating one of the oldest private businesses in Randolph County, where his hard work and dedication earned him the esteemed recognition of Young Farmer of the Year. His agricultural pursuits were not only his livelihood but also a testament to his deep connection to the land he cherished.

A pillar of the Rehobeth United Methodist Church, Billy was an active member whose faith guided his actions. He served as Sunday School Superintendent and teacher, demonstrating a profound dedication with over 46 years of perfect attendance.

His contributions to the church community enriched the lives of many, leaving a legacy of service and devotion. Billy also served as a Board Member for the First National Bank, where his insights and leadership were highly valued.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 53 years, Helen Adcock Brower; his parents, George Washington Brower and Emma York Brower; brothers and their spouses, Alfred (Virginia), Jack, Hayworth (Dot), Frank (Sara), Mack (Hilda), and Jim (Ella); sisters, Betty Ann Brower, Jeanette Frazier (Kermit), Mozelle Stout (Wade); and son-in-law, Tony Butcher. Billy’s legacy continues through his loving family: daughters Ann Phillips and husband Riley of Siler City, Sue Butcher of High Point, Sherry Daniel and husband Jonathan of Siler City; son, Billy Joe Brower and wife Connie of Ramseur; his cherished grandchildren, Megan Bailey and husband Shea, Stacey Hess and husband Nate, Jenna Stirling, Tyler Butcher, Kelly Brower and husband Ricky, JJ Daniel, Brittany Bristow and husband Eric; thirteen great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Family and friends are invited to honor Billy’s memory during a visitation on Tuesday, December 16, 2025, from 5-7 p.m. at Loflin Funeral Home. A funeral service will be held at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, December 17, 2025, at Rehobeth United Methodist Church with Pastors Neal Brower and Tim Clements officiating.

Billy York Brower will be remembered as a man of faith, a devoted family member, and a steadfast servant to his community. His life was a blessing, and his memory will be cherished by all who knew him.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Rehobeth Cemetery Fund, 904 Woodland Drive, Siler City, NC 27344, Attn.

Riley Phillips.

Helen Elizabeth Beane Hicks, age 80, of Seagrove, went to be with her Lord and Savior on December 15, 2025, while surrounded by loved ones at her home. She was born September 16, 1945, in Seagrove, North Carolina, the daughter of the late Paul and Bonnie McNeill Beane. In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her beloved husband, Ron Hicks; and son Tommy Keith Davis.

Helen was a graduate from East Montgomery High School. Her career was focused around human resources at Fruit of the Loom in Star, NC and Lucks in Seagrove, NC. Later in life Helen worked as a teacher’s assistant at Randolph Community College in the adult special education department.

Helen was known for her outgoing personality and that she never met a stranger. Her warm energy won her friends instantly everywhere she went. She was devoted to her family, enjoyed spending time sharing meals and being present for milestones in their lives. The place she most enjoyed spending time was in the company of her husband at their home in Myrtle Beach. Her husband Ron made sure to make Helen the center of his world and spoil her until his passing. Helen was a lady of faith and member of Union Grove Baptist Church of Seagrove.

Left to cherish her memory are her granddaughter, Ashley Stewart and husband James; grandson, Nathan Davis and wife Page; great grandchildren, Makayla, Braxton, Bentley, Austin (Madi), Cassie, Evelyn, Aiden and Easton; special family members, Chad and Michelle White and their children Trystan and Mattie, and cousin, Phillip McNeill; great-great grandchildren, Ridge and Asher; her canine companion, Buddy; and numerous other beloved friends and family.

A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. on Sunday, December 21, 2025, at Union Grove Baptist Church, 7912 Union Grove Church Road, Seagrove, NC 27341, with Dr. Kenneth McNeill officiating.

Memorials may be made to the Parkinson’s Foundation in honor of Helen and to assist families in need.

The family would like to thank Liberty Home Care for their compassionate care in the final days. Also, her long-term care givers, Micayla Harris, Terry Findley and Caroline Smith that were so very dedicated with the assistance they provided Helen and the family.

Vicki Lynn Coble Rutledge, age 71, of Asheboro, passed away peacefully on December 14, 2025, at Asheboro Health and Rehab. She grew up in Worthville and was the beloved third born of seven daughters of the late William Curtis Coble and Barbara Durham Blackman.

Vicki will be remembered for her love and dedication to her family, friends and for the many lives she touched.

Throughout her life, Vicki was known to be a dependable and dedicated worker. She was employed with Laughlin Hosiery for the better part of 30 years and Klaussner Furniture until her retirement. In addition to her career, she enjoyed watching the Carolina Panthers and NASCAR. She was a lifelong fan of Dale Earnhardt.

Vicki will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her.

In addition to her parents, Vicki was preceded in death by her husband, Roger Rutledge; her infant son, Richard Whitt Jr.; and nephews, Jason Macon, Kevin McNeill and Wes Norman.

Left to cherish her memory are her son, Shawn Rutledge; grandchildren, Jayden, Cam and Scarlett Rutledge; her devoted partner, Jay Keeling; sisters, Gail Macon (Darrell) of Trinity, Elaine Griffin (Darrell deceased) of Randleman, Dixie Coble of Randleman, Susan Norman (Eddie) of Asheboro, Teresa Brown (Johnny) of Randleman, and Anita C. Hammer (Phillip Moreland) of Asheboro; nephews, Ronnie Macon, Alan Moore, Chris McNeill, Jason, Brian, Brandon and Jeremy Hammer, Robert Shelton and Brantley Norman; nieces, Jenny Brown, Jessica Harmon, Michelle Shoffner and Cassidy Norman; friend and caregiver, Nikki Barrett; and numerous beloved family members of the Coble family in North Carolina and Durham family of South Carolina.

The family will hold a private service at a later date to honor the life of Vicki.

Gloria Auman Nov. 4, 1936 – Dec. 18, 2025 Gloria Marilyn Miller Auman, 89, of Archdale, passed away Thursday, December 18, 2025, at her home with dignity and peace, surrounded and cared for by her five loving daughters.

No services are scheduled at this time.

Born in Randolph County, NC, on November 4, 1936, Gloria was the daughter of the late Clarence Lee Miller and Josie Hancock Miller. She was an avid quilter and artist, with an eye for color. Gloria was a wonderful gardener and, in her heyday, was an amazing bowler who won many trophies.

In addition to her parents, Gloria was preceded in death by her daughter, Karen Parrish.

Surviving are her daughters, Ilene Hieronymus (Cordy), Bonnie Lovell, Janet Allred, Donna Myers, Beverly McQueen (Chris); sisters, Sandy Miller, Debbie McElreath; 15 grandchildren, 14 greatgrandchildren; and one greatgreat-grandchild.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to the staff at Genetiva Hospice and the Archdale Walmart Neighborhood Market Pharmacy.

Memorial contributions may be made to a hospice of the donor’s choice.

Nov. 5, 1962 – Dec. 17, 2025

Martha Russell Jan. 25, 1932 – Dec. 14, 2025 Martha Jane Sams Russell, 93, of Asheboro, passed away Sunday, December 14, 2025, at Asheboro Rehab and Healthcare Center in Asheboro.

A celebration of life service will be conducted at 2 p.m., Saturday, at Ridge Funeral Home Chapel, Asheboro, with her grandson, Nathan McCrorey, officiating.

Born on January 25, 1932, in Parkersburg, WV, Martha was the daughter of the late Calvin Sams and Mildred White Sams.

With the support of her parents, she graduated high school and earned her business degree. She went on to serve honorably in the U.S. Navy and traveled the world.

She became an accountant for Stedman apparel and later for SaraLee/Hanes Corp. After retiring at 70, she focused on reading about the world and taking care of her loved ones.

In addition to her parents, Martha was preceded in death by her daughter, Wanda Russell Valdez-Cruz; and her sister, Wilma Sams Moore.

Surviving are her daughter, Joyce McCrorey (Brian); sister, Connie Sams Bryan; brother, Floyd Calvin “Bud” Sams Jr.; grandchildren, Nathan Russell McCrorey, Marcos ValdezCruz, Marta Valdez-Cruz; great grandchildren, Aurora Finley and Isabella Finley.

The family will receive friends following the service at Ridge Funeral Home.

Memorials may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758517, Topeka, KS 66675.

JoAnn Cashatt Biggs May 1, 1948 – Dec. 15, 2025 JoAnn Cashatt Biggs, age 77, of Julian, passed away on December 15, 2025, at Moses Cone Hospital.

Mrs. Biggs was born in Charlotte on May 1, 1948, to Jim and Ann Revelle Cashatt.

JoAnn received her bachelor’s degree and RN degree from UNC-Charlotte. She received her master’s degree in public health from UNC-Chapel Hill while raising two children and with one on the way. JoAnn graduated from law school at the age of 40. She was the personification of tenacity and perseverance. She was the former director of the AHEC with Cone Health. JoAnn was one of only two nurses/attorneys in North Carolina. She practiced law in Asheboro, NC, focusing primarily on helping those with health care-related issues.

JoAnn was easy to love, very funny and warm, inviting, and accepting of others. She loved being a mother and grandmother and was a wonderful caretaker.

JoAnn was a very talented artist, specializing in landscapes and flowers, and she loved to shop. JoAnn loved all animals, especially horses, dogs, cats and goats.

She is survived by her husband of 43 years, Paul Biggs; sons, Tad Little (Rachel) and Jeffrey Little (Beth); daughter, April Marty (Brent); stepdaughter, Barbara Swails (Michael); grandchildren, Alex, Jake, Brody, Evan, Mia, Matthew, Katie (Brandon), and Mark; 1 step great grandchild; her sister, Becky Champion; her brother, John Cashatt; and her beloved poodle, Bella.

A memorial service will be planned after the holidays.

Elizabeth “Lib” Perry Nault May 20, 1938 – Dec. 15, 2025 Elizabeth “Lib” Perry Nault, age 87, of Asheboro passed away on December 15, 2025 at Moses Cone Hospital.

Mrs. Nault was born in Henderson, NC, on May 20, 1938, to Frank and Eula Morgan Perry. Lib retired from the Aerospace Industry and was a member of First E&R United Church of Christ. Lib was an extremely motivated, independent, loving and caring lady, who was also a talented artist and a very smart businesswoman. She enjoyed being involved in the community and active in the Red Hat Society, the Marine Corps League, and the Randolph County Republican Women. Lib was a volunteer with the Randolph Cancer Center.

In her earlier years, Lib loved playing golf and traveling with her husband, Russ.

In addition to her parents, Lib was preceded in death by her husband, Russell “Russ” Nault and her fur baby, Precious.

She loved her family very much and was very close to her many cousins.

The family will receive friends on Monday, December 22, 2025, from 1:00-1:45 p.m. at Pugh Funeral Home, 437 Sunset Avenue in Asheboro. Funeral services will follow on Monday at 2 p.m. at the Glenn “Mac” Pugh Chapel with Rev. Dave Cash officiating. Burial will be held at Oaklawn Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the First E&R United Church of Christ, 221 Cliff Road, Asheboro, NC 27203 or the Marine Corps League, P.O. Box 2431, Asheboro, NC 272032431.

Rhonda Odom Feb. 24, 1959 – Dec. 17, 2025 Rhonda Gaye Overman Odom, 66, of Asheboro, passed away on Wednesday, December 17, 2025, at The Randolph Hospice House in Asheboro.

A celebration of life will be conducted at 2 p.m., Sunday, December 21, 2025, at Pleasant Cross Christian Church, Asheboro, with Pastor Jeff Maness officiating. A private burial will be held in the church cemetery.

A native of Tarpon Springs, FL, Rhonda was born on February 24, 1959, the daughter of the late Wayne Overman and Mary Casstevens Scott. She was a graduate of Asheboro High School. Rhonda was formerly employed with Centel Telephone and Arrow International. She enjoyed working in her flowers and loved all of her animals.

Rhonda was especially proud of her grandsons.

She is survived by her husband, Ben Odom of the home; son, Brian Moss and wife Karen of Asheboro; brother, Wayne Overman and wife Dawn of Asheboro; grandsons, Will Moss and wife Tori, Troy Moss; niece and nephew, Allison Arey and husband, J.D. and Taylor Overman.

The family will receive friends following the service at the church.

Memorials may be made to the care of Pleasant Cross Christian Church, 155 Iron Mountain Road, Asheboro, NC 27205.

A6

Randolph Record for Thursday, December 25, 2025

STATE & NATION Kennedy Center board adds Trump’s name to building Some say the law forbids such a name change

By Darlene Superville The Associated Press WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Kennedy Center last Friday quickly added Donald Trump’s name to the performing arts center Congress designated as a living memorial to John F. Kennedy, a day after the center’s board of trustees voted to make the change.

Blue tarps were hung in front of the building to obscure workers on scaffolding as they executed the transformation.

Hours later it had a new name: The Donald J. Trump and The John F. Kennedy Memorial

Center for the Performing Arts.

The board of trustees, handpicked by Trump, voted unanimously Thursday to add his name to what was enshrined as a living memorial to the Democratic president. Trump, a Republican, also is the board’s chairman. The Kennedy Center said the vote recognized Trump’s work to revitalize the institution.

Critics of the vote, including Democratic members of Congress who are ex-officio board members, as well as some historians, insist that only Congress can change the name.

“The Kennedy Center was named by law. To change the name would require a revision of that 1964 law,” Ray Smock, a former House historian, said in

an email. “The Kennedy Center board is not a lawmaking entity. Congress makes laws.”

Congress named the performing arts center as a living memorial to Kennedy in 1964, the year after he was assassinated. The law explicitly prohibits the board of trustees from making the center into a memorial to anyone else, and from putting another person’s name on the building’s exterior.

Some Kennedy family members oppose the renaming. Kerry Kennedy, a niece of John F. Kennedy, said in a social post on X that she will remove Trump’s name herself when his term ends.

“Three years and one month from today, I’m going to grab a pickax and pull those letters

JACQUELYN MARTIN / AP PHOTO

New signage, The Donald J. Trump and The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts, is unveiled on the Kennedy Center last Friday in Washington, D.C. off that building, but I’m going to need help holding the ladder. Are you in?” she wrote on a photo of the center’s new name.

“Applying for my carpenter’s card today, so it’ll be a union job!!!”

The Kennedy Center is the

How surveillance tech, ‘Reddit Detective Agency’ helped search for Brown U. killer Some social media users are more useful than others

By Matt O’Brien The Associated Press PROVIDENCE, R.I. — More than a decade ago, a frenzied 5-day search for the Boston Marathon bombers left some lessons in its aftermath.

One was that increasingly pervasive surveillance technology could help catch the culprits.

Another was that amateur online sleuths on Reddit could not.

But the intense search this week for a suspect in a Brown University shooting that killed two students and wounded nine other people turned the tables on those expectations.

Sweeping surveillance, now found in doorbells, cars and a vast network of vehicle-tracking cameras, did eventually help track down the whereabouts of Claudio Neves Valente, the 48-year-old former Brown graduate student investigators believe was responsible for the Dec. 13 shooting and another killing two days later of an MIT professor in Brookline, Massachusetts.

But the latest artificial intelligence-powered surveillance was of little use in the early search for a gunman who walked away from the Brown campus after the shooting and slipped unnoticed into the surrounding neighborhoods of Providence, Rhode Island. He evaded detection for days, using a hardto-trace phone, avoiding facial recognition software by obscuring his face with a medical-type mask and switching the license plates on his rental cars.

It wasn’t until a local Reddit user “blew this case right open”

with an old-fashioned tip first posted on the social media platform that police were able to connect a car to Neves Valente, said Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha. They finally found the suspect dead Thursday in Salem, New Hampshire, days after he likely killed himself.

The Reddit tipster known only as John is “no less than a hero,” Providence Mayor Brett Smiley wrote Friday to FBI Director Kash Patel, asking for John to get the entirety of the FBI’s $50,000 reward for information leading investigators to the suspect.

Strangers have invited him to Christmas dinner and suggested he get a “key to the city and free coffee and doughnuts for life,” according to fellow contributors to Reddit’s Providence forum.

It was a stark turn from 2013 when commentators on Reddit and other online discussion boards falsely smeared a Brown University student as a potential suspect in the deadly attack at Boston’s famed marathon, just an hour north of Providence, because of a supposed resemblance to a grainy suspect image.

“Hey Reddit, enough Boston bombing vigilantism,” declared a headline in The Atlantic at the time.

“It definitely went sideways in the Boston Marathon situation,” said Liza Potts, a professor at Michigan State University and director of a digital humanities lab that studied the online response. “That’s why folks will jokingly refer to the ‘Reddit Detective Agency’ or the ‘Reddit Bureau of Investigations.’”

The mistaken connection between the 2013 bombers and a missing Brown student — who was later found dead of an apparent suicide — is still re-

“Of all the spaces that I study, Reddit seems to be getting it right more than not.”

Liza Potts, Michigan State professor membered by many at the Ivy League school and its surrounding community.

Brown officials this week sought to swiftly tamp down another smear campaign circulating on X and other social media platforms falsely tying a current Brown student to the campus shooting because of his ethnicity, perceived political views and supposed resemblance to a police video of a person of interest. The “unimaginable nightmare” of false accusations led to “non-stop death threats and hate speech,” the student said in a statement.

Frustrated that tip lines could be jammed with nonsense, U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, a Rhode Island Democrat and former state attorney general, urged social media speculators to “just shut up.”

“There is simply no need from an investigative point of view for people who have no idea what they’re talking about to offer their stupid and ill-informed views about what happened all over the internet,” Whitehouse said from Congress on Wednesday.

But Potts said some social media has been working better than others, and “of all the spaces that I study, Reddit seems to be getting it right more than not.”

Harmful accusations were largely absent from Reddit’s

Providence forum, in part because volunteer moderators who manage Reddit’s subject matter forums — known as subreddits — are largely responsible for keeping the peace.

Reddit’s chief moderator for the Providence subreddit said in an interview that he’s been on the platform for about 15 years and remembers the trauma that false Boston Marathon report caused.

“The Providence subreddit is very sensitive about (not) trying to go on a witch hunt or the mob mentality,” he said, speaking on condition of anonymity to avoid doxing and because of the platform’s culture of anonymity.

The Associated Press also reached out to the tipster on Tuesday, a day after he wrote on Reddit urging police to look into a Nissan sedan with Florida license plates. Fellow Redditors urged him to contact the FBI, and he said he did.

He didn’t respond to requests for comment and later posted that he doesn’t plan to talk with media. When he finally met with police on Wednesday — after approaching them on the street and identifying himself as the Reddit tipster — his information gave new life to a stalled investigation.

With a known vehicle, Providence police started looking through the footage from dozens of AI-powered cameras positioned around the city that can read license plates as well as other identifying details about a car, such as make, color, side damage or even bird droppings on the window.

The cameras, run by surveillance company Flock Safety, spotted his vehicle at least 14 times starting nearly two weeks before the shooting, according to a police affidavit. Prov-

latest building in Washington to have Trump’s name added to it. The U.S. Institute of Peace was recently renamed after him.

The Kennedy Center did not respond to an emailed request for comment Friday.

idence police could then ask Flock-using police agencies in nearby cities and states to look for the same car, although New Hampshire — because of privacy restrictions on how long they can hold images — doesn’t have any.

It was a breakthrough Flock was happy to boast about, especially as wariness remains in Providence’s immigrant communities about more aggressive federal immigration enforcement. Flock says each of its customers decides when to share camera data, and the city doesn’t share it with federal immigration agents. Some still want more safeguards.

“Once you know what they are, you see them everywhere,” said Madalyn McGunagle, a policy associate at the ACLU of Rhode Island. “People notice because they’re distinct-looking — a solar panel on top with a little oval camera underneath.”

But unlike the residential doorbell cameras that spotted him walking around Providence, had Neves Valente walked by a Flock camera, it wouldn’t have detected him, said Flock Safety CEO Garrett Langley.

“It is a technical impossibility. The camera does not have an ability for a user to search for people,” Langley said in an interview Friday. “Our cameras are focused on vehicles because if you look at America, people drive. It is very hard to get anywhere on foot.”

“For the majority of our cities, they want to just know who is coming in and who is leaving,” he said.

Still, without John the tipster — whom local Redditors dubbed “Reddit Guy” — no one would have known how he left.

“Someone who is in the area and sees stuff all the time, they’re going to be better in a lot of ways than a random camera,” said the Providence subreddit’s moderator. “John saw this guy going back and forth, unlocking his car and all that, and he just thought it was kind of weird.”

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The drive to succeed Southwestern Randolph’s Kenan Sugg drives against Ledford’s Adam Grier during a boys’ basketball game earlier this season.

Southwestern Randolph has been involved in several close results so far, with six of its eight games decided by single-digit margins heading into holiday tournament action.

Teams set for holiday hoops tournaments The only varsity holiday tournament in Randolph County will be held at Asheboro Randolph Record staff FIVE SCHOOLS from Randolph County will take part in the SportsTone.net Christmas Invitational.

The three-day event at Asheboro begins Saturday with eight

games — four girls’ games, four boys’ games. There will be eight games Monday and Tuesday as well.

The lineup of games varies.

For the girls, the first round pits Trinity vs. Randleman (10 a.m.), Eastern Guilford vs.

Wheatmore (1 p.m.), Chatham Charter vs. Southwestern Randolph (4 p.m.) and Jordan-Matthews vs. Asheboro (7 p.m.

On the boys’ side, it’s Wheatmore vs. Randleman (11:30

5

Randolph County schools playing in the SportsTone.net Christmas Invitational a.m.), Eastern Guilford vs. Jordan-Matthews (2:30 p.m.), Trinity vs. Chatham Char-

PREP BOYS

Tigers boys tame Asheboro’s offense in home victory A low-scoring game between Randleman and Asheboro drew comparisons to another sport

By Bob Sutton Randolph Record RANDLEMAN — Points were at a premium when Randleman and Asheboro met in boys’ basketball last week.

“As long as we win,” Randleman’s Connor Cassidy said. “It’s good to get in some dogfights early.”

The Tigers prevailed 39-25 for the home victory, snapping a three-game losing streak.

Randleman coach Daniel Mitchell said facing Asheboro a couple of times each season brings familiarity as the

coaching staffs have remained the same.

“It becomes sort of a rock fight,” Mitchell said.

Consider that Randleman was up 34-17 through three quarters.

The Tigers then stalled on offense other than Nazir Staton’s three-point play. But Asheboro (7-4) was without a point for more than 4½ minutes to begin the fourth quarter.

“We quit turning it over,” Blue Comets coach Brian Nance said. “But the ball just would not go into the basket. … Does (the hoop) have a cover on it?”

Asheboro’s first points of the final quarter came on Ryan Headen’s layup on a fast break. Even when Asheboro’s Eli Johnson hit a 3-pointer, it was only 38-22.

Cassidy finished with 11 points.

“He hit some shots early,”

“It becomes sort of a rock fight.”

Dennis Mitchell, Randleman coach Mitchell said. “He has to make some tough shots.”

The Blue Comets’ top scorer was Johnson with six points.

The score was 20-10 at halftime.

“It looked like football scores,” Nance said. “I needed a touchdown and a field goal.”

And a little more.

For comparison, Asheboro beat Randleman 21-7 in football this year, though in four of past eight football meetings Randleman’s point total exceeded its basketball point production from last week’s game.

Also, Asheboro’s point total exceeded the 25 basketball points in nine of the last 15 football matchups with Randleman.

The outcome for Randleman was coveted.

“We’ve had some tough losses,” Mitchell said. “We need every win we can get.”

See PREP BOYS, page B2

ter (5:30 p.m.) and Southwestern Randolph vs. Asheboro (8:30 p.m.).

There are schools from the Triad Area Athletic Conference (Asheboro, Eastern Guilford), two from the Four Rivers Conference (Southwestern Randolph, Jordan-Matthews) and two from the Central Carolina 3-A Conference (Trinity, Wheatmore).

Last year’s champions were Southwestern Randolph’s

girls and Randleman’s boys.

Other tournaments The Providence Grove boys’ team will be in the Ledford tournament, which runs Saturday, Monday and Tuesday.

Eastern Randolph’s boys play in the Lee County tournament.

Uwharrie Charter Academy’s boys will be in a showcase event in Charleston, South Carolina.

Trinity heavyweight hits milestone A matchup with a wrestler from rival Wheatmore resulted in anxious moments for Joseph Trahan

By Bob Sutton Randolph Record TRINITY — Winning a milestone match came with a message for Trinity senior Joseph Trahan.

He had to scramble off his back in last week’s dual meet at Wheatmore to capture his 150th career victory.

“Real humbling, honestly,” Trahan said. “I was getting a big head and stuff.”

Trajan recorded a pin to improve his record to 30-0 this season, but he wasn’t much consumed with his record afterward.

That’s because Wheatmore’s Maddox Russo threw Trahan to his back for the first points in the opening period in the heavyweight bout.

From there, Russo earned

BOB SUTTON / RANDOLPH RECORD

Joseph Trahan near-fall points close to the edge of the mat.

That was enough for a 7-0 lead. Russo appeared to have Trahan in trouble again after a restart, but Trahan scored a reversal that led to a pin.

“Got humbled real fast,” Trahan said. “It kind of sunk in that I got to stop messing around with people and See TRAHAN, page B2

B2

Randolph Record for Thursday, December 25, 2025

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PREP GIRLS

Cougars, Tigers, UCA collect victories Teams from Southwestern Randolph, Randleman and UCA had pre-Christmas success Randolph Record staff SOUTHWESTERN Randolph’s girls’ basketball team won a couple of games against in-county opponents last week.

Southwestern Randolph’s Jordin George scored 19 points in a 68-28 road triumph against Trinity.

Then in Friday night’s

62-49 decision against visiting Providence Grove, George racked up 29 points and Maddie Strider had 12 points.

Laurel Bernhardt supplied 23 points and Adalyn Whitaker had 14 points for Providence Grove.

• Randleman’s Jacquline McDaniel racked up 26 points as the host Tigers beat Asheboro 44-37.

Asheboro coach Wes Luther bemoaned his decision to apply a late-game press and traps as that backfired with a couple of high-percentage

opportunities for Randleman.

Maliyah Brady had 11 points for the Blue Comets.

Asheboro won earlier in the week with a 51-16 overwhelming of host Eastern Randolph with Laneane Scherer posting 16 points and Brady supplying 15 points.

Randleman rocked host High Point Central 60-38 with Bella Byman collecting 20 points in a Piedmont Athletic Conference game.

The Tigers also won a league matchup with Lexington with a 55-48 road decision.

• Lainey Thomas had 14 points and Nevaeh Staples added 10 points when Uwharrie Charter Academy won 5830 at Cedar Ridge.

UCA then went on the road for a 57-36 victory at North Stanly as Thomas notched 25 points.

ACC commissioner Jim Phillips (suit and tie) prepares to present Duke players with the ACC football championship trophy.

JACOB KUPFERMAN / AP PHOTO

JANN ORTIZ / FOR RANDOLPH RECORD

Southwest Randolph, girls’ basketball George has provided a spark for the Cougars for multiple seasons.

Now a senior guard, she’s continued to be a major source of offense as a scorer and a playmaker.

George had more notable outings in helping Southwestern Randolph to a pair of victories last week. She averaged 24 points in those two games.

Southwestern Randolph takes a seven-game winning streak into a holiday tournament that begins this weekend in Asheboro.

TRAHAN from page B1 stop getting a big head. … You need to lock in and stop playing around with people.”

Trahan, who weighed in at 263 pounds, said when he does “funky stuff” it can lead to trouble. He said he hadn’t been on his back in such a bad situation last since February’s state tournament – not even during a bevy of offseason wrestling.

Trahan has been a pinning machine, with only one match lasting a full six minutes.

Trinity claimed a 58-22 victory in the Central 3-A Conference meet.

Trinity’s Aiden Burkholder, Steven Cross and Edgar Vasquez all had early pins, while Haris Idrees, Grayson Carroll and Jeven Palmeri added later pins to go with Addam Bernal’s 15-1 decision and a couple of forfeits for the Bulldogs.

Ayden Sumners produced a technical fall and Chris Scott won by pin for Wheatmore’s lone victories other than a pair of forfeits.

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ACC’s shift to football scheduling model will have 12 of 17 teams playing 9 league games in 2026 Uneven league schedules aren’t a new thing for the ACC

By Aaron Beard The Associated Press THE ATLANTIC COAST Conference’s transition to a nine-game football schedule will feature 12 of 17 football-playing members playing nine games next fall while the remaining five stay at eight.

The league announced details of the new model Tuesday, including the league matchups for each school. Next year will operate as a bridge to accommodate conference games already on the books, with the plan to have 16 of 17 teams playing nine football games regularly by 2027.

Reigning champion Duke will join California, Louisville, Miami, N.C. State, Pittsburgh, SMU, Stanford, Syracuse, Virginia, Virginia Tech and Wake Forest in playing nine league games for the 2026 season. That leaves Boston College, Clemson, Florida State, Georgia Tech and North Carolina to play eight.

The league in September announced plans to have a ninegame slate, aligning with power-conference peers in the Big 12, Big Ten and Southeastern conferences. That came after debates and disagreement about the impact of unbalanced scheduling and access to the 12-

PREP BOYS from page B1

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Other results Nirey White pumped in 21 points and Zak Blackwell had 13 points in Asheboro’s 74-37 victory at Eastern Randolph.

• Randleman fell 58-45 at High Point Central in a Piedmont Athletic Conference game despite Trey Burnett’s 13 points.

The Tigers ended the week with a 60-59 setback at Lexington in another PAC game.

• Providence Grove notched

team College Football Playoff.

The ACC is the only one of those leagues with an odd number of football members, creating a variable that will mean one team will play only eight games once the scheduling model is fully implemented in 2027.

ACC teams regularly played a different number of conference games in the early days of the league. Teams played as few as three ACC games and as many as seven from 1953 to 1956, and the league was split between teams playing six and seven-game league schedules for much of the next two decades.

The first season that every ACC team played the same number of conference games was 1972, the league’s 20th year of existence.

The ACC’s new schedule is designed to have teams play a total of 10 games against Power Four opponents as a baseline in a so-called 9+1 model. The rotating team playing an eightgame league slate would aim to play an 8+2 model to meet that 10-game target.

The question as to how an eight-game league record might

compare with a nine-game record is unclear.

The ACC used winning percentage during the COVID-19 pandemic in multiple sports with teams playing unequal totals of games because of numerous cancellations, but Commissioner Jim Phillips said publicly last week that the league is examining its football tiebreaker process for the ACC championship game. ACC officials said Tuesday an updated tiebreaker policy will be announced sometime before the 2026 season.

The current policy came under scrutiny when five-loss Duke won a five-team tiebreaker — which included now-No. 10 and CFP-bound Miami — to reach the title game and ultimately beat No. 20 Virginia earlier this month for its first outright ACC title since 1962.

The ACC had used an eightgame football schedule since Florida State’s arrival for the 1992 season, the outlier being a 10-game schedule in 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic. That included Notre Dame giving up its cherished independent status for one year and playing a full ACC schedule.

The Fighting Irish, a member of all other league sports, typically play four to six football games per year against ACC schools. Those games would fit into the nonconference column in the 9+1 or 8+2 scheduling models.

its second-one point victory vs. Southwestern Randolph this season, winning 60-59 on the road with Gabe McKoy supplying 20 points and Will Dabbs scoring 17. The Patriots overcame a 10-point deficit despite Kenan Sugg finished with 20 points for Southwestern Randolph.

• Levi Dalke and Trivett Kennedy each had 13 points when visiting Southwestern Randolph defeated Trinity 60-35.

• Tyler Gee’s 32 points weren’t enough in Eastern

Randolph’s 66-60 road loss to Chatham Central.

• Wheatmore’s Avery Ivey compiled 17 points in a 56-53 road victory against Forbush.

Jordan-Matthews topped visiting Wheatmore 57-43 despite Ivey’s 20 points.

• Providence Grove’s 83-80 victory at Southern Guilford included 24 points apiece from Will Dabbs and Andrew Thomas and 15 points from Gabe McKoy. That result gave the Patriots a three-game winning streak.

• North Stanly defeated visiting Uwharrie Charter Academy 48-39.

20

Seasons before all ACC teams played the same number of league games

Randolph Record for Thursday, December 25, 2025

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pen & paper pursuits this week in history Washington crosses Delaware, USSR dissolved, Radio City Music Hall opens DEC. 25 1066: William the Conqueror was crowned King of England.

1776: Gen. George Washington and his troops crossed the Delaware River for a surprise attack against Hessian forces at Trenton, New Jersey, during the American Revolutionary War. 1818: “Silent Night (Stille Nacht)” was publicly performed for the first time during the Christmas Midnight Mass at the Church of St. Nikolaus in Oberndorf, Austria.

DEC. 26 1908: Jack Johnson became the first black boxer to win the world heavyweight championship as he defeated Canadian Tommy Burns in Sydney, Australia.

1941: During World War II, Winston Churchill became the first British prime minister to address a joint meeting of the U.S. Congress, just two weeks after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor that plunged the U.S. into the war.

1991: The USSR was formally dissolved through a declaration by the Supreme Soviet.

2006: Former President Gerald R. Ford died in Rancho Mirage, California, at age 93.

VIA WIKIPEDIA

On Dec. 27, 1904, J.M. Barrie’s play “Peter Pan: The Boy Who Wouldn’t Grow Up” premiered at the Duke of York’s Theatre in London. round-the-world voyage from Plymouth, England, aboard the HMS Beagle.

1904: James Barrie’s play “Peter Pan: The Boy Who Wouldn’t Grow Up” opened at the Duke of York’s Theatre in London.

1932: New York City’s Radio City Music Hall opened to the public.

DEC. 28 1895: The Lumiere brothers, Auguste and Louis, held the first public showing of their films in Paris.

1908: A major earthquake followed by a tsunami devastated the Italian cities of Messina and Reggio Calabria, killing at least 70,000 people.

1945: Congress officially recognized the Pledge of Allegiance.

DEC. 27

DEC. 29

1831: Naturalist Charles Darwin set out on a

1170: Thomas Becket, the archbishop of Canterbury, was

killed inside Canterbury Cathedral by knights loyal to King Henry II. 1890: The Wounded Knee massacre took place in South Dakota, where more than 250 Lakota people were killed by U.S. troops sent to disarm them.

1940: During World War II, the German Luftwaffe dropped incendiary bombs on London, triggering what became known as the Second Great Fire of London.

DEC. 30 1860: Ten days after South Carolina seceded from the Union, the state militia seized the United States Army arsenal in Charleston.

1922: The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) officially came into existence.

2006: Former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein was executed by hanging after being convicted of crimes against humanity by the Iraqi High Tribunal.

2015: Actor and comedian Bill Cosby was charged with drugging and sexually assaulting a woman at his suburban Philadelphia home in 2004.

DEC. 31 1879: Thomas Edison first demonstrated his electric incandescent lights for the public by illuminating some 100 bulbs in and around his laboratory in Menlo Park, New Jersey.

1904: New York’s Times Square saw its first New Year’s Eve celebration, with an estimated 200,000 people in attendance.

1995: The syndicated comic strip “Calvin and Hobbes,” created by Bill Watterson, came to an end after a 10-year run.

AP PHOTO

On Dec. 27, 1932, Radio City Music Hall opened in New York City, launching what would become one of the world’s most famous entertainment venues.

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Randolph Record for Thursday, December 25, 2025

Songwriters Hall of Fame posthumously inducts singer Donna Summer The Queen of Disco won five Grammys

By Maria Sherman The Associated Press NEW YORK— There are giants, and then there is Donna Summer. The Queen of Disco and then some, known for such timeless tunes as “Love to Love You Baby,” “I Feel Love,” “Bad Girls,” “Dim All the Lights,” “On the Radio” and “She Works Hard for the Money,” has been posthumously inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, the hall said.

Summer, who died in 2012 at age 63, was welcomed into the Songwriters Hall last week at a ceremony at The Butterfly Room at Cecconi’s in Los Angeles. It was led by Academy Award-winning songwriter Paul Williams. Summer’s husband, Bruce Sudano and their daughters, Brooklyn Sudano and Amanda Sudano Ramirez, were in attendance.

“Donna Summer is not only one of the defining voices and performers of the 20th century; she is one of the great songwriters of all time who changed the course of music,”

“Donna Summer is not only one of the defining voices and performers of the 20th century; she is one of the great songwriters of all time who changed the course of music.”

Paul Williams said Williams in a statement.

“She wrote timeless and transcendent songs that continue to captivate our souls and imaginations, inspiring the world to dance and, above all, feel love.”

Summer’s smooth blend of R&B, soul, pop, funk, rock, disco and electronica launched numerous chart-topping hits in the ’70s and ’80s as well as three multiplatinum albums.

She won five Grammys. She was unstoppable — both as a performer and a writer.

“It’s important to me because I know how important it was for Donna,” said Sudano in a press release. “The back-

story is, with all the accolades that she received over her career, being respected as a songwriter was always the thing that she felt was overlooked.

So, for her to be accepted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame I know that she’s very happy … somewhere.”

The Songwriters Hall of Fame was established in 1969.

A songwriter with a notable catalog of songs qualifies for induction 20 years after the first commercial release of a song.

The annual Songwriters Hall of Fame gala does not usually include posthumous inductions; those are reserved for separate events.

Songwriter Pete Bellotte — known for his work with Summer on “Hot Stuff,” “I Feel Love” and “Love To Love You Baby” — is a current nominee for the 2026 Songwriters Hall of Fame class. “Love To Love You Baby” was co-written with Summer and producer Giorgio Moroder. One of Summer’s best-known hits, the song has been sampled many times, including in tracks by Beyoncé, LL Cool J and Timbaland.

The 2026 inductees will be announced early next year.

SOLUTIONS FOR THIS WEEK

JOHN MCCONNICO / AP PHOTO

Donna Summer performs at the Nobel Peace Prize Concert in Oslo, Norway, in 2009. The “Queen of Disco” died in 2012 at age 63.

BOOK REVIEW

Fans celebrate Jane Austen’s 250th birthday in Britain, beyond The literary icon’s canon of prized novels includes “Pride and Prejudice” The Associated Press LONDON — Fans of Jane Austen celebrated the acclaimed author’s 250th birthday last Tuesday with a church service in her home village, festive visits to her house and a virtual party for those paying tribute from afar.

Thousands of enthusiasts around the world have already taken part in a yearlong celebration of one of English literature’s greats, who penned “Pride and Prejudice,” “Sense and Sensibility” and other beloved novels.

Last Tuesday — to mark 250 years since she was born on Dec. 16, 1775 — Jane Austen’s House, in the southern English village of Chawton, hosted talks, tours and performances for dozens of visitors. Celebrations concluded with an online party for fans from all over the world.

“Regency dress strongly encouraged,” organizers said, adding that more than 500 people from countries as far-flung as Chile, Kazakhstan and Belarus had signed up for the Zoom party.

The cottage, now a museum with Austen artifacts, was where the author lived for the last years of her life and where she wrote all six of her novels.

“It has been an absolute joy to spend 2025 celebrating the 250th anniversary of Jane

ALASTAIR GRANT / AP PHOTO

A sound and light show with a literary theme developed

by Luxmuralis, which includes a section on writer Jane Austen, is screened inside Winchester Cathedral in Winchester, England, in 2025.

Austen’s birth. It has been a year filled with laughter, love, community and inspiration,” said Lizzie Dunford, director of Jane Austen’s House. “Here’s to the next 250 years.”

A church service featuring music and readings was held in Steventon, the rural village where she was born.

Fans, who call themselves “Janeites,” have marked the anniversary year with Regency balls and festivals staged in the U.K., U.S. and beyond.

Over the weekend, the city of Bath, where Austen lived for five years, hosted the Yuletide Jane Austen Birthday Ball, the finale of many grand costumed events held there this year.

“It has been an absolute joy to spend 2025 celebrating the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen’s birth.

It has been a year filled with laughter, love, community and inspiration.

Here’s to 250 years.”

Lizzie Dunford, Jane Austen’s House director

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Randolph Record for Thursday, December 25, 2025

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famous birthdays this week Annie Lennox is 71, Jon Voight turns 87, Ted Danson celebrates 78, Tiger Woods hits 50 THESE CELEBRITIES have birthdays this week DEC. 25 Football Hall of Famer Larry Csonka is 79. Country singer Barbara Mandrell is 77. Actor Sissy Spacek is 76. Former White House adviser Karl Rove is 75. Actor CCH Pounder is 73.

Singer Annie Lennox is 71.

DEC. 26 “America’s Most Wanted” host John Walsh is 80. Baseball Hall of Fame catcher Carlton Fisk is 78. Baseball Hall of Famer Ozzie Smith is 71. Humorist David Sedaris is 69. Rock musician Lars Ulrich (Metallica) is 62. Actor-musician Jared Leto is 54.

VIANNEY LE CAER / INVISION / AP PHOTO

Singer, songwriter and poet Patti Smith, a key figure in New York’s 1970s punk scene, turns 79 on Tuesday.

DEC. 27 Basketball Hall of Fame coach Nolan Richardson is 84. Rock musician Mick Jones (Foreigner) is 81. Actor Gérard Depardieu is 77. Rock musician David Knopfler (Dire Straits) is 73. TV journalist Savannah Guthrie is 54. Rock singer Hayley Williams (Paramore) is 37.

DEC. 28 Actor Denzel Washington is 71. TV personality Gayle King is 71. Hockey Hall of Famer Ray Bourque is 65. Linux creator Linus Torvalds is 56. Political commentator Ana Navarro is 54. TV host-comedian Seth Meyers is 52. Actor Joe Manganiello is 49. Musician John Legend is 47.

DEC. 29 Actor Jon Voight is 87. Actor Ted Danson is 78. Actor Patricia Clarkson is 66. Filmmaker Lilly Wachowski is 58. Actor Jennifer Ehle is 56. Actor Jude Law is 53.

Actor Mekhi Phifer is 51.

DEC. 30 Baseball Hall of Famer Sandy Koufax is 90. TV director James

RICHARD SHOTWELL / INVISION / AP PHOTO

John Walsh arrives at the Fox winter junket in 2023 in Los Angeles. The “America’s Most Wanted” host turns 80 on Friday.

Burrows is 85. Singer-author Patti Smith is 79. Musician Jeff Lynne is 78. Actor-comedian Tracey Ullman is 66. TV commentator Sean Hannity is 64.

Golfer Tiger Woods is 50.

DEC. 31 Actor Anthony Hopkins is 88. Rock musician Andy Summers (The Police) is 83. Actor Ben Kingsley is 82. Filmmaker Taylor Hackford is 81. Actor Tim Matheson is 78. Actor Bebe Neuwirth is 67. Author Nicholas Sparks is 60. Businessman Donald Trump Jr. is 48.

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Randolph Record for Thursday, December 25, 2025

the stream

KENSLIE MCGUIRE / DISNEY VIA AP

Mickey Mouse and other Disney characters return with special performances by Gwen Stefani and others for the annual Disney Parks Magical Christmas Day Parade.

‘Stranger Things,’ ‘Ne Zha II,’ Jennifer Lawrence, Kate Winslet Spy thriller “The Copenhagen Test” lands on Peacock

SERIES TO STREAM

The Associated Press JENNIFER LAWRENCE playing a new mother whose behavior becomes increasingly erratic in “Die My Love” and three more “Stranger Things” episodes are some of the new television, films, music and games headed to a device near you.

Also among the streaming offerings worth your time this week: Disney Parks Magical Christmas Day Parade featuring Gwen Stefani and Nicole Scherzinger, the Chinese animated epic “Ne Zha II,” and Simu Liu starring as an intelligence analyst whose brain has been hacked in Peacock’s “The Copenhagen Test.”

MOVIES TO STREAM Lawrence plays a new mother whose behavior becomes increasingly erratic in Lynne Ramsay’s “Die My Love,” streaming now on Mubi. Robert Pattinson plays her husband in this story adapted from Ariana Harwicz’s novel. In his review for The Associated Press, Film Writer Jake Coyle wrote called it “a jagged, go-for-broke psychodrama” raging with a “primal punk spirit.” He added, “there’s plenty to admire in Ramsay’s uncompromising and delirious portrait of marital hell, particularly in the bracingly raw performance of Lawrence.”

The Chinese animated epic “Ne Zha II,” which is the highest grossing animated movie of all time with more than $2.2 billion in ticket sales, is now streaming on HBO Max. The film tells the story of a rebellious child, Ne Zha, born as the reincarnation of a demon to mortal parents, who is out to prove his fate is not predetermined. Michelle Yeoh lent her voice to the English language dub, which she said, “immerses you into our culture.” The first film is available to stream on Netflix, but it’s possible to just dive right into the sequel.

If you like holiday mov-

and the Disney YouTube channel on Christmas Day, music fans can tune into the annual Disney Parks Magical Christmas Day Parade. It’s not just for the kids: The special will feature musical performances from Stefani, Scherzinger, Coco Jones, Iam Tongi, Lady A, Mariah the Scientist and Bebe Rexha.

EVAN AGOSTINI / INVISION / AP PHOTO

Ross Duffer, from left, Gaten Matarazzo, Finn Wolfhard, Charlie Heaton and Jamie Campbell Bower attend the PaleyLive “Stranger Things” final season celebration at the Paley Museum on Dec. 18 in New York.

“‘Die My Love’ is a jagged, go-for-broke psychodrama, raging with a primal punk spirit.”

Jake Coyle, AP Film Writer

KIMBERLY FRENCH / MUBI VIA AP

Jennifer Lawrence stars in the suspenseful drama “Die My Love.” ies with a side of tears, “Goodbye June,” streaming on Netflix, might just be the ticket.

Kate Winslet directs and stars in this family drama about four

adult children (Winslet, Andrea Riseborough, Johnny Flynn and Toni Collette) coming to terms with the fact that their mother, June (Helen Mirren), is dying.

In my review, I wrote that it was an admirably solid, if generic, drama that’s elevated by a distinguished cast and moments of humor, grace and insight.

Speaking of holiday viewing, it’s also worth noting that Prime Video is getting two of the year’s biggest movies: “A Minecraft Movie” on Monday and “Sinners” on Friday.

MUSIC TO STREAM It’s wholesome holiday fun for the whole family! Kicking off at 10 a.m. on ABC and streaming at 11 a.m. on Disney+, Hulu

Make your Christmas stranger. The next block of installments of “ Stranger Things” — that’s episodes 5-7 — drop like a present as the fifth and final season continues. When we last checked out Hawkins, Vecna was deep into a dastardly plan, Demogorgons were menacing, and Will Byers was coming into his own powers. The very last episodes will stream on New Year’s Eve. Liu stars as an intelligence analyst whose brain has been hacked in Peacock’s new espionage thriller, “The Copenhagen Test.” In addition to Liu, the series’ regulars include Melissa Barrera, Sinclair Daniel, Brian d’Arcy James, Mark O’Brien and Kathleen Chalfant. All episodes debut Saturday.

“Members Only: Palm Beach” is a new Netflix reality show that follows the exclusive, high-end social scene of one of Florida’s most affluent areas, as experienced by five women who are part of the community. “There’s a lot more beneath the sunshine than anyone expects, because nobody goes lower than high society,” Taja Abitbol, one of the stars, explains. It premieres Monday.

VIDEO GAMES TO PLAY You may be getting — or giving — a new gaming device for Christmas. If so, you should look beyond heavily promoted AAA games and download some of the gems that independent studios released in 2025. Some made The Associated Press’ top 10 list; don’t miss Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, The Séance of Blake Manor and The Alters. The indie sequels Hades II and Hollow Knight: Silksong more than lived up to fans’ expectations.

Mystery lovers should test their wits against Blue Prince and The Roottrees are Dead.

And if you want a heartfelt story about an Ecuadoran kid dreaming about soccer’s World Cup (who doesn’t?), check out Despelote.

VOLUME 10 ISSUE 44 | THURSDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2025 | HOKE.NORTHSTATEJOURNAL.COM

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HOKE COUNTY THE HOKE COUNTY EDITION OF NORTH STATE JOURNAL

ALEX BRANDON / AP PHOTO

President Donald Trump arrives to speak at a campaign event last Friday in Rocky Mount.

WHAT’S HAPPENING Minaj surprises conservatives with praise for Trump, Vance at Arizona event Rapper Nicki Minaj made a surprise appearance at a gathering of conservatives in Arizona. Speaking on stage at Turning Point USA’s AmericaFest convention, the artist praised President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance, calling them “role models” for young men. The rap star was interviewed by Erika Kirk, the widow of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who has since taken over as leader of Turning Point. Kirk asked Minaj about her newly found support for Trump, whom she had condemned in the past.

Minaj’s appearance Sunday at the flagship event for the powerful conservative youth organization may shore up her status as a MAGA acolyte.

“60 Minutes” pulls critical piece on Trump deportation policy Hours before airtime on Sunday, CBS News’ “60 Minutes” held a planned story on President Donald Trump’s deportation policy at the order of the network’s new editor-in-chief, Bari Weiss.

Weiss, the founder of the Free Press website, had sought to get Trump administration perspective included in the story. The move is sure to increase scrutiny on CBS and “60 Minutes,” which Trump sued last fall over an interview with Kamala Harris and has recently complained about stories critical of him.

Weiss said in a statement that holding stories that aren’t ready, because they lack context or are missing critical voices, happen every day in newsrooms.

$2.00

Trump touts economic progress during Rocky Mount visit For many, the promised golden age hasn’t yet arrived

By Makiya Seminera The Associated Press ROCKY MOUNT — She had worked 22 days straight in her job as a technician at an engine plant to save up, and now Daijah Bryant could finally do what she was putting off: Christmas shopping.

Bryant pushed her cart out of a Walmart in Rocky Mount and loaded her sedan’s backseat with bags of gifts. While they would soon bring joy to her friends and family, it was difficult for the 26-year-old to feel good about the purchases.

“Having to pay bills, if you happen to pay rent and try to do Christmas all at the same time, it is very, very hard,” she said with exasperation.

Ahead of President Donald Trump’s Friday evening visit to Rocky Mount, some residents said they were feel-

ing an economic squeeze that seems hard to escape. The uneasy feeling spans political affiliation in the town, which is split between two largely rural and somewhat impoverished counties, although some were more hopeful than others that there are signs of reprieve on the horizon.

It was Trump’s second event this month aimed at championing his economic policies ahead of a consequential midterm election next year, both held in presidential battleground states. Similar to Trump’s earlier stop in Pennsylvania, Rocky Mount sits in a U.S. House district that has been historically competitive.

But earlier this year, the Republican-controlled legislature redrew the boundaries for the eastern North Carolina district to favor their party as part of Trump’s push to have GOP-led states gerrymander their congressional districts to help his party retain its House majority for the last half of his term.

Rocky Mount may be in a po-

“I inherited the mess.

I got the prices down and they are going down still further.”

President Donald Trump litically advantageous location, but the hardships its residents report mirror the tightening financial strains many Americans say they are feeling, with high prices for groceries, housing and utilities among their top concerns. Polls show persistently high prices have put Americans in a grumpy mood about the state of the economy, which a large majority say is performing poorly.

Trump has insisted the economy is trending upward and the country will see some relief in the new year and beyond. In some cases, he has dismissed affordability concerns and encouraged Americans to decrease their consumption.

In his Friday night speech, he leaned into a persistent refrain: Democratic President Joe Biden alone was to blame for any economic distress Americans may be feeling, but things are getting better under his watch.

He boasted that steps he’s taken — including generating billions of dollars of revenue through tariffs, pressing pharmaceutical giants to slash the prices of some medicines, and a so-called $1776 “warrior dividend” for U.S. troops that is being paid through a provision in a tax cut extensions and expansions bill he signed into law in July—will have real impact on American’s pocketbooks.

“I inherited the mess. I got the prices down and they are going down still further,” Trump said. He added, “Over the past 11 months, we have brought more positive change to Washington than any administration in the history of our country.”

See TRUMP, page A4

Retired NASCAR driver Greg Biffle, family among 7 killed in Statesville plane crash Investigators are trying to determine what happened

By Gary D. Robertson and Josh Funk The Associated Press STATESVILLE — Federal investigators are trying to figure out why a business jet carrying retired NASCAR driver Greg Biffle and six others tried to return to Statesville Regional Airport just after takeoff but plowed into light poles and a tree line short of the runway, killing everyone on board.

The Cessna C550 erupted into a large fire when it hit the ground last Thursday morning, about a third of a mile from the airport’s runway. They also don’t know who the was the lead pilot. Biffle was one of

three people on board with a pilot’s license.

The jet had departed Statesville, about 45 miles north of Charlotte, 10 minutes earlier, but crashed while trying to return and land, authorities said.

Flight records indicate the plane was registered to a company run by Biffle. Investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board began examining the wreckage last Friday to help determine the cause of the crash and why the plane had returned to the airport in drizzle and cloudy conditions.

Investigators recovered the cockpit voice recorder, which could provide important clues about what happened. They were not aware of any emergency calls from the jet, NTSB member Michael Graham said at a Friday news conference.

“One thing is certain: They were low. They were too low to make a safe landing on that runway.”

Former NTSB and FAA crash investigator Jeff Guzzetti There were three pilots on board. Federal Aviation Administration records show Biffle was rated to fly helicopters, and single- and multiengine planes. Also on board was pilot Dennis Dutton, Dutton’s son, Jack — who had a private pilot’s license for single-engine planes — and Biffle’s friend Craig Wadsworth.

Biffle’s wife, Cristina, and children Ryder, 5, and Emma, 14, were also killed in the

crash, the North Carolina State Highway Patrol said.

Cristina Biffle’s mother told People magazine that her daughter sent her a text message saying, “We’re in trouble,” before she didn’t hear from her again.

Federal investigators on Friday didn’t have answers yet about the crew.

Dennis Dutton was licensed and rated to fly this model of plane, but even then, he was supposed to fly with a co-pilot. Even though Biffle was rated to fly a multiengine plane, he wasn’t listed as qualified to fly this particular jet or be a second officer. Dutton’s son, Jack, also had a pilot’s license but was only rated for single-engine planes.

“There is nobody else that See CRASH, page A2

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North State Journal (USPS 20451) (ISSN 2471-1365)

CRASH from page A1 has a second-in-command type rating in the airplane. So there’s a question on the crew,” aviation safety expert John Cox said.

The plane’s speed and altitude fluctuated significantly during the brief flight, and its path was consistent with a flight crew that experienced an issue and needed to return quickly, said former NTSB and FAA crash investigator Jeff Guzzetti.

At one point, the plane quickly soared from 1,800 feet up to 4,000 feet before descending again. Just before the crash, it was only a couple of hundred feet off the ground.

“One thing is certain: They were low. They were too low to make a safe landing on that runway,” Guzzetti said.

It’s unclear why the pilots

didn’t make an emergency call, but their top priorities are flying the plane and figuring out where to land — not radioing for help. It’s possible they were too busy trying to control the plane and dealing with the problem. But Cox said it’s also possible that the problem they encountered wasn’t considered an emergency. And the pilots may not have made it a priority to make a radio call with no tower or firefighters at the airport.

Biffle, 55, won more than 50 races across NASCAR’s three circuits, including 19 at the Cup Series level. He also won the Trucks Series championship in 2000 and the Xfinity Series title in 2002.

In 2024, Biffle was honored for his humanitarian efforts after Hurricane Helene struck the U.S., even using his personal helicopter to deliver

aid to flooded, remote western North Carolina.

The last time I spoke with Cristina, just a couple of weeks ago, she reached out to ask how she could help with relief efforts in Jamaica. That’s who the Biffles were,” U.S. Rep. Richard Hudson (R-N.C.) said.

Wadsworth was Biffle’s friend and helped him with odd jobs, including delivering supplies to places hit by Hurricane Helene, roommate Benito Howell said.

“He didn’t know how to say no,” Howell said of Wadsworth, who had worked for several NASCAR teams. “He loved everybody. He always tried to help everybody.”

A memorial with flowers sprouted up Friday by Biffle’s marble star in his hometown of Mooresville, honoring him as a member of the North Carolina Auto Racing Hall of Fame.

Steve Miller dropped by to pay his respects. He met Biffle at a huge party after he was inducted in October. He told Biffle he hoped the racecar driver could help knock an item off his bucket list — taking a flight in a helicopter.

“Come knock on my door, I’ll take you up,” Miller recalled Biffle telling him. “Never happened.”

Cessna Citations like the one that crashed Thursday are known as reliable, easy-tofly jets. While the plane is in flight, one pilot is at the controls while the other pilot is the monitoring pilot, Cox said.

Roughly 1,000 of these 550 series jets have been made, and they have a very good safety record. “What accidents have occurred in this type were mostly due to very poor pilot decisions,” Guzzetti said.

Trip Hoffend, Publisher Jim Sills, VP of Local Newspapers Cory Lavalette, Senior Editor Jordan Golson, Local News Editor Shawn Krest, Sports Editor Dan Reeves, Features Editor Ryan Henkel, Reporter P.J. Ward-Brown, Photographer BUSINESS David Guy, Advertising Manager Published each Thursday as part of North State Journal 1201 Edwards Mill Rd. Suite 300 Raleigh, NC 27607 TO SUBSCRIBE: 919-663-3232 HOKE.NORTHSTATEJOURNAL.COM Annual Subscription Price: $100.00 Periodicals Postage Paid at Raleigh, NC and at additional mailing offices.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: North State Journal 1201 Edwards Mill Rd. Suite 300 Raleigh, NC 27607 MATT KELLEY / AP PHOTO

Flowers are displayed at the North Carolina Auto Racing Walk of Fame for Greg Biffle last Friday in Mooresville.

Share with your community! Send us your births, deaths, marriages, graduations and other announcements: hokecommunity@northstatejournal.com Weekly deadline is Monday at Noon

A podcast local to Hoke-Raeford, NC, with Ruben Castellon and Chris Holland.

A3

North State Journal for Thursday, December 25, 2025

THE CONVERSATION Trip Hoffend, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor VISUAL VOICES

COLUMN | SEN. TOMMY TUBERVILLE

Sharia law fuels jihadist terror in Nigeria; is America next?

What’s taking place in Nigeria is a sad example of the dangers of Islam.

OVER THE LAST few months, I’ve been increasingly vocal about the rise of radical Islam in the U.S. As a result, the left has predictably lost their minds — calling me a “racist” and an “Islamophobe.” The truth is I’m an American, and I care about the safety of our country. I’m not afraid of Chuck Schumer calling me names.

What I am afraid of is losing the greatest country on Earth to radical Islam. Look no further than the Thanksgiving shooting of two National Guardsmen in D.C. by a Biden-imported Afghan Islamic terrorist to know that we are under attack.

There’s a lot of good people that come from Middle Eastern countries who go by our laws and assimilate with our culture. But if you come here otherwise, refuse to go by our laws and chant “Death to America,” I have a message for you — we do not want you here. If you’re a peaceful Muslim who has assimilated, now is the time to speak out and condemn these acts of Islamic terrorism.

What’s taking place in Nigeria is a sad example of the dangers of Islam. We are seeing firsthand the poisonous impact that Radical Islam can have on a country when it is allowed to take root.

In the 1990s, Nigerian Christians and Muslims lived in relative harmony. But Muslims began gaining a foothold, and sharia law was soon installed by 12 of Northern Nigeria’s states in the early 2000s. There are now 101 references to sharia law and Islam in the Nigerian Constitution and zero references to Christianity. Now, 35 Christians a day are being murdered in Nigeria for their faith. Unfortunately, this statistic isn’t surprising. Islam openly teaches to “kill all infidels” — which includes Christians.

Since 2002, an estimated 62,000 Christians in Nigeria have been murdered, and 350,000 people have died because of the instability that Radical Islam breeds. In 2024, 70% of all Christians martyred for their faith in the entire world were in Nigeria. Kidnappings in Nigeria are also on the rise because Jihadists use this to extort ransom payments and fund more terrorism.

In November, the world reacted with horror when 315 schoolchildren were kidnapped from a Catholic school in Niger State.

Yet you won’t hear much about any of these tragedies because the mainstream media in America would rather bury their heads in the sand than report the facts. They don’t cover the wholesale slaughter of Christians, and when they do, they claim it’s equal opportunity murder of Christians and Muslims alike.

Thankfully, President Donald Trump recently reclassified Nigeria as a “country of particular concern,” placing a spotlight on persecuted Christians in the country. I also appreciate other members of Congress like Republican Rep. Marlin Stutzman of Indiana and Republican Rep. Riley Moore of West Virginia who have joined me in the fight to end the slaughtering of Christians in Nigeria.

However, there is much more that needs to be done to hold the Nigerian government accountable for the genocide happening right under its nose. I am grateful for organizations like Across Nigeria that are working day and night to bring the killing to an end. I recently heard from Brad Brandon, who serves as CEO of Across Nigeria. He described the horrors of Islam firsthand, and how he has stood at the edge of large graves filled with entire families

and villages of Christian believers. In 2021, a pastor who worked for Brandon’s organization was hacked to death by machetes in his bed. His church, home, and village were set on fire — all because he refused to deny his Christian faith and stop spreading the gospel. It reminds me of some of the disciples in the earliest days of the church who were martyred for their faith rather than denying Jesus Christ.

Unfortunately, this isn’t just a problem overseas. I’ve said it many times and have taken some heat for it, but Islam isn’t a religion, it is a death cult. And this type of poisonous ideology is alive and well in this country, just waiting to attack. Just this week, FBI Director Kash Patel announced they caught several Islamist terrorists who had planned terror attacks for New Year’s Eve in Los Angeles and New Orleans. If we don’t act now, these types of attacks will become commonplace.

That’s why I refuse to be silent about this. Islam is fundamentally opposed to our Constitutional values. These people openly chant “death to America” and would like to see every single freedom-loving American dead. The threat of sharia law becoming a reality in America is not a hypothetical. It’s a real and present danger lurking in our own backyards. Nigeria is an example of what can happen when Radical Islam and sharia law overtake a once prosperous and free nation. Those who practice Radical Islam would love nothing more than to destroy this country. Our freedom is a gift, and I hope that more of our leaders will wake up and defend it before it’s too late.

Sen. Tommy Tuberville represents Alabama in the United States Senate. This column was first published by Daily Caller News Foundation.

COLUMN | KEVIN FRAZIER

Trump AI executive order protects Americans from Tower of Babel approach The problem is that many states have misinterpreted their expansive authority.

THE ANSWER TO two questions will shape the future of AI in the United States: Who gets to write the national rules for AI development?

Who gets to write the rules for how AI is adopted at the state level?

This is not a pop quiz. These are the same questions that we had to answer in the late 1700s with respect to shipping in the late 1800s with respect to the railroads, and in the late 1900s with respect to the Internet. The right answers then, remain the correct answers today.

The executive order on AI announced by President Donald Trump provides a clear answer to the first question: Congress. It’s the right answer given the unequivocal allocation of constitutional authority to Congress to resolve matters that implicate America’s economic and national security.

AI development refers to the training, evaluation and deployment of AI models. In short, it’s the tasks that determine how quickly U.S. companies can continue to push the technological frontier as our adversaries race to do the same. Any pause, delay or diversion to these efforts may have irreversible effects on our ability to economically and militarily keep pace. It’s not hyperbole to stress that America requires a cohesive strategy on this frontier so that our leading AI labs and emerging startups can focus more on AI research, rather than attempting to navigate a patchwork of state AI laws.

The order also answers the second question.

States may dictate who uses AI, for what purposes, and subject to what limitations.

Again, this is the right answer as mandated

by the Constitution and its reservation of extensive police powers to the states. It has long been recognized that it is the duty “of a state to advance the safety, happiness, and prosperity of its people, and to provide for its general welfare.” That’s precisely why the order does not contest the authority of states to enact and enforce laws related to child safety, data centers, state government use of AI and other issues that reflect that important duty.

To use an imperfect analogy, the order acknowledges and welcomes state laws related to speed limits, road designs and driver’s license requirements, so long as they do not interfere with how the engine is designed and distributed.

The problem is that many states have misinterpreted their expansive authority. Some have enacted laws that will impede the ability of other states to look out for the distinct wants and needs of their respective community. As mentioned in the order, states like Colorado want to dictate how AI models respond to certain queries — this akin to messing with the engine of AI. If labs comply, then the rest of America will have to live with what Denver thinks is best.

Other states — namely, California — have enacted laws with the explicit purpose of shielding the rest of the nation from speculative risks. That’s akin to Californians prohibiting Montanans from driving trucks with V8 engines because Californians think they are too powerful. Worse yet, such laws may inhibit the ability of American innovators to move forward on devising new strategies to deploy more capable and reliable AI systems. Congress alone

has the authority to dictate such consequential decisions. Americans are rightfully eager for Congress to use that authority. But impatience must not become acquiesce to efforts by state legislators to step into the shoes of U.S. representatives and senators.

The order’s core provision — the creation of an AI Litigation Task Force — will protect the American people from a Tower of Babel approach to AI development. States may think they’re enacting similar laws with similar provisions related to AI training, but they’re oftentimes speaking different languages — their bills are riddled with contradictory definitions and vague standards.

This task force is overdue but far from an overreach of presidential authority. The order does not grant the U.S. attorney general any new authority nor permit the task force to “neuter” any constitutionally valid state laws, as alleged by The New York Times. Instead, the order is again to the president putting certain questions at the top of the AG’s agenda: specifically, challenging unconstitutional, unlawful or preempted state laws. None of that is new. It has been and always will be the case that state laws that run afoul of the Constitution or otherwise violate the law can and should be challenged. The order merely directs a focus on state AI laws that fall within any of those categories.

State legislators may be forgiven for rushing to regulate AI amid the public’s uncertainty over how the technology will impact our economy, our schools, and our communities. AI’s disruptive effects warrant a national framework and soon. Congress must act. However, as signaled by this executive order, that forgiveness has limits: states that intentionally seek to impose their legislative will on others must be held accountable.

Kevin Frazier is the AI and innovation fellow at the University of Texas School of Law.

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North State Journal for Thursday, December 25, 2025

Everything you need to know about Christmas, including how it’s evolved into global holiday From Father Christmas to nativity scenes, the holiday has different meanings everywhere

By Luis Andres Henao The Associated Press CHRISTMAS is a Christian holiday that observes the birth of Jesus. But did you know that the earliest followers of Jesus did not annually commemorate his birth? Or that Santa Claus is inspired by the acts of kindness of a fourth-century Christian saint?

And have you heard about the modern-day Japanese tradition of eating Kentucky Fried Chicken on Christmas?

Since the early 20th century, Christmas has evolved from a religious holiday to a hugely popular cultural holiday observed

by Christian and secular people across the globe who gather with families, exchange gifts and cards and decorate Christmas trees.

Here’s a look at the history, beliefs and the evolution of Christmas.

Origins, early history of Christmas Early followers of Jesus did not annually commemorate his birth but instead focused on commemorating their belief in his resurrection at Easter.

The story of the birth of Jesus appears only in two of the four Gospels of the New Testament: Matthew and Luke. They provide different details, though both say Jesus was born in Bethlehem.

The exact day, month and even year of Jesus’s birth are unknown, said Christine Shepardson, a professor at the University of Tennessee who studies early Christianity.

The tradition of celebrating Jesus’ birth on Dec. 25, she said, only emerged in the fourth century.

“It’s hard to overemphasize how important the fourth century is for constructing Christianity as we experience it in our world today,” Shepardson said. It was

TRUMP from page A1 “Without the businesses, it’s dead” Crimson smokestacks tower over parts of downtown Rocky Mount, reminding the town’s roughly 54,000 residents of its roots as a once-booming tobacco market. Through the heart of downtown, graffiti-covered trains still lug along on the railroad tracks that made Rocky Mount a bustling locomotive hotspot in the last century.

Those days seem long gone for some residents who have watched the town change over the decades. Rocky Mount has adapted by tapping into other industries such as manufacturing and biopharmaceuticals, but it’s also had to endure

MICHAEL PROBST / AP PHOTO

An annual Christmas Market is a hub of activity in the city center of Frankfurt, Germany, on Saturday. then, under Emperor Constantine, that Christians began the practice of gathering at churches instead of meeting at homes.

Some theories say the date coincides with existing pagan winter solstice festivals, including the Roman celebration of Sol Invictus, or the “Unconquered Sun,” on Dec 25.

While most Christians celebrate Christmas on Dec. 25, some Eastern Orthodox traditions celebrate the holy day on Jan. 7.

That’s because they follow the ancient Julian calendar, which runs 13 days behind the Gregorian calendar, used by Catholic and Protestant churches as well as by much of the secular world.

Rowdy medieval celebrations

Christmas can be traced back to Germany. In the late 19th century, there are accounts of Christmas trees and gift-giving that, according to Smith, later spread to Britain and America, helping to revitalize Christmas on both sides of the Atlantic.

Christmas became further popularized with the publication of “A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens in 1843, and the writings of Washington Irving, who was a fan of St. Nicholas and helped popularize the celebration of Christmas in America.

The first Rockefeller Center Christmas tree was put up by workers in 1931 to raise spirits during the Great Depression.

The tradition stuck as the first tree-lighting ceremony was held in 1933 and remains one of New York City’s most popular holiday attractions.

For centuries, especially during the Middle Ages, Christmas was associated with rowdy street celebrations of feasting and drinking, and for many Christians, it “was not in good standing as a holiday,” said Thomas Ruys Smith, a professor of American literature and culture at the University of East Anglia in England.

“Puritans,” he said, “were not fond of Christmas.”

But in the 19th century, he said, Christmas became “respectable” with “the domestic celebration that we understand today — one centered around the home, the family, children, gift-giving.”

The roots of modern-day

St. Nicholas was a fourth-century Christian bishop from the Mediterranean port city of Myra (in modern-day Turkey). His acts of generosity inspired the secular Santa Claus legend.

The legends surrounding jolly old St. Nicholas — celebrated annually on Dec. 6 — go way beyond delivering candy and toys to children. He is believed to have interceded on behalf of wrongly condemned prisoners and miraculously saved sailors from storms.

its fair share of challenges. Most recently, financial troubles in the city’s government have meant higher utility prices for residents.

The city has been investing to try to revitalize its downtown, but progress has been slow. Long stretches of empty storefronts that once contained restaurants, furniture shops and drug stores line the streets.

Most stores were closed Thursday morning, and not much foot traffic roamed the area.

That’s left Lucy Slep, who coowns The Miner’s Emporium jewelry store with her husband, waiting for Trump’s promised “Golden Age of America.”

The jewelry store has been in downtown Rocky Mount for nearly four decades, just about as long as the 64-year-old said

she has lived in the area. But the deterioration of downtown Rocky Mount has spanned at least a decade, and Slep said she’s still hoping it will come back to life.

“Every downtown in every little town is beautiful,” she said. “But without the businesses, it’s dead.”

Slep’s store hasn’t escaped the challenges other Rocky Mount small businesses have endured. Instead of buying, more people have recently been selling their jewelry to the shop, Slep said.

Customers have been scarce.

About a week out from Christmas, the store — with handmade molded walls and ceilings resembling cave walls — sat empty aside from the rows of glass cases containing jewelry.

America’s secular Santa inspired by Christian saint

Devotion to St. Nicholas spread during the Middle Ages across Europe and he became a favorite subject for medieval artists and liturgical plays. He is the patron saint of sailors and children, as well as of Greece, Russia and New York.

Devotion to St. Nicholas seems to have faded after the 16th century Protestant Reformation, except in the Netherlands, where his legend remained as Sinterklaas. In the 17th century, Dutch Protestants who settled in New York brought the Sinterklaas tradition with them.

Eventually, St. Nicholas morphed into the secular Santa Claus.

Not just Santa who delivers gifts In the U.K., it’s Father Christmas; in Greece and Cyprus, St. Basil (who arrives on New Year’s Eve). In some parts of Italy, it’s St. Lucy (earlier in December) and in other Italian regions, Befana, a witch-like figure, who brings presents on the Epiphany on Jan. 6.

Instead of a friendly Santa Claus, children in Iceland enjoy favors from 13 mischievous troll brothers, called the Yule Lads. They come down from their mountain cave 13 days before Christmas, according to folklore.

Christian traditions of Christmas One of the oldest traditions around Christmas is bringing greenery — holly, ivy or evergreen trees — into homes.

But determining whether it’s a Christian tradition is harder.

“For many people, the evergreen can symbolize Christ’s promise of eternal life and his return from death,” Smith said. “So, you can interpret that evergreen tradition within the Christian concept.”

The decorating of evergreen trees is a German custom that began in the 16th century, said Maria Kennedy, a professor at Rutgers University—New Brunswick’s Department of American

Studies. It was later popularized in England and America.

“Mistletoe, an evergreen shrub, was used in celebrations dating back to the ancient Druids — Celtic religious leaders — some 2,000 years ago,” Kennedy writes in The Surprising History of Christmas Traditions.

“Mistletoe represented immortality because it continued to grow in the darkest time of the year and bore white berries when everything else had died.”

Other traditions include Christmas services and Nativity scenes at homes and churches.

More recently, Nativity scenes — when erected on public property in the U.S. — have triggered legal battles over the question of the separation of church and state.

Christmas caroling, Kennedy writes, can also be traced back to European traditions, where people would go from home to home during the darkest time of the year to renew relationships within their communities and give wishes for good luck, health and wealth for the forthcoming year.

“They would recite poetry, sing and sometimes perform a skit. The idea was that these acts would bring about good fortune to influence a future harvest,” Kennedy writes.

Kentucky Fried Chicken for Christmas in Japan Among the many Christmas traditions that have been adopted and localized globally, there’s one that involves KFC. In 1974, KFC launched a Christmas campaign where they began to sell fried chicken with a bottle of wine so it could be used for a Christmas party.

KFC says the idea for the campaign came from an employee who overheard a foreign customer at one of its Tokyo restaurants saying that since he couldn’t get turkey in Japan, he’d have to celebrate Christmas with Kentucky Fried Chicken.

“That really stuck,” Smith said.

“And still today, you have to order your KFC months in advance to make sure that you’re going to get it at Christmas Day.”

It’s been hard, Slep said, but she and her husband are trying to make it through.

“This year is just not a jewelry Christmas, for whatever reason,” she said.

Better times on the horizon — depending on whom you ask Slep is already looking ahead to next year for better times.

She is confident that Trump’s economic policies — including upcoming tax cuts — will make a marked difference in people’s cost of living. In her eyes, the financial strains people are feeling are residual effects from the Biden administration that eventually will fade.

Optimism about what’s to come under Trump’s economy

might also depend on whether residents feel their economic conditions have changed drastically in the past year.

Shiva Mrain, an engineer in Rocky Mount, said his family’s situation has not “become worse nor better.” He’s been encouraged by seeing lower gas prices.

Bryant, the engine technician, feels a bit more disillusioned. She didn’t vote in the last election because she didn’t think either party could enact changes that would improve her life. Nearly a year into the Trump administration, Bryant is still waiting to see whether the president will deliver.

“I can’t really say ... that change is coming,” she said. “I don’t think anything is going to change.”

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9/7/22 3:42 PM 9/7/22 3:42 PM

HOKE SPORTS

DON FERIA / AP IMAGES FOR WWE

Hulk Hogan speaks at his WWE Hall of Fame Ceremony in 2015.

Sports greats we lost in 2025 Hulk Hogan, George Foreman and Rodney Rogers were among the losses to the sports world The Associated Press THIS YEAR SAW the deaths of several spots greats who crossed over into mainstream appeal. Even the most casual sports fan has heard of boxing great George Foreman, who memorably lost a muchwatched match to Muhammad Ali but whose career had inspiring second and third acts as a world champion and successful business owner.

Similarly, baseball player turned comic actor Bob Uecker was known and beloved by all.

After a Wrestlemania cameo, Uecker was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame, joining one of sports-entertainment’s biggest names, Hulk Hogan, who also left us this year.

Here is a roll call of some influential figures who have died this year (cause of death cited, if available): JANUARY Bob Uecker, 90. He parlayed a forgettable playing career into a punch line for movie and TV appearances as “Mr. Baseball” and a Hall of Fame broadcasting tenure.

Jan. 16.

Dick Button, 95. He was one of the most accomplished men’s figure skaters in histo-

ry, and one of his sport’s great innovators and promoters.

Jan. 30.

FEBRUARY Kultida Woods, 80. Tiger Woods credited his Thai-born mother with instilling his dominant spirit and encouraging him to wear red shirts on Sundays as his power color. Feb. 4.

Mabel Staton, 92. The Black track and field standout broke through barriers as the only woman to compete for the United States in the long jump at the 1952 Helsinki Olympics.

Feb. 20.

Joe Fusco, 87. A College Football Hall of Fame coach, he won four NAIA Division II national championships in 19 years

ACC’s shift to football scheduling model will have 12 of 17 teams playing 9 league games in 2026 Uneven league schedules aren’t a new thing for the ACC

By Aaron Beard The Associated Press THE ATLANTIC COAST Conference’s transition to a ninegame football schedule will feature 12 of 17 football-playing

members playing nine games next fall while the remaining five stay at eight.

The league announced details of the new model Tuesday, including the league matchups for each school. Next year will operate as a bridge to accommodate conference games already on the books, with the plan to have 16 of 17 teams playing nine football games regularly by 2027.

Reigning champion Duke will join California, Louisville, Miami, N.C. State, Pittsburgh, SMU, Stanford, Syracuse, Virginia, Virginia Tech and Wake Forest in playing nine league games for the 2026 season. That leaves Boston College, Clemson, Florida State, Georgia Tech and North Carolina to play eight.

See ACC, page B2

at Westminster College. Feb. 22.

Boris Spassky, 88. A Soviet-era world chess champion, he lost his title to American Bobby Fischer in a legendary 1972 match. Feb. 27.

MARCH Junior Bridgeman, 71. A basketball standout who led Louisville to a Final Four, he starred for the NBA’s Milwaukee Bucks and then launched an even more successful career as a business owner. March 11.

Eddie Jordan, 76. He was a Formula 1 team owner and media personality and popular TV pundit after selling the team.

March 20.

George Foreman, 76. The fearsome heavyweight boxer

lost the “Rumble in the Jungle” to Muhammad Ali before his inspiring second and third acts as a 45-year-old world champion and a successful business owner. March 21.

APRIL Octavio Dotel, 51. He pitched for 13 major league teams in a 15-year career and won a World Series with the St. Louis Cardinals, and died in a roof collapse in the Dominican Republic. April 8.

Steve McMichael, 67.

A star defensive tackle on the Chicago Bears’ 1985 Super Bowl championship team whose larger-than-life personality later made him a natural for professional wrestling.

He died after battling ALS. April 23.

Dick Barnett, 88. A basketball Hall of Famer, he played See GREATS, page B2

B2

North State Journal for Thursday, December 25, 2025

ACC from page B1 The league in September announced plans to have a ninegame slate, aligning with power-conference peers in the Big 12, Big Ten and Southeastern conferences. That came after debates and disagreement about the impact of unbalanced scheduling and access to the 12-team College Football Playoff.

The ACC is the only one of those leagues with an odd number of football members, creating a variable that will mean one team will play only eight games once the scheduling model is fully implemented in 2027.

ACC teams regularly played a different number of conference games in the early days of the league. Teams played as few as three ACC games and as many as seven from 1953 to 1956, and the league was split between teams playing six and seven-game league schedules for much of the next two decades. The first sea-

20

Seasons before all ACC teams played the same number of league games

JACOB KUPFERMAN / AP PHOTO

ACC commissioner Jim Phillips (suit and tie) prepares to present Duke players with the ACC football championship trophy. son that every ACC team played the same number of conference games was 1972, the league’s 20th year of existence.

The ACC’s new schedule is de-

signed to have teams play a total of 10 games against Power Four opponents as a baseline in a so-called 9+1 model. The rotating team playing an eight-game

league slate would aim to play an 8+2 model to meet that 10-game target.

The question as to how an eight-game league record might compare with a nine-game record is unclear.

The ACC used winning percentage during the COVID-19 pandemic in multiple sports with teams playing unequal totals of games because of numerous cancellations, but Commissioner Jim Phillips said publicly last week that the league is examining its football tiebreaker process for the ACC championship game.

ACC officials said Tuesday an up-

GREATS from page B1

to become one of the most popular fighters in the sport had mental health struggles and was found dead due to hanging. Sept. 14.

Bernie Parent, 80. Considered one of the greatest hockey goalies, the Hall of Famer anchored the net for the Philadelphia Flyers’ two Stanley Cup championships in the 1970s.

Sept. 21.

on both New York Knicks NBA championship teams. April 27.

JUNE Shigeo Nagashima, 89. He was known in Japan as “Mr. Pro Baseball.” June 3.

Jim Marshall, 87. The former Minnesota Vikings defensive end was one of four members of the famed Purple People Eaters. June 3.

Nina Kuscsik, 86. She campaigned for women’s inclusion in long-distance running and then won the Boston Marathon the first year women were officially allowed to run. June 8.

D. Wayne Lukas, 89. The Hall of Famer became one of horse racing’s most accomplished trainers. June 28.

OCTOBER Daniel Naroditsky, 29. The chess grandmaster who started as a child prodigy quickly became one of the most influential American voices in the sport. Oct. 20.

Nick Mangold, 41. As a New York Jets center he was one of the franchise’s greatest players, twice helping lead the team to the AFC championship game. He died of complications of kidney disease. Oct. 25.

JULY Alex Delvecchio, 93. A member of the Hockey Hall of Fame, he helped the Detroit Red Wings win three Stanley Cups in the 1950s. July 1.

Fauja Singh, 114. An Indian-born runner nicknamed the Turbaned Torpedo, believed to be the world’s oldest marathoner, died after being hit by a car.

July 14.

Felix Baumgartner, 56.

The extreme athlete stunned the world in 2012 by skydiving faster than the speed of sound during a 24-mile leap from the stratosphere. He died in a paragliding crash.

July 17.

Rex White, 95. NASCAR’s oldest living champion and a 2015 inductee into its Hall of Fame. July 18.

Joey Jones, 70. The Welsh soccer hero won two European Cups with Liverpool and was dubbed “Mr. Wrexham.”

July 22.

Hulk Hogan, 71. The mustachioed, headscarf-wearing, bicep-busting icon of professional wrestling turned the

dated tiebreaker policy will be announced sometime before the 2026 season.

The current policy came under scrutiny when five-loss Duke won a five-team tiebreaker — which included now-No. 10 and CFP-bound Miami — to reach the title game and ultimately beat No. 20 Virginia earlier this month for its first outright ACC title since 1962.

The ACC had used an eightgame football schedule since Florida State’s arrival for the 1992 season, the outlier being a 10-game schedule in 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic. That included Notre Dame giving up its cherished independent status for one year and playing a full ACC schedule.

The Fighting Irish, a member of all other league sports, typically play four to six football games per year against ACC schools.

Those games would fit into the nonconference column in the 9+1 or 8+2 scheduling models.

NOVEMBER CHARLES REX ARBOGAST / AP PHOTO

Heavyweight boxer George Foreman weighs in for a 1997 fight. After winning a world title in the 1970s, he repeated the feat in the 1990s, then became a well-known grill pitchman.

Former Wake Forest star and a 12-year NBA player Rodney Rogers watches a Demon Deacons game.

CHUCK BURTON / AP PHOTO

sport into a massive business and stretched his influence into TV, pop culture and conservative politics during a long

and scandal-plagued second act. July 24.

Dwight Muhammad Qawi, 72. The Hall of Fame fighter

took up boxing in prison and became a two-weight world champion. July 25.

Ryne Sandberg, 65. The Hall of Fame second baseman starred for the Chicago Cubs.

July 28.

AUGUST Humpy Wheeler, 86. He was a pioneering motorsports promoter as president and general manager of Charlotte Motor Speedway. Aug. 20.

Ron Turcotte, 84. The Hall of Fame jockey rode Secretariat to the Triple Crown in 1973.

Aug. 22.

SEPTEMBER Ricky Hatton, 46. The former boxing world champion who rose

Paul Tagliabue, 84. He helped bring labor peace and riches to the NFL during his 17 years as commissioner but was criticized for not taking stronger action on concussions. Nov. 9.

Lenny Wilkens, 88. Basketball Hall of Famer as both an NBA player and a coach. Nov. 9.

Rodney Rogers, 54. Legendary Wake Forest basketball star played 12 years in the NBA. A post-retirement ATV injury left him paralyzed from the shoulders down since 2008.

Nov. 21 Fuzzy Zoeller, 74. One of golf’s most gregarious characters, the two-time major champion’s career was tainted by a racially insensitive joke about Tiger Woods. Nov. 27.

DECEMBER Greg Biffle, 55. The NASCAR driver and members of his family perished in a private plane crash in North Carolina.

Dec. 18.

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North State Journal for Thursday, December 25, 2025

obituaries

Paul Joseph Dattari, 78, passed away in his home in Raeford, North Carolina, on the 14th of December, 2025, surrounded by his family that he loved so dearly.

Paul was born in Yonkers, Westchester County, New York, the son of Paul Philip Dattari and Gertrude Edna Dattari. Paul Dattari lived his life in service with prison ministry, church groups, and serving his beloved country in the Vietnam War. Devoted to his grandchildren

and his dear Yankees, and a true music lover, Paul was a real estate novelist who spent most of his career as a real estate title searcher. A poet and a published author, Paul was known for always making people feel seen, heard, and loved. Paul loved going to church and had an extraordinarily close relationship with God. His second home was Rockfish Church in Raeford.

Paul is survived by his daughter, Katrina Macy, son-in-law, Brad Macy, and grandchildren Julianna and Jaxon; his brother Bernard Dattari; and his sister Marie Dattari Ryan, with many nephews and nieces, as well as many close friends. Predeceased by his brother, Norman Dattari.

A visitation will be held from 10:30 a.m. to noon on Saturday, December 20th, 2025, at RockFish Church, 9949 Fayetteville Rd, Raeford, NC 28376.

A memorial service will follow at noon with military honors.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Independence Fund in Paul’s memory at independencefund. org

Lavette Tew

Celebrate the life of your loved ones. Submit obituaries and death notices to be published in NSJ at

Paul Joseph Dattari Sept. 16, 1947 – Dec.14, 2025

Aug. 31, 1974 – Dec.16, 2025 Mrs. Lavette Tew, age 51 went home to be with her Heavenly Father on Tuesday, December 16, 2025.

The Celebration of Life will be held on Tuesday, December 23, 2025, at 2 p.m. at Silver Grove Immanuel Missionary Baptist Church.

Lavette will be greatly missed.

obits@ northstatejournal.com

Gil Gerard, actor who starred in ‘Buck Rogers, dead at 82 The iconic show ran on NBC from 1979 to 1981

Actor Gil Gerard poses in Los Angeles in 1990.

The Associated Press GIL GERARD, who played television’s hunky sci-fi hero William “Buck” Rogers soon after the Star Wars franchise took hold in the late 1970s, has died. He was 82.

Gerard died Tuesday in hospice as a result of a rare, aggressive form of cancer, said his manager, Tina Presley Borek.

His wife, Janet Gerard, posted a posthumous Facebook message he left behind for fans that read in part: “Don’t waste your time on anything that doesn’t thrill you or bring you love. See you out somewhere in the cosmos.”

Gerard starred in NBC’s campy “Buck Rogers in the 25th Century,” which ran for two seasons from 1979 to 1981.

A theatrical film based on the series also delighted youngsters and their parents alike.

It was Rogers’ second turn on TV after a show in the 1950s, a radio series and a 1939 film serial.

The story was based on Philip Francis Nowlan’s serialized 1928 pulp novella “Armageddon 2419 A.D.” Nowlan’s character was named Anthony Rogers. The name was changed when the story began running in newspapers as a comic strip.

“My life has been an amazing journey,” Gerard wrote in his social media post. “The opportunities I’ve had, the people I’ve met and the love I have given and received have made my 82 years on the planet deeply satisfying.”

As the TV story goes, Rogers was a 20th century NASA pilot who was placed in frozen animation when his ship was hit by a meteor storm.

REED SAXON / AP PHOTO

He pops awake 500 years later in the year 2491. He gazes upon a futuristic, domed Earth with all its threats, including aliens, space pilots and the evil Draconians.

He had helpers: The robot sidekick Twiki and a beautiful space pilot Wilma Deering, played by Erin Gray.

A native of Little Rock, Arkansas, Gerard worked steadily in TV commercials. He was featured in a number of other TV shows and movies, including starring roles in the 1982 TV movie “Hear No Evil” as Dragon and the short-lived “Sidekicks” in 1986.

In 1992, he hosted the reality series “Code 3,” following firefighters responding to emergency calls around the U.S. There were many guest appearances in the 1990s, including on “Days of Our Lives.”

Gerard and Gray were together again in 2007 for the TV film “Nuclear Hurricane.” They also returned to the Buck Rogers universe as Rogers’ parents in the pilot episode of James Cawley’s “Buck Rogers Begins” internet video series in 2009.

Gerard spoke openly about addictions to drugs, alcohol and compulsive overeating.

He was the subject of a onehour documentary, “Action Hero Makeover,” in 2007 after his weight ballooned to 350 pounds.

Done by Adrienne Crow, then a longtime companion, for the Discovery Health Channel, the film documented his progress after gastric bypass surgery.

Gerard was married and divorced four times before Janet. He had a son, actor Gilbert Vincent Gerard, with model and actor Connie Sellecca.

Their divorce included a bitter custody battle for “Gib,” who was born in 1981. Sellecca was granted main custody.

“My journey has taken me from Arkansas to New York to Los Angeles, and finally, to my home in North Georgia with my amazing wife, Janet, of 18 years,” Gerard wrote in the post put on Facebook after his death.

“It’s been a great ride, but inevitably one that comes to a close as mine has.”

NASCAR mourns loss of Greg Biffle, family He died last week in a Statesville plane crash

By Jenna Fryer The Associated Press CHARLOTTE — Greg Biffle was picked by NASCAR as one of its top 75 drivers in history. He was a Hall of Fame nominee for the stock car series and he drove for 18 years at the top of the sport.

Yet for all the races and the handful of memorable wins, he is perhaps best remembered for his selfless and tireless work helping others as a helicopter pilot supplying aid a year ago in the devastation left behind by Hurricane Helene.

Biffle loved flying and he was in the air again last Thursday, aboard a small jet that crashed at the Statesville airport north of Charlotte, authorities said.

He was among seven people killed, including his wife and two children. He was 55.

“This tragedy has left all of our families heartbroken beyond words,” said a joint statement released on behalf of the victims. “Greg and Cristina were devoted parents and active philanthropists whose lives were centered around their young son Ryder and Greg’s daughter Emma. Emma was a wonderful human being with a kind soul who was loved by many people. Ryder was an active, curious and infinitely joyful child.”

The statement identified the others on board as Dennis Dutton, his son, Jack. and Craig Wadsworth, all “beloved by many in the NASCAR community.”

“Each of them meant everything to us, and their absence

BRYNN ANDERSON / AP PHOTO

NASCAR driver Greg Biffle holds his daughter, Emma Elizabeth, during driver introductions at Talladega Superspeedway in 2016. leaves an immeasurable void in our lives,” the statement said.

Biffle won championships in both the lower-tier national Truck and Xfinity Series — the first driver to do so — and spent almost his entire career driving for Roush Fenway Racing, headquartered about 40 miles south of the crash site.

“I have lost a dear friend and partner in our NASCAR program,” team owner Jack Roush said on social media. “His contributions to our race team over the years are immeasurable.”

Anguish swept across the closely-knit auto racing community, from drivers to team owners like Chip Ganassi.

North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein singled out Biffle for his “courage and compassion” and for helping the hurricane victims.

So did NASCAR. “Greg was more than a champion driver, he was a beloved member of the NASCAR community, a fierce competitor, and

a friend to so many,” the series said. “Beyond his racing career, he gave of himself for the betterment of our community. Most notably, Greg spent countless hours of his time helping the citizens of North Carolina during the disasters that followed Hurricane Helene. His tireless work saved lives.”

A native of Vancouver, Washington, Biffle made more than 800 starts across NASCAR’s three series and won the Truck Series title in 2000 and the Xfinity title in 2002. In all, he won 54 races across NASCAR’s three national circuits, including 19 at the top Cup Series level. He finished second in the championship standings to Tony Stewart in 2005, his best season, and three years later become the first driver to win two playoff races in a single year.

Biffle made his Cup debut in 2002. He earned his slot with Roush through its old “Gong Show” method of picking driv-

ers in which candidates would go head to head trying to earn a job with one of the top teams in NASCAR. He transitioned into semiretirement in 2016 but returned in 2022 to run five races, including the Daytona 500. He was 52 at the time.

“I had such tremendous respect for Greg as a driver, and we shared countless tough battles on the track,” retired Hall of Fame driver Jeff Gordon wrote on social media. “Like so many others, I was inspired by his tireless relief work during Hurricane Helene. My heart goes out to the Biffle family and everyone hurting.”

Piloting was a deep love, and Biffle’s YouTube channel and social accounts were filled with joyful outings with friends and family. In 2024, Biffle won the National Motorsports Press Association’s Myers Brothers Award for his humanitarian aid efforts in the wake of Helene.

Biffle piloted his personal helicopter to deliver supplies and aid to hard-hit communities in Western North Carolina and East Tennessee.

During one of his trips to the mountains, a trapped man signaled Biffle for help with a mirror. After multiple attempts, Biffle was able to land his helicopter and provide supplies to the man and his neighbors.

He returned this year to check in.

“I had no idea at that point in time how devastating this storm was,” Biffle explained later. “What started out to be rescuing one family … turned into 4,000 messages. … It went viral.”

One of his partners in the effort was friend Garrett Mitchell, a YouTuber and race car

driver known as Cleetus McFarland. Mitchell said the Biffle family was on its way to spend last Thursday afternoon with him in Florida.

“We are devastated,” Mitchell wrote on Facebook.

So was U.S. Rep. Richard Hudson of North Carolina.

“The Biffles flew hundreds of rescue missions in Western North Carolina after Hurricane Helene,” Hudson wrote on social media. “The last time I spoke with Cristina, just a couple of weeks ago, she reached out to ask how she could help with relief efforts in Jamaica.

That’s who the Biffles were.”

Roush, the team owner, was involved in several plane crashes during his years as a pilot and nearly died in a 2002 crash in which he landed upside down in a lake near Talladega Superspeedway in Alabama.

Larry Hicks, a retired member of the U.S. Marine Corps, rescued Roush from the overturned wreckage before Roush drowned.

Many of his former drivers have gone on to achieve their pilot’s licenses, including Carl Edwards, Matt Kenseth and Mark Martin, all Hall of Fame drivers.

Biffle spent his years in retirement fabricating cars in his shop, running a quarry in Virginia and keeping up with his two children. Less than a week ago, Biffle posted a video of his family — 14-year-old daughter Emma, 5-year-old son Ryder and wife Cristina — picking out a Christmas tree on an outing that included a trip for ice cream.

“It’s been a successful day,” Biffle said. “Now it’s time to get the decorations out and get her going.”

B4

North State Journal for Thursday, December 25, 2025

STATE & NATION

Kennedy Center board adds Trump’s name to building Some say the law forbids such a name change

By Darlene Superville The Associated Press WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Kennedy Center last Friday quickly added Donald Trump’s name to the performing arts center Congress designated as a living memorial to John F. Kennedy, a day after the center’s board of trustees voted to make the change.

Blue tarps were hung in front of the building to obscure workers on scaffolding as they executed the transformation.

Hours later it had a new name: The Donald J. Trump and The John F. Kennedy Memorial

Center for the Performing Arts.

The board of trustees, handpicked by Trump, voted unanimously Thursday to add his name to what was enshrined as a living memorial to the Democratic president. Trump, a Republican, also is the board’s chairman. The Kennedy Center said the vote recognized Trump’s work to revitalize the institution.

Critics of the vote, including Democratic members of Congress who are ex-officio board members, as well as some historians, insist that only Congress can change the name.

“The Kennedy Center was named by law. To change the name would require a revision of that 1964 law,” Ray Smock, a former House historian, said in

an email. “The Kennedy Center board is not a lawmaking entity. Congress makes laws.”

Congress named the performing arts center as a living memorial to Kennedy in 1964, the year after he was assassinated. The law explicitly prohibits the board of trustees from making the center into a memorial to anyone else, and from putting another person’s name on the building’s exterior.

Some Kennedy family members oppose the renaming. Kerry Kennedy, a niece of John F. Kennedy, said in a social post on X that she will remove Trump’s name herself when his term ends.

“Three years and one month from today, I’m going to grab a pickax and pull those letters

JACQUELYN MARTIN / AP PHOTO

New signage, The Donald J. Trump and The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts, is unveiled on the Kennedy Center last Friday in Washington, D.C.

off that building, but I’m going to need help holding the ladder. Are you in?” she wrote on a photo of the center’s new name.

“Applying for my carpenter’s card today, so it’ll be a union job!!!”

The Kennedy Center is the

How surveillance tech, ‘Reddit Detective Agency’ helped search for Brown U. killer Some social media users are more useful than others

By Matt O’Brien The Associated Press PROVIDENCE, R.I. — More than a decade ago, a frenzied 5-day search for the Boston Marathon bombers left some lessons in its aftermath.

One was that increasingly pervasive surveillance technology could help catch the culprits.

Another was that amateur online sleuths on Reddit could not.

But the intense search this week for a suspect in a Brown University shooting that killed two students and wounded nine other people turned the tables on those expectations.

Sweeping surveillance, now found in doorbells, cars and a vast network of vehicle-tracking cameras, did eventually help track down the whereabouts of Claudio Neves Valente, the 48-year-old former Brown graduate student investigators believe was responsible for the Dec. 13 shooting and another killing two days later of an MIT professor in Brookline, Massachusetts.

But the latest artificial intelligence-powered surveillance was of little use in the early search for a gunman who walked away from the Brown campus after the shooting and slipped unnoticed into the surrounding neighborhoods of Providence, Rhode Island. He evaded detection for days, using a hardto-trace phone, avoiding facial recognition software by obscuring his face with a medical-type mask and switching the license plates on his rental cars.

It wasn’t until a local Reddit

user “blew this case right open” with an old-fashioned tip first posted on the social media platform that police were able to connect a car to Neves Valente, said Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha. They finally found the suspect dead Thursday in Salem, New Hampshire, days after he likely killed himself.

The Reddit tipster known only as John is “no less than a hero,” Providence Mayor Brett Smiley wrote Friday to FBI Director Kash Patel, asking for John to get the entirety of the FBI’s $50,000 reward for information leading investigators to the suspect.

Strangers have invited him to Christmas dinner and suggested he get a “key to the city and free coffee and doughnuts for life,” according to fellow contributors to Reddit’s Providence forum.

It was a stark turn from 2013 when commentators on Reddit and other online discussion boards falsely smeared a Brown University student as a potential suspect in the deadly attack at Boston’s famed marathon, just an hour north of Providence, because of a supposed resemblance to a grainy suspect image.

“Hey Reddit, enough Boston bombing vigilantism,” declared a headline in The Atlantic at the time.

“It definitely went sideways in the Boston Marathon situation,” said Liza Potts, a professor at Michigan State University and director of a digital humanities lab that studied the online response. “That’s why folks will jokingly refer to the ‘Reddit Detective Agency’ or the ‘Reddit Bureau of Investigations.’”

The mistaken connection between the 2013 bombers and a missing Brown student — who was later found dead of an

“Of all the spaces that I study, Reddit seems to be getting it right more than not.”

Liza Potts, Michigan State professor apparent suicide — is still remembered by many at the Ivy League school and its surrounding community.

Brown officials this week sought to swiftly tamp down another smear campaign circulating on X and other social media platforms falsely tying a current Brown student to the campus shooting because of his ethnicity, perceived political views and supposed resemblance to a police video of a person of interest. The “unimaginable nightmare” of false accusations led to “non-stop death threats and hate speech,” the student said in a statement.

Frustrated that tip lines could be jammed with nonsense, U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, a Rhode Island Democrat and former state attorney general, urged social media speculators to “just shut up.”

“There is simply no need from an investigative point of view for people who have no idea what they’re talking about to offer their stupid and ill-informed views about what happened all over the internet,” Whitehouse said from Congress on Wednesday.

But Potts said some social media has been working better than others, and “of all the spaces that I study, Reddit seems to be getting it right more than not.”

Harmful accusations were

largely absent from Reddit’s Providence forum, in part because volunteer moderators who manage Reddit’s subject matter forums — known as subreddits — are largely responsible for keeping the peace.

Reddit’s chief moderator for the Providence subreddit said in an interview that he’s been on the platform for about 15 years and remembers the trauma that false Boston Marathon report caused.

“The Providence subreddit is very sensitive about (not) trying to go on a witch hunt or the mob mentality,” he said, speaking on condition of anonymity to avoid doxing and because of the platform’s culture of anonymity.

The Associated Press also reached out to the tipster on Tuesday, a day after he wrote on Reddit urging police to look into a Nissan sedan with Florida license plates. Fellow Redditors urged him to contact the FBI, and he said he did.

He didn’t respond to requests for comment and later posted that he doesn’t plan to talk with media. When he finally met with police on Wednesday — after approaching them on the street and identifying himself as the Reddit tipster — his information gave new life to a stalled investigation.

With a known vehicle, Providence police started looking through the footage from dozens of AI-powered cameras positioned around the city that can read license plates as well as other identifying details about a car, such as make, color, side damage or even bird droppings on the window.

The cameras, run by surveillance company Flock Safety, spotted his vehicle at least 14 times starting nearly two weeks before the shooting, accord-

latest building in Washington to have Trump’s name added to it. The U.S. Institute of Peace was recently renamed after him.

The Kennedy Center did not respond to an emailed request for comment Friday.

ing to a police affidavit. Providence police could then ask Flock-using police agencies in nearby cities and states to look for the same car, although New Hampshire — because of privacy restrictions on how long they can hold images — doesn’t have any.

It was a breakthrough Flock was happy to boast about, especially as wariness remains in Providence’s immigrant communities about more aggressive federal immigration enforcement. Flock says each of its customers decides when to share camera data, and the city doesn’t share it with federal immigration agents. Some still want more safeguards.

“Once you know what they are, you see them everywhere,” said Madalyn McGunagle, a policy associate at the ACLU of Rhode Island. “People notice because they’re distinct-looking — a solar panel on top with a little oval camera underneath.”

But unlike the residential doorbell cameras that spotted him walking around Providence, had Neves Valente walked by a Flock camera, it wouldn’t have detected him, said Flock Safety CEO Garrett Langley.

“It is a technical impossibility. The camera does not have an ability for a user to search for people,” Langley said in an interview Friday. “Our cameras are focused on vehicles because if you look at America, people drive. It is very hard to get anywhere on foot.”

“For the majority of our cities, they want to just know who is coming in and who is leaving,” he said.

Still, without John the tipster — whom local Redditors dubbed “Reddit Guy” — no one would have known how he left.

“Someone who is in the area and sees stuff all the time, they’re going to be better in a lot of ways than a random camera,” said the Providence subreddit’s moderator. “John saw this guy going back and forth, unlocking his car and all that, and he just thought it was kind of weird.”

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VOLUME 10 ISSUE 44 | THURSDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2025 | MOORE.NORTHSTATEJOURNAL.COM

SUBSCRIBE: 919-663-3232

MOORE COUNTY THE MOORE COUNTY EDITION OF NORTH STATE JOURNAL

ALEX BRANDON / AP PHOTO

President Donald Trump arrives to speak at a campaign event last Friday in Rocky Mount.

WHAT’S HAPPENING Minaj surprises conservatives with praise for Trump, Vance at Arizona event Rapper Nicki Minaj made a surprise appearance at a gathering of conservatives in Arizona. Speaking on stage at Turning Point USA’s AmericaFest convention, the artist praised President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance, calling them “role models” for young men. The rap star was interviewed by Erika Kirk, the widow of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who has since taken over as leader of Turning Point. Kirk asked Minaj about her newly found support for Trump, whom she had condemned in the past.

Minaj’s appearance Sunday at the flagship event for the powerful conservative youth organization may shore up her status as a MAGA acolyte.

“60 Minutes” pulls critical piece on Trump deportation policy Hours before airtime on Sunday, CBS News’ “60 Minutes” held a planned story on President Donald Trump’s deportation policy at the order of the network’s new editor-in-chief, Bari Weiss.

Weiss, the founder of the Free Press website, had sought to get Trump administration perspective included in the story. The move is sure to increase scrutiny on CBS and “60 Minutes,” which Trump sued last fall over an interview with Kamala Harris and has recently complained about stories critical of him.

Weiss said in a statement that holding stories that aren’t ready, because they lack context or are missing critical voices, happen every day in newsrooms.

$2.00

Trump touts economic progress during Rocky Mount visit For many, the promised golden age hasn’t yet arrived

By Makiya Seminera The Associated Press ROCKY MOUNT — She had worked 22 days straight in her job as a technician at an engine plant to save up, and now Daijah Bryant could finally do what she was putting off: Christmas shopping.

Bryant pushed her cart out of a Walmart in Rocky Mount and loaded her sedan’s backseat with bags of gifts. While they would soon bring joy to her friends and family, it was difficult for the 26-year-old to feel good about the purchases.

“Having to pay bills, if you happen to pay rent and try to do Christmas all at the same time, it is very, very hard,” she said with exasperation.

Ahead of President Donald Trump’s Friday evening visit to Rocky Mount, some res-

idents said they were feeling an economic squeeze that seems hard to escape. The uneasy feeling spans political affiliation in the town, which is split between two largely rural and somewhat impoverished counties, although some were more hopeful than others that there are signs of reprieve on the horizon.

It was Trump’s second event this month aimed at championing his economic policies ahead of a consequential midterm election next year, both held in presidential battleground states. Similar to Trump’s earlier stop in Pennsylvania, Rocky Mount sits in a U.S. House district that has been historically competitive.

But earlier this year, the Republican-controlled legislature redrew the boundaries for the eastern North Carolina district to favor their party as part of Trump’s push to have GOP-led states gerrymander their congressional districts to help his party retain its House majori-

“I inherited the mess.

I got the prices down and they are going down still further.”

President Donald Trump ty for the last half of his term.

Rocky Mount may be in a politically advantageous location, but the hardships its residents report mirror the tightening financial strains many Americans say they are feeling, with high prices for groceries, housing and utilities among their top concerns. Polls show persistently high prices have put Americans in a grumpy mood about the state of the economy, which a large majority say is performing poorly.

Trump has insisted the economy is trending upward and the country will see some relief in the new year and beyond. In some cases, he has dis-

missed affordability concerns and encouraged Americans to decrease their consumption.

In his Friday night speech, he leaned into a persistent refrain: Democratic President Joe Biden alone was to blame for any economic distress Americans may be feeling, but things are getting better under his watch.

He boasted that steps he’s taken — including generating billions of dollars of revenue through tariffs, pressing pharmaceutical giants to slash the prices of some medicines, and a so-called $1776 “warrior dividend” for U.S. troops that is being paid through a provision in a tax cut extensions and expansions bill he signed into law in July—will have real impact on American’s pocketbooks.

“I inherited the mess. I got the prices down and they are going down still further,” Trump said. He added, “Over the past 11 months, we have See TRUMP, page A2

Retired NASCAR driver Greg Biffle, family among 7 killed in Statesville plane crash Investigators are trying to determine what happened

By Gary D. Robertson and Josh Funk The Associated Press STATESVILLE — Federal investigators are trying to figure out why a business jet carrying retired NASCAR driver Greg Biffle and six others tried to return to Statesville Regional Airport just after takeoff but plowed into light poles and a tree line short of the runway, killing everyone on board.

The Cessna C550 erupted into a large fire when it hit the ground last Thursday morning, about a third of a mile from the airport’s runway. They also don’t know who the was the lead pilot. Biffle was one of

three people on board with a pilot’s license.

The jet had departed Statesville, about 45 miles north of Charlotte, 10 minutes earlier, but crashed while trying to return and land, authorities said.

Flight records indicate the plane was registered to a company run by Biffle. Investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board began examining the wreckage last Friday to help determine the cause of the crash and why the plane had returned to the airport in drizzle and cloudy conditions.

Investigators recovered the cockpit voice recorder, which could provide important clues about what happened. They were not aware of any emergency calls from the jet, NTSB member Michael Graham said at a Friday news conference.

“One thing is certain: They were low. They were too low to make a safe landing on that runway.”

Former NTSB and FAA crash investigator Jeff Guzzetti There were three pilots on board. Federal Aviation Administration records show Biffle was rated to fly helicopters, and single- and multiengine planes. Also on board was pilot Dennis Dutton, Dutton’s son, Jack — who had a private pilot’s license for single-engine planes — and Biffle’s friend Craig Wadsworth.

Biffle’s wife, Cristina, and children Ryder, 5, and Emma, 14, were also killed in the

crash, the North Carolina State Highway Patrol said.

Cristina Biffle’s mother told People magazine that her daughter sent her a text message saying, “We’re in trouble,” before she didn’t hear from her again.

Federal investigators on Friday didn’t have answers yet about the crew.

Dennis Dutton was licensed and rated to fly this model of plane, but even then, he was supposed to fly with a co-pilot. Even though Biffle was rated to fly a multiengine plane, he wasn’t listed as qualified to fly this particular jet or be a second officer. Dutton’s son, Jack, also had a pilot’s license but was only rated for single-engine planes.

“There is nobody else that See CRASH, page A2

A2 THURSDAY

12.25.25

“Join the conversation” North State Journal (USPS 20451) (ISSN 2471-1365) Trip Hoffend, Publisher Jim Sills, VP of Local Newspapers Cory Lavalette, Senior Editor Jordan Golson, Local News Editor Shawn Krest, Sports Editor Dan Reeves, Features Editor Ryan Henkel, Reporter P.J. Ward-Brown, Photographer BUSINESS David Guy, Advertising Manager Published each Thursday as part of North State Journal 1201 Edwards Mill Rd. Suite 300 Raleigh, NC 27607 TO SUBSCRIBE: 919-663-3232 MOORE.NORTHSTATEJOURNAL.COM Annual Subscription Price: $100.00 Periodicals Postage Paid at Raleigh, NC and at additional mailing offices POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: North State Journal 1201 Edwards Mill Rd. Suite 300 Raleigh, NC 27607

CRIME LOG Dec. 14 • Edgar Bahena Soto, 31, was arrested by Robbins PD for assault with deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury, intoxicated and disruptive and simple affray.

Dec. 16 • Johnny Wendell McLean, 46, was arrested by MCSO for possession of schedule II controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, driving while license revoked after impaired, operating vehicle without insurance, driving without registration and expired/no inspection.

• Timothy Laray McLean, 48, was arrested by MCSO for possession of schedule II controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

• Christopher Edward Puckett, 42, was arrested by MCSO for resisting public officer.

Dec. 18 • Michael Rachee Alston, 35, was arrested by Robbins PD for misdemeanor larceny, shoplifting/concealment of goods and possession of stolen property.

Dec. 20 • Al Britten Germany Sr., 52, was arrested by MCSO for possession of methamphetamine, driving while license revoked, fictitious or altered title/registration/ tag and driving without registration.

• Treyvius Swanye Dejawane Monroe, 24, was arrested by Southern Pines PD for assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill, felony conspiracy and discharge firearm in city.

• Amaya Sade Taylor, 25, was arrested by MCSO for misdemeanor larceny.

Dec. 21 • Dearik Mar’lowe Baldwin, 55, was arrested by Southern Pines PD for possession of methamphetamine, possession of schedule II controlled substance, carrying concealed gun, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of firearm by felon.

North State Journal for Thursday, December 25, 2025

NORAD’s decades-long tradition of tracking Santa’s trip around world continues Reindeer aren’t a threat to our airspace, but they keep an eye anyway

moore

happening Here’s a quick look at what’s coming up in and around Moore County:

Dec. 26

By Colleen Slevin The Associated Press

Movie: “Song Sung Blue”

PETERSON SPACE FORCE BASE, Colo. — Sometimes kids drop the phone after hearing Santa won’t show up if they’re not asleep. Others who call the NORAD Tracks Santa hotline wonder if St. Nick will be able to find them.

Adults who also remain devoted to the jolly figure said to deliver presents around the world are checking up on his journey. For 70 years, that’s been the tradition at the North American Aerospace Defense Command — a joint United States and Canadian operation charged with monitoring the skies for threats since the Cold War. More than 1,000 volunteers will be taking calls to 1-877-HI-NORAD on Christmas Eve from 4 a.m. to midnight Mountain Standard Time. For the first time this year, Santa seekers can place a call through the program’s website, which organizers say will be easier for people outside North America.

The website allows people to follow Santa’s journey in nine languages, including English and Japanese.

Last year, about 380,000 calls came into a hangar festooned with Christmas decorations at Peterson Space Force Base in Colorado Springs — the home of NORAD. While Santa is no threat, the same combination of radar, satellites and jets that help NORAD carry out its mission throughout the year make it capable of tracking the progress of Santa starting from the international date line over the Pacific Ocean, said Col. Kelly Frushour, a NORAD spokesperson.

Rudolph’s nose gives off a heat signature similar to a missile that is picked up by NORAD’s satellites, she said.

1-3 p.m.

“Faster than starlight” Last year, Frushour said one girl was upset after hearing Santa was on his way to the International Space Station, where two astronauts were stranded.

“Thankfully, by the time the call was over, Santa Claus had moved on to another destination and the child was re-

TRUMP from page A1 brought more positive change to Washington than any administration in the history of our country.”

“Without the businesses, it’s dead” Crimson smokestacks tower over parts of downtown Rocky Mount, reminding the town’s roughly 54,000 residents of its roots as a once-booming tobacco market. Through the heart of downtown, graffiti-covered trains still lug along on the railroad tracks that made Rocky Mount a bustling locomotive hotspot in the last century.

Those days seem long gone for some residents who have watched the town change over the decades. Rocky Mount has adapted by tapping into other industries such as manufacturing and biopharmaceuticals, but it’s also had to endure its fair share of challenges.

Most recently, financial troubles in the city’s government have meant higher utility prices for residents.

The city has been investing to try to revitalize its downtown, but progress has been slow. Long stretches of empty storefronts that once contained restaurants, furniture shops and drug stores line the streets. Most stores were

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Sunrise Theater 250 NW Broad St. Southern Pines THOMAS PAUL / NORTH AMERICAN AEROSPACE DEFENSE COMMAND. VIA AP

Volunteers take phone calls from children asking where Santa is and when he will deliver presents to their house during the annual NORAD Tracks Santa Operation at the North American Aerospace Defense Command at Peterson Air Force Base, in Colorado Springs, Colorado, last Christmas Eve.

1,000

Number of volunteers who will be taking calls at 1-877 HI NORAD on Christmas Eve from 4 a.m. to midnight MST assured that Santa was not trapped in space and was going to make it to her house later that evening,” Frushour said.

A special needs man named Henry who calls every year once asked if the jet pilot escorting Santa through North America could put a note in the plane letting Santa know he was in bed and ready for him to come, said Michelle Martin, a NORAD staffer and Marine veteran.

She said she explained that Santa travels “faster than starlight.”

“I don’t know that our pilot can catch up with him fast enough. He just waves and he goes,” she recalled saying.

A tradition started by mistake The tradition started in 1955 when NORAD’s predecessor, the Continental Air Defense Command, was on the lookout for any sign of a possible nuclear attack from the then-Soviet Union. NORAD says a child mistakenly called the combat operations center and asked to speak to Santa Claus. The commander on duty, Air Force

closed Thursday morning, and not much foot traffic roamed the area.

That’s left Lucy Slep, who co-owns The Miner’s Emporium jewelry store with her husband, waiting for Trump’s promised “Golden Age of America.”

The jewelry store has been in downtown Rocky Mount for nearly four decades, just about as long as the 64-yearold said she has lived in the area. But the deterioration of downtown Rocky Mount has spanned at least a decade, and Slep said she’s still hoping it will come back to life.

“Every downtown in every little town is beautiful,” she said. “But without the businesses, it’s dead.”

Slep’s store hasn’t escaped the challenges other Rocky Mount small businesses have endured. Instead of buying, more people have recently been selling their jewelry to the shop, Slep said.

Customers have been scarce. About a week out from Christmas, the store — with handmade molded walls and ceilings resembling cave walls — sat empty aside from the rows of glass cases containing jewelry. It’s been hard, Slep said, but she and her husband are trying to make it through.

“This year is just not a jewelry Christmas, for whatever reason,” she said.

Col. Harry Shoup didn’t want to disappoint the child, so he ordered staffers to start tracking Santa and take calls from children.

The story goes that the first phone call was either the result of a misprint or a misdial of a number included in a Sears advertisement in the Colorado Springs newspaper encouraging children to call Santa.

The legend developed into the first call coming into a dedicated hotline that connected the command with a general in case of an attack.

In 2015, The Atlantic magazine doubted the flood of calls to the secret line, saying a call to a public phone line was more probable and noting that Shoup had a flair for public relations.

In a 1999 interview with The Associated Press, Shoup recalled playing along once he figured out what was happening, telling the first caller, “Ho, ho, ho, I am Santa.”

“The crew was looking at me like I had lost it,” he recalled.

He said he told his staff what was happening and told them to play along, too.

It’s not clear what day the first call came in, but by Dec. 23 of that first year, The Associated Press reported that CONAD was tracking Santa.

CONAD soon became North American Aerospace Defense Command. It used to operate inside nearby Cheyenne Mountain. A network of tunnels had been blasted out of the mountain’s hard granite so NORAD officers could survive a nuclear attack.

Better times on the horizon — depending on whom you ask Slep is already looking ahead to next year for better times. She is confident that Trump’s economic policies — including upcoming tax cuts — will make a marked difference in people’s cost of living. In her eyes, the financial strains people are feeling are residual effects from the Biden administration that eventually will fade.

Optimism about what’s to come under Trump’s economy might also depend on whether residents feel their economic conditions have changed drastically in the past year.

Shiva Mrain, an engineer in Rocky Mount, said his family’s situation has not “become worse nor better.” He’s been encouraged by seeing lower gas prices.

Bryant, the engine technician, feels a bit more disillusioned. She didn’t vote in the last election because she didn’t think either party could enact changes that would improve her life. Nearly a year into the Trump administration, Bryant is still waiting to see whether the president will deliver.

“I can’t really say ... that change is coming,” she said. “I don’t think anything is going to change.”

Dec. 27 Moore County Historical Association: Shaw House and Property Tours 1-4 p.m.

The Moore County Historical Association’s grounds and properties are open for tours on Thursday, Friday and Saturday afternoons. Tours are free and open to all ages.

Enjoy learning about the impressive history of Moore County.

Shaw House 110 Morganton Road Southern Pines

Dec. 31 Southern Pines First Night 8-11:30 p.m.

The family-friendly “The Fairytale Dreamer” offers the opportunity to experience time with animals up close.

Outside, you can put on your headphones for “Silent Disco.”

Sunrise Theater 250 NW Broad St. Southern Pines

Jan. 8 Dementia Caregiver Support Group 1 p.m.

Caregivers receive education and support along with strategies for caring for family members and other loved ones suffering from dementia. The group is led

by Pat Soler and Dale Krech, certified facilitators through the Dementia Alliance of NC. Contact Kelly Pritchard at (910) 715-4224 for more information.

Shadowlawn Room Clara McLean House 20 First Village Drive Pinehurst

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Send us your births, deaths, marriages, graduations and other announcements: moorecommunity@ northstatejournal.com Weekly deadline is Monday at noon

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North State Journal for Thursday, December 25, 2025

THE CONVERSATION Trip Hoffend, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor VISUAL VOICES

COLUMN | SEN. TOMMY TUBERVILLE

Sharia law fuels jihadist terror in Nigeria; is America next?

What’s taking place in Nigeria is a sad example of the dangers of Islam.

OVER THE LAST few months, I’ve been increasingly vocal about the rise of radical Islam in the U.S. As a result, the left has predictably lost their minds — calling me a “racist” and an “Islamophobe.” The truth is I’m an American, and I care about the safety of our country. I’m not afraid of Chuck Schumer calling me names.

What I am afraid of is losing the greatest country on Earth to radical Islam. Look no further than the Thanksgiving shooting of two National Guardsmen in D.C. by a Biden-imported Afghan Islamic terrorist to know that we are under attack.

There’s a lot of good people that come from Middle Eastern countries who go by our laws and assimilate with our culture. But if you come here otherwise, refuse to go by our laws and chant “Death to America,” I have a message for you — we do not want you here. If you’re a peaceful Muslim who has assimilated, now is the time to speak out and condemn these acts of Islamic terrorism.

What’s taking place in Nigeria is a sad example of the dangers of Islam. We are seeing firsthand the poisonous impact that Radical Islam can have on a country when it is allowed to take root.

In the 1990s, Nigerian Christians and Muslims lived in relative harmony. But Muslims began gaining a foothold, and sharia law was soon installed by 12 of Northern Nigeria’s states in the early 2000s. There are now 101 references to sharia law and Islam in the Nigerian Constitution and zero references to Christianity. Now, 35 Christians a day are being murdered in Nigeria for their faith. Unfortunately, this statistic isn’t surprising. Islam openly teaches to “kill all infidels” — which includes Christians.

Since 2002, an estimated 62,000 Christians in Nigeria have been murdered, and 350,000 people have died because of the instability that Radical Islam breeds. In 2024, 70% of all Christians martyred for their faith in the entire world were in Nigeria. Kidnappings in Nigeria are also on the rise because Jihadists use this to extort ransom payments and fund more terrorism.

In November, the world reacted with horror when 315 schoolchildren were kidnapped from a Catholic school in Niger State.

Yet you won’t hear much about any of these tragedies because the mainstream media in America would rather bury their heads in the sand than report the facts. They don’t cover the wholesale slaughter of Christians, and when they do, they claim it’s equal opportunity murder of Christians and Muslims alike.

Thankfully, President Donald Trump recently reclassified Nigeria as a “country of particular concern,” placing a spotlight on persecuted Christians in the country. I also appreciate other members of Congress like Republican Rep. Marlin Stutzman of Indiana and Republican Rep. Riley Moore of West Virginia who have joined me in the fight to end the slaughtering of Christians in Nigeria.

However, there is much more that needs to be done to hold the Nigerian government accountable for the genocide happening right under its nose. I am grateful for organizations like Across Nigeria that are working day and night to bring the killing to an end. I recently heard from Brad Brandon, who serves as CEO of Across Nigeria. He described the horrors of Islam firsthand, and how he has stood at the edge of large graves filled with entire families

and villages of Christian believers. In 2021, a pastor who worked for Brandon’s organization was hacked to death by machetes in his bed. His church, home, and village were set on fire — all because he refused to deny his Christian faith and stop spreading the gospel. It reminds me of some of the disciples in the earliest days of the church who were martyred for their faith rather than denying Jesus Christ.

Unfortunately, this isn’t just a problem overseas. I’ve said it many times and have taken some heat for it, but Islam isn’t a religion, it is a death cult. And this type of poisonous ideology is alive and well in this country, just waiting to attack. Just this week, FBI Director Kash Patel announced they caught several Islamist terrorists who had planned terror attacks for New Year’s Eve in Los Angeles and New Orleans. If we don’t act now, these types of attacks will become commonplace.

That’s why I refuse to be silent about this. Islam is fundamentally opposed to our Constitutional values. These people openly chant “death to America” and would like to see every single freedom-loving American dead. The threat of sharia law becoming a reality in America is not a hypothetical. It’s a real and present danger lurking in our own backyards. Nigeria is an example of what can happen when Radical Islam and sharia law overtake a once prosperous and free nation. Those who practice Radical Islam would love nothing more than to destroy this country. Our freedom is a gift, and I hope that more of our leaders will wake up and defend it before it’s too late.

Sen. Tommy Tuberville represents Alabama in the United States Senate. This column was first published by Daily Caller News Foundation.

COLUMN | KEVIN FRAZIER

Trump AI executive order protects Americans from Tower of Babel approach The problem is that many states have misinterpreted their expansive authority.

THE ANSWER TO two questions will shape the future of AI in the United States: Who gets to write the national rules for AI development?

Who gets to write the rules for how AI is adopted at the state level?

This is not a pop quiz. These are the same questions that we had to answer in the late 1700s with respect to shipping in the late 1800s with respect to the railroads, and in the late 1900s with respect to the Internet. The right answers then, remain the correct answers today.

The executive order on AI announced by President Donald Trump provides a clear answer to the first question: Congress. It’s the right answer given the unequivocal allocation of constitutional authority to Congress to resolve matters that implicate America’s economic and national security.

AI development refers to the training, evaluation and deployment of AI models. In short, it’s the tasks that determine how quickly U.S. companies can continue to push the technological frontier as our adversaries race to do the same. Any pause, delay or diversion to these efforts may have irreversible effects on our ability to economically and militarily keep pace. It’s not hyperbole to stress that America requires a cohesive strategy on this frontier so that our leading AI labs and emerging startups can focus more on AI research, rather than attempting to navigate a patchwork of state AI laws.

The order also answers the second question.

States may dictate who uses AI, for what purposes, and subject to what limitations.

Again, this is the right answer as mandated

by the Constitution and its reservation of extensive police powers to the states. It has long been recognized that it is the duty “of a state to advance the safety, happiness, and prosperity of its people, and to provide for its general welfare.” That’s precisely why the order does not contest the authority of states to enact and enforce laws related to child safety, data centers, state government use of AI and other issues that reflect that important duty.

To use an imperfect analogy, the order acknowledges and welcomes state laws related to speed limits, road designs and driver’s license requirements, so long as they do not interfere with how the engine is designed and distributed.

The problem is that many states have misinterpreted their expansive authority. Some have enacted laws that will impede the ability of other states to look out for the distinct wants and needs of their respective community. As mentioned in the order, states like Colorado want to dictate how AI models respond to certain queries — this akin to messing with the engine of AI. If labs comply, then the rest of America will have to live with what Denver thinks is best.

Other states — namely, California — have enacted laws with the explicit purpose of shielding the rest of the nation from speculative risks. That’s akin to Californians prohibiting Montanans from driving trucks with V8 engines because Californians think they are too powerful. Worse yet, such laws may inhibit the ability of American innovators to move forward on devising new strategies to deploy more capable and reliable AI systems. Congress alone

has the authority to dictate such consequential decisions. Americans are rightfully eager for Congress to use that authority. But impatience must not become acquiesce to efforts by state legislators to step into the shoes of U.S. representatives and senators.

The order’s core provision — the creation of an AI Litigation Task Force — will protect the American people from a Tower of Babel approach to AI development. States may think they’re enacting similar laws with similar provisions related to AI training, but they’re oftentimes speaking different languages — their bills are riddled with contradictory definitions and vague standards.

This task force is overdue but far from an overreach of presidential authority. The order does not grant the U.S. attorney general any new authority nor permit the task force to “neuter” any constitutionally valid state laws, as alleged by The New York Times. Instead, the order is again to the president putting certain questions at the top of the AG’s agenda: specifically, challenging unconstitutional, unlawful or preempted state laws. None of that is new. It has been and always will be the case that state laws that run afoul of the Constitution or otherwise violate the law can and should be challenged. The order merely directs a focus on state AI laws that fall within any of those categories.

State legislators may be forgiven for rushing to regulate AI amid the public’s uncertainty over how the technology will impact our economy, our schools, and our communities. AI’s disruptive effects warrant a national framework and soon. Congress must act. However, as signaled by this executive order, that forgiveness has limits: states that intentionally seek to impose their legislative will on others must be held accountable.

Kevin Frazier is the AI and innovation fellow at the University of Texas School of Law.

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North State Journal for Thursday, December 25, 2025

Everything you need to know about Christmas, including how it’s evolved into global holiday From Father Christmas to nativity scenes, the holiday has different meanings everywhere

By Luis Andres Henao The Associated Press CHRISTMAS is a Christian holiday that observes the birth of Jesus. But did you know that the earliest followers of Jesus did not annually commemorate his birth? Or that Santa Claus is inspired by the acts of kindness of a fourth-century Christian saint? And have you heard about the modern-day Japanese tradition of eating Kentucky Fried Chicken on Christmas?

Since the early 20th century, Christmas has evolved from a religious holiday to a hugely popular cultural holiday observed by Christian and secular people across the globe who gather with families, exchange gifts and cards and decorate Christmas trees.

Here’s a look at the history, beliefs and the evolution of Christmas.

Origins, early history of Christmas Early followers of Jesus did not annually commemorate his birth but instead focused on commemorating their belief in his resurrection at Easter.

The story of the birth of Jesus appears only in two of the four Gospels of the New Testament: Matthew and Luke.

They provide different details, though both say Jesus was born in Bethlehem.

The exact day, month and even year of Jesus’s birth are unknown, said Christine Shepardson, a professor at the University of Tennessee who studies early Christianity.

The tradition of celebrating Jesus’ birth on Dec. 25, she said, only emerged in the fourth century.

CRASH from page A1 has a second-in-command type rating in the airplane. So there’s a question on the crew,” aviation safety expert John Cox said.

The plane’s speed and altitude fluctuated significantly during the brief flight, and its path was consistent with a flight crew that experienced an issue and needed to return quickly, said former NTSB and FAA crash investigator Jeff Guzzetti.

At one point, the plane quickly soared from 1,800 feet up to 4,000 feet before descending again. Just before the crash, it was only a couple of hundred feet off the ground.

“It’s hard to overemphasize how important the fourth century is for constructing Christianity as we experience it in our world today,” Shepardson said. It was then, under Emperor Constantine, that Christians began the practice of gathering at churches instead of meeting at homes.

Some theories say the date coincides with existing pagan winter solstice festivals, including the Roman celebration of Sol Invictus, or the “Unconquered Sun,” on Dec 25.

While most Christians celebrate Christmas on Dec. 25, some Eastern Orthodox traditions celebrate the holy day on Jan. 7. That’s because they follow the ancient Julian calendar, which runs 13 days behind the Gregorian calendar, used by Catholic and Protestant churches as well as by much of the secular world.

Rowdy medieval celebrations

In the 19th century, Christmas became “respectable” with “the domestic celebration that we understand today — one centered around the home, the family, children, gift-giving.”

Thomas Ruys Smith, professor of American literature and culture Christmas on both sides of the Atlantic.

Christmas became further popularized with the publication of “A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens in 1843, and the writings of Washington Irving, who was a fan of St. Nicholas and helped popularize the celebration of Christmas in America.

The first Rockefeller Center Christmas tree was put up by workers in 1931 to raise spirits during the Great Depression. The tradition stuck as the first tree-lighting ceremony was held in 1933 and remains one of New York City’s most popular holiday attractions.

For centuries, especially during the Middle Ages, Christmas was associated with rowdy street celebrations of feasting and drinking, and for many Christians, it “was not in good standing as a holiday,” said Thomas Ruys Smith, a professor of American literature and culture at the University of East Anglia in England.

“Puritans,” he said, “were not fond of Christmas.”

But in the 19th century, he said, Christmas became “respectable” with “the domestic celebration that we understand today — one centered around the home, the family, children, gift-giving.”

The roots of modern-day Christmas can be traced back to Germany. In the late 19th century, there are accounts of Christmas trees and gift-giving that, according to Smith, later spread to Britain and America, helping to revitalize

St. Nicholas was a fourth-century Christian bishop from the Mediterranean port city of Myra (in modern-day Turkey). His acts of generosity inspired the secular Santa Claus legend.

The legends surrounding jolly old St. Nicholas — celebrated annually on Dec. 6 — go way beyond delivering candy and toys to children. He is believed to have interceded on behalf of wrongly condemned prisoners and miraculously saved sailors from storms.

Devotion to St. Nicholas

“One thing is certain: They were low. They were too low to make a safe landing on that runway,” Guzzetti said.

It’s unclear why the pilots didn’t make an emergency call, but their top priorities are flying the plane and figuring out where to land — not radioing for help.

It’s possible they were too busy trying to control the plane and dealing with the problem. But Cox said it’s also possible that the problem they encountered wasn’t considered an emergency. And the pilots may not have made it a priority to make a radio call with no tower or firefighters at the airport.

Biffle, 55, won more than 50

races across NASCAR’s three circuits, including 19 at the Cup Series level. He also won the Trucks Series championship in 2000 and the Xfinity Series title in 2002.

In 2024, Biffle was honored for his humanitarian efforts after Hurricane Helene struck the U.S., even using his personal helicopter to deliver aid to flooded, remote western North Carolina.

The last time I spoke with Cristina, just a couple of weeks ago, she reached out to ask how she could help with relief efforts in Jamaica. That’s who the Biffles were,” U.S. Rep. Richard Hudson (R-N.C.) said.

Wadsworth was Biffle’s friend and helped him with odd jobs,

America’s secular Santa inspired by Christian saint

spread during the Middle Ages across Europe and he became a favorite subject for medieval artists and liturgical plays. He is the patron saint of sailors and children, as well as of Greece, Russia and New York.

Devotion to St. Nicholas seems to have faded after the 16th century Protestant Reformation, except in the Netherlands, where his legend remained as Sinterklaas. In the 17th century, Dutch Protestants who settled in New York brought the Sinterklaas tradition with them.

Eventually, St. Nicholas morphed into the secular Santa Claus.

Not just Santa who delivers gifts In the U.K., it’s Father Christmas; in Greece and Cyprus, St. Basil (who arrives on New Year’s Eve). In some parts of Italy, it’s St. Lucy (earlier in December) and in other Italian regions, Befana, a witch-like figure, who brings presents on the Epiphany on Jan. 6.

Instead of a friendly Santa Claus, children in Iceland enjoy favors from 13 mischievous troll brothers, called the Yule Lads. They come down from their mountain cave 13 days before Christmas, according to folklore.

began in the 16th century, said Maria Kennedy, a professor at Rutgers University—New Brunswick’s Department of American Studies. It was later popularized in England and America.

“Mistletoe, an evergreen shrub, was used in celebrations dating back to the ancient Druids — Celtic religious leaders — some 2,000 years ago,” Kennedy writes in The Surprising History of Christmas Traditions.

“Mistletoe represented immortality because it continued to grow in the darkest time of the year and bore white berries when everything else had died.”

Other traditions include Christmas services and Nativity scenes at homes and churches.

More recently, Nativity scenes — when erected on public property in the U.S. — have triggered legal battles over the question of the separation of church and state.

Christmas caroling, Kennedy writes, can also be traced back to European traditions, where people would go from home to home during the darkest time of the year to renew relationships within their communities and give wishes for good luck, health and wealth for the forthcoming year.

“They would recite poetry, sing and sometimes perform a skit. The idea was that these acts would bring about good fortune to influence a future harvest,” Kennedy writes.

Kentucky Fried Chicken for Christmas in Japan

One of the oldest traditions around Christmas is bringing greenery — holly, ivy or evergreen trees — into homes.

But determining whether it’s a Christian tradition is harder.

“For many people, the evergreen can symbolize Christ’s promise of eternal life and his return from death,” Smith said. “So, you can interpret that evergreen tradition within the Christian concept.”

The decorating of evergreen trees is a German custom that

Among the many Christmas traditions that have been adopted and localized globally, there’s one that involves KFC. In 1974, KFC launched a Christmas campaign where they began to sell fried chicken with a bottle of wine so it could be used for a Christmas party.

KFC says the idea for the campaign came from an employee who overheard a foreign customer at one of its Tokyo restaurants saying that since he couldn’t get turkey in Japan, he’d have to celebrate Christmas with Kentucky Fried Chicken.

“That really stuck,” Smith said. “And still today, you have to order your KFC months in advance to make sure that you’re going to get it at Christmas Day.”

including delivering supplies to places hit by Hurricane Helene, roommate Benito Howell said.

“He didn’t know how to say no,” Howell said of Wadsworth, who had worked for several NASCAR teams. “He loved everybody. He always tried to help everybody.”

A memorial with flowers sprouted up Friday by Biffle’s marble star in his hometown of Mooresville, honoring him as a member of the North Carolina Auto Racing Hall of Fame.

Steve Miller dropped by to pay his respects. He met Biffle at a huge party after he was inducted in October. He told Biffle he hoped the racecar driver

could help knock an item off his bucket list — taking a flight in a helicopter.

“Come knock on my door, I’ll take you up,” Miller recalled Biffle telling him. “Never happened.”

Cessna Citations like the one that crashed Thursday are known as reliable, easy-to-fly jets. While the plane is in flight, one pilot is at the controls while the other pilot is the monitoring pilot, Cox said.

Roughly 1,000 of these 550 series jets have been made, and they have a very good safety record. “What accidents have occurred in this type were mostly due to very poor pilot decisions,” Guzzetti said.

Christian traditions of Christmas

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DON FERIA / AP IMAGES FOR WWE

Hulk Hogan speaks at his WWE Hall of Fame Ceremony in 2015.

Sports greats we lost in 2025 Hulk Hogan, George Foreman, Rodney Rogers among the losses to the sports world The Associated Press THIS YEAR SAW the deaths of several spots greats who crossed over into mainstream appeal. Even the most casual sports fan has heard of boxing great George Foreman, who memorably lost a muchwatched match to Muhammad Ali but whose career had inspiring second and third acts as a world champion and successful business owner.

Similarly, baseball player turned comic actor Bob Uecker was known and beloved by all.

After a Wrestlemania cameo, Uecker was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame, joining one of sports-entertainment’s biggest names, Hulk Hogan, who also left us this year.

Here is a roll call of some influential figures who have died this year (cause of death cited, if available).

JANUARY Bob Uecker, 90. He parlayed a forgettable playing career into a punch line for movie and TV appearances as “Mr. Baseball” and a Hall of Fame broadcasting tenure. Jan. 16.

Dick Button, 95. He was one of the most accomplished men’s figure skaters in history, and one of his sport’s great

innovators Jan. 30.

and

promoters.

FEBRUARY Kultida Woods, 80. Tiger Woods credited his Thai-born mother with instilling his dominant spirit and encouraging him to wear red shirts on Sundays as his power color. Feb. 4.

Mabel Staton, 92. The Black track and field standout broke through barriers as the only woman to compete for the United States in the long jump at the 1952 Helsinki Olympics.

Feb. 20.

Joe Fusco, 87. A College Football Hall of Fame coach, he won four NAIA Division II national championships in 19 years at Westminster College. Feb. 22.

Boris Spassky, 88. A Soviet-era world chess champion, he lost his title to American Bobby Fischer in a legendary 1972 match. Feb. 27.

MARCH Junior Bridgeman, 71. A basketball standout who led Louisville to a Final Four, he starred for the NBA’s Milwaukee Bucks and then launched an even more successful career as a business owner.

March 11.

Eddie Jordan, 76. He was a Formula 1 team owner and media personality and popular TV pundit after selling the team.

March 20.

George Foreman, 76. The fearsome heavyweight boxer

lost the “Rumble in the Jungle” to Muhammad Ali before his inspiring second and third acts as a 45-year-old world champion and a successful business owner. March 21.

APRIL Octavio Dotel, 51. He pitched for 13 major league teams in a 15-year career and won a World Series with the St. Louis Cardinals, and died in a roof collapse in the Dominican Republic. April 8.

Steve McMichael, 67.

A star defensive tackle on the Chicago Bears’ 1985 Super Bowl championship team whose larger-than-life personality later made him a natural for professional wrestling.

He died after battling ALS. April 23.

Dick Barnett, 88. A basketball Hall of Famer, he played on See GREATS, page B3

NFL postseason will miss all of Mahomes, Brady, Manning for first time since 1998 season Six quarterbacks not born by 1998 could star in this year’s postseason

By Josh Dubow The Associated Press JOHN ELWAY and Dan Marino were still starting quarterbacks, Tom Brady was a little-known college player at Michigan and at least six starting quarterbacks for potential 2025 playoffs teams weren’t even alive the last time the NFL had a postseason like this.

With Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs officially eliminated from playoff contention, the upcoming playoffs will be the first since the 1998 season that don’t feature at least one of Mahomes, Brady or Peyton Manning at quarterback.

Those three prolific passers have defined the past quarter-century of NFL football, especially when it comes to the postseason. Since Manning made his playoff debut in his second season in 1999, at least one of those quarterbacks has been on center stage almost every January.

In the past 26 seasons, that trio combined for 42 playoff berths, 96 postseason starts, 66 playoff wins and 12 Super Bowl titles, with Brady winning seven, Mahomes three and Manning two.

At least one of the three made it to the conference championship weekend in 20 of the 26 postseasons — including either Brady or

ROBERT F. BUKATY / AP PHOTO

New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye (10) passes against the Buffalo Bills during a game earlier this month.

Mahomes in the last 15 — with 18 Super Bowls featuring at least one, including when Brady beat Mahomes in Super Bowl 55 following the 2020 season.

Brady and Mahomes stand

on top of the leaderboard when it comes to several postseason quarterback stats, including wins (Brady 35, Mahomes 17) and TD passes (Brady 88, Mahomes 46).

The absence of Mahomes and the Chiefs could open the door for someone like Josh Allen or Lamar Jackson to make their first Super Bowl trip or even give an opportunity to a newer gen-

eration that features six quarterbacks whose teams are currently in playoff position and weren’t born during the 1998 playoffs: Drake Maye, C.J. Stroud, Trevor Lawrence, Bo Nix, Caleb Williams and Brock Purdy.

Carolina’s Bryce Young could be a seventh if the Panthers surpass Tampa Bay in the NFC South race.

Of course, there’s the possibility that the vacancy on the podium could be filled by a veteran quarterback who already has a Super Bowl ring. Philadelphia’s Jalen Hurts, Pittsburgh’s Aaron Rodgers, the Rams’ Matthew Stafford and Detroit’s Jared Goff all fit that bill.

The quarterbacks from that 1998 postseason featured five future Hall of Famers in Elway, Marino, Steve Young, Troy Aikman and Brett Favre; other longtime quarterbacks like Vinny Testaverde, Mark Brunell and Randall Cunningham; as well as Chris Chandler, Jake Plummer, Doug Flutie and Scott Zolak.

Elway finished that postseason run by winning his second straight Super Bowl for Denver over Chandler and the Atlanta Falcons. He retired after that game, with Marino, Young and Aikman following in the next two years.

Brady was just about ready to step through the door left open at the time, just as Mahomes took the baton from him decades later. Now, the opportunity is there for someone else to join the elite group.

B2

North State Journal for Thursday, December 25, 2025

obituaries

Margaret Ann (Allen) Lee

Willie Mae Stewart

Marlon Evanda Spruill

July 7, 1959 – Dec. 13, 2025

June 10, 1933 – Dec. 16, 2025

Nov. 25, 1976 – Dec. 15, 2025

Mrs. Margaret Ann (Allen) Lee, 66, of Sanford, North Carolina, entered into eternal rest on Saturday, December 13, 2025, at Central Carolina Hospital in Sanford, North Carolina.

Please keep the family and friends of Mrs. Margaret Ann (Allen) Lee in your thoughts and prayers.

Arrangements are entrusted to McLeod Funeral Home of Sanford, North Carolina.

Willie May Stewart, 92, departed this life on December 16, 2025. A celebration of Life will be held at noon on Tuesday, December 23, 2025, at The Kenneth M. Purcell Memorial Chapel. Services are entrusted to Purcell Funeral Home & Cremation Services.

Mr. Marlon Evanda Spruill, 49, of Sanford, North Carolina, entered into eternal rest on Monday, December 15, 2025, at his residence in Sanford, North Carolina.

Please keep the family and friends of Mr. Marlon Evanda Spruill in your thoughts and prayers.

Arrangements are entrusted to McLeod Funeral Home of Sanford, North Carolina.

Joni Lynne Cisneros Betsy (Cordal) Harris July 18, 1937– Dec.17, 2025 Mrs. Betsy C. (Cordal) Harris, 88, of Southern Pines, North Carolina, entered into eternal rest on Wednesday, December 17, 2025, at her residence.

Please keep the family and friends of Mrs. Betsy C. (Cordal) Harris in your thoughts and prayers.

Arrangements are entrusted to McLeod Funeral Home of Southern Pines, North Carolina.

Dec. 7, 1988– Dec.19, 2025 Joni Lynne Cisneros, age 37, of Carthage, passed away peacefully on Friday, December 19, 2025, at her home.

She was born in Pinehurst on December 7, 1988, to Andrew “Bubba” and Toni Deese Cisneros. Joni graduated from Union Pines High School. She had a very sweet personality and always lit up the room with her laugh. She was loved deeply by her family, her church, and all who knew her.

She was preceded in death by her brother, Brandon Cisneros; maternal grandparents, Jerry and Ellen Hussey Deese.

In addition to her parents, she is survived by her paternal grandparents, Andy and Lois Cisneros of Sanford.

Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. on Monday at Emmanuel Baptist Church. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends prior to the service, beginning at 1 p.m.

Sally Beesley Watson March 26, 1961 – Dec. 14, 2025 Sally Beesley Watson, age 64, of Carthage, passed away on Sunday, December 14, 2025, at her home surrounded by her loving family.

Sally was born in Canada on March 26, 1961, to the late Joseph Ralph Beesley, MD, and Eleanor Moorehouse Beesley. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her son, Christopher R. Watson.

She is survived by her husband of 44 years, Samuel Watson, children, Samuel R. Watson of Sanford, Jessica Sally Dees of Carthage, Joshua M. Watson of Asheville; grandchildren, Christopher Chase Watson, Lila Watson, Gabriel Watson; sister, Pamela E. Goldsmith of Florida, identical twin sister, Susan Beesley Scurlock of King, NC.; brother, Joseph R. Beesley Jr. of Canada.

She was the epitome of a mother in her love for her children and her fur babies. She will be greatly missed and will never be forgotten.

No services are planned.

Robert “Bobby” Nathanial Marley Jr.

Ruby Lee Brown Oct. 3, 1936 – Dec. 15, 2025 Ruby Lee Burns Brown was born in Moore County, North Carolina, on October 3, 1936, as the first of five children born to Ardena Sanders Burns and Clemith Burns. Ruby Burns attended Robbins Elementary and then Elise High School in Robbins, NC. She met her future husband Fred during her senior year while working for college money at Burn’s Grill near Robbins crossroads.

She graduated from Elise as the salutatorian – with only 1 B (which she blamed squarely on distraction by Fred). In 1957, while attending Catawba College, she and Fred were married. She graduated from Catawba with honors. When she was 27 years old, her father, Clemith, passed away, and she helped her mother support the rest of the family with whatever funds she could make.

Ruby went on to attend North Carolina State University, where she earned a Master’s degree in Chemistry. After college, she worked as an analytical chemist for the US Government at both the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) in St. Louis and the Center for Disease Control (CDC) in Atlanta.

Guided by her strong Christian faith, she had a genuine interest in the well-being of others and treated everyone she met with respect and kindness. She simply chose to see the good in all things.

In 2009, she lost her husband of 52 years – and spent the next 16 years focused on her children and grandchildren.

She passed away on December 15, 2025… on her wedding anniversary.

She is survived by her two children: Neil Brown and wife Chau, Todd Brown and wife Valerie and her five grandchildren Chloe, Stella, Summer, Jason and Sophia Brown, Sisters: Minnie Ritter, Virginia and husband Bill Montjoy, Anise and Robert Castleberry and Sister-in-law Nita Burns (widow of her only brother James) of Carrolton, Ga. She was a blessing beyond measure and will be forever missed.

Funeral Service will be 2 p.m., Monday, December 22, 2025, at Calvary Baptist Church, 549 Plank Road, Carthage, NC. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.

The family will receive friends prior to the service, beginning at 1 p.m., and following the Committal in the church fellowship hall.

Feb. 17, 1953 – Dec. 15, 2025 Robert “Bobby” Nathaniel Marley Jr., 72, passed away Monday, December 15, 2025, at FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital, surrounded by his family.

Bobby loved being outdoors.

He spent most of his life working in construction for Timken, Guy M. Turner and others. His last job was with Moore County Solid Waste. He loved people and liked to spend time with family and friends, especially at the “Old Place”. Bobby was always ready with a story to share, and he never met a stranger. He also enjoyed raising game chickens.

He was a son of the late Robert and Ruth Burnette Marley.

He is survived by son: Stephen Marley and wife Katie; daughter: Erica Thompson and husband Alan; grandchildren: Athan, Bradon, Caibrey, Tyler, Aubrey, Heidi; sisters: Jenean Garner and husband Keith, Marnita Brower and husband Greg; brother: Frank Marley and wife Jan; many nieces, nephews and friends.

The family will receive friends from 3 to 5 p.m., Friday, December 19, 2025, at Kennedy Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial may be made to Robbins First Wesleyan Church or the Robbins Masonic Lodge.

More obituaries on page B3

Proudly supporting you every step of the way on your grief journey.

CONTACT

www.bolesfuneralhome.com Email: md@bolesfuneralhome.com Locations in: Southern Pines (910) 692-6262 | Pinehurst (910) 235-0366 | Seven Lakes (910) 673-7300

@BolesFuneralHomes

B3

North State Journal for Thursday, December 25, 2025

OBITUARY

Mary Bridget Palmer Sept. 19, 1934 – Dec. 16, 2025 Mary Bridget Palmer, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and lifelong entrepreneur, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, December 16, after a brief illness.

She was 91 years old.

Mary was born on September 19, 1934, in Yonkers, New York, the daughter of Irish immigrants.

Her father, James Corbalis of County Laois fell in love with her mother Anna Looby of County Tipperary and after settling in America and becoming U.S. citizens were married in 1933, laying the foundation for a family deeply proud of its Irish heritage.

Like her parents, Mary became a devout Catholic and active member of St. Peter’s Church in Yonkers. It was her commitment to her heritage and Catholic faith that would ultimately guide her for the rest of her life.

In 1958, Mary married the love of her life, Donald Palmer.

Together they built a life rooted in faith, family, hard work, and shared passions. In 1963, they moved to Yorktown Heights, New York, where Mary became active in St. Patrick’s Church and School and balanced her growing family while pursuing her keen eye for history and beauty as an avid collector of antiques. She became the goto-parent for setting up antique props for the St. Patrick School class plays. Her passion led her to open several antique shops, and later expanded into the sale of Irish imports, blending her entrepreneurial spirit with her heritage.

In 1983, Mary and Don moved their family to New Hampshire, where they became innkeepers, a role they embraced wholeheartedly for the next 25 years. Known for her warmth, hospitality, and attention to detail, Mary helped create a welcoming home-away-fromhome for countless guests while also still maintaining an Irish Shop.

After selling the lodge, Mary and Don retired to Pinehurst, North Carolina, where they joyfully pursued their shared love of golf and enjoyed a wellearned season of leisure while also being active members of the Sacred Heart Church congregation. Following Don’s passing in 2019, Mary spent her final years in Mt. Kisco close to Jim, where she enjoyed time with family and staying busy knitting prayer shawls for churches and hospitals.

Mary Bridget Palmer will be remembered for her unwavering Catholic faith, commitment to family and entrepreneurial spirit that enabled others to appreciate and share in her love for all things Irish! Her legacy lives on in the lives she touched and the family she loved so deeply.

Mary is survived by her two sons, Donald “Don” Palmer Jr.(Yvonne) and James “Jim” Palmer (Xann); and her four cherished grandchildren, Dylan, Kyle, Zoe, and Siena, who brought her immense pride and joy. She is also survived by her brother James (Ann) Corbalis and sisterin-law Ethel “Dee” Demario (Robert) who called her every day!

Mary’s family would like to thank her aide, Olga, and her dear friend and neighbor, Phyllis Ruppert, who brought Mary the Eucharist every Sunday while she lived in Mt. Kisco.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital.

A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated for Mary on Saturday, December 27, 2025, at 10 a.m. at Sacred Heart Church in Pinehurst, North Carolina. Burial to follow at St. Anthony of Padua Cemetery.

Poggi tells signees, parents Michigan hopes to hire coach by end of month, AP source says The former Charlotte coach is leading the scandal-plagued Wolverines

By Larry Lage The Associated Press ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Michigan interim football coach Biff Poggi had a Zoom call with the program’s signees and their parents just hours after Sherrone Moore was fired last week, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press.

Poggi told the players and their parents that athletic director Warde Manuel hoped to have a new coach hired by the end of the month, said the person, who spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to share details from the call.

Moore’s firing left the No. 18 Wolverines scrambling to retain recruits and give current players reasons to stay out of the transfer portal.

That’s going to be quite a challenge.

Michigan has begun practicing for its bowl game with Poggi and assistants, none of whom know if they will be a part of the team’s staff in 2026.

The Wolverines announced less than two weeks ago that 27 prospects signed commitments to play football for the maize and blue and the class was ranked No. 11 by 247Sports.

Two of those players, however, asked for and were granted their release by the school.

Matt Ludwig, a four-star tight end from Montana, has already switched his commitment to Texas Tech and Bear McWhorter, a three-star offensive lineman from Georgia,

JOE BURBANK/ORLANDO SENTINEL VIA AP

Michigan interim head coach Biff Poggi answers questions at a Citrus Bowl news conference ahead of his team’s New Year’s Eve appearance against Texas in the bowl in Orlando, Fla. opened up his recruitment last week.

“In light of recent events, I’ve made the very difficult decision to withdraw,” McWhorter posted Friday on Instagram.

McWhorter made his decision Monday, committing to Auburn.

Moore was fired Wednesday after the school said an investigation uncovered evidence of his inappropriate relationship with a staffer. He was later jailed for two nights and charged with three crimes.

While a search firm helps Michigan quickly look for a new

coach, other colleges are taking advantage of the opportunity to make offers to the Wolverines’ signees because they’re in a 30-day window to potentially get released.

“Every day that a new coach isn’t in place, there’s a risk in more players asking for their release and current players planning to go in the portal,” Allen Trieu, 247Sports national recruiting analyst, said in a telephone interview. “Time is of essence, if the primary goal is to keep the recruiting class in place.

“Those families are waiting

GREATS from page B1

mer boxing world champion who rose to become one of the most popular fighters in the sport had mental health struggles and was found dead due to hanging. Sept. 14.

Bernie Parent, 80. Considered one of the greatest hockey goalies, the Hall of Famer anchored the net for the Philadelphia Flyers’ two Stanley Cup championships in the 1970s.

Sept. 21.

both New York Knicks NBA championship teams. April 27.

JUNE Shigeo Nagashima, 89.

He was known in Japan as “Mr. Pro Baseball.” June 3.

Jim Marshall, 87. The former Minnesota Vikings defensive end was one of four members of the famed Purple People Eaters. June 3.

Nina Kuscsik, 86. She campaigned for women’s inclusion in long-distance running and then won the Boston Marathon the first year women were officially allowed to run. June 8.

D. Wayne Lukas, 89. The Hall of Famer became one of horse racing’s most accomplished trainers. June 28.

JULY Alex Delvecchio, 93. A member of the Hockey Hall of Fame, he helped the Detroit Red Wings win three Stanley Cups in the 1950s. July 1.

Fauja Singh, 114. An Indian-born runner nicknamed the Turbaned Torpedo, believed to be the world’s oldest marathoner, died after being hit by a car.

July 14.

Felix Baumgartner, 56. The extreme athlete stunned the world in 2012 by skydiving faster than the speed of sound during a 24-mile leap from the stratosphere. He died in a paragliding crash. July 17.

Rex White, 95. NASCAR’s oldest living champion and a 2015 inductee into its Hall of Fame. July 18.

Joey Jones, 70. The Welsh soccer hero won two European Cups with Liverpool and was dubbed “Mr. Wrexham.” July 22.

Hulk Hogan, 71. The mustachioed, headscarf-wearing, bicep-busting icon of professional wrestling turned the sport into a massive business and stretched his influence into TV, pop culture and conservative politics during a long and scandal-plagued second act. July 24.

Dwight Muhammad Qawi, 72. The Hall of Fame fighter took up boxing in prison and be-

with bated breath — as many are who are invested in Michigan football — to see who the next coach is going to be.”

Current players, including starting quarterback Bryce Underwood, will have a chance to enter the transfer portal between Jan. 2-16 if they don’t like the direction of the program or how they fit with the new coach.

“It’s a very unique time,” Trieu said. “You have a coaching staff, not knowing if they’ll be back, preparing for a game while trying to hold onto signees and current players — and everybody is impatient.”

OCTOBER

CHARLES REX ARBOGAST / AP PHOTO

Heavyweight boxer George Foreman weighs in for a 1997 fight. After winning a world title in the 1970s, he repeated the feat in the 1990s, then became a well-known grill pitchman.

Daniel Naroditsky, 29.

The chess grandmaster who started as a child prodigy quickly became one of the most influential American voices in the sport.

Oct. 20.

Nick Mangold, 41. As a New York Jets center he was one of the franchise’s greatest players, twice helping lead the team to the AFC championship game. He died of complications of kidney disease.

Oct. 25.

NOVEMBER

CHUCK BURTON / AP PHOTO

Former Wake Forest star and a 12-year NBA player Rodney Rogers watches a Demon Deacons game. came a two-weight world champion. July 25.

Ryne Sandberg, 65. The Hall of Fame second baseman starred for the Chicago Cubs.

July 28.

AUGUST Humpy Wheeler, 86. He was a pioneering motorsports

promoter as president and general manager of Charlotte Motor Speedway. Aug. 20.

Ron Turcotte, 84. The Hall of Fame jockey rode Secretariat to the Triple Crown in 1973. Aug. 22.

SEPTEMBER Ricky Hatton, 46. The for-

Paul Tagliabue, 84. He helped bring labor peace and riches to the NFL during his 17 years as commissioner but was criticized for not taking stronger action on concussions.

Nov. 9.

Lenny Wilkens, 88. Basketball Hall of Famer as both an NBA player and a coach.

Nov. 9.

Rodney Rogers, 54. Legendary Wake Forest basketball star played 12 years in the NBA. A post-retirement ATV injury left him paralyzed from the shoulders down since 2008. Nov. 21 Fuzzy Zoeller, 74. One of golf’s most gregarious characters, the two-time major champion’s career was tainted by a racially insensitive joke about Tiger Woods. Nov. 27.

DECEMBER Greg Biffle, 55. The NASCAR driver and members of his family perished in a private plane crash in North Carolina. Dec. 18.

B4

North State Journal for Thursday, December 25, 2025

STATE & NATION

Kennedy Center board adds Trump’s name to building Some say the law forbids such a name change

By Darlene Superville The Associated Press WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Kennedy Center last Friday quickly added Donald Trump’s name to the performing arts center Congress designated as a living memorial to John F. Kennedy, a day after the center’s board of trustees voted to make the change.

Blue tarps were hung in front of the building to obscure workers on scaffolding as they executed the transformation.

Hours later it had a new name: The Donald J. Trump and The John F. Kennedy Memorial

Center for the Performing Arts.

The board of trustees, handpicked by Trump, voted unanimously Thursday to add his name to what was enshrined as a living memorial to the Democratic president. Trump, a Republican, also is the board’s chairman. The Kennedy Center said the vote recognized Trump’s work to revitalize the institution.

Critics of the vote, including Democratic members of Congress who are ex-officio board members, as well as some historians, insist that only Congress can change the name.

“The Kennedy Center was named by law. To change the name would require a revision of that 1964 law,” Ray Smock, a former House historian, said in

an email. “The Kennedy Center board is not a lawmaking entity. Congress makes laws.”

Congress named the performing arts center as a living memorial to Kennedy in 1964, the year after he was assassinated. The law explicitly prohibits the board of trustees from making the center into a memorial to anyone else, and from putting another person’s name on the building’s exterior.

Some Kennedy family members oppose the renaming. Kerry Kennedy, a niece of John F. Kennedy, said in a social post on X that she will remove Trump’s name herself when his term ends.

“Three years and one month from today, I’m going to grab a pickax and pull those letters

JACQUELYN MARTIN / AP PHOTO

New signage, The Donald J. Trump and The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts, is unveiled on the Kennedy Center last Friday in Washington, D.C. off that building, but I’m going to need help holding the ladder. Are you in?” she wrote on a photo of the center’s new name.

“Applying for my carpenter’s card today, so it’ll be a union job!!!”

The Kennedy Center is the

How surveillance tech, ‘Reddit Detective Agency’ helped search for Brown U. killer Some social media users are more useful than others

By Matt O’Brien The Associated Press PROVIDENCE, R.I. — More than a decade ago, a frenzied 5-day search for the Boston Marathon bombers left some lessons in its aftermath.

One was that increasingly pervasive surveillance technology could help catch the culprits.

Another was that amateur online sleuths on Reddit could not.

But the intense search this week for a suspect in a Brown University shooting that killed two students and wounded nine other people turned the tables on those expectations.

Sweeping surveillance, now found in doorbells, cars and a vast network of vehicle-tracking cameras, did eventually help track down the whereabouts of Claudio Neves Valente, the 48-year-old former Brown graduate student investigators believe was responsible for the Dec. 13 shooting and another killing two days later of an MIT professor in Brookline, Massachusetts.

But the latest artificial intelligence-powered surveillance was of little use in the early search for a gunman who walked away from the Brown campus after the shooting and slipped unnoticed into the surrounding neighborhoods of Providence, Rhode Island. He evaded detection for days, using a hardto-trace phone, avoiding facial recognition software by obscuring his face with a medical-type mask and switching the license plates on his rental cars.

It wasn’t until a local Reddit user “blew this case right open”

with an old-fashioned tip first posted on the social media platform that police were able to connect a car to Neves Valente, said Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha. They finally found the suspect dead Thursday in Salem, New Hampshire, days after he likely killed himself.

The Reddit tipster known only as John is “no less than a hero,” Providence Mayor Brett Smiley wrote Friday to FBI Director Kash Patel, asking for John to get the entirety of the FBI’s $50,000 reward for information leading investigators to the suspect.

Strangers have invited him to Christmas dinner and suggested he get a “key to the city and free coffee and doughnuts for life,” according to fellow contributors to Reddit’s Providence forum.

It was a stark turn from 2013 when commentators on Reddit and other online discussion boards falsely smeared a Brown University student as a potential suspect in the deadly attack at Boston’s famed marathon, just an hour north of Providence, because of a supposed resemblance to a grainy suspect image.

“Hey Reddit, enough Boston bombing vigilantism,” declared a headline in The Atlantic at the time.

“It definitely went sideways in the Boston Marathon situation,” said Liza Potts, a professor at Michigan State University and director of a digital humanities lab that studied the online response. “That’s why folks will jokingly refer to the ‘Reddit Detective Agency’ or the ‘Reddit Bureau of Investigations.’”

The mistaken connection between the 2013 bombers and a missing Brown student — who was later found dead of an apparent suicide — is still re-

“Of all the spaces that I study, Reddit seems to be getting it right more than not.”

Liza Potts, Michigan State professor membered by many at the Ivy League school and its surrounding community.

Brown officials this week sought to swiftly tamp down another smear campaign circulating on X and other social media platforms falsely tying a current Brown student to the campus shooting because of his ethnicity, perceived political views and supposed resemblance to a police video of a person of interest. The “unimaginable nightmare” of false accusations led to “non-stop death threats and hate speech,” the student said in a statement.

Frustrated that tip lines could be jammed with nonsense, U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, a Rhode Island Democrat and former state attorney general, urged social media speculators to “just shut up.”

“There is simply no need from an investigative point of view for people who have no idea what they’re talking about to offer their stupid and ill-informed views about what happened all over the internet,” Whitehouse said from Congress on Wednesday.

But Potts said some social media has been working better than others, and “of all the spaces that I study, Reddit seems to be getting it right more than not.”

Harmful accusations were largely absent from Reddit’s

Providence forum, in part because volunteer moderators who manage Reddit’s subject matter forums — known as subreddits — are largely responsible for keeping the peace.

Reddit’s chief moderator for the Providence subreddit said in an interview that he’s been on the platform for about 15 years and remembers the trauma that false Boston Marathon report caused.

“The Providence subreddit is very sensitive about (not) trying to go on a witch hunt or the mob mentality,” he said, speaking on condition of anonymity to avoid doxing and because of the platform’s culture of anonymity.

The Associated Press also reached out to the tipster on Tuesday, a day after he wrote on Reddit urging police to look into a Nissan sedan with Florida license plates. Fellow Redditors urged him to contact the FBI, and he said he did.

He didn’t respond to requests for comment and later posted that he doesn’t plan to talk with media. When he finally met with police on Wednesday — after approaching them on the street and identifying himself as the Reddit tipster — his information gave new life to a stalled investigation.

With a known vehicle, Providence police started looking through the footage from dozens of AI-powered cameras positioned around the city that can read license plates as well as other identifying details about a car, such as make, color, side damage or even bird droppings on the window.

The cameras, run by surveillance company Flock Safety, spotted his vehicle at least 14 times starting nearly two weeks before the shooting, according to a police affidavit. Prov-

latest building in Washington to have Trump’s name added to it. The U.S. Institute of Peace was recently renamed after him.

The Kennedy Center did not respond to an emailed request for comment Friday.

idence police could then ask Flock-using police agencies in nearby cities and states to look for the same car, although New Hampshire — because of privacy restrictions on how long they can hold images — doesn’t have any.

It was a breakthrough Flock was happy to boast about, especially as wariness remains in Providence’s immigrant communities about more aggressive federal immigration enforcement. Flock says each of its customers decides when to share camera data, and the city doesn’t share it with federal immigration agents. Some still want more safeguards.

“Once you know what they are, you see them everywhere,” said Madalyn McGunagle, a policy associate at the ACLU of Rhode Island. “People notice because they’re distinct-looking — a solar panel on top with a little oval camera underneath.”

But unlike the residential doorbell cameras that spotted him walking around Providence, had Neves Valente walked by a Flock camera, it wouldn’t have detected him, said Flock Safety CEO Garrett Langley.

“It is a technical impossibility. The camera does not have an ability for a user to search for people,” Langley said in an interview Friday. “Our cameras are focused on vehicles because if you look at America, people drive. It is very hard to get anywhere on foot.”

“For the majority of our cities, they want to just know who is coming in and who is leaving,” he said.

Still, without John the tipster — whom local Redditors dubbed “Reddit Guy” — no one would have known how he left.

“Someone who is in the area and sees stuff all the time, they’re going to be better in a lot of ways than a random camera,” said the Providence subreddit’s moderator. “John saw this guy going back and forth, unlocking his car and all that, and he just thought it was kind of weird.”

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