North State Journal Vol. 10, Issue 46 by North State Journal

VOLUME 10 ISSUE 46 | THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 2026

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Rematch Panthers tight end Mitchell Evans is tackled by Rams linebacker Nate Landman during their Nov. 30 game in Charlotte. The two teams will meet again — Carolina picked up its biggest win of the season, 31-28, over Los Angeles in their previous meeting — as the Panthers will play in their first postseason game since 2017 when they host the Rams on Saturday at Bank of America Stadium. See more in Sports.

FBI: Mint Hill terror plot foiled

the

BRIEF this week

Officials said an 18-year-old man, inspired by the Islamic State, planned an attack

Secret Service detains man at Vance’s Ohio home Cincinnati A man who broke windows at Vice President JD Vance’s Ohio home and caused other property damage was detained early Monday, the U.S. Secret Service said. The man was detained shortly after midnight by Secret Service agents assigned to Vance’s Cincinnati home, an agency spokesperson said in a statement. The Secret Service heard a loud noise at the home around midnight and found a person who had broken a window with a hammer and was trying to get into the house, according to two law enforcement officials who were not publicly authorized to discuss the investigation and spoke on the condition of anonymity. The man had also vandalized a Secret Service vehicle on his way up the home’s driveway, one of the officials said. The home was unoccupied at the time.

Trump administration thanks media for not revealing Maduro raid Washington, D.C. Secretary of State Marco Rubio thanked news organizations for not putting its military action in Venezuela in jeopardy by reporting on it before it happened. Speaking on ABC’s “This Week” on Sunday, Rubio said the Trump administration withheld information about the mission from Congress ahead of time because “it will leak. It’s as simple as that.” The New York Times and The Washington Post had both reportedly learned of the raid in advance but held off reporting on it to avoid endangering U.S. military personnel.

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The Associated Press

Causey urges no pardon for Lindberg The state Insurance commissioner urged President Donald Trump to not take executive action to benefit Greg Lindberg North State Journal staff RALEIGH — North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey is urging President Donald Trump not to consider a pardon for Greg Lindberg, the insurance company executive who was

convicted in 2020 on federal charges linked to bribery and wire fraud. While no pardon for Lindberg has yet been announced by Trump, Causey proactively sent a letter to the president on the matter just before Christmas. “Mr. Lindberg’s criminal conduct was not incidental, technical, or victimless,” Causey wrote in his letter. “It was deliberate, sustained, and directly aimed at corrupting a state regulatory system charged with protecting See CAUSEY, page A2

CHARLOTTE — The FBI said Friday it disrupted a New Year’s Eve attack plot targeting a grocery store and fast-food restaurant in North Carolina, arresting an 18-year-old man who authorities say pledged loyalty to the Islamic State group. Christian Sturdivant was charged with attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization. Investigators said he told an undercover FBI employee posing as a supportive confidant about his plans to attack people. Their online messages, along with a recent search of his home, indicated attacks would occur with knives and hammers, according to prosecutors and records. Worried Sturdivant might attempt violence before New Year’s Eve, the FBI placed him under constant surveillance for days, including on Christmas, U.S. Attorney for Western North

Maduro pleads not guilty in NYC federal court “I am a kidnapped president. I am a prisoner of war.” Nicolás Maduro

The Venezuelan president was captured by U.S. forces Saturday The Associated Press NEW YORK — A defiant Nicolás Maduro declared himself “the president of my country” as he protested his capture and pleaded not guilty Monday to federal drug trafficking charges that the Trump administration used to justify removing him from power in Venezuela. “I was captured,” Maduro said in Spanish as translated by a courtroom interpreter before being cut off by the judge. Asked later for his plea to the charges, he stated, “I am innocent. I am not guilty. I am a

decent man, the constitutional president of my country.” Maduro’s court appearance in Manhattan, his first since he and his wife, Cilia Flores, were seized from their Caracas home Saturday in a stunning middle-of-the-night military operation, kicked off the U.S. government’s most consequential prosecution in decades of a foreign head of state. Flores also pleaded not guilty. The criminal case is unfolding against a broader diplomatic backdrop of a U.S.-engineered regime change that President Donald Trump has said will enable his administration to “run” the South American country. See MADURO, page A3

Carolina Russ Ferguson said. Agents were prepared to arrest him earlier if he left his home with weapons, Ferguson said at a news conference in Charlotte. “At no point was the public in harm’s way.” Sturdivant was arrested Wednesday and remained in custody after a federal court appearance Friday. An attorney representing him did not immediately respond to an email or phone message seeking comment. Another hearing was scheduled for Jan. 7. The alleged attack would have taken place one year after 14 people were killed in New Orleans by a U.S. citizen and Army veteran who proclaimed support for IS on social media. The FBI has foiled several alleged attacks through sting operations in which agents posed as terror supporters, supplying advice or equipment. Critics say the strategy can amount to entrapment of mentally vulnerable people who wouldn’t have the wherewithal to act alone. Searches of Sturdivant’s home and phone uncovered what investigators described as a manifesto detailing plans See TERROR, page A3

North State Journal for Thursday, January 8, 2026

THURSDAY

1.8.26 #523

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the word | The law of sacrifice We are taught to present our bodies, as a living sacrifice unto God. Ancient offerings were brought to the altar, and presented dead. But the Christian sacrifice is not to be presented dead — it is to be given to God alive. The life, instead of being consumed in a holocaust, or poured out in a bloody oblation, is to be given to God for service. Christ came to give life to his followers, to give life in abundance. This call to consecration is therefore a call to life at its best. We talk a great deal about the love of Christ — but we can help the world to know what that love of Christ is, only when in our daily lives — we illustrate it and reproduce it. It is our great mission in life — to make Jesus Christ appear beautiful to others. It was said of an old minister who had retired from active service — that it was worth all his salary just to have him live in the town. His life was such a revealing of the life of Christ — that wherever he went, it was like the shining there of a soft, gentle light. We are to present our bodies to God as living sacrifices. Living — not dead. To be dead is to have no more power to do anything. A little child once tried to explain what it was to be dead. Shown a bumblebee that was no longer living, he said simply, “Not going any more.” The child’s interpretation was true. To be dead is to be not going any more, to be without life or power. We are called to be living sacrifices. One of the best rules for everyday life is to try always to be a little kinder than is necessary. When we use the word sacrifice, we think first of the great sacrifice of Christ — which is both the model for all Christian life, and also its inspiration. Everything good and beautiful gets its motive from the life of Christ, which shone with the holiest spirit of sacrifice. We look at his six hours on the cross when we speak of Christ’s sacrifice, as if that were its one great act and expression. But the cross was not endured by Christ merely during those six hours on Calvary;

CAUSEY from page A1 the public in order to enrich himself. “During an 18-months-long investigation conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Mr. Lindberg was lawfully recorded on a wire attempting to bribe me, in my official capacity as North Carolina Commissioner of Insurance, to remove a senior department official who had identified and exposed serious financial improprieties within Mr. Lindberg’s insurance enterprises.” Near the conclusion of the letter, Causey again argued against a pardon. “Clemency is most compelling when it corrects a clear miscarriage of justice or shows mercy where the law has operated too harshly. Neither condition applies here,” wrote Causey. “Mr. Lindberg received due process, extensive judicial review, and every protection afforded under the Constitution. His convictions reflect accountability, not excess.” In a social media post, U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) also expressed support for denying a pardon for Lindberg. Lindberg, an insurance executive with offices based in North Carolina, was initially convicted in March 2020

“Clemency is most compelling when it corrects a clear miscarriage of justice or shows mercy where the law has operated too harshly. Neither condition applies here.” Mike Causey, North Carolina Insurance commissioner on federal charges of conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud and bribery related to programs receiving federal funds. He was sentenced to seven years in prison. The case stemmed from Lindberg’s attempts to bribe Causey to remove a deputy commissioner overseeing regulation of Lindberg’s insurance companies. Lindberg allegedly was offering millions in campaign donations in an attempted quid pro quo with Causey. As mentioned in his letter to Trump, Causey wore a wire for the FBI, recording the bribery attempts, resulting in the arrest and charges against Lindberg, as well as associates like former North Carolina Republican

“Christ in the Wilderness” by Ivan Kramskoi (1872) is a painting in the collection of The State Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow.

PUBLIC DOMAIN

it was in all his life, in every day and hour of it. Everything he did was in love, and love is always a living sacrifice. He was always denying himself. We do not have to be crucified on pieces of wood to bear a cross. When you were patient under insult or kind to one who had spoken ill of you, you were making a living sacrifice. On all his days, Christ made his life sacrificial. On Calvary, he only wrote the word out in capitals! Our sacrifices are transformed by the sacrifice of Christ and the discipline of life. The godly life is not the one that has known only ease, pleasure and self-indulgence. Iron ore, dug from the hills, is not yet ready to be used. The ore must be put through the glowing furnace where it is transformed into something of great value. The same is true of manhood. Some of us are forever complaining about the hardness of duty. Will we never learn the secret, that all our blessings, our sweetest joys, our richest comforts — come out of the very things that we so chafe and fret over? We are called to present our bodies as living sacrifices to God. The sacrifices are not to be made, however, for their own sake. This is the law of life in Christ. This is one of the ways Christ is saving the world.

Party Chair Robin Hayes, Lindberg consultant John Gray and associate John Palermo. Hayes was pardoned by Trump at the tail end of his first term. The 2020 conviction was overturned in June 2022 by the U.S. Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals due to improper jury instructions, and Lindberg was released from prison after serving 633 days of his 2020 sentence. Following the conviction being overturned, Lindberg and Gray were retried. A federal jury convicted the two men again on the same charges in May 2024, resulting in Lindberg now facing up to 30 years in prison. Separately, Lindberg pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit offenses against the United States in November 2024, according to the Department of Justice (DOJ). The charges included wire fraud, insurance business fraud, investment adviser fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering. The DOJ said the charges were linked to a “$2 billion scheme” in which Linderberg allegedly misused funds for personal use by defrauding insurance companies and policyholders. Lindberg is still awaiting sentencing in both cases. His attorneys have continued to file

Watkinson tells of a London auction where military badges of honor were sold — medals earned by courage and sacrifice. Bought and worn by another, they would have been only tawdry tinsel. Other people’s living sacrifices can bring no honor for us. They must be our own; the honors must be won by our own courage, faith and sacrifice. Some people like others to make the sacrifices for them — and then let them get the honor. A great humorist in the days of the Civil War used to talk of how many of his relatives he had given to his country’s service. Some Christian people like to urge and inspire others to make sacrifices, to give and suffer — while they do nothing of the kind themselves! But we never can have other people’s badges of sacrifice or decorations of honor pinned upon us. You must present your own body as a living sacrifice to God — your own, not another’s. You must bear the cross in your own life.

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

motions and court proceedings in the matter. Causey’s predecessor, Wayne Goodwin, was not implicated in the bribery case. Goodwin repeatedly denied any wrongdoing or favors exchanged related to Lindberg and was never accused of any wrongdoing in the federal bribery investigation or trials. While heading up the Department of Insurance, Goodwin had given Lindberg a special agreement in 2014. That agreement allowed Lindberg’s insurers to invest up to 40% of their assets in affiliated companies, which is above the typical 10% industry standard. When Causey took over, he reduced the amount. Lindberg was also a major donor to Goodwin’s 2016 reelection campaign for Insurance commissioner and later gave money to the North Carolina Democratic Party while Goodwin was chair. Direct contributions from Lindberg personally to Goodwin’s 2016 campaign were approximately $9,500 to $10,000, the maximum allowed under state rules that year. Dozens of Lindberg executives and associates also made up to $125,000 in contributions to Goodwin in 2016. Lindberg reportedly do-

nated between $350,000 and $450,000 to the N.C. Opportunity Committee, a PAC that ran pro-Goodwin ads. While Goodwin served as chair of the North Carolina Democratic Party, Lindberg personally donated $500,000 to the party’s general fund in 2018, and Eli Global donated another $250,000. Additionally, when Goodwin left office, he briefly consulted for two Lindberg companies but stated in 2019 that his consulting work had “stopped the previous year.” Following donations to the N.C. Democratic Party, campaign finance records show that between 2017 and 2018, Lindberg donated $1.5 million to the North Carolina Republican Party. The largest recipient of Lindberg contributions during that period was former Lt. Gov. Dan Forest, with $2.4 million through two PACs supporting his campaigns. In 2018, N.C. Congressman Mark Walker’s Victory Committee also received $150,000 in 2018, while a smaller direct contribution was made to former N.C. Congressman Patrick Murphy ($2,500). The year prior, former state Rep. David Lewis received $5,200, as did Sen. Brent Jackson. North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey speaks to the media in October 2024. Causey sent a letter to President Donald Trump before Christmas asking that Greg Lindberg not be considered for a pardon.

GARY D. ROBERTSON / AP PHOTO

North State Journal for Thursday, January 8, 2026

Audit: Lottery money to education drops Money going to education has dropped from 23% in 2023 to 16% in 2025 By A.P. Dillon North State Journal RALEIGH — A required financial statement audit of the North Carolina Education Lottery released near the end of 2025 by the North Carolina Office of the State Auditor describes a revenue increase but a decrease in the amount transferred for education spanning the 2024 to 2025 fiscal years. “North Carolinians have a reasonable expectation that if the Education Lottery’s ticket sales go up, money going toward our public schools would increase as well. At first glance, these numbers raise a lot of questions,” said State Auditor Dave Boliek. “Over the last three years, total revenues have increased by a total of over $3 billion, while contributions to public education have been flat.” The financial report shows the Education Lottery reported total annual revenue of $5.4 billion for the 2024 fiscal year. Of that total, $1.07 billion were net revenues for the Education Lottery Fund, which helps fund various public school needs such as school construction, transportation and staffing. Revenues increased the following fiscal year to $6.6 billion, but the amount sent to the Education Lottery Fund (ELF) dropped to $1.05 billion. North Carolina Education Lottery’s (NCEL) revenue distribution priority includes 50% for prizes to the public and 8% for lottery expenses, with 35% to be transferred to the ELF.

ERIK VERDUZCO / AP PHOTO

Dareus White buys a Powerball ticket at Cigarettes and More in 2023 in Pineville. The NCEL was signed into law in 2005 by former Gov. Mike Easley as part of that year’s state appropriations act. The bill faced opposition from both parties and was sent to Easley after then-Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue cast a tie-breaking vote in the Senate. At the time the NCEL law was enacted, “at least” 35% of the revenue was to be transferred to the Education Lottery Fund. The law, however, was altered in the 2007 budget bill, turning the 35% requirement into a guideline. Over the years, the percentage going to education has not been maintained, an issue noted by the North Carolina Office of

“Over the last three years, total revenues have increased by a total of over $3 billion, while contributions to public education have been flat.” Dave Boliek, state auditor

the State Auditor, which says in the past three years the percentage has “gone from 23% in FY 2023, to 20% FY 2024, to 16% in FY 2025.” NCEL issued a three-page

management commentary outlining fiscal year 2025 revenues, which cited multistate jackpot games like Powerball tied to a drop in lottery games sold in stores. “Retail sales declined mainly due to the underperformance of national, multistate draw games, Powerball and Mega Millions. Offsetting that decline was the growth in sales of Digital Instant games,” the NCEL commentary reads. “As Digital Instant games attracted new lottery players, they rose to the second most popular way to enjoy lottery play.” The financial report also cited Digital Instant games as being a driver behind its $6.59 bil-

MADURO from page A1 Maduro, 63, was brought to court under heavy security early Monday — flown by helicopter to Manhattan from Brooklyn, where he is jailed, and then driven to the courthouse in an armored vehicle. He and Flores were led into court just before noon. Both were in leg shackles and jail-issued garb, and both put on headsets to hear the English-language proceeding as it was translated into Spanish. As Maduro left the courtroom, a man in the audience denounced him as an “illegitimate” president. As a criminal defendant in the U.S. legal system, Maduro will have the same rights as any other person charged with a crime in the country — including the right to a jury trial. But, given the circumstances of his arrest and the geopolitical stakes at play, he’ll also be nearly — but not quite — unique. That was made clear from the outset as Maduro, who took copious notes throughout the proceedings and wished Happy New Year to reporters as he entered the courtroom, repeatedly pressed his case that he had been unlawfully abducted. “I am here kidnapped since Jan. 3, Saturday,” Maduro said,

The affidavit says the investigation began last month after authorities linked Sturdivant to a social media account that posted content supportive of IS, including imagery that appeared to promote violence. The account’s display name referenced Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the former leader of the extremist group. Some experts argue that IS is powerful today partly as a brand, inspiring both militant groups and individuals in attacks that the group itself may have no real role in. The affidavit says Sturdivant had been on the FBI’s radar in January 2022, when he was a minor, after officials learned he’d been in contact with a suspected IS member in Europe, and received instructions to dress in black, knock on people’s doors and commit attacks with a hammer. At that time, Sturdivant set out for a neighbor’s house armed with a hammer and a

knife but was restrained by his grandfather, the affidavit says. No charges were filed at that time, but Sturdivant underwent psychological treatment and the FBI was told he no longer had access to social media, Barnacle said. But the FBI found out weeks ago that he was back on it, he added. The FBI in Los Angeles last month announced the disruption of a separate New Year’s Eve plot, arresting members of an extremist anti-capitalist and anti-government group who federal officials said planned to bomb multiple sites in southern California. Other IS-inspired attacks over the past decade include a 2015 shooting rampage by a husband-and-wife team who killed 14 people in San Bernardino, California, and a 2016 massacre at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida, by a gunman who fatally shot 49 people.

ELIZABETH WILLIAMS VIA AP

you Nicolás Maduro Moros?” “I am Nicolás Maduro Moros,” the defendant responded. Maduro’s lawyer, Barry Pollack, said he expects to contest the legality of his “military abduction.” Pollack, a prominent Washington lawyer whose clients have included WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, said Maduro is “head of a sovereign state and is entitled to the privileges and immunities that go with that office.”

TERROR from page A1 for the attack, FBI Special Agent in Charge James Barnacle told reporters. Sturdivant “was willing to sacrifice himself,” Barnacle said. A handwritten note found in a trash can at Sturdivant’s home listed details of the planned attacks and the number of intended victims at a Burger King restaurant and unnamed grocery store, according to an FBI affidavit. The note also said he would attack arriving officers and “hoped to die by the hands of police.” Ferguson said the attack was to take place in Mint Hill, a bedroom community of Charlotte. The affidavit said a database check indicated Sturdivant worked at Burger King in Mint Hill. It wasn’t clear if that was the same restaurant cited in the note. Ferguson declined to identify the specific targeted

Panamanian strongman Manuel Noriega unsuccessfully tried the same immunity defense after the U.S. captured him in a similar military invasion in 1990. But the U.S. doesn’t recognize Maduro as Venezuela’s legitimate head of state — particularly after a much-disputed 2024 reelection. Flores, who identified herself to the judge as “first lady of the Republic of Venezuela,” had bandages on her forehead and

right temple. Her lawyer, Mark Donnelly, said she suffered “significant injuries” during her capture. A 25-page indictment accuses Maduro and others of working with drug cartels to facilitate the shipment of thousands of tons of cocaine into the U.S. They could face life in prison if convicted. Among other things, the indictment accuses Maduro and his wife of ordering kidnappings, beatings and murders of those who owed them drug money or undermined their drug trafficking operation. That included the killing of a local drug boss in Caracas, the indictment said. Outside the courthouse, police separated those protesting the U.S. military action from pro-intervention demonstrators. Inside the courtroom, as the proceeding wrapped up and Maduro prepared to leave, 33-year-old Pedro Rojas stood up and began speaking forcefully at him in Spanish. Rojas said later that he had been imprisoned by the Venezuelan regime. As deputy U.S. marshals led Maduro from the courtroom, the deposed leader looked directly at the man and shot back in Spanish: “I am a kidnapped president. I am a prisoner of war.”

In a courtroom sketch, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, left, and his wife, Cilia Flores, second from right, appear in Manhattan federal court with their defense attorneys Mark Donnelly, second from left, and Andres Sanchez on Monday.

standing and leaning his tall frame toward a tabletop microphone. “I was captured at my home in Caracas.” U.S. District Judge Alvin Hellerstein, a 92-year-old jurist who was appointed to the federal bench in 1998 by Bill Clinton, interrupted him, saying, “There will be a time and place to go into all of this.” Hellerstein added that Maduro’s lawyer could do so later. “At this point in time, I only want to know one thing: Are

GASTON COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE

Christian Sturdivant businesses, citing the ongoing investigation. If convicted, Sturdivant faces up to 20 years in prison, according to court documents.

The fact that Sturdivant encountered two undercover officers while allegedly planning the attack should reassure the public, Ferguson said.

lion “sales record” in fiscal year 2025. Those games added $2.6 billion in sales and have “quickly become the second most popular category of games behind scratch-off games, accounting for nearly 40% of overall sales for the fiscal year.” Additionally, Digital Instant game sales “grew by 129% in the first full year of the program,” and 25 new games were added, including “Monopoly,” a progressive jackpot shared between the NCEL and the Virginia Lottery, which awarded a $6.7 million jackpot to a North Carolina winner, the largest jackpot ever won in North America. According to Boliek’s press release, he spoke with NCEL leadership to discuss the report ahead of its public release. Boliek’s agency began a performance audit of the NCEL, and the press release says the last performance audit was conducted in 2008. In late December, Boliek also announced a new dashboard tracking lapsed salaries and long-term vacancies of six months or longer in state agencies. As of Aug. 6, the dashboard showed more than 8,800 long-term vacancies, which generated $1.04 billion in lapsed salaries. “Since day one, the State Auditor’s Office has been committed to providing the public with new tools and resources that inform North Carolina citizens about how their government operates,” said Boliek. “This new dashboard brings transparency to the dollars and cents behind vacancies in state government. The new division will continue to evaluate areas where government can provide the best return on taxpayer dollars.” The dashboard was statutorily required by Session Law 2025-89 and is part of his agency’s new Division of Accountability, Value, and Efficiency.

North State Journal for Thursday, January 8, 2026

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

EDITORIAL | FRANK HILL

We need a massive international celebration for D-Day Some attacks were as far away as off the coast of North Carolina near Atlantic Beach and Beaufort.

WE HAD A GREAT SURPRISE and honor to host for Christmas our French in-laws, who came down from northern Virginia with our oldest son and his family. As we celebrated with caviar and French champagne they brought with them, I asked the father-in-law if there were still vestiges of the Normandy invasion visible on the Brittany coast where they live. He said the pockmarks in the earth due to bombs and cannon fire were pretty much gone by now. However, he showed me photos of a concrete structure still intact in the local harbor near his house where the Nazis built and assembled U-boat submarines during their occupation of France during World War II. Aside from the bone-chilling realization these submarines were used to sink American and Allied ships and killed untold thousands of Allied soldiers and civilians — some attacks were as far away as off the coast of North Carolina near Atlantic Beach and Beaufort — there was the startling revelation that the D-Day invasion was close to a century ago. Many young people today have very little understanding or appreciation for the magnitude of what happened during D-Day and why it is still so important to us today. What happened on the western coast of France on D-Day and thereafter was one of the most important events in human history. It saved the Western civilization we in Europe and America take mostly for granted. Historians often point to the Battle of Thermopylae, where a small band of 300 Spartans under King Leonidas (made

popular in the 2006 movie “300”) held off the Persians, as being perhaps the first crucial battle victory where Western civilization was saved and allowed to continue to develop. The small, brave army of 300 Spartans held off the massive Persian army for just long enough to allow the Greek army to get back to Athens to help evacuate the city and protect it from the advance of the Persians, who would have surely destroyed all the buildings, art and literature that are the basis of our very existence today. The D-Day invasion of American, English, Canadian and Australian forces working in coordination with French Resistance forces surely turned back the history of such destruction of Western civilization and deserves to be remembered and celebrated as such. Had the Allies not invaded Normandy’s beaches and ultimately succeeded, the Nazis, under the megalomaniac Adolf Hitler, would have surely dominated Europe and murdered tens or hundreds of millions more people. The more we talked, since he lived on the very soil where Western civilization was saved again, I suggested to my French in-law there should be an annual international holiday and celebration on June 6 in Europe and America to remember and commemorate the bravery and success of the D-Day invasion, a suggestion to which he raised his glass and heartily agreed. There are somber commemorations and tributes nowadays for the brave soldiers who were there on D-Day. But shouldn’t there be a national holiday in every country on the same date with parades, fireworks and speeches

by all Western nations who were saved from utter annihilation had the D-Day invasion never been planned, ordered to commence or ultimately succeeded when Germany surrendered less than a year later? For one thing, it sure would teach younger generations about what it took to deliver the freedoms many take for granted today in each country. But it would also bind all democratic republics together in a single, solemn day of remembrance and prayer for what our fathers and grandparents did not just for one country but for freedom of thought, speech, religion and democratic government in all Western countries combined. At a time when some relationships between former Allies can be fractured along modern political differences, such a shared celebration might help bind all freedom-loving nations and citizens back together again on common shared ground. There are still attacks on all the principles that bound together the Allies in the 1940s by various forces, such as Islamist terrorists around the globe. If we don’t collectively remember what those shared values are, surely these attacks will continue to undermine the safety and security of everyone who considers themselves to be fortunate to live in Western civilization. Every national holiday has its own special importance. However, none can be more important than the day the Allies stormed the beaches of Normandy in France on June 6, 1944. It is time to remember and celebrate the exceptionalism it took to win such a terrible war against murderous regimes.

EDITORIAL | STACEY MATTHEWS

Thwarted Mint Hill terror threat a reminder that nowhere is immune His goal reportedly was to injure as many as 21 people with knives and hammers.

ON NEW YEAR’S DAY 2025, America woke up to horrible news. There had been a terrorist attack in the early morning hours in New Orleans, one of the most iconic cities in the United States. Fourteen people out celebrating the 2025 New Year’s holiday were murdered, with the youngest victims being 18 and the oldest being 63. Nearly 60 more were injured. The perpetrator was an apparent ISIS convert named Shamsud-Din Jabbar, 42, who used a pickup truck as a battering ram, driving it through the revelers with the intent to kill before he ultimately met his fate at the hands of New Orleans police officers. Jabbar, who the FBI believes was a lone wolf, planned on doing even more damage on his way to his planned martyrdom, with two IEDs found planted near the scene of the truck attacks. According to ABC News, the New Orleans ATF field office said the devices ultimately “failed to go off either because Jabbar was shot to death by police, or because he used the wrong mechanism to detonate the explosives.” One year later, another New Year’s Day attack was allegedly planned, but this time, the target was Mint Hill, North Carolina. Last Friday, authorities announced the planned attack had been thwarted and the suspect was in custody.

“The subject was directly inspired to act by ISIS,” a tweet on X from the FBI’s Charlotte division read. “A federal criminal complaint alleges 18-year-old Christian Sturdivant planned a violent attack at a grocery store in Mint Hill.” Sturdivant also allegedly planned to attack a Mint Hill Burger King location. The Department of Justice shared more details in their announcement. “In early December 2025, Sturdivant posted an image depicting two miniature figurines of Jesus with the on-screen text that read, ‘May Allah curse the cross worshipers,’” they noted. “The post is allegedly consistent with ISIS’s rhetoric calling for the extermination of all non-believers, including Christians, Jews, and Muslims who do not agree with ISIS’s extreme ideology.” Sturdivant, who authorities believe acted alone, was also said to be communicating with “an online covert employee” whom he believed was part of ISIS. Just days before the attack was allegedly going to be carried out, a search of his home was conducted by law enforcement. They found, among other things, a document labeled “New Years Attack 2026.” Included on that list were things Sturdivant allegedly planned to use during the attack: “a vest, mask, tactical gloves, and two knives allegedly to be used in the attack.” His goal

reportedly was to injure as many as 21 people with knives and hammers, becoming a martyr in the process in what he presumably figured would be a shootout with police. Mint Hill is a small community on the outskirts of Charlotte with about 27,000 residents, according to the 2020 census. Many young families and retirees reside in this closeknit area, which also has several churches. It is the epitome of small-town America. The Burger King that Sturdivant allegedly planned to attack was just steps away from a walk-up ice cream parlor that has outside seating. It is also within walking distance of the Town of Mint Hill Police Department, grocery stores, restaurants, and a mixture of old and new neighborhoods, all of which are often bustling with activity on any given day. Thank God the attack was thwarted in time. But news of what was found provided an important reminder all the same: No place in America is immune from such attacks or threats, whether they be large, well-known touristy cities like New Orleans or small towns like Mint Hill. 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.

North State Journal for Thursday, January 8, 2026

COLUMN | LARRY ELDER

COLUMN

Obamacare was, is and will always be a problem Democrats gambled two things would eventually happen.

PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA signed The Affordable Care Act, aka Obamacare, in 2010 without a single Republican vote in the House or the Senate. When Obama announced it to the nation, Vice President Joe Biden could be heard on a hot mic telling Obama, “This is a big f----ing deal.” It was no exaggeration, particularly given that most Americans opposed it. The liberal Brookings Institution think tank recently wrote, “The ACA was conceived in unpopularity. In October 2010, the month before the midterm elections, only 42% of Americans had a favorable view of the ACA. Republicans hated it — only 11% held a positive view — and independents didn’t like it, either (only 34% were favorable toward the ACA). Even among Democrats, approval stood at just 69%, down nine points from six months earlier.” Democrats gambled two things would eventually happen. First, Democrat politicians expected those without health care insurance, preObamacare, to become a large, loud and sympathetic special interest voting group. Second, when Obamacare failed to fulfill its ridiculous free lunch promises — bend the cost curve; save the average family $2,500 a year in premiums; allow people to keep their doctor and their health care plan; reduce the deficit; improve quality; reduce visits to emergency rooms; provide greater accessibility to providers; etc. — Democrats would be ready with a “solution.” Whether they call it “single payer,” “the public option” or “Medicare for all,” the federal government (taxpayers) should pay. Democrats knew few politicians would dare describe health care as a commodity like a car, a computer or a flat-screen TV. They bet few Republicans would say, “If the goal is accessibility, at the cheapest cost with the best incentives for innovation, this requires more competition and less government interference.” Brookings wrote, “By March 2023, 62% of Americans had a favorable view of Obamacare. … Democrats are now nearly unanimous (94%) in viewing (the Affordable Care Act) positively, along with 64% of independents. … Approval among Americans who identify as Republicans now stands at 36% — five times more support than the ACA enjoyed with the party’s loyalists in 2012.” As for the federal government’s role, Brookings wrote, “As Obamacare was just

beginning to come online in 2013, Gallup found that just 42% of Americans believed it was ‘the responsibility of the federal government to make sure all Americans have health care coverage.’ By the end of 2024, the proportion endorsing this idea had risen to 62%. The Pew Research Center asked a similar question in November 2025 — ‘Is it the federal government’s responsibility to make sure all Americans have health care coverage?’ — and found that 66% of Americans responded in the affirmative.” The Constitution limits the duties and obligations of the federal government. Health care insurance is not included. A federal takeover is not the only path forward. Former Democratic presidential candidate George McGovern, a former senator with unquestioned liberal bona fides, wrote a 2008 Wall Street Journal oped titled “Freedom Means Responsibility.” McGovern wrote, “Buying health insurance on the internet and across state lines, where less expensive plans may be available, is prohibited by many state insurance commissions. Despite being able to buy car or home insurance with a mouse click, some state governments require their approved plans for purchase or none at all. It’s as if states dictated that you had to buy a Mercedes or no car at all.” What about those who cannot afford health care insurance or those with preexisting conditions? Alexis de Tocqueville, in his famous book “Democracy in America,” marveled at the generosity of the American people and at their willingness to arrange mutual aid societies to help the needy. Tocqueville said, “The Americans make associations to give entertainment, to found seminaries, to build inns, to construct churches, to diffuse books, to send missionaries to the antipodes; in this manner, they found hospitals, prisons and schools.” Health care truly is a commodity. The “answer” is free markets, competition and fee for services. Many states have set up high-risk pools for those with preexisting conditions. As for the poor, America is, as Tocqueville found, a caring, generous nation. If government got out, the people would step in. But good luck trying to win elections while making such an argument. Larry Elder is a bestselling author and nationally syndicated radio talk-show host.

COLUMN | STEPHEN MOORE

The economists got 2025 all wrong These weren’t random errors. These were “hate Trump” errors.

WELL, Donald Trump has done it again! He stumped the chumps. The “chumps” in this case were the “blue-chip” academic and financial economists whose consensus forecast this time last year was of high inflation and low economic growth. Wrong on both counts. As you’ve probably heard, the GDP growth for Q3 came in at a red-hot 4.3%, following 3.5% for the second quarter. Some 90% of professional economists got it wrong — all underestimating the strength of the Trump economy. QED: These weren’t random errors. These were “hate Trump” errors. They also predicted inflation of above 3% for 2025. It’s going to come in at closer to 2.7%, with the last two months trending down to the Fed inflation target of 2%. Starting in the second quarter, GDP has been nearly twice as high as predicted. To quote the inimitable special agent Maxwell Smart, “Missed it by that much.” This isn’t the first time the whiz kids whiffed on the Trump economy. These are the same Keynesian economists who warned at the start of Trump’s first term that we would see a stock market crash. The stock market is today at record highs on all three indices. Paul Krugman, who won a Nobel Prize in economics and wrote regularly for The New York Times for years, famously feared a second Great Depression if Trump policies took hold. Krugman and others all thought Trump’s tariffs would ignite runaway inflation. There’s no doubt tariffs did cause a rise in aluminum, coffee and beef prices — commodities that got hit by tariffs as high as 50%. But the economic pundits failed to take account

of the disinflationary effect of pro-growth Trump policies like deregulation, tax rate cuts and pro-America energy policies. These counteracted the impact of tariffs on prices overall. One would have thought that the academics and media would have learned from their mistakes of always underestimating Trump on the economy. But they seem incapable of self-correcting. The latest blue-chip forecast for economic growth for 2026 is a measly 1.9% even though the economy has been growing 50% faster than that of late. This raises the question: Why are they persistently wrong? It could be that they are so afflicted with Trump Derangement Syndrome that they can’t see or shoot straight. No one likes their theories and core beliefs proven wrong. It was John Maynard Keynes who once famously said, “When the facts change, I change my mind — what do you do, sir?” His disciples seem incapable of changing their minds. If these blue-chippers had any integrity, they’d admit that they don’t know what they are talking about and send back their Ivy League PhDs. Fat chance that will ever happen. Instead, these prophets of doom will continue to give the entire economics profession a black eye. No wonder it is known as “the dismal science.” Stephen Moore is a former Trump senior economic adviser and the cofounder of Unleash Prosperity, which advocates for education freedom for all children.

JOHN STOSSEL

Doomed? WHILE CAMPAIGNING, President Donald Trump said, “We’re a nation in decline.” Now that he’s president, the left agrees. “We are witnessing the collapse and implosion of the American empire,” says Cornell West. Are the predictors of doom correct? Will America collapse like so many civilizations before us? If we don’t learn from history, says historian Johan Norberg, that might happen. “It’s a clash within every civilization on whether they should keep going, be open to innovation and progress, or whether they should retreat and decline,” he said in my new video. His book, “Peak Human: What We Can Learn from History’s Greatest Civilizations,” looks at the “golden ages” of Ancient Athens, Ancient Rome, Song China, the Abbasid Dynasty in Baghdad, Renaissance Italy, the Dutch Republic and the Anglosphere. Norberg argues that once people acquire a certain amount of comfort, they say, “‘We want stability, protection, we want someone to take care of us.’ … That’s what leads to stagnation.” People in power are generally comfortable with that. “They’ve built their power on a particular system of production, certain ideas,” Norberg wrote, “a particular mentality. ... Whereas trade, innovation, growth, it’s all about change. … What sets these golden ages apart is that, for a period of time, they managed to lift themselves above that and give more people more freedoms. That also allowed them to experiment more and come up with better technologies and raise living standards.” Greece once led the world. Rome, too. Not anymore. Why? Because people want “safety, stability, protection,” said Norberg. “They slow things down, get that stability, but they also get stagnation and poverty.” China experienced a golden age during the Song Dynasty. “They had more freedom than other Chinese dynasties. … More openness to new ideas from strange places. … (Farmers) were allowed to experiment with new grain, new forms of rice from Vietnam, and to trade with others. They came up with constant innovations. It became a very urbanized society that ushered in incredible experiments with iron, steel, textile, machines.” The government scrapped laws that had limited what could and couldn’t be sold. They allowed markets to stay open all night (something not allowed before). “In traditional Chinese society, people had fixed areas where they were allowed to live and where they had to return after having done a day’s work. People did not mingle and meet people from other classes, other professions. … Under the Song Dynasty, the walls were torn down. … They began to mingle with one another. … They could do more business, listen to concerts, go to religious ceremonies. Eventually, Chinese society realized that this is how you make progress. This is how we become wealthier. When more people meet, when more people exchange goods and services and ideas, they prosper.” But after the Mongols invaded, the Chinese banned ocean voyages and foreign trade. They stifled the experimentation that had made them rich. “They wanted stability after all this uncertainty and chaos. ‘How do we do that?’ … By regulating everything, telling people to stay in their places. … They got stability. They also got 500 years of stagnation, 500 years that turned the richest and greatest civilization on the planet to a desperately poor country.” If any country is in a golden age today, I would think it’s America, and Norberg agreed. “I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else in human history. We have made such remarkable progress when it comes to expanding freedoms, reducing poverty, increasing life expectancy.” But the American experiment is now 250 years old. Few golden ages last that long. Once affluent, people want stability and a government that resists change. “That then undermines the innovation that we need to keep golden ages going,” warned Norberg. “If we want a golden age to keep going, we have to fight for it.” How? “Double down on the institutions of liberal democracy, free markets, and unleash new waves of innovation and of progress. There is still time. We can still save this golden age.” John Stossel is the author of “Government Gone Wild: Exposing the Truth Behind the Headlines.”

BE IN TOUCH Letters addressed to the editor may be sent to letters@nsjonline.com or 1201 Edwards Mill Rd., Suite 300, Raleigh, NC 27607. Letters may be edited for style, length or clarity when necessary. Ideas for op-eds should be sent to opinion@nsjonline.com. Contact a writer or columnist: connect@northstatejournal.com

North State Journal for Thursday, January 8, 2026

Jones & Blount

Murphy to Manteo

2026 NC economic tiers

Lawmakers issue letters to Charlotte officials over safety, crime

The North Carolina Department of Commerce County Tier Designations for 2026 will go into effect this month. The designations, which are mandated by state law, play a role in several programs that assist in economic development. Eighteen counties will change tier designations for 2026. According to the Deptartment of Commerce, North Carolina uses a three-level system for designating County Development Tiers. The formula mandates that the 40 most distressed counties are designated as Tier 1, the next 40 as Tier 2 and the 20 least distressed as Tier 3. County tiers are calculated using four data points from the previous 12 months: average unemployment rate, median household income, percentage of growth in population and adjusted per capita property tax rate.

Committee co-chairs cited “high-profile and deadly attacks” on Charlotte’s public transit By A.P. Dillon North State Journal

• Counties moving to a less distressed tier ranking include Beaufort, Camden, Davie, Graham, Macon, Montgomery, Randolph, Stanly and Surry.

Tier 2 Tier 3

WEST

PIEDMONT

EAST

Spindale man arrested for fentanyl hidden in car

Nonprofit seeks to preserve recreation property ahead of development

2 brothers killed in shooting incident outside restaurant

Rutherford County A man faces multiple drug trafficking charges after authorities said he was found in possession of more than 100 grams of powder fentanyl and other paraphernalia. Officials said Javier Afanador has been charged with trafficking and trafficking by transportation. Investigators were conducting surveillance at Sterling Oaks Apartments when Afanador was spotted in his car with a large amount of cash in plain view. Officers searched his car and found a hidden lock box containing drugs and scales. WBTV

Girls’ wrestling tournament held in Hendersonville Henderson County More than 200 middle school and high school girls gathered in Hendersonville to participate in a wrestling tournament. One of the event organizers, Darrin May, said the sport has grown significantly since it became sanctioned in North Carolina in 2023. “North Carolina sanctioned girls wrestling a couple of years ago, and it’s taken off. Right now, girls wrestling is the largest-growing sport in America,” May said. WLOS

Officials urge measles vaccination after exposure in Gaston County Gaston County The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services and the Gaston County Public Health announced they were informed of a measles case in a person who had traveled through Gaston County. According to the NCDHHS release, anyone who was at Constantine’s Restaurant located at 1825 S. New Hope Road in Gastonia after 8:30 p.m. on Dec. 26 may have been exposed and should monitor for symptoms until Jan. 16. NCDHHS said the individual also attended Christmas Town USA in McAdenville from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Dec. 25, however, they did not visit any indoor locations, so NCDHHS said the risk of measles transmission to others attending at the same time is lower. If symptoms develop, people are urged to contact their local health department right away. If people have symptoms, they should call before visiting the doctors or the emergency room so that preventive measures can be taken. NSJ

RALEIGH — Near the end of 2025, the co-chairs of the N.C. House Select Committee on Oversight and Reform sent letters to officials from both the City of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County related to crime and public safety The letters are all similar and were signed by state Reps. Jake Johnson (R-Polk), Brenden Jones (R-Columbus) and Harry Warren (R-Rowan). Officials receiving the letters included Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles, Charlotte City Manager Marcus Jones, CharlotteMecklenburg Police Chief Estella Patterson, Mecklenburg County Sheriff Garry McFadden, Mecklenburg County Manager Mike Bryant, Mecklenburg County District Attorney Spencer Merriweather and Charlotte Area Transit System Interim CEO Brent Cagle. “In recent years, CharlotteMecklenburg has experienced a documented increase in violent crime and public safety incidents, including high-profile and deadly attacks occurring on public transit and in public spaces,” wrote the committee co-chairs.

Tier 1

• Counties moving to a more distressed tier ranking include Buncombe, Burke, Granville, Haywood, Henderson, Jones, Madison, Pasquotank and Yancey.

Rowan County A conservation nonprofit is working to preserve 4,000 acres of land near Tuckertown Reservoir. Thousands of acres are up for sale, but people who use the property for different forms of recreation, like hunting and hiking, are worried about who may purchase it and what be done with it. Three Rivers Land Trust is working to raise money to purchase the land, ensuring it remains accessible to the public and protected from development. NSJ

Man wins $1M top prize in lottery drawing Forsyth County Anthony Funchess, of Pfafftown, won the $1 million top prize in a second-chance drawing, according to an North Carolina Education Lottery news release. Funchess found out he won his big prize in the $10 Million Spectacular Second Chance drawing last month when he got a phone call from the lottery. There were more than 1.2 million total entries in the drawing. Funches chose to receive his winnings in the lump sum of $600,000. WGHP

Fire sweeps through Burlington shopping center Alamance County Fire crews responded to a structure fire Sunday morning at a shopping center on St. Marks Church Road, causing an estimated $700,000 in damage, according to the Burlington Fire Department. Firefighters were called to the scene at 1145 St. Marks Church Road at 8:31 a.m. and arrived just over three minutes later to find heavy smoke coming from the front of one of the businesses in the shopping center, officials told local outlets. Crews entered multiple units inside the building to confirm no one was inside and began working to locate and extinguish the fire. The fire was brought under control about 45 minutes after it was reported, according to the department. No injuries were reported. The cause of the fire remains under investigation. Officials estimate damage at $200,000 to the structure and $500,000 to the contents inside the affected businesses. WFMY

Cumberland County According to the Fayetteville Police Department, two brothers, 43-yearold Timothy Nakamoto and 45-yearold Daniel Nakamoto, were killed Saturday evening in a shooting at Mac’s Speed Shop in Fayetteville. Officers said Sunday, as their preliminary investigation is underway, that the two brothers were in a verbal argument that escalated into a physical altercation and turned into fatal gunfire. According to officials, Timothy Nakamoto was pronounced deceased at Cape Fear Valley Medical Center and Daniel Nakamoto was pronounced deceased on scene. NSJ

Newport extends ice skating through Valentine’s Day Carteret County The Town of Newport has announced that Winter Wonderland ice skating will continue through Valentine’s Day, giving residents and visitors more chances to enjoy the seasonal attraction. According to the town, weekend skating will be available on Saturdays and Sundays at Newport Community Park. The rink will open at noon, with the final skating session beginning at 6:30 p.m. Town officials said the extended schedule will allow families and community members to continue enjoying the ice as the winter season winds down.

Police: Driver tossed drugs out of car on livestream during chase Nash County A Nash County driver with 22 active criminal cases was caught tossing meth and fentanyl out of a car during an 80-mph chase that he livestreamed on Facebook Saturday morning, deputies said. The incident began around 11:30 a.m. when deputies pulled over a driver for an equipment violation just southwest of Rocky Mount, according to a Nash County Sheriff’s Office news release. During the traffic stop, the driver tried to hand over a gun to a family member, who surrendered it to the officer, deputies said. The driver, identified as Jonathan Kendall Bulluck, 28, a convicted felon, then sped off from the traffic stop, taking N.C. 97 toward Edgecombe County, officials said. The narcotics the driver tried to throw out the car window were found by Nash County deputies, the news release said. The drugs were determined to be methamphetamine and fentanyl in individual packages, according to deputies. WNCT

WITN

“These incidents have raised serious concerns regarding law enforcement staffing levels, transit security, prosecutorial practices, and the City’s overall public safety strategy.” The lawmakers noted the region’s “significant financial and policy commitments to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, the expansion of offices for equity and immigrant integration, and policies that limit or restrict cooperation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).” “The Committee is concerned that these priorities may be occurring concurrently with the defunding, de-prioritization, or restructuring of traditional law enforcement and public safety functions,” wrote Johnson, Jones and Warren. “This inquiry seeks to understand whether Charlotte-Mecklenburg’s policy decisions, budgetary allocations, and operational practices are effectively addressing rising crime, or whether public safety has been subordinated to ideological initiatives at the expense of residents, transit users, and law-abiding communities,” the letter states. The letter also includes a list requesting related communications, data and documents to be turned over to the committee no later than noon on Jan. 8. The committee’s next meeting will be held on Jan. 22 at 9 a.m.

Former NC House Speaker Stewart dead at 89 The Gastonia Democrat served seven terms By A.P. Dillon North State Journal RALEIGH — Former member of the North Carolina House Carl Stewart Jr., in the final week of 2025. He was 89 years old. Stewart, a Democrat from Gastonia, served in the House from 1967 to 1980. He was the first to serve two terms as speaker of the House. He held a law degree from Duke University (1961) and practiced law at his firm for more than six decades. He also served in the North Carolina National Guard. “Saddened to learn of the passing of former NC House Speaker Carl Stewart,” House Speaker Destin Hall posted on social media Dec. 26. “Please join me in keeping his loved ones in our thoughts and prayers.” Later the same day, Gov. Josh Stein

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also issued condolences, writing on social media, “I am saddened to learn about the passing of Carl Stewart, the first two-term Speaker of the North Carolina House. I am keeping his family in my prayers.” Stewart also served on the North Carolina Board of Transportation (1981-83) as well as on the state’s Economic Development Board (1999-2001) and the Board of Technology (1999-2001). He was the chair for the N.C. Ports Authority under Govs. Mike Easley and Bev Perdue, and he had recently served on the State Ethics Commission. Stewart was also a recipient of the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, the state’s highest honor. According to his obituary, a memorial service will be held Jan. 11 at 2 p.m. in the Founders Chapel of McLean Funeral Directors of Gastonia. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Gaston College Foundation.

North State Journal for Thursday, January 8, 2026

NATION & WORLD

Walz drops bid for third term as Minn. governor Sen. Amy Klobuchar is reportedly considering running for the position By Steve Karnowski and Bill Barrow The Associated Press ST PAUL, Minn. — Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, Democrats’ 2024 candidate for vice president, is ending his bid for a third term as governor amid President Donald Trump’s relentless focus on a fraud investigation into child care programs in the state. Less than four months after announcing his reelection campaign, Walz said Monday that he could no longer devote the energy necessary to win another term, even as he expressed confidence that he could win. Walz said in a statement Monday that he “can’t give a political campaign my all” after what he described as an “extraordinarily difficult year for our state.” “Donald Trump and his allies — in Washington, in St. Paul, and online — want to make our state a colder, meaner place,” Walz said, referring to the Trump administration withholding funds for the programs. “They want to poison our people against each other by attacking our neighbors. And, ultimately, they want to take away much of what makes Minnesota the best place in America to raise a family.” Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota is considering running for governor, according to a person close to her. The person, who wasn’t au-

MEG KINNARD / AP PHOTO

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz speaks at the South Carolina Democratic Party Convention on May 31 in Columbia, South Carolina. thorized to speak publicly and spoke on the condition of anonymity, said Klobuchar has not made a final decision. Around a dozen Republicans are already in the race, including MyPillow founder and chief executive Mike Lindell and 2022 gubernatorial candidate Dr. Scott Jensen, a former state senator. Walz is a military veteran and union supporter who helped enact an ambitious Democratic agenda for his state, including sweeping protections for abortion rights and generous aid to families. Vice President Kamala Harris picked Walz as her running mate after his attack line against Trump and his running mate, then-Ohio Sen. JD Vance — “These guys are just weird” — spread widely. Walz had been building

“Donald Trump and his allies — in Washington, in St. Paul, and online — want to make our state a colder, meaner place.” Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz up his national profile since his and Harris’ defeat in November. He was a sharp critic of Trump as he toured early caucus and primary states. In May, he called on Democrats in South Carolina to stand up to the Republican president, saying, “Maybe it’s time for us to be a little meaner.” Through two terms as governor, Walz has moved a liberal agenda through a closely divided legislature. In his first term,

he navigated a Democratic-led House and a Republican-controlled Senate that resisted his proposals to use higher taxes to boost money for schools, health care and roads. But he helped broker compromises. He used the office’s emergency power during the COVID-19 pandemic to shutter businesses and close schools, prompting Republican pushback. Republicans also were critical of Walz over what they saw as his slow response to sometimes violent unrest that followed the killing of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer in 2020. In his second term, Walz worked with Democratic majorities in both legislative chambers to chart a more liberal course in state government, aided by a huge budget surplus. Minnesota eliminated nearly all of the state abortion restrictions enacted in the past by Republicans, protected gender-affirming care for transgender youth and legalized the recreational use of marijuana. That, combined with Walz’s rural background and experience representing southern Minnesota in Congress, landed him on Harris’ radar as she considered potential running mates in her 2024 presidential bid. After a whirlwind search, she opted for Walz over other governors — North Carolina’s Roy Cooper, Kentucky’s Andy Beshear and Pennsylvania’s Josh Shapiro — and former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. Walz got a warm welcome from Democratic voters but drew mixed reviews for his lone debate against his Vance. Minnesota has leaned Democratic in presidential and statewide contests in recent decades. Walz won his second term in 2022 by nearly 8 percentage points, but Trump narrowed Democrats’ advantage to less than 5 points in 2024.

North Korea says latest missile tests involve hypersonic weapons system Kim Jong Un has been trying to build a stronger nuclear program By Hyung-Jin Kim Associated Press SEOUL, South Korea — North Korea said Monday that leader Kim Jong Un observed test flights of hypersonic missiles and underscored the need to bolster the country’s nuclear war deterrent, as the country dials up weapons displays ahead of its major political conference. North Korea reported on the drill a day after its neighbors said they detected multiple ballistic missile launches and accused the North of carrying out provocations. The tests came just hours before South Korean President Lee Jae Myung departed for China for a summit with President Xi Jinping. The official Korean Central News Agency said Sunday’s drill involving a hypersonic weapon system was meant to examine its readiness, enhance missile troops’ firepower operational skills and evaluate operational capabilities of the country’s war deterrent. “Through today’s launching drill, we can confirm that a very important technology task for national defense has been carried out,” Kim said, according to KCNA. “We must continuously upgrade the military means, especially offensive weapon systems.” The possession of a functioning hypersonic weapon would give North Korea an ability to penetrate the U.S. and South Korea’s missile defense shields. In past years, North Korea has performed a series of tests to acquire it, but many foreign experts question whether the

Wisc. judge resigns as GOP threatened impeachment Milwaukee Embattled Wisconsin Judge Hannah Dugan, who was convicted of obstruction last month for helping an immigrant evade federal officers, has sent her resignation letter to the governor. The letter was sent Saturday. Republicans had been making plans to impeach her ever since her Dec. 19 conviction. A spokesperson for Gov. Tony Evers, a Democrat, said his office received Dugan’s letter, and he would work to fill the vacancy without delay. Last April, federal prosecutors accused Dugan of distracting federal officers trying to arrest a Mexican immigrant outside her courtroom and leading the man out through a private door. A federal jury convicted her of felony obstruction.

Hundreds march inhonor of Swiss bar fire victims Crans-Montana, Switzerland Hundreds marched in silence Sunday to honor the victims of the New Year’s Eve fire at a bar in the Swiss Alpine resort of Crans-Montana, which left 40 dead and many severely injured. Somber mourners, many with reddened eyes, filed silently out of the chapel to organ music after the hourlong Mass at the Chapelle Saint-Christophe in Crans-Montana. Some exchanged hugs before marching up a hill to Le Constellation bar. Mourners and well-wishers deposited bouquets at a makeshift memorial piled with flowers, cuddly toys and other tributes.

British, French warplanes strike facility in Syria Damascus, Syria Britain and France carried out a joint airstrike in central Syria on an underground facility where members of the Islamic State group are suspected to have stored weapons and explosives. Britain’s Ministry of Defence said in a statement that guided bombs were used Saturday evening to target several access tunnels down to the structure in the mountains just north of the historic town of Palmyra in the country’s Homs province. The two countries are part of the U.S.-led coalition that has been fighting IS militants for more than a decade.

25 dead, 14 missing after boat capsizes in Nigeria KOREAN CENTRAL NEWS AGENCY / KOREA NEWS SERVICE VIA AP

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, center, inspects test flights of hypersonic missiles in Pyongyang on Sunday. tested missiles have achieved their desired speed and maneuverability during flights. In recent weeks, North Korea test-fired what it called long-range strategic cruise missiles and new anti-air missiles and released photos showing apparent progress in the construction of its first nuclear-powered submarine. Observers say North Korea aims to demonstrate or review its achievements in the weapons development sector ahead of the ruling Workers’ Party congress, the first of its kind in five years. Keen attention is on whether Kim would use the congress to set a new approach

“We must continuously upgrade the military means, especially offensive weapon systems.” Kim Jong Un, North Korean leader on relations with the U.S. and resume long-dormant talks. The latest launches followed Saturday’s U.S. military operation that ousted Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from power and brought him to the

U.S. to face narco-terrorism conspiracy charges. North Korea slammed the operation, saying it again shows “the rogue and brutal nature of the U.S.” Many experts say the U.S. operation will likely leave Kim pushing to further expand his nuclear weapons capabilities that he thinks guarantee the survival of his government and state sovereignty in the face of U.S.-led hostilities. During Sunday’s launch drill, Kim defended his push for a stronger nuclear program. “Why it is necessary is exemplified by the recent geopolitical crisis and complicated international events,” he said.

Yobe, Nigeria A passenger boat capsized in northern Nigeria’s Yobe state, leaving at least 25 people dead while 14 others remained missing, emergency services said Sunday. The boat was carrying residents who had gone to the local market as well as some who were involved in fishing or farming when it capsized along the Yobe River, officials said. Out of the 52 passengers on board the boat, 13 were rescued and are receiving medical assistance. Boat accidents kill hundreds annually across Nigeria, especially in remote areas where water transportation is common due to its convenience for business owners and the absence of good roads.

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

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At least fourainrecent the 20th century alone be that “we debt plus trillions coronavirus press can briefing just don’t know more 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: flu,” 1968 “Hong orders Kong markets financial state’s stay-at-home will extend into May. andand Since when1957 did “Asian 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 in expected ho Lenten and ar of rampant inflation and currency pandemic. 1918 “Spanish flu” pandemic also had for its origins in China. measures without justification it. And the answers should not be vague onesimm like COVID-19 n’t know yet” if the process of returning back to normalcy. transparency According to the University of Washing For me, Easter seasons government There is 100% agreement, outside of do China, thatofCOVID-19 depreciation. must this out an abundance 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 has to pay for provide a China at all levels It will need tocompletely be explained in detail to the people ofmaking. this state e asked as to the And the longer stay-at-home orders are in place all over the Trump administration, the expected ne Diplomacy has obviouslyquestions. 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 likecentury “we health, country, and the stricter some of them get in states, such as Michigan, peak outbreak was revised down by ove worldones of 21st 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 totalitarian citizens mandated thatplants we do,elsewhere but alongpurely the way I’ve also had governmen questions a of cases at the local and state levels should be as forthcoming as they know, what they questions that will allow the economy tot pf thousands pushing until they win orLeaders 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 as the 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. The financial squeeze resulting sometimes a disturbing tendency among people to treat tho church some services ad questions about We should to do whatsite we can to keep our 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 proposed U.S. tax credits to companies whosimply willknow source at least halfdata of their in 1986. The what they questioning the and asking when we can start gettin Duke Energy’s and many more Sponsored by Union and our communities safe. But we still continue more liberalized society that presumes w 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, is in BelewsSponsored Creek Shearon to do, lastUnited I to normal as they are$120 conspiracy theorists or people don’t. 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 inor1989. Harris Nuclear near Greensboro otherwise don’t care if they get themselves others sick. s. title of a recent study, ple to treatsuggested those by the measures are understandable, they should also have an date. direct investment in the U.S. is about $65We’ve seen fatality rates — Conc the ni temporary Chernobyl. In Power Plant inexpiration China. Chinese billion by case Perhaps COVID-19 Since when did questioning government at all levels become a “Academic and to theAmericans, and it is not normal. Not in any way, North State Journal for Wednesday, April 15, an starttalking getting backGrievance ThisStudies is all new the number of identified COVID-19 cas is operated lready about the possibility money to b sacrifices are comparison. Senators in Washing thing? That is what free citizens living in a free society were supp Corruption of Scholarship.” The study was in New Hill. By Elizabeth Lincicome or are people who shape, or form. So while we should remain vigilant and stay safe, at and the denominator are likely wrong. W n debt we owe them as one way to get health car An investment tax credit of 30% U.S. investment in China of China forgiving $1.2 over. The toon do,half lastof I checked. done by Areo, an opinion and analysisFor North State Journal company s sick. same time we shouldn’t get comfortable with this so-called “newbillion, applied to repatriated American manufacturing people have actually died coronaviru 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 along in all has this, of course, isfor mythe fam submitted 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 DESPITE investment to the U.S. would cost the U.S. Treasury $18 billion in breath waiting for a Ch worried about them catching the virus, and I’m worried I will. A an initial PUSHBACK iety were supposed Not one little bit. of death, particularly among elderly pat countable in tangible financial ways for John Milton in defense of free speech. tax revenue spread over a few years. $18 billion lost revenue representatives hold application from several environmental suffering fromin the H1N1 virusis(swine flu) during the 2009topande in. Authors Helen Pluckrose, James A.groups, Duke Energy has filed sources suggesttothe number is dramatic decimal dust compared to the $6 I’ve trillion+ Marshall Plan extra we areprecautions, now this disaster. federal been trying to take because all of this brin Lindsay and Peter Boghossian say has that rse, to is my family. Stacey Matthews written underwith the pseudonym Sister Toldjah manyas people are dying home. cted operate as I’m responsible citizens of regulators itsalso first application the undertaking to save our own economy, notmany of defeated enemies in the It is at about timenot they way too memories of a painful experience I’ d prefer to something drastically wrong rried I will. After has gone and is a regular contributor to RedState and Legal Insurrection. Even more importantly, we have no cl seeking U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Comnation. past. the world like any othe But what also makes me lose sleep is how easily most everyone in academia, especially within certainmission for a new nuclear faapproval forSome scienti he 2009 pandemic, actually have coronavirus. China has been cheating, stealing, pirating and pillaging American fields within the humanities. They callcility in Stokes County. The a new nuclear all of this brings up of identified cases could be an order of m business now for the past 30 years. They have made no secret that they facility these fields “grievance studies,” whereproposed reactor would be loat Neal Robbins, publisher | Frank Hill, senio prefer notscholarship to repeat. is not so much based upon number of people who have intend to replace the U.S. as the premier superpower in the world and Belews Creekhad coronav cated at Belews Creek, just outmost everyone hastruth but upon attending to finding replace the dollar as the reserve currency with their renminbi. in Stokes side Greensboro. If approved, it CBD, hemp and other cannabis-

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social grievances. scholars would be the first nuclear faciliderived products soldGrievance across County. bully Carolina students, administrators North could be outlawed and other ty in the Triad, though it would nationwide in November, a departments into adhering to their add to plants Duke already opCOURTESY DUKE ENERGY move that would a they promote is worldview. Thethreaten worldview Jason erates near Wilmington and multibillion-dollar and n neither scientificindustry nor rigorous. Grievance EDITORIAL | STACEY MATTHEWS Charlotte. disrupt hundreds of growers and ose studies consist of disciplines such as cent filing with the North CarThe filing comes amid sigthousands of workers in a state sociology, anthropology, gender that ranks among the nation’s top studies, olina Utilities Commission, nificant energy policy changCOLUMN | REP. RICHARD HUDSON queer studies, sexuality and critical race producers. “Opponents are jumping to conclusions which outlines how much new es at both the state and federNorth Carolina ranks sixth studies. solar, natural gas and nucleal levels. Tax credits support and emphasized that the utility is in nationally in and the production of In 2017 2018, authors Pluckrose, ar capacity the utility expects advanced nuclear technology hemp-derived products, according Lindsay and Boghossian started the earliest exploratory stages.” to build by 2040, and the proand battery storage and proto a 2023 study, with more than s submitting bogus academic papers tovide flexibility for existing coal ductivity anticipated from each 800 licensed growers and roughly Bill Norton, Duke principal communications manager academic journals cultural, queer, plants and new natural gas gen8,000 workers tied to in cultivation, source. race, gender, and sexuality processing and fat retail sales. From studieseration. The Belews Creek site Sanders said Duke sees CBD oils to THC-infused gummies to determine if they would pass peer could be eligible for up to a 40% greater long-term promise in and drinks, the products “THISpower IS THE DAY thenotlord has mad he seriousness of and the virus andhave the review be accepted for need publication. MOST STATES either shelter-in-place or stay-at-home fallen into place. I unde nuclear than solar, application, known as an earPlacesWITH We Live, oppose the plan under flourished in a of legal gray area that that investment tax credit under inAcceptance dubious research in it” (Psalm 118:24). asy with how people who simply ask ing that while Duke plans to to local or state majority of Americans to take precautions, bu ly governments, site permit, forathe past two have thanks submitted a formal centives created by the Infla- andorders now appears to be closing. editors found sympathetic to their I know that during this challenging hen thingsjournal can back to far more solar capacity, it the datt andcalled says itthe intends ad- build the to North Carolina tion Reduction Act and Presi- filing The start state’sgetting hemp story dates arewith having adjust to what years is being “newtonormal.” questions about intersectional or North postmodern back to 2017, when Carolinaleftist vision expects nuclear to deliver dress environmental andend safety Commission arguing dent Donald Trump’s One Big Utilities working from home or losing a job, it es with contempt. Some of these orders extend at least through the of this month. normal aresigtreated inm s of theaworld prove the problemBeautiful of joined federalwould pilot program nificantly more power. issues at Belews Creek well beit fails to meet the state’s “reaBill. be glad” as the Bible tells us to do. How as a society simply must accept without Virginia’s stay-at-home orders go into June. They’re treated as th allowing limited cultivation. low academic standards. hopes to use small and prudent” and “least fore a full reactor application is andDuke dad, the Easter holiday hasthe remind ells us about when it’s safefake to begin thepapers The Belews Creek Steam Sta- sonable Momentum accelerated after the Here in North Carolina, Democratic Gov.isRoy Coopertostated during question what gove Several of the research modular reactors at Belews filed. Approval expected cost” standards. The groups are tion opened in 1974 on Belews Farm Bill legalized hemp have to be thankful and hopeful for, eve malcy. 2018 were accepted for publication. The FatLake as a coal-fired power urging a recent coronavirus press briefing that “we just don’t know yet” if the process of returning ba the commission to re- take about 18 months, and a nu- Creek, which are smaller and nationwide, defining it as cannabis Lenten and pandemic. r us, and we have journal the right to ask those Studies published a hoax paper state’s stay-at-home orders will extend into May. No. The government potentially less expensive than clear reactor would be at least a ject the plan, saying it does not plant. Duke added natural gas containing no more than 0.3% Since when did that That argued the term was For me, my faith is an important par t-home orders are threshold in place all bodybuilding over the Easter seasons THC. opened the traditional reactors. Duke is the long he does decide togoals extenddecade it, questions should be asked as to the away from operation. questions. And emissions-reduction to the site in 2020 and 2021, but meet If questioning exclusionary andas should be replaced the current units to a wide array of Michigan, consumer making. As I celebrated Easter with my f them getdoor in states, such studying six designs, includUnder the state’s carbon plan, relies on costly and unprovare scheduled andjustification for it. And the answers should notabe vague ones like “we country, and the stricte provide products that remain legal even as with “fat bodybuilding, as a fat-inclusive ing light-water, helium and liqDuke must achieve net-zero nuclear technology. to shut down ingovernment the late 2030s. en must Corinthians 1:4, which reminds us our feeling isolated and/or anxious about do this out of an abundance of caution.” the more people, sitting recreational is banned message of politicized marijuana performance.” One reviewer uid sodium–cooled Aable emissions by 2050.ofJon “Opponents aretojumping to carbon Duke says repurposing the site affliction, so thatwhen wereactors. may com ding for their families, will under federal lawdemand and North at all levels It will need be explained in detail to the people this state who theybecan gettoback ns said, both “I thoroughly enjoyed reading this hope that site permitwith would last 20 years, of we thewill John affliction, would save customers money. conclusions and emphasized Sanders, director Carolina statute. the comfort which we ou are remain jobless andFoundation’s at home forCenter an undetermined answers. , article and believe it has an importantEnvironmentalbecome a renewLocke for with a possible 20-year that thebeing utilitytold is intothe earliest groups, includThe result has been a booming once again enjoy God.” levels should be as forthcoming as they contribution make toand the field and this amount of time why hundreds of thousands of Duke cases positions Leaders at the local a market built on to chemistry the projFood, Power and Life, said, al, as stages,” said models Duke predicting ing the Environmental Work- exploratory bad thing? sporting events, If as you areofcelebrating the to Easter seas d again, not vague answers, but answer journal.” careful labeling. By converting are reliable.communications “Building new can beeffort with those answ part a broader nuclear capaci- ect ing Group, 350 Triangle and principal hemp-derived compounds into low- Solidarity “Our Struggle Is My Struggle: That is what reflect on this message and be comforte ments believability. concerts, family demandthat give th ty on existing coal has sitesasked makesandmeet To date, I’ve gone along with what the state thengrowing energy with details Bill Norton. the North Carolina Alliance manager dose products, manufacturersReply to Feminism as anfamilies, Intersectional example andWe comfort in what we can toTHC keep our across the Carolinas. sense.” cited mostquestions re- God’s Duke has been preparing the along to Protect Ourfree People and the citizens mandated that we do, but theHe way I’veDuke’s also had about shouldallallthose contin gatherings, created items that technically se Neoliberal and Choice Feminism,” was this difficult time. Through faith and by safe. But complied we should also still continue with the law while the data. State Republican leaders have, too. services ourselves, and our com church living in a free acceptedmild for publication by Affilia, a producing intoxicating effects. confident we will emerge out of this pan because while reasonable stay-at-home Unfortunately, when certain types ofand questions get asked, there is to ask questions about s feminist journal forand social workers. The many more beverages tinctures society were this same spirit, I continue to be in hey shouldGummies, also have an expiration sometimes a disturbing tendency among some people to treatInthose measures are understa paper consisted part of adate. rewritten quickly spread frominspecialty after our own supposed neighbors helping neighbors. and it is not normal. Not in any way, shops to convenience andTwo other passage from Mein stores Kampf. simply questioning the data and asking when we can start getting back This is all new to Am stations across the state.at including temporary In Concord, a shape, high school senior nam uld remaingas vigilant and stay safe, hoax papers were published, to do, last I to normal as though they are conspiracy theorists or are people who or form. So whil That loophole may . “Rape Culture and soon Queer Performativity money to buy a 3-D printer and plastic comfortable with this so-called “new sacrifices are otherwise don’t care if they get themselves or others sick. the same time we shou disappear. In the most recent checked. at Urban Dog Parks.” This paper’s subject health care workers out of his own hom federal spending package passed Since when did questioning government at all levels become a bad normal.” over. was dog-on-dog rape. But to reopen the government in the dog rape thing? That is what free citizens living in a free society were supposed Not one little bit. paper eventually forced Boghossian, November, Senate language backed to do, last I checked. by Kentuckyand Republican Mitch Pluckrose Lindsay to prematurely out n under the pseudonym Sister Toldjah McConnell would dramatically 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 tighten the definition of legal RedState and Legal Insurrection. had figured out what theyhemp were doing. worried about them catching the virus, and I’m worried I will. After and is a regular contri products. The proposal would cap Some papers accepted for publication Chinese EV maker suffering from the H1N1 virus (swine flu) during the 2009 pandemic, tonomous taxis for years and THC at 0.4 milligrams per serving infar academic BYD is now on top — below thejournals five to 10advocated milligrams training far more I’ve been trying to take extra precautions, because all of thishas brings up customers. It will men like dogsinand punishing white male typically found popular low-dose also have to contend with regway too many memories of a painful experience I’ d prefer not to repeat. gummies — effectively banning slavery by college students for historical ulatory challenges. The comBut what also makes me lose sleep is how easily most everyone has most products now market. asking them to sitoninthe silence on the floor in pany is under several federal By Paul Harloff McConnell, theclass chiefand architect n chains during to beofexpected to Bernard Condon safety investigations and othand the 2018 Farm Bill, has argued that learn from the discomfort. Other papers er probes. In California, TesThe Associated Press hemp companies have exploited the ity celebrated morbid obesity as a healthy life law to sell intoxicating substances la is at risk of temporarily loschoice and advocated privately NEW YORK — Tesla lost its never intended to be legal.treating If ing its license to sell cars in the adopted, the masturbation change would take conducted as a form of crown as the world’s bestselling state after a judge there ruled effect nationwide November, d sexual violenceinagainst women. Typically, it had misled customers about electric vehicle maker last Frigiving businesses a narrow window as academic journal editors send submitted their safety. day as a customer revolt over to adapt or shut down. papers out to referees for review. In Elon Musk’s right-wing poli“Regulatory is going to be a State leaders are already recommending for publication, signaling concern. acceptance Last June, Gov. big issue,” said Wedbush Secutics, expiring U.S. tax breaks many reviewers gave these papers glowing Josh Stein announced the creation rities analyst Dan Ives, a wellfor buyers and stiff overseas of a cannabis advisory council to praise. known bull on the stock. “We’re competition pushed sales down examine North Carolina’s largely Political scientist Zach Goldberg ran dealing with people’s lives.” for a second year in a row. unregulated hemp market. In a ss certain grievance studies concepts through Still, Ives said he expects Tesla said that it delivered press release, Stein said, “Our DAVID ZALUBOWSKI / AP PHOTO d the Lexis/Nexis database, to see how often Tesla’s autonomous offer1.64 million vehicles in 2025, state’s unregulated cannabis they appeared ourand press market is the Wildin West is over the years. down 9% from a year earlier. Unsold 2026 Tesla Model Y utility vehicles sit in a holding lot ings will soon overcome any He found huge increases in the usages Chinese rival BYD, which in northeast Denver in November. crying for order.” setbacks. North Carolina growers, ofFor “white privilege,” “unconscious bias,” Musk has said he hopes softsold 2.26 million vehicles last processors andtheory” retailers,and the “whiteness.” stakes ng “critical race ware updates to his cars will year, is now the biggest EV are Many have invested Allhigh. of this is being taught to college maker. Even with multiple issues earnings per share, according enable hundreds of thousands heavily in facilities, licenses and students, many of whom become primary It’s a stunning reversal for a buffeting the company, inves- to FactSet. Analysts expect the of Tesla vehicles to operate ausupply chains built around hempc. and secondary school teachers derived THC. A federal ban could who then car company whose rise once tors are betting that Musk can downward trend in sales and tonomously with zero human indoctrinate ourtoyoung people. force rapid pivots nonintoxicating seemed unstoppable as it over- deliver on his ambitions to profits to eventually reverse it- intervention by the end of this products, consolidation across the n I doubt whether the coronavirusyear. The company is also plantook traditional automakers make Tesla a leader in robotaxi self as 2026 rolls along. industry outrightcrunch closures. caused or financial will give college

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

Tesla loses world’s biggest electric vehicle maker title as sales fall for second year

with far more resources and and universityNORTH administrators, who are a helped make Musk the world’s STATE JOURNAL crossbreed between a parrot and jellyfish, richest man. The sales drop the guts and backbone to restore academic came despite President Donald respectability. Far too often, they get much Trump’s marketing effort early of their political support from campuslast year when he called a press grievance who are members ofconference the NCDOTpeople CASH REPORT to praise Musk as FOR THE ENDING JAN. 2 faculty andWEEK diversity and multicultural a “patriot” in front of Teslas administrative offices. lined up on the White House The best hope lies with boards of driveway then announced he Beginning Cash trustees, though many serve as yes-men would be buying one, buckfor the university president. I think that inga presidential precedent to $2,374,264,091 good start would be to find 1950s or 1960s not endorse private company catalogs. Look at the course offerings products. at Receipts (income) a time when college graduates knew howFor the fourth quarter, Testo read, write and compute, and makela sales totaled 418,227, falling $344,953,060 them today’s curricula. Another helpful short of even the much-reduced tool would be to give careful consideration 440,000 target that analysts Disbursements to eliminating all classes/majors/minors recently polled by FactSet had containing the word “studies,” such asexpected. Sales were hit hard $322,944,764 women, Asian, black or queer studies.by the expiration of a $7,500 I’d bet that by Balance restoring the traditional tax credit for electric vehicle Cash academic mission to colleges, they would purchases that was phased out put$2,396,272,387 a serious dent into the COVID-19by the Trump administration budget shortfall. at the end of September. Walter E. Williams is a professor of economics at George Mason University.

services and get consumers to embrace humanoid robots that can perform basic tasks in homes and offices. Reflecting that optimism, the stock finished 2025 with a gain of approximately 11%. The latest quarter was the first with sales of strippeddown versions of the Model Y and Model 3 that Musk unveiled in early October as part of an effort to revive sales. The new Model Y costs just under $40,000, while customers can buy the cheaper Model 3 for under $37,000. Those versions are expected to help Tesla compete with Chinese models in Europe and Asia. For fourth-quarter earnings coming out in late January, analysts are expecting the company to post a 3% drop in sales and a nearly 40% drop in

Musk said earlier last year that a “major rebound” in sales was underway, but investors were unruffled when that didn’t pan out, choosing instead to focus on Musk’s pivot to different parts of the business. He has been saying the future of the company lies with its driverless robotaxis service, its energy storage business and building robots for the home and factory — and much less with car sales. Tesla started rolling out its robotaxi service in Austin in June, first with safety monitors in the cars to take over in case of trouble, then testing without them. The company hopes to roll out the service in several cities this year. To do that successfully, it needs to take on rival Waymo, which has been operating au-

ning to begin production of its AI-powered Cybercab with no steering wheel or pedals in 2026. To keep Musk focused on the company, Tesla’s directors awarded Musk a potentially enormous new pay package that shareholders backed at the annual meeting in November. Musk scored another huge windfall two weeks ago when the Delaware Supreme Court reversed a decision that deprived him of a $55 billion pay package that Tesla doled out in 2018. Musk could become the world’s first trillionaire later this year when he sells shares of his rocket company SpaceX to the public for the first time in what analysts expect would be a blockbuster initial public offering.

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North State Journal for Thursday, January 8, 2026

DiCaprio stresses importance of cinema over content at Palm Springs Film Festival Guillermo del Toro received the Visionary Award for “Frankenstein” By Leslie Ambriz The Associated Press PALM SPRINGS, Calif. — Leonardo DiCaprio emphasized the importance of creating cinema over content at the Palm Springs Film Festival on Friday night. “Movies are still meant to be experienced, together, in a theater,” he said. “Right now, that belief matters more than ever. Original films are harder to make and harder to protect. But movies still matter, not content, but cinema. Stories made by people meant to be shared in a dark room in a communal experience.” The “One Battle After Another” actor accepted the award via a prerecorded video. Variety reported that he was unable to attend the film festival due to the ongoing political conflict with Venezuela, which led to the cancellation of multiple flights out of the Caribbean, where the actor was spotted vacationing over the holiday season. His costars, Chase Infiniti and Teyana Taylor, accepted the award on his behalf. The 37th annual International Film Awards at the festival in Palm Springs, California, kicks off Hollywood’s whirlwind award season, honoring some of the film industry’s most anticipated award contenders. The glamorous night was full of long, heartfelt speeches, each emphasizing the importance of unity among artists and the importance of keeping original storytelling and movie theaters alive. While accepting the Icon Award, Actor, Michael B. Jordan told his colleagues to continue to tell original stories that build unity.

CHRIS PIZZELLO / AP PHOTO

Teyana Taylor and Chase Infiniti accept the desert palm achievement award on behalf of Leonardo DiCaprio during the 37th Palm Springs International Film Festival Film Awards on Saturday.

“Movies still matter, not content, but cinema. Stories made by people meant to be shared in a dark room in a communal experience.” Leonardo DiCaprio “The films we’re honoring tonight inspire each other to do more, to be better, to see each other more clearly and make the world a brighter place,” Jordan said. “And maybe when the lights come up in the theater, we could step back into the sun together.” Miley Cyrus accepted the Outstanding Artistic Achievement Award for her song “Dream As One” in “Avatar: Fire and Ash.” The recording artist hopes artists will pivot to

becoming more community-focused instead of seeing each other as competitors. “Numbers can make it feel like a sport, but performance runs so much deeper than a scoreboard because each artist can bare their soul in a completely unique way, and every contribution leaves its own mark on history,” she said. Jane Fonda briefly led the audience in a breathing exercise before presenting “Hamnet’s” Chloe Zhao, Paul Mescal and

Jessie Buckley with the Vanguard Award. Fonda credited the call to action to director Chloe Zhao. Guillermo del Toro stood alongside his “Frankenstein” cast to receive the Visionary Award. The director revealed he recently lost his older brother and reflected on the relevance of Mary Shelley’s classic novel as the world continues to grapple with emerging technology and division. For del Toro, its relevance means two things: “We never learn, and sometimes the only way to talk about humanity is through monsters.” Timothée Chalamet received the Spotlight Award and focused his speech on his “Marty Supreme” character’s pursuit of greatness and making his dreams come true.

Mahershala Ali presented Ethan Hawke with the Career Achievement Award, reminiscing on how Hawke’s performance in “Reality Bites” was one of many films that inspired his early acting days. Hawke’s acceptance speech gave credit to the friends and collaborators that left a mark on who he is today and remembered the influence the late River Phoenix had on his life. “I stand here in front of you a sum accumulation of all of the individuals who helped shape me,” said the actor. Hawke made his way to the stage a second time for a “First Reformed” reunion with former co-star Amanda Seyfried to present her with the Desert Palm Achievement Award, Actress. Seyfried was quick to point out the unexpected full-circle moment while receiving the same award as DiCaprio. “I want to thank Leo for inspiring me to be an actor,” she said. “So it’s weird. It’s amazing to get this award. It’s the same title of the award, so it’s like sharing it with him. Sort of? Maybe.” The night continued with laughter from actor and comedian Adam Sandler after Laura Dern presented him with the Chairman’s Award. Sandler accepted his award with none other than a short stand-up routine about what his life would have looked like if he had chosen a quieter life instead of working in entertainment. “I’d probably still have a deal with Netflix. But I’d be paying them a monthly fee so I can watch ‘Stranger Things’ last season,” said the comedian. The cast of “Sentimental Value” accepted the International Star Award as an ensemble. Rose Byrne took home the Breakthrough Performance Award, Actress, for her work on “If I Had Legs I’d Kick You.”

Golden Globes, first major awards show of 2026, airs Sunday “The White Lotus” leads all TV nominees The Associated Press BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. — The Golden Globes return Sunday. The boozy, bubbly kickoff to Hollywood’s awards season will feature nominees including Timothée Chalamet, Leonardo DiCaprio, Michael B. Jordan, Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo and Emma Stone. The 83rd Golden Globe Awards ceremony begins at 8 p.m. Eastern at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California, and will be televised live on CBS and streamed live on Paramount+. Here are more key things to know about the ceremony. Who’s hosting the Golden Globes? The comedian and actor Nikki Glaser will return as host for the second year, after a well-reviewed 2025 debut when she became the first woman to host the show solo. Glaser didn’t go easy on the Hollywood crowd but wasn’t nearly as barbed as she was in her star-making performance in a roast of Tom Brady. In her first monologue, she called the ceremony “Ozempic’s biggest night.” When she was rehired, Glaser said in a statement that it was “the most fun I have ever had in my career.” “I can’t wait to do it again, and this time in front of the team from ‘The White Lotus’ who will finally recognize my talent and cast me in Season Four as a Scandinavian Pilates instructor with a shadowy past,” she said. Last year’s telecast drew an average of about 10 million view-

ers, holding steady from the year before. There are far fewer viewers then there were a decade ago, but the Globes remain the most watched awards show after the Oscars and the Grammys. Who’s nominated for Golden Globes this year? Oscar front-runner “One Battle After Another” leads all nominees with nine, including acting nods for DiCaprio and Chase Infiniti and a directing nomination for Paul Thomas Anderson. The Globes divides films between drama and musical or comedy in the top categories, and “One Battle” was categorized as a comedy. Competing against DiCaprio will be Chalamet for “Marty Supreme” and George Clooney for “Jay Kelly.” Infiniti’s competition includes Erivo for “Wicked: For Good,” Stone for “Bugonia” and Rose Byrne for “If I Had Legs I’d Kick You.” The Danish film “Sentimental Value” was second with eight nominations, including an acting nod for star Renate Reinsve. Her competition on the drama side includes Jessie Buckley from “Hamnet,” Julia Roberts for “After the Hunt” and Jennifer Lawrence for “Die My Love.” Male actors nominated for dramas include Jordan for “Sinners” and Dwayne Johnson for “The Smashing Machine.” Grande, Teyana Taylor, Paul Mescal, Adam Sandler and Jacob Elordi are among those nominated in the supporting categories. What are the Golden Globes? The Globes, held annually in early January, are the first major ceremony of the awards sea-

CHRIS PIZZELLO / AP PHOTO

Dwayne Johnson shares a laugh with Kevin Hart at the Golden Globes first-time nominee celebration in 2025 in Beverly Hills, California. Johnson is nominated this year for his role in “The Smashing Machine.”

“I can’t wait to do it again, and this time in front of the team from ‘The White Lotus’ who will finally recognize my talent and cast me in Season Four as a Scandinavian Pilates instructor with a shadowy past.” Nikki Glazer son. They’re not exactly an Oscar bellwether — they have an entirely different voting base of journalists and critics — but they’re embraced as a champagne-soaked party with some of the biggest stars in film and television sitting together at tables like a nightclub. A Globes win can still help build momentum for a movie or actor’s Oscar campaign, and it’s the first time the public may hear an acceptance speech that may be repeated with some variations for months, leading up to the Academy Awards, held this year on March 15.

Who’s getting a lifetime achievement award? Helen Mirren will be honored with the Golden Globes’ Cecil B. DeMille Award for a life of work on screen, and Sarah Jessica Parker will get the Carol Burnett Award for her career in television. Mirren and Parker this week will get a separate Beverly Hilton gala, a recording of which will air Thursday at 8 p.m. Eastern and Pacific on CBS and also stream on Paramount+ on what’s being called “Golden Eve.” Mirren, 80, an Oscar winner

for her 2006 portrayal of Elizabeth II in “The Queen,” has also won three Golden Globes and is up for a fourth this year for her role in the series “MobLand.” She was named a Dame of the British Empire in 2003 in acknowledgment of her artistic achievements. The DeMille award dates to 1952, when it was given to the legendary filmmaker himself. Other recipients include Walt Disney, Bing Crosby, Judy Garland, Barbra Streisand, Sidney Poitier, Meryl Streep, Oprah Winfrey, Tom Hanks and Viola Davis. Parker will get the much newer Carol Burnett Award, presented to an honoree who has “made outstanding contributions to television on or off screen.” The 60-year-old Parker, who won six Golden Globes and two Emmys as the star of “Sex and the City,” is being honored for her work as actor and producer. The award was launched in 2019, when it went to Burnett.

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North State Journal for Thursday, January 8, 2026

TAKE NOTICE

CUMBERLAND Notice to Creditors The undersigned, having qualified as Executor of the Estate of Cynthia A Birth, 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 8th day of April, 2026, (which date is 3 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 decadent are requested to make immediate payment to the undersigned. This 8th day of January, 2026. Shenita M Branson Executor 905 Flintwood Road Fayetteville, NC 28314 Of the Estate of Cynthia A Birth, Deceased

NOTICE TO CREDITORS STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA, CUMBERLAND COUNTY IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE OF SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION 25E001951-250. Having qualified as the Administrator of the Estate of Derrick lynn Bledsole,deceased,late of Cumberland County,North Carolina,This is to notify all persons,firms and corporations against the Estate of Derrick Lynn Bledsole to present them to the undersigned on or before the APRIL 8TH 2026( This day begin 3months from the first publication date of this notice) or same will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to the estate please make immediate payment .This is the 31st day of December 2025 Admistrator Ronnie Dale Bledsole 2014 center st fayetteville north carolina 28306 Executor of the estate of Derrick Lynn Bledsole deceeased July 25th 2025 25e001951-250 Send claims to 2014 center st fayetteville nc 28306

NOTICE In The General Court of Justice Superior Court Division Before the Clerk Estate file #23 E State of North Carolina CUMBERLAND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR NOTICE The undersigned having qualified as Executrix of the Estate of John Archie Butler, 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 8th day of April, 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 5th of January, 2026. Administrator of the Estate of John Archie Butler Executrix. Carolyn B. Hardin 890 Three Wood Drive Fayetteville, North Carolina, 28312 of the Estate of John Archie Butler, deceased

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 TO CREDITORS ESTATE OF DEREK JON GERDES 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

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 The undersigned having qualified as executor of the estate of Willie Richard McLaurin decease 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 date of April 8, 2026 or this notice will pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to the estate and please make immediate payment to the undersigned this 8th of January, 2026. Administrator of the estate of Willie Richard McLaurin Linda Faye McLaurin 1132 Stamper Road Fayetteville, NC 28303 Contact number: (910) 584-8817

NOTICE NORTH CAROLINA CUMBERLAND COUNTY IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION BEFORE THE CLERK FILE NUMBER: 25E001949-250 In the Matter of the Estate of: DAVID E. MAXWELL, SR. Deceased. EXECUTOR’S NOTICE The undersigned, having qualified as Executor of the Estate of David E. Maxwell, Sr., deceased, late of Indianna County, Pennsylvania, this is to notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against said Estate to present them to the undersigned on or before April 8, 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 8th day of January, 2026. David Emmitt Maxwell, Jr., Executor of the Estate of David E. Maxwell, Sr, Deceased c/o J. Thomas Neville Yarborough, Winters & Neville, P.A. P.O. Box 705 Fayetteville, NC 28302-0705 Publish: 01/08/2026, 01/15/2026, 01/22/2026 and 01/29/2026

NOTICE NORTH CAROLINA CUMBERLAND COUNTY 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

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.

Administrator’s/Executor’s Notice In the state of North Carolina and county of Cumberland the Court of Justice of Superior Court division of estate file 25E001954-250 in the matter of the estate of Esther Johnson Shuler deceased late of Cumberland County, hereby notifies all persons, firms, corporations having claims against said estate to present their claim to the undersigned on or before the 8th day of April, 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 the recovery. All debtors of the descendent are requested to make immediate payment to the undersigned. This 5th day of January, 2026 Ronald Gary Shuler- Administrator/Executor 2646 Belhaven Rd Fayetteville, NC 28306 Of the estate of Esther Johnson Shuler, deceased

NOTICE 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 TO CREDITORS ESTATE OF RICHARD ALLEN SINGLETARY CUMBERLAND County Estate File No. 23E001500-250 All persons, firms and corporations having claims against Richard Allen Singletary, 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 9th day of April, 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 5th day of January, 2026. Davis W. Puryear Administrator of the Estate of Richard Allen Singletary Davis W. Puryear Hutchens Law Firm Attorneys for the Estate 4317 Ramsey Street Fayetteville, NC 28311 Run dates: January 8, January 15, January 22 and January 29, 2026

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

NOTICE

Estate of Vincent Anthony Spera a/k/a Vincent A. Spera Cumberland County Estate File No. 25E001924-250 All persons, firms and corporations having claims against Vincent Anthony Spera a/k/a Vincent A. Spera, Deceased, of Cumberland County, North Carolina, are notified to present their claims to Michael J. Emmons, Executor of the Estate of Vincent Anthony Spera a/k/a Vincent A. Spera, at 173 Birch Avenue, Spring Lake, NC 28390, on or before the 10th day of April, 2026, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. Debtors of Vincent Anthony Spera a/k/a Vincent A. Spera are requested to make immediate payment to the Executor named above. This the 8th day of January, 2026. Michael J. Emmons, Executor of the Estate of Vincent Anthony Spera a/k/a Vincent A. Spera Williford McCauley - Attorney for the Estate of Vincent Anthony Spera a/k/a Vincent A. Spera Mailing address: P. O. Box 53606 Fayetteville, NC 28305 Physical address: 235 Green Street Fayetteville, NC 28301

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 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 SuarezMartinez, 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

ORANGE 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 abovenamed 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 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

DAVIDSON NOTICE TO CREDITORS 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. 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 NOTICE 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 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 Gary Quincy Caviness, 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 April 13, 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 8th day of January, 2026 Phyllis Williamson Caviness Executor of the Estate of Gary Quincy Caviness Marion “Beth” McQuaid, Attorney IVEY & EGGLESTON, ATTORNEYS AT LAW 111 Worth Street Asheboro, NC 27203 (336) 625-3043 PUBL/DATES: 01/08/26 01/15/26 01/22/26 01/29/26

NOTICE IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION BEFORE THE CLERK 25SP000319-750 NORTH CAROLINA RANDOLPH COUNTY In the Matter of the foreclosure of a Deed of Trust executed by Kay L. Higgins in the original amount of $25,000.00 dated June 8, 2022, recorded June 10, 2022, in Book No. 2809, at Page 1864, Randolph County Registry, Substitute Trustee Services, Inc., Substitute Trustee NOTICE OF PUBLICATION FOR HEARING ON DISTRIBUTION FOR SURPLUS FUNDS Pursuant to N.C.G.S. § 45-21.36, Petitioner The Vinyl Answer, Inc. d/b/a Renewal by Andersen of Central NC (“Petitioner”) has filed a PETITION FOR DISTRIBUTION OF SURPLUS FUNDS arising out of the foreclosure of the property located at 1153 Heathwood Road, Randleman, NC 27317 (“Property”), Randolph County, File No. 24SP000240-750 in the Matter of the foreclosure of a Deed of Trust executed by Kay L. Higgins in the original amount of $25,000.00 dated June 8, 2022, recorded June 10, 2022, in Book No. 2809, at Page 1864, Randolph County Registry, Substitute Trustee Services, Inc., Substitute Trustee. The hearing is scheduled before the Clerk of Superior Court of Randolph County for January 29, 2025, at or after 10:00 AM or at the convenience of the Clerk, to be held at the Randolph County Courthouse in a hearing room designated by the Clerk. This the 26th day of December, 2025. /s/ Trisha L. Barfield Trisha L. Barfield, Esq. NC Bar No. 52990 Carruthers & Roth, P.A. Post Office Box 540 235 North Edgeworth Street Greensboro, North Carolina 27401 Phone: (336) 478-1176 Facsimile: (336) 478-1140 Email: tlb@crlaw.com Attorney for Petitioner

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North State Journal for Thursday, January 8, 2026

PEN & PAPER PURSUITS

sudoku

solutions LAST WEEK

The North Carolina All-Bowl team, B3

PETER JONELEIT / AP PHOTO

Flying into the playoffs: Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Emeka Egbuka (2) can’t make a touchdown catch as Carolina Panthers safety Lathan Ransom (22) defends.

the Thursday SIDELINE REPORT

NCAA FOOTBALL

Ashford leads Wake Forest past Mississippi State 43-29 in Duke’s Mayo Bowl Charlotte Robby Ashford threw for 303 yards and three touchdowns and ran for 50 yards and two scores, Koredell Bartley scored on a 100-yard kickoff return and Wake Forest beat Mississippi State 43-29 in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl, earning coach Jake Dickert a mayonnaise bath. Ashford threw TD passes of 14, 64 and 62 yards and had scoring runs of 2 and 1 yards for the Demon Deacons (9-4).

NCAA FOOTBALL

Mensah throws for 4 TDs, leads Duke to 42-39 win over Arizona State in Sun Bowl El Paso, Texas Darian Mensah threw for 327 yards and four touchdowns and was named the game’s MVP, leading Duke to a 42-39 victory over Arizona State in the Sun Bowl. He helped Duke to its fourth straight win and tied a Sun Bowl record for TD passes. The Blue Devils (9-5) also won nine games for a second consecutive season for only the second time in program history.

NFL

NFL’s fourth-down revolution, new rules lead to record-low punts in 2025 The 2025 season set an NFL record for the fewest punts per game. This trend is driven by new kickoff rules, K-balls, and increased fourth-down aggressiveness. Teams are attempting more long field goals, with 104 tries from at least 55 yards, the most in history. The Packers have become the first team to lose three games in a season without punting.

All aboard: Panthers make trip back to NFL’s postseason Carolina snapped a seven-year playoff drought with its first divisional title in a decade By Shawn Krest North State Journal THERE’S AN OLD saying among frequent flyers who travel standby: “It’s not a bad seat if it’s on the inside of the plane.” In other words, if you hear your named called at the gate and are issued a boarding pass, you’re headed down the jetbridge to a good seat. Because you got in. You’re on board. After nearly a decade of being left at the gate, the Carolina Panthers are stowing their carry-ons and buckling their seat belt.

PETER JONELEIT / AP PHOTO

Panthers tight end Tommy Tremble leaps in the end zone for a touchdown during the season finale against the Buccaneers. The Panthers are in the playoffs. Yes, it would have been nice if they beat the Bucs to remove

all drama. Sure, their record and point differential won’t strike fear into the hearts of opponents. While the Saints,

Cowboys, Lions and 15 other teams faced Black Monday after their regular season finale, it was the start of game week at Bank of America Stadium. “We are really excited about being back in Bank of America Stadium one more time,” coach Dave Canales said. “To have one more chance in front of our fans, with the energy they have brought, especially down the stretch this season, it’s a very exciting opportunity for us.” The Panthers will host the Los Angeles Rams, who brought a six-game winning streak and the best record in the NFL to Bank of America Stadium in November, only to suffer an upset loss. MVP candidate Matt Stafford turned the ball over three times as Carolina won 31-28. While the Rams are eager to See POSTSEASON, page B4

Better late than never: Panthers win NFC South, head to playoffs Carolina went from controlling its destiny to watching and hoping By Shawn Krest North State Journal IT’S A COUPLE weeks late for Santa Claus, but late Sunday night, the Carolina Panthers’ locker room got a visit from someone bearing gifts. “Yeah, they were sitting in our locker room,” said Panthers coach Dave Canales. “So, got in this morning, ready to watch film, and there it is. There’s a shirt and a hat.” Not just any shirt and hat, mind you. This merch bore a message that you can’t just buy at the team store. It needs to be earned: “2025 NFC South Champions”. “That’s what we play for,” Canales said. “That’s what we hope for is to win the division, win that first championship.”

JASON BEHNKEN / AP PHOTO

Still a day away from knowing if his team was in the playoffs, coach Dave Canales answers questions. After seven years of locker cleanout day coming on Black Monday for the Panthers, someone was instead stuffing the lockers with new gear as that fateful day dawned. Normally, shirts and hats are passed out on the field after a team wraps up the title. Noth-

ing, however, has been normal about the NFC South division race. The Panthers controlled their destiny heading into the weekend. Win, and they were in, snapping a seven-year drought and wrapping up their first divisional title since 2015 — the Super Bowl season. Instead, Carolina fell behind the Tampa Bay Bucs, 10-0. Then, as they did so often this season, the Panthers battled back. Christian Rozeboom intercepted a pass from former Panther Baker Mayfield, setting up a Bryce Young touchdown pass. The Panthers blocked a field goal late and scored on another Young pass to cut the margin to two, but they dropped a 16-14 decision. “They all add up. They all suck,” said defensive tackle Derrick Brown. “I [don’t ever] want to be a loser in my life. Losing today for damn sure hurts… The expectation from the time we

started back in April, it was to go out here and be able to compete for the NFC South. It’s crazy to see how far we’ve come. But I mean, at the end of the day, if you still don’t get it done then you don’t get it done.” Tampa tied the Panthers with an 8-9 record, and the Bucs held the tiebreaker. But there was one last loophole for Carolina. The Panthers held the three-team tiebreaker. So if the Atlanta Falcons beat New Orleans the following day, they would join the 8-9 party at the top of the division and hand Carolina the crown. “I never thought I’d see a day where I’m rooting for the Saints,” Bucs linebacker Lavonte David said. Canales, realizing his team missed an opportunity, was looking for bright sides after the loss while waiting for the Atlanta game. See PANTHERS, page B3

North State Journal for Thursday, January 8, 2026

THURSDAY

1.8.26

TRENDING

Chris Ashby: The senior guard for Queens University broke his own school record with 11 3-pointers, scoring 34 points against Bellarmine. Ashby took 20 shots from beyond the arc. Ashby set the record in February with nine 3-pointers. He also has a game with eight 3-pointers, and six games with seven. He led the NCAA in 3s and attempts last year and leads in both again this season. Matt Quatraro: The former Durham Bull signed a three-year extension to continue as manager of the Kansas City Royals. Quatraro, who played 35 games as a catcher and corner infielder for the Bulls in 2002, his final season as a player, has managed the Royals for three years, going 224-262. The extension begins in 2027 and has a club option for 2030. Michael Printup: The chief operating officer of Racing America died suddenly at 60. Printup, a 30-year veteran of racing, spent 15 years as the president of Watkins Glen International, a regular stop on the NASCAR Cup Series. He is the fifth major NASCAR death in a month, joining former racers Michael Annett, Nick Joanides and Greg Biffle, as well as the father of driver Denny Hamlin.

Beyond the box score POTENT QUOTABLES

OLYMPIC HOCKEY

Jaccob Slavin, right, was named to Team USA hockey for the upcoming Winter Olympics. His Hurricanes teammate Sebastian Aho, left, was named to Finland’s team, as were Frederik Andersen and Nikolaj Ehlers to Denmark. Former Carolina players who will compete in Milan include Noah Hanifin, Vincent Trochek and Jake Guentzel (USA), Martin Necas (Czechia), Elias Lindholm (Sweden), Nino Niederreiter (Switzerland), and Mikko Rantanen, Teuvo Teravainen, Erik Haula and Eetu Luostarinen (Finland).

CHUCK BURTON / AP PHOTO

“You ran out of nicotine in the race. I want you to smoke every yellow flag.” Advice Hall of Fame driver Ron Hornaday Jr. got from team owner Wayne Spears following a 1992 loss.

KARL DEBLAKER / AP PHOTO

NCAA FOOTBALL

BOXING

JASON JACKSON FOR NSJ

“Everybody needs to shut the hell up about him.” NC State coach Will Wade in an expletive-filled response to a question about Darrion Williams’ shooting slump. PRIME NUMBER

2 Consecutive fake punts run by the Colts in a win over the Texans. Punter Rigoberto Sanchez threw for 16 yards to convert a fourthand-5. Indianapolis then left the punt team on the field and tried a first-down run that caught Houston with too many men on the field.

JULIO CORTEZ/ AP PHOTO

The College Football Playoff semifinals are set. No. 1 Indiana, the only top-four seed to advance, faces No. 5 Oregon in the Peach Bowl. No. 6 Ole Miss plays No. 10 Miami (pictured) in the Fiesta Bowl. They beat Texas Tech, Alabama, Georgia and Ohio State respectively in the quarterfinals.

LYNNE SLADKY / AP PHOTO

British boxer Anthony Joshua, who knocked out Jake Paul last month, sustained minor injuries in a deadly crash in Nigeria. His strength coach Sina Ghami and trainer Latif Ayodele died when their vehicle hit a stationary truck near Lagos. The driver, Adeniyi Mobolaji Kayode, was charged with dangerous driving.

NFL

JACOB KUPFERMAN / AP PHOTO

The Carolina Panthers were one of seven teams to have one player chosen for the Pro Bowl. Cornerback Jaycee Horn will represent the team for the second year in a row. Former Panthers Sam Darnold, Christian McCaffrey and Brian Burns were also chosen, as was former UNC quarterback Drake Maye and former NC State guard Joe Thuney.

North State Journal for Thursday, January 8, 2026

North State Journal’s All-NC bowl team We take a look at the top players from the bowl season with ties to North Carolina By Ryan Henkel North State Journal THE COLLEGE football season is rapidly approaching its close, so it’s time to take a look back at some of 2025’s top bowl performers with ties to North Carolina. Here is North State Journal’s All-NC bowl team: QUARTERBACKS Darian Mensah (Duke) The Blue Devils sophomore quarterback has collected quite a few accolades this season and fresh off of securing an ACC title, he helped lead Duke to a bowl win over Arizona State as well. Mensah threw for 327 yards and four touchdowns, including a game-winning drive in the final minutes of the fourth quarter. Robby Ashford (Wake Forest) The senior quarterback was doing it all for the Demon Deacons as he both threw for over 300 yards and three touchdowns, while also picking up another 50 yards and two scores with his feet. RUNNING BACKS Nate Sheppard (Duke) With a big bowl game per-

formance, freshman running back Sheppard became the ACC’s rushing leader for the season and one of just two players in the conference to break 1,000 rushing yards. Sheppard was a big factor in the bowl win, running for 170 yards and a touchdown against the Sun Devils.

one of the few bright spots for the Mountaineers in their bowl loss, accounting for 96 yards — exactly half of the team’s total receiving yards — on just three catches.

started in 12 of the 13 games this season, including the Military Bowl where he helped ECU outscore Pitt.

TIGHT ENDS

Kendrick Dujour (ECU)

Jeremiah Hasley (Duke)

Ty Clark III (Wake Forest)

The junior tight end was the second most prolific receiver for the Blue Devils in their bowl win, picking up 50 yards and a touchdown on six receptions.

The junior defensive lineman made his touches count with both his tackles being sacks and one forcing a fumble, which he recovered. He only saw action in five games this season, but he certainly made his limited minutes count.

The sophomore back had limited touches during the season, but with a few opts out, he earned an opportunity and made the most of it. Clark was involved on both sides of the ball, rushing for 91 yards on 17 carries and picking up another 73 yards and a touchdown through the air. WIDE RECEIVERS Anthony Smith (ECU) The two-year Pirate and former Wolfpacker had a day for ECU, racking up 156 yards and two touchdowns to help secure a second straight bowl win, 23-17 over Pitt in the Military Bowl, for the purple and gold. Que’Sean Brown (Duke) The Blue Devil sophomore had a career night in the Sun Bowl, as the receiver popped off for a career-high 178 yards on 10 catches along with two touchdowns, including the game-winning score. Dalton Stroman (Appalachian State) The senior wide receiver was

OFFENSIVE LINEMEN Diego Pounds (Ole Miss, Raleigh) The senior lineman and one time UNC Tar Heel has been an integral piece for Ole Miss as the top P4 offense continues to pace the league en route to a CFP semifinals appearance. Pounds has not allowed a sack in 14 straight starts this season. Jacarrius Peak (NCSU) Despite rumors toward the opposite, Peak opted to play in the Gasparilla Bowl, where he helped with NC State’s offensive outpouring. The talented pass blocker brings a lot of comfort to the Wolfpack and consistently bought time and space for Bailey to work. Jimarion McCrimon (ECU) The sophomore lineman was a big part of the Pirate’s offensive showing this season and

Local ACC teams make moves in first days of transfer period Gio Lopez makes it three Tar Heels quarterbacks in the portal By Asheebo Rojas North State Journal THERE PROBABLY weren’t many New Year’s parties jumping like the college football transfer portal. The portal opened at midnight on Jan. 2, and thousands of players, many lined up before doors opened, almost immediately flooded the space in pursuit for a new home. For North Carolina’s four ACC programs, significant roster holes and a mass exodus of reserves have already arrived. From starting quarterbacks to leading tacklers and other big names, here’s a look at roster moves from the first few days of the transfer period across UNC, NC State, Duke and Wake Forest. UNC The Tar Heels have seen early turnover at the quarterback position with 2025 starter Gio Lopez, Max Johnson and freshman Bryce Baker, who was a four-star recruit out of high school, entering the transfer portal. As a replacement, UNC brought in quarterback Billy Edwards Jr., a sixth-year senior who started his career at Wake Forest before three seasons at Maryland and one season at Wisconsin, his most recent stop. Edwards went 7-7 as a starter at Maryland and entered the 2025 season as Wisconsin’s starter,

PANTHERS from page B1 “I think we’ll all be on the edge of our seats,” he said. “Hoping for the Falcons to come through, but at the same time, at least we have that hope to look at. We have to look at ourselves, and we have to make sure that in these championship moments that we play our best.” “I love being a part of this team,” said Young. “The fight that

DEFENSIVE LINEMEN

Aaron Hall (Duke) The senior defensive tackle had a strong year with the Blue Devils and capped it off with a five tackle (one for a loss) performance, leading all of Duke’s defensive lineman. LINEBACKERS Caden Fordham (NCSU) Following a strong season that saw him earn thirdteam All-American honors, NC State senior linebacker Caden Fordham led the team to a bowl win for his final collegiate game, securing 13 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and a 55-yard interception return. Luke Mergott (Duke) The sophomore linebacker was a force in the box for the Blue Devils, leading the team in tackles with 10, while also coming up with the game-winning interception to seal Duke’s bowl win.

NC STATE NC State will return its starting quarterback in CJ Bailey, but it’s losing key offensive weapons to the portal. The Wolfpack’s leading receiver Terrell Anderson and receiver Noah Rogers will possibly not return, while running back Hollywood Smothers, who led the team with 939 rushing yards, is also looking for a new home. Out: Jacarrius Peak (offensive tackle), Terris Dudley (linebacker), Joshua Ofor (linebacker), Brock Stukes (offensive line), Rente Hinton (defensive back), Zack Myers (safety), Daemon Fagan (safety), Val Erickson (offensive tackle), Kelvon McBride (linebacker), Noah Rogers (receiver), Terrell Anderson (receiver), Elijah Groves (linebacker), Christian Zachary (receiver), Tank Boston (receiver), Hollywood Smothers (running back), Justin Terrell (defensive tackle), Josh Alexander-Felton (defensive end),Darion Rivers (offensive tackle) In: Victor Snow (Buffalo, receiver)

Colton Phares (Appalachian State) The sophomore linebacker led the Mountaineers in tackles (12) in their loss to Georgia Southern in the Birmingham Bowl. SAFETYS Caleb Weaver (Duke) It was certainly a notable season for the senior safety and he finished it on a strong note too, with seven tackles and a forced fumble, which he recovered as well in the Sun Bowl. Nick Andersen (Wake Forest) The All-ACC senior safety was questionable heading into the Duke’s Mayo Bowl, but he toughed it out and helped lead the defense to a substantial win over an SEC opponent. Andersen led the team in tackles (12) and sacks (1). CORNERBACKS Devon Marshall (NCSU) The standout senior defensive back continued to impress on his season, as he added eight tackles and a pass breakup, while essentially forcing Memphis to throw away from him for the majority of the game. Karon Prunty (Wake Forest) The senior corner had a season-high six tackles in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl and also registered his lone sack on the season in the win as well.

terback), Chase Tyler (receiver), Kyren Condoll (cornerback), Vontae Floyd (cornerback), Maliki Wright (safety), Terry Moore, Jack Small (offensive tackle), Terry Simmons (defensive tackle), Kenzy Paul (safety), Peyton Jones (running back) In: Kyon Loud (Montana, cornerback), Nate Kurisky (Louisville, tight end), Nick Del Grande (Coastal Carolina, offensive tackle), Dylan Flowers (Western Kentucky, cornerback), Jared Richardson (Penn, receiver) WAKE FOREST

but he suffered a knee injury in the season opener. On defense, UNC took a huge loss with linebacker Khmori House entering the portal. House led the Tar Heels in tackles last season. Out: Gio Lopez, Austin Alexander (linebacker), Kamarion Thomas (defensive tackle), Bryce Baker (quarterback), Alex Taylor (receiver), Kenedy Uzoma (receiver), Khalil Conley (cornerback), Davion Gause (running back), Javarius Green (receiver), Jani Norwood (offensive line), Khmori House, Paul Billups (receiver), Chris Culliver (receiver), Treyvon Green (offensive tackle), Yasir Smith (tight end and defensive end), William Boone (offensive tackle), Jason Robinson (receiver),

Ty White (defensive back), Max Johnson (quarterback), Miles McVay (offensive tackle), Jake Johnson (tight end), Malcolm Ziglar (safety), Tyler Thompson (defensive end), Devin Ancrum (defensive tackle), Chinedu Onyeagoro (linebacker), Jaylon Nichols (running back), Major Byrd (running back), Austin Alexander (linebacker), Connor Cox (tight end), Aziah Johnson (receiver) In: Jaylen Harvey (Penn State, defensive end), Jaxxon Warren (Colorado State, tight end), Jonathan Bibbs (UL Monroe, receiver), Andrew Threatt (Charleston Southern, offensive line), Billy Edwards Jr. (Wisconsin, quarterback), Tarvorise Brown (Florida, defensive end)

Duke hasn’t yet lost any player of significance in the portal. So far, the Blue Devils have worked to strengthen their defensive backfield with incoming cornerbacks Dylan Flowers, a sixth-year senior from Western Kentucky, and Kyon Loud, a starter at Montana in 2025. Offensively, Duke is bringing in former Louisville tight end Nate Kurisky, who caught 50 passes and seven touchdowns the last three seasons, and former Penn receiver Jared Richardson, who recorded over 1,000 yards and 12 touchdowns in the fall. Out: Desmond Aladuge (defensive tackle), Vance Bolyard (tight end), Henry Belin (quar-

Most of Wake Forest’s portal entries are backups or reserves except for receivers Chris Barnes, who was also a return specialist, and Micah Mays. Barnes finished second on the team in receiving yards and tied with Carlos Hernandez for the most receiving touchdowns (three) in 2025. The Demon Deacons landed former Duke redshirt freshman receiver Chase Tyler, a four-star recruit out of high school who didn’t see many snaps with the Blue Devils. Out: Chris Barnes (receiver), Micah Mays (receiver), Tate Carney (running back), Mateen Ibirogba (defensive tackle), Harry Lodge (tight end), Reginald Vick (receiver), Jacob Cosby-Mosley (defensive back), Cole Funderburk (defensive end), Ben Grice (receiver), Kendal Howard (defensive line), Derrell Johnson (offensive line), Darius Jones (linebacker), Elijah Oehike (quarterback), Nathan Pahanich (offensive line), Drew Pickett (running back), EJ Reid (receiver), Ka’Shawn Thomas (defensive tackle), Willliam Wiebush (defensive back) In: Josh Patterson (Iowa State, safety), Chase Tyler (Duke, receiver)

we’ve shown all year, the fight that we always have. The resolve. Again, not feeling what we want to right now, but I wouldn’t want to be in this position, in this year, this season with any other group. So we’ll sit by the TV tomorrow.” Given a chance to reflect on his initial answer, Young issued a retraction. “It’ll be a tough one. Might not even watch, to be honest with you,” he said. “Might just see how

it ends up. So, uh, yeah. It’s on us for that being our reality. We had an opportunity to take it and now we have to leave it in someone else’s hands so we take ownership in that.” Brown also wasn’t looking forward to watching and rooting in order to win the division and extend the season. “I live my life where I don’t need anybody doing anything for me,” he said. “So it’s tough to have to sit around and

wait to see the result tomorrow.” The Atlanta game was far from a football showcase. The teams exchanged turnovers on their opening drives, and Atlanta took an early lead when a blocked punt set up a touchdown. Clinging to a six-point fourth-quarter lead, Atlanta intercepted the Saints in the red zone. After a field goal, New Orleans scored to cut the lead to two with 1:11 left. The Falcons recov-

ered an onside kick to end the game and send the Panthers to the postseason. Despite tying for first, they then fired their coach and general manager later in the day. Still, it was enough to earn the Panthers their shirts and hats, even if it took a special delivery, a day after the final game, to get them there. “Guys are wearing it around the office,” Canales said.

CHRIS SEWARD / AP PHOTO

UNC quarterback Gio Lopez looks to pass during the first half of a game against Stanford.

DUKE

North State Journal for Thursday, January 8, 2026

Hornets look for stability after rocky start Charlotte has a 5-5 record since Dec. 14

Charlotte forward Miles Bridges shoots against Chicago forward Dalen Terry and guard Tre Jones during a Jan. 3 game in Chicago.

By Jesse Deal North State Journal CHARLOTTE — A third of the way into the 2025-26 season, the Charlotte Hornets are continuing to show growing pains as the second year of the Charles Lee coaching era unfolds. Some signs of progress have emerged in recent weeks, but the Hornets will need to improve in order to contend for a playoff berth or even a PlayIn Tournament spot. Charlotte (12-23) is currently 12th in the Eastern Conference standings, sitting four games behind 10thplace Atlanta. Holding the NBA’s longest active playoff drought at nine years, the Hornets are coming off a 2024-25 campaign that ended with the league’s thirdworst record at 19-63, though there has been modest improvement this year — Charlotte was 8-27 at this same point a season ago. The Hornets have stabilized as a .500 team since mid-December, posting a 5-5 record over their past 10 games. From an efficiency standpoint, they rank 19th in the league offensively and 22nd defensively, numbers that reflect inconsistency on both ends of the floor but also hint at incremental steps forward under Lee. That progress was on display Saturday night in a 112-99 road win over Chicago, which

MATT MARTON / AP PHOTO

snapped a three-game losing streak and marked Charlotte’s first victory of 2026. The Hornets delivered one of their most complete performances of the season, holding the Bulls to their lowest scoring total in nearly a month. Charlotte erased a 15-point deficit, taking control with a dominant third quarter in which it outscored Chicago 3217. The Hornets pulled away late with a 10-0 run in the fourth quarter while also winning the rebounding battle 5243 despite playing with a depleted frontcourt. It was a game the team managed to win as Moussa Diabate (wrist), Ryan Kalkbrenner (elbow), Mason Plumlee (groin surgery), Grant Williams (knee

surgery) and Tidjane Salaun (ankle soreness) remain sidelined by injuries. “I absolutely loved the defensive intensity,” Hornets coach Charles Lee said after the win. “I thought that as the game went on, we started to find our way and our execution was a lot better with more clean exchanges and not letting two guys be on the ball. I just love the collective mindset to finish possessions. For Miles (Bridges) to have 14 rebounds, and all of our guards coming in to participate, it was really good and encouraging to see.” Bridges led Charlotte with 26 points and added 14 rebounds, while Brandon Miller scored 22 points and rookie Kon Knueppel finished with 18. LaMelo

Ball contributed 17 points and seven assists. “It just shows growth,” Bridges said of Charlotte’s comeback effort. “Earlier in the year, we wouldn’t have been able to do that, but we’re learning as we go. We have guys that want to win, and when you have guys that want to win, it’s easy to compete. When our starters set the tone, everybody else has to follow. Our bench did a great job of that.” Knueppel’s emergence as one of this season’s brightest spots for Charlotte has continued. The former Duke standout is averaging 19.4 points, 5.1 rebounds and 3.5 assists while battling former Blue Devil teammate and current Dallas Maverick Cooper Flagg for

the NBA’s Rookie of the Year award. The tight race was reflected in last week’s Rookie of the Month honors. Flagg earned Western Conference recognition, while Knueppel was named Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month as a member of the Hornets. In late December, Knueppel also became the fastest player in NBA history to reach 100 career 3-pointers, accomplishing the feat in just 29 games early in the 2025-26 season. Around the team’s young core, role players such as Sion James, Collin Sexton and Salaun have shown flashes, even as injuries have forced frequent lineup adjustments. A core four has taken shape, with Bridges, Ball, Miller and Knueppel each averaging more than 19 points per game. Charlotte would like to see more production from guard Josh Green, who returned from left shoulder surgery on Dec. 12 but has averaged just five points per game, down from 7.4 last season. “This group is tough, competitive and resilient,” Lee said of his team’s chemistry. “I think anytime we’re faced with adversity, we find a way to just keep fighting through. We do it competitively, and we do it together, which I love.” The Hornets will look to build on recent momentum when they host Indiana on Thursday before traveling to Utah to face the Jazz on Saturday and heading to the West Coast for a Monday matchup against the Los Angeles Clippers.

Hansbrough, Sampson, Hamilton elected to NC Sports Hall of Fame Eleven players and coaches will join the hall in May By Shawn Krest North State Journal THE NORTH CAROLINA Sports Hall of Fame announced its class of 2026, the 62nd class in the history of the organization. The group will be inducted May 1 at the Koury Center in Greensboro. The 11-member class will bring the hall’s total size to 433 members. “This class truly represents the best of the best in North Carolina sports,” Rick Webb, president of the Hall of Fame, said in a statement. “It reflects the incredible diversity of excellence across high school, collegiate, professional, and Olympic competition. Through these 11 inductees, we continue our mission to honor the men and women whose achievements and leadership have shaped — and continue to shape — the rich sports legacy of our state.” The group includes two college basketball coaches, two high school coaches — basketball and wrestling — a pro golfer, two football players and standouts in basketball, tennis, speed skating and soccer Here’s a look at the 11 newest hall of famers:

POSTSEASON from page B1 show that the result was a fluke, the Panthers have reason for optimism. They were without cornerback Jaycee Horn for that first game. The team’s only 2025 pro-bowl selection will be playing in the Wild Card Game. The Panthers also might get back offensive lineman Robert Hunt, out since week two, and receiver David Moore, out since Week 4. More important than any injury news, however is the mere fact that the Panthers are playing. “It’s a fantastic opportunity,” Canales said. “As much as I try to preach to our group, every game is a championship moment, every game is a championship op-

Chip Beck: The Fayetteville native made three Ryder Cup teams and won four times on the PGA tour. He was the second PGA golfer to shoot a 59 in a round. He also finished second on the money list in 1988 and spent 40 weeks ranked in the world’s top 10. Kelvin Sampson: The current head basketball coach for the University of Houston becomes the first Native American elected to the hall. The Pembroke native has taken the Cougars to two Final Fours and five Sweet 16s. Sampson also took Oklahoma to the Final Four in 2002, making him one of just 16 coaches to lead two schools to the national semifinals. He’s also one of 15 to take four schools to the tournament. Tyler Hansbrough: The former Tar Heel is the ACC’s all-time leading career scorer and still holds the NCAA record for made free throws. A unanimous national player of the year in 2008, Hansbrough also became the only player to make first-team All-ACC and All-America four times. He left as UNC’s career rebounding leader, a record he held for 15 years. He was inducted into the College Basketball Hall of Fame in 2023. Hansbrough also played seven seasons in the NBA. Leonard Hamilton: The Gastonia native coached at

portunity, here it is right in front of us now. We’re in the playoffs.” There are doubters aplenty, and with good reason. The Panthers are just the seventh team in league history to make the playoffs with a losing record. And two of the others did so in the strike-shortened 1982 season. The Panthers won the South in 2014 with a 7-8-1 mark, making them the only team to pull the back-in to the postseason twice. They also allowed 69 more points than they scored this season. Only three teams in the entire NFC had a worse point differential this season. It’s the worst point differential for a playoff team in 14 years, and only three playoff teams in NFL history had a worse one. The Panthers can take heart in the

Oklahoma State, Miami and Florida State, as well as with the NBA’s Washington Wizards. He went 460-296 with FSU, becoming the winningest coach in school history. He has the fifth-most wins in ACC history. He’s the only coach to win multiple Coach of the Year awards in the ACC and Big East and also won three national coach of the year honors. John Isner: The Greensboro native was the top-ranked American tennis player for eight years, and he finished as the ATP’s all-time leader in aces. The 6-foot-10 Isner won 16 titles and $22 million over his career and won the longest match in the sport’s history — an 11-hour, 5-minute marathon at Wimbledon in 2010. Isner was also an Olympian in 2012. Richard Huntley: The Monroe native set a CIAA record for rushing yards and touchdown runs at Winston-Salem State. His rushing total still ranks 12th in Division II history. He’s also WSSU’s all-time leading scorer and led the nation in rushing while earning firstteam All-America as a senior. He played six years in the NFL. Heather Bergsma: A native of High Point, she was a World Cup speed skater who won a bronze medal in 2018 — one of three Olympics in which she competed. She was a five-time world champion and

“I live my life where I don’t need anybody doing anything for me. So it’s tough to have to sit around and wait to see the result.” Derrick Brown fact that all three won their wild card game. This will be the first playoff game for 31 players on the Panthers roster. Despite that, Canales wants things to be business as usual. His predecessors spent much of the last decade in Carolina

JOHN MINCHILLO / AP PHOTO

John Isner serves during the 2023 U.S. Open.

four-time world record holder. Louis Breeden: The NCCU Athletics Hall of Famer was a native of Hamlet who led the Eagles in interceptions three years in a row. He went on to make first-team Al-Pro in his 10 years in the NFL. Norvell Lee: A posthumous selection, the Smithfield native went 455-133 in 26 sea-

sons coaching Goldboro High School’s basketball team. He also coached at three other high schools, as well as in college at St. Augustine’s, leading the Falcons to their first CIAA tournament title. Jerry Winterton: The High School Hall of Famer won 11 state titles as the Cary High School wrestling coach. His teams were unbeaten in the regular season dual meet schedule 27 years, and he had a .975 winning percentage. Eddie Pope: The UNC soccer standout was a High Point native and a two-time firstteam all-ACC teamer. He was also a two-time first-team All-American. In the MLS, he won 1997 defensive player of the year and was a five-time all-star.

showing how rare these opportunities are, but he wants the team to treat it like any other game. “We have to try to make sure that our focus doesn’t waver or shift,” he said. “Like you don’t have to do anything that you haven’t done before. It’s about the basics. Football this time of year is about tackling. It’s about blocking, and it’s about being really efficient.” “It’s the same,” he continued. “It’s going to be the same message coming from me: I don’t need you to be special all game. There’s going to be three to five opportunities in the game where you’ve got to call it all up. Use all the tools that you have with your mind and your legs and your arm to make those plays when

the time is right. And that can be early, that can be late in the game. But it’s really important to understand that part. You don’t have to carry this thing. You just have to do your part and be efficient and make the right decisions so that we can play our best football.” People can say they don’t belong. They can claim they have no shot, but the Carolina Panthers are here. “It’s just a great feeling to be able to bring that back here to Carolina and share that feeling of that first championship,” Canales said. “And now the mentality shifts. (The goal is) 1-0 with a chance to win the world championship.” Spoken like someone who got a seat on the inside of the plane.

“This class truly represents the best of the best in North Carolina sports.” Rick Webb, N.C. Sports Hall of Fame president

North State Journal for Thursday, January 8, 2026

TAKE NOTICE

RANDOLPH NOTICE TO CREDITORS Having qualified as Executor of the Estate of Dorothy Ann Lemons Richardson, 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 April 13th 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 8th day of January 2026. Angie Richardson Turner a/k/a Angela Richardson Turner Dorothy Ann Lemons Richardson, 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 Charles Edward Nichols, 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 April 13, 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.

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 8th day of January, 2026

This 18th day of December, 2025

Timothy Jay Nichols Administrator of the Estate of Charles Edward Nichols Marion “Beth” McQuaid, Attorney IVEY & EGGLESTON, ATTORNEYS AT LAW 111 Worth Street Asheboro, NC 27203 (336) 625-3043 PUBL/DATES: 01/08/26 01/15/26 01/22/26 01/29/26

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 Executor of the Estate of BETTY ENNIS HOCKADAY, late of Wake County, North Carolina (25E004825-910), 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 11th day of April 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 8th day of January 2026. Kay Van Asch, Kay Hockaday Van Asch Executor of the Estate of Betty Ennis Hockaday c/o Lisa M. Schreiner Attorney at Law P.O. Box 446 114 Raleigh Street Fuquay Varina, NC 27526 (For publication: 1/8, 1/15, 1/22, 1/29/2026)

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)

ATTENTION! MALE AND FEMALE YORKIES AND A MALE ENGLISH BULLDOG READY FOR ADOPTION FOR FREE. IF INTERESTED, EMAIL ME TO GET MORE DETAILS ABOUT THE PUPPIES. craigdw11@gmail.com.

CABARRUS 25SP000517-120 NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE NORTH CAROLINA, CABARRUS COUNTY Under and by virtue of a Power of Sale contained in that certain Deed of Trust executed by Janice M. Hobbs to William R. Echols, Trustee(s), which was dated January 19, 2010 and recorded on February 9, 2010 in Book 9055 at Page 108, Cabarrus County Registry, North Carolina.

or the usual and customary location at the county courthouse for conducting the sale on January 20, 2026 at 01:00 PM, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following described property situated in Cabarrus County, North Carolina, to wit: The

following

described

property:

All that certain lot or parcel of land situated in the City of Concord, Cabarrus County, North Carolina and more particularly described as follows: Being all of Lot 2, of Ridge Crossing Phase 1, as recorded in Map Book 26 at Page 72 of the Cabarrus County Public Registry.

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,

Save and except any releases, deeds of release or prior conveyances of record.

25SP000471-120 NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE

sale on January 20, 2026 at 01:00 PM, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following described property situated in Cabarrus County, North Carolina, to wit:

NORTH CAROLINA, CABARRUS COUNTY Under and by virtue of a Power of Sale contained in that certain Deed of Trust executed by Johnny Tabales and Jessica Denise Tabales to Costner Law, Trustee(s), which was dated October 31, 2023 and recorded on November 1, 2023 in Book 16704 at Page 0120, Cabarrus 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

NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE NORTH CAROLINA, CABARRUS COUNTY 18-SP-346 Under and by virtue of a Power of Sale contained in that certain Deed of Trust executed by Kevin Wingler and April Wingler, Mortgagor(s), in the original amount of $236,725.00, to American General Financial Services, Inc., Mortgagee, dated July 28th, 2008 and recorded on July 29th, 2008 in Book 08360, Page 0029, as instrument number 24518, and subsequently modified by Loan Modification recorded on March 25th, 2010 in Book 09098 at Page 0102 and/or Instrument Number NA, Cabarrus 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 Cabarrus County, North Carolina, and the holder of the note evidencing said

25-121776 IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE OF NORTH CAROLINA SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION CABARRUS COUNTY 25sp000336-120 IN THE MATTER OF THE FORECLOSURE OF A DEED OF TRUST EXECUTED BY DANE PASCOE DATED MARCH 29, 2022 AND RECORDED IN BOOK 15975 AT PAGE 136 IN THE CABARRUS 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

Said property is commonly known as 5807 Timber Falls Pl, Concord, NC 28027. 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

Being all of Lot 38 as shown on plat entitled “Final Plat of Georgetown Crossing, Map 1” recorded in Map Book 91, Pages 97-100 in the Cabarrus County, North Carolina Public Registry. Save and except any releases, deeds of release or prior conveyances of record. Said property is commonly known as 3750 County Down Avenue, Kannapolis, NC 28081. 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

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 Janice M. Hobbs.

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 Johnny Tabales and spouse, Jessica Denise Tabales. 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

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”.

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

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.: 25-22764-FC01

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.: 25-21365-FC01

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 Rocky River Crossing Homeowners Association, Inc.. 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 §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 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.

Together with improvements located hereon; said property being located at 6229 Rose Way Court, Harrisburg, NC 28075

Tax ID: 01-010B-0218.00 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

of the secured debt, the undersigned will expose for sale at public auction at the usual place of sale at the Cabarrus County courthouse at 10:00AM on January 13, 2026, the following described real estate and any improvements situated thereon, in Cabarrus County, North Carolina, and being more particularly described in that certain Deed of Trust executed Dane Pascoe, dated March 29, 2022 to secure the original principal amount of $465,000.00, and recorded in Book 15975 at Page 136 of the Cabarrus 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: 4025 Fringewood Drive, Concord, NC 28025 Tax Parcel ID: 56510856990000 Present Record Owners: Estate of Dane Pascoe

The record owner(s) of the property, according to the records of the Register of Deeds, is/are Estate of Dane Pascoe. 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 Posted: By:

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 Cabarrus County, North Carolina, at 2:00 PM on January 13th, 2026, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following described property, to wit: All that certain property situated in the County of Cabarrus, and State of North Carolina, being described as follows: Being all of Lot 218 Rocky River Crossing Map 5 Section 2 as shown on that plat recorded in Map Book 36, Page 22 of the Cabarrus County Registry to which reference is hereby made for a more particular description. Being the property conveyed in warranty Deed from MDC Homes - Charlotte, LLC to Kevin Wingler and April Wingler, dated 02/25/2003, recorded 02/27/2003, in Deed Book 4345, Page 39, in the Register of Deeds for Cabarrus County, North Carolina. Tax Parcel Identification Number: 1-10B-218

Anchor Trustee Services, LLC Substitute Trustee By: Goddard & Peterson, PLLC 125-B Williamsboro Street Oxford, NC 27565

25-121776

North State Journal for Thursday, January 8, 2026

TAKE NOTICE

CABARRUS 25-121883 IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE OF NORTH CAROLINA SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION CABARRUS COUNTY 25sp000345-120 IN THE MATTER OF THE FORECLOSURE OF A DEED OF TRUST EXECUTED BY BRIDGET ROCK DATED NOVEMBER 12, 2022 AND RECORDED IN BOOK 16289 AT PAGE 3 IN THE CABARRUS 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

CUMBERLAND NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 25SP001165-250 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by William H. Jones (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): William H. Jones) to KD Smith, Trustee(s), dated July 21, 2006, and recorded in Book No. 7309, at Page 441 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 25SP000125-250 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Roger Melton aka Roger D. Melton (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Roger Melton) to Jennifer Grant, Trustee(s), dated April 20, 2015, and recorded in Book No. 09632, at Page 0864 in Cumberland County Registry, North Carolina. The Deed of Trust was modified by the following: A Loan Modification recorded on January 3, 2024, in Book No. 11884, at Page 0857, 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,

NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 25SP001170-250 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by David Dobbins and Elizabeth Dobbins (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): David Dobbins and Elizabeth Dobbins) to Cathleen Birli, Trustee(s), dated September 30, 2022, and recorded in Book No. 11585, at Page 0480 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

NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE NORTH CAROLINA, CUMBERLAND COUNTY 19 SP 000938-250 Under and by virtue of a Power of Sale contained in that certain Deed of Trust executed by Wanda Bazemore, in the original amount of $105,214.00, payable to Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc. as nominee for Residential Acceptance Corporation, dated November 17, 2017 and recorded on November 17, 2017 in Book 10206, Page 673, 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

25SP000348-250 NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE NORTH COUNTY

CAROLINA,

CUMBERLAND

Under and by virtue of a Power of Sale contained in that certain Deed of Trust executed by JOHN E. BLANDING to NATIONAL TITLE NETWORK, Trustee(s), which was dated February 15, 2012 and recorded on February 23, 2012 in Book 8838 at Page 145, Cumberland 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 21, 2026 at 01:30 PM, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the

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 Cabarrus County courthouse at 11:00AM on January 20, 2026, the following described real estate and any improvements situated thereon, in Cabarrus County, North Carolina, and being more particularly described in that certain Deed of Trust executed Bridget Rock, dated November 12, 2022 to secure the original principal amount of $132,559.00, and recorded in Book 16289 at Page 3 of the Cabarrus 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: 4849 Samuel Richard Street, Kannapolis, NC 28083 Tax Parcel ID:

56334345430000 Present Record Owners: Bridget M. Rock The record owner(s) of the property, according to the records of the Register of Deeds, is/are Bridget M. Rock. 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:

PM on January 12, 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: All that certain parcel of land in Cumberland County, State of NC, as more fully described in Book 6508, Page 453 ID # 0467-489455, being known and designated as Lot 11, Eastover Village, Section Six, filed in Plat Book 91, at Page 133. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 824 Shakertown Road, Fayetteville, North Carolina.

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

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,

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.

Being the same property conveyed by Fee Simple Corporate Warranty Deed from Greentree Servicing LLC fka Conseco Finance Servicing Corp. a Limited Liability Company under the laws of the State of Delaware to William H Jones, dated 04/23/2004 recorded on 04/30/2004 in Book 6508 Page 453 in Cumberland County Records, State of NC. 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

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

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

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

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,

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

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 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 2:00PM on January 22, 2026, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following described property, to wit: Exhibit A-To be attached to and made a part of that certain Deed of Trust from Wanda Bazemore to April Burkett, Trustee for Residential Acceptance Corporation. BEING all of Lot 1058 in a Subdivision known as PART ONE, FOX FIRE, SECTION 5, according to a plat recorded in Plat Book 38, Page 36, Cumberland County Registry. Together with improvements located hereon; said property being located at 5247 Covenwood Drive, Fayetteville, NC 28303. Tax ID: 0408-74-1250 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 of the property is Wanda Bazemore. 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.

North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, at 12:00 PM on January 12, 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 7, of the E.M. CURRIN PROPERTY BLOCK E, and being the same duly recorded in Book of Plats 10, Page 23, Cumberland County Registry, North Carolina. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 313 Post Avenue, 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 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,

foreclosure sales, at 12:00 PM on January 12, 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 84, in a subdivision known as Revised Map Heathcliff at Westpoint, Phase 1 and lot 109 open space & storm water maintenance, according, to a plat of the same recorded in Plat Book 130, Page 199, Cumberland County Registry. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 2006 Maitland 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.

following described property situated in Cumberland County, North Carolina, to wit: THE LAND REFERRED TO HEREIN BELOW IS SITUATED IN THE COUNTY OF CUMBERLAND, STATE OF North Carolina, AND IS DESCRIBED AS FOLLOWS: BEING ALL OF UNIT NO. 15-D IN A SUBDIVISION KNOWN AS BRIARCLIFF CONDOMINIUMS, PHASE XVII ACCORDING TO A MAP OF PHASE XVII PLAT OF THE SAME DULY RECORDED IN CONDOMINIUM BOOK 2, PAGES 88-92, CUMBERLAND COUNTY REGISTRY, NORTH CAROLINA TOGETHER WITH AND SUBJECT TO THE OWNERSHIP RIGHTS, PRIVILEGES, APPURTENANCES, EASEMENTS, OBLIGATIONS, COVENANTS, CONDITIONS AND RESTRICTIONS CONTAINED AND DESCRIBED IN THE DECLARATION RECORDED IN BOOK 3054, PAGE 583, AND ALL SUPPLEMENTS AND AMENDMENTS THERETO; Save and except any releases, deeds of release or prior conveyances of record. Said property is commonly known as 1905 Tryon Dr Unit 4, Fayetteville, NC 28303.

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

including Single-Family Residential Real Property

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

and belief of the undersigned, the current owner(s) of the property is/are All Lawful Heirs of John E. Blanding. 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

25-121883

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: 25850 - 130308 SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE SERVICES, INC. SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE

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: 16049 - 121718 SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE SERVICES, INC. SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE

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 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: 28561 - 146160

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 By: _______________________________ ________ Goddard & Peterson, PLLC 125-B Williamsboro Street Oxford, NC 27565

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.: 25-09743-FC01

North State Journal for Thursday, January 8, 2026

TAKE NOTICE

CUMBERLAND 25-122494 IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE OF NORTH CAROLINA SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION CUMBERLAND COUNTY 25SP001078-250 IN THE MATTER OF THE FORECLOSURE OF A DEED OF TRUST EXECUTED BY DAVID KEVIN GRADY, JR. DATED JUNE 29, 2021 AND RECORDED IN BOOK 11170 AT PAGE 655 IN THE CUMBERLAND 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

NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE NORTH CAROLINA, CUMBERLAND COUNTY 25 SP 000308-250 Under and by virtue of a Power of Sale contained in that certain Deed of Trust executed by Kathy Robinson and Joe Robinson, Mortgagor(s), in the original amount of $234,591.00, to Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc. as beneficiary, as nominee for CertusBank, National Association, Mortgagee, dated June 13th, 2014 and recorded on June 13th, 2014 in Book 9449, Page 0422, 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

25-121772 IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE OF NORTH CAROLINA SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION CUMBERLAND COUNTY 25SP001032-250 IN THE MATTER OF THE FORECLOSURE OF A DEED OF TRUST EXECUTED BY RODNEY SCOTT DATED DECEMBER 23, 2008 AND RECORDED IN BOOK 8042 AT PAGE 785 IN THE CUMBERLAND 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

25-123429 IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE OF NORTH CAROLINA SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION CUMBERLAND COUNTY 25SP001177-250 IN THE MATTER OF THE FORECLOSURE OF A DEED OF TRUST EXECUTED BY RONALD WILLIAMS AND JEAN B. WILLIAMS DATED FEBRUARY 8, 2008 AND RECORDED IN BOOK 7807 AT PAGE 0705 AND MODIFIED BY AGREEMENT RECORDED JANUARY 20, 2017 IN BOOK 10022 PAGE 381 AND FURTHER MODIFIED BY AGREEMENT RECORDED JANUARY 18, 2022 IN BOOK 11369, PAGE 180 IN THE CUMBERLAND COUNTY PUBLIC REGISTRY, NORTH CAROLINA NOTICE OF SALE Under and by virtue of the power and authority contained in the above-referenced

22-115212 IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE OF NORTH CAROLINA SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION CUMBERLAND COUNTY 24SP001861-250 IN THE MATTER OF THE FORECLOSURE OF A DEED OF TRUST EXECUTED BY TIMOTHY JAMES MURPHY AND SHECNA NICOLE MURPHY DATED APRIL 17, 2020 AND RECORDED IN BOOK 10743 AT PAGE 799 AND MODIFIED BY AGREEMENT RECORDED APRIL 19, 2024 IN BOOK 11951, PAGE 772 AND CORRECTED BY AFFIDAVIT RECORDED JANUARY 21, 2025 IN BOOK 12151, PAGE 658 IN THE CUMBERLAND COUNTY PUBLIC REGISTRY, NORTH CAROLINA NOTICE OF SALE Under and by virtue of the power and authority contained in the above-referenced

DAVIDSON 25SP001468-280 NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE NORTH CAROLINA, DAVIDSON COUNTY Under and by virtue of a Power of Sale contained in that certain Deed of Trust executed by Paul C Meeks and Elane H Meeks a/k/a Elaine H Meeks to BB&T Collateral Service Corporation, Trustee(s), which was dated May 15, 2019 and recorded on June 11, 2019 in Book 2361 at Page 183, Davidson 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

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 Cumberland County courthouse at 11:00AM on January 12, 2026, the following described real estate and any improvements situated thereon, in Cumberland County, North Carolina, and being more particularly described in that certain Deed of Trust executed David Kevin Grady, Jr., dated June 29, 2021 to secure the original principal amount of $166,920.00, and recorded in Book 11170 at Page 655 of the Cumberland 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: 402 Poplar Hill Road, Fayetteville, NC 28312 Tax Parcel ID:

0467-00-8637 Present Record Owners: David Kevin Grady Jr. The record owner(s) of the property, according to the records of the Register of Deeds, is/are David Kevin Grady Jr. 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

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 23, 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:

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 10:00 AM on January 13th, 2026, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following described property, to wit: Being all of Lot 58 in a Subdivision known as Braxton Village, Phase One, Section Two, plat of the same being recorded in Plat Book 132, Page 55-56, Cumberland County Registry, North Carolina. Together with improvements located hereon; said property being located at 6025 Gallberry Farms Road, Hope Mills, NC 28348 Tax ID: 0422-28-5432 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 Joe Robinson. 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.

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.

expose for sale at public auction at the usual place of sale at the Cumberland County courthouse at 11:00AM on January 13, 2026, the following described real estate and any improvements situated thereon, in Cumberland County, North Carolina, and being more particularly described in that certain Deed of Trust executed Rodney Scott, dated December 23, 2008 to secure the original principal amount of $64,952.00, and recorded in Book 8042 at Page 785 of the Cumberland 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: 2305 Vestal Avenue, Fayetteville, NC 28301 Tax Parcel ID: 0428-98-2544Present Record Owners: Rodney Scott

The record owner(s) of the property, according to the records of the Register of Deeds, is/are Rodney Scott. 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),

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 11, 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:

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 Cumberland County courthouse at 11:00AM on January 12, 2026, the following described real estate and any improvements situated thereon, in Cumberland County, North Carolina, and being more particularly described in that certain Deed of Trust executed Ronald Williams and Jean B. Williams, dated February 8, 2008 to secure the original principal amount of $239,313.00, and recorded in Book 7807 at Page 0705 of the Cumberland 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: 3934 Heartpine Drive, Fayetteville, NC 28306

Tax Parcel ID: 0441-81-8975 Present Record Owners: Ronald Williams and Jean B. Williams The record owner(s) of the property, according to the records of the Register of Deeds, is/are Ronald Williams and Jean B. 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 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 10, 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:

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 Cumberland County courthouse at 11:00AM on January 15, 2026, the following described real estate and any improvements situated thereon, in Cumberland County, North Carolina, and being more particularly described in that certain Deed of Trust executed Timothy James Murphy and Shecna Nicole Murphy, dated April 17, 2020 to secure the original principal amount of $248,888.00, and recorded in Book 10743 at Page 799 of the Cumberland 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: 6877 Faircloth Bridge Rd, Stedman, NC 28391

Tax Parcel ID: 0497-75-1610 Present Record Owners: Timothy James Murphy and Shecna Nicole Murphy The record owner(s) of the property, according to the records of the Register of Deeds, is/are Timothy James Murphy and Shecna Nicole Murphy. 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 26, 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:

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 12, 2026 at 11:00 AM, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following described property situated in Davidson County, North Carolina, to wit:

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.

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.

BEING ALL OF LOT NOS. 150, 151, 152, AND 153, SECTION 2 OF LAMBETH KNOLLS, AS RECORDED IN THE OFFICE OF THE REGISTER OF DEEDS OF DAVIDSON COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA, IN PLAT BOOK 6, PAGE 16. Save and except any releases, deeds of release or prior conveyances of record. Said property is commonly known as 618 Knollwood Drive, Thomasville, NC 27360. 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

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 Paul C. Meeks and spouse, Elane H. Meeks. An Order for possession of the property

25-122494

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

25-121772

25-123429

22-115212

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.: 25-27483-FC01

North State Journal for Thursday, January 8, 2026

TAKE NOTICE

DURHAM 24-119266 IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE OF NORTH CAROLINA SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION DURHAM COUNTY 25SP001051-310 IN THE MATTER OF THE FORECLOSURE OF A DEED OF TRUST EXECUTED BY JUSTIN CHRISTOPHER WINTER AND ELEANOR HAWTHORNE DATED NOVEMBER 25, 2020 AND RECORDED IN BOOK 9148 AT PAGE 580 AND MODIFIED BY AGREEMENT RECORDED JUNE 12, 2025 IN BOOK 10325, PAGE 732 IN THE DURHAM COUNTY PUBLIC REGISTRY, NORTH CAROLINA NOTICE OF SALE Under and by virtue of the power and

NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 25SP001074-310 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Jonathan A. Smith (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Jonathan A. Smith) to Brock and Scott, Trustee(s), dated May 12, 2022, and recorded in Book No. 9694, at Page 138 in Durham 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 Durham 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 Durham, Durham County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, at 3:00 PM on January 20, 2026 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in Durham in the County of Durham, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: The land referred to herein below is situated

FORSYTH NOTICE OF SERVICE OF PROCESS BY PUBLICATION STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA FORSYTH COUNTY

25SP001646-330 NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE NORTH CAROLINA, FORSYTH COUNTY Under and by virtue of a Power of Sale contained in that certain Deed of Trust executed by Shakira Marshall and Justen Daniel Price to Atlas Orange, Trustee(s), which was dated May 18, 2023 and recorded on May 18, 2023 in Book 3754 at Page 2608, Forsyth 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 15, 2026 at 10:00 AM, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following described property situated in Forsyth County, North Carolina, to wit: COMMENCING at the southwestern intersection of the right of way lines of Old Hollow Road and Scarified Drive, thence

25-120528 IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE OF NORTH CAROLINA SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION FORSYTH COUNTY 25sp001530-330 IN THE MATTER OF THE FORECLOSURE OF A DEED OF TRUST EXECUTED BY BRIAN K. ELLIS DATED JANUARY 3, 2017 AND RECORDED IN BOOK 3326 AT PAGE 3362 IN THE FORSYTH 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

IREDELL IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE OF NORTH CAROLINA SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION IREDELL COUNTY 25SP000030-480 IN THE MATTER OF THE FORECLOSURE OF A DEED OF TRUST EXECUTED BY JAMES P. KRUPSKY AND STEPHANIE N. KRUPSKY DATED NOVEMBER 20, 2020 AND RECORDED IN BOOK 2756 AT PAGE 1088 IN THE IREDELL 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

STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF IREDELL IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION 23SP000255-480 IN THE MATTER OF THE FORECLOSURE OF A DEED OF TRUST EXECUTED BY RICARDO HURTADO MORENO DATED JULY 29, 2022 RECORDED IN BOOK NO. 2936, AT PAGE 996 IN THE IREDELL COUNTY PUBLIC REGISTRY, NORTH CAROLINA NOTICE OF SALE Under and by virtue of the power and authority contained in the above-referenced deed of trust and because of default in payment of the secured debt and failure to perform the agreements therein contained and, pursuant to demand of the holder of the secured debt, the undersigned will expose for sale at public auction at the

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 Durham County courthouse at 11:00AM on January 14, 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 Justin Christopher Winter and Eleanor Hawthorne, dated November 25, 2020 to secure the original principal amount of $223,250.00, and recorded in Book 9148 at Page 580 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: 1201 South Street, Durham, NC 27707

Tax Parcel ID: 222619 Present Record Owners: Justin Christopher Winter and Eleanor Hawthorne The record owner(s) of the property, according to the records of the Register of Deeds, is/are Justin Christopher Winter and Eleanor Hawthorne. 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

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 29, 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:

in the County of Durham, City of Durham, state of North Carolina, and is described as follows: Beginning at the northwest corner of Lot No.13, on the south side of Umstead Street, and running in a southerly direction with the west line of said lot 111.2 feet to the northern line of Lot No.8; thence in a westerly direction with the northern line of Lots Nos. 9 and 10, 35 feet to an iron stake, the southeast corner of Lot No. 15, thence in a northerly direction with the line of said lot 126.8 feet to an iron stake, the south side of Umstead Street; thence in an easterly direction with the south side of Umstead Street 50 feet to an iron stake; the beginning corner, and being Lot No. 14 in Block K of the New Hope Realty Company’s Land as surveyed and platted by Blair and Drane Incorporated, recorded in Plat Book 3 at Page 83. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 110 East Umstead Street, Durham, North Carolina. Said property having been previously conveyed to grantor by instrument(s) recorded in Book 3, Page 83, and being reflected on plat(s) recorded in Plat Book.3, Page 83. Parcel ID #118494 This being the same property conveyed to Jonathan A. Smith from Lonnie D.

Hammond and Janet O. Hammond in a deed dated July 13, 2020 and recorded July 13, 2020 in Book 9003 Page 12. Property Commonly Known As: 110 East Umstead Street, Durham, NC 27707 Parcel ID: 118494 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.

In the Superior Court MOVEMENT MORTGAGE, LLC v. JUMOKE 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

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.

Robertson, Anschutz, Schneid, Crane & Partners, PLLC 13010 Morris Road, Suite 450 Alpharetta, GA 30004

with the southern right of way line of Old Hollow Road North 73 degrees 47 minutes 55 seconds West 840 feet to an iron stake, the northeast corner of Tax Lot 11 in Block 3010F, as presently shown on the Forsyth County Tax Maps, the Point and Place of BEGINNING; thence from said Point and Place of BEGINNING and with the western line of Joseph Tarlton, now or formerly, (Deed Book 1354, page 1570), South 16 degrees 14 minutes 14 seconds West 200.08 feet to an iron stake in the northern line of Lot Number 20 as shown on the Plat of SUNNY TERRACE, SECTION THREE, recorded in Plat Book 28, page 176 of the Forsyth Registry; thence with the northern line of said Lot 20, North 73 degrees 43 minutes 57 seconds West 99.99 feet to an iron stake; thence North 16 degrees 13 minutes 39 seconds East 199.97 feet to an iron stake in the southern right of way line of Old Hollow Road; thence with the southern right of way line of Old Hollow Road South 73 degrees 47 minutes 55 seconds East 100.02 feet to and existing iron stake, the Point and Place of BEGINNING. Being Lot Number 11 as shown on the unrecorded Plat of SUNNY TERRACE, SECTION TWO, and being presently shown as Tax Lot 11 in Block 3010F on the Forsyth County Tax maps. Said description being in accordance with a survey made by Philip T. Hedrick, RL.S. dated February

27,1996,

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 27265

24-119266

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: 25545 - 142446

This, the 17TH day of December, 2025 Gregory P. Cowen NC Bar #39608 Attorney for Petitioner

The subject property is the same as that property described in Deed Book 3700, Page 1055, Forsyth County Registry and is further designated as Tax Parcel Identifier Number 6848-85-6738.000 on the Forsyth County Tax Maps. Save and except any releases, deeds of release or prior conveyances of record. Said property is commonly known as 1960 Old Hollow Road, Walkertown, NC 27051. 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 Shakira Marshall and Justen Daniel Price. 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.: 25-24516-FC01

of the secured debt, the undersigned will expose for sale at public auction at the usual place of sale at the Forsyth County courthouse at 11:00AM on January 14, 2026, the following described real estate and any improvements situated thereon, in Forsyth County, North Carolina, and being more particularly described in that certain Deed of Trust executed Brian K. Ellis, dated January 3, 2017 to secure the original principal amount of $79,105.00, and recorded in Book 3326 at Page 3362 of the Forsyth 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: 3138 Russell Way Lane, Winston Salem, NC 27127 Tax Parcel ID: 6834-01-1258 Present Record Owners: Brian K. Ellis

The record owner(s) of the property, according to the records of the Register of Deeds, is/are Brian K. Ellis. 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),

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 13, 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:

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 Iredell County courthouse at 11:00AM on January 15, 2026, the following described real estate and any improvements situated thereon, in Iredell County, North Carolina, and being more particularly described in that certain Deed of Trust executed James P. Krupsky and Stephanie N. Krupsky, dated November 20, 2020 to secure the original principal amount of $212,054.00, and recorded in Book 2756 at Page 1088 of the Iredell 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: 140 Silvermere Drive, Statesville, NC 28625

Tax Parcel ID: 3793599912.000 Present Record Owners: Stephanie N. Krupsky The record owner(s) of the property, according to the records of the Register of Deeds, is/are Stephanie N. Krupsky. 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

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 29, 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

usual place of sale at the Iredell County courthouse at 10:30 AM on January 21, 2026, the following described real estate and any improvements situated thereon, in Iredell County, North Carolina, and being more particularly described in that certain Deed of Trust executed by Ricardo Hurtado Moreno, dated July 29, 2022 to secure the original principal amount of $290,997.00, and recorded in Book No. 2936, at Page 996 of the Iredell 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: 421 Dobson Ave, Statesville, NC 28677 Tax Parcel ID: 0107A31000H024

The record owner(s) of the property, according to the records of the Register of Deeds, is/are Ricardo Hurtado Moreno and Lochlann Kilbur Hurtado. 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. 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 29th 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: 19486-28940

bearing

number

9602258P.

25-120528

22-113217

North State Journal for Thursday, January 8, 2026

TAKE NOTICE

IREDELL NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 25SP000044-480 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Rosemary G. Hyman (deceased) (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Rosemary G. Hyman) to Brock and Scott, Trustee(s), dated March 22, 2022, and recorded in Book No. 2906, at Page 1090 in Iredell 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 Iredell 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 12:30 PM on January 15, 2026 and will sell to the

25SP000299-480 NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE NORTH CAROLINA, IREDELL COUNTY Under and by virtue of a Power of Sale contained in that certain Deed of Trust executed by Stevie Kenneth Freeman, an unmarried man and Monica D. Conrod, an unmarried woman as joint tenants to Allan B. Polunsky, Trustee(s), which was dated June 14, 2022 and recorded on June 15, 2022 in Book 2926 at Page 1379, Iredell 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 22, 2026 at 10:00 AM, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following described property situated in

JOHNSTON NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE NORTH CAROLINA, JOHNSTON COUNTY 25 SP 000216-500 Under and by virtue of a Power of Sale contained in that certain Deed of Trust executed by James Leonard Gatlin V, Mortgagor(s), in the original amount of $232,323.00, to Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc., as nominee for Cornerstone Home Lending, Inc., Mortgagee, dated April 30th, 2021 and recorded on April 30th, 2021 in Book 5918, Page 491, Johnston 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 Johnston

25SP000560-500 NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE NORTH CAROLINA, JOHNSTON COUNTY Under and by virtue of a Power of Sale contained in that certain Deed of Trust executed by Billy Ray Smith to Allan B. Polunsky, Trustee(s), which was dated August 30, 2012 and recorded on August 30, 2012 in Book 4167 at Page 867, Johnston 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 13, 2026 at 11:00 AM, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following described property situated in Johnston County, North Carolina, to wit: BEGINNING at a point in the southern right of Way line of North Carolina Highway 210,

MOORE 24 SP 26 AMENDED NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE NORTH CAROLINA, MOORE COUNTY Under and by virtue of a Power of Sale contained in that certain Deed of Trust executed by Robert Christian Robison, a single man to Paul B. Trevarrow PLLC, Trustee(s), which was dated August 10, 2020 and recorded on August 10, 2020 in Book 5391 at Page 410, Moore 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 22, 2026 at 10:00 AM, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following described property situated in Moore County, North Carolina, to wit: “A Map of Pinebluff, Moore County, North Carolina”, said Map being duly filed in the Office of the Register of Deeds for Moore County, to which reference is hereby made, and described and defined as follows, to wit: Beginning at a point on the south side of Philadelphia Avenue, the said point bisecting the front line of Lot No. 6 in said block, and running thence with the line of Philadelphia Avenue in a westerly direction 90 feet to the corner of Lot No. 5 and the alley; thence, with the line of Lot No. 5 in a

highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in Mooresville in the County of Iredell, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: All that certain lot or parcel of land situated in the Iredell County, North Carolina and more particularly described as follows: Being all of Lot 11 of White Oaks, section #7 as shown on Map Book 11 at Pages 24 and 24A of the Iredell County Registry. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 1135 Fieldstone Road, Mooresville, North Carolina. Tax ID: 4666-42-1578.000 NOTE: The property address and tax parcel identification number listed are provided solely for informational purposes, without warranty as to accuracy or completeness and are not hereby insured. Being that parcel of land conveyed to Rosemary G. Hyman from Corey Ann Dale, unmarried and Stephen L. Wall and spouse, Deloris W. Wall by that Deed dated 4/30/2018 and recorded 5/1/2018 in deed book 2552, at page 2397 of the Iredell County, NC public registry.

PARCEL NUMBER(S): 4666421578.000 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

Iredell County, North Carolina, to wit:

Amity Hill Road, Statesville, NC 28677.

BEGINNING at an iron stake in the North margin of the Amity Hill Road and said iron stake being situated 950.1 feet from the center line of a culvert under Amity Hill Road and being measured in an easterly direction with said road and running thence with the North margin of the Amity Hill Road North 86 deg. 5 min. West 210 feet to an iron stake; thence North 3 deg. 55 min. East 200 feet to an iron stake; thence North 7 deg. 55 min. East 100 feet to an iron stake; thence North 14 deg. 55 min. East 100 feet to an iron stake; thence South 86 deg. 5 min. East 90 feet to an iron stake; thence South 80 deg. East 92.28 feet to an iron stake; thence South 3 deg. 55 min. West 388 feet to the point of BEGINNING and being described according to a plat and survey made by L. B. Grier, R.S., dated August 22, 1966.

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

and belief of the undersigned, the current owner(s) of the property is/are Stevie Kenneth Freeman and Monica D Conrod, Joint Tenants with Right of Survivorship. 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.

Said property is commonly known as 2599

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 Johnston County, North Carolina, at 12:00 PM on January 20th, 2026, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following described property, to wit: Being all of Lot 5, Waterview Subdivision, as more particularly shown on the plat of record in Plat Book 70, Page 495498, Johnston County Registry, to which reference is hereby made for a more particular description. Together with improvements located hereon; said property being located at 175 Watersedge Lane, Smithfield, NC 27577 Tax ID: 15-M-14-003-P 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

property is/are James Leonard Gatlin V. 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.

said point of beginning being located from a point where the property line between John Taylor and James Whitley intersect with the southern right of way line or Highway #210; thence along said right of way line of said highway as follows: North 87 deg. 42 min. 24 sec. East 92.78 feet; south ;85 deg.51 min. 43 sec. East 96.87 feet; South 80 deg. 16 min. 58 sec. East 18.16 feet to the beginning thence the property line runs along said right of way line of said highway South 80 deg. 16 min.58 sec. East 79 feet to a point; thence South 75 deg. 00 min. 57 sec. East 25.94 feet to the northwest corner the lot owned by Linwood C. Barbour; thence leaving said highway right of way line and running with Linwood C. Barbour’s western property line South 11 deg. 56 min. 20 sec. West 220.81 feet to a point, said point being the southwest corner of Linwood C. Barbour’s lot in the property line of James Whitley; thence a new line with James Whitley North 87 deg.45 min. 02 sec. West 73.00 feet to a point, a new corner with James Whitley; thence another new line with James Whitley North 03 deg. 50 min. 59 sec. East 233 73 feet to the point of BEGINNING and containing 20,198 square feet and being Lot No.6 according to a plat prepared by Ragsdale Engineers, P.A., dated April 4, 1974, entitled “Property James Whitley”.

release or prior conveyances of record.

of record. To the best of the knowledge and belief of the undersigned, the current owner(s) of the property is/are Danelle Smith Brown.

The Southwest corner and the Northwest corner of the above described property are subject to a radius of 15 feet for proposed street. Save and except any releases, deeds of release or prior conveyances of record.

Save and except any releases, deeds of

southerly direction 184 feet, thence, in an easterly direction 60 feet to the common corner of Lots Nos. 5, 6, 9 and 10 in said block; thence in a northeasterly direction with the dividing line of Lots Nos. 6 and 9 about 42.43 feet to a new corner, thence a line perpendicular with Philadelphia Avenue to the point of beginning, being and comprising all of Lot No. 5 and the westerly one-half of Lot No. 6 in said Block G and 2. Together with improvements located thereon, said property being located at 140 West Philadelphia Avenue, Pinebluff, North Carolina. Together with the right, title and interest that the parties of the first part have in one-half to the alley adjoining Lot No. 5 and the second section of the inner court adjoining Lot No. 5. In other words, reference is hereby made to the official Map of Town of Pinebluff, North Carolina, on file in the Office of the Town Clerk, Municipal Building (Town Hall) in Pinebluff, NC, as well as the map duly recorded in the Moore County Registry, the maps to which reference has been made for many years in many deeds for the Blocks and Lots in Pinebluff, NC., and lying and being in Pinebluff, NC., in Block G & 2, BEGINNING at a point in the southerly right of way line of Philadelphia Avenue located 154 feet from the intersection of the southerly right of way line of Philadelphia Avenue and the westerly right of way line of Walnut Street, measured in a westerly direction as the southerly line of Philadelphia Avenue, perpendicular to Walnut Street, and running thence as the southerly line of Philadelphia Avenue in a westerly direction 90 feet to the northerly most corner of Lot No. 5 as shown by the maps herein referred to; thence perpendicular to Philadelphia Avenue in a westerly direction 90 feet to the northerly most corner of Lot No. 5 as shown by the maps hereto referred

Said property is commonly known as 3351 NC Highway 210, Smithfield, NC 27577. 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

to, thence perpendicular to Philadelphia Avenue and parallel to Walnut Street in a southerly direction 184 feet; thence as the southerly line of Lot No. 5 in an easterly direction, parallel to Philadelphia Avenue 60 feet, thence in a northeasterly direction as the common line of Lots Nos. 6 and 9 about 42.43 feet; thence in a northerly direction parallel to Walnut Street and perpendicular to Philadelphia Avenue a straight line direct to the point of BEGINNING. Together with all right, title and interest in and to the easterly half, 6 feet, of the alley between Lots Nos. 4 and 5 in said block, and the number 2 inner court section adjacent to and directly behind Lot No. 5, all as shown and designated on the Map of Pinebluff on file in the Pinebluff Town Hall. Being that parcel of land conveyed to William J. St. Onge, Sr. and wife, Susan Medlin St. Onge, Tenants by the Entirety from Mary Ann Swink and husband, Lonnie F. Swink by that deed dated 03/13/1981 and recorded 03/31/1981 in Deed Book 473, at Page 170 of the Moore County, NC Public Registry. NOTE: Susan St. Onge DOD-11/23/1994 LESS AND EXCEPTthat piece of land described in Deed Book 2011, at Page 544 being further described as follows: A certain parcel of land in the Town of Pinebluff, Sandhills Township, Moore County, North Carolina, being a part of the St. Onge’s property recorded in Deed Book 473, Page 170, Being all of Section 2 of the Center Square Block G-2 and part of Lot 5, and of the north alleyway of said block, having a boundary described as follows: BEGINNING at an iron stake which is the center of the above mentioned block and runs thence as the Line of Zwiebel, North 64-11-28, East 135.59 feet to a corner with

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

Brown, thence on a new line, North 7045-57, West 96.14 feet to a new iron stake in the Kilpatrick Line, thence as their line, South 19-02-02, West 95.95 feet to the BEGINNING, containing 0.106 acres, more or less, according to a survey by Carl A. Samuelson, PLS on 25 March, 2001. Save and except any releases, deeds of release or prior conveyances of record. Said property is commonly known as 140 W PHILADELPHIA AVE, Pinebluff, NC 28373. 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 Robert Christian Robison. 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

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: 17172 - 121276 SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE SERVICES, INC. SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE

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 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 24-002022-02

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.: 23-33288-FC01

B10

North State Journal for Thursday, January 8, 2026

TAKE NOTICE

ONSLOW NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 25SP001316-660 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Twaney Terrell Johnnies (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Twaney Terrell Johnnies) to Mary A. McDuffie and Joan C. Cox, Trustee(s), dated July 20, 2006, and recorded in Book No. 2699, at Page 3 in Onslow 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 Onslow 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

RANDOLPH NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 25SP000311-750 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Jason L. King (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Jason King and Katie M. King) to A. Grant Whitney, Trustee(s), dated April 2, 2014, and recorded in Book No. RE 2383, at Page 836 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

24SP000272-750 AMENDED 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 Janine Marie Kube to William R. Echols, Trustee(s), which was dated May 24, 2011 and recorded on May 24, 2011 in Book RE 2234 at Page 541, 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

NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE FILE NUMBER: 25SP000149-750 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust EXECUTED BY WILLIAM MCCOY, JR. AND MARTHA MCCOY DATED JULY 6, 2006 IN THE AMOUNT OF $64,132.41 AND RECORDED IN BOOK RE1981 AT PAGE 910 IN THE RANDOLPH 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 Randolph County, North Carolina, in Book 2956, Page 13, 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 Randolph County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, on January 14, 2026 at 11:30 AM, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real

25SP000294-750 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 Taylor Alexis Long and William Allen Hamrick, Joint with Right of Survivorship to McGuire & McGuire, Trustee(s), which was dated May 20, 2021 and recorded on May 20, 2021 in Book 2754 at Page 2100, 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,

ROBESON NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 25SP001357-770 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Henry Elliott (Deceased) (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Henry Elliott) to WFG National Title Insurance Company, Trustee(s), dated September 15, 2023, and recorded in Book No. D 2423, at Page 598 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

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 21, 2026 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in Jacksonville in the County of Onslow, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: BEING all of Lot 10 as shown on a plat entitled, “Mar-lin Pines, Jacksonville TWP. Onslow Co., N.C.”, prepared by L.T Mercer, R.S., dated March 6th, 1967 and recorded in Map Book 10, Page 32, Onslow County Registry. Subject to restrictive and protective covenants of record. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 319 Lakewood Drive, Jacksonville, 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

courthouse door in Asheboro, Randolph County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, at 10:00 AM on January 14, 2026 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in Asheboro in the County of Randolph, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: Being all and the full contents of Lot Nos. 105, 106, 107, 108 and 109 in Block B of Knollwood Acres Subdivision according to a plat recorded Plat Book 9 at Page 5 in the office of the Register of Deeds for Randolph County. This property is conveyed Subject to those restrictions applicable to Knollwood Subdivision. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 2841 Virginia Acres Drive, Asheboro, 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

on January 21, 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: Being all of Lot 19 of the Final Plat of Water’s Edge Subdivision as recorded in Plat Book 112 Page 73 in the office of the Register of Deeds of Randolph County, North Carolina. Save and except any releases, deeds of release or prior conveyances of record. Said property is commonly known as 112 Parkview Court, Archdale, NC 27263-3456. 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.

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

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.

($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

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,

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.

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 JANINE KUBE AKA JANINE MARIE KUBE. 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

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

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

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: 28985 - 148409 SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE SERVICES, INC. SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE

estate situated in the County of Randolph, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: PARCEL IDENTIFICATION NUMBER(S): 7717-59-3853 ADDRESS: 4810 ARCHDALE RD TRINITY, NC 27370 PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): UNKNOWN HEIRS OF WILLIAM MCCOY JR. THE LAND DESCRIBED HEREIN IS SITUATED IN THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA, COUNTY OF RANDOLPH, AND IS DESCRIBED IN DEED BOOK RE1981, PAGE 910, AS FOLLOWS: ALL THAT CERTAIN PROPERTY SITUATED IN THE CITY OF TRINITY IN THE COUNTY OF RANDOLPH AND STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA, BEING MORE FULLY DESCRIBED IN A DEED DATED 12/13/1968 AND RECORDED 12/30/1968, AMONG THE LAND RECORDS OF THE COUNTY AND STATE SET FORTH ABOVE, IN DEED VOLUME 982 AND PAGE 243. TAX MAP OR PARCEL ID NO.: 7717-59-3853 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.

or the usual and customary location at the county courthouse for conducting the sale on January 14, 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:

PAY THE EXCISE TAX AND THE RECORDING COSTS FOR THEIR DEED.

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.

BEING all of Lots 33-36 of Trinity Heights, as shown on the plat recorded in Plat Book 8 at Page 60 in the Office of the Register of Deeds for Randolph County, North Carolina. Save and except any releases, deeds of release or prior conveyances of record. Said property is commonly known as 5338 Trinity Blvd, Trinity, NC 27370. 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

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 Taylor Alexis Long and William Allen Hamrick. An Order for possession of the property may be issued pursuant to G.S. 45-21.29 in favor

County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, at 2:30 PM on January 21, 2026 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in Parkton in the County of Robeson, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: BEING all of Lot 1, as shown on a plat entitled “CARDINAL COVE SUBDIVISION BEING A REVISION OF MAP BOOK 57 PAGE 173”, duly recorded in Map Book 61, Page 135, Robeson County Registry, North Carolina. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 15 Cardinal Drive, Parkton, North Carolina. 15 Cardinal Dr, Parkton, NC 28371 13080200702

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

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,

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.

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,

including Single-Family Residential Real Property

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

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: 28673 - 146822 SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE SERVICES, INC. SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE

B11

North State Journal for Thursday, January 8, 2026

TAKE NOTICE

UNION NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 25SP000630-890 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Armando Rios (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Armando Rios) to Harry E. Dean III & Peter Cameron, Trustee(s), dated July 15, 2022, and recorded in Book No. 8527, at Page 0248 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 in the Office of the Register of Deeds Union 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 Judicial Center in Monroe, Union County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, at 1:00 PM on January 22, 2026 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in Monroe in the County

WAKE 23SP003721-910 NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE NORTH CAROLINA, WAKE COUNTY Under and by virtue of a Power of Sale contained in that certain Deed of Trust executed by Maria Berganza a/k/a Maria Hilda Berganza and Carlos Rolando Lorenzo Cerin to Calder & McWilliam, PLLC, Trustee(s), which was dated July 17, 2007 and recorded on July 18, 2007 in Book 012660 at Page 01986, Wake County Registry, North Carolina. Default having been made of the note thereby secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC, having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust, and the holder of the note evidencing said default having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer

of Union, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: Tract 1: All that certain parcel containing 1.4346 acres as S shown in Plat Cabinet K, File 426 of the Union County, North Carolina Public Registry and more particularly described as: BEGINNING at an iron stake on Willie Hinson’s line and being North 1 degree 45 minutes East 95 feet from said Willie Hinson’s corner in center of the Doster Road and runs thence with the old line North 88 degrees 30 minutes East 144 feet to an iron stake, a new corner said old line and North side of the Doster Road; thence two new lines; First, North 3 degrees 45 minutes West 500 feet to an Iron stake; Second, North 85 degrees West 100 feet to an iron stake, a new corner on Willie Hinson’s line; thence with said line South 1 degree 45 minutes, West 510 feet to the BEGINNING and containing 1.4346 acres, as surveyed by Ralph W. Elliot, R.L.S., April 23, 1966, and being a part of the Third tract described in deed by Baucom Hinson and wife, Leone Z. Hinson to Folan Hinson and wife, Jean S. Hinson dated August 6, 1965 and recorded in the Union County Registry in Book 199 Page 138. Parcel ID: 09-357-014A Property Address: 1.4346 Acres Doster Rd Monroe, NC 28112

Tract 2: All that certain parcel containing .2407 of an acre as shown in Plat Cabinet K, File 426 of the Union County, North Carolina Public Registry. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 2620 Doster Road, Monroe, North Carolina. Parcel ID: 09-357-030B

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 21, 2026 at 10:00 AM, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following described property situated in Wake County, North Carolina, to wit:

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.

BEING ALL OF LOT 161, PHASE 2, WESTON RIDGE SUBDIVISION, ACCORDING TO THE PLAT THEREOF, RECORDED IN BOOK OF MAPS 2002, PAGE 555, IN THE OFFICE OF THE REGISTER OF DEEDS OF WAKE COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA. Save and except any releases, deeds of release or prior conveyances of record. Said property is commonly known as 115 Villavista Trace, Garner, NC 27529. 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

23SP002849-910 AMENDED NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE

will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following described property situated in Wake County, North Carolina, to wit:

NORTH CAROLINA, WAKE COUNTY

BEING ALL OF LOT 20, PHASE 1B, GRAYS CREEK SUBDIVISION AS SHOWN ON MAP RECORDED IN BOOK OF MAPS 2015, PAGES 894 AND 895 WAKE COUNTY REGISTRY.

Under and by virtue of a Power of Sale contained in that certain Deed of Trust executed by Peter James Graessle and MiaRose Conklin to Michael Baynes, Trustee(s), which was dated April 19, 2016 and recorded on April 19, 2016 in Book 16357 at Page 1, Wake County Registry, North Carolina. Default having been made of the note thereby secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC, having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust, and the holder of the note evidencing said default having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will 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 21, 2026 at 10:00 AM, and

25SP000830-910 AMENDED NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE NORTH CAROLINA, WAKE COUNTY Under and by virtue of a Power of Sale contained in that certain Deed of Trust executed by Matthew Charles Kuster, an unmarried man to Blue Door Homes LLC., Trustee(s), which was dated December 1, 2020 and recorded on December 1, 2020 in Book 018217 at Page 01228, Wake County Registry, North Carolina. Default having been made of the note thereby secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC, having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust, and the holder of the note evidencing said default having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the courthouse door of the county courthouse where the property is located, or the usual and customary location at

25SP000788-910 AMENDED NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE NORTH CAROLINA, WAKE COUNTY Under and by virtue of a Power of Sale contained in that certain Deed of Trust executed by Kimberly N. Baker to Ferris And Mccall, Trustee(s), which was dated October 12, 2007 and recorded on October 17, 2007 in Book 012796 at Page 01246, Wake County Registry, North Carolina. Default having been made of the note thereby secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC, having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust, and the holder of the note evidencing said default having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will 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 21, 2026 at 10:00 AM, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following described property situated in

25SP000807-910 AMENDED NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE NORTH CAROLINA, WAKE COUNTY Under and by virtue of a Power of Sale contained in that certain Deed of Trust executed by Norman Frederick Clark to Hankin & Pack, PLLC, Trustee(s), which was dated October 3, 2024 and recorded on October 3, 2024 in Book 19727 at Page 280, Wake County Registry, North Carolina. Default having been made of the note thereby secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC, having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust, and the holder of the note evidencing said default having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will 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 23, 2026 at 10:00 AM, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the

Save and except any releases, deeds of release or prior conveyances of record. Said property is commonly known as 1312 Forest Fern Lane, Fuquay Varina, NC 27526. 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.

the county courthouse for conducting the sale on January 21, 2026 at 10:00 AM, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following described property situated in Wake County, North Carolina, to wit: Being all of Lot 69, Springhill Subdivision, Phase 2, as shown on map recorded in Book of Maps 2006, Pages 575-577 (Page 576) Wake County Registry. Save and except any releases, deeds of release or prior conveyances of record. Said property is commonly known as 160 Stobhill Lane, Holly Springs, NC 27540. 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

Wake County, North Carolina, to wit: BEGINNING at an iron stake on the North side of James Street (SR 1157) said stake Being 30 Feet from the center street and 358 feet in an Easterly direction from center of SR 1153; Thence along the Eastern line of James Canady and a new line for A. Jones N-02-30-E, 307.70 Feet to an iron stake, a new corner for A. Jones; thence S-87-30-E, 70.0 Feet to an iron, another new corner for Jones: thence S-02-30-W, 307.70 feet to an iron on the Northern side of James Street (SR 1157): thence along the Northern margin of James Street (SR 1157) N-8730-W, 70.0 Feet to the Beginning. Containing 0.49 acres according to a map and survey by L.I. Chasak dated July 24, 1973. Save and except any releases, deeds of release or prior conveyances of record. Said property is commonly known as 209 James Street, Apex, NC 27502. A certified check only (no personal checks) of five percent (5%) of the purchase price, or Seven Hundred Fifty Dollars ($750.00),

following described property situated in Wake County, North Carolina, to wit: Being all of Lot 250, Phase 3, Griffis Glen Subdivision, as shown on a map recorded in Book of Maps 2005, Page 2394, Wake County Registry. ***Property address and Parcel ID are provided for informational purposes only. Property Address: 6905 Rock Lane, Raleigh, NC

Paint 27610

Parcel ID: 0342742 Save and except any releases, deeds of release or prior conveyances of record. Said property is commonly known as 6905 Paint Rock Ln, Raleigh, NC 27610. 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

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

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 MARIA HILDA BERGANZA AND CARLOS ROLANDO LORENZO CERIN AS TENANTS BY THE ENTIRETY.

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 Peter James Graessle and wife Mia-Rose Conklin. 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

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 Matthew Charles Kuster. 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

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 Kimberly N. Baker.

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 Norman Frederick Clark. An Order for possession of the property may be issued pursuant to G.S. 45-21.29 in favor

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.

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.

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

If the trustee is unable to convey title to

File No.: 23-21853-FC01

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.

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

If the trustee is unable to convey title to

File No.: 25-04562-FC01

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.

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

B12

North State Journal for Thursday, January 8, 2026

TAKE NOTICE

WAKE 24SP002146-910 NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE NORTH CAROLINA, WAKE COUNTY Under and by virtue of a Power of Sale contained in that certain Deed of Trust executed by Stevenson B Peden and Paige C Peden to Hutchens Law Firm LLP, Trustee(s), which was dated July 28, 2023 and recorded on August 9, 2023 in Book 019405 at Page 00407, Wake County Registry, North Carolina.

or the usual and customary location at the county courthouse for conducting the sale on January 14, 2026 at 10:00 AM, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following described property situated in Wake County, North Carolina, to wit: BEING all of Lot 126R, Drewry Hills Subdivision, as the same is shown on recombination survey entitled “Property of K. L. Wheeler Heirs and Earl Johnson, III”, dated June 24, 1996, by B.L. Scott & Co. Registered Land Surveyors and being recorded in Book of Maps 1996, Page 1009, Wake County Registry, to which map reference is to be made for a more complete and accurate description (hereinafter the “Real Property”).

Save and except any releases, deeds of release or prior conveyances of record.

25SP002140-910 NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE

sale on January 13, 2026 at 10:00 AM, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following described property situated in Wake County, North Carolina, to wit:

NORTH CAROLINA, WAKE COUNTY Under and by virtue of a Power of Sale contained in that certain Deed of Trust executed by JOHN SULLIVAN AND HARRIET SULLIVAN to Trustee Services of Carolina, Trustee(s), which was dated September 23, 2004 and recorded on September 29, 2004 in Book 11034 at Page 2154, Wake County Registry, North Carolina. Default having been made of the note thereby secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC, having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust, and the holder of the note evidencing said default having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will 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

IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION 24SP002187-910 STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF WAKE IN THE MATTER OF THE FORECLOSURE OF A DEED OF TRUST EXECUTED BY GRETCHEN MARIE ROBLING DATED JANUARY 15, 2010 RECORDED IN BOOK NO. 13827, AT PAGE 224 IN THE WAKE COUNTY PUBLIC REGISTRY, NORTH CAROLINA NOTICE OF SALE Under and by virtue of the power and authority contained in the above-referenced deed of trust and because of default in payment of the secured debt and failure to perform the agreements therein contained and, pursuant to demand of the holder of the

25-122728 IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE OF NORTH CAROLINA SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION WAKE COUNTY 25sp002037-910 IN THE MATTER OF THE FORECLOSURE OF A DEED OF TRUST EXECUTED BY MARTHA T. JORDAN DATED FEBRUARY 16, 2021 AND RECORDED IN BOOK 18359 AT PAGE 1055 IN THE WAKE COUNTY PUBLIC REGISTRY, NORTH CAROLINA NOTICE OF SALE Under and by virtue of the power and authority contained in the above-referenced deed of trust and because of default in payment of the secured debt and failure to perform the agreements contained therein and, pursuant to demand of the holder

IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION 25SP001404-910 STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF WAKE IN THE MATTER OF THE FORECLOSURE OF A DEED OF TRUST EXECUTED BY TAMMY DENISE MASON DATED MARCH 30, 2023 RECORDED IN BOOK NO. 19297, AT PAGE 894 IN THE WAKE COUNTY PUBLIC REGISTRY, NORTH CAROLINA NOTICE OF SALE Under and by virtue of the power and authority contained in the above-referenced deed of trust and because of default in payment of the secured debt and failure to perform the agreements therein contained and, pursuant to demand of the holder

IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION 25SP000679-910 STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF WAKE IN THE MATTER OF THE FORECLOSURE OF A DEED OF TRUST EXECUTED BY JOHN E. DALRYMPLE AND SCARLETT S. DALRYMPLE DATED FEBRUARY 11, 2013 RECORDED IN BOOK NO. 15146, AT PAGE 592 IN THE WAKE COUNTY PUBLIC REGISTRY, NORTH CAROLINA IN THE MATTER OF THE FORECLOSURE OF A DEED OF TRUST EXECUTED BY JOHN E. DALRYMPLE AND SCARLETT S. DALRYMPLE DATED FEBRUARY 11, 2013 RECORDED IN BOOK NO. 15146, AT PAGE 592 IN THE WAKE COUNTY PUBLIC REGISTRY, NORTH CAROLINA Under and by virtue of the power and

Said property is commonly known as 321 W Drewry Lane, Raleigh, NC 27609. 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

BEING all of Lot 62, Van-Story Hills Subdivision, Section Two, as recorded in Book of Maps 1973, Page 98, Wake County Registry. Save and except any releases, deeds of release or prior conveyances of record. Said property is commonly known as 610 Atchison St, Garner, NC 27529. 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

secured debt, the undersigned will expose for sale at public auction at the usual place of sale at the Wake County courthouse at 10:00 AM on January 14, 2026, the following described real estate and any improvements situated thereon, in Wake County, North Carolina, and being more particularly described in that certain Deed of Trust executed by Gretchen Marie Robling, dated January 15, 2010 to secure the original principal amount of $128,872.00, and recorded in Book No. 13827, at Page 224 of the Wake 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: 1523 Middle Ridge Drive, Willow Spring, NC 27592 Tax Parcel ID: 0239195

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 Harriett Narron Sullivan. 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

The record owner(s) of the property, according to the records of the Register of Deeds, is/are Gretchen Marie Robling. 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

If the trustee is unable to convey title to

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

If the trustee is unable to convey title to

File No.: 23-27088-FC02

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 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.

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 8th 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 Posted: By:

__________________ __________________

Ingle Case Number: 15096-49250

of the secured debt, the undersigned will expose for sale at public auction at the usual place of sale at the Wake County courthouse at 11:00AM on January 13, 2026, the following described real estate and any improvements situated thereon, in Wake County, North Carolina, and being more particularly described in that certain Deed of Trust executed Martha T. Jordan, dated February 16, 2021 to secure the original principal amount of $267,000.00, and recorded in Book 18359 at Page 1055 of the Wake 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: 609 Gaslight Trail, Wendell, NC 27591 Tax Parcel ID: 1794113787 Present Record Owners: Martha T. Jordan

The record owner(s) of the property, according to the records of the Register of Deeds, is/are Martha T. Jordan. 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),

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 26, 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 Jpurser@logs.com Agavin@logs.com 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 Wake County courthouse at 10:00 AM on January 14, 2026, the following described real estate and any improvements situated thereon, in Wake County, North Carolina, and being more particularly described in that certain Deed of Trust executed by Tammy Denise Mason, dated March 30, 2023 to secure the original principal amount of $288,419.00, and recorded in book no. 19297, at page 894 of the Wake 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.

Present Record Owners: Tammy Denise Mason

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. 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.

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.

SPECIAL

Ingle Case Number: 36369-62483

Address of property: Invention Way, Raleigh, NC 27616 Tax Parcel ID: 1736588503 / REID: 0489972

5204

authority contained in the above-referenced deed of trust and because of default in payment of the secured debt and failure to perform the agreements therein contained and, pursuant to demand of the holder of the secured debt, the undersigned will expose for sale at public auction at the usual place of sale at the Wake County courthouse at 10:00 AM on January 21, 2026, the following described real estate and any improvements situated thereon, in Wake County, North Carolina, and being more particularly described in that certain Deed of Trust executed by John E. Dalrymple; Scarlett S. Dalrymple, dated February 11, 2013 to secure the original principal amount of $214,800.00, and recorded in Book No. 15146, at Page 592 of the Wake 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.

The record owner(s) of the property, according to the records of the Register of Deeds, is/are Tammy Denise Mason. 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

Address of property: Leesville Rd, Raleigh, NC 27613 Tax Parcel ID: 0004339

7906

The record owner(s) of the property, according to the records of the Register of Deeds, is/are John E. Dalrymple and Scarlett S. Dalrymple. 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

NOTICE

FOR

LEASEHOLD

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. 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

25-122728

The date of this Notice is 17th day of November, 2025. Grady I. Ingle, Attorney for Substitute Trustee Ingle Law Firm, PA 13801 Reese Blvd West Suite 160 Huntersville, NC 28078 (980) 771-0717

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 4th day of November, 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: 31298-53038

VOLUME 148 ISSUE 46 | THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 2026

CHATHAMNEWSRECORD.COM

THE CHATHAM COUNTY EDITION OF NORTH STATE JOURNAL

PJ WARD-BROWN / CHATHAM NEWS & RECORD

Takeoff

Jordan-Matthews senior Kamarie Hadley (1) puts up a shot against Chatham Charter in a game at the SportsTone.net Christmas Invitational on Dec. 30. For more, turn to page B1.

the

BRIEF this week

Trump tells Republicans to be “flexible” on abortion restrictions to get health care deal President Donald Trump wants Republicans to get a deal on health care insurance assistance by being flexible on a long-standing budget policy that bars federal money from being spent on abortion services. Trump made his request during a speech to House Republicans on Tuesday in Washington, D.C. Trump says Republicans can “own health care” as an issue if they get a deal to replace expired subsidies for Affordable Care Act insurance customers. But Trump is essentially asking House Republicans to set aside decades of GOP policy insisting on the Hyde Amendment as part of any health care spending. Some Democrats want to end Hyde restrictions as part of any new agreements on health care subsidies, and anti-abortion rights advocates want Republicans to hold the line.

$2.00

NASCAR commissioner Phelps resigns after inflammatory texts revealed in case He was with the organization for 20 years By Jenna Fryer The Associated Press CHARLOTTE — The fallout from NASCAR’s federal antitrust trial continued into the new year as NASCAR Commissioner Steve Phelps on Tuesday

announced his resignation after more than 20 years with the top racing series in the United States. His resignation comes after last month’s trial in which inflammatory texts Phelps sent during contentious revenue-sharing negotiations were revealed. Phelps will leave the company at the end of the month, ahead of the start of the

first exhibition race of the season on Feb. 1. He was named NASCAR’s first commissioner last season after a courting process for the same role by golf’s PGA Tour. The opportunity with the PGA was revealed during December testimony of the antitrust trial brought by two race teams against NASCAR, and Phelps testified he pulled out of con-

sideration for that role upon the NASCAR promotion from president. The top executive at NASCAR was deeply bruised during the trial — and the discovery process leading into it — when communications he exchanged with his leadership team were exposed. In one exSee NASCAR, page A10

Big Tech’s fast-expanding plans for data centers running into stiff local opposition The AI boom is having a physical impact in many areas By Marc Levy The Associated Press SPRING CITY, Pa. — Tech companies and developers looking to plunge billions of dollars

into ever-bigger data centers to power artificial intelligence and cloud computing are increasingly losing fights in communities where people don’t want to live next to them, or even near them. Communities across the United States are reading about — and learning from — each other’s battles against data center proposals that are fast multiplying

in number and size to meet steep demand as developers branch out in search of faster connections to power sources. In many cases, municipal boards are trying to figure out whether energy- and water-hungry data centers fit into their zoning framework. Some have entertained waivers or tried to write new ordi-

Duke cuts $299M through buyouts, building closures in response to federal cuts “We should be prepared not only to seek costreductions across the university, but also to re-imagine our work.” Vincent Price, Duke president

The school is looking to reduce its reliance on federal funding By Seyun Park The Chronicle via AP FOLLOWING HIS inauguration in January, President Donald Trump brought along a new team of advisers and a playbook for higher education. The administration unleashed a slew of demands on colleges and universities in what has been seen by higher education leaders as an “overreach” on academic freedom

by the federal government. At the forefront of top political adviser Stephen Miller, a Duke graduate, and Trump’s agenda was mandating universities axe diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, limit international student enrollment and decrease their reliance on federally funded research. The administration also changed student loan policies, cut Medicaid reimbursement rates and increased the tax rate universities would have to pay on their endowment. See DUKE, page A9

nances. Some don’t have zoning. But as more people hear about a data center coming to their community, once-sleepy municipal board meetings in farming towns and growing suburbs now feature crowded rooms of angry residents pressuring local officials to reject the requests. See CENTERS, page A3

Chatham News & Record for Thursday, January 8, 2026

THURSDAY

1.8.26 #124

HHS to resume sharing some Medicaid data ICE A judge limited the data that can be shared By Ali Swenson The Associated Press

“Join the conversation” Chatham News & Record www.chathamnewsrecord.com

North State Media LLC 303 West Raleigh Street Siler City, North Carolina 27344 Copyright 2026 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

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CRIME LOG

NEW YORK — The nation’s health department starting Monday can resume sharing the personal data of certain Medicaid enrollees with deportation officials, according to a federal judge’s ruling, in a blow to states that had sued the administration over privacy concerns. But the judge’s decision, issued last Monday, strictly limits the scope of data from the 22 plaintiff states that can be shared — for now only allowing the agency to hand over basic biographical information about immigrants residing in the United States illegally. The states’ lawsuit came after an Associated Press report identified the data sharing policy. The ruling from U.S. District Judge Vince Chhabria in San Francisco comes after the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services said it planned to share the data again as part of the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown. Chhabria in August had initially blocked the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services from sharing the personal data, which includes home addresses, with Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers. In December, he extended that temporary order. Then, last week, Chhabria ruled that after the temporary order expires on Jan. 5, HHS can resume sharing “basic biographical, location and contact information” about immigrants living in the U.S. illegally with Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers. He wrote in a court filing that this sharing “is clearly authorized by law and the

agencies have adequately explained their decisions.” While the lawsuit plays out, HHS and CMS aren’t allowed to give detailed, sensitive medical information about enrollees to the Department of Homeland Security or ICE, Chhabria wrote. They also can’t hand over Medicaid data about U.S. citizens or legal immigrants in the 22 plaintiff states, he wrote. In explaining why he blocked the broader data sharing, Chhabria wrote that the new federal policies “are totally unclear about what that information would be, why it would be needed for immigration enforcement purposes, and what the risks of sharing it with DHS would be.” It wasn’t clear Monday whether HHS had resumed sharing data on Medicaid recipients living in the U.S. illegally, and a spokesperson didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment. Immigrants illegally living in the U.S., as well as some who are lawfully present, are not allowed to enroll in the Medicaid program that offers nearly free coverage for health services. But federal law requires all states to offer emergency Medicaid, a temporary coverage that pays only for lifesaving services in emergency rooms to anyone, including non-U.S. citizens. Medicaid is a jointly funded program between states and the federal government. HHS first shared the personal data on millions of Medicaid enrollees in a handful of states in June. In July, CMS entered into a new agreement that gave DHS daily access to view the personal data — including Social Security numbers and home address — of all the nation’s 77 million Medicaid enrollees. Neither agreement was announced publicly.

“(The sharing) is clearly authorized by law and the agencies have adequately explained their decisions.” Court ruling The extraordinary disclosure of such personal health data to deportation officials in the Trump administration’s far-reaching immigration crackdown immediately prompted the lawsuit over privacy concerns. Immigration advocates have said the disclosure of personal data could cause alarm among people seeking emergency medical help for themselves or their children. Other efforts to crack down on illegal immigration have made schools, churches, courthouses and other everyday places feel perilous to immigrants and even U.S. citizens who fear getting caught up in a raid. CMS in November said its intention to provide the data to ICE is “consistent with federal laws” and intended “to advance administration priorities related to immigration.” The data sharing comes as the Trump administration has implemented an unprecedented immigration crackdown that has looped in agencies across the federal government and which has included sending the military and immigration agents into multiple Democratic-run cities. The administration has also made other efforts to share data with immigration officials. In May, a federal judge refused to block the Internal Revenue Service from sharing immigrants’ tax data with ICE to help agents locate and detain people living in the U.S. illegally.

Dec. 29 • Avery Jacob Sneed, 22, of Cary, was arrested for going armed to the terror of the people.

Customs and Border Patrol commander Gregory Bovino greets a supporter at a gas station during an immigration crackdown, in Kenner, Louisiana, last month.

• Anoar Nelsen Sanchez, 29, of Chapel Hill, was arrested for assault on a female.

Congress defunded the organization last summer

• Theo Samuel Brooks Stacks, 40, was arrested for driving while impaired, reckless driving, driving while license revoked, failure to wear seat belt and failure to maintain lane control.

Jan. 9 Chatham Chamber Lunch and Learn 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Each session features a select expert speaker and a catered lunch. For more information, contact Rebecca at 919-771-7530. 120 Mosaic Blvd., Suite 120 Pittsboro

Jan. 10 Bluegrass Jam Circle 10 a.m. to noon 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.

GERALD HERBERT / AP PHOTO

• Christopher Lane Pugh, 18, of Siler City, was arrested for simple assault.

• Latasha Anne Reaves, 47, was arrested for driving while impaired.

Front Porch, Bynum General Store 950 Bynum Road Bynum

The Plant 220 Lorax Lane Pittsboro

Corporation for Public Broadcasting votes itself out of existence

Jan. 3

If you are an area teen with an inner geek — embrace it with kids who have similar interests at this bimonthly event at BFP. There is a virtual reality (VR) headset on-site so you can go beyond this world for a short time. Bring your projects and games and be ready to discuss your personal passion of the moment! Questions? Call Helbragga (John G.) at 919-593-3559.

Original poetry presented by regional artists. For more information, contact Lisa at 919-548-6884.

Dec. 31

• Kyuana Tana Reaves, 46, of Goldston, was arrested for habitual larceny and conspiracy.

Bynum Bite Night at BFP

5-8 p.m.

• Holly Fay Barth, 36, of Siler City, was arrested for possession of stolen goods/ property and larceny.

Jan. 2

Jan. 8

Poetry at The Plant

Dec. 30

Jan. 1

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

Jan. 14

• Dakota Lee Williams, 27, was arrested for simple assault.

• Axel Ivan Martinez Beltran, 21, of Chapel Hill, was arrested for assault on a female and misdemeanor crime of domestic violence.

happening

Front Porch, Bynum General Store 950 Bynum Road Bynum

• Algenon Franklin Cain, 35, of Fayetteville, was arrested for second degree trespassing.

• Gerrall Deangelo Johnson, 37, of Moncure, was arrested for harassing by phone call, second degree trespassing and stalking.

CHATHAM

By David Bauder The Associated Press LEADERS OF THE Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private agency that has steered federal funding to PBS, NPR and hundreds of public television and radio stations across the country, voted Monday to dissolve the organization that was created in 1967. CPB had been winding down since Congress acted last summer to defund its operations at the encouragement of President Donald Trump. Its board of directors chose Monday to shutter CPB completely instead of keeping it in existence as a shell. “CPB’s final act would be to protect the integrity of the pub-

“I am convinced that public media will survive, and that a new Congress will address public media’s role in our country.” Ruby Calvert, Corporation for Public Broadcasting director lic media system and the democratic values by dissolving, rather than allowing the organization to remain defunded and vulnerable to additional attacks,” said Patricia Harrison, the organization’s president and CEO. Many Republicans have long accused public broadcasting, particularly its news pro-

gramming, of being biased toward liberals but it wasn’t until the second Trump administration — with full GOP control of Congress — that those criticisms were turned into action. Ruby Calvert, head of CPB’s board of directors, said the federal defunding of public media has been devastating. “Even at this moment, I am convinced that public media will survive, and that a new Congress will address public media’s role in our country because it is critical to our children’s education, our history, culture and democracy to do so,” Calvert said. CPB said it was financially supporting the American Archive of Public Broadcasting in its effort to preserve historic content, and is working with the University of Maryland to maintain its own records.

Jan. 17 Milltown Yarns Presents: Chatham County Stories and Songs at BFP 7-8:30 p.m. Professional storytellers recount tales from Pittsboro, Siler City, Bynum and “Deep Chatham.” Free admission, but donations are encouraged. Front Porch, Bynum General Store 950 Bynum Road Bynum

Chatham News & Record for Thursday, January 8, 2026

CENTERS from page A1 “Would you want this built in your backyard?” Larry Shank asked supervisors last month in Pennsylvania’s East Vincent Township. “Because that’s where it’s literally going, is in my backyard.” Opposition spreads as data centers fan out A growing number of proposals are going down in defeat, sounding alarms across the data center constellation of Big Tech firms, real estate developers, electric utilities, labor unions and more. Andy Cvengros, who helps lead the data center practice at commercial real estate giant JLL, counted seven or eight deals he’d worked on in recent months that saw opponents going door to door, handing out shirts or putting signs in people’s yards. “It’s becoming a huge problem,” Cvengros said. Data Center Watch, a project of 10a Labs, an AI security consultancy, said it is seeing a sharp escalation in community, political and regulatory disruptions to data center development. Between April and June alone, its latest reporting period, it counted 20 proposals valued at $98 billion in 11 states that were blocked or delayed amid local opposition and state-level pushback. That amounts to two-thirds of the projects it was tracking. Some environmental and consumer advocacy groups say they’re fielding calls every day, and are working to educate communities on how to protect themselves. “I’ve been doing this work for 16 years, worked on hundreds of campaigns I’d guess, and this by far is the biggest kind of local pushback I’ve ever seen here in Indiana,” said Bryce Gustafson of the Indianapolis-based Citizens Action Coalition. In Indiana alone, Gustafson counted more than a dozen projects that lost rezoning petitions. Similar concerns across different communities For some people angry over steep increases in electric bills, their patience is thin for data centers that could bring still-higher increases. Losing open space, farmland, forest or rural character is

MARC LEVY / AP PHOTO

People opposed to a data center proposal at the former Pennhurst state hospital grounds talk during a break in an East Vincent Township supervisors meeting last month in Spring City, Pennsylvania. a big concern. So is the damage to quality of life, property values or health by on-site diesel generators kicking on or the constant hum of servers. Others worry that wells and aquifers could run dry. Lawsuits are flying — both ways — over whether local governments violated their own rules. Big Tech firms Microsoft, Google, Amazon and Facebook — which are collectively spending hundreds of billions of dollars on data centers across the globe — didn’t answer Associated Press questions about the effect of community pushback. Microsoft, however, has acknowledged the difficulties. In an October securities filing, it listed its operational risks as including “community opposition, local moratoriums, and hyper-local dissent that may impede or delay infrastructure development.” Even with high-level support from state and federal governments, the pushback is having an impact. Maxx Kossof, vice president of investment at Chicago-based developer The Missner Group, said developers worried about los-

ing a zoning fight are considering selling properties once they secure a power source — a highly sought-after commodity that makes a proposal far more viable and valuable. “You might as well take chips off the table,” Kossof said. “The thing is you could have power to a site and it’s futile because you might not get the zoning. You might not get the community support.” Some in the industry are frustrated, saying opponents are spreading falsehoods about data centers — such as polluting water and air — and are difficult to overcome. Still, data center allies say they are urging developers to engage with the public earlier in the process, emphasize economic benefits, sow good will by supporting community initiatives and talk up efforts to conserve water and power and protect ratepayers. “It’s definitely a discussion that the industry is having internally about, ‘Hey, how do we do a better job of community engagement?’” said Dan Diorio of the Data Center Coalition, a trade association that includes Big Tech firms and developers.

Bluefin tuna sells for record $3.2M at first 2026 Tokyo fish market auction The 535-pound fish broke a record from 2019 The Associated Press TOKYO — A massive 535-pound bluefin tuna sold for a record 510 million yen ($3.2 million) at the first auction of 2026 at Tokyo’s Toyosu fish market. The top bidder for the prized tuna at the predawn auction on Monday was Kiyomura Corp., whose owner Kiyoshi Kimura runs the popular Sushi Zanmai chain. Kimura, who has won the annual action many times in the past, broke the previous record

of 334 million yen ($2.1 million) he set in 2019. Kimura later told reporters he was hoping to pay a bit less for it, but “the price shot up before you knew it.” The auction started when the bell rang, and the floor was filled with torpedo-shaped fish with their tails cut off so bidders could examine meat details such as color, texture and fattiness while walking around the rows of tuna. The pricey fish was caught off the coast of Oma in northern Japan, a region widely regarded for producing some of the country’s finest tuna, and cost $6,060 per pound.

“It’s in part for good luck,” Kimura said. “But when I see a good looking tuna, I cannot resist. ... I haven’t sampled it yet, but it’s got to be delicious.” Hundreds of tuna are sold daily at the early morning auction, but prices are significantly higher than usual for the Oma tuna, especially at the celebratory New Year auction. Due to the popularity of tuna for sushi and sashimi, Pacific bluefin tuna was previously a threatened species due to climate change and overfishing, but its stock is recovering following conservation efforts.

Data center opposition dominates local politics Winning over local officials, however, hasn’t translated to winning over residents. Developers pulled a project off an October agenda in the Charlotte suburb of Matthews, North Carolina, after Mayor John Higdon said he informed them it faced unanimous defeat. The project would have funded half the city’s budget and developers promised environmentally friendly features. But town meetings overflowed, and emails, texts and phone calls were overwhelmingly opposed, “999 to one against,” Higdon said. Had council approved it, “every person that voted for it would no longer be in office,” the mayor said. “That’s for sure.” In Hermantown, a suburb of Duluth, Minnesota, a proposed data center campus several times larger than the Mall of America is on hold amid challenges over whether the city’s environmental review was adequate. Residents found each other through social media and, from there, learned to organize, protest, door-knock and get their message out.

They say they felt betrayed and lied to when they discovered that state, county, city and utility officials knew about the proposal for an entire year before the city — responding to a public records request filed by the Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy — released internal emails that confirmed it. “It’s the secrecy. The secrecy just drives people crazy,” said Jonathan Thornton, a realtor who lives across a road from the site. Documents revealing the extent of the project emerged days before a city rezoning vote in October. Mortenson, which is developing it for a Fortune 50 company that it hasn’t named, says it is considering changes based on public feedback and that “more engagement with the community is appropriate.” Rebecca Gramdorf found out about it from a Duluth newspaper article, and immediately worried that it would spell the end of her six-acre vegetable farm. She found other opponents online, ordered 100 yard signs and prepared for a struggle. “I don’t think this fight is over at all,” Gramdorf said.

SINS OF THE WORLD! BIBLE STUDY: Matthew 1:18-25 Church of Living Water; Preacher: James Mitchell. There are so many reasons to love and support Israel/ Jews. First, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, was a Jew. The Romans gave the order to crucify Jesus. But didn’t all the sins of the world contribute to -HVXV EHLQJ FUXFL¿HG" <RX EOLQG SHRSOH ZKR KDWH persecute the Jews, God’s judgment is upon you. <RX EOLQG 'HPRFUDWV DQG O\LQJ QHZV PHGLD WKDW persecute Christians, God’s judgment be upon you! But I have great news for all: repent, get off the road to destruction. Ask God to forgive you and save your soul. If you pray from your heart, telling God that you will live for Him as best you can, you will be forgiven for all your sins. Praise you, God, for your mercy and grace! Think about what the birth of Jesus really means for all who are willing. We are so thankful, Heavenly Father, for President Trump, who is working so hard to save America from all the damage Biden, Harris, and the Democrats have done to America! Thank you, Heavenly Father, for our ICE Law Enforcement, which is removing all illegals, criminals, terrorists, and radical Islamists! Let’s vote out more radical politicians who hate America. Deport Omar and all Muslims trying to take over our country. We need more America¿UVW 6HQDWRUV +RXVH RI 5HSUHVHQWDWLYHV *RYHUQRUV DQG 0D\RUV *R RXW YRWH DQG VXSSRUW ¿QDQFLDOO\ VR President Trump can continue making America Great Again. Don’t fear the devils, because greater is God in His children than the devil and his children! Merry Christmas to you! With love, in Jesus’ name!

Share with your community! ••• Send your birth, death, marriage, graduation and other announcements to community@ chathamnewsrecord.com LOUISE DELMOTTE / AP PHOTO

A bluefin tuna that won the highest bid at the annual New Year auction is carried to a Sushi Zanmai restaurant in Tokyo on Monday.

Weekly deadline is Monday at noon.

Chatham News & Record for Thursday, January 8, 2026

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

COLUMN | ANDREW RAMONA TAYLOR-TROUTMAN

Advice from a dog: Mean what you say When I sit at the back door and bark, it’s clear what I intend to do.

RAMONA THE DOG here, once again filling in for the old man, who stayed up too late last week and is still recovering. He kept talking about “watching the ball fall,” which I assumed entailed a game of fetch. Now that is something worth counting down to, but I was sadly mistaken. Yet again, I learned that humans do not always mean what they say. Humans talk about “the tail that wags the dog” as if they had actual tails. Their “doggy bags” are not actually for me, and neither are the books whose pages are “dog-eared.” The confusion extends to other creatures as well; for example, being “hungry as a horse” or being told to “hold your horses” has nothing to do with four-legged animals.

No butterflies are actually eaten when they have them in their stomachs, and don’t get me started about “letting the cat out of the bag.” In contrast, when I sit at the back door and bark, it’s clear what I intend to do. They say that I “water the lawn,” but I’m not a garden hose! Perhaps humans talk this way because they don’t always do what they say. Andrew told me an old story about a son who promised his father that he would work in his vineyard but didn’t, and his brother who told the same dad that he wouldn’t work but did. I’m not sure of the point, but I do have a tail. It wags when I’m happy and excited; it goes between my legs when I’m scared or ashamed, like when I “watered” the

upstairs carpet. You might say that I’m an “open book,” but that’s confusing. For Pete’s sake, I’m a dog. And who is Pete? Nobody is perfect. Everyone should try to say what they mean and especially do what they say they will. It might take a long time to housetrain a dog or build trust in a relationship, but it takes even longer to repair a broken one. I think you know exactly what I mean. Thankfully, all is forgiven concerning the upstairs carpet. I understand that “no” means “no.” Ramona’s owner’s latest 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

Who says Christmas has to end Dec. 25? When I was a little guy, it took forever and a day for Christmas to come. Maybe the difference lay in the level of my responsibilities.

ALL THE GIFTS are gone from under the tree and soon my better half will disassemble the artificial tree we’ve used for several years. It’s been our tree of choice for some time now, mainly since the real ones got too heavy for my long-gone shoulders to deal with, plus it was getting harder to stand a real one straight in the stand. Funny how time moves … or doesn’t, it sometimes seems. It wasn’t so many days ago that we had right many days to prepare for the day. Then it came, and like the wind that’s been whistling around some lately … whoosh … Christmas Day was gone. And this time, it didn’t help that many folks, my family included, got a case of the flu whether they asked Santa for it or not. When I was a little guy, it took forever and a day for Christmas to come. Maybe the difference lay in the level of my responsibilities. When you’re 8 years old nobody really expects you to do much in the way of preparation. You’re just sort of there to take in Santa and the sweets and say your part in the church’s young folks Christmas program. But when you wind up somewhere on the other side of, oh, say 31, you have phrases like “some assembly required” and “Caution! Sharp objects” to deal with. They’re enough to make a grown man cry. Then comes the time where I live now that no longer requires putting bicycles together and such. Actually I kind of miss that. In many ways, I think, I get my Christmas groove now from anticipating as much as the actual events. The gifts are nice, the shopping can be, the thought going into the gifts that finally make the cut exciting or at least interesting. And the music … outstanding.

BRENNAN LINSLEY / AP PHOTO

Is it too much to ask to have Christmas last all year?

One year, the former little guy about to pass out of his teen years who used to think I hung the moon played Santa Claus for us. Although he was kinda tired by the end of the day, he did his best to open his gifts and help other folks with theirs. His little sister, new that year since the previous Christmas, crawled from one torn paper pile or ribbon to the next while his little cousin, new since the previous day before Halloween, spent most of her time on the sofa taking in the bright lights. Shining bright eyes of children really do seem like a good way to look at the world and everyone and everything in it. But it’s really the feeling, the feeling that for a moment the world can stop being hard to get along with, that people can rise above terrorism and

meanness and hate and finally do the right thing. Then when that euphoric reality strikes we’re overcome with the feeling of “why can’t we do this all year?” Indeed … Why not? Here’s how to do it. If I do some of that where I am and you do some where you are and Fred does some where he is and Mabel does some where she is and so on and so forth, then pretty soon most everybody will be doing it and we’ll be living that spirit instead of drinking spirits. Try it. You might like it. Bob Wachs is a native of Chatham County and emeritus editor at Chatham News & Record. He serves as pastor of Bear Creek Baptist Church.

Chatham News & Record for Thursday, January 8, 2026

COLUMN | JAN HUTTON

COLUMN VICTOR JOECKS

Monks, ahoy!

I can’t, and won’t even try, to rival the monks’ continuous pilgrimage of kindness, peace and compassion.

I ADMIT IT. I’m a wuss. I prefer not being cold or exposed to seriously unpleasant weather conditions or forgoing footwear that blocks cold and rain. You know? By comparison to my shared foibles above, there are two dozen Buddhist monks walking for peace on a 120-day, 1,400-mile pilgrimage, from Fort Worth, Texas to D.C. Garbed in traditional orange robes, with and without footwear. Accompanied by Aloka, their much loved “peace“ dog in his various warm coats. Recovering from a cold, I’ve been hypnotically glued to my iPad, watching, often through tears, as these peace voyagers are welcomed by crowds throughout the South, escorted by police, in both small towns and large. Such a wide, wide diversity of my fellow Southerners, welcoming strangely garbed beings, sharing tears, flowers, bottles of water and plain ol’ love. Human to human. Oh, and that peace walk thing? Just what the heck is it? Pretty straightforward. Sharing a message of kindness, peace and compassion. No waving of flags, loud chanting, simply monks walking in a single file, bowing to all beings in their path. I have been seriously blown away by seeing

incredible crowds welcoming, videoing and bowing to the monks in their own respective gestures of thanks. Thanking them for nothing more tangible than the monks’ powerful lived message of modeling kindness, peace and compassion. For all. No I can’t, and won’t even try, to rival the monks’ continuous pilgrimage of kindness, peace and compassion. Cold, shoeless. Maybe my next lifetime? What I can do, fitting within the realm of my life now, is to offer peace, piecemeal, wherever I can, and without self-judgment when I’m unable to do so. I can live with being a piecemeal peacemaker, thanks to the loving guidance of Anonymous, below.

universities to find out why on earth he had been rejected. Everywhere it was the same story: Graduate admissions committees around the country had been following the same unspoken protocol as ours.” Could anyone get past this illegal discrimination? “The one exception I found to the general exclusion of white males had begun life as a female,” Hankins wrote. Hankins was one of the mere 3% of Harvard faculty who identify as conservative. Yet even progressive scholars admit there’s a problem. Theda Skocpol, Harvard’s Victor S. Thomas Professor of Government and Sociology, is nobody’s idea of a conservative. In a recent interview published with the journal “Sociologica,” however, Skocpol acknowledged, “We in the universities ... went overboard with trying to boost some groups over others.” That came in the midst of lowering standards — the average GPA at Harvard is now, notoriously, around 3.8: an A-. “We went too far in academia for a decade before (Donald) Trump in giving the impression that students’ feelings matter more than what they learn. ... We’re at the point at Harvard where everybody thinks they should get an A, and they don’t think they should do much to get it.” But how seriously should taxpayers, who foot the bill for much of higher ed’s mischief, take a professor like Skocpol when she says, “I believe in actual equality, applying the same standards to everyone, not using special quotas or excuses for particular groups”? Not very seriously, when in the same interview she said Trump administration officials cracking down on the academy’s follies “all resent some woman — particularly some black woman —who told them what to do or who got what they think they deserved.” Harvard’s last president, Claudine Gay, was a black woman whose scholarship was infected with plagiarism. She’s still employed by Harvard, with a compensation package said to be in the neighborhood of $900,000. The contrast between Gay’s treatment as a black woman and the white male students with exemplary records who have been discriminated against the way Hankins describes should make even a Theda Skocpol question her premises about why conservatives criticize higher ed. Harvard and its peers have replaced Western history with global history — and merit with identity politics. If scholars of Hankins’ caliber keep migrating to the freer and fairer setting of places like Florida, Harvard will at last find itself replaced, too.

SOCIETY HAS SPENT decades telling boys that masculinity is toxic, and now there’s a shortage of skilled tradesmen. The connection should be obvious. Through his on-again, off-again tariff dance, President Donald Trump has made one thing clear: He wants more things built in America. He’s bragged about already securing more investment dollar commitments than former President Joe Biden did during his entire term. And he wants more. Trump has long championed the rural communities devastated by factory shutdowns. It’s one reason that he has enjoyed such strong support in Middle America. In his speech at the Republican National Convention last year, now-Vice President JD Vance detailed the importance of remembering that America is both a “nation” and “our homeland.” The hardworking people I grew up with “love this country, not only because it’s a good idea, but because in their bones they know that this is their home,” he said. He continued, “This is the source of America’s greatness.” This is why Trump and Vance are so determined to rejuvenate American industry. But there’s a major obstacle to accomplishing this — a shortage of skilled workers. “For every five tradespeople that retire, two enter the workforce,” Mike Rowe, host of “Dirty Jobs,” wrote in 2024. “That’s a 5:2 ratio, and the math is simply not sustainable.” It’s not for lack of opportunity. For instance, the Navy Industrial Submarine Base needs to hire 100,000 skilled tradesmen within the next decade. But the companies working there are struggling to find enough qualified employees. One reason is that society has relentlessly pushed students toward college. Former President Ronald Reagan once said, “If you want more of something, subsidize it.” And the government has, dumping trillions of dollars into higher education over the decades. Sure enough, college enrollment more than doubled from 1972 to 2022, growing from 9.2 million to 18.6 million. In 1972, around a quarter of 18- to 24-year-olds were enrolled in college. In 2022, it was 39%. This hasn’t just limited the potential pool of future welders and plumbers. It’s sent the message that those careers are secondrate. That they’re only for people who aren’t smart enough for college. It’s a terrible and false message. It may not earn you a high SAT score, but understanding how wiring, pipes and parts work in the real world is a much-needed type of intelligence. Men working with their hands literally built the country. There’s a more fundamental issue here, too. The skilled trades continue to be dominated by men. This isn’t the result of a patriarchal society but innate differences between men and women. Men are stronger than women. They’re more mechanically minded. They’re more interested in working with their hands. They’re more willing to do dangerous and dirty jobs, like building the Hoover Dam. This doesn’t make men superior to women. It makes men and women different. Women have their own set of strengths, including better language and social skills. Modern feminists rarely praise pregnancy, but growing a baby inside of you is the closest thing human beings have to a superpower. But society doesn’t nurture the unique strengths of boys. Most schools want little boys to act like little girls. Doctors prescribe Ritalin to boys who can’t sit still. Male students see their success in areas like mathematics and engineering dismissed as the result of systemic sexism, not their achievements. Compounding this problem is the growing number of boys living in homes without their fathers. Little wonder so many men — and potential skilled tradesmen — have disengaged. The labor force participation rate for men 25-54 hit 98% in 1954. In November, it was under 90%. Masculinity isn’t toxic. It’s what built this country. And rebuilding American industry requires celebrating masculinity, not attacking it.

Daniel McCarthy is the editor of “Modern Age: A Conservative Review.”

Victor Joecks is a columnist for the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

“Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn lives around.” Anonymous So there…. Jan Hutton, a resident of Chatham County and retired hospice social worker, lives life with heart and humor.

COLUMN | DANIEL MCCARTHY

Harvard says yes to discrimination, no to Western civilization Mongol hordes aren’t the only protagonists of the new history.

AT HARVARD UNIVERSITY today, professors who teach Western history are history. James Hankins, a specialist in Renaissance thought, was one of the last holdouts. Now Hankins, who has just published a hefty book that teaches what Harvard doesn’t — “The Golden Thread: A History of the Western Tradition. Vol. 1” — has decamped for the University of Florida’s Hamilton School of Classical and Civic Education. It’s not the warmer weather that’s drawn him away from Cambridge, Massachusetts. It’s the contrast in intellectual climates: frozen and dead, where Western history is concerned, at Harvard; full of green shoots at the University of Florida. “We have not hired with tenure a historian in a Western field — ancient, medieval, early modern, or modern — in a decade,” Hankins said about his Harvard department, which in that time “lost eight senior historians in Western fields — all major figures — through death, retirement or departure for other universities. I will be the ninth, and I am not expecting to be replaced.” The loss isn’t just Harvard’s: “The replacement of Western history by global history” has done “serious harm ... to the socialization of young Americans,” the historian warned in Compact magazine. “When you don’t teach the young what civilization is, it turns out, people become uncivilized.” In the 40 years Hankins taught at Harvard, he saw his profession shift its focus from European civilization to cultures once considered barbarian. “In this absurdist rendering of world history, Central Asian peoples,” for example, “are presented as the drivers of cultural innovation, spreading their benign influence east and west via the Silk Road,” he said. This is marketed as “‘de-centering the West,’ where Western countries are literally put in their place as an ugly growth on the back side of Eurasia.” Mongol hordes aren’t the only protagonists of the new history, however: Anyone who isn’t white qualifies. A similar standard applies to elite graduate school admissions, in Hankins’ experience. “I was told informally by a member of the admissions committee” in 2021, he recalled, that “admitting a white male ... was ‘not happening this year.’” As for Harvard’s white male undergraduates, their skin color and sex are obstacles to academic advancement: “The best student at Harvard — he won the prize for the graduating senior with the best overall academic record — was rejected from all the graduate programs to which he applied. He too was a white male,” the historian recounted. “I called around to friends at several

America needs more masculinity

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Chatham News & Record for Thursday, January 8, 2026

obituaries

Richard A. Lineberry Feb. 1, 1933 – Jan. 1, 2026 Richard A. Lineberry, Jr., 92, passed away unexpectedly, at his home in Siler City, January 1, 2026. He was born in Columbus County, NC, February 1, 1933, a son to the late Mabel Crumpler and Richard A. Lineberry, Sr. Mr. Lineberry had a long and fulfilling life. He honorably served in the U.S. Army and retired from the U.S. Post Office after 32 years of faithful service. He loved playing golf and raised sheep and cattle. He was a long-time member of Loves Creek Baptist Church and served in many positions over the years. In addition to his parents,

Carol Triplett Robbins Feb. 1, 1943 – Dec. 4, 2025 On 4 December 2025, Carol Triplett Robbins passed away from cancer at her home in Fearrington Village, North Carolina, with her golden retriever Flora at her side. Herbert Wolff, her beloved husband of forty-five years, preceded her in death in 2021. Born on 1 February 1943 in Baltimore, Maryland, to Elizabeth Triplett Robbins and John Clinton Robbins, Jr. She received her B.A. from Bucknell University and a Master’s Degree in 1974 from Harvard University in City Planning and Public Policy. She served the City of Boston in several capacities before becoming an independent consultant. Her clients ranged from municipalities to the federal government. In 1994, Carol and

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Lineberry Erica, and Andrew Snider Dunn; He believed deeply in the dignity of Siler City, and his wife, great-grandchildren, Lillian Reid of hard work and showed by Jenny, and Ronald “Ronnie” Frantz, Blaine Lanier Roberts, example that effort, persistence K. Lineberry of Greensboro, and Elizabeth Dixon Frantz. Joe’s and dedication matter. NC and his fiancée, Lori; his unwavering love and devotion A man of true faith and daily daughter, Robin L. Askins have had a profound impact on devotions, Joe was a lifelong of Bear Creek and her his entire family including several member of Sandy Branch Baptist husband, Tally; his sister, nieces and nephews, whom he Church, where he served in many Dorothy L. Daley, of PA; and cherished and treated with deep capacities. He was a man who his six grandchildren, Lauren affection. delighted in good conversation Underwood, Trey Lineberry Oct. 15, 1931 – Dec. 29, 2025 The family is deeply grateful to and never missed a chance to and fiancée, Elizabeth, Morgan Kay Lopossay, Ryan Gaines, and tease, always with a twinkle in Lineberry and fiancé, Trint, Joseph Glenn Dunn, Sr., 94, Carmen Petty for their steadfast his eye and a grin on his face. Holly Askins, Caleb Lineberry passed away peacefully at his support and genuine care, and Laughter came easily to him, and Nathanael Lineberry. home on December 29, 2025, to the staff of UNC Chatham and he loved nothing more than A visitation will be held from after a brief illness. He was born Hospital for their professionalism, connecting with everyone in 2-3:00pm, Monday, January on October 15, 1931, in Chatham compassion, and dedication. meaningful, often lighthearted 5th, 2026 at Loves Creek County, the son of George Funeral service will be held on conversation. He had a lifelong Baptist Church, Siler City, NC. Thomas and Beulah Lloyd Dunn. Saturday, January 10th, 2026, at passion for classic and antique The funeral service will start After graduation from Bonlee 11 am, at Sandy Branch Baptist automobiles, especially his at 3:00pm, with the Rev. Kenny High School, Joe proudly served Church in Bear Creek. Visitation beloved 1956 Chevrolet Bel Air. Black officiating. in the US Army stationed at Fort will follow service in the activities Purchased new, the car held Burial will follow in the Bliss, Texas. He graduated from building. Reverend Dr. Jimmy deep sentimental value. Though church cemetery. Asheboro Business College and Brown will be officiating the he let it go once, he later found it In lieu of flowers, please other than his military service, services. consider a memoriam to Loves Joe lived his entire life in Chatham again fully restored and proudly Joe leaves a legacy of love, bought it back, a testament to his Creek Baptist Church, 1745 E County. strength, compassion, and hard appreciation for craftsmanship, 11th St, Siler City, NC 27344. Ever fascinated by anything work. In lieu of flowers, please history, and things worth holding The family will receive family automotive, Joe began his career consider a donation to Sandy onto. and friends at the home of with Brown’s Auto Supply. Always Branch Baptist Church (715 Sandy He was preceded in death Richie and Jenny Lineberry at the entrepreneur, he started Branch Church Road, Bear Creek, by his parents, his wife, Mary 75 Grady Siler Rd., Siler City, his own business, D & S Auto NC 27207) honoring Joe’s lifelong Gilliland Dunn, and his son, NC. Supply, Inc. with Jack Sipe. Sipe membership, generous spirit, and Joseph “Glenn” Dunn, Jr. The eventually left the partnership, unwavering faith. youngest of six siblings, Joe was and Joe continued to grow the Smith & Buckner Funeral Home predeceased by his brothers, business. In the mid-1970s, will be assisting the Dunn family. Shelton Dunn, Ray Dunn, and Joe partnered with General Online condolences can be his sisters, Mae Dunn Laughon, Parts, Inc to become one of the Herb moved to Kiev, Ukraine, as made at www.smithbucknerfh. Mannie Dunn Emerson, and first Carquest distributors. He an advisor for the U.S. Agency com Georgia Dunn Moore. operated D & S Auto/Carquest for International Development. They came to North Carolina in 1999. Carol was an advocate for her community and of the arts. She served on the Chatham County Board of Assessors. IN MEMORY She founded both Youth Pro Musica, a donor-advised fund at Triangle Community SANDRA JOANN “JOAN” JOHN SLATER MORRIS Foundation, and also Triangle Sings, a regional choral music JUNE 2, 1972 – DEC. 25, 2025 ANDREWS-JOHNSTONE website. Her contribution to OCT. 7, 1934 – DEC. 30, 1934 music and arts education in John Slater Morris, age 53 of Pittsboro, NC general was recognized in passed away on Christmas Day, Thursday Sandra Joann “Joan” Andrews-Johnstone, 91, 2008 when she was named the (12/25/2025) at his home with his family by of Hampstead NC, passed away unexpectedly on North Carolina Music Education his side. John was born in Durham County on Tuesday, December 30, 2025. Advocate of the Year, and again June 2,1972, son of Libron Benjamin Morris Joan was born on October 7, 1934, in Bonlee, in 2015, when she joined the and Shirley Maxine Clark Morris. John had a NC. She was the daughter of Keller Rives and Board of Trustees of Berkshire passion for landscaping. He loved to go fishing Choral International. Dale (Brooks) Andrews. Joan received her MSW and hunting. He never met a stranger, he enjoyed Carol is survived by from Washington University in St. Louis, MO and family and friends. In particular, talking to other people. He enjoyed picking with was in private practice as a Marriage & Family she was a devoted, lifelong others sharing laughs and making memories. Counselor. mentor to Victor Rudd (Munich, John was preceded in death by his parents, his She was proceeded in death by her parents Germany), Deborah Karacozian baby brother Kim Morris. Graveside services will and husband, Dr. Allen Johnstone, M.D. She is (Provincetown, MA), and be conducted at 2 PM on Friday January 2,2026 survived by her children Karon Hinshaw (Ronnie Lilja Gretarsdottir (Reyljavik, at Rock Springs Baptist Church Cemetery Lashaw) and Eric Hinshaw; grandchildren Iceland). Her family endures with the Rev Wesley Thomas, Officiating. John Maria, Morgan, Blake, and Matthew; and 7 great with her brother John Clinton is survived by his wife, Sherry Cooper Morris grandchildren. Roberts III and his wife Cleo of the home. Daughter Amanda Morris Cole (Chadds Fords, Pennsylvania) (Christopher) of Pittsboro, NC; Sister Lisa Morris and their three sons: Clinton (Ithaca, New York), Stephen Fugazzi of Pittsboro, NC. Two brothers, Sammy EDDIE DEAN WILKIE (Phoenix, Arizona), and Peter Morris (Katie) of Raleigh, NC and Rodney Morris APRIL 16, 1961 – JAN. 2, 2026 (Bellingham, Washington). (Bonnie) of Pittsboro, NC. Several nieces and A small, private memorial nephews. The family request no flowers. In lieu Eddie Dean Wilkie, 64, of Siler City, died Friday, service will be held. Donations of flowers the family request that memorial can be made to Youth pro January 2, 2026. donations be made to a charity of your choice in Musica or Triad Golden Eddie was born in Chatham County on April John’s memory. Retriever Rescue. 16, 1961, to the late Lacy G and Edna Martha Hill Wilkie. He was an inspector at Mountaire for many years, he loved to tinker with things. His greatest joy came from spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren. Eddie is survived by his wife, Carla Gaines Wilkie; sons, Shannon Wilkie of Bear Creek and Dustin Wilkie of Bonlee; stepson, Justin Childress of Goldston; sisters, Jeannett Morris and Mary Lemons (Barry) both of Siler City; and brother, Ricky Wilkie (Angie) of Mayodan; and five grandchildren, Elana, Olivia, and Walker Wilkie and Easton and Hunter Childress. A visitation will be held on Wednesday, January 7, 2026, at Providence Methodist Church, from 1:00 - 2:00 PM. The funeral service will take place at 2:00 PM with the burial following in the church cemetery with Josh Conrad officiating.

Joseph Glenn Dunn

Celebrate the life of your loved ones. Submit obituaries and death notices to be published in Chatham News & Record at obits@chathamnewsrecord.com

Chatham News & Record for Thursday, January 8, 2026

Holocaust survivor Eva Schloss, stepsister of Anne Frank, dead at 96 She survived Auschwitz after being betrayed in the Netherlands By Jill Lawless The Associated Press LONDON — Auschwitz survivor Eva Schloss, the stepsister of teenage diarist Anne Frank and a tireless educator about the horrors of the Holocaust, has died. She was 96. The Anne Frank Trust UK, of which Schloss was honorary president, said she died Saturday in London, where she lived. Britain’s King Charles III said he was “privileged and proud” to have known Schloss, who co-founded the charitable trust to help young people challenge prejudice. “The horrors that she endured as a young woman are impossible to comprehend and yet she devoted the rest of her life to overcoming hatred and prejudice, promoting kindness, courage, understanding and resilience through her tireless work for the Anne Frank Trust UK and for Holocaust education across the world,” the king said. Born Eva Geiringer in Vienna in 1929, Schloss fled with her family to Amsterdam after Nazi

Germany annexed Austria. She became friends with another Jewish girl of the same age, Anne Frank, whose diary would become one of the most famous chronicles of the Holocaust. Like the Franks, Eva’s family spent two years in hiding to avoid capture after the Nazis occupied the Netherlands. They were eventually betrayed, arrested and sent to the Auschwitz death camp. Schloss and her mother Fritzi survived until the camp was liberated by Soviet troops in 1945. Her father Erich and brother Heinz died in Auschwitz. After the war, Eva moved to Britain, married German Jewish refugee Zvi Schloss and settled in London. In 1953, her mother married Frank’s father, Otto, the only member of his immediate family to survive. Anne Frank died of typhus in the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp at the age of 15, months before the end of the war. Schloss did not speak publicly about her experiences for decades, later saying that wartime trauma had made her withdrawn and unable to connect with others. “I was silent for years, first because I wasn’t allowed to speak. Then I repressed it. I was

CHRIS JACKSON / POOL VIA AP

Britain’s Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, right, and Eva Schloss, stepsister of Anne Frank and honorary president of the Anne Frank Trust UK, take part in a candle lighting ceremony during a reception for the Anne Frank Trust in London in 2022. angry with the world,” she told The Associated Press in 2004. But after she addressed the opening of an Anne Frank exhibition in London in 1986, Schloss made it her mission to educate younger generations about the Nazi genocide. Over the following decades she spoke in schools and prisons, at international conferences and told her story in books including “Eva’s Story: A Survivor’s Tale by the Stepsister of Anne Frank.” She kept campaigning into her 90s. In 2019, she traveled to

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Newport Beach, California, to meet teenagers who were photographed making Nazi salutes at a high school party. The following year she was part of a campaign urging Facebook to remove Holocaust-denying material from the social networking site. “We must never forget the terrible consequences of treating people as ‘other,’” Schloss said in 2024. “We need to respect everybody’s races and religions. We need to live together with our differences. The only way to achieve this is through

education, and the younger we start the better.” Schloss’ family remembered her as “a remarkable woman: an Auschwitz survivor, a devoted Holocaust educator, tireless in her work for remembrance, understanding and peace.” “We hope her legacy will continue to inspire through the books, films and resources she leaves behind,” the family said in a statement. Zvi Schloss died in 2016. Eva Schloss is survived by their three daughters, as well as grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Rep. Doug LaMalfa of California dies, reducing GOP’s narrow control of the House to 218-213 A special election to replace him could be as late as June By Mike Catalini and Kevin Freking The Associated Press WASHINGTON, D.C. — Republican Doug LaMalfa, a seven-term U.S. representative from California and a reliable vote on President Donald Trump’s agenda, has died, reducing the GOP’s narrow control of the House. He was 65. A former state lawmaker and rice farmer, LaMalfa had more than a dozen years in Congress, where he regularly helped GOP leaders open the House floor and frequently gave speeches. His death, confirmed by Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Ind.) and National Republican Congressional Committee Chairman Richard Hudson (R-N.C.), trims the Republicans’ margin of control of the House to 218 seats to Democrats’ 213. Trump expressed “tremendous sorrow” over LaMalfa’s death on Tuesday as he addressed a meeting of House Republicans, lamenting the loss of a lawmaker he championed as an ally for his agenda. “I was really saddened by his passing,” Trump said. The president said he considered not giving the speech to honor LaMalfa but decided to go ahead with it “because he would have wanted it that way.” Trump said the late congressman “wasn’t a 3 o’clock in the morning person” like other lawmakers he would call in the wee hours to lobby for their votes. “He voted with me 100% of the time,” Trump said. “With Doug, I never had to call.” Meanwhile, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York called for a moment of silence in honor of LaMalfa at the start of a panel at the Capitol commemorating the fifth anniversary of the Jan. 6, 2021, attack. Details surrounding LaMalfa’s death were unclear. David Reade, a former chief of staff of LaMalfa’s from the state legislature, became emotional remembering LaMalfa, who he said was committed

“I was really saddened by his passing.” President Donald Trump to his district and proud of his family and Christian faith. “One of my great memories of Doug is that he would show up at the smallest events that were important in people’s lives in this district,” Reade said in a phone interview. “Whether it was a birthday, it was a family gathering, it was the smallest organization in his district, and he would drive literally hundreds and hundreds of miles to be there.” LaMalfa represented Northern California’s 1st District, along the Oregon border, including Redding and reaching just north of Sacramento. He had planned to run for reelection despite his district being dramatically redrawn under a ballot measure passed by California voters in November. The measure, backed by Democrats, was designed to make it harder for LaMalfa and four other Republicans to win reelection. California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, must call a special election to replace LaMalfa, his office said. The election could happen as late as June, when California will hold its primary for the 2026 midterm. Hudson, the NRCC chairman, called LaMalfa “a principled conservative and a tireless advocate for the people of Northern California.” “He was never afraid to fight for rural communities, farmers, and working families,” Hudson said. “Doug brought grit, authenticity, and conviction to everything he did in public service.” First elected to Congress in 2012, he was a regular presence on the House floor, helping GOP leadership open the chamber and offer his view local and national affairs. C-SPAN in a recent compilation said he gave at least one set of remarks for the record on 81 days in 2025. Only two other lawmakers spoke on the House floor more frequently.

Chatham News & Record for Thursday, January 8, 2026

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Chatham News & Record for Thursday, January 8, 2026

TAKE NOTICE

NOTICE TO ALL PROPERTY OWNERS Tax Listing Notice All persons owning real, personal and business property on January 1, 2026, have the duty to list property that is subject to Chatham County property taxation. Certain personal property must be listed every year. Real estate listing is not required unless buildings or other improvements having a value in excess of $100 have been acquired, begun, erected, damaged, or destroyed in the year prior to January 1, 2026. Listing Period Begins - January 1, 2026 Listing Period Ends - January 31, 2026 For Business Listings only, requests for an extension must be received in writing by January 31, 2026. Extensions will only be granted until April 15, 2026. Listing Assistance is available at: Chatham County Tax Department 12 East Street, Pittsboro NC 27312 Monday - Friday 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. Except Holidays WHAT TO LIST? You are required to list un-licensed vehicles, trailers with multi-year registrations, mobile homes not designated as real property, all types of water craft, aircraft, and items used in a business. Business Property also includes items used for farming, a trade or profession, or furnishings or appliances you provide to a tenant. Except for trailers with multi-year registration, exempted from listing are licensed vehicles, mobile homes (considered real estate,) and household items used for your own residence. Forms may be picked up at the office or obtained from our website at https://www.chathamcountync. gov You may list in person. Bring all detailed information necessary to identify your property and its value. If forms were mailed to you, please bring them with you. Listing by mail is permitted. Listings must bear a U.S. Postal Service postmark on or before January 31, 2026. Penalties apply to late listings. If you have not received your listing forms by January 20, you should make satisfactory arrangements with this office so that you may make a timely listing. Persons who fail to comply are subject to listing penalties and other penalties which are prescribed by N.C. General Statutes. PROPERTY TAX RELIEF: Persons at least 65 years of age or persons that are permanently and totally disabled whose income does not exceed the maximum, may apply for a tax reduction or tax deferment on their permanent residence. The maximum income to qualify for the 2026 tax reduction is $38,800, the maximum income to qualify for 2025 tax deferment is $58,200. If you meet the qualifications your taxes could be significantly lowered. Please contact our office or visit our website for more details on this program and to obtain an application. PROPERTY TAX RELIEF FOR DISABLED VETERANS: This program excludes the first forty-five thousand dollars ($45,000) of the appraised value of a permanent residence owned and occupied by a North Carolina Resident, who is an Honorably Discharged 100% Disabled Veteran, or the unmarried surviving spouse of an Honorable Discharged 100% Disabled Veteran. Please contact our office or visit our website for more details about this program. Chatham County Tax Department P O Box 908, Pittsboro NC 27312 (919) 542-8250

NOTICE NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY NOTICE TO CREDITORS

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

For institutions like Duke that operate both a university and a health system, the lapses in federal funding cut key revenue streams. In response, Duke enacted a $364 million cost-cutting program, becoming one of the first universities to trim its personnel pool amid the federal funding changes and one of the institutions with the largest budgetary cuts. The program has produced $229 million in savings across Duke’s departments and schools for the fiscal year 2026 budget, according to a September Academic Council presentation by Executive Vice President Daniel Ennis and Rachel Satterfield, vice president for finance and treasurer. The goal, though, is to reduce its expense base by $350 million by 2030, which Duke aims to accomplish by saving an additional $47 million in each of the next two years, another $30 million in fiscal year 2029 and $11 million the year after. That leaves Duke with $364 million saved — $14 million above its initial target. Here is how the program started this year. In February the Trump administration sought to cap facilities and administrative reimbursement rates to universities for grants funded through institutions like the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation

NOTICE

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.

NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY Gladys C. Burnette, Petitioner, vs. Lillian Cabrera, Dorothy Chapman, Thomas Suitt, Sr., William Gattis, Wilma Gattis Brittain, Howard Lee Clark, Jr. Shondrea Thornton, Wanda Clark Fearrington, Norman V. Clark, George Randy Brown, Julius Allen Clark, Johnette Y. Smith Jones Julina Waden, John Dorsey Caldwell, Jr. Linda Clark, Robert Lee Clark, Jr. Andrea Nicky Clark, Sandi Abbo, Rossa V. Clarke-White, Wanda K. Williams, Zipporah W. Clark Baldwin, Macon David Clark, Jr., Amy M. Clark, Wallace Earl Perry, Lillie Perry Atwater, Clyde Douglas Perry, Hampton M. Perry as Guardian for Delaine Perry Norwood, Susan Gayle Perry, LeAnn Golden, Michael J. Sulick as Trustee of the Sulick Family Rev. Trust, Joy Young, Thomas Perry, Phyllis Cameron, Gloria Perry, Julia Perry, Rhonda Perry, and all unknown or missing heirs of Will Perry a/k/a William E. Perry, Respondent. IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION BEFORE THE CLERK FILE No. 24SP000053-180 NOTICE OF PUBLIC SALE Pursuant to the Order for Public Sale and Appointing Commissioner filed on October 30, 2025, in the above captioned proceeding, NOTICE is hereby given that the subject property described below will be put up for public sale on January 22, 2025 at 10:00 a.m.; the sale will be held at the Chatham County Courthouse in the designated area for sale. The subject property is commonly referred to as 0 Manns Chapel Road, Pittsboro, NC 27713, Chatham County PIN #0001902, and more particularly described as follows: Bounded on the North by Lamont Norwood; on the East by W.S. Norwood; on the South by Tom Hobby Estate; on the West by William Hamlet, containing ten (10) acres, more or less, and being a part of the Tom Farrar land. A cash deposit from the highest bidder equal to ten percent (5%) of the amount of the bid is required at the time of public sale. Said bid shall be reported to the Court and will remain open for the requisite upset bid period as required by law. The Court reserves the right to approve and reject all bids. THE PROPERTY IS SOLD AS-IS, WHERE-IS, WITH ALL FAULTS. This the 23rd day of December, 2025. ______________________________________ Shelby L. Lennon, Attorney for Commissioner Law Offices of Doster & Brown, P.A. 206 Hawkins Avenue Sanford, NC 27330

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

NOTICE Having qualified as Administrator of the Estate of Annie Faye Braxton, deceased, late of Chatham County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons, firms and corporations, having claims against the said estate to present them to the undersigned at 1153 Huffman Mill Road,Burlington, NC 27215 on or before the 9th day of April, 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. This the 8th day of January, 2026. Janet F. Braxton, Administrator Seth M. Gerringer, Attorney Deal Law, PLLC 1153 Huffman Mill Road Burlington, NC 27215 Publication Dates: Jan. 8, 15, 22 & 29, 2026

LEGISLATIVE PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE TOWN OF PITTSBORO, NC On Monday, January 12, 2026, at 6:00 pm, the Pittsboro Board of Commissioners will hold the following legislative public hearings in person at the Chatham County Agriculture & Conference Center at 1192 Hwy 64 Business West, Pittsboro: ZTA-2025-02 – A town-initiated text amendment codifying the town’s technical review committee in Section 9.7 of the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO). This committee is made up of internal and external staff tasked with review of multiple types of development processes. This proposed UDO text amendment formalizes the processes and specifies the composition of the committee. The hearing will be held in person. The public can also watch the hearing live on the Town’s YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/@townofpittsboronc/ streams. embers of the public must attend in person if they wish to speak at the hearing. Contact the Town Clerk, Carrie Bailey, by 4 pm on January 12, 2026, with written comments or to sign up to speak at the legislative hearing. You can contact Carrie Bailey at cbailey@pittsboronc.gov, (919) 5424621 ext. 1104, or PO Box 759, Pittsboro, NC 27312.

NOTICE

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.

DUKE from page A1

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

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

to 15%, from their current levels of around 60%. The directive faced legal challenges and is still blocked in the courts. The administration also called upon the funding agencies to terminate all grants related to diversity, equity and inclusion, freeze award money to certain universities at their discretion and decrease the number of grant opportunities available to researchers. In the face of uncertainty, Duke has prepared for the worst, as the move on F&A rates alone would cost it an estimated $194 million per year in lost funding. As part of this effort, in March, Duke President Vincent Price announced the university would embark on a cost-reduction program, which began with a hiring freeze, a review of administrative efficiency and reducing nonpersonnel expenses. At his annual address to faculty a week after the announcement, Price emphasized the cost reduction program’s importance for moving forward, saying that Duke “no longer enjoy(s) at this moment” many of the federal resources it relied upon in the past including support from the American public and the government. “... We should be prepared not only to seek cost-reductions across the university, but also to re-imagine our work and consider how we might strategically realign around our highest priorities,” Price added.

NOTICE TO CREDITORS Having qualified as Executor of the Estate of Mary Dianitia Hutcheson, late of Chatham County, North Carolina, the Executor does hereby notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against the estate of said decedent to exhibit them to F. Gordon Battle, Executor of the Estate of Mary Dianitia Hutcheson, 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 15th day of April, 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 Executor. This 8th day of January, 2026. F. Gordon Battle Executor of the Estate of Mary Dianitia Hutcheson Patrick E. Bradshaw Bradshaw Robinson Slawter & Rainer LLP PO Box 607 Pittsboro, NC 27312 (For Publication: 1/8, 1/15, 1/22 and 1/29/2026)

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.

In mid-April, university administrators said in a webinar that “employment action” would be “inescapable.” Two weeks later, the university announced a voluntary separation incentive program (VSIP) — buyouts for eligible staff. Ultimately, it extended offers to 939 staff members, of which 599 accepted, constituting 5% of Duke’s full-time staff. At the time, Duke administrators did not respond to The Chronicle’s requests for comment on the breakdown of departures by department, but The Chronicle received multiple reports of broad cuts across the libraries, student affairs, Office of Information Technology and communications. The VSIP targeted staff across a range of seniority levels and tenures who were given 45 days to accept or decline, during which they were largely prohibited from discussing the terms or their decisions with anyone outside their family or legal counsel. Much of the severance package was covered by a nondisclosure agreement, sources who accepted the package said. From the beginning, Duke made clear that if too few staff members accepted voluntary severance packages, nonvoluntary layoffs would follow. In June, Price warned that would “likely” be the case. The layoffs largely took place in mid-August as students were making their way to campus and amounted to 45 employ-

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

NOTICE TO CREDITORS 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 NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY FILE#25E000665-180 The undersigned KEENAN B. JONES, RYAN L. JONES, AND KARA J. OLDHAM, having qualified on the 19TH Day of DECEMBER 2025 as CO-EXECUTORS of the Estate of RODGER L. JONES, 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 8th Day OF APRIL 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 8th DAY OF JANUARY 2026. KEENAN B. JONES, CO-EXECUTOR 1473 ZEB BROOKS ROAD BEAR CREEK, NC 27207 KARA J. OLDHAM, CO-EXECTUTOR 1482 ZEB BROOKS ROAD BEAR CREEK, NC 27207 MAIL AFFIDAVIT TO: RYAN L. JONES, CO-EXECUTOR 1642 ZEB BROOKS ROAD BEAR CREEK, NC 27207 Run dates: J8,15,22,29

ees being laid off by September. “We will, for the foreseeable future, have to be smaller — and do our work with fewer people,” Price said in the June message. Even faculty members were affected by the cuts. In June, Price announced a retirement incentive program for eligible faculty members, which 82 of 273 faculty took. In Duke’s School of Medicine, which was particularly affected by NIH award cuts, tenured faculty members who were underperforming could come to face salary cuts per a summer proposal. The School of Medicine also decommissioned the Jones Research Building in its quest to achieve its own goal of cutting $125 million in yearly expenditures. When students and faculty returned to campus in mid-August, things were different. First-years arriving on campus were greeted not by the typical team of more than 300 volunteer advisers — many of whom had taken the voluntary buyouts — but by a new team of 11 full-time advisers. Faculty who had worked with subject librarians in past years were surprised by the newfound absence of their colleagues, which they say was done without consultation. The unstable communication between university administration and faculty prompted discussions over the meaning of “shared governance” at September’s Arts & Sciences Council meeting, with dean Gary

Bennett acknowledging the need to be “much more clear (and) straightforward about the ways we talk about our finances and our administrative operations.” Throughout the university’s year of cost cutting, various people and groups have called on Duke to change course. In May, the American Association of University Professors called for the university to halt its buyouts and layoffs until faculty and staff can be “fully involved” in decision making, and in June, Duke community members signed a petition calling for Price and other administrators to take pay cuts. After other schools signed agreements with the Trump administration, Duke alumni penned a letter to Price urging him to resist Trump’s “authoritarian intrusions,” and Durham Mayor Leonardo Williams commented to Politico that Duke should “remain firm on their values.” Heading into 2026, the cost cutting has slowed down as Duke expects to operate on a $74 million budget surplus for fiscal year 2026. Per the September Academic Council meeting, the focus now will be on strategic realignment — shifting the allocation of dwindled resources to Duke’s priority areas. “In the aggregate, we’re so much better positioned than had we not taken the action we did,” Ennis said to the council.

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Chatham News & Record for Thursday, January 8, 2026

Hegseth censures Kelly after Democrats’ video urging troops to resist unlawful orders Kelly is a retired Navy captain and still subject to some military rules By Konstantin Toropin, Ben Finley and Meg Kinnard The Associated Press WASHINGTON, D.C. — War Secretary Pete Hegseth announced Monday that he censured Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona over the former Navy pilot’s participation in a video that called on troops to resist unlawful orders. Hegseth said the censure — by itself simply a formal letter with little practical consequence — was “a necessary process step” to proceedings that could result in a demotion from Kelly’s retired rank of captain and subsequent reduction in retirement pay. Investigating and now punishing a sitting U.S. senator is an extraordinary move for the Pentagon, which until President Donald Trump’s second term had usually gone out of its way to act and appear apolitical. A legal expert says the choice to go after a lawmaker will complicate an already unique case. In a lengthy post on social media, Kelly said he “never expected” what he called an “attack” from Trump and Hegseth, recounting his 25 years of Navy service as well as combat and space missions. Calling Hegseth’s move “outrageous” and “un-American,” Kelly said he would fight the censure “with everything I’ve got — not for myself, but to send a message back that Pete Hegseth and Donald Trump don’t get to decide what Americans in this country get to say about their government.”

ALEX BRANDON / AP PHOTO

Left, Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) refutes efforts by President Donald Trump and War Secretary Pete Hegseth to intimidate him and other lawmakers last month. Right, War Secretary Pete Hegseth listens during a news conference with President Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago on Saturday in Palm Beach, Florida. Hegseth’s action follows video about illegal orders The censure comes after Kelly participated in a video in November with five other Democratic lawmakers — all veterans of the armed services and intelligence community — in which they called on troops to uphold the Constitution and defy “illegal orders.” Trump, a Republican, accused the lawmakers of sedition “punishable by DEATH” in a social media post days later. The 90-second video was first posted from Sen. Elissa Slotkin’s X account. In it, the six lawmakers — Slotkin, Kelly and Reps. Jason Crow, Chris Deluzio, Maggie Goodlander and Chrissy Houlahan — speak directly to U.S. service members, whom Slotkin acknowledges are “under enormous stress and pressure right now.” The lawmakers didn’t mention specific circumstances. But their message was released amid a se-

“Captain Kelly’s status as a sitting United States Senator does not exempt him from accountability, and further violations could result in further action.” Pete Hegseth, secretary of War ries of military attacks on boats accused of smuggling drugs in the Caribbean Sea and the eastern Pacific Ocean and Trump’s attempts to deploy National Guard troops to American cities. The Pentagon announced that it began an investigation of Kelly in late November, citing a federal law that allows retired service members to be recalled to active duty on orders of the defense secretary for possible court-martial or other measures.

US drops number of vaccines it recommends for every child It aligns with what many European countries recommend By Ali Swenson and Lauran Neergaard The Associated Press WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. took the unprecedented step Monday of dropping the number of vaccines it recommends for every child — leaving other immunizations, such as flu shots, open to families to choose but without clear guidance. Officials said the overhaul to the federal vaccine sched-

NASCAR from page A1 change, Phelps called Hall of Fame team owner Richard Childress “a stupid redneck” who “needs to be taken out back and flogged.” That led Bass Pro Shops founder Johnny Morris, an ardent supporter of both NASCAR and Richard Childress Racing, to write a damning letter demanding Phelps’ removal as commissioner. After he concluded his testimony in the nine-day trial last month, Phelps left the stand with his jaw clenched and face red, and he made no eye contact with NASCAR’s owners as he briskly headed directly out of the courtroom. His fiancée trailed after him as he even refused to look in her direction. NASCAR settled the lawsuit with 23XI Racing, owned by Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin, and Front Row Motorsports, owned by Bob Jenkins, the day after Morris’ letter went public and two days after Phelps’ testimony. “As a lifelong race fan, it gives me immense pride to have served as NASCAR’s first Commissioner and to lead our great sport through so many incredible challenges, opportunities

ule won’t result in any families losing access or insurance coverage for vaccines, but medical experts slammed the move, saying it could lead to reduced uptake of important vaccinations and increase disease. The change came after President Donald Trump in December asked the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to review how peer nations approach vaccine recommendations and consider revising its guidance to align with theirs. HHS said its comparison to 20 peer nations found that the U.S. was an “outlier” in both the number of vaccinations and the number of doses it recommend-

and firsts over my 20 years,” Phelps said in a statement. “Our sport is built on the passion of our fans, the dedication of our teams and partners, and the commitment of our wonderful employees. “It has been an honor to help synthesize the enthusiasm of long-standing NASCAR stakeholders with that of new entrants to our ecosystem, such as media partners, auto manufacturers, track operators, and incredible racing talent.” He added he will seek “new pursuits in sports and other industries” and thanked colleagues, friends and fans that “played such an important and motivational role in my career.” He also thanked the France family, the founders and owners of NASCAR, who hired him away from the NFL two decades ago and promoted him to a position that could have netted him $5 million annually with bonuses. “Words cannot fully convey the deep appreciation I have for this life-changing experience, for the trust of the France family, and for having a place in NASCAR’s amazing history,” Phelps concluded. Phelps is a native of Vermont, where as a child he became a

“Scientists at FDA, CDC, NIH, CMS and ASPE also contributed to a scientific assessment and recommendation.” Jim O’Neill, HHS deputy secretary ed to all children. Officials with the agency framed the change as a way to increase public trust by recommending only the most important vaccinations for children to receive.

fan of local racing. He graduated from both the University of Vermont, where he set the school record in the 800 meters, and Boston College, where he earned a master’s degree in business administration. NASCAR thanks Phelps for leadership NASCAR said that Phelps’ leadership transformed a stale schedule with new events, “bucket list fan experiences,” and reshaped its strategic vision. Phelps was also lauded for expanding NASCAR’s international footprint, securing long-term media rights and charter agreements, and building a leadership team that is focused on building the future of stock car racing with fan experience at its core. “Steve will forever be remembered as one of NASCAR’s most impactful leaders,” said Jim France, the NASCAR chairman and CEO. “For decades he has worked tirelessly to thrill fans, support teams and execute a vision for the sport that has treated us all to some of the greatest moments in our nearly 80-year history.” Phelps also led NASCAR as it became the first sport to re-

protections of the speech or debate clause, which is intended to protect members of Congress from questioning about official legislative acts. A 1968 Supreme Court decision said the provision’s intent was “to prevent legislative intimidation by and accountability to the other branches of government.” “You can’t punish him for making statements that are consistent with the office he is holding,” said Colby Vokey, a prominent civilian military lawyer and former military prosecutor, citing the Constitution’s speech and debate clause. Huntley said that while the type of process Hegseth is using — known as a retirement grade determination — is fairly routine, “as far as I know, they’ve always been based on conduct during the individual’s active duty service, even if it only came to light after retirement.” “So, I don’t know if conduct totally after retirement would fit the requirement for such a determination,” he added. Vokey also expressed skepticism, saying that while the Navy secretary can reduce a retired officer’s rank and pay grade if it’s determined that good cause exists, “I have no idea what the good cause would be. I think that’s pretty questionable.” According to Hegseth, Kelly now has 30 days to submit a response to the proceedings that will decide if he is demoted. The decision will be made within 45 days, Hegseth’s post added. Huntley noted that Kelly also will have options to appeal the finding both within the military and in federal court. Vokey said a lawsuit in federal court would likely be the more effective course of action for Kelly.

“This decision protects children, respects families, and rebuilds trust in public health,” Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said in a statement Monday. Medical experts disagreed, saying the change without public discussion or a transparent review of the data would put children at risk. “Abandoning recommendations for vaccines that prevent influenza, hepatitis and rotavirus, and changing the recommendation for HPV without a public process to weigh the risks and benefits, will lead to more hospitalizations and preventable deaths among American children,” said Michael Osterholm of the Vaccine Integrity Project, based at the University of Minnesota. Deputy HHS Secretary Jim O’Neill explained more behind the change in a post on X on Monday.

“Parents who think that more than 80 doses per child is too many may now consider giving their children the ten vaccines in the international consensus of 20 nations, plus the varicella vaccine,” O’Neill wrote. For other diseases, The CDC continues to recommend immunization for high-risk groups or on a doctor’s recommendation “when population-wide benefits cannot be clearly defined.” All vaccines currently in the schedule will continue to be covered by insurance and through state and federal health programs, O’Neill wrote, noting that parents and physicians can “choose what’s best for each child.” He also noted that he spoke with peers in Japan, Denmark and Germany, and that “scientists at FDA, CDC, NIH, CMS and ASPE also contributed to a scientific assessment and recommendation.”

turn to competition during the COVID-19 shutdown, as well as developing races inside the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and the downtown streets of Chicago. “Steve leaves NASCAR with a transformative legacy of innovation and collaboration with an unrelenting growth mindset,” France added. Lesa France Kennedy, the NASCAR executive vice chair, said “while his career may take him elsewhere, he’ll always have a place in our NASCAR family.” NASCAR did not announce any additional leadership or personnel changes and said there are no immediate plans to replace him as commissioner or to seek outside leadership. His responsibilities will be delegated internally through NASCAR’s president — now Steve O’Donnell — and the executive leadership team. O’Donnell moved into Phelps’ role as president upon Phelps’ promotion to commissioner. Although the two were mostly in favor of improving revenue-sharing for the teams in over two-plus years of bitter negotiations, the discovery process showed their growing frustration with NASCAR’s board of directors over its refusal to make the charters permanent.

The Childress texts

While all six lawmakers served in the military or the intelligence community, Hegseth previously said Kelly was the only one facing investigation because he is the only one of the lawmakers who formally retired from the military and is still under the Pentagon’s jurisdiction. Kelly said last month that the investigation was part of an effort to silence dissent: “This is just about sending a message to retired service members, active duty service members, government employees — do not speak out against this president or there will be consequences.” Kelly, along with some of the other Democrats in the initial video, have sent out fundraising messages based off Trump’s reaction to their comments, efforts that have gone toward filling their own campaign coffers and further elevating their national-level profiles. What accusations Hegseth is leveling against Kelly

Phelps appeared to be an advocate for more concessions for the race teams, but as the process dragged on, he ultimately fell in line with the France family, and that’s when his communications became more pointed. He testified he felt the teams had received a fair deal on the new charter agreements. But it was the attacks on Childress that drew the most attention, and Phelps said in court he regretted his words, had apologized to Childress and explained he was venting out of frustration. It wasn’t good enough for Morris, a longtime backer of Childress teams. “We can’t help but wonder what would happen if Major League Baseball brought in a new commissioner and he or she trash-talked one of the true legends who built the game like Willie Mays, Hank Aaron, Ted Williams, Mickey Mantle or Babe Ruth?” Morris wrote. “Such blatant disrespect would probably not sit well with the fans — such a commissioner most likely wouldn’t, or shouldn’t, keep his or her job for very long!”

CHATHAM SPORTS

ASHEEBO ROJAS / CHATHAM NEWS & RECORD

Jordan-Matthews’ Jakari Blue gains control of a Southwestern Randolph opponent on Dec. 17.

Top local wrestlers from season’s first half Chatham County grapplers win big and often to start the winter By Asheebo Rojas Chatham News & Record LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL wrestlers have made plenty of noise in the first half of the season. Multiple wrestlers have taken the crown at individual tournaments and earned their spot as some of the best in their respective classifications while also helping their teams win dual team matches. Here’s a look at Chatham

No. 1

120-pound wrestler in North Carolina is Seaforth’s Jordan Miller County’s top prep wrestlers before the turn of 2026. Jordan Miller (Seaforth, senior, 120 pounds) Miller has been dominant in his final high school season, achieving a 24-1 record and 14

pins as of Sunday. He’s RankWrestler’s No. 1 120-pounder in the state, and he has finished first in three individual tournaments this season, including the Tiger Holiday Classic In December. Miller, who won a state title at 113 pounds last year, notched his 100th career win this season. Harrison Compton (Seaforth, senior, 190 pounds) Compton, the No. 4 190-pounder in the 5A classification according to RankWrestlers, built a 16-1 record and notched 11 pins before the new

year. He picked up two tournament championship wins at the Wolverine Challenge and the Red Wolf Invitational, at which he pinned three opponents and won the final by a 18-2 technical fall. Compton has the second-best pin percentage (73.3%) amongst RankWrestling’s top five 190-pounders in the 5A classification. Last year, Compton finished third in the state tournament. Carson Williams (Chatham Central, senior, 157 pounds) Williams has been a standout for the Bears with a 16-3 record and eight pins going into

2026. He finished first in the Zack Thornburg Invitational and the Eagle Invitational, pinning all three opponents in the latter. After the first half of the season, Williams is RankWrestlers’ No. 3 157-pounder in the 1A class. He finished fifth in last year’s state tournament at 150 pounds. Jakari Blue (Jordan-Matthews, senior, 190 pounds) Blue has led the Jets this season with a 24-0 record and 19 pins before the new year. See WRESTLERS, page B4

WINTER SPORTS ROUNDUP

J-M boys finish third at SportsTone.net Christmas Invitational By Asheebo Rojas Chatham News & Record Boys’ basketball

GENE GALIN FOR CHATHAM NEWS & RECORD

Northwood’s Grant Locklear (2) drives against a Carrboro defender on Dec. 2.

Top local sports storylines heading into new year High school teams hope for success in the season’s second half By Asheebo Rojas Chatham News & Record WITH THE TURN of the new year, the high school sports season is at its halfway point. The start of the 2025-26 season brought another round

of exciting storylines for Chatham County’s teams, including historic seasons, first playoff wins and state championship runs. During the fall season, local teams got their first taste of the new classifications and conferences made with realignment, while the beginning of the winter season gave a preview of what’s to come over the next two months. Here’s some of the top local

high school sports storylines to follow going into the new year. How far will the Northwood boys go? Northwood’s mission to return to the state championship game has been met with more bumps than years past. The Chargers have taken four See STORYLINES, page B4

Jordan-Matthews started Rebounds for J-M’s the SportsTone.net Christmas MaKenzie Martin against Invitational in Asheboro with Chatham Charter a 68-55 win over Eastern Guilford on Dec. 27. In the semifinal round, the Jets fell to Randleman 50-42. (3-6, 1-0); 4. River Mill (1-10, Jordan-Matthews led 42-40 1-1); T5. Ascend Leadership with over three minutes left to (2-12, 0-1); T5. Central Caroliplay, but a 6-0 run by Randle- na Academy (1-7, 0-2); 7. Chaman senior Connor Cassidy tham Charter (8-6, 0-0) Four Rivers 3A/4A: 1. lifted the Tigers to victory. At the same tournament, Northwood (7-4, 1-0); 2. North Chatham Charter won domi- Moore (2-5, 0-1); T3. Eastern nated Trinity in the first round Randolph (2-8, 0-0); T3. Jordan-Matthews (7-6, 0-0); T3. 50-17. The Knights lost a close bat- Southwestern Randolph (5tle to Asheboro 53-44 in the 6, 0-0); T3. Uwharrie Charter semifinal. Chatham Charter, (6-4, 0-0) Greater Triad 1A/2A: T1. which never led, trailed by two with over two minutes left but Bishop McGuinness (8-2, 1-0); T1. South Stokes (9-1, 1-0); T1. couldn’t overcome the deficit. Jordan-Matthews took North Stokes (2-8, 1-0); T4. the third-place crown over Winston-Salem Prep (5-6, 1-1); Chatham Charter 63-44 on T4. Chatham Central (9-3, 1-1); Dec. 30. The Jets jumped out 6. College Prep and Leadership to a 20-8 first quarter lead and (3-10, 1-2); 7. South Davidson (0-10, 0-2) never looked back. Big Seven 4A/5A: T1. SeaConference standings as of Sunday (overall, confer- forth (6-4, 2-0); T1. Orange (2-9, 1-0); T1. J.F. Webb (4-6, ence) Central Tar Heel 1A: T1. 1-0); T1. South Granville (4-4, Southern Wake Academy (7-3, 1-0); T5. Durham School of the 1-0); T1. Woods Charter (5-3, 1-0); T1. Clover Garden School See ROUNDUP, page B3

Chatham News & Record for Thursday, January 8, 2026

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

Breylan Harris GENE GALIN FOR CHATHAM NEWS & RECORD

Seaforth’s volleyball team poses with its 2025 state runner-up trophy.

Seaforth lands at fourth in fall Wells Fargo Cup standings The NCHSAA also released fall Conference Cup results By Asheebo Rojas Chatham News & Record

PJ WARD-BROWN / CHATHAM NEWS & RECORD

Chatham Charter, boys’ basketball Chatham Charter’s Breylan Harris earns athlete of the week honors for the week of Dec. 29. Harris, a sophomore, led the Knights in scoring during two of their three games in the Sportstone.net Christmas Invitational last week. He recorded 12 points, five rebounds and three steals in a 50-17 win over Trinity, and he logged 13 points and eight rebounds in a 63-44 loss to Jordan-Matthews. As of Sunday, Harris joins sophomore Ryder Murphy in leading the team in scoring (11.3 points per game). He also leads the Knights in rebounds (6.1 per game) and blocks (1.1 per game).

SEAFORTH HIGH SCHOOL is once again in the race to be the best sports program in its classification. The Hawks ranked fourth in the latest North Carolina High School Athletic Association Wells Fargo Cup standings for 5A released after the end of the fall sports season. Seaforth earned 142.5 points, falling behind Orange (155), Hickory (167.5) and East Lincoln (180). Wells Fargo Cup points are awarded to schools that finish in the top eight positions (plus ties) in an NCHSAA state championship event. Schools earn 50 points for first place, 45 for second, 40 for third, 35 for fourth, 30 for fifth, 25 for sixth, 20 for seventh and 15 for eighth. When there’s a tie, schools earn an equal number of points based on the number of teams that tie and the number of teams that finish higher in the standings. Five points are awarded for each sport in which a school competes in the playoffs. In the fall, Seaforth saw another season of team success. The volleyball team reached the state championship game for the second year in a row, falling to Hickory in four sets.

4th

Place for Seaforth in the latest 5A State Cup standings

Points are awarded on the same scale as the State Cup but are only based on participation and standings in conference play. Here are the Conference Cup results for each local conference: Central Tar Heel 1A

In girls’ tennis, the Hawks reached the dual team regional final in which they lost to their conference foe and state runner up Durham School of the Arts. Mackenzie Wray made the state singles tournament and fell short of the eventual state runner up, while Ella Kristiansen and Tatum Dell also made the state doubles tournament. The girls’ cross-country team finished sixth in the state championship race. Seaforth’s boys’ soccer team made it to the second round of the playoffs, and the football team completed a historic season, reaching the playoffs and winning a playoff game for the first time in school history. The school won back-to-back 2A Wells Fargo Cup titles in the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons. Last year, the Hawks won by the widest margin in the state. Seaforth accumulated 527.5 points, nearly 84 points greater than second-place Pine Lake Prep. The NCHSAA also released Wells Fargo Conference Cup standings at the end of the fall season in November.

Clover Garden (182.5); 2. Woods Charter (155); 3. Chatham Charter (140); 4. Ascend Leadership (132.5); 5. Central Carolina (100); 6. River Mill (92.5); 7. Southern Wake (75) Greater Triad 1A/2A Bishop McGuinness (295); 2. South Stokes (210); 3. South Davidson (195); 4. North Stokes (160); 5. Chatham Central (130); 6. College Prep & Leadership (85); 7. Winston-Salem Preparatory (50) Four Rivers 3A/4A Southwestern Randolph (305); 2. Northwood (290); 3. North Moore (260); 4. Jordan-Matthews (230); 5. Eastern Randolph (215); 6. Uwharrie Charter (200) Big Seven 4A/5A Carrboro (300); 2. Orange (297.5); 3. Seaforth (282.5); 4. Cedar Ridge (265); 5. South Granville (192.5); 6. Durham School of the Arts (190); 7. J.F. Webb (127.5)

Chatham News & Record for Thursday, January 8, 2026

Powell makes first NBA start The former Northwood star continues to make an impact with the Nets By Asheebo Rojas Chatham News & Record DRAKE POWELL notched an NBA milestone last week. Powell, the former Northwood basketball star, made his first NBA start in the Nets’ 120-96 loss to the Houston Rockets on Jan. 1. The rookie guard entered the starting lineup with the absences of Egor Demin (back), Michael Porter (illness) and Terance Mann (hip). He finished the game with eight points, one assist and one steal while shooting 3 for 9 from the field. In 24 games as of Monday, Powell is averaging 6.3 points, 1.5 rebounds and 1.8 assists while shooting 48.1% from the floor. Against the Nuggets on Sunday, Powell knocked down a three to help the Nets pull off a 127-115 upset. In a 119-99 loss to Washington Friday, he made five of six shot attempts in a 14-point performance. Powell played a role in five of the Nets’ seven wins in Decem-

48.1% Shooting percentage for Powell as of Monday

ber, recording 13 points and three assists in a 127-82 win over Milwaukee on Dec. 14 and notching 10 points and four assists (tied for his career high) in a 116-103 win over Charlotte on Dec. 1. So far, November has been Powell’s best complete month of the season. During Brooklyn’s November stretch, Powell averaged 6.8 points, two assists, 1.9 rebounds and 0.8 steals per game. He touched his career high of 15 points twice (both losses to New York), and he shot 49.1% from the floor. During NBA Cup group play, Powell’s two steals and nine points on an efficient 75% shooting clip helped the Nets defeat Boston for their third win of the season on Nov. 21. As of Monday, Powell holds Brooklyn’s fourth-best field goal percentage and fourth-best 3-point percentage (36%).

NOAH K. MURRAY / AP PHOTO

Brooklyn Nets guard Drake Powell has his shot blocked by a Houston Rockets forward.

ROUNDUP from page B1 Arts (5-6, 0-1); T5. Cedar Ridge (2-9, 0-2); T5. Carrboro (0-11, 0-2) Power rankings: 1. Northwood; 2. Seaforth; 3. Chatham Central; 4. Jordan-Matthews; 5. Chatham Charter; 6. Woods Charter Last week’s rankings: 1. Northwood; 2. Chatham Charter; 3. Seaforth; 4. Chatham Central; 5. Jordan-Matthews; 6. Woods Charter Girls’ basketball After losing to Asheboro 5415 to open the SportsTone.net Christmas Invitational, Jordan-Matthews defeated Chatham Charter 31-25 on Dec. 29. Sophomore Lizzie Alston scored a team-high seven points, freshman MaKenzie Martin recorded 10 rebounds, and junior Jada Scott, who returned to the Jets’ lineup in the tournament opener, scored four points. In the fifth-place game, Jordan-Matthews fell to Wheatmore 47-35. Prior to the loss to Jordan-Matthews, Chatham Charter fell to Southwestern Randolph 71-29. Despite 20 points from sophomore Peyton York and 14 points from senior Sa-

PJ WARD-BROWN / CHATHAM NEWS & RECORD

Jordan-Matthews’ Zaeon Auguste goes up for a layup against Chatham Charter in a game Dec. 30. mantha Wilson, the Knights ended the tournament with a 43-42 loss to Trinity in the seventh-place matchup, dropping their fifth straight game. Cha-

tham Charter led 42-41 with 32 seconds left until Trinity senior Ava Nance made the game-winning layup. Conference standings as

of Sunday (overall, conference) Central Tar Heel 1A: T1. Southern Wake Academy (3-2, 1-0); T1. Woods Charter (6-4,

Local Service Directory

1-0); T1. Clover Garden School (5-4, 1-0); 4. River Mill (1-10, 1-1); 5. Ascend Leadership Academy (0-11, 0-1); 6. Central Carolina Academy (1-7, 0-2); 7. Chatham Charter (3-11, 0-0) Four Rivers 3A/4A: 1. Northwood (7-5, 1-0); T2. North Moore (0-8, 0-1); T2. Eastern Randolph (1-8, 0-0); T2. Jordan-Matthews (3-10, 0-0); T2. Southwestern Randolph (9-2, 0-0); T2. Uwharrie Charter (9-1, 0-0) Greater Triad 1A/2A: T1. College Prep and Leadership (13-1, 3-0); T1. North Stokes (3-7, 1-0); T3. South Stokes (4-7, 0-1); T3. South Davidson (0-10, 0-1); T3. Chatham Central (6-5, 0-2); T3. Bishop McGuinness (8-2, 0-0) Big Seven 4A/5A: T1. Durham School of the Arts (5-6, 1-0); T1. Orange (6-4, 1-0); T1. South Granville (4-5, 1-0); T1. Seaforth (7-1, 1-0); T5. J.F. Webb (3-7, 0-1); T5. Cedar Ridge (2-8, 0-1); T5. Carrboro (3-6, 0-2) Power rankings: 1. Seaforth; 2. Northwood; 3. Chatham Central; 4. Woods Charter; 5. Jordan-Matthews; 6. Chatham Charter Last week’s rankings: 1. Seaforth; 2. Northwood; 3. Chatham Central; 4. Woods Charter; Chatham Charter; 5. Jordan-Matthews; 6. Chatham Charter

B4 WRESTLERS from page B1 He finished first in two tournaments so far this season, winning the Zack Thornburg Memorial Invitational at 190 pounds and the Jim King Orange Invitational at 175 pounds. While ranked as RankWrestlers’ fifth-best 190-pounder in the 4A classification, Blue holds a higher pin percentage (90.5%) than the four wrestlers ranked ahead of him. Last year, Blue made his second state tournament appearance. Joel Garner (Jordan-Matthews, sophomore, 106 pounds) Garner has made drastic improvements from his freshman season to now. Last year, he finished the year with a 12-23 record, and halfway through this winter, he’s achieved a 24-10 record. Garner finished third at the Zack Thornburg Memorial Invitational in November and has picked up steam as of late, winning three straight nonforfeited matches to end December. Aiden Cisneros (Northwood, junior, 138 pounds) Cisneros has the most wins for the Chargers, achieving an 18-5 record before the new year. He placed third in the Nick Sgroi Invitational in December, and he has gone 10-1 in dual team matches. Cisneros has also made a huge jump after going 12-11 as a sophomore. Titus Moore (Northwood, junior, 138 pounds) Moore has notched an 11-3 record before 2026, going 10-1 in dual team competition. He has pinned six opponents this season. Alexandra Zumano Garcia (Jordan-Matthews, sophomore, 120 pounds) Garcia has led the Jets’ girls with a 20-3 record and two tournament wins (Red Wolf Invitational and Zack Thornburg Memorial Invitational). She also finished second at the Jim King Orange Invitational in December. Garcia is RankWrestlers’ second-best 120-pounder in the 4A classification. Edith Vargas (Jordan-Matthews, sophomore, 152 pounds) Vargas has achieved a 13-2 record as of Sunday, and she’s earned second place in both the Zack Thornburg Invitational and the Queen of the Mat. Johanna Carter (Jordan-Matthews, freshman, 132 pounds) Carter notched an 18-8 record going into 2026 with a first-place finish in the Queen of the Mat tournament in December. She also finished second in the Zack Thornburg Memorial Invitational. Sarah Tanner (Seaforth, junior, 132 pounds) Tanner has achieved a 7-6 record going into 2026 with multiple podium finishes individual tournaments. She finished fourth at the Rumble in the Jungle and fifth at the Red Wolf Invitational.

STORYLINES from page B1 losses before the new year for the first time since the 2017-18 season and have scored less than 50 points twice after playing some tough nonconference opponents. However, there’s still plenty to be positive about in the second half of the season. Northwood has looked like the best team in the Four Rivers 3A/4A conference, and wins over Southeast Alamance, Chapel Hill and Hillside have proven it can prevail when competition heats up. With Cam Fowler continuing to lead a dangerous offensive attack and the return of forward Chad Graves, keep an eye on the Chargers as they look to turn a rocky start into another deep playoff run.

Chatham News & Record for Thursday, January 8, 2026

Ashford leads Demon Deacons past Mississippi State 43-29 in Duke’s Mayo Bowl Wake Forest got a 300-yard passing game and a kickoff return touchdown to win in Charlotte

“I couldn’t get my wife to do it. She was like, ‘Absolutely not!’”

By Steve Reed The Associated Press

Wake Forest coach Jake Dickert on the postgame mayo shower he had with his kids

CHARLOTTE — Robby Ashford couldn’t have imagined a better way to close out his roller-coaster college career. The six-year redshirt senior quarterback threw for 303 yards and three touchdowns and ran for 50 yards and two scores to take MVP honors, Koredell Bartley scored on a 100-yard kickoff return and Wake Forest beat Mississippi State 43-29 in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl on Friday night. Ashford, who arrived at Wake Forest this season eager for a chance to start, threw touchdown passes of 14 yards to Kamrean Johnson, 64 yards to Jack Foley and 62 yards to Ty Clark III and had scoring runs of 2 and 1 yards for the Demon Deacons (9-4). Wake Forest finished the season winning seven of its final nine games, this one sending coach Jake Dickert to a celebratory mayonnaise bath. “When I got to Wake Forest, I was in a rough spot mentally and physically,” said Ashford, who transferred from South Carolina after also spending time at Oregon and Auburn. “I was kind of down on myself, almost at a point where I didn’t know if I wanted to keep play-

Wake Forest appeared to put it away when Ashford ran for his second touchdown with 4:07 remaining, but Navaeh Sanders blocked the extra point and Kelly Jones scooped it up and scored for 2 points for the Bulldogs to make it 36-29. On the ensuing possession, Mississippi couldn’t manage a first down and Lebby made the curious decision to punt on fourth-and-11 from the Bulldogs 25 with 2:35 left in the game, putting trust in his defense that it would force a three and out and get the offense the ball back. That backfired, as Ashford dumped a pass off to Clark on a third-and-7 and he raced 62 yards untouched to the end zone to seal the win. The bowl game’s unique tradition includes the winning head getting a 5-gallon bucket filled with 421⁄2 pounds of mayonnaise dumped on his head after the game. “I think we have laid a tremendous foundation here,” Dickert said after bringing in 40 new players in the transfer portal. “Nine wins is really, really special.”

SCOTT KINSER / AP PHOTO

Wake Forest head coach Jake Dickert shared a mayo shower with his children after winning the Duke’s Mayo Bowl. ing. Man, these guys just instilled just so much in me, and, just helped me in so many ways and instilled that confidence back in me.” The end result was a nine-victory season for Dickert, the most wins by a first-year coach in Wake Forest history. The victory also meant having 421⁄2 pounds of mayonaisse dumped over his head. But he had some support, as his three children joined him in the celebration and got doused as well. “I couldn’t get my wife to do it. She was like, ‘Absolutely not!’” laughed Dickert. “But to share that with my kids is something that is going to be a special memory for us for the rest of our lives.” Clark finished with 153

yards from scrimmage after taking over the starting role after second-team All-ACC selection Demond Claiborne opted out of the game after declaring for the NFL draft. After the Bulldogs took an 3-0 lead on the game’s first possession, Bartley fielded the ensuing kickoff at the goal line and weaved his way up the field before turning up the speed and outracing five defenders to the end zone for the longest touchdown in bowl history. Ashford, a sixth-year quarterback playing for his fourth college, put Wake Forest ahead 30-12 in the third quarter on a 2-yard run to make it a three-possession game and the Demon Deacons seemed in cruise control.

Mensah throws for 4 TDs, leads Blue Devils to 42-39 win over Arizona State in Sun Bowl Duke won its fourth straight bowl game

big-time game, both teams gave it all, back and forth, momentum swings. “We got in a position where it was all going against us in the fourth quarter, but our guys have shown time and time again when the easiest thing to do is sit there and say, ‘It’s not our day,’ they find a way to win and make winning plays.” Nate Sheppard led Duke in rushing with 22 carries for 170 yards and a touchdown, while Brown was the top receiver with 10 catches for 178 yards and two scores. “It was a roller coaster,” Brown said of the game. “Com-

ing off that last drive, we didn’t convert on fourth down. Then we saw that fumble, we got on offense. I looked at Darren when we went to the field. If there’s one guy in front of me, no one is stopping me.” The Blue Devils also won nine games for a second consecutive season — only the second time in program history they accomplished the feat. The game, which set Sun Bowl records for combined total offense (1,158 yards), individual team offense (ASU, 619 yards), and most points in a half (52 in the first half), was tied three times and had two lead chang-

es. ASU had three turnovers to one for Duke. The Blue Devils were driving for a go-ahead score and looked to have it on an 8-yard pass from Mensah to Cooper Barkate, but ASU’s Nyland Green knocked the ball out of Barkate’s hands in the end zone. The Sun Devils took over with 2:51 remaining and seemingly in control, but Jason Brown Jr. fumbled at the end of a 14-yard carry on the next play. Kendall Johnson forced the fumble and Ma’Khi Jones recovered for the Blue Devils on the ASU 22-yard line. Two players later, Mensah connected with Brown on a receiver screen to the left side and Brown broke a tackle en route to a 17-yard score that regained the lead for Duke at 42-39. Arizona State got one more crack with just over two minutes to play, but a Sims’ pass over the middle was intercepted by Duke’s Luke Mergott, sealing the win. Duke was a small favorite going into the game, not only because it was the ACC champ, but also because it only had two players who were unavailable. Arizona State was without 22. Duke defensive lineman Aaron Hall was the game’s most valuable lineman, and Blue Devils punter Kade Reynoldson was the most valuable special teams player.

(4A) and Eastern Randolph (3A). Meanwhile, Chatham Charter and Woods Charter will meet at least twice this season with possible implications for a conference title and playoff seeding.

regional final appearances, is now a 2A school. Chatham Central, which graduated four players from last year’s squad, could take another step with a clearer path in the playoffs.

Can Chatham Central softball take the next step?

Local baseball teams look to improve in 2026

Chatham Central’s softball team earned its most wins since 2013 in last year’s 20-4 campaign. Prior to last season, the Bears won 18 and 19 games in 2023 and 2024 respectively, and both times (like last spring), they ‘ve made it past the first round of the playoffs. However, in the past two postseasons, Roxboro Community has stopped the Bears from making a run past the third round. Roxboro Community, which has made back-to-back

Seaforth and Chatham Charter were the only local baseball teams to win playoff games last year. Northwood, which finished 13-10, made the postseason as a 27 seed, and Chatham Central, which finished 8-16, earned a 31 seed in the playoffs. Meanwhile, Jordan-Matthews missed the playoffs after a winless season. With teams starting fresh in 2026, there’s a possibility for big turnarounds and newfound playoff success.

By John Erfort The Associated Press ELPASO, Texas — Darian Mensah threw for 327 yards and four touchdowns to lead Duke to a 42-39 victory over Arizona State in the Sun Bowl. Mensah, the game’s MVP, was 29 of 51 passing with an interception. He helped Duke to its fourth straight win and tied a Sun Bowl record for touchdown passes in a game. That included a 17-yard scoring pass to Que’Sean Brown with 2:10 to play that lifted the Blue Devils to victory. “I was pretty defeated after the fourth down where we didn’t convert,” Mensah said of a late turnover on downs with Duke trailing 39-35. “My teammates did an exceptional job of lifting me up. It’s my teammates. All I have to do is get it to my playmakers.” And although the ACC champion Blue Devils (9-5) would’ve liked to have been in the College Football Playoff, no one was thinking about that after winning this shootout. “That was an instant classic,” Duke head coach Manny Diaz said. “There’s cynicism around bowls, who wants to play, crowds … that was a big-time atmosphere, that was a

Seaforth girls transition to new coach Mike Zeillmann took over as Seaforth’s new girls’ basketball coach before winter break, leading the Hawks to two conference wins over Carrboro and Cedar Ridge. Before Zeillmann, the Hawks went 6-1 and picked up three double-digit victories. Senior Katie Leonard emerged as the team’s offensive engine with some monster scoring performances and juniors Annika Johansson and Lariah Rodgers stepped up to help keep the team afloat in a coaching transition. Now under new leadership, it’ll be interesting to see what will be the same or different with the Hawks as they compete for a conference title.

JACOB KUPFERMAN / AP PHOTO

Duke coach Manny Diaz, left, celebrates with defensive tackle Aaron Hall (99) after Virginia missed a field goal in the ACC championship game.

Chatham boys’ basketball teams in 1A’s RPI rankings’ top 10 Who will make the most noise in 1A basketball? It’s time to pay attention to Chatham County’s 1A boys’ basketball teams. As of Sunday, Chatham Charter (fifth) and Chatham Central (seventh) sit in the top 10 of the classification’s RPI rankings, while Woods Charter sits at 11th. Chatham Central won three straight games entering the winter break, including victories over Jordan-Matthews

Chatham News & Record for Thursday, January 8, 2026

SIDELINE REPORT NCAA BASKETBALL

Notre Dame coach Shrewsberry apologizes for actions after Cal loss South Bend, Ind. Notre Dame coach Micah Shrewsberry apologized after charging at an official following a controversial loss to Cal. The incident occurred after a four-point play in the final seconds of the game. Shrewsberry expressed regret for his actions in a statement, acknowledging they were inappropriate and not reflective of the leader he aims to be. He apologized to his team, the university, the ACC, and Cal’s coach. Shrewsberry was held back by assistants but later composed himself for postgame handshakes

NFL

Garrett breaks NFL single-season sack record with 23 Cincinnati The Cleveland Browns’ Myles Garrett set the NFL’s single-season sack record with his 23rd. He reached the milestone during the fourth quarter of the season finale against Cincinnati. Garrett sacked Joe Burrow for a 6-yard loss, surpassing the previous record of 221⁄2 sacks shared by Michael Strahan and T.J. Watt. Garrett has sacked 51 players over his nine-year NFL career. Burrow is at the top of the list at 12 in 10 meetings.

HORSE RACING

Crump, first female jockey to ride in Kentucky Derby, dead at 77 Washington Diane Crump, who in 1969 became the first woman to ride professionally in a horse race and a year later became the first female jockey in the Kentucky Derby, died at 77, in hospice care in Winchester, Virginia, three months after being diagnosed with an aggressive form of brain cancer. After Crump made history in 1970, it would be 14 more years before another female jockey would ride in the Derby.

NBA

NBA Christmas viewership hits 15-year high with 47M viewers New York The NBA announced its best Christmas Day viewership numbers in 15 years. More than 47 million people in the U.S. watched at least part of the five-game slate, a 45% increase over last year. The Cleveland-New York game became the most-watched Christmas game ever starting at noon Eastern, with 6.4 million viewers. San Antonio-Oklahoma City was the most watched in the 2:30 p.m. slot since 2017. Additionally, the NBA was the “most-viewed brand across social media” on Christmas, with content generating 1.6 billion views.

US hockey picks 4 Nations-heavy roster for Winter Olympics Jason Robertson and Alex DeBrincat were among the players snubbed By Stephen Whyno The Associated Press TAGE THOMPSON and Clayton Keller helped the U.S. win the world hockey championship for the first time since 1933, while Seth Jones was a key part of the Florida Panthers’ second consecutive Stanley Cup run. Those contributions earned them a spot on the U.S. team at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics as the only three additions from the 4 Nations Face-Off early last year. USA Hockey unveiled its roster Friday, with a vast majority of it made up of players who took part in the NHL-run international tournament in February, when the Americans made the final before losing to Canada in overtime. “I liked the way we played: Everybody was together, everybody played the right way,” general manager Bill Guerin said on a video call with reporters. “The biggest thing for me was the chemistry, and I think the chemistry allowed the guys to play the way that they did.” The only ones not back from the 4 Nations are forward Chris Kreider and former New York

PETR DAVID JOSEK / AP PHOTO

United States’ Clayton Keller holds up the trophy after the IIHF World Championships in Stockholm, Sweden. Rangers teammate Adam Fox, the 2021 Norris Trophy winner as the NHL’s top defenseman. Guerin took issue with the perception that Fox was left off because of his role in Connor McDavid’s OT goal 11 months ago. “If you think we made a decision on one play, then you must not think we’re very smart,” Guerin said. “I’m going to keep those conversations private. Our decision was made, and we’re moving forward.” Keller, who’s captain of the Utah Mammoth and tied for their lead in scoring, wore the “C” at worlds. Thompson, who plays for the Buffalo Sabres, was a point-a-game producer.

“He’s 6-foot-6 and can skate like the wind,” Guerin said. “He’s got an incredible shot, scoring ability — he’s got versatility, as well. He can play center, play wing, kill penalties, he’s on the power play. The versatility, size and skill level are a pretty unique package.” The U.S. followed Canada’s lead after its northern neighbor also chose a 4 Nations-heavy roster. But while Canada made some changes in net beyond starter Jordan Binnington, the Americans went with the same three goaltenders: reigning league MVP Connor Hellebuyck, Jake Oettinger and Jeremy Swayman.

Left off were Jason Robertson of the Dallas Stars, who’s leads U.S. players in points this season, and a couple other elite goal scorers, Cole Caufield and Alex DeBrincat, who are each 5-foot-8. Asked about size as a factor in decision-making, Guerin said it was a bonus, adding, “It doesn’t help if you’re big and you stink.” “We actually have to build a team,” Guerin said. “We have to fill roles. We have certain responsibilities that go up and down the lineup that we need players that are elite in those categories.” Guerin and his management staff, along with coach Mike Sullivan, prioritized experience and players they knew well. That meant sticking with depth forwards Vincent Trocheck and Brock Nelson over Robertson and others. Jones was a notable exception, after his shutdown prowess was evident in the playoffs last year. “He’s a big strong kid that skates extremely well,” Sullivan said. “He has the ability to play on both side of the puck.” Teams are allowed 25 players at the Olympics, up from 23 at the 4 Nations, and can dress 20 skaters — typically 13 forwards and seven defenseman, along with two goalies. The first U.S. game is Feb. 12 against Latvia.

Unleash the hounds! And terriers and lapdogs. American Kennel Club adds 3 new breeds The additions are a French hunting hound, Russian toy dog and presidential terrier By Jennifer Peltz The Associated Press NEW YORK — They’re ready to embark on 2026. Three more dog breeds joined the American Kennel Club’s roster of recognized breeds on Tuesday, making them eligible for many U.S. dog shows and likely increasing their visibility to the pet-loving public. The basset fauve de Bretagne The stats: 12.5 to 15.5 inches at the base of the neck; 23 to 39 pounds The topline: A hardy, sociable, compact hound that can hunt all day — and needs mental and physical activity. The pronunciation: bahSAY’ fove deh breh-TAHN’-yeh The translation: Fawn-colored, low-set dog from Brittany The history: Versions of these coarse-coated, tan-hued hounds go back at least as far as 16th-century French aristocratic circles. The breed has been championed in the U.S. in recent years by Cindy Hartman, a South Carolina service dog trainer who brought a pair of fauve puppies back from France in 2001. She has since trained and placed about 20 fauves as medical alert dogs for people with diabetes, she said.

AMERICAN KENNEL CLUB VIA AP

Pictured above is the basset fauve de Bretagne, one of three new breeds now recognized by The American Kennel Club. The quote: “They’re wicked smart, and so if you’re wanting a dog that’s just going to lay around all day long, a fauve is not for you,” Hartman said. “But yet, when challenged mentally and physically, they’re happy to come in with you and curl up on the sofa for the evening.” The Teddy Roosevelt terrier The stats: 8 to 14 inches at the base of the neck; 8 to 25 pounds The topline: A solid, energetic small canine that will rid your barn of rodents, alert you to strangers, do dog sports — or just entertain you with its antics. The history: Originally seen as a short-legged variant of the rat terrier, these dogs were deemed a breed of their own in 1999. The breed was named for

President Theodore Roosevelt because of his fondness for dogs, including terriers. The quote: “They know how to get you to laugh,” says Cindy Rickey of Waynesville, North Carolina, the secretary of the American Teddy Roosevelt Terrier Club. While many terrier breeds are known for being independent-minded, her Teddy competes in obedience. “They’re terriers, no doubt about it, but they also have this tremendous desire to please,” she explains. The Russian tsvetnaya bolonka The stats: Up to 10¼ inches at the base of the neck; 7 to 9 pounds The topline: A sweet but clever little companion that wants playful interaction, not just snuggling (though it likes that, too).

The pronunciation: zvitNEYE’-ah boh-LON’-kah The translation: Russian colored lapdog The history: The breed was developed in Soviet-era Leningrad (now St. Petersburg) after World War II as a pet for apartment dwellers. American fans have been working to establish bolonki (the proper plural) in the U.S. since the early 2000s. The quote: “Having a bolonka is like having a 3-year-old kid running around your house. … They can enjoy their time lying on the couch with you, but you’ve got to be prepared to play with them and keep them entertained,” says Denise Dang of Oklahoma City, the secretary of the Russian Tsvetnaya Bolonka Club of America. Owners also need to care for a thick, wavy coat that’s low-shedding but can get matted. Even if it’s cut fairly short, a bath every couple of weeks is wise, Dang says. The big picture The AKC recognizes 205 breeds, including these three newcomers. Fanciers of many others — though, as yet, no “doodles” or other popular poodle hybrids — have voluntarily entered a pipeline that takes years of breeding, documentation and consensus-building. The club doesn’t limit the number of breeds it might eventually recognize. Spokesperson Brandi Hunter Munden says it’s not “adding dogs indiscriminately,” but rather providing “an established framework for growth, breed standards, competition and education in the U.S.”

PHOTOS BY AMERICAN KENNEL CLUB VIA AP

Left, the Russian tsvetnaya bolonka. Right, the Teddy Roosevelt terrier.

Chatham News & Record for Thursday, January 8, 2026

entertainment Broadway director Timbers achieves rare feat with 4 shows running simultaneously The creator’s work also includes directing David Byrne’s “American Utopia” By Mark Kennedy The Associated Press NEW YORK — Fifteen years ago, rising theater director Alex Timbers achieved a remarkable feat: Still only in his early 30s, he had two shows running simultaneously on Broadway. As 2026 dawns, Timbers has now eclipsed that mark — he has four. Timbers’ latest, “All Out: Comedy About Ambition,” joins his currently running hits “Beetlejuice,” “Just in Time” and “Moulin Rouge! The Musical,” the 2020 best musical winner that also earned him a best directing Tony Award. “If I step back and think about what unites the shows, it’s probably they’re all trying to be joy-forward experiences and shows where the audience is acknowledged,” said Timbers, now 47. Previous directors to enjoy four simultaneous Broadway productions include Joe Mantello in 2016, Casey Nicholaw also in 2016 and Susan Stroman in 2001. Trevor Nunn did it twice, in 1988 and 1995. (Timbers’ quadruple ends Saturday when “Beetlejuice” ends its run). Breaking walls Timbers’ works often combines highbrow and lowbrow,

“Where pop and high art meet, I think that’s where a lot of the audiences want to live as well.” Alex Timbers sincerity and subversion. His four current Broadway works span a jukebox musical, a wacky movie adaptation, a spare and starry staged reading and a memory play-meetsbio musical. One of Timbers’ hallmarks is immediately breakingthrough the pretend wall between the actors and the audience, as when the ghoul Beetlejuice appears at the top of his show and comments, “A ballad already! And such a bold departure from the original source material.” Timbers had a breakout season in 2010 when two of his shows made it to Broadway: “The Pee-wee Herman Show” and “Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson,” which he wrote and directed. Timbers went on to work on the adaptation of “Rocky” for the stage, the strippeddown Peter Pan story “Peter and the Starcatcher” and with Talking Heads frontman David Byrne on his “America Utopia.” For “Here Lies Love,” the immersive disco tale of Philippine ex-first lady Imelda Marcos, he literally broke the fourth wall by letting the

audience dance with the stars. “I think that there’s something sort of more raucous, more anarchic, that a certain audience wants. Something that’s visceral and joyful,” Timbers said. “Where pop and high art meet, I think that’s where a lot of the audiences want to live as well.” Not one genre Timbers — currently at work on a “The Princess Bride” musical — suspects the audiences of Broadway’s future are looking for the same kind of shows he looks for: out-of-the-box, slightly dangerous things that maximize the skills of the star and deliver joy. “I think that younger audiences and audiences that don’t traditionally go to theater aren’t necessarily looking for shows that sit specifically in one genre. I think they’re looking for things that maximize entertainment and emotion and connection,” he said. Timbers, a student of Broadway history, looks backward to the future, inspired by the long-running “Ziegfeld Follies” from the first half of the 20th century or “Hellzapoppin,” a hugely popular musical revue in the 1930s that had comedy, music, clowns and audience participation. “It was all these different variety elements that felt in a way very populist, but also very sophisticated, like the coolest date night on Broadway,” he said.

EMILIO MADRID VIA AP

Alex Timbers sits with cast members from “Moulin Rouge! The Musical,” “Just in Time,” “Beetlejuice” and “All Out: Comedy About Ambition” at the Nederlander Theatre in New York on Dec. 19.

Chatham News & Record for Thursday, January 8, 2026

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Chatham News & Record for Thursday, January 8, 2026

this week in history

iPhone debuts, Barry Gordy founds Motown, League of Nations established JAN. 8 1790: President George Washington delivered the first State of the Union address in New York City. 1815: The last major engagement of the War of 1812 ended as U.S. forces defeated the British in the Battle of New Orleans, unaware that a peace treaty had been signed the previous December. 1964: President Lyndon B. Johnson, in his State of the Union address, declared an “unconditional war on poverty in America.” JAN. 9

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1861: Mississippi became the second state to secede from the Union as the Star of the West, a merchant ship carrying reinforcements to Fort Sumter, South Carolina, retreated after coming under artillery fire. 1916: The World War I Battle of Gallipoli ended with an Ottoman Empire victory as Allied forces withdrew. 1945: During World War II, American forces began

woman elected to the U.S. Senate. 1959: Berry Gordy Jr. founded Motown Records, originally known as Tamla Records, in Detroit. 1966: “Batman” premiered on ABC, starring Adam West and Burt Ward.

landing at Lingayen Gulf in the Philippines as the Battle of Luzon began, ultimately resulting in an Allied victory over Imperial Japanese forces. 2007: Apple CEO Steve Jobs introduced the iPhone at the Macworld conference in San Francisco. JAN. 10 1776: Thomas Paine anonymously published his influential pamphlet “Common Sense,” arguing for American independence from British rule. 1861: Florida became the third state to secede from the Union ahead of the Civil War. 1863: The London Underground was born as the Metropolitan Railway, the world’s first underground passenger railway, opened to the public between Paddington and Farringdon Street. 1920: The League of Natio JAN. 11 1861: Alabama became the fourth state to secede from the Union. 1908: The Grand Canyon was established as a national monument by President Theodore Roosevelt. 1935: Aviator Amelia Ear-

PAUL SAKUMA / AP PHOTO

Apple CEO Steve Jobs holds up an Apple iPhone at the MacWorld Conference in San Francisco on Jan. 9, 2007. hart began what would be the first solo flight from Hawaii to California, completing the 2,400-mile journey to Oakland in just under 19 hours. 1964: U.S. Surgeon General Luther Terry issued “Smoking and Health,” a report concluding that cigarette smoking contributes substantially to mortality from specific diseases and to the overall death rate. JAN. 12 1915: The U.S. House of Representatives rejected a proposed constitutional amendment to grant women nationwide the right to vote. 1932: Hattie W. Caraway of Arkansas became the first

JAN. 13 1733: James Oglethorpe and about 120 English colonists arrived at Charleston, South Carolina, en route to settle in what is now Georgia. 1794: President George Washington approved a measure adding two stars and two stripes to the American f lag following the admission of Vermont and Kentucky to the Union. (The number of stripes was later reduced to 13.) JAN. 14 1784: The United States ratified the Treaty of Paris, ending the Revolutionary War; Britain followed suit in April. 1858: Napoleon III survived an assassination attempt by an Italian revolutionary who threw explosives at the emperor’s carriage in Paris. Though bystanders were killed, the emperor and his wife were unharmed.

Florida Panthers enlist stars for unique cancer fundraiser Wayne Gretzky, Michael Bublé and other icons participated in the cause By Tim Reynolds The Associated Press MIAMI — For their latest project, the Florida Panthers signed Wayne Gretzky, Martina Navratilova, Michael Bublé, Dustin Johnson and the Miami Heat. And they were armed with paintbrushes, not hockey sticks. The Panthers — a few hours before their Winter Classic outdoor game at the Miami Marlins’ ballpark against the New York Rangers — unveiled a couple dozen panther sculptures, all painted in a unique way and now being auctioned off with hopes of raising $1 million for cancer research. Gretzky commissioned a sculpture that displays some of his stats, Johnson arranged one depicting a scene from Augusta National, Bublé’s is adorned in rhinestone braille, the NBA’s Heat commissioned a pair of sculptures with some of the team’s themes, artist Romero Britto painted one as well, and Navratilova didn’t technically paint hers — she dipped tennis balls into paint and served them into the panther, creating a polka-dotted splash of various colors. “To be able to have the priv-

“There’s a reason that everybody gave their time and their talent. And it’s because it works and it’s right.” Bill Zito, Florida Panthers general manager ilege to reach out and make those contacts and have those folks say, ‘Of course,’ what a gift that was,” Panthers general manager and hockey operations president Bill Zito said. “It’s just so neat.” About $700,000 has been raised already, Zito said. The idea for the fundraiser — “Panthers on the Prowl,” they call it — is loosely built around Chicago’s “Cows on Parade” art project. Zito and his wife, Julie, co-chair the Panthers’ project; she is a breast cancer survivor, and Zito has lost a number of relatives to the disease. “It was my wife Julie’s idea,” Zito said. “And we lived in Chicago during ‘Cows on Parade,’ and then Romero Britto said we should auction them. I can’t take credit for any of it.” Many of the panthers were on display at LoanDepot Park on Friday, where about 35,000 fans attending the

solutions

TIM REYNOLDS / AP PHOTO

A Florida Panthers statue painted by tennis star Martina Navratilova is displayed for auction in Miami on Jan. 2 in an effort to raise money to fight cancer. Winter Classic would see them. “There’s a tear and a smile,” Zito said. “And then you think,

you know what, there’s a reason that everybody is engaged. There’s a reason that everybody

gave their time and their talent. And it’s because it works and it’s right.”

Chatham News & Record for Thursday, January 8, 2026

famous birthdays this week Robby Krieger (The Doors) turns 80, Joan Baez is 85, Pat Benatar hits 73, Rob Zombie celebrates 61 THESE CELEBRITIES have birthdays this week. JAN. 8 Singer Shirley Bassey is 89. Fashion designer Carolina Herrera is 87. Country-gospel singer Cristy Lane is 86. Rock musician Robby Krieger (The Doors) is 80. Singer Jenny Lewis is 50. JAN. 9 Musician-activist Joan Baez is 85. Rock musician Jimmy Page (Led Zeppelin) is 82. Singer Crystal Gayle is 75. Actor J.K. Simmons is 71. Actor Imelda Staunton is 70. Musician Dave Matthews is 59. Golfer Sergio Garcia is 46. Catherine, Princess of Wales, is 44.

JORDAN STRAUSS / INVISION / AP PHOTO

Julia Louis-Dreyfus arrives at the Academy Women’s Luncheon in 2025 at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles. The actor turns 65 on Tuesday.

JAN. 10 Olympic decathlon gold medalist Bill Toomey is 87. Singer Rod Stewart is 81. Rock singer-musician Donald Fagen (Steely Dan) is 78. Singer Pat Benatar is 73. Hall of Fame racing driver and team owner Bobby Rahal is 73. JAN. 11 Filmmaker Alfonso Arau is 94. Golf Hall of Famer Ben Crenshaw is 74. Jazz guitarist Lee Ritenour is 74. Olympic swimming gold medalist Tracy Caulkins is 63. Filmmaker Malcolm D. Lee is 56. Singer Mary J. Blige is 55. Actor Amanda Peet is 54. JAN. 12 Author Haruki Murakami is 77. Filmmaker Wayne Wang is 77. Football Hall of Famer Drew Pearson is 75. Writer Walter Mosley is 74. Media personality Howard Stern is 72. Oliver Platt is 66. Basketball Hall of Famer Dominique Wilkins is 66. Musician-filmmaker Rob Zombie is 61. JAN. 13 Golf Hall of Famer Mark O’Meara is 69. Actor Julia Louis-Dreyfus is 65. Country singer Trace Adkins is 64. Actor Patrick Dempsey is 60. TV produc-

MICHAEL ZORN / INVISION / AP PHOTO

Howard Stern speaks at the 2018 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony in Cleveland. The radio personality turns 72 on Monday. er-writer Shonda Rhimes is 56. Actor Orlando Bloom is 49. JAN. 14 Drag racer Don “Big Daddy” Garlits is 94. Actor Faye Dunaway is 85. Actor Holland Taylor is 83. Guitarist-producer T-Bone Burnett is 78. Filmmaker Steven Soderbergh is 63. Rapper-actor LL Cool J is 58. Actor Jason Bateman is 57. Rock musician Dave Grohl is 57.

B10

Chatham News & Record for Thursday, January 8, 2026

the stream

Tom Hiddleston, from left, Camila Morrone and Diego Calva pose for photographers upon arrival at the UK premiere of the second season of ‘The Night Manager’ on Dec. 10 in London.

MILLIE TURNER / INVISION / AP PHOTO

Kid Laroi, ‘The Pitt,’ ‘Tron: Ares’ “The Night Manager” returns for a second season

praised Leto and Lee’s performances and said despite being a movie that “bites off too much,” it was worth a watch. A bonus for music fans? The film’s Nine Inch Nails soundtrack with some throwbacks to the original film’s score.

The Associated Press RETURNS TO “The Pitt,” the Grid and music of Kid Laroi are some of the new television, films and music headed to a device near you. The first week of January brings a pair of sophomore efforts: Laroi’s album “Before I Forget” and the second season of the Emmy-winning hospital drama “The Pitt.” This week’s streaming offerings, as selected by The Associated Press’ entertainment journalists, also include the return of “The Night Manager” after nearly a decade.

MUSIC TO STREAM

CHRIS PIZZELLO / AP PHOTO

MOVIES TO STREAM

Noah Wyle accepts the award for outstanding lead actor in a drama series for “The Pitt” during the 77th Primetime Emmy Awards in 2025. The medical drama returns to HBO Max for its second season on Thursday.

Audiences can reenter the Grid with “Tron: Ares” on Disney+. The franchise’s third film stars Jared Leto, Greta Lee and Jodie Turner-Smith and fea-

tures a return of Jeff Bridges. The 1982 original starred Bridges as a hacker who’s transported into a dangerous digital world

and kicked off the cult franchise with then-state-of-the-art computer graphics and special effects. AP critic Mark Kennedy

Grammy-nominated artist the Kid Laroi — a direct inheritor of Justin Bieber’s glossy R&B-informed pop — will release his sophomore album, “Before I Forget,” on Friday. Judging by the previously released singles, listeners can expect slow-burn breakup reflections (“A Perfect World”) and high-hat heavy tracks with lovelorn lyrics (“A Cold Play”). It’s frictionless listening to start the new year. SERIES TO STREAM In what counts as a quick turnaround these days in the world of prestige TV, “The Pitt”

returns for its second season, and second day in the life of a frenetic Pittsburgh emergency room run by Noah Wyle’s beleaguered and beloved Dr. Robby. The first episode of Season 2 premieres Thursday on HBO Max. Expectations will be a lot higher this time. In the 10 months since Season 1 ended, “The Pitt” won the best drama Emmy along with four others, including best actor for Wyle and supporting actress for Katherine LaNasa, who will be returning despite her character vowing to quit after taking a punch. Ten months have also passed in the world of the show, which will again follow a single ER shift, this time on a July Fourth weekend. After a much, much longer absence, “The Night Manager” will return for a second season. It’s been nearly a decade since Tom Hiddleston’s hotel worker-turned-spy stalked a dirty arms dealer on the show based on a novel by John le Carré. It was meant to be a limited series for the BBC and AMC, but its creators are now bringing it back with a new and original story. This time, its airing on Prime Video in the U.S.

2026 starts with ‘Avatar: Fire and Ash’ at No. 1 “Zootopia 2” landed in second place By Jake Coyle The Associated Press NEW YORK — Hollywood kicked off 2026 with “Avatar: Fire and Ash” atop the box office for the third straight week and with hopes for a blockbuster-filled year after a disappointing 2025. In three weeks of release, “Fire and Ash” has cleared $1 billion worldwide. The third chapter in James Cameron’s Pandora epic collected $40 million over its third weekend in North American theaters, according to studio estimates Sunday. “Fire and Ash” is doing its biggest business overseas; it’s grossed $777.1 million internationally thus far. The Walt Disney Co. on Sunday trumped the $1 billion milestone as “cementing another monumental achievement for James Cameron’s groundbreaking franchise.” But over the holidays, it wasn’t just about the weekend ticket sales. The whole week was a lucrative one for Hollywood, with most schools still out. What drove ticket sales, beyond “Avatar”? Sydney Sweeney, Timothée Chalamet and “Zootopia 2.” The most sustained success

JORDAN STRAUSS / INVISION / AP PHOTO

Amanda Seyfried, left, and Sydney Sweeney arrive at the premiere of “The Housemaid” on Dec. 15 at TCL Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles. over the holiday collider in theaters belonged to a movie that opened all the way back in November. Yet Disney’s “Zootopia 2” has had remarkable staying power. The animated sequel has amassed $1.59 billion in six weeks. That makes “Zootopia 2” Disney’s second highest grossing animated movie ever, trailing only 2019’s photorealistic “The Lion King” ($1.66 billion). “The Housemaid,” the twisty thriller starring Sweeney and Amanda Seyfried, also emerged as a holiday-season hit for Li-

onsgate. It collected $14.9 million over the weekend, giving it $75.7 million domestically over three weeks. It dipped only 3% from last weekend. Internationally, “The Housemaid,” which cost a modest $35 million to make, has added $57.3 million. Just as Sweeney’s star power is propelling “The Housemaid,” so is Chalamet’s with “Marty Supreme.” The A24 release also held well in its third weekend, grossing an estimated $12.6 million. After two weeks of wide release, Josh Safdie’s frenetic table tennis tale has grossed

$56 million in North America, passing the director’s previous film, “Uncut Gems” ($50 million worldwide). Just about everything playing in theaters saw small drops from the previous weekend. Sony’s action comedy “Anaconda,” starring Jack Black and Paul Rudd, dipped 31% to collect $10 million in second weekend. Focus Features’ “Song Sung Blue” dropped only 17% in its second weekend with $5.9 million. The Hugh Jackman-Kate Hudson Neil Diamond cover band movie has earned $25 million domestically. With “Avatar: Fire and Ash” and a wide variety of smaller hits, Hollywood started 2026 strongly. Overall sales were up 26.5% from the same weekend in 2025, according to data firm Comscore. The movie industry is coming off a poor 2025, where domestic moviegoing continued to slide. U.S. and Canada ticket sales in 2025 amounted to $8.9 billion, a 2% increase from the year earlier, according to Comscore, but about 20% below pre-pandemic levels. That slight improvement was notably less than anticipated and was also boosted by higher ticket prices. Actual tickets sold declined from more than 800 million in 2024 to around 780 million in 2025. The industry is now awaiting a potentially seismic shift

with Warner Bros., one of the most theatrical-friendly studios, agreeing to sell to Netflix. That $83 billion deal awaits regulatory approval. Top 10 movies by domestic box office With domestic figures released Monday, this list factors in the estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Comscore: 1. “Avatar: Fire and Ash,” $40 million 2. “Zootopia 2,” $19 million 3. “The Housemaid,” $14.9 million 4. “Marty Supreme,” $12.6 million 5. “Anaconda,” $10 million 6. “The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants,” $8.2 million 7. “David,” $8 million 8. “Song Sung Blue,” $5.9 million 9. “Wicked: For Good,” $3.3 million 10. “Five Nights at Freddy’s 2,” $2.7 million

VOLUME 10 ISSUE 46 | THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 2026

DUPLINJOURNAL.COM

Duplin Journal THE DUPLIN COUNTY EDITION OF NORTH STATE JOURNAL

the

BRIEF this week

Voters must register by Feb. 6 for primary Kenansville The voter registration deadline for the 2026 primary election is Feb. 6 at 5 p.m. Party affiliation changes are not allowed after the deadline. Voters can check their registration at ncsbe.gov/voting/voterlookup. New registrations or updates may be completed online at ncdot.gov, in person at the elections office, or by mail. During partisan primaries, voters must vote within their registered party. Democratic and Republican voters receive ballots for their party only. Unaffiliated voters may choose either a Democratic or Republican ballot at the polls. The statewide primary is March 3.

Garden Center closed through Jan. 14 Willard The Garden Center at Johnson Nursery will reopen Jan. 15. Customers are encouraged to plan visits accordingly once the garden center resumes regular operations.

3 arrested during saturation patrols Duplin County Three people were arrested during saturation patrols conducted Dec. 22 in the Albertson and Smith township areas of Duplin County. The Duplin County Sheriff’s Office partnered with the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation to carry out the operation. Officers conducted 45 traffic stops, issuing 28 citations, one written warning and more than 22 verbal warnings. Arrests included two illegal narcotics charges and one driving while impaired. The patrols were aimed at increasing law enforcement visibility and enhancing public safety.

Partnership for Children seeks donations Kenansville The Duplin County Partnership for Children is seeking public help after a fire destroyed its building on Dec. 29. To continue serving local families, donations of diapers, wipes, and gently used children’s books are needed.Dropoff locations are Duplin County Library, Phillip Leff Memorial Library, Rose Hill Community Library, Albertson Community Library, Faison Library and Warsaw-Kornegay Library.

COURTESY BRYANNA WILLIAMS

Firefighters work at the scene of a building ravaged by fire on Limestone Road in Kenansville on Dec. 29. The building housed the Duplin County Partnership for Children, Mega Force Staffing Group and Duplin OB-GYN Associates.

Kenansville fire draws massive county response Officials praise coordination as more than 100 firefighters battled the seven-hour blaze By Ena Sellers Duplin Journal KENANSVILLE — More than 100 emergency response personnel from 17 departments across Duplin County battled a massive commercial fire for more than seven hours last week at a multiunit office building on

County departments report strong performance, clean audits LEAP applications open as officials address flu trends and staffing needs By Ena Sellers Duplin Journal KENANSVILLE — County commissioners received largely positive updates from Social Services and Health Department leaders on Monday, with both agencies reporting clean audits, strong financial

positions and ongoing efforts to meet community needs during the Consolidated Human Services meeting. Department of Social Services Director Annie Murrell reported that the agency met all state performance standards for December. Murrell also highlighted the Low-Income Energy Assistance Program, known as LEAP, which opened applications to the general public on Jan. 2.

“This program assists with providing funds towards household heating,” she said, noting applications will be accepted through March 31 or until funds are exhausted. The agency is currently processing an average of 30 applications per day. Murrell also shared positive audit results, noting that the county’s single audit conducted in November resulted in no findings. She added that staff retention re-

County Commissioners accept $32.4M grant for school renovation The state grant will fund East Duplin High School upgrades By Ena Sellers Duplin Journal

$2.00

Limestone Road, overcoming challenges to bring the blaze under control. Duplin County 911 received the call at approximately 9:28 p.m. on Dec. 29. Units from the Kenansville Fire Department arrived first to find an actively burning structure. Because of the building’s size and

remodeled, multioccupancy layout, additional departments were dispatched to provide fire suppression, manpower, and water support. Public Safety Deputy Director Brian Matthis described it as “a pretty complex incident,” noting that crews dealt with multiple roof layers and some structural collapse, which prompted defensive operations. “It’s a blocked building, so the fire department was having some

KENANSVILLE — A multimillion-dollar school renovation grant, employee recognition and upcoming county business highlighted the Duplin County Commissioners meeting held Monday night. In a unanimous vote, the commissioners made a motion to accept a $32.4 million state grant for the renovation of East Duplin High School, marking a major investment in local school infrastructure. The needs-based public school capital fund grant requires a county match of $1.624 mil-

lion and will be used over three years. Interim County Manager Lisa Hughes explained the funding is provided through the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction and is intended primarily for Tier 1 and Tier 2 counties. “When the bill was first passed, it was supposed to be for new construction and not for any type of renovations, but through the Association of County Commissioners and all the commissioners across the state, we worked with them to change it and recognize that we don’t all need new schools,” Hughes said. “Sometimes we just need to go in and renovate what we have, and that’s what this one is.” See GRANT, page A5

“It would be a big help to the county to get that $32.4 million.” Dexter Edwards

difficulty in accessing the interior portions of the building for fire suppression activities,” he told Duplin Journal. Heavy water usage quickly strained the municipal system, prompting the activation of Duplin County Tanker Task Forces 1 and 2 and the establishment of two supplemental water points to protect critical infrastructure. Crews cleared the scene around 3:17 a.m. on Dec. 30. Kenansville Fire Chief Robert Whitman stated that water levels were closely monitored with the Public Works Department and emphasized that supplies were never in danger. “The town of Kenansville never ran dry,” Whitman said, See FIRE, page A3

“As long as we can, in my opinion, retain at least 80% of those Medicaid staff or any staff in any unit, the program will continue to flourish and grow.” Annie Murrell mains key to continued success. “As long as we can, in my opinion, retain at least 80% of those Medicaid staff or any staff in any unit, the program will continue See AUDIT, page A5

Duplin Journal for Thursday, January 8, 2026

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Community Walk and Black History Program

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10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

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St. Phillip AME Church of Rose Hill hosts its first Community Walk and Black History Program. This free, all-ages event invites the community to pray, walk and honor African American mentors past and present. Come as you are, dress as a mentor or in Afrocentric attire, and enjoy reflections, speakers, dancers and music. On Jan. 18, Church History Program follows 11 a.m. worship. Bring a guest. 354 W. Church St., Rose Hill

Loretta Carey Office Manager

CRIME LOG Dec. 30 • Shawn R Brown, 50, was arrested by DCSO for possession of firearm by felon. • William Velasquez, 26, was arrested by DCSO for misdemeanor crime of domestic violence. • Chester James Osik, 41, was arrested by DCSO for expired inspection sticker, expired registration card tag, driving while license revoked and speeding.

Dec. 31 • Joshua Adam Brown, 43, was arrested by Kenansville PD for possession of marijuana up to a half ounce and possession of drug paraphernalia. • Terrence Lamar Damon, 29, was arrested by Kenansville PD for assault on a female. • Michael Anthony Faison, 65, was arrested by Kenansville PD for driving while license revoked. • Mark Andrew FuellerDowney, 26, was arrested by DCSO for possession of methamphetamine. • Pamela Rhodes Pyle, 71, was arrested by DCSO for maintaining a vehicle or dwelling place for controlled substances, trafficking in opium or heroin, possession with intent to manufacture, sell or deliver Schedule II controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. • Otika Michelle Wells, 46, was arrested by Kenansville PD for possession of marijuana up to a half ounce and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Jan. 1 • Marco Antonio Escobedo Vazquez, 36, was arrested by NC Highway Patrol for reckless driving to endanger, driving while impaired and no operator’s license.

MARK GRADY FOR DUPLIN JOURNAL

Mount Olive Mayor Jerome Newton, right, gave a fiery speech at the town’s Board of Commissioners meeting Monday evening, accusing previous board members and town employees of attempting to sabotage his first term in office.

Mount Olive Commission meeting erupts over past conflicts, new leases Jan. 18 Mayor Jerome Newton claimed some staff and commissioners sought to undermine his first term By Mark Grady By Duplin Journal MOUNT OLIVE — The first meeting of the new year for the Mount Olive Board of Commissioners became a marathon two-and-a-half-hour session with some heated exchanges. Just before the public comment portion of the agenda, Mayor Jerome Newton, using the first meeting of his second term in office, criticized previous board members and some town employees, saying they attempted to orchestrate his failure during his first term. “The first term was challenging not because I did not have a plan, not because things were not in place, but because, initially, the mayor did not have the support of anyone on the board or the staff; not the commissioners, not the town attorney and even the town clerk,” Newton said. Newton said one commissioner, who he did not name, made it clear they did not support him. “A commissioner said to me, ‘You don’t have our support, we don’t trust you, we don’t respect you,’” Newton said. “Certain commissioners had decided it was not good for the mayor to succeed.” Newton also said some commissioners met behind closed doors to strategize against him. If accurate, the meetings could have violated North Carolina’s open-meeting laws. He also said some town staff members did not keep him informed. “The former town manager threatened the interim town manager and told him not to support me,” Newton said. “The town attorney was also directed to keep things from me, and he did, all to keep me from succeeding when they should have been concerned about the problems we had in this town.”

Later in the meeting, another exchange involved a proposed 10-year lease agreement with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes to take over the former Hurricanes’ football facility in town. The lease would have allowed the organization to construct an additional building on the property for a youth wrestling facility that would become town property at the end of the lease. A representative with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes had proposed the lease at a meeting last year, and the board agreed to advertise the proposed lease to meet regulatory requirements. The town attorney issued the advertisement and created the contract at the board’s direction. It appeared to be a welcome agreement at the time, but the atmosphere shifted at the board’s recent meeting when Newton challenged the location of the home office of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, which is located in Kansas City, Missouri. Newton asked the town attorney if the town could legally enter into a lease with an out-of-state organization. Town attorney Carroll Turner said there were no restrictions as to who the town could lease the property to. Newton also questioned Turner’s choice of newspaper for the advertisement, Wayne Weekly. Turner responded he chose that paper to “save the town money.” In what was unexpected to the two local representatives from the Fellowship of Christian Athletes in attendance at the meeting, the board voted 3 to 2 to deny the lease, with the two new board members, C.J. Weaver and Gena Messer Knode, casting the two votes to approve the lease. In another lease discussed, Danny King, the founder of the local nonprofit ADLA, Inc., asked the board to lease the organization three acres of land near the Carver Cemetery for the purpose of creating a community garden to grow produce for local people in need.

After King’s presentation, town attorney Turner told the board he had been advised there was already an agricultural lease on the property with an area farmer. Turner said the lease was a “verbal lease,” which triggered some board members questioning who had made the verbal agreement on the part of the town and how it was structured. The board asked for a more detailed report on what land was available near the cemetery before taking any action. In other business: • Newton conducted the swearing in of four new board members for the Housing Authority, including Pernell Bricky, Ed Fennell, Donna Price and Sadio Sykes. • Caroline Bari of the North Carolina Division of Water Infrastructure repeated a presentation on the town’s consent order with the state involving the ongoing wastewater treatment woes and the moratorium on the town which prevents any more flow into the wastewater treatment system. Bari will be back Jan. 12 to make two more extensive public presentations on the issue at 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. to allow broader community participation. • The board approved Interim Town Manager Glenn Holland’s request to cancel a contract with Mid-Carolina Council grant administrative services, which had been assisting the town in applying for grants to deal with the wastewater issues in town. Holland said that Bari has agreed to help with the final steps in those grants, which could save the town more than $425,000 by canceling the contract.

MLK celebration 3 p.m. A Celebration of the Life and Legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. will be held at Holy Ghost Cathedral. The theme is Drawing Strength From the Past While Planning for the Future. The program will feature Bishop Timothy Dortch, Word of Truth Christian Fellowship and the Word of Truth Christian Fellowship Choir of Goldsboro. The event is sponsored by the Carver Alumni and Friends Association Inc., Mount Olive Chapter. For more information, contact Carrie Kornegay at 919-222-1581. 812 E. James St., Mount Olive

Jan. 19 Freedom Ride 9:30 a.m. Join the Freedom Ride, an MLK Observance. 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. KEMBA Center, Warsaw

Duplin Journal for Thursday, January 8, 2026

Local leaders see major projects, growth in 2026 Infrastructure and housing lead Duplin towns’ 2026 plans By Mark Grady For Duplin Journal WITH 2025 IN the history books and a new year underway, Duplin Journal reached out to mayors across the county for their predictions on what will be happening in their towns over the next 12 months. Wallace Mayor Jason Wells believes this will be the year people begin seeing progress on all the promised growth in town. “You tell people all the time we’ve got these great things coming, but then you don’t see much happen.” Wells said. “There’s a lot that happens; multiple engineers going back and forth, changing plans and involving the DOT. I think the things people will notice are some of (these projects) actually coming to fruition.” Wells specifically mentioned work on Royal Farms and Starbucks as locations where people will see progress in 2026, in addition to a housing development behind Walmart. In the county seat of Kenansville, Mayor Stephen Williamson told Duplin Journal that work on the town’s water and sewer infrastructure will be a major undertaking this year. “Our plan is to finish up our Community Development Block Grant project on Church Street, which will improve the sewer system there,” he said. “We’ve received funding from the state to improve our water and sewer system as a whole, and we’re working on getting that started this year.” Williamson added that the town is excited about the new playground going into Kenan Park. “(The playground equipment) has been delivered, and it’s now a matter of installation, which hopefully will be done by February,” he said, adding that the town board is committed to

Mike Horne

Wesley Boykin

Stephen Williamson

Jerome Newton

Dawn Ward

Davy Buckner

growing the parks and recreation opportunities in the community. Faison Mayor Billy Ward said his town’s biggest focus is on the town’s milestone birthday this year. “This year, July 2, two days before the country turns 250 years old, the town of Faison turns 250 years old,” Ward said. “It was founded two days before the country was by Henry Faison. He bought 975 acres of land here, and that’s how Faison started.” Ward said a 250th celebration will be held June 27 at the soccer complex on N.C. Highway 403 from 5-9 p.m. The event will feature amusement rides for children, vendors and food trucks, and it will climax with a large, 15-minute fireworks display at 9 p.m. The event is a joint effort of the Town of Faison and the Faison Improvement Group. Mayor Bobby Jones of Teachey hopes 2026 will begin work on the new subdivision along N.C. Highway 117 in town. “Hopefully, they start construction of the subdivision the Murphy and River Landing builders are building,” Jones said. “We did some infrastructure and water and sewer work (at the

Marty Taylor

Bobby Jones

site) at the end of last year, so I’m hoping they will break ground. “Also, we’re focusing on revitalization of our park. We’ll be doing some new things there to revitalize it and bring people together.” In Rose Hill, Mayor Davy Buckner is excited that a problem that has plagued the town for years will finally be tackled this year. It is an area of Walnut Street that has been the source of flooding and deteriorating road conditions. “The problem with Walnut Street is it’s a disaster trying to drive down it, but we couldn’t do a whole lot about it until we took care of the drainage problem,” Buckner told Duplin Journal. “We got a partial grant to take care of it, and we’re going to have to foot the bill for a good sum of it.” Buckner added that another delay in getting the project started was in getting easements from landowners along Walnut Street. “A lot of folks don’t understand there are a lot of hoops to jump through to get even the smallest projects done,” he said. He said the drainage project work has already begun, and

Jason Wells

Billy Ward

the town hopes to resurface the road after that is completed this spring. Buckner added that he is excited about the issuance of new building permits in town, including permits for a new subdivision. Newly elected Warsaw Mayor Wesley Boykin said 2026 brings some serious issues the town needs to address. “There are a number of problems that are quite alarming in Warsaw,” Boykin told Duplin Journal. “There is one problem, however, that is at the top of that list: the Warsaw wastewater treatment capacity. The town has been fined several hundred thousand dollars due to (exceeding) capacity.” Boykin says the wastewater capacity issue is not the fault of the residents or small businesses in town. “The problem comes from two main corporate industrial facilities, and one of them is worse than the other,” he said. “The elected officials and administrators did not address the problems, and we’re now at the point, since 2020, of overcapacity and fines are pouring in.” Boykin added he also wanted to assure that high-quality water in town remains affordable. In Rose Hill’s neighbor to the north, Magnolia Mayor Dawn Ward said the town is beginning work on some major projects this year. “The big thing for Magnolia this year is starting water and sewer infrastructure projects for which we were awarded $6.96 million last year,”

Ward said. “We are also finishing up renovations on our former library building and anticipate it being ready to use as a community building in the early spring.” Pink Hill Mayor Mike Horne says his community, like Magnolia, is beginning work on water and sewer projects. “Work should start this year on $5.6 million infrastructure work, mainly on water drainage problems and some more sewer lift stations that will bring sewage from south Lenoir and Moss Hill School to Pink Hill,” Horne said. “It takes a couple of years just to get them started. You have the grant work and then the surveying.” Horne added that housing development is moving up. “Right now, things are looking great for development of housing,” he said. “We’re getting calls every day, even in the ETJ (extra territorial jurisdiction) about adding housing and manufactured housing. A guy is starting to build four duplexes in town this month and he is going to add up to 12.” In Calypso, Mayor Marty Taylor hopes to tackle some water issues in his town, too. “I’m really hoping to get some of the flooding problems taken care of, the ditches redone and new tiles put in to control the flow of water,” he said. “We’re trying to get some funding and grants to get that taken care of.” Taylor also hopes to add another park in town. “We’ve got a really nice park on one side of town, and the kids from the opposite side of town have to come all the way across town to use the park,” he said. “I want to have a park on both sides of town. I wouldn’t want my kids having to walk all the way across town, not the way times are today.” The briefest response to Duplin Journal’s request to mayors to look into 2026 came from the mayor of Mount Olive, Jerome Newton. His response was only three words. “Change. Good change.”

MARRIAGE LICENSES Anita Marie Savage, Duplin County Register of Deeds issued 11 marriage licenses for the month ending on Dec. 31, 2025. • Vilma Haydee Lazo Umana, Wallace, and Jairon Dario Soto, Rose Hill; • Natalie Ashton Cline, Warsaw, and Joseph Wayne Kelly, Faison; • Daisy Paola Ayala, Magnolia, and Franklin Yahir Sales Herrera Wallace; • Gracie Marie Lamb, Pink Hill, and Perry Clark Miller, Pink Hill; • Hannah Caroline Blaylock, Magnolia, Zachary Samuel Quinn, Magnolia; • Carlos David Morales Vasquez, Warsaw, and Leticia Hernandez, Warsaw; • Nixza Jacquelin Martinez Flores, Teachey, and John

Sanchez, Rose Hill;

Adam Alderete, Teachey; • Charles Fontel Scarborough, Wallace, and Lina Faye Rhodie, Wallace;

• Daniel James Bell, Pink Hill, and Christen Lynn Evans, Pink Hill;

• Juan Carlos Coxcahua Calihua, Pink Hill, and Araceli Ixmatlahua Ixmatlahua, Pink Hill;

• Colby Elijah Best, Faison, and Reygan Alise Martinez, Mount Olive; • Miguel Pineda, Harrells, and Adilia Del Carmen Farinas, Harrells;

• Zuliemith Rojas-Roldan, Magnolia and Eddie Lee Carter Jones, Beulaville;

• Noel Antonio Matamoros Mendez, Clinton and, Anyeli Yohani Matute Granados Magnolia;

• Edwin Ramon Sanchez Rodriguez, Clinton, and Iris Maryuri Villanueva Perez, Clinton;

• Brendan Ray Stanton Norman Ok, and Abigail Lynn Butko Norman Ok;

• Carolyn Marie Williams, Warsaw, and Glendale Robinson, Teachey;

• Thomas Wayne Phillips, Clinton, and Maria Dolores Flores Porotillo, Clinton;

• Minerva Lopez Sanchez, Beulaville, and Ruperto Lopez Sierra, Beulaville;

• Christopher Michael Aicardi, Dudley, and Maria Stephany Diaz Gonzalez, Dudley.

• Edwin Adalid Alvarenga Perdomo, Rose Hill, and Claudia Guadalupe Aguilar

COURTESY ROSE HILL FIRE DEPARTMENT

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explaining the tanker task forces were called in as a precaution. “This incident underscores the professionalism and coordination of fire services throughout Duplin County,” said Matthis. He added that, despite occurring during the holiday season, fire departments across the county responded promptly and worked seamlessly together to manage a complex and prolonged emergency. The building housed four businesses: the Duplin County Partnership for Children, Mega Force Staffing Group, Duplin OB-GYN Associates and Task Force on Accountable Care Communities. “Unfortunately, the businesses that were operating from the structure sustained a total loss of the belongings and items within the structure,” said Matthis. Residents praised the fire response. “I was scared for my babies and our home,” said Bryanna Williams, who lives three houses from the blaze. She added that she felt safe

knowing firefighters were in control and praised them for working well into the night in cold and wet conditions. The response included 41 fire units: 17 engines from Kenansville, Sarecta, Warsaw, Oak Wolfe, Beulaville, Calypso, Chinquapin, Pleasant Grove and Potters Hill; 16 trucks from Kenansville, Sarecta, Warsaw, Oak Wolfe, Albertson, Faison, Greenevers, North East, Pin Hook, Pleasant Grove, Potters Hill, Pricetown, Rose Hill and Wallace; and eight special units, including squads, rescue vehicles, tower and brush units from Kenansville, Sarecta, Oak Wolfe, Calypso, North East, Pleasant Grove and Potters Hill. The units worked alongside Duplin County EMS, the Kenansville Police Department, Duplin County Sheriff’s Office, Duplin County Public Safety and Kenansville Public Works. Matthis confirmed the building was unoccupied at the time of the fire, and no injuries were reported. The cause and origin of the fire remain under investigation.

Duplin Journal for Thursday, January 8, 2026

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

COLUMN | JIMMY DIXON

Family: The most important unit in time, eternity

“No other success can compensate for failure in the home.” David O. McKay

IT WILL BE eight days into 2026 before you read or form an opinion about what is written in this article. As a point of context, it may be helpful to identify the most important organizational unit both in time and in eternity. Our initial tendencies to do this may draw our attention to schools, civic clubs and teams of all kinds, universities or even governments. David O. McKay, a past president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints said, “No other success can compensate for failure in the home.” Another wise person has said, “The most important work any man or woman will do in this life is within the walls of their own home.” Abraham Lincoln said of his mother, “All that I am, or hope to be, I owe to my angel mother.” Consider this quote from George Bernard Shaw, “A happy family is but an earlier heaven.” Finally, Pope John XXlll observed, “The family is the first essential cell of human society.” This small sample of thoughts about the family leads us to conclude that the family is indeed, or should indeed, be considered the most important of all organizational units in time or in eternity. For additional context, it may be helpful to understand the basic elements of all adverse

conflicts. My Granny said, “You will find in life that doing evil seems to be downhill and doing good seems to be uphill. Don’t believe it! The Devil pulls you down. The Lord leads you upward.” Eric Burdon reveals an eternal truth, saying, “Inside each of us, there is the seed of both good and evil. It’s a constant struggle as to which one will win.” And then with profound insight he concludes, “And one cannot exist without the other.” This small sample of thoughts certainly leaves us to conclude that the basic elements of all adverse conflicts are simply what is good and what is evil. A wise sage has said, “He who is forced against his will is of his own opinion still.” Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn correctly observed that, “The battle line between good and evil runs through the heart of every man.” Paul instructed the Romans (12:9) — and likewise us today, “Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.” Thus, we must conclude that we are free to choose to do good or to do evil. What better time exists than at the beginning of a new year to rededicate ourselves to the proposition that the most important things we can do in this new year or any year is to fortify and stabilize our families against

forces, seen and unseen, that are trying to destroy families? Surely we have lived to see the day when men call good evil and conversely they call evil good. Alarmingly, we see some elected officials in our state and federal governments call evil good and promote all kinds of anti-family policies. Some may initially say in response to those statements, “Well, duh,” meaning no kidding or so what is the point? But we should all remind ourselves that many times, life’s most emphatic truths are “hidden” right in front of our eyes and that missing the obvious may hinder or even stifle our efforts to do that which is best to help the family continue to be the “first essential cell of human society.” Remember this warning from Edmund Burke, “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.” We the people, should realize that the family, not the government or any other organization, is the most important unit in time or eternity; but we must elect government officials who will promote, not destroy, God’s plans for traditional families. Rep. Jimmy Dixon represents Duplin and Wayne counties in the N.C. House of Representatives.

COLUMN | DANIEL MCCARTHY

Harvard says yes to discrimination, no to Western civilization Mongol hordes aren’t the only protagonists of the new history.

where Western countries are literally put in their place as an ugly growth on the back side of Eurasia.” Mongol hordes aren’t the only protagonists of the new history, however: Anyone who isn’t white qualifies. A similar standard applies to elite graduate school admissions, in Hankins’ experience. “I was told informally by a member of the admissions committee” in 2021, he recalled, that “admitting a white male ... was ‘not happening this year.’” As for Harvard’s white male undergraduates, their skin color and sex are obstacles to academic advancement: “The best student at Harvard — he won the prize for the graduating senior with the best overall academic record — was rejected from all the graduate programs to which he applied. He too was a white male,” the historian recounted. “I called around to friends at several universities to find out why on earth he had been rejected. Everywhere it was the same story: Graduate admissions committees around the country had been following the same unspoken protocol as ours.” Could anyone get past this illegal discrimination? “The one exception I found to the general exclusion of white males had begun life as a female,” Hankins wrote. Hankins was one of the mere 3% of Harvard faculty who identify as conservative. Yet even progressive scholars admit there’s a problem. Theda Skocpol, Harvard’s Victor S. Thomas Professor of Government and Sociology, is nobody’s idea of a conservative. In a recent interview published with the journal “Sociologica,” however, Skocpol acknowledged, “We in the universities ... went overboard with trying to boost some groups over others.” That came in the midst of lowering standards

— the average GPA at Harvard is now, notoriously, around 3.8: an A-. “We went too far in academia for a decade before (Donald) Trump in giving the impression that students’ feelings matter more than what they learn. ... We’re at the point at Harvard where everybody thinks they should get an A, and they don’t think they should do much to get it.” But how seriously should taxpayers, who foot the bill for much of higher ed’s mischief, take a professor like Skocpol when she says, “I believe in actual equality, applying the same standards to everyone, not using special quotas or excuses for particular groups”? Not very seriously, when in the same interview she said Trump administration officials cracking down on the academy’s follies “all resent some woman — particularly some black woman —who told them what to do or who got what they think they deserved.” Harvard’s last president, Claudine Gay, was a black woman whose scholarship was infected with plagiarism. She’s still employed by Harvard, with a compensation package said to be in the neighborhood of $900,000. The contrast between Gay’s treatment as a black woman and the white male students with exemplary records who have been discriminated against the way Hankins describes should make even a Theda Skocpol question her premises about why conservatives criticize higher ed. Harvard and its peers have replaced Western history with global history — and merit with identity politics. If scholars of Hankins’ caliber keep migrating to the freer and fairer setting of places like Florida, Harvard will at last find itself replaced, too. Daniel McCarthy is the editor of “Modern Age: A Conservative Review.”

Duplin Journal for Thursday, January 8, 2026

Albertson volunteer firefighter receives Chief’s Award The award highlights a volunteer firefighter’s dedication and preparation for his career Duplin Journal staff

PHOTO COURTESY ECU HEALTH DUPLIN HOSPITAL

ECU Health Duplin Hospital welcomes first baby born in 2026 Meet the first baby born in 2026 at ECU Health Duplin Hospital, Jeremiah. Proud parents Alexandria and Aaron are overjoyed to introduce their son, who was born at 7:06 a.m. on Jan. 1. Jeremiah weighed 6 pounds, 4 ounces.

GRANT from page A1 The project will involve a complete renovation of East Duplin High School rather than new construction. The county’s share will be reimbursable as expenses are incurred, with an estimated local match of about $406,000 in the first year, $1.136 million in the second year and $81,200 in the third year. “It is not in the current budget, so it is something that we would have to budget for in the future,” said Hughes. “They expect the funding to be used over the next three years. As we move forward with it, we’ll bring it back to you for a budget amendment for that funding.” “It would be a big help to the county to get that $32.4 million,” said Chairman Dexter Edwards, adding that the grant is a significant step toward addressing broader high school needs across the coun-

AUDIT from page A1 to flourish and grow,” said Murrell. She said DSS continues to focus on workforce development through agencywide training in CPR, de-escalation and customer service. DSS currently has about 14-15 vacant positions. Health Director Tracey Simmons-Kornegay provided an update on seasonal illness trends. She said influenza A cases increased across eastern North Carolina in Decem-

ALBERTSON — Austin Boahn, a volunteer firefighter with the Albertson Volunteer Fire Department (AVFD), has been named the recipient of the department’s Chief’s Award. The award recognizes Boahn’s dedication, attention to detail, and commitment to completing training and earning professional credentials. Boahn is a graduate from the first James Sprunt Community College Fire Academy. He completed Firefighter I and II certifications and 450 hours of training. Combined with additional department training, Boahn accumulated a total of 516 training hours over the past year. “The award Austin received is given for the unseen and invisible acts of service,” said Albertson Fire Chief Jonathan Miller. “Austin has put in an incredible amount of time to become credentialed within two years of joining. For me, it was a no-brainer when it came time to select a winner.” “He is willing to work hard and give his all to serve those around him,” said Cody Herring, JSCC EMS clinical and fire coor-

COURTESY JAMES SPRUNT COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Austin Boahn, a firefighter with the Albertson Volunteer Fire Department, was recently honored with the department’s Chief’s Award. dinator/instructor. Boahn, who plans to pursue a career in firefighting, said he appreciated the accessibility and support provided by JSCC instructors. “I have a passion for firefighting and community service,” said Boahn. “It is what I want to do with my life. I appreciated how close JSCC was to where I live and what a family JSCC is to the students who go here.” For more information about emergency medical services and fire training, call 910-275-6254.

ty. “At least this is a good start.” Commissioners briefly discussed additional school funding, including North Carolina Lottery proceeds. Finance Department Head Chelsea Lanier noted that updated figures are available for the public on the state’s website. Hughes also informed the board that two commissioners will be needed to meet with an accreditation team during a site visit scheduled for Feb. 25. The visit is part of a streamlined reaccreditation process and will primarily involve a building walkthrough and brief interviews. Earlier in the meeting, Hughes presented a retirement plaque to Lawrence Hope of Solid Waste, recognizing his 14 years of service to Duplin County. Hughes also noted that the deadline for applications in the county manager search is Thursday at 5 p.m., with further updates expected.

Interim County Manager Lisa Hughes, right, presents a retirement plaque to Lawrence Hope of Solid Waste in appreciation for his commitment and service to the citizens of Duplin County.

ber but have recently declined. “It was great to get the report today that shows that we’ve now started on a decline,” she said. However, she noted the county’s first flu-related death of the season, involving a 74-year-old resident. Simmons-Kornegay also addressed emerging public health concerns, noting a measles case reported on Dec. 31 in Polk County involving an unvaccinated child, which is linked to a larger outbreak in South Carolina.

Simmons-Kornegay said the Health Department remains in strong financial condition, with 67% of its budget remaining as of Nov. 30 and 58% of the fiscal year left. A December audit resulted in no findings, and additional program audits are scheduled for March. The department’s accreditation site visit is set for Feb. 25 and will require the participation of two commissioners. She also shared statewide news impacting local health services.

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“The Centers for Medicaid and Medicare recently approved North Carolina’s application for Rural Health Transformation Program,” Simmons-Kornegay said. The program is expected to bring $213 million in its first year to support rural health systems in 85 counties, including Duplin. In addition, she highlighted the department’s annual holiday outreach effort — the annual Christmas Food Drive and Resource Event, which served nearly 400 families in December

with the help of local partners. Simmons-Kornegay concluded her report with an update on job opportunities at the Health Department, indicating that the department is interviewing candidates and has made contingent offers for several nonclinical vacancies. “We do have about three clinical positions that we are receiving very limited to no applicants for,” said Simmons-Kornegay. The next meeting is scheduled for Feb. 2.

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Duplin Journal for Thursday, January 8, 2026

New Year’s Eve Pickle Drop More than 5,000 people gathered for the annual family-friendly celebration By Mark Grady For Duplin Journal MOUNT OLIVE — An estimated crowd of more than 5,000 people poured onto the campus of the University of Mount Olive on New Year’s Eve for the annual Pickle Drop. To make the event family-friendly, the drop took place at 7 p.m. The drop was considered a “midnight” celebration based on Coordinated Universal Time, also known as Greenwich Mean Time or Zulu time, which is used as the aviation industry’s universal time standard. When the large countdown clock near the stage reached 10 minutes before 7 p.m., Mount Olive Mayor Jerome Newton took the stage to welcome everyone to the event. He was followed by Mt. Olive Pickle Company CEO Bobby Frye, who emceed the rest of the event. Frye mentioned several milestones for the town, including that the Mount Olive Pickle Drop had been selected as the 10th-best New Year’s Eve drop celebration in America by USA Today. He also said that Mt. Olive Pickles had been named the top pickle brand in the world in 2025 and that Southern Bank had been named the top bank in the country. The crowd joined in the countdown for the last 30 seconds as the giant pickle descended into the huge Mt. Olive Pickle jar beside the stage. When the countdown hit zero, the crowd cheered, and a fireworks display began as “Auld Lang Syne” played through the sound system.

PHOTOS BY MARK GRADY FOR DUPLIN JOURNAL

The moment the countdown hit zero, the crowd of more than 5,000 people at the Mount Olive Pickle Drop cheered as fireworks began and “Auld Lang Syne” played on the sound system.

“15, 14, 13, 12 . . .” The crowd counted down the last seconds during the Mount Olive Pickle Drop on New Year’s Eve held on the campus of the University of Mount Olive.

Top, Mt. Olive Pickle Company CEO Bobby Frye served as master of ceremonies during the countdown to the Mount Olive Pickle Drop held New Year’s Eve on the campus of the University of Mount Olive. Middle, Newton, center, welcomed people from all over the United States to town for the annual event. Surrounding Newton are members of the Air National Guard from Anchorage, Alaska, who were training in the area. Bottom, the countdown to the 2026 Mount Olive Pickle Drop featured entertainment, food and fun.

DUPLIN SPORTS MR. SOCCER 2025

Funes’ spotlight explosion propelled ’Dawgs title run

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR

WRH’s Felix Funes was named an MVP of the 3A title game and an N.C. Coaches Association first-team all-star in that classification.

EDWARDO PUAC / DUPLIN JOURNAL

Brayan Sanchez gave toughness and a strong soccer IQ to WRH.

‘Cowboy’ was Sentinel leader of ’Dawgs’ defense EDWARDO PUAC / DUPLIN JOURNAL

MR. SOCCER 2025: Felix Funes, WRH 2024: Alex Zepeda, WRH 2023: Alex Zepeda, WRH 2022: Maken Augustin, JK 2021: Maken Augustin, JK 2020: Jahim Yahir, JK 2019: Hector Garcia-Zavala, WRH 2018: Alexis Paz, JK, and Marcus Reyes, ED 2017: Jesus Navarro, ED 2016: Maynor Espinosa, WRH

Striker Felix Funes became nearly impossible to defend the final two months of the season By Michael Jaenicke Duplin Journal TEACHEY — The MVP of the 3A soccer finals didn’t come from nowhere, but at the beginning of the fall Felix Funez was entering his final season at Wallace-Rose Hill with a total of four varsity games on his resume. Surely, no foe feared a three-goal returnee. Yet word of his play on the pitch spread and while he would have 20 less goals than his predecessor Alex Zepeda, Funez would have a hand in something

Brayan “Cowboy” Sanchez was the guardian watch-’Dawg for a WRH defense that gave up three postseason goals en route to a 3A title

much better: The Bulldogs’ playoff run. He scored eight goals in five postseason matches, netting one in the 2-0 finals win over Polk County, two in the East Region final (North Carolina School of Science and Math) and fourth- (Greene Central) and second(Eastern Randolph) rounds. He scored once in a fourth-round win over Trinity. The senior finished with 28 goals and 14 assists, a Swine Valley Conference after Zepeda (48 goals, 14 assists) and his contingent went 22-4-2, splitting the ECC 2A with East Duplin and James Kenan, earning the top seed in 3A and falling 2-1 in the third round to Southeast Alamance. Yet Funez had to become a master

By Michael Jaenicke Duplin Journal

See MR. SOCCER, page B4

See DEFENSE, page B4

TEACHEY — Right wing Brayan Sanchez did a lot of early work to set up Wallace-Rose Hill defense. “I went to him and said, ‘We need you go hold teams down until we get our offense going,” said first-year head coach Aaron Murray. “I threw a lot at him.” The senior responded to lead the Bulldogs to two shutouts during the playoffs, including the 2-0 finale over Polk County, and six consecutive Swain Valley Conference shutdowns leading to an unbeaten mark and league title. Sanchez, whose nickname is “Cowboy,” got the Bulldogs to corral the opposition, limiting them to 25 goals in 24 matches, though after a

SOCCER COACH OF THE YEAR

Murray in front of ’Dawgs’ Hollywood-scripted 3A title First-year head coach Aaron Murray returns to push WRH to its fourth state title By Michael Jaenicke Duplin Journal TEACHEY — Aaron Murray believes in an all-for-one team approach. He says it was paramount to Wallace-Rose Hills’ 3A soccer title. “We won because we had the best 11 that worked together, but you know what? … If you take our bottom three away it crumbles,” said the first-year coach

who has a Bulldog history. “We are the least star-studded team I’ve ever been associated with. Murray, a 2018 grad and player for Michael Graybar (160-35 and 1AA titles in ’13, ’14 and ’16), returned to Teachey last spring after the departure of two-time all-state striker Alex Zepeda (93 goals, 38 assists) and head coach Rodrigo Diaz (90-34-8). And without question WRH was on a magical run, but there were a few problems and concerns to overcome. The Bulldogs went 2-4-1 in their first seven match, though playing powers and larger classification schools as a prep for

Swine Valley Conference play, a 4A league, sans 3A Rosewood. WRH topped Goldsboro 4-3 in overtime in its league opener, and Murray circled the wagons and his Bulldogs responded with 11 consecutive loop wins in which the opposition scored three times. The playoffs featured a similar theme as the Bulldogs controlled the ball the bulk of the time against five opponents, who managed just five goals. The offense came from Felix Funes (28 goals, 14 assists), Steven Acosta 15 goals, six assists, See COACH, page B3

EDWARDO PUAC / DUPLIN JOURNAL

Aaron Murray was the NCHSAA’s Assistant Coach of the Year at Pender in 2024 in 1A. He guided WRH to a 3A state title in his first year as a head coach.

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Duplin Journal for Thursday, January 8, 2026

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