VOLUME 11 ISSUE 29 | THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2026
NSJONLINE.COM
COURTESY NORTH CAROLINA WILDLIFE FEDERATION
Critics say North Carolina’s fisheries are being severely impacted by inshore shrimp trawling.
the
State shrimp industry faces new pressure after ruling
BRIEF this week
Berger Jr. won’t seek reelection to N.C. Supreme Court Raleigh North Carolina Supreme Court Associate Justice Phil Berger Jr. announced Sept. 3 that he will not seek reelection to his seat in 2028, fueling speculation he could instead run for chief justice. The Republican justice, elected to the court in 2020, said he is “giving serious thought to other ways I might serve the people of this state” but declined to elaborate. He plans to continue teaching as an adjunct law professor. The announcement comes six months after his father, longtime Senate Leader Phil Berger Sr. (R-Eden), lost his Republican primary by 23 votes to Rockingham County Sheriff Sam Page.
4 Renoir paintings stolen in France; 2 still missing Paris Thieves stole four valuable Renoir paintings Tuesday from a small museum on the French Riviera but abandoned two of them as they fled, the local mayor said. Police are searching for the perpetrators. A group of “well-equipped” and “well-informed” thieves entered the Renoir Museum in Cagnes-sur-Mer via the garden, officials said, slicing through a fence and entering through the ground floor before cutting the clips securing the artwork frames. Two of the stolen works were found in the museum garden, but “Portrait of Madame Colonna Romano” and “Young Woman at the Well” are still missing. Authorities haven’t provided the names of the recovered paintings.
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FEMA announces $137M more in Helene recovery Federal assistance now totals more than $7.5 billion By Jessica Taylor For North State Journal THE FEDERAL government has awarded $137 million for 114 hurricane recovery and mitigation projects in North Carolina. Assistance from the Fed-
eral Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) now totals more than $7.5 billion for Hurricane Helene and other recent disasters across the state. “By empowering FEMA to reimburse state and local governments for public assistance projects quickly, President (Donald) Trump and Secretary (Markwayne) Mullin are delivering on their promise to See FEMA, page A3
North Carolina is the only Atlantic state still allowing bottom trawling in nursery waters By A.P. Dillon North State Journal RALEIGH — North Carolina has 2.1 million acres of estuaries and is the only Atlantic coastal state still permitting large-scale inshore shrimp trawling in sounds and estuary waters. Over time, the practice has had a devastating effect. According to the North Carolina Wildlife Federation (NCWF), inshore bottom trawling uses “heavy chains and doors to drag nets across an underwater landscape already stripped bare by decades of this practice.” The activity, critics say, is destroying juvenile fish nurseries such as those in Pamlico Sound and stirs sediment that smoth-
Fauci diaries revive Cooper’s K-12 COVID-19 actions “We need to do this in a collaborative way.” Then-Gov. Roy Cooper in 2020 on not using an executive order to reopen schools
The former governor discussed school reopening with the nation’s top federal immunologist By A.P. Dillon North State Journal RALEIGH — More light has been shed on former Gov. Roy Cooper’s decisions during the COVID-19 pandemic, in particular, his school closure orders. Cooper, now the Democratic candidate for the state’s U.S. Senate seat, has already faced questions over his past COVID-19 orders. Pushback has included a settlement agreement he made in 2020
that released more than 4,200 prisoners from the state’s prisons, many of whom had violent offense records for murder, rape or assault, and included over 50 prisoners with life sentences. Dr. Anthony Fauci’s recent appearance before Congress, marked by him taking the Fifth Amendment over 110 times, has revived scrutiny of Cooper and his administration’s pandemic actions. Fauci’s recently released personal diaries have shown a link between the former National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases director and Cooper on school closures. On July 1, 2020, Cooper announced he was delaying a See COOPER, page A2
ers seagrass and oyster beds in an effect similar to forestry clear-cutting. “The shrimp trawl fishing is a well-known, well-established destroyer of fishes worldwide,” NCWF’s CEO Tim Gestwicki told North State Journal. “There’s no debate about that outside of North Carolina legislature and the North Carolina Fisheries Association.” Last year’s very public legislative fight over the bill to curb the practice ended up maintaining the status quo. House Bill 442 would have banned shrimp trawling in all inshore waters, including sounds, estuaries, rivers and within a half mile of the Atlantic shoreline. Shrimp industry groups like the North Carolina Fisheries Association and Southern Shrimp Alliance protested the bill, which eventually died See SHRIMP, page A3
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North State Journal for Thursday, September 10, 2026
THURSDAY
9.10.26 #558
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the word | Like a light in darkness “In the days of King Herod of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah … and his wife Elizabeth. … Both of them were upright in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commandments and regulations blamelessly.” Luke 1:5-6 It makes a great deal of difference in what times and amid what circumstances and influences, a man lives. In days when godliness pervades society — it is not remarkable that one should live righteously. But when the times are ungodly, and the prevailing spirit is wickedness — the life which is holy and devout shines with rare splendor, like a lamp in the darkness. Such were the times and the spirit of “the days of King Herod,” and such were the lives of the blameless elderly people, who are here mentioned. Zechariah was a priest, serving his division’s course in the Temple; both he and Elizabeth were “well stricken in years,” and “they had no child, because that Elizabeth was barren” (Luke 1:7). It was while Zechariah was performing the ordinary priestly duty of burning incense that the angel Gabriel appeared to him, promising a son who would “go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah” (Luke 1:15-17). Amid the corruption and spiritual darkness of the age — they lived in piety and godly simplicity. The lesson is — that it is not necessary for us to be and live like other people — if other people are not holy. It is the same contrast the Psalmist draws at the very opening of the Psalter: “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night” (Psalm 1:1-2). The prevailing standard of living ought not to satisfy us — if the prevailing standard is below Scripture. No matter how corrupt the times — we should strive to live righteous and godly lives. Paul states the principle directly: “Be not conformed to this world:
PUBLIC DOMAIN
“Zacharias Writes Down the Name of His Son” by Domenico Ghirlandaio (1490) is a fresco in the Tornabuoni Chapel in the church of Santa Maria Novella in Florence, Italy. but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God” (Romans 12:2). And Peter presses the same charge: “As he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy” (1 Peter 1:15-16). This stand is not impossible to achieve. God is able and willing to give us all the grace we need, to enable us to live a true and holy life — in the most unfavorable circumstances. This is His own promise to Paul, when the thorn in the flesh was not removed: “My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9). God makes no mistakes in planting His people in this world. He does not put any of us in a spiritual climate in which we cannot grow into spiritual beauty and strength; and wherever He plants us — He sends the streams of grace to refresh and nourish us. So, whatever our circumstances may
be — it is possible for us to live a godly life. The darker the night of sin around us — the clearer and steadier should the light which streams from our life and conduct be. This is exactly the figure our Lord uses: “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house” (Matthew 5:14-15). Any Christian should be able to live godly — in the midst of friendly influences and favoring circumstances; but it is doubly important that we be loyal and true to Christ — when surrounded by an ungodly society. “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).
J. R. Miller 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.
Whatley endorsed by National Border Patrol Council The endorsement is the fourth major law enforcement group to back the Republican for North Carolina’s U.S. Senate seat By A.P. Dillon North State Journal RALEIGH — Michael Whatley, the Republican candidate for North Carolina’s U.S. Senate seat, received the endorsement of the National Border Patrol Council during an event in Raleigh in late August. “Proud to join National Border Patrol Council President Paul Perez in Mt. Pleasant, Raleigh and Ayden today to talk about the incredible work of Border Patrol Agents to secure
COOPER from page A1 decision on reopening of the state’s schools. The date had been a self-imposed deadline, and when media outlets asked why Cooper was delaying the move, the former governor said he wanted “buy-in across the board.” That “buy-in” apparently included a call to Fauci two days before that press conference. In an entry dated June 29, 2020, Fauci wrote, “Gov Ray Cooper (D-NC) called me and spoke for 45 minutes on his dilemma about whether to open the Charter Schools that are scheduled to open in 2 weeks, right after 4th July.” “He was agonizing since he wanted to do the right thing,” wrote Fauci. “Since this is the first decision among Governors regarding opening for the Fall term, he feels that he will be the example. He is seeing an uptick of cases and he is near FL and so is worried that if he opens, he may have to close again if he gets surge like FL and TX, I recommended that he delay decision for 2 weeks. His health officer is Mandy Cohen.” Fauci’s framing of Cooper as among the first governors deciding fall 2020 school openings isn’t accurate. North Carolina issued K-12 health guidance June 8, but Cooper’s decision on schools didn’t come until July 14. By that time, about two dozen states had already
our border and stop the flood of illicit fentanyl into our country,” Whatley said in a social media post. “I am honored to be endorsed by the dedicated members of the NBPC. While Roy Cooper and Joe Biden abandoned our Border Patrol agents, I will fight to ensure that they have the support they need to carry out their critical mission.” The NBPC represents about 18,000 Border Patrol agents and related personnel assigned to the U.S. Border Patrol.
issued their own K-12 guidance. Cohen later became President Joe Biden’s director for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Throughout the pandemic, Cooper relied on the “Strong Schools Toolkit” rolled out by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) under Cohen. The toolkit contained guidance on quarantining, masking and social distancing but was relied on by K-12 districts for its Plan A, B and C reopening instructions. The toolkit largely reflected the CDC’s rolling guidance for school closures. It was later determined the CDC’s guidance to keep schools closed had been heavily influenced by the American Federation of Teachers. NCDHHS quietly sunsetted the toolkit on June 22, 2022. Under Cooper and Cohen’s policies, all K-12 students were required to wear a mask in schools starting in the fall of 2020. After all grades were allowed to return, universal masking continued despite pushback from some parents and students, with districts increasingly floating repeal measures during 2021. In early 2022, North Carolina K-12 students were still masked and NCDHHS was still pushing quarantine restrictions on districts, both of which Cohen’s replacement, Kody Kins-
Whatley and Perez co-hosted a panel with North Carolina’s Angel families who have had a loved one killed by an illegal immigrant, as well as those who have had a family member die due to fentanyl. “The National Border Patrol Council is proud to endorse Michael Whatley in his US Senate race,” Perez said in a statement. “Michael has proven that he is going to be a strong supporter of securing our border and ensuring our men and women on the frontlines have the support they need to do their job. “Roy Cooper was Joe Biden and Kamala Harris’ number one cheerleader as they allowed our border to be overrun by millions of illegal immi-
“He was agonizing since he wanted to do the right thing.” Dr. Anthony Fauci on then-N.C. Gov. Roy Cooper ley, admitted were legally enforceable. Lawmakers, led by former state House Speaker Tim Moore (R-Kings Mountain), passed a bill to end student masking called “Free the Smiles.” Cooper vetoed it, and the legislature was unable to override it. Moore later pressed Cooper in a letter dated Feb. 10, 2022, to end masking and quarantine rules. On March 7, 2022, Cooper suggested schools should drop mask mandates but left the door open for districts to keep them in place. Around the same time, the CDC dropped its universal K-12 masking mandate. Wake County, the largest district in the state, voted in February to end its masking mandate on March 7, the same day Cooper made his announcement. Durham Public Schools was last in the state, keeping its students masked until April 11. When Cooper made his decision, North Carolina was among the bottom half of states still masking K-12 students. California, Oregon and Wash-
grants, while their Administration stood by and did nothing. We need strong leaders who will stand up for our agents and work to ensure we have a secure border, that man is Michael Whatley.” The NBPC is the fourth major law enforcement group to back Whatley, who has also received endorsements from the North Carolina Troopers Association, the North Carolina Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) and the North Carolina Police Benevolent Association, which is the state’s largest law enforcement advocacy group with about 17,700 members. Sheriffs from multiple counties, as well as local FOP chapters and leaders, including
“While Roy Cooper and Joe Biden abandoned our Border Patrol agents, I will fight to ensure that they have the support they need to carry out their critical mission.” Michael Whatley
the Charlotte-Mecklenburg FOP, have also publicly backed Whatley. To date, Cooper has not received an endorsement from a law enforcement group.
TIMELINE North Carolina COVID-19 school closures March 14, 2020: Cooper issued
an executive order banning mass gatherings and closing public schools through the end of that month, and he later expanded his order to close schools for the rest of 2020.
July 1, 2020: Cooper delayed the reopening decision. July 14, 2020: Cooper unveiled plans for schools to operate on a 50% rotating attendance schedule.
Sept. 17, 2020: Cooper announced
districts could “opt” to reopen for in-person instruction for elementary students. Behind the scenes, districts were discouraged from doing so, and the majority stayed in remote instruction mode. Heading into the school year, calls from parents and lawmakers were growing to open schools for in-person instruction.
ington announced an end to mask mandates at the end of February with March 11–12 target dates. Hawaii was last, ending its mask requirement on Aug. 1, 2022. The impacts of school closures and masking are still being felt across the country years later, leading to the term “learning loss.” Early data estimated students fell behind by as much as 15 months. The 2022 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) results dropped to
Feb. 2, 2021: One hundred thirty-eight days after elementary students were allowed back in, Cooper encouraged districts to open for in-person learning. That same month, lawmakers passed Senate Bill 37 to fully reopen all public schools. The bill had significant bipartisan support but was vetoed by Cooper. March 10, 2021: A deal with the governor to get students back in classrooms is announced at a press conference. The bill passed unanimously in both legislative chambers but only allowed for elementary students to fully return. All other grades were subject to district-level decisions. During the press conference, North State Journal asked Cooper why he wasn’t using an executive order to reopen schools like he did to close them. Cooper replied, “We need to do this in a collaborative way.”
20-year lows, with dips in average math scores cited as the “largest ever recorded in that subject.” NAEP scores have not improved much, with 2025’s results showing continued historic lows in reading and math nationally. Last year’s North Carolina K-12 testing results were a mixed bag with some improvements, and the 2025-26 results showed gains in some areas, however, grade-level proficiency is still an issue compared to prepandemic rates.
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North State Journal for Thursday, September 10, 2026
LGC acts on two financially mismanaged NC towns Ronda and Rowland were issued resolutions of notice and warning
• $10 million, Carolina Beach
“We are tasked with making sure that no municipalities in North Carolina go bankrupt, and we are perilously close here.” Brad Briner, state treasurer
— Funds for the purchase of nine properties in the town’s downtown boardwalk area.
• $67 million, Dare County
— Funds for public works, emergency medical services and a field house.
• $26.85 million, Forsyth County — Funds for government facilities.
• $25 million, Craven County By Jessica Taylor For North State Journal THE LOCAL Government Commission approved resolutions of notice and warning for the towns of Ronda in Wilkes County and Rowland in Robeson County during its September meeting. The resolutions followed financial mismanagement and statutory compliance concerns in the two towns. “There is not a lot of time. We are tasked with making sure that no municipalities in North Carolina go bankrupt, and we are perilously close here,” said Treasurer Brad Briner in the press release. “If we don’t have good answers by the time we meet in 30 days … I would be willing to have this conversation again next month, but to my mind, the discussion next month will be around dissolution — unless something really changes for the positive.” The resolutions issued to the two towns serve as official administrative and legal notices, acting as a final warning that the state is prepared to step in and assume control of a municipality if financial operations are not corrected. Concerns for Ronda include repeated late audits, budget violations, problems with federal payroll tax payments, deficits in the town’s water and sewer
FEMA from page A1 rebuild Western North Carolina after Hurricane Helene,” said Sen. Ted Budd (R-N.C.). “I am grateful to Administrator (Cameron) Hamilton for his efforts to ensure this funding can restore our communities and tourism industry throughout Western North Carolina, and that individuals will soon be able to access additional funds under the Hazard Mitigation Grant program to help rebuild and relocate their damaged properties.” Hamilton added, “This additional funding supports community efforts to restore critical infrastructure and invest in mitigation projects that will protect North Carolinians from future storms. FEMA’s continued commitment, in partnership with Senator Budd, is to move recovery forward at the pace North Carolina needs.” About $102 million comes from FEMA’s Public Assistance (PA) Program, which provides supplemental grants to state, tribal, territorial, local governments and certain types of nonprofits to assist with major disaster recovery.
SHRIMP from page A1 in the House Rules Committee. The groups had argued 70% to 80% of shrimp come from inshore waters, and many small boats can’t operate offshore. Gestwicki said those figures are “absolutely false” and that state data showed a 10-year average of 60%. He also said “90% of our shrimp demand in North Carolina is derived from imports,” and “the vast majority of shrimp are coming from India, Taiwan and probably the Gulf states.” “We will still have N.C.-caught shrimp,” Gestwicki added, “just not from juvenile fish nursery areas, in line with all other shrimping states in the country.” NCWF also countered the small boat claim and said moving shrimping boats out to the ocean is “perfectly feasible based on the data.” The group shared it “had observers on 20-foot shrimp trawlers in the ocean.” “Yeah, so that’s complete and utter baloney, what’s been blown up skirts out there,” Gestwicki said. He also noted about 270 li-
DAVID GOLDMAN / AP PHOTO
A murmuration of birds flies over a building in Rowland in 2017. The Robeson County town was issued a resolution of notice and warning by the state’s Local Government Commission. fund, and other financial management issues. Ronda has additionally been on the Unit Assistance List (UAL) of the Local Government Commission (LGC) since 2015. The UAL tracks and identifies local governments experiencing financial, operational or reporting difficulties that need further monitoring and support. The resolution orders Ronda to remedy the issues and warns that failure to comply could result in the LGC taking authority over the town’s finances. Ronda must provide the LGC with a plan of action within 30 days to address the issues. The town of Rowland has been on the UAL since 2020,
and it appeared earlier in 2015 and 2016 as well. Concerns for Rowland include repeated late audits, budget violations, the use of restricted grant funds for current operations, persistent water and sewer fund operating losses, and financial mismanagement. Rowland must also submit a plan of action to the LGC within 30 days, detailing how the issues will be addressed. A financial update was also given by officials from the town of Littleton in Halifax County. The town has appeared before the LGC three times this year. Among other towns, Littleton’s unit appeal filed in response to notices of noncompliance was denied.
PA funds typically help cover the costs of debris removal, emergency protective measures and the restoration of public infrastructure. Several projects receiving PA funding include:
• $3.3 million, Asheville
• $23.4 million, N.C.
Department of Transportation (NCDOT) — Funds will go toward repairing roads, bridges and buildings damaged by Helene.
• $5.7 million, NCDOT —
Funds will support debris removal and road repairs following Tropical Depression Chantal.
• $16.8 million,
Hendersonville Affordable Housing Corporation — Funds will support repairs to Lincoln Circle and Robinson Terrace housing units.
• $3.9 million, Mountain
Electric Cooperative — Funds will assist with repairing reconducting lines.
• $10 million, N.C. Emergency
Management — Funds will go toward debris removal efforts.
cense holders, including out-of-state vessels, reported shrimp trawl landings in 2023 — fewer than 1% of the state’s anglers. Meanwhile, recreational fishing generated an average of $3.48 billion in annual economic impact from 2019 to 2023 compared with $18.2 million in ex-vessel value for the trawl fishery. “Those stocks have all collapsed by definition — they’re collapsed,” said Gestwicki. “Which means since the Fisheries Reform Act, the grand savior of our fisheries implemented in 1997, those four species have declined by more than 80%.” “For every 1 pound of shrimp, more than 4 pounds of marine life is wasted,” NCWF said, and “nearly a billion small animals from 60-plus species are discarded” each year. The species include weakfish (99%), croaker (90%), spot (90%) and flounder (80%). NCWF says fish populations overall have declined by as much as 95% over the past 30 years. NCWF’s research says current bycatch reduction devices “still permit hundreds of millions of marine resources to die
Several different appeals filed in response to notices of noncompliance for failing to submit Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 audits by March 31, 2026, were granted or denied by the LGC. The audit itself had been due Dec. 31, 2025. Some municipality appeals were denied if they did not file their FY 2025 audit and did not meet the criteria to have the appeal granted. Local governments that were denied will have a portion of their sales tax distributions withheld. The LGC also approved up to $1.25 billion in revenue bonds for the North Carolina Housing Finance Agency, which will support the agency’s homeownership program. Up to $700 million in North Carolina Medical Care Commission conduit revenue bonds were authorized for ECU Health and its affiliates. Funds will help refinance existing debt and pay for projects such as additional inpatient facilities at ECU Health Medical Center and additional operating rooms near the East Carolina Heart Institute. CaroMont Health Inc. received approval for up to $350 million in North Carolina Medical Care Commission conduit revenue bonds, which will support construction of a cancer center and parking facilities as well as refinance existing debt. Other approved requests of more than $10 million include:
— Funds for multiple county projects.
• $15.6 million, Granville
County — Funds for school paving and roofing projects.
• $13.1 million, Lee County —
Funds for a school bus facility.
• $20 million, Mecklenburg County Industrial Facilities and Pollution Control Financing Authority — Conduit revenue bonds for expanding and improving a solid waste facility.
• $25.4 million, Housing
Authority of Winston-Salem — Funds for housing financing.
• $19 million, Elizabeth
City — Funds for water, sewer and electric system improvements.
The LGC approves debt issued by local governments and public authorities in North Carolina by examining the reasonableness of borrowing for each project and whether the debt can be repaid. The LGC also monitors the financial well-being of more than 1,100 local governments in the state. It is chaired by Briner and staffed by the Department of State Treasurer. At its last meeting, the LGC approved more than $814 million in funds for various infrastructure projects across North Carolina.
Sen. Ted Budd (R-N.C.), pictured in July, praised the Trump administration for awarding more Helene recovery funds to North Carolina.
Christian Academy — Funds will help with repairs to school facilities and contents; the nearby Swannanoa River flooded the school during Helene.
• $3.2 million, Avery County — Funds will support management costs.
• $3.1 million, N.C. Wildlife
Resources Commission — Funds will support repairs of the Armstrong State Fish Hatchery, which had been flooded by Helene and suffered infrastructure damage alongside the loss of nearly 600,000 fish.
JACQUELYN MARTIN / AP PHOTO
Additionally, $34 million is being awarded to North Carolina through FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP). Funds will be used to acquire nearly 80 flood-prone properties damaged by Helene in Buncombe, Mecklenburg, Rutherford, Transylvania, Watauga and Yancey counties, as well as the towns of Belhaven and Bolton. The acquired properties will be converted into permanent open space, which will prevent
or help reduce future disaster damage. North Carolina has acquired more than 500 properties through HMGP funding. Similar to the PA Program, the HMGP supports state, local, tribal and territorial governments in developing plans to reduce future disaster impacts. HMGP funding becomes available after a presidentially declared disaster, and homeowners and businesses cannot apply directly for HMGP grants. FEMA has released several funding packages to assist with Helene recovery, such as $165 million granted in March and $255.8 million granted in May to support 85 recovery projects. In late May,
FEMA delivered a combined $97 million in funding, sourced from PA and HMGP grants. When Helene struck, damages were estimated at about $60 billion, with $44.4 billion of direct damage and $9.4 billion of indirect damage. Losses span across housing, businesses, state roads and bridges, utilities and agriculture. Most of the federal funding will support 2,400 recovery projects related to debris removal, infrastructure reconstruction and repairs to public infrastructure. Additionally, 161,000 families have been assisted with home repairs, rent or other needs that emerged from Helene.
annually,” and landings for these species have collapsed dramatically since the early 1990s. A new shrimping fight seems to be on the horizon as the pushback on estuary trawling falls against the backdrop of a major legal ruling earlier this month. On Aug. 18, Wake County Superior Court Judge G. Bryan Collins ruled the state violated its constitutional and public-trust obligations to protect coastal fisheries. In a 190-page decision, the court found “overwhelming evidence” that the state breached its legal duty to preserve the public’s right to fish and harvest fish and to keep fisheries “safe from injury, harm, or destruction for all time.” The ruling specifically noted that none of North Carolina’s 13 state-managed coastal fish stocks is currently viable, an outcome the court tied to decades of mismanagement, including the impacts of inshore shrimp trawling and associated bycatch. The lawsuit — filed in 2020 by the Coastal Conservation Association of North Carolina and 86 individual citizens, includ-
ing five former Marine Fisheries Commission members — had already survived a 2022 Court of Appeals decision. The judicial finding lands amid parallel legislative scrutiny of the Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF). House Oversight Committee Chairman Jake Johnson (R-Polk) announced a letter was sent to Mike Loeffler, the interim DMF director, pressing him for a detailed accounting of how public funds have been spent over the past five fiscal years, with a particular focus on revenues for Commercial Recreational Fishing License and Saltwater Combination Fishing License. In the letter, Johnson cites the Fisheries Reform Act of 1997’s unmet goals. “The Fisheries Reform Act of 1997 (FRA) was enacted by the General Assembly to address longstanding concerns regarding the management of North Carolina’s valuable marine resources and to rebuild those fisheries to a sustainable and productive level,” wrote Johnson. “Nearly three decades have elapsed since the FRA’s
enactment, yet the core objectives of that legislation remain unrealized.” Johnson also detailed the FRA failures, mentioning the 72% decline in commercial finfish landings since 1995 and the inability of any Fishery Management Plan to rebuild a stock to sustainable levels. Johnson’s inquiry also seeks full cost data on the observer program, justification for fishery-independent survey programs, Marine Patrol budget and activity breakdowns, and officer assignment and enforcement statistics. Additionally, Johnson highlighted the 2025-26 North Carolina Collaboratory study’s conclusions that nursery areas are not functioning as intended and that management has been unable to keep pace with the science. Together, the court ruling and the legislative inquiry signal future legislative action but also underscore the same core problems documented by NCWF of persistent bycatch waste, habitat damage in nursery areas and collapsed fish stocks, as well as the economic imbalances.
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North State Journal for Thursday, September 10, 2026
THE CONVERSATION Trip Hoffend, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor VISUAL VOICES
EDITORIAL | FRANK HILL
9/11 — has it been 25 years already? Ask Todd Beamer’s daughter
The Islamist terrorists didn’t ask each passenger if they supported the Ayatollah, Osama bin Laden or Islam before slamming each aircraft into buildings full of innocent victims.
AMIDST ALL of the political tension and strife today, it is hard to believe that just 25 years ago there was an event that so galvanized Americans across the board that it was hard to find anyone who hated America or defended a foreign enemy that not only wanted to wipe out the nation of Israel but also America while they were at it. The horrific attacks on the Twin Towers in New York and the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 11, 2001, should also be remembered as a “day of infamy,” as President Franklin D. Roosevelt called the surprise Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941. It is difficult to imagine what else to call such an event that resulted in the death of 2,977 innocent people — 2,753 at the World Trade Center in New York City, 184 at the Pentagon and 40 aboard Flight 93 outside Shanksville, Pennsylvania, after a heroic struggle led by Todd Beamer. As I was driving down Route 50 to Washington, D.C., with the top down on the convertible on the most spectacular late summer morning imaginable, it was hard to fathom that death itself was flying overhead in a plane headed for the Pentagon. As I passed through Seven Corners, I saw a large black cloud of smoke rising from some unknown source to my right. I heard Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon on the radio stop talking about the Redskins’ quarterback quandary — always their topic of choice — only to announce, “There has been some sort of helicopter crash near the Pentagon.” I could see the black cloud getting
larger and larger through the right side of my windshield, which made me say to myself, “That must have been some huge helicopter!” Focusing on getting to my meeting, I kept driving blithely until I made a left turn near the Pentagon only to see clouds of fire and smoke billowing out from the west side of the building. Little did I know that two aircraft had slammed into the Twin Towers in New York about an hour before the third hit the Pentagon. As I continued to drive over the bridge into the city with the Lincoln Memorial on my right, I started to hear secondary explosions over my right shoulder and jets scrambling overhead, which should have alerted anyone that something very unusual was happening right that very moment. By the time I exited traffic north of Washington and returned home, news reports were confirming the United States had been under direct attack, most likely from Islamist extremists under orders from Osama bin Laden and with financial aid and assistance from the government of Iran, forever changing our world. Despite everyone’s abject disbelief that such an attack could occur on U.S. soil and kill thousands of innocent men, women and children, everyone’s attention moved to what could be done to stop the attacks and put an end to the source behind the terrorist network that conceived and funded it. Everyone expressed solidarity with the people of New York. But more importantly, everyone joined together as Americans in the belief that this was an unprovoked
attack on all Americans. The Islamist terrorists who hijacked the three planes didn’t ask each passenger if they supported the Ayatollah, Osama bin Laden or Islam before slamming each aircraft into buildings full of innocent victims. There were 120 pregnant mothers who became widows on 9/11 following the deaths of their husbands who served as firefighters and policemen or were passengers on the planes. My wife directed an effort to provide financial and tangible assistance to them after their babies were born. She helped to host a beautiful baby shower for the moms and babies a year later on the first anniversary of Sept. 11 at Cipriani in New York City. Those infants are now turning 25 years old. All of them must be bewildered by anyone who tries to blame 9/11 on America or who speaks badly about America and positively about the Iranian government that has continued terrorist acts around the world since their birth. One of the widows was Lisa Beamer. She was the wife of Todd Beamer, who led a heroic battle to storm the cockpit of Flight 93 and disable the terrorists who had designs on attacking another American landmark, perhaps the U.S. Capitol or the White House — in front of which I was stuck in traffic for two long hours. Anytime you hear a political candidate or commentator gloss over the danger posed by the terrorist regime in Iran and try to blame America for what is going on today, try to imagine what Todd Beamer’s daughter would have to say about it first.
EDITORIAL | STACEY MATTHEWS
You’ve come a long way, Mamacita The love, of course, is always there and has never wavered.
AS I WROTE MY COLUMN last week on the legacy of Dolly Parton, I kept thinking about the similarities between her and my mom. Going by pictures of Mom from before I was born, they had a similar look. Like Parton, Mom was into blonde hairpieces that put her hairdo “a little closer to heaven.” Mom was also a bit of a fashion plate, paying close attention to the trends of the time and putting her colorful spin on them in a way that was uniquely Mom. My sisters and I have jokingly called her “hot mamacita” when we’ve looked back at old photos. My mom also liked to sing, mostly gospel songs, but she could belt them out along with the best of ’em. But beyond looks and style, the area where they were most similar was in their smiles and in how they never met a stranger. It’s something I learned from Mom (and my dad) at a very young age. Mom has been through a lot and seen a lot in her time on this earth, which is approaching the 83-year mark in a few days. Her most important and satisfying accomplishment, as she will tell you, was raising her three daughters, all of whom are her pride and joy.
Along with my dad, she worked hard to provide for us, and at one time was also a caregiver for my grandmother, her mother, who lived with us in her later years. Mom worked various jobs before settling on a career doing something she loved until she had to retire to provide full-time care for my dad, whose health issues were becoming more acute. My mom has always been the kind of person who put the needs of others before her own, which she did for the last 10 years of my dad’s life, to the extent that it caused a delay in finding out what was causing the health issues she was enduring, which turned out to be Stage 3B colon cancer. She was diagnosed with it just after turning 79, which was a shock not just to her but to the whole family. My mom, who had been Mother Earth to all of us, the woman on whom the sun rose and set, was facing the biggest battle of her life at a time when she should have been enjoying her golden years in peace and contentment, surrounded by love. We had the love part down pat, but the peace and contentment were in short supply as she went through her treatments, and even after they were completed, we
struggled to find peace as we worried (and continue to worry) about recurrence. As we approach her 83rd birthday and the four-year anniversary of her diagnosis, the worries continue, especially with an upcoming follow-up appointment with her oncologist, which will also involve another CT scan. Prayers are welcome. But the peace and contentment are more of a consistent presence as we evolve, grow and settle into “new normals.” And the love, of course, is always there and has never wavered. Mom has been many things in life: a devoted daughter, wife, mother, friend, career woman, entrepreneur, faithful God-fearing Christian, cancer warrior. But most of all, my mom has been this to my sisters and me: a blessing, our inspiration, our heroine. Not a fearless one, but one who has never let those fears and doubts get in the way of making a better life for herself and those whom she loves and cares about the most. Happy birthday, my precious mom. Lord willing, here’s to many more. You’ve come a long way, Mamacita. North Carolina native Stacey Matthews has also written under the pseudonym Sister Toldjah and is a media analyst and regular contributor to RedState and Legal Insurrection.
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North State Journal for Thursday, September 10, 2026
COLUMN | GEORGE A. HOWARD AND JIM HASLAM
Football gets an investigation; UNC’s COVID questions get silence and experimental results existed in the ON JULY 30, after UNC football general UNC-Wuhan research network before the manager Michael Lombardi was placed on Dr. Ralph outbreak? Was any DEFUSE-related work administrative leave, Chancellor Lee Roberts undertaken after the proposal was rejected? confirmed an investigation and said, “If Baric’s What did UNC scientists learn in early something has gone wrong, we want to know laboratory January 2020, and what did they tell federal about it. If something needs to be fixed, we officials, university leadership and the public? will be sure to fix it.” collaborated These questions deserve answers supported That is an admirable standard. North with by records. Carolinians deserve to see it applied to a EcoHealth UNC produced more than 130,000 pages matter of far greater consequence: whether in response to U.S. Right to Know but coronavirus research connected to Chapel Hill Alliance and withheld about 5,200 documents, including contributed to the emergence of COVID-19. scientists at more than 4,500 under North Carolina’s UNC was not peripheral to coronavirus research-records exemption. The university research. Ralph Baric’s laboratory was a the Wuhan defended those withholdings in court. UNC’s world leader in assembling and modifying Institute of legal right to withhold those records does not coronaviruses and collaborated with establish that withholding them is right. EcoHealth Alliance and scientists at the Virology. An October 2018 email from Baric to Wuhan Institute of Virology. A university Wuhan collaborators surfaced through with that history owes the public a independent investigators’ discovery of transparent accounting of its work. publicly accessible EcoHealth Alliance files, rather than We attended the Senate Homeland Security and a release by UNC. It raises a specific question: Were Governmental Affairs Committee’s July 29 hearing elements of the rejected DARPA proposal pursued intended to question Anthony Fauci, then submitted a under an NIH-funded project? UNC should release the statement for the record concerning UNC and COVID’s related correspondence and research records. origin. North Carolina’s leaders should pursue the After years of litigation, the central question remains: questions raised by that research network. Will UNC permit an independent examination of its In 2018, the DEFUSE proposal, involving Baric, research and disclose what that examination finds? EcoHealth Alliance and Wuhan researchers, Such a review should examine research, funding, contemplated experiments involving the introduction of cleavage sites into SARS-related coronaviruses. DARPA safety oversight, and communications with collaborators and government officials. It should include rejected the proposal. SARS-CoV-2’s furin cleavage experts without conflicts of interest, protect legitimate site has since become a focus of debate about the virus’ confidential information and publish its findings. UNC origins. scientists should have a full opportunity to respond. A rejected proposal does not establish that the Gov. Josh Stein should call for that review. The experiments occurred or that SARS-CoV-2 was General Assembly should use its oversight authority. engineered. But it raises a question that records could The UNC System and Board of Governors should insist help answer: Was any related work performed through on a public accounting. North Carolina’s press should another funding source, under another project name or investigate the state’s role. as preliminary research? Our open letter at CarolinaFlu.org asks for One of us, Jim Haslam, advances a specific independent scrutiny and transparency. People can hypothesis in “COVID-19: Mystery Solved”: that support that request without accepting every hypothesis SARS-CoV-2 began as an American-designed, self-spreading bat-vaccine candidate developed through about the pandemic’s origins. We want Carolina to earn public confidence through a research network centered on Baric’s technology. openness. An investigation can identify failures, That conclusion has not been established by an establish what was done properly and replace suspicion official investigation. Haslam and economist Jeffrey with evidence. Sachs submitted their analysis to the World Health Football deserves accountability. Research with Organization’s scientific advisory group on COVID’s possible consequences for the entire world deserves at origins. least the same standard. The WHO group concluded the weight of Before the next experiment, accident or outbreak, available evidence favors zoonotic spillover, meaning North Carolinians deserve to know what happened the transmission from animals to humans. It also identified last time. missing information needed to assess a laboratory accident. WHO’s director-general has said all George A. Howard, UNC ’89, is a Raleigh businessman, hypotheses must remain on the table. scientific author and former U.S. Senate staffer. North Carolina need not settle the entire origins Jim Haslam is a Houston engineer and the debate to examine its own institutions. author of “COVID-19: Mystery Solved.” What unpublished research, viral sequences
COLUMN | DAVID HARSANYI
We spend a lot more on welfare than bombs, and that’s a problem money we’ve spent on munitions over 15 years. THE OTHER DAY, New York Mayor The U.S. GDP was more than $30 trillion in Zohran Mamdani told Qatari state media that 2025. About 3% of it was spent on national the United States was “spending tens of billions We spend defense. of dollars on killing people” when that money less on the Leftists love to point out that the U.S. “could have been used to make life easier” for military than devotes more money to its military than the the public. “There always seems to be money for war,” he went on, “but not to feed the poor.” we do paying next six countries combined. It’s true. Being a hyperpower doesn’t come cheap. The U.S. The United States, in reality, spends down the also spends more on welfare and entitlement immense amounts of money feeding and programs — cars, tech, housing and virtually taking care of the poor — far more than it does interest on — than the next six countries on war. our immense everything combined. Yet if you listened to the Left, you’d think $40 trillion If you believe that the state isn’t sufficiently military spending was driving the debt and squeezing the poor. National defense comprises national debt. assisting the poor, there are thousands of other ways to get involved. About 70% of Americans about 13% of the federal budget, far less than reportedly give charity each year, amounting to the primary drivers of debt, Social Security and an estimated $617 billion in 2025 — more than Medicare. the next six countries combined. We spend less on the military than we do Of course, no amount will ever be enough for people paying down the interest on our immense $40 trillion who believe all economic activity should be siphoned into national debt. state agencies for proper redistribution. The federal government spends about $1.3 trillion Nor will it be enough for people who believe funding each year on means-tested welfare and “antipoverty” is the only way to mitigate poverty. The broader debate, programs. That’s more than the national budget of virtually impossible to broach these days, is whether Germany. endlessly increasing welfare actually helps in the long run. There are somewhere in the vicinity of 80 individual The progressive measure of national success is federal programs providing aid to the poor. More than predicated on how many people we can hook on 36 million people in the U.S. receive food stamps, for government assistance rather than how many people we instance, which is about 11% of the population. can free from it. It has long been known that welfare’s About 100 million Americans receive some form of government assistance. Virtually none of them pay federal incentives undercut work and family formation while discouraging self-sufficiency. individual income tax. And we have been spending more on social safety None of this accounts for local programs. More than net programs, even though we have less poverty today 23% of an average state’s expenditures go to welfare, than ever before. The poverty rate in the U.S. was nearly which is not only more than they spend on public schools 22% when we first began recording it in 1959. By 1974, but far more than they spend on police, hospitals and roughly 12% of Americans lived in poverty. Today, it’s roads combined. approximately 11%. Then there are city government programs. In Meanwhile, real federal welfare spending has Mamdani’s New York, a record $2.71 billion in direct increased by more than 760% since then. Over the past welfare cash assistance payments were sent out in 2025, 50-plus years, the poverty rate has remained incredibly a 70% spike from 2022. New York City also spent $14.63 billion on social programs for the poor. It spends less than consistent. You can oppose war for a lot of reasons, but spending half on the police. on defense is not a primary driver of debt, nor does it A crude back-of-the-envelope calculation tells me that inhibit us from helping the needy. Indeed, federal military the average family in New York probably contributes spending is one of the few major budget categories that more than $11,000 each year to government programs clearly falls under Congress’ enumerated powers. And one that help those living below the poverty line. of the vital responsibilities of the federal government is On the other hand, in the larger scheme of things, we protecting the homeland, not expanding the dependent spend little on “bombs.” In a typical fiscal year, baseline class. spending on munitions is about $30 billion. (Because of the Iran war, that number has spiked to $76 billion.) David Harsanyi is a senior writer at the Washington In perspective, the $919 billion in federal and state Examiner. (Copyright 2026 Creators.com) funding of Medicaid last year was more than all the
COLUMN AIMEE MULLIGAN
You can’t always get what you want RECENTLY, DEMOCRATIC strategist and “The Five” co-host Jessica Tarlov said there are times she wishes Donald Trump had won reelection in 2020. Her reasoning was simple: if Trump had served a second consecutive term, the Trump era would already be over. It’s an interesting point because had Trump served his second term from 2021 to 2025, the political movement he created might have ended with his presidency. Instead, those four years out of office may have ensured it would survive long after him. In 2016, Trump famously ended his rallies with the Rolling Stones’ “You Can’t Always Get What You Want.” Looking back now, it feels like a fitting message for a Republican Party that didn’t quite know what to make of him. Trump wasn’t what the Republican establishment wanted. But he was what Republican voters — and, I believe, the country — needed. That doesn’t mean his first term was perfect. Trump arrived in Washington as an outsider surrounded by too many insiders. His administration had talented people but also political creatures who never really embraced the movement that put him in the White House. Mike Pence, Mike Pompeo, Steve Mnuchin and others represented the old Republican establishment Trump was there to replace. Then came COVID-19, Anthony Fauci and an unprecedented expansion of government authority. Whatever you think about the decisions made during those years, Trump learned an important lesson: Personnel is policy. Now imagine if Trump had been reelected in 2020. Many of those same people and institutional problems likely would have remained. And when 2024 rolled around, who would have inherited the movement? Mike Pence? I don’t see it. More likely, Trump would have left office after eight consecutive years without an obvious successor or the political bench Republicans have today. Democrats could have regrouped and waited for the Trump movement to burn itself out. Instead, we got four years we certainly did not want — but perhaps four years we needed. Those years in the political wilderness gave Trump and the Republican Party time to reflect, regroup and rebuild. When Trump returned to the presidency in 2025, he was far better prepared for Washington than the businessman who arrived in 2017. This time, he knew the terrain — and the importance of the people around him. Led during the campaign by Susie Wiles, Trump built a disciplined political operation and assembled an administration dramatically different from his first. He traded Mike Pence for JD Vance — a younger figure capable of carrying the movement forward. Marco Rubio replaced Pompeo at State. Scott Bessent replaced the Wall Street orthodoxy represented by Mnuchin at Treasury. But something bigger happened outside the administration. Trump’s return transformed the Republican Party itself. In 2020, Republicans had a shallow bench. Today, the party has governors, senators, cabinet officials, entrepreneurs and younger political leaders capable of competing for the future of the movement. And culturally, something changed too. For perhaps the first time in my lifetime, Republicans became cool. People who once avoided being associated with Republican politics became willing to say what they thought out loud. Elon Musk became one of the most consequential political voices in America. Cultural figures who previously stayed silent became more comfortable challenging liberal orthodoxy. The cultural monopoly cracked. Meanwhile, Democrats entered a period of turmoil, struggling with leadership, ideology and how to respond to a movement they had spent years believing would disappear with Trump. Which is why Jessica Tarlov’s observation is so fascinating. She may be right. Had Trump won in 2020, his presidency might already be history. Instead, the interruption extended the Trump era and gave the movement time to become something bigger than one man and, perhaps, capable of surviving him. But none of that guarantees what happens next. November matters. If voters who support Trump’s agenda want him to complete it, they have to show up. They have to make sure their families, friends and neighbors show up too. Political movements die when their supporters assume victory is permanent. Just ask Chuck Schumer. Back in 2020, we couldn’t understand why things had unfolded the way they did. It was frustrating and, for many of us, simply didn’t make sense. Four years later, the picture looked very different. Maybe there was a lesson buried in that old Rolling Stones song after all: You can’t always get what you want. But sometimes, with patience, persistence and faith in God, you just might find — you get what you need. Aimee Mulligan is the managing partner of CardinalGPS, a Republican technology solutions company.
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WITH MOST STATES under either shelter-in-place or stay-at North State Journal for Thursday, September 10, 2026 China lied about the origin of the ONE THING IS CERTAIN; after this COVID-19 virus cavalierofmanner orders thanks to local ordissipates state governments,The a majority Ameri WEEK, virus, according to members tried to tell the world there were only “THIS around the globe and in the United will to pay forTHIS this covered up its spI areStates, havingChina to adjust what is being called the “new normal.” and state and local governments, Amer worldwide panic, economic collapse and in it” (Psal catastrophe one way or another. 3,341 related ha Some of these orders extend at least through the end deaths of this m or stay-at-home fallen into place. I understand the seriousness of the virus and the need the curve in the novel coronavirus outbr ylace being thrown out of work. I know In order to put the crisis causedVirginia’s by Chinastay-at-home in perspective, zero go into June. millions of Americans t orders ority of at Americans to take precautions, but I’m uneasy with how people who simply ask — after all, trends canhas easily xpayer least $2.4 trillion in added working fr worldwide pandemics can trace their source to theCarolina, Unitedmuted States over costreve th Here in North Democratic Gov.The Roycrisis Cooper stated d walnormal.” questions back to have abided by recommendations and o Reserve backup liquidity to the about the data, and when things can start getting be glad” as our 231-year history. 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. 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By the way, Areo is short My first American concern asmanufacturing we go along in allprices. this, of course, isfor mythe fam 70% offhas retail vels become a bad normal.” number been overestimated, given t bilee” to happen but ask your elected n for Areopagitica, a speech delivered by 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 Mode Consignment Revolver Consignment RALEIGH is home to a 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 fewBoutique years. $18 billion lost revenue is(swine flu) representatives hold suffering fromin the H1N1 virus during the 2009topande Dress growing community of conin. Authors Helen Pluckrose, James A. sources suggest the number is dramatic decimal dust compared to theLocation: $6 I’ve trillion+ Marshall Plan extra we areprecautions, now this disaster. Location: 3528 Wade Ave., 610 Hillsborough signment boutiques and vinbeen trying to take because all of this brin Lindsay and Peter Boghossian say has that also written under the pseudonym Sister Toldjah rse, to is my family. Stacey Matthews many people are dying home. cted operate as I’m responsible citizens of Raleigh to save our own St., economy, notmany of defeated enemies as in the Suite 101, Raleigh It is at about timenot they receives the remainder. tage clothing stores, offer- or undertaking way too memories of a painful experience I’ d prefer to something gone drastically wrong rried I will. After has and is a regular contributor to RedState and Legal Even more importantly, we have no cl nation. Here are some of Raleigh’s ing shoppers the freedom to Insurrection. past. the world like any othe RALEIGH — Forty-six North But what also makes me lose sleep is how easily most everyone in academia, especially within certain he 2009 pandemic, coronavirus. Some scienti The have high-end fashion conOperating downtown since actually boutiques to stealing, spruce up their wardrobes top consignment Carolina small the businesses China has been cheating, pirating and pillaging American fields within humanities. They call signment store was founded in order of m 2005, the shop focuses on susyour next pair of vintage without breaking the bank. find all of this will brings up of identified cases could be an receive more than $2.4 business now for the past 30 years. They have made no secret that they these fields “grievance studies,” where 2010 publisher and is located in Frank Raleigh’s and Neal Robbins, | Hill, senio Because consignment shops jeans, costume pieces, design- tainably sourced designer in state grants aimed prefer notmillion to repeat. number of people who have had scholarship is not so much based upon intend tofunky replace thehandU.S. as the premier superpower in the world and Ridgewood Shop- coronav renovated vintage apparel, jewelry and er clothes, shoes, specialize in curated, gently at moving new technologies most everyone hastruth but upon attending to finding replace theand dollar as the reserve currency renminbi. ping Center near Whole Foods accessories forwith mentheir and womjewelry more. from development toward the used or high-end items rath- bags,
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marketplace, Gov. Josh Stein en. Revolver accepts designer and Fleet Feet. It features er than raw donations, they ofbully students, administrators and other announced Thursday. labels, vintage and retro piec- some of the cutest NC State fer a fun and sustainable way Mode Consignment departments into adhering to their The North Carolina es, contemporary styles, shoes, tailgating fashion in the state Location: 510 Daniels St., to shop. worldview. The worldviewon they promote is Department of Commerce, to luxury designer jewelry, belts, handbags, hats in additionJason According to TribLive, sec- Raleigh n neither rigorous. Grievance EDITORIAL | STACEY MATTHEWS behalf of scientific the Northnor Carolina and scarves. The store does not labels and high-end accessoondhand and consignment ose studies ofTechnology disciplines such as Board of consist Science, With locations in Durham take children’s clothing, ma- ries, including handbags from shoppers save, on average, sociology, anthropology, gender studies, and Innovation, awarded 50 50% to 80% compared with and Raleigh’s Village District, ternity clothing, home goods, brands such as Gucci, Chanel, COLUMN | REP. RICHARD HUDSON queer during studies,fiscal sexuality and critical race grants 2026 to original retail prices per item, Mode Consignment is a well- undergarments, used bath- Saint Laurent, Fendi and Loustudies. in 13 counties. The companies translating to average house- stocked, higher-end boutique ing suits or socks, and accept- is Vuitton. Because the store In 2017 and 2018, authors Pluckrose, businesses are developing hold savings of nearly $150 per offering plenty of variety and a able items must be in ready- processes fresh arrivals daily, technologies industries Lindsay andacross Boghossian started month, or about $1,760 annu- range of price points. The store to-wear, sellable condition the inventory remains highly including pharmaceuticals, s submitting bogus academic papers to dynamic, offering a true thrillally. Forbes reported in 2025 considers items that are cur- without blemishes. healthcare, defense,in advanced academic journals cultural, queer, of-the-hunt retail experience. Items are displayed on the rent within the past two years. that the U.S. secondhand apmaterials, seafood production race, gender, fat and sexuality studies parel market had grown from The boutique offers stylish, sales floor for a three-month The staff is professional, warm and space. to determine if they would pass peer welcoming without being $28 billion in 2019 to $49 bil- contemporary women’s cloth- selling period. Once items sell, and “North Carolina’s innovators “THIS IS THE DAYinto the lord has mad he seriousness of and the virus and the review be accepted for need publication. MOST eitherare shelter-in-place or stay-at-home place. I unde overly attentive,fallen contributing earnings credited to the workwear andSTATES accesso-under lion in 2024 and was project- ing, WITH are at the forefront of developing Acceptance of dubious in it” (Psalm 118:24). asy with how people who simplyresearch ask that ed to reach $56 billion in 2025. ries orders to local or stateconsignor’s governments, a majority of Americans to atmosphere take precautions, bu to a fun, upbeat account and can from thanks brands such as Gucthe technologies that will journal editors found sympathetic to their I know that during this challenging hen thingsshape can our start getting back to and a more personalized shopbebeing redeemed asthe in-store having to adjust to what is called “new crednormal.” questions about the datt Golden Goose, Lululemon, To understand the business ci,are future economy,” intersectional or postmodern leftist vision working from home or losing a job, it es with contempt. ping experience. it or paid out by check. RevolvFree People and J. Crew. Like model, consignment involves Stein said. “These grants help Some of these orders extend at least through the end of this month. normal are treated inm s of the world would prove the problem of er uses a graduated commisof its counterparts, entrepreneurs turn ideas without into three parties: the consignor, many be glad” as the Bible tells us to do. How as a society simply must accept Virginia’s stay-at-home orders go into June. They’re treated as th low academic standards. newwhen products, new companies, State ofthe Thrift sion scale: For items for $1stated places a focus on the Democratic who owns the item; the shop, ModeHere and dad, Easter holiday hasthe remind ells us about it’s safe to begin the in North Carolina, Gov. Roysold Cooper during question what gove Several of— the fake new jobs and theresearch papers which sells it; and the buyer. eco-friendly aspect of consign- to $20, the consignor receives have Location: 229 Bickett to be thankful and hopeful for, eve malcy. and were accepted for publication. The Fat a recent coronavirus press briefing that “we just don’t know yet” if the process of returning ba additional support for businesses to $50, 30%; $51 Blvd., Raleigh ment, with its website reading: 20%; $21Lenten The process works like this: and pandemic. r us, and we have journal the right to askwill those published a hoax paper state’s stay-at-home orders will extend into May. No. The government inStudies western North Carolina Since whenThe did “Did you know that 75 pounds to $199, 40%; $200 to $599, • Intake and review: thatstrengthen argued theits term was me, my faith is an small important par t-home orders are in place all bodybuilding over the help economy as If he does decide to extend it, questions be60%. asked asFor to the questions. And the long The trendy curated and Easter $600should orseasons more, is produced to make the 50%; shop accepts in-season, clean, of CO2 questioning exclusionary andas should be replaced continue to recover making. As I celebrated Easter with my f them getcommunities in states, such Michigan, in Raleigh’s justification for it. And the answers should notabe vague onesbusiness like “weis located pair of jeans?! Recycle country, and the stricte gently used items that fit cur- average provide withHurricane “fat bodybuilding, a fat-inclusive from Helene.” government Corinthians 1:4, which reminds us our feeling isolated and/or anxious as about Five Points neighborhood. Uptown Cheapskate wardrobe by consigning rent demand and quality stan- your must do this out of an abundance of caution.” the more people, sitting message of politicized performance.” Six companies in countiesOne reviewer The shop accepts sizes XXS toable Location: 2161 Avent Ferry with It uswill andneed shop to ourbeamazing dards. affliction, so thatwhen we may becan com ding for their families, will demand at all levels explained in detail to the people of this state who they gettoback ns said, “I thoroughly enjoyed reading this affected by Helene received hope that we will XXXL and takes “current seaRoad, Suite 200, Raleigh of name-brand and • Authentication and pric- collection affliction, with the comfort which we ou are being told to remain jobless and at home for an undetermined answers. , and total believe it has an important aarticle combined of nearly become a for designer son clothing, shoes and acceslabels at a fraction of ing: Items are evaluated once again enjoy God.” levels should be as forthcoming as they $314,000 through the One contribution to make to the field and this of time why models hundreds of thousands of cases at the local a meaning Leaders you should Locatedsporting just steps from NC sories,” cost. Give the earth a hug predicting authenticity and based theamount badpriced thing? events, North Carolina Small Business If you are celebrating the Easter seas d again, not vague answers, but answer journal.” are reliable. can be with those answ State’s main campus, the shop probably not expect it to take on factors such as brand, con- and shop secondhand.” Program. Businesses in those “Our Struggle Is My Struggle: Solidarity That is what reflect on this message and be comforte ments believability. concerts, family To date, I’ve gone what the state has asked details sweater in thewith summer or athat give th is geared toward people whoandathen When taking items to along Mode, with dition and other market forces. counties were eligible for an Feminism as anfamilies, Intersectional Reply to God’s example and comfort allallthose in what we can to keep our sundress in the winter. It offree citizens are on a budget but still fashsellers looking to make a profit mandated that we do, but along the way I’ve also had questions about We should contin • Display and selling perigatherings, additional $25,000 through se Neoliberal and Choice Feminism,” was this difficult time. Through faith and by safe. But the we should also still continue fers a tiered pricing system as ion-conscious. Young adults should be aware that if an item od: Items are placed on the the data. State Republican leaders have, too. services ourselves, and our com program’s Matching Funds church living in a free accepted for publication by Affilia, a follows: 40% on items priced and teens appreciate that the doesn’t sell within the given sales floor for a set number of confident we will emerge out of this pan because while reasonable stay-at-home initiative the region continues Unfortunately, when certain types ofand questions get asked, there is to ask questions about s feministasjournal for social workers. The many more society from $1 to $49;spirit, 50% on items to be in store among provides an people eco-friendframe, theastore’s contract days before either beingwere donat- time economic recovery. Inthose this same I continue hey shouldits also have an expiration sometimes disturbing tendency some to treat measures are understa paper consisted in part of adate. rewritten from $50 helping to $199; neighbors. and 60% on toour traditional re- neighbors ed or returnedsupposed to the seller at states that it reserves the right ly alternative after own The program uses stateway, and it is not normal. Not in any passage from Mein Kampf. Two other simply questioning the data and asking when we can start getting back This is all of traditional con- items $200 and above. Cus-new to Am to donate the item outright and tail. Instead to support North temporary In Concord, a shape, high school senior nam uld remainmoney vigilant and stay safe, at includingno cost. hoax papers were published, to do, last I to normal as though they are conspiracy theoristsUptown or are people who or 15% form. So whil tomers earn an additional Carolina companies pursuing or • Payouts and returns: When not give the seller the option to signment tracking, . “Rape Culture and Queer Performativity money to buy a 3-D printer and plastic comfortable with this so-called “new sacrifices are otherwise don’t care ifconthey get themselvesoperates or othersasick. time we shou receiving federal Small Business usedsame as store Cheapskate di- if earnings are the it. Additionally, items sell, the shop keeps a reclaim checked. at Urban Dog Parks.” This paper’s subject health care workers out of his own hom Innovation Research (SBIR) credit. buyback system in which need a minimum bal- rect Since when did questioning government at all levels become a bad normal.” commission, and the consign- signors over. wasSmall dog-on-dog rape. But the dog rape and Business Technology thing? That is what free citizens living in a free society were supposed Not one little bit. paper eventually forced Boghossian, Transfer (STTR) awards. The two to do, last I checked. Pluckrose and Lindsay to prematurely out federal programs, collectively n under the pseudonym Sister Toldjah My first concern as we go along in all this, of course, is my family. I’m Stacey Matthews has a themselves. A Wall Street Journal writer known as America’s Seed Fund, RedState and Legal Insurrection. had figured outthan what were doing. worried about them catching the virus, and I’m worried I will. After and is a regular contri distribute more $4they billion Somethrough papers 11 accepted annually federal for publication suffering from the H1N1 virus (swine flu) during the 2009 pandemic, in academic journals advocated training agencies for small-business I’ve been trying to take extra precautions, because all of this brings up men like dogs and punishing white male technology development. way too many memories of a painful experience I’d prefer not to repeat. The state program has two slavery by college students for historical But what also makes me lose sleep is how easily most everyone has components. grants on the floor in asking themIncentive to sit in silence help businesses coverand some n chains during class to be expected to of the costs with Other papers learn from associated the discomfort. preparing and submitting ity celebrated morbid obesity as a healthy life proposals foradvocated federal SBIR choice and treating privately ty community amid heightened er costs, particularly fuel prices or STTR funding. Eighteen as a form of Thirty-year fixed rate conducted masturbation mortgage rate rose to concerns about the capabilities that have hit record levels since businesses received more than d sexual violence against women. Typically, of powerful AI models. the U.S. and Israel attacked “Great jobs number just $116,000 in incentive funding 6.71% from 6.66% as academic journal editors send submitted Just over a week later, AnIran in late February. during fiscal 2026. announced, breaking papers out to referees for review. In The larger portion went to thropic said its artificial intelliAnd meager pay raises have recommending acceptance for publication, companies that had already gence models hacked into three made rising prices more pain- all estimates (except By Michelle Chapman many reviewers gave these papers glowing secured federal awards. Thirtyother organizations during testful for many. Average hour- mine!) by double and The Associated Press praise. two North Carolina businesses ing. That was followed closely wages rose 3.1% last month Political scientist received nearly $2.37 Zach millionGoldberg ran THE ECONOMY, inflation from a year earlier, the weakest triple — And you haven’t ly by an announcement from ss grievance studies concepts through incertain state matching grants after Meta, which said its AI model and how those forces could im- year-over-year increase since seen anything yet!” d the Lexis/Nexis database, to see how often winning a combined $9.8 million accessed the internet on its own pact the lives of Americans were May 2021. appeared in our press over the years. inthey federal funding. President Donald Trump and hacked another company. front and center over the past He found huge increases in the usages The matching money Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang week. Trips to the grocery store U.S. job openings “white privilege,” “unconscious bias,” isofdesigned in part to help said that Hugging Face will reand gas station are more painful rise slightly ng “critical race theory” and “whiteness.” companies through what earlyflow of fuel. Holiday travelers main an open platform. He sigthan they were last year, and risstage often call the All ofbusinesses this is being taught to college paid more than they ever have naled that Nvidia is betting that Employers posted slighting costs are impacting the de“Valley of Death,” the period students, many of whom become primary over Labor Day weekend for more businesses will turn to ly more job openings in July as cisions of both households and between developing a product c. and secondary school teachers who then the American labor market re- gasoline, which remains well open-source AI, which lets them businesses. or technology and generating indoctrinate our young people. download and customize their Here’s a snapshot of promi- mained sturdy in the face of above $4 per gallon. enough revenue to sustain the n I doubt whether the coronavirusBut it’s not just holiday trav- own AI models, rather than pay nent economic data and news higher costs that are squeezing company. caused financial crunch will give college elers who felt the pinch. Higher for proprietary AI services from occurred over the past week household budgets. “North Carolina’s economic who arethat o? and university administrators, a U.S. job openings ticked up diesel prices mean higher trans- companies such as OpenAI and and what it potentially means success, from having been one crossbreed between a parrot and jellyfish, to 7.27 million in July from a re- portation costs for a long list of Anthropic. for you. of the poorest states in the the guts and backbone to restore academic vised 7.18 million in June, the essential goods. Some businessUSA to being the best state for respectability. Far too often, they get much business, is driven by its capacity Labor Department reported es have already passed on costs 30-year mortgage rate at U.S. hiring bounces of their political support from campus to innovate, adapt, and lead in to consumers in the form of highest level in year-plus last Tuesday. back strongly in August grievance people who are members of the emerging industries,” Commerce The department’s Job Open- added fees on online orders and faculty and and multicultural Secretary Leediversity Lilley said. Mortgage rates rose again last The U.S. job market rebound- ings and Labor Turnover Survey packages in the mail. Shoppers administrative offices. Since its creation in 2006, ed in August as employers add- also showed that layoffs fell. But may experience more sticker week, driving the average longhope lies with boards of the The One best North Carolina ed a surprising 162,000 jobs, so did the number of people who shock as higher shipping costs term U.S. home loan rate to its trustees, though many Small Business Program serve has as yes-men highest level in more than a year. which far exceeded the 65,000 quit their jobs — a sign of a lack trickle down to store shelves. for the university a awarded nearly $45president. million I think that The benchmark 30-year fixed of confidence in their prospects. that economists had expected. good would According be to find 1950s or 1960s to 531 start businesses. rate mortgage rate rose to 6.71% The American job market is Nvidia spends $13 billion Two months before the midcatalogs. Lookparticipating at the course offerings at to Commerce, from 6.66% last week, mortterm elections, President Don- hardly booming, but it is am- on Hugging Face a time when college knew how companies have gone graduates on to gage buyer Freddie Mac said bling along despite an enerald Trump welcomed the strong receive than billion in to read,more write and$8.6 compute, and make last Thursday. One year ago, the Chipmaker Nvidia is buygy shock caused by the fighthiring report last Friday. follow-on funding and maintain them today’s curricula. Another helpful average rate was 6.50%. ing artificial intelligence softing with Iran that has squeezed “Great jobs number just anmore than 2,000 tool would be tojobs. give careful consideration Higher mortgage rates can ware platform Hugging Face for family budgets. nounced, breaking all estimates those businesses toCombined, eliminating all classes/majors/minors add hundreds of dollars a month $13 billion. (except mine!) by double and trinow employ more than 4,000 containing the word “studies,” such as In July, Hugging Face’s in costs for borrowers, limiting people, $600 millionstudies. ple — And you haven’t seen any- Gas prices continue to soar women,account Asian, for black or queer data processing systems were homebuyers’ purchasing power. thing yet!” he wrote in a social inI’d wages and pay average wages bet that by restoring the traditional Diesel hit a record price in the hacked, and ChatGPT mak- As rates rise, that can lead promedia post. per employee that are the they would academic mission to twice colleges, But inflation has dominated U.S., soaring to an average of er OpenAI acknowledged that spective home shoppers to delay statewide average.
s’
VISUAL VOICES
It’s okay to ask questions about when The we begin to get back to comfort normal and ho
US hiring bounces back in August; gas prices, home ownership costs climb
put a serious dent into the COVID-19 conversations this year in busibudget shortfall. NSJ ness and households. Voters are increasingly frustrated by highWalter E. Williams is a professor of economics at George Mason University.
$5.85 a gallon for the first time last Friday as the six-month war with Iran disrupts the world’s
its artificial intelligence system was to blame, sending shock waves through the securi-
buying a home, one reason U.S. home sales remain in a rut this year.
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North State Journal for Thursday, September 10, 2026
Old Rex Hospital site could finally hit Raleigh real estate market The nearly 16-acre Wade Avenue property is valued at $58.3 million By Dan Reeves North State Journal RALEIGH — One of Raleigh’s largest and potentially most valuable redevelopment sites inside the Beltline could finally be headed for the market. The former Rex Hospital property at 700 Wade Ave., a nearly 16-acre state-owned site between the Village District and Hayes Barton, could be sold or leased after the North Carolina Division of Employment Security moves out next year. Wake County records put the property’s current assessed value at $58.3 million. Its location, acreage and proximity to some of Raleigh’s most established neighborhoods could make it a closely watched development opportunity in a part of the city where parcels of its size rarely become available. The property has been under state control since 1981 and for years has housed DES, which is part of the state Department of Commerce. That arrangement is now coming to an end. Under a law approved last year, the North Carolina Department of Administration was directed to find a new location for DES and move all staff and property out of the Wade Avenue site no later than April 1, 2027. The department was also instructed to solicit redevelopment proposals that could include either a purchase or long-term lease of the property. Commerce has found space for DES in a building off Capital Boulevard. “Old Rex Hospital is just that: old. It is time to get out,” North Carolina Commerce Secretary Lee Lilley said in a
STATE ARCHIVES OF NORTH CAROLINA / ALBERT BARDEN COLLECTION
The former Rex Hospital on Wade Avenue in Raleigh could be sold or redeveloped after the N.C. Division of Employment Security moves out next year. statement. “This move is an investment in our team and the environment where they work each day. We look forward to beginning this next chapter in our new home.” The move could also begin a new chapter for a property that has been discussed as a redevelopment candidate for years. The state previously sought proposals for mixed-use redevelopment of the site in 2016. Those plans were paused while state officials conducted a broader review of government-owned property before the Department of Administration announced in 2017 that it would resume efforts to sell the site. The sale never materialized. The latest legislation puts a firmer timeline around the process. State law requires the Department of Administration to select and execute the proposal providing the best financial benefit to North Carolina on the earlier of April 1, 2027, or the date DES completes its relocation. The proposal must first be submitted to the legislature’s Fiscal Research Division at least 45 days before an agreement is executed. The property’s value has risen substantially during the
decades it has been in state hands. North Carolina purchased the site for $2.45 million in 1981, according to Wake County property records. Its current assessed value is more than 20 times that amount. What ultimately replaces the former hospital remains uncertain. State law requires redevelopment proposals to address issues including access to the site, traffic circulation, parking, and the density and intensity of proposed land uses. Those details could prove significant given the property’s surroundings. The site sits along heavily traveled Wade Avenue near St. Mary’s Street, with the Village District commercial area nearby and the established Hayes Barton neighborhood to the north. The potential disposition also comes as North Carolina takes a broader look at its real estate portfolio and whether taxpayers benefit from retaining aging or underused properties. That approach has already reshaped portions of Raleigh. The city acquired the former Dorothea Dix Hospital property from the state and has been transforming it into Dorothea
Dix Park. Raleigh also purchased the former Division of Motor Vehicles headquarters on New Bern Avenue and is considering redevelopment options for that property. More state-owned real estate could eventually follow. Lawmakers have called for a broader inventory of state land and buildings, including whether properties are vacant or underused. Five state-owned historic homes in Raleigh’s Oakwood neighborhood have also attracted attention because some are being used largely for storage. Senate leader Phil Berger (R-Eden) told WUNC last month that agencies often have reasons for wanting to retain property, making sales more complicated. “The state owns too much stuff,” Berger said, adding that returning appropriate properties to private ownership and local tax rolls can benefit taxpayers. At the old Rex site, however, the clock is now running. After decades as a state office complex and multiple attempts to determine its future, the Wade Avenue property could finally be headed toward redevelopment.
US tariff on Canadian imports could send soaring hockey gear prices higher The long-term impact of prices is a growing concern By Stephen Whyno The Associated Press KELLY RAND’S teenage twin boys playing hockey in St. Paul, Minnesota, are going through growth spurts that force the family to buy new equipment frequently. The goaltender’s $400 helmet in 2022 now runs $1,000. The chest protector they got last year for $465 now goes for $900. For a sport that is increasingly expensive for everything from gear and ice time to travel and coaching, the latest round of 50% tariffs levied by President Donald Trump’s administration against Canada was most unwelcome news as they threaten to ramp up prices even more. “If a kid on the ice breaks a stick, every other parent is looking at that mom or dad going, ‘Ahhh oh, no!’” Rand said. “You feel for them. How many $400 sticks can you afford in one season?” Hockey sticks and skates are among the more than 550 goods named in the tariffs by the White House. Custom equipment is also manufactured by True Hockey in Canada and imported into the U.S., according to B&R Sports Director of E-commerce John Merola, who said skates and goalie gear fit into that category. An average stick is now $200, Merola said, with high-end versions ranging up to $400. He noted that Bauer, CCM and True still make many custom items in Canada. “This is not a minor blip by any means,” Sports & Fitness Industry Association CEO Todd
Smith said. “Even if manufacturers have moved over the last several years from Canada to other countries, there’s still a healthy amount being manufactured in Canada and, yeah, this 50% tariff is a big deal.”
Feds open probe into Musk’s steeringwheel-free taxis New York Tesla is facing a probe into the safety of its steering-wheelfree Cybercabs a day after the company run by Elon Musk launched the taxi service with fanfare. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said last Friday in a filing that its audit into the cabs will check that the futuristic gold-colored cabs are following federal rules as the company insisted in a so-called self-certification to the agency. The vehicles also lack brake pedals and other manual controls that would allow passengers to take over in an emergency. Tesla stock fell more than 5% last Friday on news of the probe.
Party’s over for crypto scammers Washington, D.C. A 22-year-old man from Singapore is expected to plead guilty in Washington, D.C., to orchestrating one of the largest cryptocurrency thefts in U.S. history, duping a stranger out of bitcoin worth more than $240 million. Malone Lam’s conviction would be a major milestone in a case that already has led to guilty pleas by several co-conspirators. The scammers who duped a man into turning over the virtual keys to his crypto holdings celebrated the August 2024 heist by embarking on a wild spending spree. The case is an extreme example of an increasingly common form of cybercrime at a time when the Trump administration is relaxing industry regulation.
Poorest in U.S. struggle to find housing as low-income units sit empty Portland, Ore. The poorest people in the U.S. face the most acute shortage of affordable homes. That’s partly because the majority of low-income housing financed in recent years has been for those earning at least 50% of an area’s median income. Now, some cities are seeing an uptick in vacancies in these units as their rents approach those of market-rate apartments. As a result, some people who qualify are opting for market-rate apartments with fewer income-verification requirements and a faster chance of approval.
Rising prices, popularity amid production shifts When Rand’s family bought custom goalie gear a couple of years ago, the entire setup cost $3,300. Skate pairs that in 2016 went for between $80 and $900 are now $200 to $1,230, according to HockeySkates DB, a database that charts the prices from various companies. Inflation as well as tariffs on other countries are behind the price jumps in recent years. The Sports & Fitness Industry Association’s manufacturers’ sales report said the amount spent on hockey equipment increased 45.4% from 2020 to 2025, up to $332.9 million from $228.9 million, dovetailing with increasing participation in the sport. According to U.S. International Trade Commission data, which does not separate ice and field hockey equipment, gear from Canada made up roughly 8.5% of imports last year, fourth behind 52.7% from China, 13.2% from Vietnam and 9.5% from Thailand. Chris Douglas, an economics professor at the University of Michigan-Flint, called it unlikely that stick prices will go up 50% across the board, noting Canada’s modest market share, but wonders what will happen if demand increases. “Maybe that causes the price of hockey sticks to rise somewhat — maybe by $50 or something like that,” Douglas said. “Hockey is expensive with the equipment, ice time and so
U.S. diesel prices hit record high KELVIN CHAN / AP PHOTO
Wooden hockey sticks are stacked as they move along the factory assembly line of Roustan Hockey — Canada’s last major manufacturer of hockey sticks —in Brantford, Ontario. forth, so maybe there’s a family right on the margin where $50 or $100 in additional cost causes them not to enroll their kids at hockey any longer.” How long will tariffs last? When Trump imposed tariffs on China, Merola said that had a bigger impact on business but not right away. “Bauer, CCM — the big, heavy hitters in the market — came in and said, ‘We’ll absorb these costs. Don’t worry about it,’” Merola said. “And then as nothing happened, they kind of came back and said, ‘We can’t cover this, so we’re gonna have to increase pricing.’” That wait-and-see approach could happen again this time, delaying how long manufacturers and retailers pass on the increase to consumers. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said trade talks could resume if Washington became serious about negotiations. Douglas said it all comes down to expectations for how
long the tariffs will be in place. “It’s hard to form expectations of the current tariff regime where tariffs are changing basically every day, it seems like,” Douglas said. “But if there’s an expectation that tariffs are going to be permanent or at least in place for the long term, then I think prices rise pretty instantaneously because the cost of production has risen and that gets passed on to consumers via a higher price.” Merola thinks long-term tariffs will lead companies to move more production to the U.S., Asia or elsewhere. Roustan Hockey, the last major hockey stick factory in Canada, last week reaffirmed it will keep making them there despite the challenges. “We remain committed to our employees, our customers and our manufacturing operations here in Canada,” founder W. Graeme Roustan said in a statement after hosting federal minister Evan Solomon for a tour of the facility in Brantford, Ontario.
Chicago Diesel has hit a record price in the U.S., soaring to an average of $5.85 a gallon for the first time. The record comes as the six-month war with Iran disrupts the world’s flow of fuel. Because diesel is used for many freight and delivery networks, higher diesel prices mean higher transportation costs for a long list of everyday goods. More expensive fuel is increasing bills for businesses across sectors. Some have already passed on costs to consumers in the form of added fees on online orders and packages in the mail.
NCDOT CASH REPORT FOR THE WEEK ENDING SEPT. 4
Beginning Cash
$2,340,283,758 Receipts (income)
$198,427,406 Disbursements
$206,501,007 Cash Balance
$2,332,119,805
A8
North State Journal for Thursday, September 10, 2026
Jones & Blount
Murphy to Manteo
Tillett selected to replace Hanig in state Senate
2026 North Carolina Award Recipients North Carolina has announced the recipients of the 2026 North Carolina Awards, the state’s highest civilian honor recognizing significant contributions to the arts, literature, science and public service. This year’s six honorees represent an impressive range of achievement and service across the state. Jason Mott, an award-winning novelist and poet, was selected for literature. Beverly McIver, a nationally recognized painter and longtime Chapel Hill resident, received the fine arts award for her influential work and contributions to contemporary American art. Lindsay Zanno, a leading paleontologist associated with the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences and NC State University, was honored for her scientific accomplishments and efforts to advance public understanding of science. Three recipients were recognized for public service: legendary NASCAR driver and philanthropist Richard Petty, retired U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Kevin Vereen and Randy Woodson, former chancellor of NC State. Their careers reflect extraordinary leadership and service to North Carolina, the nation and their communities. The 2026 honorees will be formally presented with their awards at a ceremony in Raleigh on Nov. 17.
A9
North State Journal for Thursday, September 10, 2026
The Dare County Republican will face Democrat Melissa Zehner in the November general election By A.P. Dillon North State Journal
TAURUSEMERALD VIA WIKIPEDIA
Richard Petty Public Service Level Cross
COURTESY DUKE ARTS
PUBLIC DOMAIN
JOHNSON524 VIA WIKIPEDIA
Beverly McIver Lt. Gen. Kevin Fine Arts Vereen (Ret.) Chapel Hill
Public Service
COURTESY NCMNS
RALEIGH — Republican Jerry Tillett has been selected to replace state Sen. Bobby Hanig (R-Currituck), who resigned his seat effective Aug. 24. Hanig represented Senate District 1, which spans Bertie, Camden, Currituck, Dare, Gates, Hertford, Northampton, Pasquotank, Perquimans and Tyrrell counties. Republicans from the district met over the weekend following Hanig’s resignation to name his successor. First Congressional District Republican Chairwoman Mary Helen Pelt Warren called the meeting, according to a press release. Tillett is a retired Dare County Superior Court judge who is already on the November ballot to run for the District 1 seat and will face Democrat Melissa Zehner. Hanig had decided to run for the state’s 1st Congressional District instead
ROBERT KENNICOTT VIA WIKIPEDIA
Randy Woodson Lindsay Zanno
Jason Mott
Public Service
Science
Literature
Raleigh
Raleigh area
Southeastern N.C./Bolton
COURTESY NORTH CAROLINA 1ST CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT REPUBLICAN PARTY
Jerry Tillett was named to complete the term of state Sen. Bobby Hanig, who resigned his seat last month. of his state Senate seat but lost in the March primary. Laurie Buckhout emerged as the winner of that race and will face incumbent U.S. Rep. Don Davis (D-Snow Hill).
Fayetteville
Report: Crime rates fall in North Carolina
WEST
PIEDMONT
EAST
Asheville welcomes largest Habitat for Humanity neighborhood
Greensboro USPS worker charged with veterans’ prescription opioid theft
Sheriff’s office receives statewide award for major drug operation
Buncombe County Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity gathered last week to celebrate four local families achieving homeownership. Public officials have been partnering with housing organizations in recent years as the area has noticed an increased need for affordable housing. The four families were honored with a dedication and key-passing ceremony to celebrate their new homes in Habitat for Humanity’s “New Heights Neighborhood” in Asheville. Habitat leaders say it is the largest neighborhood they’ve ever built, totaling 98 homes when construction is finished.
Guilford County A Greensboro postal worker is facing a federal charge after police say he stole thousands of opioid doses from Veterans Affairs prescriptions. Greensboro police arrested 22-year-old Martez Murphy on Wednesday following a lengthy investigation with help from the U.S. Postal Service. Police say Murphy allegedly stole as many as 7,500 dosage units of Veterans Affairs prescriptions for Schedule II opioids between July and September. Murphy was indicted on one federal count of theft of mail matter by an employee.
Craven County The Craven County Sheriff’s Office, along with other local, state and federal law enforcement agencies, has been honored with the N.C. Gang Association Award. The award recognizes a joint operation in which agencies seized nearly two pounds of fentanyl, more than three pounds of methamphetamine and approximately 17 firearms. The sheriff’s office said 10 suspects were arrested, leading to federal convictions and sentences totaling more than 114 years in prison.
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Recalls issued after fiberglass found in IV solution made at WNC facility McDowell County Baxter International has issued two recalls for separate lots of IV solutions manufactured at its McDowell County facility due to the potential presence of fiberglass particles. Baxter said in a news release that the recalls involved their 0.9% sodium chloride injection and their anticoagulant sodium citrate solution (4%, 250 ml). Officials said that the fiberglass particles can cause blockage and clotting in blood vessels, lead to a life-threatening blood clot in the lungs and cause permanent organ damage or death.
Man acquitted of murder charges on Cherokee land Cherokee County A federal jury in Asheville has acquitted a Cherokee man of first-degree murder and related charges, ending a case that centered on whether he acted in lawful self-defense in a fatal shooting. The jury returned verdicts of not guilty on all counts for Derrick Alan Cucumber at the U.S. Courthouse in Asheville last week. Cucumber was held in pretrial confinement for about 22 months while awaiting resolution of the charges. In November 2024, Cucumber drove to a relative’s home in Indian country, where he approached two men as they sat by a fire pit on the property, according to officials. The U.S. Attorney’s office said Cucumber pointed a gun and allegedly shot Mario Sanchez Nino in the face, killing him, before fleeing the scene. Court documents alleged Cucumber was arrested after a two-hour standoff. At trial, Cucumber testified that he fired after Sanchez Nino pointed a handgun at him and that he believed his life was in danger. WLOS
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Triad man accused of appliance scam charged again Cleveland County John Clay Jackson, a North Carolina man banned by the state attorney general from doing or advertising repair work, was recently arrested on felony fraud charges. On Sept. 1, investigators received information that a vehicle associated with Jackson had entered Cleveland County. Jackson was previously identified as a suspect in multiple incidents involving an individual representing a business known as “Appliance Repair Center.” Jackson’s alleged scam has been to ask for upfront payment for an appliance without ever producing it. WGHP
Heart of downtown Lexington reopens after major fire recovery Davidson County After more than three months of being closed, a stretch of Main Street in uptown Lexington is open again. North Main Street between Center Street and First Street reopened last Friday following demolition and cleanup work at the site of a devastating May fire. The reopening gives drivers and pedestrians easier access to the businesses that line the popular downtown stretch. For months, the closure created an extra challenge for businesses in the area, with some seeing less foot traffic because customers couldn’t easily get to them. The May 19 fire destroyed the buildings that housed Shoto Japanese Steakhouse and The Candy Factory. Firefighters said the blaze started at Shoto’s and spread to the neighboring Candy Factory. Both buildings were considered total losses after their roofs collapsed. Officials say because the damage was so extensive, it’s unlikely a cause will ever be determined. WFMY
North State Journal staff
ECU may cut nearly 40 academic programs
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Inmate escapes during transport to New Hanover facility Columbus County A Columbus County inmate who escaped from a transport vehicle last week was quickly returned to custody, according to the Columbus County Sheriff’s Office. Sheriff Bill Rogers said a Columbus County transport deputy was taking the inmate to the New Hanover County Detention Facility when the inmate escaped. The transport deputy requested help from area law enforcement, and the prisoner was tracked down. Rogers said the Columbus County Sheriff’s Office will conduct a review of the incident and its inmate transport procedures.
Pitt County East Carolina University may remove more than 40 academic programs to save money. ECU’s Fiscal Health Initiative aims to strengthen the university’s long-term success by reallocating important resources to support other priorities. The initiative is a three-year program that will save the university $25 million. The university saved $6 million in the first year of the program and seeks to save $8.5 million in its second year. Academic programs that may be cut in year two were identified in year one of the initiative by faculty and the university’s oversight committee. The university cites the merging of ECU’s libraries, the formation of a new College of Health and Human Sciences and the relocation of the coastal studies program into the Thomas Harriot College of Arts and Sciences as realized cost reductions. In the coming year, the university will review concentrations, doctoral programs and programs of distinction, along with some internal staff and administration changes. NSJ
RALEIGH — North Carolina crime rates dropped in the first half of 2026, with new state data showing declines in every major category tracked by law enforcement. The Criminal Justice Analysis Center presented the figures to the Governor’s Crime Commission last week. It marked the third straight year crime numbers have fallen. Property crime dropped nearly 12%, the largest decline of the four categories. Violent crime decreased 6%, while financial crime dipped about 2%, keeping pace with a gradual decline that’s held since 2024. Drug offenses fell roughly 3% after climbing throughout 2025 — a reversal analysts flagged as encouraging but not yet proof of a lasting trend. Car theft and forgery-related offenses recorded the sharpest drops among individual crime types, both down more than 20% year over year. Extortion and blackmail were the lone exception to the downward trend, continuing an upward climb that’s persisted since 2020. Gun crime moved in different directions depending on the offense. Firearm homicides fell more than 14% and other gun-related offenses dropped 8%, while weapons violations rose about 2%. Not every category improved. Kidnapping and abduction cases rose 4.6%, and intimidation offenses climbed
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“Strong trend information allows us to respond more effectively, support victims and ensure resources are committed to the right initiatives.” Caroline Farmer, Governor’s Crime Commission executive director 8.2%, with intimate partners linked to 54% of the kidnapping cases and much of the intimidation total — a pattern analysts said could point to rising intimate partner violence and stalking even as broader violent crime falls. “These insights will help our law enforcement agencies understand where we are seeing success and where emerging needs are developing,” Governor’s Crime Commission executive director Caroline Farmer said. “Strong trend information allows us to respond more effectively, support victims and ensure resources are committed to the right initiatives.” North Carolina’s federally designated statistical analysis center operates within the Governor’s Crime Commission under the Department of Public Safety. It tracks statewide crime, court and custody data, runs the public N.C. Justice Data Portal and leads a multiagency effort to align justice data across the state.
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Armed man arrested after charging Ohio gubernatorial candidate Canfield, Ohio An armed assailant charged toward the Democratic candidate for Ohio governor, Amy Acton, on Sunday during a campaign stop at the Canfield Fair, injuring several people before he was stopped by troopers, the Ohio State Highway Patrol said. The Ohio State Highway Patrol said in a statement that a man it identified as Patrick Havas, 38, forced his way through a crowd, knocking over multiple members of the audience as he moved toward Acton, the state’s former public health director. He had a Taser and two pistols, the statement said. The Mahoning County Sheriff’s Office said two handguns and a set of brass knuckles were recovered after his arrest, and “no weapons were ever brandished or even removed from their holsters.”
Police fatally shoot knife-wielding man on Brooklyn Bridge New York Police fatally shot a knife-wielding man walking on the cables of New York City’s Brooklyn Bridge after he ignored orders to drop the weapon, authorities said Friday. The shooting happened when he moved within feet of an officer trying to help him climb down. The shooting at one of the city’s most famous landmarks closed the bridge and tied up traffic for part of the morning. The man told the police rescue team that he wanted them to kill him and that he had a bomb, according to officials.
Typhoon causes deadly mudslide in China Beijing The death toll from a mudslide in eastern China rose to three Sunday, after days of torrential rain brought by Typhoon Saudel. Nine others were still missing. The mudslide hit part of a village in Suichuan County in Jiangxi province early Saturday, damaging a dozen houses. Rescuers found two people dead Sunday, state broadcaster CCTV reported. More than 5,300 people in the county were relocated to safer places. A third death related to the typhoon was reported Saturday. CCTV also reported that two people were killed in Hunan province following downpours brought by the typhoon.
North Korea adds second naval destroyer Seoul, South Korea North Korean leader Kim Jong Un put his second naval destroyer into service and called for building a more reliable nuclear deterrent, state media reported Monday. The ship’s commissioning comes as North Korea is dialing up pressure on the U.S. after rebuffing President Donald Trump’s decision to scale back a major military drill with South Korea in a conciliatory step toward Kim. Observers say North Korea wants to wrest bigger U.S. concessions. The destroyer Kang Kon was commissioned at a ceremony attended by Kim and his teenage daughter.
North State Journal for Thursday, September 10, 2026
NATION & WORLD Why 9/11, its many griefs land differently 25 years later A generation has now grown up not understanding life before the attacks
By Deepti Hajela The Associated Press NEW YORK — When the planes crashed and the buildings fell on that sunny September morning 25 years ago, the shock waves of dismay and grief went far past downtown New York City, rural western Pennsylvania and just outside Washington, D.C. They radiated through every part of the United States in communities large and small, tearing at Americans’ sense of safety and their place in the world. Hearts were broken across the nation, not just of those who lost their loved ones but among strangers who mourned for them, the Sept. 11 attacks leaving no one unaffected in an unwanted moment of horrifying togetherness. A quarter of a century later, the effects linger. We all live in a post-9/11 world, with its security strictures and surveillance. But here’s the thing: Americans don’t all live in the same one. What the attacks and their aftermath have come to mean isn’t a single viewpoint shared by everyone, for reasons chronological, political and personal. It’s a tapestry of meaning and grief as varied as the nation in which 9/11 took place. The mere passage of time means tens of millions of young Americans have been born since then. For them, 9/11 is something to learn about in history lessons. But people’s views of 9/11 and its aftermath have also been shaped by human factors like policies and actions taken by those in power. And the America that was attacked was already a nation with its own history and tensions, with stress points of dispute and disagreement put under additional strain by the catastrophic event. “The same event, whether it’s a disaster or a shock or even the recovery process, is completely different depending on your network,” said Daniel Aldrich, a professor at Northeastern University who studies communities and resilience. Those networks can exist in a range of ways and layers. Among them: those who
ERNESTO MORA / AP PHOTO
Two women embrace each other as they watch the World Trade Center burn following a terrorist attack on the twin skyscrapers in New York on Sept. 11, 2001. lost loved ones; those who spent months clearing the rubble and debris from ground zero; those who were motivated to join the military; those who lost jobs in hard-hit industries like tourism and air transportation; those who came from certain countries and communities viewed with heightened suspicion after the attacks. Different networks overlap in Jenna McPartland’s family. She was expecting her first child with her husband, Ariel Jacobs, who was killed at the World Trade Center. She gave birth days later to their son, Gabriel, whose life was irrevocably altered by an event he didn’t experience. In the years since, McPartland remarried twice, had two younger sons with no biological tie to their older brother’s dad and has been a stepmom to two teenagers for the last decade. Even as she added new chapters to her life, she made sure Gabi was connected to his father’s family and that her younger sons also knew that Sept. 11 was part of their larger family story. “My middle boy wrote his college entrance essay on being the
child of a 9/11 family but not being the 9/11 kid. And how he wouldn’t exist had his brother’s dad not died,” said McPartland, 52, a chef and restaurant owner in Fairfield, Connecticut. “They all acknowledge it in different ways, they feel it in different ways, they sense it in their lives in different ways.” Also playing a role in the impact, and even grief, caused by 9/11: choices that were made after the attacks by the U.S. government like the restructuring of government agencies and the creation of the Department of Homeland Security, along with foreign policy decisions like the invasion of Afghanistan. Immigration had already been a contentious issue before the attack: Who should be allowed to come? Who could stay? What did it mean to be American, and who could claim it? After Sept. 11, it took on another dimension of added fear and suspicion. And much of it fell on people of Muslim faith or coming from Muslim-majority parts of the world. For example, in 2002, the federal government implemented the National Security Entry-Ex-
NC ‘homewrecker’ lawsuit against Sinema can proceed The former Arizona senator was sued over a relationship with a married member of her security team By Jonathan J. Cooper The Associated Press PHOENIX — Former U.S. Sen. Kyrsten Sinema can be sued under North Carolina’s homewrecker law over her relationship with a member of her security detail, a judge ruled Friday. Sinema has acknowledged having a romantic relationship with Matthew Ammel but argued that she can’t be sued in North Carolina because she has no connection to the state. U.S. District Judge David A. Bragdon rejected that argument, saying nine text messages she sent Ammel while he was in the state give North Carolina jurisdiction over her. He found it implausible that she was un-
J. SCOTT APPLEWHITE / AP PHOTO
Former Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.), pictured in 2022, faces an “alienation of affection” lawsuit in North Carolina. aware of Ammel’s whereabouts when she texted him. Sinema’s lawyer, Steven Epstein, did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment. The lawsuit, filed by Ammel’s ex-wife, seeks financial damages
from Sinema, who represented Arizona in the U.S. House and later the Senate for one term that ended early last year. North Carolina is one of a handful of states that allow jilted spouses to sue for “alienation of affection” to seek compensation from
it Registration System, which required non-U.S. citizen males older than 16 from 25 countries, almost all of them Muslim-majority, to register at certain ports of entry or at immigration offices if they were already in the country. Critics condemned it as racial and religious profiling, and it was dismantled in the following decade. “The idea that there’s this outside threat in the form of people who look like this or from particular countries really fueled the reorganization of the Department of Homeland Security and has continued to fuel the ways in which we’ve funded and contributed to the securitization of our immigration system and society more broadly,” said Jayesh Rathod, a professor at Georgetown Law. That lingers in the existence of the Transportation Security Administration and the general hardening of security measures in society overall. “The idea that we need to do everything possible to protect ourselves from whatever this threat is, amorphous threat, has become totally normalized,” Rathod said.
a third party responsible for the breakup of their marriage. Matthew and Heather Ammel had “a good and loving marriage” with “genuine love and affection” before Sinema interfered, pursuing Matthew Ammel despite knowing he was married, Heather Ammel alleges in her lawsuit. Matthew Ammel joined Sinema’s security team after he retired from the Army in 2022 and accompanied her on domestic and foreign travel, according to Heather Ammel’s complaint. In early 2024, Heather Ammel discovered “romantic and lascivious” messages her husband had exchanged with Sinema over the Signal messaging app. That summer, he stopped wearing his wedding ring and Sinema gave him a job as a national security fellow in her Senate office while he continued to work for her campaign as a bodyguard, the lawsuit alleges. Sinema described their sexual encounters during a deposition in July. She said the relationship turned sexual on May 27, 2024, during a trip to Napa, California. She said they later had sexual encounters in New York, Washington, Colorado and Arizona, but never North Carolina. Matthew and Heather Ammel separated on Nov. 1, 2024.
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North State Journal for Thursday, September 10, 2026
features
‘Widow’s Bay’ dominates with 8 Emmys at early ceremony, ‘The Pitt’ takes 4 The late Rob Reiner was honored during the event
nation in an elite TV career that included roles on “Freaks and Geeks” and “Mad Men.” “Thank you to everybody who along the way through the years helped me get to this moment of a real dream come true,” Cardellini said from the stage, through tears.
By Andrew Dalton The Associated Press LOS ANGELES — “Widow’s Bay” ran away with eight early Emmys for its debut season Sunday at a ceremony eight days before the main awards show and telecast, while “The Pitt” had a strong second-year showing with four of its own and Rob Reiner posthumously won an acting Emmy nearly nine months after his killing. “DTF St. Louis” won big with six awards in the limited series categories, with co-stars and veteran actors David Harbour and Linda Cardellini both becoming first-time Emmy winners. “Widow’s Bay,” the Apple TV horror comedy with Matthew Rhys as the mayor of a small New England town dealing with a centuries-old curse, won categories including cinematography, sound, music and production design. Betty Gilpin won best guest actress in a comedy for her role on the show and read a rapid-fire comic poem as her acceptance speech. It included the lines “our business is stupid, but actors are the bomb” and “let’s all lean more toward Sam Shepard and less toward Sam Altman.”
Reiner gets somber ovation
CHRIS PIZZELLO / AP PHOTO
Linda Cardellini, left, and David Harbour pose with their supporting acting awards for “DTF St. Louis” during the Creative Arts Emmy Awards on Sunday.
“Thank you to everybody who along the way through the years helped me get to this moment of a real dream come true.” Linda Cardellini
‘The Pitt’ has strong second-year showing
Rebranding Creative Arts Emmys, adding star power
HBO Max’s day-in-the-life medical series “The Pitt” — the year’s top nominee with 25 and the reigning best drama winner for its first season — had wins Sunday in categories including prosthetic makeup and best guest actor in a drama for 73-year-old first-time nominee Ernest Harden Jr. Harden, who won for portraying the last days of Louie Cloverfield, the emergency room’s constant presence and constantly struggling alcoholic on “The Pitt,” wept when his name was called. “I am just on cloud 25,” he said backstage at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. “I’m not
The Television Academy hands out well over 100 prime-time Emmys, and most of them were presented last weekend in a pair of ceremonies. The weekend’s awards primarily go to behind-the-scenes crew members, but they include the guest-acting awards that tend to go to bigger names. And the shows’ star power got a boost when five categories normally on the main telecast were bumped to the earlier weekend, among them best supporting actor in a limited series, won by Harbour in his third nomination, and best supporting actress in a limited series, won by Cardellini in her fourth nomi-
CHRIS PIZZELLO / AP PHOTO
Ernest Harden Jr. poses in the press room with the award for outstanding guest actor in a drama series for “The Pitt” during night two of the Creative Arts Emmy Awards on Sunday in Los Angeles. saying it’s a complete surprise because ‘The Pitt’ is such a powerful show to come from, but just to get it in your hands is unreal.” Harden’s first speaking role was in the 1975 Robert Redford-Faye Dunaway thriller “Three Days of the Condor,” and he had a three-season
role on the sitcom “The Jeffersons” in the 1970s but has acted for decades without awards recognition. Singer-songwriter Andrew Bird and Gavin Brivik won for original music and lyrics for a song they wrote about the character.
‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ makes it 6 weeks at No. 1 as Hollywood wraps banner summer The low-budget dark comedy “Buddy” earned $5.7 million By Jake Coyle The Associated Press NEW YORK — “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” remained the No. 1 movie in theaters over the weekend, becoming just the second film this decade to top the box office for six straight weeks. Since the end of July, the Sony superhero movie has ruled over cinemas with rare dominance. The last release to enjoy such a long stretch leading the box office was 2022’s “Avatar: The Way of Water.” “Brand New Day,” the fourth stand-alone Spider-Man film starring Tom Holland, collected $18 million over the weekend, according to studio estimates Sunday. Sony is forecasting $23.3 million for the four-day holiday weekend. “Brand New Day” has grossed $2.4 billion worldwide. Universal Pictures’ “The Odyssey,” as it has for much of the “Spider-Man” run, remained in second place. Christopher Nolan’s epic added $13 million domestically over the weekend, bringing its global haul to $1.63 billion. More than $1 billion of that has come from overseas
sales, making “The Odyssey” the first to achieve that international milestone since 2009’s “Avatar.” Both blockbusters — “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” and “The Odyssey” — helped lead Hollywood to its best summer since before the pandemic. Through Aug. 31, the domestic box office totaled $4.6 billion for the season, according to Rentrak, an increase of 26.1% from 2025 and just shy of 2013’s record summer. On Sunday, Rentrak forecast that, including the Labor Day weekend, the summer will end up with $4.759 billion, a whisker above the $4.758 billion of summer 2013. That time frame, though, spans 130 days this year, compared with 123 days in 2013. Accounting for inflation and higher ticket prices, Hollywood’s summer wasn’t quite so historically sensational. Admissions are still well below prepandemic marks. But it’s nevertheless a remarkable rebound for a film industry that has struggled to string together such a hit-filled summer through the pandemic, labor strife and the expansion of streaming. Labor Day weekend is typically a sleepy time in theaters. And neither new release — Paramount’s “By Any Means” nor A24’s “Onslaught” — made much
At a ceremony that otherwise moved at a blazing-fast clip with a breezy mood, a long, thoughtful ovation came when Reiner was announced as best guest actor in a comedy for his work on “The Bear.” Reiner’s friend and fellow “Bear” guest star Jamie Lee Curtis was among those in the crowd paying him tribute. Reiner was killed along with his wife, Michele Singer Reiner, in December, and their son, who has pleaded not guilty, has been charged with stabbing them to death. His win came about 50 years after winning two Emmy Awards for his acting on “All in the Family.” Saturday and Sunday’s ceremonies will be edited together to air Sept. 12 on FXX and stream on Hulu the following day. The prime-time Sept. 14 ceremony, also at the Peacock Theater and hosted by Mariska Hargitay, will air live on NBC and stream live on Peacock. Both “Widow’s Bay” and “The Pitt” can add up to six more Emmys to their totals on that final night. Woodley, canceled “Spider-Noir” also winners Shailene Woodley won best guest actress in a drama for her role on “Paradise.” It was her first Emmy. “Spider-Noir,” the Nicolas Cage series that was canceled after one season last week by Amazon Prime Video, won five Emmys including visual effects and stunts. Hargitay was among this weekend’s winners, getting two Emmys for the documentary she directed about her mother, Jayne Mansfield, “My Mom Jayne,” to go with the best actress in a drama Emmy she won in 2006 for “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.”
diers. “Onslaught” cost a modest $15 million to make. But reviews (57% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes) and audience scores (a “C” CinemaScore) weren’t good. Meanwhile, “Buddy,” a low-budget dark comedy, has turned into a surprise success. Made for just $3 million, the film, directed by Casper Kelly and from the producers of “Weapons,” is about a group of children trapped inside a surreal 1990s children’s television series. After overperforming in its opening weekend, “Buddy” actually increased its ticket sales over its second weekend. The film grossed $5.7 million, up 5%, to bring its two-week total to $14.3 million. Top 10 movies by domestic box office
RICHARD FOREMAN / A24 VIA AP
Adria Arjona appears in a scene from “Onslaught.”
1. “Spider-Man: Brand New Day,” $18 million 2. “The Odyssey,” $13 million
of a mark. One of the weekend’s best performers was “Coyote vs. Acme,” the hybrid live-action/ animated Looney Tunes movie. It dipped a modest 29% to gross $11.3 million in its second weekend. “Coyote vs. Acme” is turning out to be a good investment for Ketchup Entertainment. The indie distributor acquired the film for approximately $50 million after Warner Bros., which produced the $70 million film, opted to can it. In two weeks, “Coyote vs. Acme” has ridden strong reviews and good word of mouth to $33.8 million domestically.
“By Any Means,” a 1960s-set civil rights action thriller starring Mark Wahlberg and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, opened with $7.4 million. Paramount is projecting $9.2 million for the four-day holiday weekend. Audiences gave it a “B+” CinemaScore. “Onslaught,” however, flopped with $1.9 million on 1,918 screens for the three-day weekend and a projection of $2.3 million for the four-day weekend. The A24 release, directed by Adam Wingard, stars Adria Arjona as a former Army sniper who defends her trailer park home from three escaped experimental super sol-
3. “Coyote vs. Acme,” $11.3 million 4. “By Any Means,” $7.4 million 5. “Insidious: Out of the Further,” $6.5 million 6. “Cars” (20th anniversary), $6.1 million 7. “Buddy,” $5.7 million 8. “PAW Patrol: The Dino Movie,” $3.3 million 9. “The End of Oak Street,” $2.9 million 10. “The Dog Stars,” $2.7 million
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North State Journal for Thursday, September 10, 2026
Psychedelic ‘Furthur’ bus rolls back into San Francisco for new Grateful Dead exhibit Eric Pirone, left, looks toward Ken Kesey’s psychedelic bus “Furthur” at the Forever Grateful exhibit at the County Fair Building in Golden Gate Park on Sept. 1 in San Francisco.
Deadheads and counter-culturists rejoice By Olga R. Rodriguez The Associated Press SAN FRANCISCO — Ken Kesey’s school bus — once painted in bright, swirly colors and driven across the country on a psychedelic journey — is back in San Francisco after 60 years as the centerpiece of a new exhibition celebrating the legacy of the Grateful Dead, a band that rose from the city’s famed hippie movement. “Forever Grateful/Golden Gate Park” opened last Saturday and will also feature Grateful Dead frontman Jerry Garcia’s BMW, which remains in mint condition and has never been displayed publicly. The two iconic artifacts will anchor an exhibition that immerses visitors in the colors, sounds and sights of the counterculture that flourished in San Francisco in the 1960s. Kesey rode the bus dubbed “Furthur” during the cross-country trip by the late author and his Merry Band of Pranksters to expand human consciousness through art, music and mind-altering drugs. “This invites people to communicate and connect around art, music and activism,” said Kelly Harris, executive director of the Haight Street Art Center, which organized the exhibition. “In this day and age, when we need something to bridge community, we know that this space allows for that to happen, and Furthur is the portal.” Celebration of hippie love, activism The exhibition aims to celebrate the city’s history of hippie love and activism at a time when San Francisco is grappling with widening economic inequality fueled by an AI-driven technology boom while the nation confronts deepening political divisions and collective fatigue. Formed in 1965, the Grateful Dead is synonymous with San Francisco and its counterculture. Members lived in a dirtcheap Victorian in the Haight and later became a significant part of 1967’s Summer of Love. And it all started with the bus. Kesey bought the bus with the
on communities, on society, on people, and how their legacy still lives on,” said Renee de Cossio, director of exhibitions at the Haight Street Art Center. Deadheads can recite why they fell in love with the music, how it happened and the moment it all clicked. They embrace something just as important as the music itself — the community that comes together at a Dead show. Exhibit immerses visitors in counterculture
mixes liquids of different densities in watch glasses and projects colorful, shifting psychedelic patterns onto every space of a room, creating the sensation of being inside a giant, multicolor lava lamp. “You might go with the people that you came with, or you might get packaged with a couple other folks that you didn’t know, and you’ll then unpack the experience with each other and have a conversation with a stranger that you wouldn’t have had otherwise,” said Edward Rice, associate managing director at Third Rail Projects. The exhibit, which runs through Oct. 25, will also feature photographs from the band’s many concerts in Golden Gate Park and a screen-printing station where visitors can create their own art. It will also help launch an effort to restore the now-dilapidated “Furthur” bus, which got its name after a typo on its destination sign. The bus was kept on the Kesey family farm in Pleasant Hill, Oregon, and was last seen in public at Woodstock in 1969. “The focal point is the Furthur bus,” Harris said. “And Furthur is a call to action. Never stop creating, never stop exploring, keep going further.”
proceeds from “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.” In 1964, the writer and his friends drove it on a marijuana- and LSD-fueled journey from coast to coast, helping introduce Americans to the emerging psychedelic scene. That history-making road trip was later recounted in Tom Wolfe’s 1968 bestseller, “The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test.” Upon their return to California, Kesey, who as a student had been a guinea pig for government tests of the mind-altering drug, shared his experiences at
a series of parties at his home in the hills above Stanford University that became known as the “acid tests.” The parties featured a local bar band called The Warlocks, which turned into the Grateful Dead. The bus became a defining feature of the “acid tests” as Kesey and his friends took the parties on the road, mainly around the Bay Area. “This entire exhibit, it’s a very layered story of the Grateful Dead and their influence, their phenomenon, and their impact
Visitors will be invited to record their first encounter with the counterculture — whether it was becoming a Deadhead, as the band’s fans are called, while Garcia was still alive, discovering the band after his death or experiencing the Grateful Dead for the first time through the exhibition. Actors with Third Rail Projects, a New York-based experiential performance company, will guide visitors through part of the exhibit, including a dark tunnel full of mirrors that leads into booths where they will start conversations with the audience. They will then lead small groups to experience a liquid light show, a 1960s art form that
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NORTH CAROLINA CUMBERLAND COUNTY IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION BEFORE THE CLERK ESTATE FILE NO. 26E001388-250 IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF MARIA M. BAILEY, Deceased The undersigned, having qualified as Executor of the Estate of Maria M. Bailey, deceased, late of Cumberland County, North Carolina, hereby notifies all persons, firms, and corporations having claims against the estate of said decedent to present their claims to the undersigned at the address shown below on or before December 3, 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 Cynthia Cuschieri Executor of the Estate of Maria M. Bailey 825 2nd Street Hoquiam, Washington 98550
NORTH CAROLINA CUMBERLAND COUNTY IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION Administrator’s Notice 26E001366-250 The undersigned, having qualified as Administrator of the Estate of Katherine Irene Balestrieri, 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 10th day of December 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 is the 10th day of September 2026. Kimberly Ann Denny Bowley, Administrator of the Katherine Irene Balestrieri Estate Haymount Law Attorneys for the Estate 1008 Hay Street Fayetteville, NC 28305 Telephone: (910) 672-4600 Publish: 09/10, 9/17, 09/24, 10/01
In The General Court of Justice Superior Court Division Estate File # 26E001205-250 State of North Carolina Cumberland County Administrator’s/Executor’s Notice The undersigned having qualified as Executor of the Estate of Byron Bryant, deceased, late of Cumberland County, hereby notifies all persons having claims against said estate to present their claim to the undersigned on or before the 27th day of November, 2026, (which date is three months after the day of the first publication of this notice) or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All debtors of the decedent are requested to make immediate payment to the undersigned. This 27th day of August, 2026. Executor of the Estate of Byron Bryant Judy Hardy 80 Green Hill Road Engelhard, NC 27824
In the General Court of Justice Superior Court Division Before the Clerk Estate File #26E001083-250 STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA CUMBERLAND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR NOTICE The undersigned having qualified as Administrator of the Estate of Winford Bullard Jr., Winford Bullard Jr. 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 20th day of November, 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 17th day of August, 2026. Felicia Ann Maxwell 202 Fox Run Road St George SC 29477 Administrator of the Estate of Winford Bullard Jr. 08/20/2026, 08/27/2026, 09/03/2026, 09/10/2026
PHOTOS BY JEFF CHIU / AP PHOTO
Ken Kesey’s psychedelic bus “Furthur” is part of the Forever Grateful exhibit at Golden Gate Park.
TAKE NOTICE
CUMBERLAND NOTICE TO CREDITORS IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION ESTATE FILE NO. 26E001296-250 STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF CUMBERLAND Having qualified as Executor of the Estate of Jenny Doris Augustowski, late of Cumberland County, North Carolina, the undersigned does hereby notify all persons, firms, and corporations having claims against the estate of said decedent to exhibit them to the undersigned at 2517 Raeford Road, Fayetteville, NC 28305, on or before November 20, 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. Dated this 20th day of August, 2026. Thomas Charles Augustowski, Jr., Executor of the Estate of Jenny Doris Augustowski NICOLE A. CORLEY MURRAY & CORLEY, P.A. N.C. BAR NO. 56459 2517 RAEFORD ROAD FAYETTEVILLE, NC 28305 – 3007 (910) 483 – 4990 COUNSEL FOR EXECUTOR
NOTICE OF SERVICE OF PROCESS BY PUBLICATION STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA CUMBERLAND COUNTY In the Superior Court, Before the Clerk Petition for Sale Christopher Joseph Avila: 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: Sale of real property located at 140 W Circle Court Fayetteville, NC 28301 You are required to make defense to such pleading no later than October 6, 2026 and upon your failure to do so the party seeking service against you will apply to the court for the relief sought. This is the 27th day of August, 2026. __________________________ Katelyn Barfield DSR Legal, PLLC Attorney for Sharon Melvin P.O. Box 51596 Durham, NC 27717
NOTICE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA CUMBERLAND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR NOTICE The undersigned having qualified as Executor of the Estate of Lloyd G. Bigler, 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 November 27, 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 19th day of August, 2026. Administrator of the Estate of Lloyd G. Bigler 6967 Point East Drive Fayetteville, NC 28306
Administrator’s/Executor’s Notice The undersigned, having qualified as Executor of the Estate of Danny Ray Camden, 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 20th Day of November, 2026, (which date is three months after the day of the first publication of this notice) or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All Debtors of the decedent are requested to make immediate payment to the undersigned. This 11th Day of August, 2026. Sarah Hymbaugh 709 Bent Creek Drive Hope Mills, NC 28348 Of the Estate of Danny Ray Camden, Deceased
NOTICE TO CREDITORS ESTATE OF QUINCY BLACKLEDGE CUMBERLAND County Estate File No. 25E001908-250 All persons, firms and corporations having claims against Quincy Blackledge of Delaware County, PA, are notified to present their claims to the Administrator, Davis W. Puryear, 4317 Ramsey St., Fayetteville, NC 28311 on or before the 28th day of November, 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 20th day of August, 2026. Davis W. Puryear Administrator of the Estate of Quincy Blackledge Davis W. Puryear Hutchens Law Firm Attorneys for the Estate 4317 Ramsey Street Fayetteville, NC 28311 Run dates: August 27, September 3, September 10 and September 17, 2026.
NOTICE TO CREDITORS Estate of Robin Runa Counts File No. 26E001293250 Cumberland County, North Carolina The undersigned, having qualified on August 11, 2026, as Personal Representative of the Estate of Robin Runa Counts, deceased, hereby notifies all persons, firms, and corporations having claims against said decedent to present them to the undersigned at: Michael Levone Counts 6854 Saint Julian Way Fayetteville, North Carolina 28314 Phone: 9102243092 on or before November 20, 2026, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said estate are requested to make immediate payment. This the 20th day of August, 2026. Michael Levone Counts Personal Representative of the Estate
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North State Journal for Thursday, September 10, 2026
TAKE NOTICE
CUMBERLAND NOTICE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA CUMBERLAND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR NOTICE The undersigned having qualified as Executor of the Estate of Russell Elliott 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 3rd day of December, 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. Parties may submit claims to Estate of Russell Elliott, P.O. Box 25182, Fayetteville, NC, 28314.
NOTICE TO CREDITORS: Cumberland County, North Carolina RE: THE ESTATE OF Lisa Renee Ferguson 26E000115-250 Having qualified as Administrator of the Estate of Lisa Renee Ferguson, deceased, Cumberland County, North Carolina, the undersigned does hereby notify all persons, firms, and corporations having claims against the estate of said deceased to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before the 10th day of December, 2026, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. This the 2nd day of September, 2026. Joseph Ferguson, Administrator DSR Legal, PLLC PO Box 51596 Durham, NC 27717
NOTICE FROM: Sherry Y. Sales, Fiduciary of deceased, Larry F. Grubbs The State of North Carolina, Cumberland County approved, Sherry Sales, as Fiduciary of deceased, Larry F. Grubbs, who passed away on 6 January 2026. If the deceased person owes anyone a balance on any accounts, please send an official itemized statement and proof of the debt on or before 27 November 2026, to the address listed. All valid claims will be reviewed and paid from the estate funds in accordance with state law. Send Claims to: Sherry Y. Sales 2922 Ives Drive Eastover, NC 28312
NOTICE NORTH CAROLINA CUMBERLAND COUNTY IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION Ancillary Administrator’s Notice 26E001206-250 The undersigned, having qualified as Ancillary Administrator of the Estate of Tommy Edward Henry, deceased late of Cumberland County, hereby notifies all persons, firms, and corporations having claims against the decedent to exhibit them to the undersigned at the address below on or before the 3rd day of December 2026 or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to the estate are requested to make immediate payment to the undersigned. This is the 3rd day of September 2026. Melinda L Woosley, Ancillary Administrator of the Tommy Edward Henry Estate Haymount Law 1008 Hay Street Fayetteville, NC 28305 Telephone: (910) 672-4600 Publish: 09/03/2026, 09/10/2026, 09/17/2026, 09/24/2026
EXECUTOR’S NOTICE In the General Court of Justice Superior Court Division Estate File # 26E001287-250 STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF CUMBERLAND The undersigned having qualified as Executor of the Estate of Anita Johnson aka Anita Elena Johnson, Deceased 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 November 27, 2026 at 6890 Green Creek Road, Fayetteville, North Carolina 28314, 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 27th day of August, 2026 Sandra Teagle, Executor of the Estate of Anita Johnson aka Anita Elena Johnson, deceased c/o Gilliam Law Firm, PLLC 307 Person Street Fayetteville, NC 28301 (910) 485-8899 08/27/2026, 09/03/2026, 09/10/2026, 09/17/2026
NOTICE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF CUMBERLAND SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION FILE NO: 26E001373-250 ADMINISTRATOR NOTICE: Having qualified as Executor of the Estate of ALVIN CLAYTON KELLER, deceased, late of CUMBERLAND County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons having claims against said estate to present the same to the undersigned on or before the 3rd day of December, 2026, (which is three months after the day of the first publication of this notice) at the address of the representative shown below, or same will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said estate, please make immediate payment to the undersigned. This 3rd day of September, 2026. Deborah Smith Keller 5328 Anna Belle Lane, Wade, North Carolina 28395
NOTICE TO CREDITORS ESTATE OF JANICE WILLIFORD KNIGHT CUMBERLAND County Estate File No. 26E000874-250 All persons, firms and corporations having claims against Janice Williford Knight, of Cumberland County are notified to present their claims to the Administrator, Mark Allan Knight, 409 Mirror Lake Pl., Fayetteville, NC 28303 on or before the 28th day of November, 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 21st day of August, 2026. Mark Allan Knight Administrator of the Estate of Janice Williford Knight Davis W. Puryear Hutchens Law Firm Attorneys for the Estate 4317 Ramsey Street Fayetteville, NC 28311 Run dates: August 27, September 3, September 10 and September 17, 2026.
NOTICE
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
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NORTH CAROLINA CUMBERLAND COUNTY IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION Administrator’s Notice 26E001367-250 The undersigned, having qualified as Administrator of the Estate of Baerbel Malin, 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 3rd day of December 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 is the 3rd day of September 2026. Thorsten Malin, Administrator of the Baerbel Malin Estate Haymount Law Attorneys for the Estate 1008 Hay Street Fayetteville, NC 28305 Telephone: (910) 672-4600 Publish: 09/03, 09/10, 09/17, 09/24
ESTATE OF CHESSIE PIERCE CUMBERLAND County Estate File No. 26E000168-250 All persons, firms and corporations having claims against Chessie Pierce of Cumberland County, NC, are notified to present their claims to the Administrator, Davis W. Puryear, 4317 Ramsey St., Fayetteville, NC 28311 on or before the 28th day of November, 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 20th day of August, 2026. Davis W. Puryear Administrator of the Estate of Chessie Pierce Davis W. Puryear Hutchens Law Firm Attorneys for the Estate 4317 Ramsey Street Fayetteville, NC 28311 Run dates: August 27, September 3, September 10 and September 17, 2026.
NORTH CAROLINA CUMBERLAND COUNTY IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION Administrator’s Notice 26E001283-250 The undersigned, having qualified as Administrator of the Estate of Julia May Thigpen, 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 20th day of November 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 is the 20th day of August 2026. Joseph W. Thigpen, Administrator of the Julia May Thigpen Estate Haymount Law Attorneys for the Estate 1008 Hay Street Fayetteville, NC 28305 Telephone: (910) 672-4600 Publish: 08/20, 08/27, 09/03, 09/10
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NOTICE TO CREDITORS
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NORTH CAROLINA CUMBERLAND COUNTY FILE NO. 26E1352 NOTICE TO CREDITORS Having qualified as Executor of the Estate of Carol A. Martin, deceased, late of Cumberland County, North Carolina, the undersigned hereby notifies all persons, firms and corporations having claims against the estate of said decedent to present their claims to the undersigned at the address below on or before December 9, 2026, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons, firms and corporations indebted to said estate are requested to make immediate payment to the undersigned. This the 19th day of August, 2026. Elena Dillenger Executor of the Estate of Carol A. Martin 2320 Spindle Tree Drive Fayetteville, NC 28304
IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION ESTATE FILE NO. 26E001414-250 STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF CUMBERLAND Having qualified as Administrator of the Estate of Cynthia Ann Riddle Rogers, late of Cumberland County, North Carolina, the undersigned does hereby notify all persons, firms, and corporations having claims against the estate of said decedent to exhibit them to the undersigned at 2517 Raeford Road, Fayetteville, NC 28305, on or before December 10, 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. Dated this 10th day of September, 2026. James Rogers, Administrator of the Estate of Cynthia Ann Riddle Rogers NICOLE A. CORLEY MURRAY & CORLEY, P.A. N.C. BAR NO. 56459 2517 RAEFORD ROAD FAYETTEVILLE, NC 28305 – 3007 (910) 483 – 4990 COUNSEL FOR ADMINISTRATOR
NORTH CAROLINA CUMBERLAND COUNTY IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION Administrator’s Notice 26E001284-250 The undersigned, having qualified as Administrator of the Estate of Thomas Mark Thigpen, 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 20th day of November 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 is the 20th day of August 2026. Joseph W. Thigpen, Administrator of the Thomas Mark Thigpen Estate Haymount Law Attorneys for the Estate 1008 Hay Street Fayetteville, NC 28305 Telephone: (910) 672-4600 Publish: 08/20, 08/27, 09/03, 09/10
NOTICE TO CREDITORS IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION ESTATE FILE NO. 26E001163-250 STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF CUMBERLAND Having qualified as Executor of the Estate of Augusta Bobbie McCollum aka Augusta Boston McCollum, late of Cumberland County, North Carolina, the undersigned does hereby notify all persons, firms, and corporations having claims against the estate of said decedent to exhibit them to the undersigned at 2517 Raeford Road, Fayetteville, NC 28305, on or before November 27, 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. Dated this 27th day of August, 2026. Ramona Christy McCollum, Executor of the Estate of Augusta Bobbie McCollum aka Augusta Boston McCollum NICOLE A. CORLEY MURRAY & CORLEY, P.A. N.C. BAR NO. 56459 2517 RAEFORD ROAD FAYETTEVILLE, NC 28305 – 3007 (910) 483 – 4990 COUNSEL FOR EXECUTOR
NOTICE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF CUMBERLAND IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION ESTATE FILE 26e001343-250 IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF: LAWRENCE DANIEL MCMILLEN Executor’s NOTICE The undersigned, having qualified as Executor of the estate of LAWRENCE DANIEL MCMILLEN, deceased, late of Cumberland County, this is to notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against said estate to present them to the undersigned on or before the 27 day of November, 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 said estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned. This 19 day of August, 2026. Marie Stanley McMillen 5405 Mesa Drive Fayetteville, NC 28303 Of the Estate of Lawrence Daniel McMillen, Deceased
NOTICE NOTICE OF SERVICE OF PROCESS BY PUBLICATION State of North Carolina Cumberland County In the General Court of Justice Superior Court Division John C. Sivley (Petitioner) v. Jeannette Sivley, aka Vilma Jeannette Sivley (Respondent) File No. 26SP000823-250 To: Jeannette Sivley, aka Vilma Jeannette Sivley Take notice that a pleading seeking relief against you has been filed in the above-entitled action. The nature of the relief being sought is Petition to Partition real property located at 593 Braxton Blvd, Fayetteville, Cumberland County, NC, Parcel ID 0521-40-7617, and being further described as BEING all of Lot 15, Block “A” in a Subdivision known as BRAXTON HILLS, SECTION II, according to a plat of same being duly recorded in Book of Plats 28, Page 39, Cumberland County Registry, North Carolina, and real property located at 3514 Harbison Court, Fayetteville, Cumberland County, NC, Parcel ID 053101-7763, and being further described as BEING all of Lot 8 in a Subdivision known as INVERNESS, PHASE TWO, PART THREE, according to a plat of same being duly recorded in Book of Plats 109, Page 73, Cumberland County Registry, North Carolina and being a portion of the property conveyed to Grantors by Deed recorded in Book 5209, Page 696, aforesaid registry. You are required to make a defense to such pleading not later than October 13, 2026, which is forty (40) days from the first date of publication. Upon your failure to do so, the party seeking service against you will apply to the Court for the relief sought. This the 3rd day of September, 2026. By: Eric M. Ditmore, Esq. Attorney for Petitioner Haymount Law 1008 Hay Street Fayetteville, NC 28305 (910) 672-4600 Publish: 9/3/2026, 9/10/2026, and 9/17/2026
NOTICE TO CREDITORS ESTATE OF IRIS CELESTE MIDDLETON Having qualified as Personal Representative of the Estate of Iris Celeste Middleton, deceased, the undersigned hereby notifies all persons, firms, and corporations having claims against the decedent to present their claims to the undersigned on or before November 20, 2026, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. Claims should be presented to: Celeste Middleton & Denice Middleton Personal Representative, Estate of Iris Celeste Middleton 312 Dudley Dr Fayetteville, NC 28314 This notice will be published once a week for four consecutive weeks, beginning August 20, 2026. Celeste Middleton & Denice Middleton Personal Representative of the Estate of Iris Celeste Middleton
NOTICE TO CREDITORSESTATE OF HAN VAN NGUYEN-FILE NO. 26E001403250 ALL PERSONS, firms and corporations having claims against Han Van Nguyen, deceased, of Cumberland County, NC, are notified to exhibit the same to the undersigned on or before December 7, 2026, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of recovery. Debtors of the decedent are asked to make immediate payment. This the 3rd day of September, 2026. Nga Nguyen, Administrator c/o Cameron D. Sullivan, Whitaker & Hamer, PLLC 121 E. Main Street Clayton, NC 27520 North State Journal September 3, 10, 17, 24, 2026.
NOTICE TO CREDITORS: Cumberland County, North Carolina RE: THE ESTATE OF ENRIQUETA YBARRA WHITE – 26E000678-250 Having qualified as Administrator of the Estate of Enriqueta Ybarra White, deceased, Cumberland County, North Carolina, the undersigned does hereby notify all persons, firms, and corporations having claims against the estate of said deceased to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before the 3rd day of December 2026, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. This is the 3rd day of September 2026. SONYA WHITE, ADMINISTRATOR CTA DSR Legal, PLLC PO Box 51596 Durham, NC 27717
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
NOTICE The undersigned, having qualified as Executor Of the Estate of Latasha Jaquitta McMillian, 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 day of December 03, 2026(which date is three months after the day of the first publication of this notice) or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All Debtors of the decedent are requested to make immediate payment to the undersigned. This day of August 25th, 2026 Chester McMillian 334 Lincoln Dr Fayetteville NC 28301 Of the Estate of Latasha Jaquitta McMillian, Deceased
NORTH CAROLINA CUMBERLAND COUNTY IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION Administrator’s Notice 26E001285-250 The undersigned, having qualified as Administrator of the Estate of William Lynn Thigpen, 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 20th day of November 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 is the 20th day of August 2026. Joseph W. Thigpen, Administrator of the William Lynn Thigpen Estate Haymount Law Attorneys for the Estate 1008 Hay Street Fayetteville, NC 28305 Telephone: (910) 672-4600 Publish: 08/20, 08/27, 09/03, 09/10
NOTICE NORTH CAROLINA CUMBERLAND COUNTY IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION Administrator’s Notice 26E001033-250 The undersigned, having qualified as Administrator of the Estate of Lona Smith, 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 20th day of November 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 is the 20th day of August 2026. Eric M. Ditmore, Administrator of the Lona Smith Estate Haymount Law Attorneys for the Estate 1008 Hay Street Fayetteville, NC 28305 Telephone: (910) 672-4600 Publish: 08/20, 08/27, 09/03, 09/10
NOTICE NORTH CAROLINA IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE CUMBERLAND COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION BEFORE THE CLERK FILE NO.: 26-E-0001377-250 STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA CUMBERLAND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR NOTICE ESTATE OF MARY L. HOWELL STEPHENS The undersigned, having qualified as the Administrator of the Estate of Mary L. Howell Stephens, deceased, late of Cumberland County, North Carolina, does hereby notify all persons, firms, and corporations having claims against said deceased to exhibit them to the undersigned at the address listed below on or before the date December 3, 2026 specified by law, which date shall be three (3) months from the date of the first publication of this Notice, or this Notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned. This the 3rd day of September, 2026. James A. Stephens, Administrator Estate of Mary L. Howell Stephens 6191 Timberland Drive Fayetteville, NC 28314
IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF ARTHUR DAVID WILSON, DECEASED Having qualified as Executor of the Estate of Arthur David Wilson, deceased, late of Cumberland County, North Carolina, the undersigned hereby notifies all persons, firms, and corporations having claims against the estate to present them to the undersigned on or before December 3, 2026, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to the estate are requested to make immediate payment to the undersigned. This the 3rd day of September, 2026. Matthew Wilson Executor of the Estate of Arthur David Wilson 323 Bendemeer Lane Rolesville, North Carolina 27571
NOTICE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA CUMBERLAND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR NOTICE The undersigned having qualified as Executor of the Estate of Lewis Edward Wilson, 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 December 10, 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 is the 10th day of September, 2026. Administrator of the Estate of Lewis Edward Wilson 110 Coyatee Point Drive Loudon, TN 37774
NOTICE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF CUMBERLAND IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF WILLIAM MOYER WILSON, JR., Deceased Having qualified as Executor of the Estate of William Moyer Wilson, Jr., deceased, late of Cumberland County, North Carolina, the undersigned hereby gives notice to all persons, firms, and corporations having claims against the Estate of William Moyer Wilson, Jr., to present their claims to the undersigned Executor at the address listed below on or before November 20, 2026, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to the Estate are requested to make immediate payment to the undersigned. This the 20th day of August, 2026. Moyer Leonard Wilson Executor of the Estate of William Moyer Wilson, Jr., Deceased Mailing Address for Claims: Moyer Leonard Wilson, Executor Estate of William Moyer Wilson, Jr. 310 Mayodan Drive, Apt. 106 Fayetteville, NC 28314
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North State Journal for Thursday, September 10, 2026
PEN & PAPER PURSUITS
sudoku
SOLUTIONS FROM LAST WEEK
New TV home for the Canes, B3 Duking it out Duke’s Bryce Davis (12) celebrates a big play with teammates. Davis was one of two Blue Devils on this week’s All-State team. Read more on Week 1 of the college football season on page B4.
JASON JACKSON FOR NORTH STATE JOURNAL
the Thursday
Defending NFC South champion Panthers look to take another step
NFL
Quarterback Bryce Young will attempt to build on his 2025 season
SIDELINE REPORT
Pro Football Hall of Fame cuts selection panel nearly in half in the latest overhaul The Pro Football Hall of Fame is overhauling its selection process by eliminating a separate category for senior players, cutting the selection committee nearly in half and returning to in-person meetings. The procedures were approved by the board and will be in place for the Class of 2027. The voting process came under scrutiny when Bill Belichick failed to get enough support for induction.
MLS
Bond earns 7th shutout in last 8 starts as Dynamo play Kahlina, Charlotte to 0-0 draw Charlotte Houston’s Jonathan Bond finished off his seventh clean sheet in his last eight starts as the Dynamo played Kristijan Kahlina and Charlotte FC to a scoreless draw. Bond has 10 clean sheets in 23 outings this season and 21 in 138 career starts. Kahlina finished with five saves for Charlotte (10-7-6) in his fifth shutout of the campaign and 35th in 144 career starts.
WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert is retiring at the end of the year after seven-plus years. Engelbert, who turns 62 in November, is the second-longest tenured WNBA president or commissioner. She helped negotiate a lucrative collective bargaining agreement this past spring that resulted in the league’s first set of million-dollar player salaries. However, turmoil, tension and a strained relationship with players also have been a part of her tenure.
Coach Dave Canales on Bryce Young
By Steve Reed The Associated Press CHARLOTTE — The Carolina Panthers are looking to take another big step forward under fourth-year quarterback Bryce Young in 2026 after winning the NFC South and snapping a seven-year playoff drought. The Panthers backed into the playoffs last season with an 8-9 record before nearly pulling off a monumental upset against the Los Angeles Rams. Carolina lost 34-31 on a late touchdown pass by league MVP Matthew Stafford. Despite that, general manager Dan Morgan is encouraged by the direction of the team and its patient rebuild process.
PHELAN M. EBENHACK / AP PHOTO
Carolina Panthers wide receiver Jalen Coker warms up before a preseason game. Much of that optimism surrounds Young’s improvement. The 2023 No. 1 overall pick entered last season 6-22 as a starter, leading to questions about his future in Car-
olina. But Young rebounded by throwing for a career-high 3,011 yards and 23 touchdowns last season while going 8-8 as a starter. Panthers coach Dave Cana-
les said Young looks more comfortable and confident than ever entering his third season in the same offensive system. He’s getting the team to the line quicker. He’s being more decisive. And he’s taken on a bigger leadership role, something the team was eager to see. “I love where he’s headed,” Canales said. Offensive coordinator Brad Idzik will take over play-calling duties from Canales this season, but the playbook essentially remains the same. Young has some intriguing See PANTHERS, page B3
COLUMN | SHAWN KREST
Football an afterthought at Belichick’s UNC
WNBA
Engelbert to retire as commissioner in December
“I love where he’s headed.”
One can imagine Bill Belichick reapplying his road warrior face paint to continue blade running around the postapocalyptic college landscape.
ONCE UPON A TIME, Bill Belichick famously said, “We’re on to Cincinnati.” Twelve years later, he’s on to East Tennessee State. The UNC head coach came dangerously close to repeating his oft-mocked line during a game week press conference where no one in the room cared one whit about East Tennessee State, an overmatched FBS team that gave up 49 points to Campbell eight days earlier. While Belichick tried multiple times to praise the Buccaneers’ “explosive offense,” questions instead focused on off-field issues, and the coach suddenly clammed up. His first answer was five words long. His next was one. In his first dozen answers, 10 were a dozen words or less, with four of them five words or fewer. “I understand the importance of the work that’s being done by the investigative team,” Belichick said in his opening statement, pointedly using the word “understand” and not “respect.” “Obviously, our high standard here, our code of conduct, doing things the right way and making sure that our student athletes are given the best treatment, very best care and very best coaching. ... So that’s critically important to us.” When Bill Belichick came to UNC, observers were concerned that the 73-year-old future Hall of Famer could only tarnish his legacy. After decades in the NFL showing that he was among the greatest ever, could he replicate that performance at an entirely different level? It turns out, we didn’t have to worry at all. Age —
his own and the age of his college players compared to the grown men in the NFL — aren’t a factor. He’s still the same Bill Belichick he always was. What he’s done in just two years in Chapel Hill should help seal his legacy for all time. After the Patriots had two of the biggest cheating scandals in NFL history on his watch, Belichick came to a college game that has been widely described as the “wild west” with no rules on who can play, for how long and how much they can be compensated. And even in that unlawful environment, he’s stood out as running the most crooked program around. In a Dodge City overrun without a marshal, people pause mid-bar fight when he walks into the saloon, whispering, “That guy has no respect for law and order.” His GM, Michael Lombardi, was suspended. His son/defensive coordinator, Stephen Belichick, is on medical leave. When local news station WRAL contacted the team to ask about allegations, including that the younger Belichick used drugs on campus and provided drugs to players, as well as allegations that members of the recruiting staff were having sex with players and assistants, Lombardi resigned. Clearly, ETSU’s offense is not the only explosive thing Belichick is dealing with. Before Belichick took the podium, the media See BELICHICK, page B4
B2 THURSDAY
9.10.26
TRENDING
Alphonso Smith: The two-time All-America defensive back and former NFL player died at 40. Denver drafted the former Wake Forest star in the second round of the 2009 NFL Draft. After playing in 15 games for the Broncos, returning punts and kickoffs, he was traded to Detroit shortly before the 2010 season. Smith played in 44 NFL games over four seasons with Broncos and Lions. Shaq Thompson: The veteran linebacker is back in Buffalo after being one of 17 players signed to the Bills’ practice squad. Thompson has 11 seasons of NFL experience, 10 with Carolina. The 32-year-old provides depth at inside linebacker. Thompson had six starts in 12 games with Buffalo last season. The Bills also signed former Panthers and Wake Forest receiver Greg Dortch to their practice squad. Katie Taylor: The 40-year-old women’s boxer closed out her remarkable career with a dominant victory over previously undefeated Flora Pili in front of 80,000 fans in Dublin. The Irish boxer won an Olympic gold medal and headlined at Madison Square Garden. Taylor (26-1) dominated over 10 rounds for a unanimous decision win to retire as the undisputed champion at 140 pounds.
North State Journal for Thursday, September 10, 2026
Beyond the box score POTENT QUOTABLES
NASCAR
Christopher Bell passed Kyle Larson with 18 laps to go and held on to win the Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway. Bell had seven second-place finishes this season and hadn’t won in 33 races. But the Joe Gibbs Racing driver opened up a lead of nearly a second on his teammate Ty Gibbs to win his first race at Darlington. Gibbs held on for second with Tyler Reddick third.
AARON BEARD / AP PHOTO
“It seems like the rules change every day. Like, literally every day.” UNC basketball coach Michael Malone on coaching in the NCAA.
JASON JACKSON FOR NORTH STATE JOURNAL
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
NBA
SCOTT KINSER / AP PHOTO
“I think it’s OK to say ‘good win’ but not good enough.” Wake Forest coach Jake Dickert after the Deacons’ 38-16 season-opening win over Akron. PRIME NUMBER
91 Age of hiker Dale Sanders, who reclaimed his record as oldest hiker to complete the Appalachian Trail. Sanders started last Sept. 6 and hiked the 2,200-mile trail in out-of-order sections with breaks in between. Sanders first set the record in 2017 at 82. He fell 71 times, including 200 yards from the finish.
EBRAHIM NOROOZI / AP PHOTO
RYAN SUN / AP PHOTO
The FIBA Women’s World Cup opened with three former Duke players competing for three different countries. Team USA’s Chelsea Gray (pictured) scored five points in an opening win over China. Elizabeth Balogun scored 13 for Nigeria in a loss to Hungary, while Miela (Goodchild) Sowah scored three for Australia.
Los Angeles Clippers owner Steve Ballmer (pictured) was suspended for one year, and the team was ordered to forfeit five first-round draft picks and fined $30 million for violating salary cap circumvention rules with Kawhi Leonard. Two other team executives were suspended, and Leonard was hit with a $700,000 penalty.
NCAA FOOTBALL
COURTESY TEXAS PERMIAN BASIN ATHLETICS
Gardner-Webb fired coach Kris McCullough two days after the school announced it was investigating him. School officials didn’t disclose the reason for the investigation or firing. Pete Bennett, the special teams coordinator since 2024, was named interim head coach. McCullough took over the program in December after coaching Division II Texas Permian Basin from 2023-25.
North State Journal for Thursday, September 10, 2026
Lopez opens new chapter with breakout Wake Forest debut The new quarterback gives Wake Forest reason for optimism By Jesse Deal North State Journal WINSTON-SALEM — One game back in Rob Ezell’s offense was enough for Gio Lopez to look like himself again. The redshirt junior quarterback’s Wake Forest debut contrasted sharply with his uneven 2025 season at UNC, suggesting he might be able to help the Demon Deacons build on last year’s nine-win breakthrough. Last week, Lopez threw for 350 yards and three touchdowns as Wake Forest overwhelmed Akron 38-16 at Allegacy Financial Stadium. His two 70-plus-yard scoring throws supplied the explosive dimension the Deacons will need against tougher opponents. That test begins Saturday at noon against Purdue in West Lafayette, Indiana. “I felt very in control,” Lopez said after the opener. “I trust Coach Ezell when he’s telling me what the play is or whatever the check is. So it’s a full belief in Coach Ezell just to get us in the right situation, and I just know I’m going to execute the play that he calls.”
COURTESY WAKE FOREST ATHLETICS
Wake Forest’s Gio Lopez (3) celebrates with teammates Ryan Berger (64) and Kam Shanks (5) during the Demon Deacons’ season-opening home win over Akron on Sept. 3. Lopez reunited with Ezell, his offensive coordinator at South Alabama in 2024. There, he passed for 2,559 yards and 18 touchdowns with five interceptions while adding 465 yards and seven rushing scores. After transferring to UNC for Bill Belichick’s turbulent first college season, Lopez started 11 games and passed for 1,747 yards and 10 touchdowns. His best performance came at Syracuse, where his 216 yards and two scores were totals he surpassed by halftime against Akron. “You could see that he’s very comfortable in the system,” Ak-
ron coach Joe Moorhead said of Lopez. A 34-yard completion to Carlos Hernandez helped move Wake Forest downfield on its first possession, and Lopez finished the drive by finding Kam Shanks up the seam for a 27-yard touchdown. After Connor Calvert’s field goal extended the lead, Lopez hit Louisville transfer Antonio Meeks over the middle for a 72-yard score early in the second quarter. He later delivered a quick pass to Hernandez, who shed a tackle and raced up the left sideline for a 78-yard touchdown that made it 28-0.
By halftime, Lopez had completed 17 of 25 attempts for 313 yards and all three touchdowns. He finished 21 of 32 without an interception and added 39 rushing yards, becoming Wake Forest’s first quarterback since Sam Hartman in 2021 to record at least 350 passing yards, three touchdown passes and no interceptions in a game. The playmakers around him provided more reason for optimism. Hernandez totaled 165 yards on five catches, including 148 after the catch. Meeks added 93 yards on three receptions, while Shanks made five catches for 55 yards. Ty Clark III supplied balance with a career-high 105 rushing yards on seven carries, highlighted by a 57-yard run. Freshman Deuce Lawrence added 52 yards and a 4-yard fourth-quarter touchdown. Wake Forest amassed 559 yards and averaged 8.2 yards per play. Its defense held Akron to 305 yards, with more than half coming on two touchdown drives after the Deacons had taken a 38-3 lead. The comfortable margin did not leave second-year coach Jake Dickert satisfied. He criticized the offense’s physicality and the defense’s late finish, pointing to higher expectations after Wake Forest went 9-4
Hurricanes launch new broadcast network The on-air talent returns from FanDuel Sports Network, which went out of business following last season
RALEIGH — On Sunday, 91 days after celebrating the franchise’s second championship at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, the Carolina Hurricanes will return to the ice. The players filling those uniforms, however, won’t be anyone who had their name etched on the Stanley Cup as part of the 2025-26 team. Instead, it will be Carolina’s prospects playing against the Nashville Predators in the first of three games the organization will host at the newly named Lane Arena in Morrisville in the 2026 Prospect Showcase. The Tampa Bay Lightning will also participate as the third team. Fans will need to wait until Sept. 22, the Hurricanes’ preseason opener against the Florida Panthers, before seeing some of the players who won the franchise’s first championship in 20 years in action, and until a week after that for the regular-season opener — also against the Panthers — when Carolina will raise its Stanley Cup banner with close to the same team that won Game 6 of
the Stanley Cup final June 14. That game will be nationally broadcast on ESPN, but three days later the team will host the Washington Capitals — and debut the new Hurricanes Hockey Network (HHN). With the demise of FanDuel Sports Network, the Hurricanes have launched their own network, which will air all of Carolina’s games that are not broadcast nationally. The team has announced one online entry point to view games so far, through Amazon’s Prime Video. Viewers within the Hurricanes’ broadcast territory can subscribe to HHN for $99.99 per year or $19.99 per month through the Prime Video app — subscribers just need a free Amazon account; an Amazon Prime subscription is not required, nor does it entitle subscribers free access to HHN broadcasts. FanDuel Sports Network subscriptions last season — which also included the Charlotte Hornets’ NBA games — were also $19.99 per month but cost $189.99 annually. “Given the evolving landscape of sports broadcasting, it is vital that we make sure we are meeting our fans where they are,” Mike Sundheim, Hurricanes vice president of communications, said in a release. “Streaming is a key piece of that puzzle, and we are thrilled for the launch on Prime Video, which is readily accessible across a variety of devices.” The team also announced
PANTHERS from page B1
last season.
weapons to work with. Tetairoa McMillan was named NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year after catching 70 passes for 1,014 yards and seven touchdowns, and the late-season emergence of Jalen Coker solidified the team’s No. 2 receiver spot. Chuba Hubbard returns as the starting running back, and the Panthers are expecting big things from 2024 second-round draft pick Jonathan Brooks. Brooks is finally healthy after missing almost two full seasons with knee injuries. The Panthers also added veteran free agent Darren Waller to the mix, giving Young an experienced pass-catching tight end. The addition of edge rusher Jaelan Phillips and inside linebacker Devin Lloyd in free agency should help bolster a defense that improved from last in the league in 2024 to 16th
New faces
By Cory Lavalette North State Journal
OLB Jaelan Phillips, LB Devin Lloyd, QB Kenny Pickett, RB AJ Dillon, OT Rasheed Walker, OT Monroe Freeling, C Luke Fortner, WR John Metchie III, TE Darren Waller. Key losses QB Andy Dalton, RB Rico Dowdle, DT A’Shawn Robinson, C Austin Corbett, C-G Cade Mays, OT Yosh Nijman, LB Christian Rozeboom. Strengths Carolina’s cornerback tandem of Jaycee Horn and Mike Jackson is one of best in the league. The Panthers were 22nd against the pass last season, but that doesn’t tell the full story. Horn had five interceptions and was selected to the Pro Bowl for
CORY LAVALETTE / NORTH STATE JOURNAL
Mike Maniscalco, left, and Tripp Tracy — pictured on the stage in downtown Raleigh at the end of the Hurricanes’ Stanley Cup parade June 20 — will anchor the Hurricanes Hockey Network, the team’s new broadcast offering. that it is returning all of its on-air talent from last season’s FanDuel Sports Network broadcasts. Play-by-play announcer Mike Maniscalco, color commentator Tripp Tracy, on-ice reporter Hanna Yates and analyst Shane Willis will continue on the team’s broadcasts. The Hurricanes also announced they will produce pregame and postgame shows, which will be hosted by Yates and include Willis. The team also plans to announce more options for accessing HHN before the start of the season. Out-of-market viewers will still be able to watch games through NHL Center Ice and ESPN+.
Running it back
the second straight year. Jackson led the NFL with 19 pass breakups and had four interceptions in the regular season and another in the playoffs. Jackson’s 80.9 grade in coverage from Pro Football Focus was the third-highest among cornerbacks. If the Panthers can get more pressure on the opposing quarterback, it will only allow more opportunities for Horn, Jackson and promising young nickel back Chau Smith-Wade to make plays in the secondary.
while Moton is dealing with blood clots in his lungs. Carolina drafted Georgia tackle Monroe Freeling in the first round, and he’ll start the season on the right side, while free agent pickup Rasheed Walker opens at left tackle. High-priced guards Robert Hunt and Damien Lewis have missed time with nagging injuries in training camp but are expected to be ready for the regular season. Still, the absence of Ekwonu and Moton has created questions at offensive tackle and depleted Carolina in the trenches.
Weaknesses All things being equal, the Panthers offensive line is probably the biggest strength of the team. But not right now. Carolina will open the season without starting offensive tackles Ickey Ekwonu and Taylor Moton — with no specific timetable for their return. Ekwonu is still recovering from a knee injury suffered in January’s playoff game,
While access to broadcast will be different, nearly all of the Hurricanes’ championship team is back for the 2026-27 season. Goaltender Frederik Andersen, who went 13-2 in the postseason before getting knocked out of the Stanley Cup final with a knee injury, was an unrestricted free agent after the season and signed a one-year, incentive-laden deal with the Oilers, leaving Brandon Bussi and Pyotr Kochetkov as Carolina’s tandem in goal for the coming season. Reserve defenseman Mike
Camp development Training camp has not been kind to Carolina. The Panthers lost two promising young players to season-ending knee injuries in second-year edge rusher Nic Scourton and rookie wide receiver Chris Brazzell, a third-round draft pick out of Tennessee. Scourton had five
B3 and won the Duke’s Mayo Bowl in his debut season. “We’re in Year 2,” Dickert said. “I have a vision for this team and this program and where we can be and where we can go. I think it’s OK to say ‘good win’ but say it’s not good enough.” Dickert also plans to keep Lopez’s mobility involved. “We have to utilize Gio’s strength in running the football,” Dickert said. “He’s not Robby Ashford, but he’s really crafty with the ball in his hands, and we’ll continue to utilize him in certain areas.” Wake Forest was picked to finish 13th in the 17-team ACC despite last season’s turnaround, which included wins over ranked SMU and Virginia, a victory over UNC and a 43-29 bowl triumph over Mississippi State. The Akron win allowed Dickert to reach 10 victories in 14 games, tying Hank Garrity for the fastest any coach has hit double-digit victories in program history. More importantly, it showed that Wake Forest may have found a quarterback capable of extending that progress. Purdue also opened its season emphatically, producing 523 yards in a 44-19 victory over Indiana State, setting up a much stiffer road challenge for the Deacons. One dominant night against Akron cannot define Lopez’s season. But if his command, accuracy and big-play touch travel with him going forward into the 2026 campaign, his latest transfer may prove to be the right fit for both quarterback and program.
Reilly remains unsigned, and a return to Raleigh seems unlikely. The Hurricanes also need to re-sign restricted free agent defenseman Alexander Nikishin. Nikishin, who has been the subject of trade rumors throughout the offseason, was named to the NHL’s All-Rookie Team in his first season in North America. The 24-year-old had 11 goals and 22 assists last year but was limited to one assist in Carolina’s 17-game run to the Stanley Cup. Twenty-year-old Vancouver defenseman Zeev Buium signed an eight-year contract extension worth $9.38 million annually last week, a year before reaching restricted free agency. Ducks defenseman Pavel Mintyukov, 22, signed a lucrative contract as an RFA without arbitration rights, like Nikishin. Anaheim agreed with Mintyukov on a five-year extension worth $7.2 million annually. That reportedly has Nikishin aiming high on a long-term deal that would make him the Hurricanes’ highest-paid defenseman. K’Andre Miller, at a $7.5 million annual cap hit, currently holds that honor. The likely resolution is a shorter-term, or bridge, deal. Nikishin would not be eligible for free agency until 2029, so a two-year contract at a lower cap hit would make him a restricted free agent with arbitration rights — and give him the option of signing an offer sheet from another team — in the summer of 2028 while keeping his cap number more palatable for Carolina.
sacks as a rookie and was expected to play a prominent role on defense this season, while Brazzell was viewed as a potential deep threat with his 4.37-second 40 speed and the big-play ability he showed at Tennessee. Fantasy player to watch Jalen Coker could be on the verge of a big season after emerging as a key figure in Carolina’s offense late last season, earning the 2024 undrafted free agent from Holy Cross a three-year, $35 million contract extension. Coker has replaced the ineffective Xavier Legette as the team’s No. 2 wide receiver and become a reliable target for Young. Coker had 23 receptions for 378 yards and four touchdowns over Carolina’s final six games (including the playoffs), including a career-high nine catches for 134 yards and a touchdown in the loss to the Rams.
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North State Journal for Thursday, September 10, 2026
NC State quarterback CJ Bailey (11) hands the ball off to running back Jayden Scott during a game last season. Both skill players will need to step up after a rough opener to 2026.
WHAT IT WAS, WAS FOOTBALL
KARL DEBLAKER / AP PHOTO
NC State in need of major rebound following season opening flop in Virginia The Wolfpack struggled on both sides of the football against the Cavaliers By Ryan Henkel North State Journal NC STATE is searching for answers after falling flat on its face in a Week 0 stinker. The Wolfpack were thoroughly beaten by the Virginia Cavaliers, losing 34-8, in a performance that left many questions on both sides of the ball. “That’s on me,” NC State coach Dave Doeren said following the loss. “We got a good group of kids and as a staff, preparation is a big thing and you prepare your guys to play well and when they don’t, you own that.” Overall, Virginia dominated the line of scrimmage, allowing a single sack, as well as the ground game, putting up 258 yards and two touchdowns, but it was Cavaliers quarterback Beau Pribula who really put the hurt on NC State. While he was efficient through the air, picking up 155 yards and two touchdowns on 11 throws, it was his ability to run the football that gave the Wolfpack trouble, adding 110 yards on 15 carries. While Doeren put the defensive blame more on having to play too many snaps due to the offense’s shortcomings, there was a lot of concern raised by what seemed like a lack of preparation in the defensive game plan. NC State linebacker Popo Aguirre said postgame that the defense hadn’t expected Pribula to run as much as he did, and defensive coordinator DJ Eliot said that the team “really didn’t know what (Virginia) were going to do,” on a radio hit last Wednesday when asked
about how UVA utilized Pribula. Those comments don’t instill a lot of confidence, especially given the fact that the former Mizzou quarterback has run for nearly 1,000 yards and 16 touchdowns in his career. But almost as concerning was the play of NC State quarterback CJ Bailey, who had perhaps one of the worst games of his career against Virginia. The third-year starter completed 52% of his passes in the opener for 84 yards and no touchdowns while adding two turnovers with an interception and a red-zone fumble. NC State needs Bailey to be a night-in, night-out difference maker, and a performance like he had in the opener isn’t expected of a player with his level of experience. “He’s pissed off at the world just like I am,” Doeren said of his quarterback. “He’s a competitive dude. He owned it after the game, which you would expect, and like I told him, all you can do is go make up for it. No doubt he’ll bounce back in a big way.” The Wolfpack also need more from the rest of their skill position players. New top running back Jayden Scott had 20 yards on seven carries, and no receiver had more than 25 yards or three catches. What was clear is NC State has a lot it needs to improve on. “It’s a reality check,” Doeren said. “I think maybe sometimes you hear people talk about you all summer and you forget how hard it is to win a football game. We were playing a really veteran, old football team in that game, and we didn’t play the same way they did. They were executing, they were playing together and we were pressing. It’s a learning opportunity.” Luckily for the Wolfpack, they
“To have a reality check in Week 1 isn’t necessarily a bad thing.” Dave Doeren, NC State coach had an off week to look at the film and hone in on the improvements they needed to make and Doeren was happy with what he saw from his team. “All you can do is look forward, and so I looked forward to the opportunity to get back on the grass with the guys during the bye week, and there were three, really physical practices,” Doeren said. Now they’ll have the opportunity to test those changes in a bit of an easier game than what they started the season with, as the Wolfpack hosts an FCS opponent in Richmond on Friday. The Spiders, who are 2-0 to start the year, have been one of the best teams in the FCS, and coach Russ Huesman has been building his program quite efficiently, with a 35-16 record and two conference titles over the past four seasons. Richmond won’t be a pushover, so it should be a good chance for the Wolfpack to get back to the basics and build for the remainder of the season. “We have a lot of football left,” Doeren said, “11 games on the regular season schedule. These kinds of opportunities can be a huge growing opportunity for a team, and to have a reality check in Week 1 isn’t necessarily a bad thing. “I don’t like losing, but the lesson from that loss can be really, really big from the turnaround from it. That’s what I’m counting on.”
24. Charlotte, 0-1 (down 6): lost to the Citadel at home, 43-41 in overtime (at Ole Miss)
By Shawn Krest North State Journal
25. Guilford, 0-1 (down 6): lost 48-7 at Greensboro (Methodist)
NORTH CAROLINA’S college football programs just missed breaking even in Week 1 of the season. After a dismal Week Zero by a few select teams, the state went 14-15 in the first full week of play. Elon posted a road shutout to take the top spot in our poll, while previous No. 1 Lenoir-Rhyne fell after a double-digit home loss. Chowan’s road win at UVA Wise matched the biggest jump in the poll — seven spots. That matched Wake Forest, which had an impressive home opener. Johnson C. Smith had a neutral site win over Albany State in Canton, Ohio, to jump six spots. ECU got blown out at Alabama, while Methodist lost at home by a 30-3 score to fall the farthest in the poll. At the bottom, Davidson remains in the last spot, while Winston-Salem State, which hasn’t scored a point in its first two games, is just above. THE RANKINGS North Carolina’s record: 14-15 last week (22-28 overall) 1. Elon, 2-0 (up 6 spots): won 38-0 at Davidson (at Rhode Island) 2. Fayetteville State, 2-0 (up 4): won 10-7 over UNC Pembroke (Valdosta State) 3. Campbell, 2-0 (up 1): won 28-19 over Western Carolina (at Florida) 4. UNC, 1-0 (down 2): idle (East Tennessee State) 5. Duke, 1-0 (up 4): won 17-3 over Tulane (at Illinois) 6. Lenoir-Rhyne, 1-1 (down 5): lost 34-23 at home to West Alabama (at Newberry) 7. Mars Hill, 1-0 (up 5): won 17-0 at Winston-Salem State (vs. Catawba) 8. NC Wesleyan, 1-0 (up 5): won 27-13 at Averett (Newport News) 9. Catawba, 1-1 (down 5): lost 40-38 to North Greenville (at Mars Hill)
12. UNC Pembroke, 1-1 (down 7): lost 10-7 at Fayetteville State (at Shorter) 13. Western Carolina, 1-1 (down 5): lost 28-19 at Campbell (at Cincinnati) 14. Greensboro, 1-0 (up 2): won 48-7 over Guilford (at Roanoke)
19. Brevard, 0-0 (down 5): idle (Sewanee) 20. Chowan, 1-1 (up 7): won 24-20 at UVA Wise (Virginia Union)
onto his three-wheeler to continue blade running around the post-apocalyptic college landscape. The head coach of UNC’s football team was asked, in the press conference leading up to the season opener, “What indications do we have based on the last year and what’s been reported that you have control of the program?” The Tar Heels’ head coach’s answer: “If you’re around here every day, I think you’d see it.” That may be the truest thing Bill Belichick has ever said.
29. Barton, 0-2 (down 3): lost 23-13 at home against Shaw (Bluefield) 30. Gardner-Webb, 0-2 (up 1): lost 17-13 at Wofford (at Liberty) 31. Winston-Salem State, 0-2 (down 1): lost 17-0 vs. Mars Hill (vs. JC Smith) 32. Davidson, 0-2 (unchanged): lost 38-0 at home to Elon (vs. Dickinson)
NAME GAMES In addition to JC Smith’s win in the Black College Football Hall of Fame Classic, Greensboro blew out Guilford in the annual Soup Bowl. This week, we have the Aggie-Eagle Classic (or Eagle-Aggie, depending on your loyalties) between NC A&T and NC Central. STATE TITLE STANDINGS Fayetteville State moved to 2-0 on the season to top our in-state showdown standings, beating UNC Pembroke. Central topped ECSU, Campbell beat Western, Shaw took out Barton, and Mars Hill beat WSSU. This week, in addition to the Aggie-Eagle Classic, East Carolina hosts App State in the first FBS state title game of the season; Mars Hill hosts Catawba. Winston-Salem State hosts JC Smith, and Guilford hosts Methodist. • 2-0 Fayetteville State • 1-0 Elon, Mars Hill, Greensboro, Campbell, NC Central • 1-1 UNC Pembroke, Shaw
ALL-STATE PERFORMANCES FOR WEEK 1
18. NC Central, 1-1 (up 2): won 27-6 over Elizabeth City State (NC A&T)
energy, and that’s what we’re doing right now,” Belichick said. “We’re in the middle of the season. Season started, you know, and so that that’s where we’re at. You know, obviously everybody’s responsible, including me, you know, for doing things properly, and we intend to do it.” He also said, “So you know, in the end, look, we want to run the program in the very best way.” Then one can imagine Bill Belichick reapplying his road warrior face paint and hopping
28. Livingstone, 0-2 (unchanged): lost 49-20 at Virginia Union (Bluefield State)
11. App State, 1-0 (down 1): won 55-3 over Maine (East Carolina)
17. Shaw, 1-1 (up 5): won 23-13 at Barton (Ferrum)
UNC coach Bill Belichick, right, speaks with an official during the game against TCU in Dublin.
27. NC A&T, 0-2 (down 3): lost 59-10 at Georgia State (at NC Central)
• 0-1 Wingate, Davidson, Winston-Salem State, Guilford, Western Carolina, Barton, Elizabeth City State
16. Johnson C. Smith, 1-1 (up 9): won 27-7 over Albany State (at Winston-Salem State)
PETER MORRISON / AP PHOTO
26. NC State, 0-1 (up 3): idle (Richmond)
10. Wake Forest, 1-0 (up 7): won 38-16 over Akron (at Purdue)
15. Wingate, 1-1 (up 6): won 36-13 at Delta State (at Carson-Newman)
BELICHICK from page B1 was cautioned that the coach couldn’t talk about the controversy, and neither could the players. So don’t ask. They asked anyway. It was nearly 19 minutes after the start of the press conference before anyone asked anything that could be considered a “football question” because nothing about UNC’s program right now is focused on football. Once upon a time, Tar Heels fans may have wanted to know about TJ Peyton and Xavier Gaillardetz — two of the ETSU offensive standouts name-checked by Belichick in his opening statement. That time has long since passed. It doesn’t matter what Carolina does against ETSU this weekend. No win can be lopsided enough, no on-field feats impressive enough to shine under the dark cloud over this program. Put another way, everyone remembers, “We’re on to Cincinnati.” No one remembers 43-17, the score of that Patriots win over the Bengals. The residual slime of that press conference lasts long after the on-field shine has faded. “My main focus is to coach the football team, and that’s where I put my time and
The state flirts with .500 in the first full week of play
21. East Carolina, 0-1 (down 10): lost 48-10 at Alabama (App State) 22. Elizabeth City State, 0-2 (up 1): lost 27-6 at NC Central (idle) 23. Methodist, 0-1 (down 8): lost at home 30-3 to Shenandoah (at Guilford)
Quarterback: Gio Lopez, Wake Forest, 21-32 for 350 yards, 3 TDs, 39 yards and 2 TDs rushing Running backs: Nate Sheppard, Duke, 35 rushes for 227 yards, no lost yardage, 2 TDs Rayvon Durant, Mars Hill, 201 yards on 28 carries, long of 52, 2 TDs Receiver: Carlos Hernandez, Wake Forest, 9 catches, 165 yards, 1 TD Jaylen Hampton, Charlotte, 8 catches, 117 yards, 2 TDs Defensive line: Bryce Davis, Duke, 6 tackles, 4 solo, 2 sacks, 3.5 TFLs Jymiek Sampson, Catawba, 6 tackles, 5 solo, 1 TFL, 1 blocked kick Linebacker: Jatavien Taylor, Fayetteville State, 8 tackles, 6 solo, 1.5 TFL Derek Schemenauer, NC Wesleyan, 10 tackles, 7 solo, 1 TFL, 1 QB hit Defensive back: ZyKing Patillo, Fayetteville State, 1 tackle, 2 interceptions Jayden Cornelius, Western Carolina, 7 tackles, 5 solos, 1 interception and 47-yard return Special teams: Tomas O’Halloran, ECU, 8 punts for a 47.1 yard average, long of 57, 2 inside the 20, four of 50-plus yards Duke’s Nate Sheppard (20) celebrates one of his two touchdowns against Tulane.
JASON JACKSON FOR NORTH STATE JOURNAL
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North State Journal for Thursday, September 10, 2026
TAKE NOTICE
CUMBERLAND Administrator’s/Executor’s Notice In the General Court of Justice Superior Court Division Before the Clerk Estate File #26E001417-250 STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA CUMBERLAND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR NOTICE The undersigned, having qualified as Executor of the Estate of Dorothy Jean Washington, 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 December 10, 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 10th day of September, 2026.
NOTICE
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF NEW HANOVER NOTICE TO CREDITORS The undersigned, Matthew Allen Dean, having qualified as the Executor of the Estate of Doris Ann Diorio. Deceased, hereby notifies all persons, firms or corporations having claims against the Decedent to exhibit same to the said Matthew Allen Dean, at the address set out below, on or before December 11, 2026, or this notice may be pleaded in bar of any payment or recovery of same. All persons indebted to said Decedent will please make immediate payment to the undersigned at the address set out below. This the 22nd of September, 2026. Matthew Allen Dean Executor OF ESTATE OF Doris Ann Diorio. c/o ROBERT H. HOCHULI, JR. 219 RACINE DR., SUITE #A6 Wilmington, NC 28405
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA New Hanover County IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION 26E001018-640 Having qualified as Executor of the Estate of Lucy P. Targia, deceased, late of New Hanover County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against the Estate of said Lucy P. Targia to present them to the undersigned on or before the 20 day of November, 2026 (this date being 3 months from the first publication of this notice) or same will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate please make immediate payment. This the 14 day of August, 2026. Kathleen Hamilton 1721 North County Dr. Castle Hayne, NC 28429 Executor of the Estate of Lucy P. Targia First Publication Date: August 20, 2026 4 week run dates August 20, 27, September 3, 10, 2026
Having qualified as Executor of the Estate of JEAN ELIZABETH BERGEMANN NICHOLS aka JEAN ELIZABETH 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 November 28, 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 27th day of August 2026.
Administrator of the Estate of Dorothy Jean Washington.
NOTICE
John F. Ham Post Office Box 480838 Charlotte, NC 28269
DAVIDSON NOTICE NORTH CAROLINA DAVIDSON COUNTY NOTICE TO CREDITORS THE UNDERSIGNED, Kim Michelle Merritt, having qualified on the 14th day of August, 2026, as Executor of the Richard Sidney Smith (26E000945-280), 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 7th day of December, 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 3rd day of September 2026. Kim Michelle Merritt Executor RICHARD SIDNEY SMITH David Anderson Attorney at Law 9111 Market St, Ste A Wilmington, NC 28411 Publish: September 3, 2026 September 10, 2026 September 17, 2026 September 24, 2026
DURHAM NOTICE TO CREDITORS Probate #26E001023-310 All persons, firm and corporations having claims against Dede Wingender Hall, late of Durham County, North Carolina are hereby notified to present them to Garrett Glenn Hall, 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 3rd day of December, 2026, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons, firms and corporations indebted to the said estate will please make immediate payment to the above-named Executor. Kendall H. Page 210 N Columbia Street Chapel Hill, NC 27514 Bar # 14261 Notice to Run: 09/03/2026, 09/10/2026, 09/17/2026 & 09/24/2026
NEW HANOVER NOTICE TO CREDITORS Having qualified as Executor of the Estate of Stanley Lawery Carmical Jr., deceased, late of New Hanover County, North Carolina, the undersigned hereby notifies all persons, firms, and corporations having claims against the Estate of said decedent to present them to the undersigned at the address shown below on or before November 27, 2026, or this Notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons, firms, and corporations indebted to said Estate are requested to make immediate payment to the undersigned. This the 27th day of August, 2026. Beth Collingwood Executor of the Estate of Stanley Lawery Carmical Jr. 83 Paris Pointe Hampstead, NC 28443 Estate File No. 26E000979-640
NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 26SP000064-120 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Richard Bruce Troutman (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Richard Troutman) to The Caudle Law Firm, P.A., Trustee(s), dated July 17, 2024, and recorded in Book No. 17021, at Page 0308 in Cabarrus County Registry, North Carolina, default having been made in the payment of the promissory note secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Substitute Trustee Services, Inc. having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust by an instrument duly recorded in the Office of the Register of Deeds Cabarrus County, North Carolina and the holder of the note evidencing said indebtedness having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the courthouse door in Concord, Cabarrus County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, at 12:00 PM on September 14, 2026 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in Concord in the County of Cabarrus, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows:
NOTICE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF NEW HANOVER The undersigned, Personal Representative of the Estate of Georgia Noble Williams, deceased, hereby gives notice to all persons, firms, and corporations having claims against the decedent to present them to the undersigned on or before December 10th, 2026, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. Claims should be sent to: Giles Charles Simpson 333 Brighton Road Wilmington NC 28409
NOTICE
CABARRUS
NORTH CAROLINA NEW HANOVER COUNTY NOTICE TO CREDITORS THE UNDERSIGNED, Kathy J. Hamill, having qualified on the 17th day of August, 2026, as Executor of the Estate of Laura A. Hamill (26E001004-640), 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 30th day of November, 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 27th day of August 2026. Kathy J. Hamill Executor ESTATE OF LAURA A. HAMILL David Anderson Attorney at Law 9111 Market St, Ste A Wilmington, NC 28411 Publish: August 27, 2026 September 3, 2026 September 10, 2026 September 17, 2026
Signed this the 20th day of August, 2026. Giles Charles Simpson
NOTICE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF NEW HANOVER NOTICE TO CREDITORS The undersigned, KAREN DORIS HOOKER, having qualified as the Executor of the Estate of KENNETH ALLYN HOOKER, JR. Deceased, hereby notifies all persons, firms or corporations having claims against the Decedent to exhibit same to the said KAREN DORIS HOOKER, at the address set out below, on or before December 3, 2026, or this notice may be pleaded in bar of any payment or recovery of same. All persons indebted to said Decedent will please make immediate payment to the undersigned at the address set out below. This the 28th day of August, 2026. KAREN DORIS HOOKER Executor OF ESTATE OF KENNETH ALLYN HOOKER, Jr. c/o ROBERT H. HOCHULI, JR. 219 RACINE DR., SUITE #A6 Wilmington, NC 28405
RANDOLPH NOTICE TO CREDITORS Having qualified as Administrator of the Estate of ALEJANDRO CANSECO GOMEZ, 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 December 11, 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 10th day of September 2026. CHRISTOPHER GOMEZ ADMINISTRATOR of the Estate of ALEJANDRO CANSECO GOMEZ MARION “BETH” MCQUAID, Attorney IVEY & EGGLESTON, ATTORNEYS AT LAW 111 Worth Street Asheboro, NC 27203 (336) 625-3043 PUBL/DATES: 09/10/26 09/17/26 09/24/26 10/11/26
NOTICE TO CREDITORS Having qualified as Administrator of the Estate of PAULA LINEBERRY aka PAULA N. LINEBERRY aka PAULA NORTON LINEBERRY aka PAULA DIANE NORTON LINEBERRY, late of Moore 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 November 28, 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 27th day of August 2026. POLLY DIANE HANKS aka POLLY HANKS ADMINISTRATOR of the Estate of PAULA LINEBERRY aka PAULA N. LINEBERRY aka PAULA NORTON LINEBERRY aka PAULA DIANE NORTON LINEBERRY MARION “BETH” MCQUAID, Attorney IVEY & EGGLESTON, ATTORNEYS AT LAW 111 Worth Street Asheboro, NC 27203 (336) 625-3043 PUBL/DATES: 08/27/26 09/03/26 09/10/26 09/17/26
TERESA NICHOLS BETENBAUGH EXECUTOR of the Estate of JEAN ELIZABETH BERGEMANN NICHOLS Aka JEAN ELIZABETH NICHOLS S. SCOTT EGGLESTON, Attorney IVEY & EGGLESTON, ATTORNEYS AT LAW 111 Worth Street Asheboro, NC 27203 (336) 625-3043 PUBL/DATES: 08/27/26 09/03/26 09/10/26 09/17/26
NOTICE TO CREDITORS Having qualified as Executor of the Estate of Colleen Nance Pinson 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 Richard L. Cox, 113 Worth Street, Asheboro, NC 27203 on or before December 7th 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 3rd day of September 2026. Ann N Shaw Colleen Nance Pinson Estate Richard L. Cox, Attorney Gavin & Cox 113 Worth Street Asheboro, NC 27203 Telephone: 336-629-2600
WAKE Notice to Creditors Having qualified as Co-Executors of the Estate of JOAN JOSEPHINE KAUFMANN, late of Wake County, North Carolina (26E002450-910), 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 30th day of November 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 27th day of August 2026. Laurie Joan Kaufmann-Robedee Jennifer Lynn Kaufmann-Olaya Co-Executors Estate of Joan Josephine Kaufmann c/o Lisa M. Schreiner Attorney at Law P.O. Box 446 114 Raleigh Street Fuquay Varina, NC 27526 (For publication: 08/27, 09/03, 09/10, 09/17/2026)
NOTICE TO CREDITORS NOTICE TO CREDITORS STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF NEW HANOVER Having qualified as Executor of the Estate of John Henry Shepard, deceased, late of New Hanover County, North Carolina, the undersigned does hereby notify all persons, firms, and corporations having claims against the estate of said decedent to exhibit them to the undersigned at the address below on or before December 3, 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 31st day of August, 2026. Iris Shepard Executor of the Estate of John Henry Shepard 4805 Grouse Woods Drive Wilmington, NC 28411
The land referred to herein below is situated in the County of Cabarrus, State of North Carolina, and is described as follows: All that certain lot or parcel of land situated in the City of Concord, No. 11 Township, Cabarrus County, North Carolina and more particularly described as follows: Lying and being in No. 11 Township, Cabarrus County, N.C. and being Lots Nos. 1, 2 and 3 in Block “B” of Oakdale Park, as surveyed and platted by Reece I. Long in September 1929, a copy of which is filed in the Office of the Register of Deeds for Cabarrus County, N.C. in Map Book No. 4 Page 16. Beginning at an iron stake in the southeast intersection of Union Avenue and Oak Street, and running thence with the south side of Union Avenue, S. 67 1/2 E. 75 feet to an iron stake in the south side of Union Avenue, corner of Lot No. 4; thence with the line of Lot No. 4, S. 22 1/2 W. 200 feet to an iron stake corner of Lot No. 4; thence N. 67 1/2 W. 75 feet to an iron stake in the east edge of Oak Street; thence with the east edge of Oak Street, N. 22 1/2 E. 200 feet to the beginning. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 660 Union Cemetery Road Southwest, Concord, North Carolina. Parcel ID:5529-57-3653-0000
Having qualified as Executor of the Estate of Faye Carol Hunt McElreath 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 November 19th 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 20th day of August 2026. Louie Dean McElreath Faye Carol Hunt McElreath Estate Andrew J Weiner, Attorney Gavin & Cox 113 Worth Street Asheboro, NC 27203 Telephone: 336-629-2600
Commonly known as 660 Union Cemetery Rd SW, Concord, NC 28027 However, by showing this address no additional coverage is provided 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). Should the property be purchased by a third party, 31 CFR 1031.320 requires certain qualifying residential real estate transactions to be reported to the federal government. If you are the successful bidder in this proceeding, you may be required to provide all applicable identifying information about yourself and, if applicable, any entity or trust purchasing the property. 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. 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: 29995 - 155217
B6
North State Journal for Thursday, September 10, 2026
TAKE NOTICE
CABARRUS NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE NORTH CAROLINA, CABARRUS COUNTY 24SP001573-120 Under and by virtue of a Power of Sale contained in that certain Deed of Trust executed by Artez D. Vaughn Austin, Mortgagor(s), in the original amount of $160,000.00, to Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc., (“MERS”) as beneficiary, as nominee for Caliber Home Loans, Inc., Mortgagee, dated October 12th, 2021 and recorded on October 18th, 2021 in Book 15582, Page 0137, 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
NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE NORTH CAROLINA, CABARRUS COUNTY 25 SP000554-120 Under and by virtue of a Power of Sale contained in that certain Deed of Trust executed by Polly Bernice Graham Jones, Mortgagor(s), in the original amount of $70,400.00, to Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc., (“MERS”) as beneficiary, as nominee for American Mortgage Network, Inc, Mortgagee, dated January 13th, 2006 and recorded on January 19th, 2006 in Book 6497, Page 78, 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 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 1:00 PM on September 14th, 2026, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following
NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE NORTH CAROLINA, CABARRUS COUNTY 25 SP000507-120 Under and by virtue of a Power of Sale contained in that certain Deed of Trust executed by Allison Eisenhardt , Mortgagor(s), in the original amount of $77,569.00, to Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc., (“MERS”) as beneficiary, as nominee for Everett Financial, Inc. D/B/A Supreme Lending, A Texas Corporation, Mortgagee, dated August 15th, 2018 and recorded on August 15th, 2018 in Book 13138, Page 0022, 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 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
26SP000086-120 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 Anthony S. James and Suzette G. James to Heather Lovier, Trustee(s), which was dated July 11, 2022 and recorded on July 14, 2022 in Book 16114 at Page 21, 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 sale on September 15, 2026 at 01:00 PM, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the
CUMBERLAND NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 26SP000576-250 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Dasean Keon Sharps and Brea Sharps (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Dasean Keon Sharps and Brea Sharps) to The Shoaf Law Firm PA, Trustee(s), dated July 11, 2024, and recorded in Book No. 12017, at Page 0360 in Cumberland County Registry, North Carolina. The Deed of Trust was modified by the following: A Loan Modification recorded on February 20, 2025, in Book No. 12170, at Page 0810 , 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
11-016088 IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE OF NORTH CAROLINA SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION CUMBERLAND COUNTY 25sp000176-250 IN THE MATTER OF THE FORECLOSURE OF A DEED OF TRUST EXECUTED BY AGNES I. SANTIAGO AND DELORES OSORIO DATED FEBRUARY 18, 2006 AND RECORDED IN BOOK 7172 AT PAGE 717 AND MODIFIED BY AGREEMENT RECORDED APRIL 1 ,2020 IN BOOK 10730 PAGE 205 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
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 Cabarrus County, North Carolina, at 2:00 PM on September 15th, 2026, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following described property, to wit: Being Lots Nos. 57, 58 and 59 in Block “D” as shown on map of Lauringood Park Subdivision, west of the City of Concord and in the Suburbs thereof, plat of which is on file in the Office of the Register of Deeds for Cabarrus County, N. C. in Plat Book 2, Page 45, to which plat reference is here made for a complete description of said lots and to be taken as a part of this conveyance as if fully set out herein. Being the same property as conveyed from Jaya One LLC to Artez D. Vaughn Austin, unmarried as set forth in Deed Book 14411 Page 0050 dated 08/11/2020, recorded 08/13/2020, Cabarrus County, North Carolina. Tax ID: 5621 01 3126 0000 Together with improvements located hereon; said property being located at 356 Lizzie Ct NW, Concord, NC 28027
Tax ID: 5621 01 3126 0000 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 Artez D. Vaughn Austin. 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.
described property, to wit: Lying and being in the Four (4) Township, City of Kannapolis, Cabarrus County, North Carolina, and being a portion of Lots Number 1 through 6 and part of Lot Number 25 of VILLAMONT HEIGHTS Subdivision (Map Book 2, Page 38), and being that property as shown on physical survey by Richard A. Brandon dated April 27, 1994 and more particularly described as follows: BEGINNING at an existing iron pin in the western margin of Franklin Avenue and in the eastern margin of Lot Number 1, said Beginning Point being North 27-07-49 West a distance of 97.56 feet from a railroad spike at the intersection of the center line of South Juniper Street and Franklin Avenue, and runs thence from the point of Beginning a new line through Lots Number 1 through 6, South 74-22-38 West a distance of 149.96 feet to an existing iron pin in the line of Bobby Keith Black (now or formerly, Deed Book 538, Page 452), thence with the line of Black and the line of Lot Number 7, North 15-05-22 West a distance of 7 5.00 feet to a fence post, the rear common corner of Lots Number 6 and 7 and in the line of Lot Number 25; thence a new line North 7032-50 East (crossing a new iron pin on line at 10 feet) for a total distance of 150.35 feet to an existing iron pin in the western margin of Franklin Avenue; thence with the western
margin of Franklin Avenue, South 15-0700 East for a distance of 85.00 feet to the point of BEGINNING. For back reference, see Deed Book 1171, Page 338 (tract two), Cabarrus County Registry. Together with improvements located hereon; said property being located at 214 Franklin Avenue, Kannapolis, NC 28081 Tax ID: 56141075200000 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.
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.
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 Franklin Avenue Jones Land Trust. 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
County, North Carolina, at 1:00 PM on September 21st, 2026, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following described property, to wit: Lying and Being in the City of Kannapolis, Number Four (4) Township of Cabarrus County, North Carolina on the West side of South Ridge Avenue, and Being a part of Lot Numbers Five (5) and Six (6) in Block Four (4) of South Kannapolis, as surveyed and platted, a copy of which plat is filed in the Office of the Register of Deeds for Cabarrus County in Map Book 1, Page 33, and being more fully described as follows: Beginning at a new iron pin on the West side of South Ridge Avenue, front corner of Lot Numbers 6 and 7 and runs thence with the dividing line of said Lot Numbers 6 and 7 South 78-15-00 West 85.00 feet to an iron pin in the dividing line of said Lots, a new corner; thence a new line North 11-46-30 West 43.37 feet to an iron pin, a new corner in Lot Number 5; thence a new line through Lot Number 5 North 79-00-59 East 85.03 feet to an iron pin, a new corner on the West side of South Ridge Avenue in the front line of Lot Number 5; thence with the West side of South Ridge Avenue South 11-45-00 East 44.23 feet to the point of Beginning, containing 0.087 acre, more or less, as surveyed and platted by Ruby A. Goodwin,
P.L.S., for Mel G. Thompson & Associates, Inc., March 9, 2001. Subject to the burdens and benefits of a Joint Driveway located on the Northern portion of the subject property. Together with improvements located hereon; said property being located at 1004 S Ridge Ave, Kannapolis, NC 28083 Tax ID: 5613-64-1344-0000 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 Allison Eisenhardt. 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. 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 25-002310-01
following described property situated in Cabarrus County, North Carolina, to wit:
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 Anthony S. James and Suzette G. James.
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 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.
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
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
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.
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). Should the property be purchased by a third party, 31 CFR 1031.320 requires certain qualifying residential real estate transactions to be reported to the federal government. If you are the successful bidder in this proceeding, you may be required to provide all applicable identifying information about yourself and, if applicable, any entity or trust purchasing the property. 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
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 10:30AM on September 21, 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 Agnes I. Santiago and Delores Osorio, dated February 18, 2006 to secure the original principal amount of $103,511.00, and recorded in Book 7172 at Page 717 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: 7228 Clear Spring Dr, Fayetteville, NC 28314 Tax Parcel ID:
9487-39-7037 Present Record Owners: Agnes I. Santiago and The Heirs of Delores Osorio The record owner(s) of the property, according to the records of the Register of Deeds, is/are Agnes I. Santiago and The Heirs of Delores Osorio. 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 September 1, 2026. __________________ ___________________ Ellen Wiggins N.C. State Bar No. #55909 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:
BEING ALL OF LOTS 775 AS SHOWN ON REVISED SUBDIVISION PLAT OF THE FARM AT RIVERPOINTE - PHASE 4B - MAP 4, RECORDED IN MAP BOOK 64 AT PAGE 10 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 3341 Linetender Dr, Davidson, NC 28036. 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.
Trustee will offer for sale at the courthouse door in Fayetteville, Cumberland County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, at 12:00 PM on September 14, 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: Property Address: 215 Offing Court Fayetteville, NC 28314 Tax ID: 0407196136000 Parcel No.: 0407196136000 Lying and being in the City of Fayetteville, Cumberland County, North Carolina and being more particularly described as follows: BEING all of Lot 182, in a subdivision known as Lake Shores, Section One, Part B, and the same being duly recorded in Plat Book 53, Page 51, Cumberland County Registry, North Carolina. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 215 Offing Court, 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
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”.
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 26-001159-01
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 25-002972-01
If the transaction is subject to the FinCEN Residential Real Estate Reporting Rule (“RRE”) issued pursuant to the Bank Secrecy Act, information necessary to comply with the RRE Rule must be obtained and provided to the Reporting Person, as defined in the RRE Rule, prior to closing. 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.: 25-22944-FC01
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: 32034 - 167810
11-016088
North State Journal for Thursday, September 10, 2026
B7
TAKE NOTICE
CUMBERLAND 26SP000549-250 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 Zachery Wynn Harper and Katherine Carly Rose Harper to WFG National Title Insurance Company, Trustee(s), which was dated March 26, 2021 and recorded on March 30, 2021 in Book 11074 at Page 240, 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,
25SP000167-250 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 Herman Council and Villie L. Council to K. Douglas Barfield, Trustee(s), which was dated April 9, 2015 and recorded on April 14, 2015 in Book 09629 at Page 628, 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 September 16, 2026 at 01:30 PM, and
NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 26SP000604-250 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Quick Property Solutions Inc., a North Carolina Corporation (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Quick Property Solutions Inc., a North Carolina Corporation) to The Law Office of Jeffrey E. Radford, PA, Trustee(s), dated October 25, 2023, and recorded in Book No. 11846, at Page 0135 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 23SP001192-250 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by James Hamilton and Amanda Hamilton (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): James Hamilton and Amanda Hamilton) to Substitute Trustee Services, Inc., Trustee(s), dated March 21, 2022, and recorded in Book No. 11424, at Page 0550 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 PM on September 21, 2026 and will sell to
NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 26SP000745-250 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Derrick Murray (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Derrick Murray) to Real Advantage Title Insurance Company, Trustee(s), dated November 8, 2022, and recorded in Book No. 11616, at Page 0058 in Cumberland County Registry, North Carolina. The Deed of Trust was modified by the following: A Loan Modification recorded on November 8, 2023, in Book No. 11854, at Page 0513 A Loan Modification recorded on October 8, 2024, in Book No. 12079, at Page 0840 , 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 Publication Dates: September 10, 2026 and September 17, 2026 26SP000407-250 Under and by virtue of power of sale granted to Petitioner pursuant to N.C. Gen. Stat. § 47C-3-116 under a Claim of Lien filed on March 26, 2024 in Cumberland County File Number 24M000301-250 (the “Lien”) against John E. Blanding (“Respondent”), by Briarcliff Condominium Association, Inc. As the beneficiary of the Claim of Lien and pursuant to N.C. Gen. Stat. § 47C-3-116, Briarcliff Condominium Association, Inc. seeks to foreclose the Lien, which evidences a valid debt. Respondent defaulted on the payment of the debt represented by the Claim of Lien. The undersigned will offer for sale at the courthouse door in the City of Fayetteville, Cumberland County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, at 12:00 PM on September 21, 2026 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in the County of Cumberland, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows:
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 September 23, 2026 at 01:30 PM, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following described property situated in Cumberland County, North Carolina, to wit: BEING all of Lot 3, in a subdivision known as The “Village” at Ascot, and the same being duly recorded in Plat Book 54, Page 61, Cumberland County Registry, North Carolina. Save and except any releases, deeds of release or prior conveyances of record. Said property is commonly known as 5536 Deep Hollow Ct, Fayetteville, NC 28311. 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 Zachery Wynn Harper and wife, Katherine Carly Rose Harper. 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. If the transaction is subject to the FinCEN Residential Real Estate Reporting Rule (“RRE”) issued pursuant to the Bank Secrecy Act, information necessary to comply with the RRE Rule must be obtained and provided to the Reporting Person, as defined in the RRE Rule, prior to closing. 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.: 26-13714-FC01
will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following described property situated in Cumberland County, North Carolina, to wit: BEGINNING at a stake in a line of the tract of which this is a part, said stake being North 44 degrees East 276 feet from the seventh corner of said tract, and running thence North 46 degrees 00 minutes West 200 feet to a stake; thence North 44 degrees 00 minutes East 100 feet to a stake; thence South 46 degrees 00 minutes East 200 feet to a stake in the sixth line of the tract of which this is a part; thence with said sixth line South 44 degrees 00 minutes West 100 feet to the Beginning, and being a part of a 23.7 acre tract of land described in deed to Mayfield Council and wife, Francis Council dated January 7, 1949 and recorded in Book 532, Page 148, Cumberland County Regsitry. Save and except any releases, deeds of release or prior conveyances of record. Said property is commonly known as 6756 Council Rd, Fayetteville, NC 28306. A Certified Check ONLY (no personal checks) of five percent (5%) of the purchase price, or Seven Hundred Fifty Dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, will be
required at the time of the sale. Following the expiration of the statutory upset bid period, all the remaining amounts are immediately due and owing. THIRD PARTY PURCHASERS MUST PAY THE EXCISE TAX AND THE RECORDING COSTS FOR THEIR DEED. Said property to be offered pursuant to this Notice of Sale is being offered for sale, transfer and conveyance “AS IS WHERE IS.” There are no representations of warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at, or relating to the property being offered for sale. Substitute Trustee does not have possession of the property and cannot grant access, prior to or after the sale, for purposes of inspection and/ or appraisal. This sale is made subject to all prior liens, unpaid taxes, any unpaid land transfer taxes, special assessments, easements, rights of way, deeds of release, and any other encumbrances or exceptions of record. To the best of the knowledge and belief of the undersigned, the current owner(s) of the property is/are All Lawful Heirs of Villie Council. 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. If the transaction is subject to the FinCEN Residential Real Estate Reporting Rule (“RRE”) issued pursuant to the Bank Secrecy Act, information necessary to comply with the RRE Rule must be obtained and provided to the Reporting Person, as defined in the RRE Rule, prior to closing. 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.: 25-02913-FC01
PM on September 21, 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 519 in a subdivision known as CLIFFDALE WEST, SECTION 10, and the same being duly recorded in Book of Plats 54, at Page 77, Cumberland County Registry, North Carolina. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 6823 Mangrove, Drive, Fayetteville, North Carolina. Trustee may, in the Trustee’s sole discretion, delay the sale for up to three hours as provided in N.C.G.S. 45-21.23. Should the property be 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). Should the property be purchased by a third party, 31 CFR 1031.320 requires certain qualifying residential real estate transactions to be reported to the federal government. If you are the successful bidder in this proceeding, you
may be required to provide all applicable identifying information about yourself and, if applicable, any entity or trust purchasing the property. 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.
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: The Land is described as follows: Being all of Lot 128, in a subdivision known as Birch Creek, Section three (3) and the same being duly recorded in Book of Plats 96, Page 57, Cumberland County Registry, North Carolina. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 2813 Bolla Drive, Fayetteville, North Carolina. Property Address: 2813 Bolla Drive, Fayetteville, NC 28306 The property hereinabove described was acquired by Grantor by instrument recorded simultaneously herewith. 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). Should the property be purchased by a third party, 31 CFR 1031.320
requires certain qualifying residential real estate transactions to be reported to the federal government. If you are the successful bidder in this proceeding, you may be required to provide all applicable identifying information about yourself and, if applicable, any entity or trust purchasing the property. 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.
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). Should the property be purchased by a third party, 31 CFR 1031.320 requires certain qualifying residential real estate transactions to be reported to the federal government. If you are the successful bidder in this proceeding, you may be required to provide all applicable identifying information about yourself and, if applicable, any entity or trust purchasing the property. 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.
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 Briarcliff Condominium Association, Inc. 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 expressly are disclaimed. Also, this property is being sold subject to all taxes, special assessments, and prior liens or 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 payoff of the lien 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. 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 Respondent 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. This the 10th day of August, 2026. BY: /S/ AnnMarie Taylor AnnMarie Taylor Attorney for Substitute Trustee Services, Inc. Hutchens Law Firm
PM on September 14, 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 the certain tract or parcel of land situated in the City of Fayetteville in Rockfish Township, Cumberland County, North Carolina, and more particularly described as follows: Being all of Lot 123 in a Subdivision known as The Woods at Birch Creek, Phase One, according to a plat of same being duly recorded in Plat Book 111, Page 181, and being the same property conveyed to Joseph A. Sokoloski by deed recorded in Book 6755, Page 334. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 2808 Bardolino Drive, Fayetteville, North Carolina. Subject to county and/or municpal zoning ordinances, rules and regulations, restrictive covenants, easements and rights of way of record. Being the same property conveyed to Derrick Murray. by Joseph A. Sokoloski and wife Tetyana V. Sokoloski. in deed dated 7/12/2011 recorded 7/25/2011 in Book 8687 Page 525 in the County of Cumberland and State of North Carolina. More commonly known as: 2808 Bardolino Drive, Fayetteville, NC 28306 Parcel Id: 0405-13-1993
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. Parcel Identification No. 0418-77-9889-109 The street address of said property is 19054 Tryon Drive, Fayetteville, NC 28303. The street address of said property is 19054 Tryon Drive, Fayetteville, NC 28303. Trustee may, in the Trustee’s sole discretion, delay the sale for up to one hour as provided in NCGS §45-21.23. Should the property be purchased by a third party, that party must pay the excise tax, as well as the court costs of Forty-Five Cents ($0.45) per One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) required by NCGS §7A-308(a)(1). The property to be offered pursuant to this notice of sale is being
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.
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: 23499 - 166699
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: 17162 - 80804
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: 15633 - 147906
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North State Journal for Thursday, September 10, 2026
TAKE NOTICE
CUMBERLAND NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 26SP000744-250 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Willie F. Warrens, Jr. and Tiffany Renee Warrens (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Willie F. Warrens, Jr.) to Donna Bradford, Trustee(s), dated August 23, 2017, and recorded in Book No. 10155, at Page 0559 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
DAVIDSON 26-126163 IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE OF NORTH CAROLINA SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION DAVIDSON COUNTY 26SP000242-280 IN THE MATTER OF THE FORECLOSURE OF A DEED OF TRUST EXECUTED BY SHANNON DEVELL ROMAN DATED DECEMBER 30, 2021 AND RECORDED IN BOOK DE 2523 AT PAGE 1501 AND MODIFIED BY AGREEMENT RECORDED NOVEMBER 10, 2025 IN BOOK 2727, PAGE 2483 IN THE DAVIDSON COUNTY PUBLIC REGISTRY, NORTH CAROLINA NOTICE OF SALE Under and by virtue of the power and
DURHAM 26SP000190-310 NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE NORTH CAROLINA, DURHAM COUNTY Under and by virtue of a Power of Sale contained in that certain Deed of Trust executed by Donnell Kearney to Mann, McGibney & Jordan PLLC, Trustee(s), which was dated December 17, 2024 and recorded on December 19, 2024 in Book 10227 at Page 891, Durham 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,
26SP000428-310 NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE NORTH CAROLINA, DURHAM COUNTY Under and by virtue of a Power of Sale contained in that certain Deed of Trust executed by Betsy B. Rollins to BB&T Collateral Service Corporation, Trustee(s), which was dated September 14, 2006 and recorded on October 20, 2006 in Book 5392 at Page 548, Durham 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 September 24, 2026 at 11:30 AM, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following described property situated in
NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE FILE NUMBER: 26SP000164-310 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a Deed of Trust executed by JACOBO RODRIGUEZ BUESO dated March 22, 2023 in the amount of $319,920.00 and recorded in Book 9883, Page 336 of the Durham County Public Registry by ANTHONY MASELLI OR GENEVIEVE JOHNSON, EITHER OF WHOM MAY ACT, Substitute Trustee, default having been made in the terms of agreement set forth by the loan agreement secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, ANTHONY MASELLI OR GENEVIEVE JOHNSON, EITHER OF WHOM MAY ACT, having been substituted as Successor Trustee in said Deed of Trust by an instrument duly recorded in the Official Records of Durham County, North Carolina, in Book 10414, Page 296, 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 County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, on September 15, 2026 at 2:00 PM, and will sell to the highest bidder
FORSYTH 26SP000119-330 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 Timothy David Webster Jr. to Hutchens, Senter, Kellam & Pettit, P.A., dba Hutchens Law Firm, Trustee(s), which was dated January 14, 2022 and recorded on January 20, 2022 in Book 3670 at Page 2252, 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
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.
door in Fayetteville, Cumberland County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, at 12:00 PM on September 14, 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 274 of the Acorn Ridge, Section Four, Part Two subdivision, a “zero lot line” Development, Book of Plats 118, Page 003, Cumberland County Registry, North Carolina. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 2405 Saltwood Road, 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). Should the property be purchased by a third party, 31 CFR 1031.320 requires certain qualifying residential real
estate transactions to be reported to the federal government. If you are the successful bidder in this proceeding, you may be required to provide all applicable identifying information about yourself and, if applicable, any entity or trust purchasing the property. 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.
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 Davidson County courthouse at 11:00AM on September 14, 2026, the following described real estate and any improvements situated thereon, in Davidson County, North Carolina, and being more particularly described in that certain Deed of Trust executed Shannon Devell Roman, dated December 30, 2021 to secure the original principal amount of $220,990.00, and recorded in Book DE 2523 at Page 1501 of the Davidson 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: 610
Quail Lane, Lexington, NC 27292 Tax Parcel ID: 11338H0000022 Present Record Owners: Shannon DeVell Roman The record owner(s) of the property, according to the records of the Register of Deeds, is/are Shannon DeVell Roman. 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 August 26, 2026. __________________ ___________________ Ellen Wiggins N.C. State Bar No. #55909 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:
or the usual and customary location at the county courthouse for conducting the sale on September 24, 2026 at 11:30 AM, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following described property situated in Durham County, North Carolina, to wit:
DEED.
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 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.
BEING all of Lot 66, The Villages at Independence Park, The Lafayette Phase II Subdivision as shown on that plat recorded in Plat Book 161, Page 355 and in Book 164, Page 256, Durham County Registry. Save and except any releases, deeds of release or prior conveyances of record. Said property is commonly known as 4308 Flintlock Ln, Durham, NC 27704. 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
Durham County, North Carolina, to wit: SITUATED IN THE CITY OF DURHAM , CITY-OUT TOWNSHIP, DURHAM COUNTY AND STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA: LOT 161 AS SHOWN ON THAT PLAT OF SECTION VIII OF PHASE II OF DUNBARTON, BY ENGINEERING SURVEYS, INC. DATED SEPTEMBER 1980, AND RECORDED IN PLAT BOOK 98, PAGE 32, DURHAM COUNTY REGISTRY. Save and except any releases, deeds of release or prior conveyances of record. Said property is commonly known as 161 Montrose Drive, Durham, NC 27707. 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
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 Donnell Kearney. 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
AND THE RECORDING COSTS FOR THEIR DEED. Said property to be offered pursuant to this Notice of Sale is being offered for sale, transfer and conveyance “AS IS WHERE IS.” There are no representations of warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at, or relating to the property being offered for sale. Substitute Trustee does not have possession of the property and cannot grant access, prior to or after the sale, for purposes of inspection and/ or appraisal. This sale is made subject to all prior liens, unpaid taxes, any unpaid land transfer taxes, special assessments, easements, rights of way, deeds of release, and any other encumbrances or exceptions of record. To the best of the knowledge and belief of the undersigned, the current owner(s) of the property is/are All lawful heirs of Betsy B. Rollins.
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
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”.
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: 30205 - 156448
26-126163
If the transaction is subject to the FinCEN Residential Real Estate Reporting Rule (“RRE”) issued pursuant to the Bank Secrecy Act, information necessary to comply with the RRE Rule must be obtained and provided to the Reporting Person, as defined in the RRE Rule, prior to closing. 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.: 26-02630-FC01
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. If the transaction is subject to the FinCEN Residential Real Estate Reporting Rule (“RRE”) issued pursuant to the Bank Secrecy Act, information necessary to comply with the RRE Rule must be obtained and provided to the Reporting Person, as defined in the RRE Rule, prior to closing. 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
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
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
for cash the following real estate situated in the County of Durham, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: PARCEL IDENTIFICATION NUMBER(S): 0834-50-2361 ADDRESS: 1004 BRIDGEWATER DRIVE DURHAM, NC 27704 PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): JACOBO RODRIGUEZ BUESO THE LAND DESCRIBED HEREIN IS SITUATED IN THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA, COUNTY OF DURHAM, AND IS DESCRIBED IN DEED BOOK 9883, PAGE 336, AS FOLLOWS: BEING ALL OF LOT 208, MAGNOLIA CREEK SUBDIVISION, PHASE 2A, 2B, 3A, AND 3B, RECORDED IN BOOK OF MAPS 199, PAGES 124-129, DURHAM COUNTY REGISTRY. 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.
county courthouse for conducting the sale on September 24, 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:
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.
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.
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.
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”.
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
Being known and designated as Lot No. 24, as shown on the Map of FOUR SEASONS, as recorded in Plat Book 25, Page 149, in the office of the Register of Deeds of Forsyth County, North Carolina, to which map reference is hereby made for a more particular description. Tax Parcel Number: 9084.00 (Block 5716,
6854-90Lot 024)
Property Address: 4020 Winterhue Street, Winston-Salem, NC 27107 Save and except any releases, deeds of release or prior conveyances of record. Said property is commonly known as 4020 Winter Hue St, Winston Salem, NC 27107. 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
Said property to be offered pursuant to this Notice of Sale is being offered for sale, transfer and conveyance “AS IS WHERE IS.” There are no representations of warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at, or relating to the property being offered for sale. Substitute Trustee does not have possession of the property and cannot grant access, prior to or after the sale, for purposes of inspection and/ or appraisal. This sale is made subject to all prior liens, unpaid taxes, any unpaid land transfer taxes, special assessments, easements, rights of way, deeds of release, and any other encumbrances or exceptions of record. To the best of the knowledge and belief of the undersigned, the current owner(s) of the property is/are All Lawful Heirs of Timothy David Webster, Jr. 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
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
File No.: 22-05179-FC02
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
If the transaction is subject to the FinCEN Residential Real Estate Reporting Rule (“RRE”) issued pursuant to the Bank Secrecy Act, information necessary to comply with the RRE Rule must be obtained and provided to the Reporting Person, as defined in the RRE Rule, prior to closing.
File No.: 26-02347-FC01
B9
North State Journal for Thursday, September 10, 2026
TAKE NOTICE
The above-described property is the Eastern Half of Lot 17 of Deer Path, Section 2 as shown on the Map recorded In Plat Book 33, Page 16, Forsyth County Registry.
Being known and designated as Lot 16 of Deer Path, Section 2 as shown on the Map recorded in Plat Book 33, Page 16. Save and except any releases, deeds of release or prior conveyances of record. Said property is commonly known as 9360 Deer Path Ln, Kernersville, NC 27284. 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 Andrew Kessel and Brandi Leigh Kessel. 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. If the transaction is subject to the FinCEN Residential Real Estate Reporting Rule (“RRE”) issued pursuant to the Bank Secrecy Act, information necessary to comply with the RRE Rule must be obtained and provided to the Reporting Person, as defined in the RRE Rule, prior to closing. 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.: 25-23070-FC01
feet from an iron in a pile of stones (having crossed a granite monument at 74.82 feet, said monument being 0.47 feet South of the line); thence from said beginning point, and running with Riddle`s North line South 87 degrees 17 minutes 35 seconds East 400 feet to a new iron; thence South 07 degrees 43 minutes 40 seconds East 227.39 feet to an iron located in the North terminus of a private road (the extension of Thunderwood Farm Road); thence with the West side of said private road, as it curves, South 22 degrees 57 minutes 55 seconds West a chord distance of 68.80 feet to a new iron; thence North 75 degrees 53 minutes 35 seconds West 466.08 feet to a new iron in the East line of John G. Welch (Deed Book 1151 Page 1262, Tract #1); thence with Welch`s East line North 14 degrees 06 minutes 25 seconds East 200 feet to a new iron, the point and place of beginning, and containing 2.479 acres, more or less, according to a survey by Crouse Surveying Company, dated January 20, 1993. Together with a perpetual right to use the easement described in Deed Book 1817, Page 3062, Forsyth County Registry, which easement shall be appurtenant to the above tract, and shall inure the benefit of the grantee, and its heirs, assigns and
successors in title. Tax Block 4608, Tax Lot 016E, Forsyth County Tax Maps. Together with improvements located hereon; said property being located at 1016 Thunderwood Farm Lane, Lewisville, NC 27023 Tax ID: 5876-15-7804 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 Dana Triplett. PLEASE TAKE NOTICE: An order for possession of the property may be issued pursuant to North Carolina General Statutes §1-339.29 in favor of the purchaser and against the party or parties in possession by the Clerk of Superior Court of the county in which the property is sold. Any person who occupies the property pursuant to a rental agreement entered into or renewed on or after October 1, 2007, may, after receiving the notice of sale, terminate the rental agreement by providing written notice of termination to the landlord, to be effective on a date stated in the notice that is at least 10 days, but no more than 90 days, after the sale date contained in the notice of sale, provided that the mortgagor
has not cured the default at the time the tenant provides the notice of termination. Upon termination of a rental agreement, the tenant is liable for rent due under the rental agreement prorated to the effective date of termination. If the Commissioner is unable to convey title to this property for any reason, the sole remedy of the purchaser is the return of the deposit. Reasons of such inability to convey include, but are not limited to, the filing of a bankruptcy petition prior to the confirmation of the sale and reinstatement of the loan without the knowledge of the Commissioner. If the validity of the sale is challenged by any party, the Commissioner, in their sole discretion, if they believe the challenge to have merit, may request the court to declare the sale to be void and return the deposit. The purchaser will have no further remedy. Anchor Trustee Services, LLC, Commissioner
on September 24, 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: Being known and designated as Lot 16, as shown on the Plat of WESTFIELD, as recorded in Plat Book 47, Page 47, in the office of the Register of Deeds of Forsyth County, North Carolina, reference to which is hereby made for a more particular description. Save and except any releases, deeds of release or prior conveyances of record. Said property is commonly known as 960 Benjamins Way, Winston Salem, NC 27103. A Certified Check ONLY (no personal checks) of five percent (5%) of the purchase price, or Seven Hundred Fifty Dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, will be required at the time of the sale. Following the expiration of the statutory upset bid period, all the remaining amounts are immediately due and owing. THIRD PARTY PURCHASERS MUST PAY THE EXCISE TAX AND THE RECORDING COSTS FOR THEIR DEED.
Said property to be offered pursuant to this Notice of Sale is being offered for sale, transfer and conveyance “AS IS WHERE IS.” There are no representations of warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at, or relating to the property being offered for sale. Substitute Trustee does not have possession of the property and cannot grant access, prior to or after the sale, for purposes of inspection and/ or appraisal. This sale is made subject to all prior liens, unpaid taxes, any unpaid land transfer taxes, special assessments, easements, rights of way, deeds of release, and any other encumbrances or exceptions of record. To the best of the knowledge and belief of the undersigned, the current owner(s) of the property is/are All Lawful Heirs of Judith Hauser Sebastian. 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. If the transaction is subject to the FinCEN Residential Real Estate Reporting Rule (“RRE”) issued pursuant to the Bank Secrecy Act, information necessary to comply with the RRE Rule must be obtained and provided to the Reporting Person, as defined in the RRE Rule, prior to closing. Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC Substitute Trustee Brock & Scott, PLLC Attorneys for Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC 5431 Oleander Drive Suite 200 Wilmington, NC 28403 PHONE: (910) 392-4988 File No.: 24-15433-FC02
Trustee will offer for sale at the courthouse door in Statesville, Iredell County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, at 11:00 AM on September 24, 2026 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in Troutman in the County of Iredell, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: The Land is described as follows: Being all of Lot 34 of the Wiltshire Creek Subdivision as platted, planned and recorded in Plat Book 36, Pages 106 - 108, in the Iredell County Registry. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 105 Carissa Lane, Troutman, North Carolina. Also known as 105 Carissa Lane, Troutman, NC 28166 Parcel ID: 4740309311.000 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). Should the property be
purchased by a third party, 31 CFR 1031.320 requires certain qualifying residential real estate transactions to be reported to the federal government. If you are the successful bidder in this proceeding, you may be required to provide all applicable identifying information about yourself and, if applicable, any entity or trust purchasing the property. The property to be offered pursuant to this notice of sale is being offered for sale, transfer and conveyance “AS IS, WHERE IS.” Neither the Trustee nor the holder of the note secured by the deed of trust/security agreement, or both, being foreclosed, nor the officers, directors, attorneys, employees, agents or authorized representative of either the Trustee or the holder of the note make any representation or warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at or relating to the property being offered for sale, and any and all responsibilities or liabilities arising out of or in any way relating to any such condition are expressly disclaimed. Also, this property is being sold subject to all taxes, special assessments, and prior liens or prior encumbrances of record and any recorded releases. Said property is also
being sold subject to applicable Federal and State laws. A deposit of five percent (5%) of the purchase price, or seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, is required and must be tendered in the form of certified funds at the time of the sale. If the trustee is unable to convey title to this property for any reason, the sole remedy of the purchaser is the return of the deposit. Reasons of such inability to convey include, but are not limited to, the filing of a bankruptcy petition prior to the confirmation of the sale and reinstatement of the loan without the knowledge of the trustee. If the validity of the sale is challenged by any party, the trustee, in its sole discretion, if it believes the challenge to have merit, may request the court to declare the sale to be void and return the deposit. The purchaser will have no further remedy. Additional Notice for Residential Property with Less than 15 rental units, including Single-Family Residential Real Property An order for possession of the property may be issued pursuant to N.C.G.S. § 45-21.29 in favor of the purchaser and against the party or parties in possession by the clerk of superior court of the county in which the property is sold.
Any person who occupies the property pursuant to a rental agreement entered into or renewed on or after October 1, 2007, may after receiving the notice of foreclosure sale, terminate the rental agreement by providing written notice of termination to the landlord, to be effective on a date stated in the notice that is at least 10 days but not more than 90 days, after the sale date contained in this notice of sale, provided that the mortgagor has not cured the default at the time the tenant provides the notice of termination. Upon termination of a rental agreement, the tenant is liable for rent due under the rental agreement prorated to the effective date of the termination.
Under and by virtue of a Power of Sale contained in that certain Deed of Trust executed by Joseph Anthony Hartman and Kaitlyn Hartman to John B Third, Trustee(s), which was dated July 30, 2024 and recorded on July 31, 2024 in Book 3076 at Page 1556, 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 September 24, 2026 at 10:00 AM, and
will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following described property situated in Iredell County, North Carolina, to wit: Being all of Lot No. Ten (10) of Kerley Court Subdivision, as platted and planned on the general map thereof, which is recorded in Plat Book 6 at Page 15, in the Iredell County Registry. Save and except any releases, deeds of release or prior conveyances of record. Said property is commonly known as 820 Kerley CT, Statesville, NC 28677. 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 Joseph Anthon Hartman & Kaitlyn Hartman, husband and wife. 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. If the transaction is subject to the FinCEN Residential Real Estate Reporting Rule (“RRE”) issued pursuant to the Bank Secrecy Act, information necessary to comply with the RRE Rule must be obtained and provided to the Reporting Person, as defined in the RRE Rule, prior to closing. 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.: 26-17533-FC01
AMENDED NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 25SP000044-480
All that certain lot or parcel of land situated in the Iredell County, North Carolina and more particularly described as follows:
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 10:30 AM on September 14, 2026 and will sell to the 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:
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.
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). Should the property be purchased by a third party, 31 CFR 1031.320 requires certain qualifying residential real estate transactions to be reported to the federal government. If you are the successful bidder in this proceeding, you may be required to provide all applicable identifying information about yourself and, if applicable, any entity or trust purchasing the property. 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.
FORSYTH 26SP000224-330 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 Andrew Kessel and Brandi Leigh Kessel to First American Title Insurance Company, Trustee(s), which was dated August 19, 2021 and recorded on August 19, 2021 in Book 3634 at Page 896, 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 September 24, 2026 at 10:00 AM, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following described property situated in
AMENDED NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE NORTH CAROLINA, FORSYTH COUNTY 25CV014133-330 Pursuant to Default Order and Consent Judgment entered on April 28, 2026 in Forsyth County, North Carolina by the presiding Superior Court Judge, default having been made in the payment of the Note secured by the Deed of Trust recorded on recorded on May 20th, 2008 in Book RE2833, Page 1346, and subsequently modified by Loan Modification recorded on September 24th, 2024 in Book RE3827 at Page 2850, Forsyth County Registry, and the undersigned, Anchor Trustee Services, LLC having been appointed as Commissioner in this case, the undersigned Commissioner will offer for sale at the courthouse door or other usual place of sale in Forsyth County, North Carolina, at 2:00 PM on September 23rd, 2026, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following described property, to wit: Beginning at a new iron in the North line of the Paul F. Riddle tract described in Deed Book 1140, Page 1494, Forsyth County Registry, said iron being located South 87 deg 17 minutes 35 seconds East 356.33
25SP001845-330 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 Judith H. Sebastian a/k/a Judith Hauser Sebastian to Blanco Tackabery & Matamoros, P.A., Trustee(s), which was dated July 9, 2020 and recorded on July 9, 2020 in Book 3536 at Page 2243, 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
IREDELL NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 26SP000291-480 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Helmsman Homes, LLC, a North Carolina Limited Liability Company (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Helmsman Homes, LLC, a North Carolina Limited Liability Company and Exemplar Holdings, LLC, a North Carolina Limited Liability Company) to Sean C. Walker, Trustee(s), dated March 10, 2022, and recorded in Book No. 2905, at Page 1745 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
26SP000331-480 NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE NORTH CAROLINA, IREDELL COUNTY
Forsyth County, North Carolina, to wit: Tract
1:
Beginning at an iron stake located along the Southwestern right of way line of Deer Path Lane, said iron stake also marking a common corner of Lot 16 and lot 17 of Deer Path, Section 2 (Plat Book 33, Page 16, Forsyth County Registry); thence along the common line of Lot 16 and Lot 17 South 21 degrees 37 minutes 41 seconds West 216.41 feet to an iron stake marking a common corner of Lot 16 and 17; thence along the Southern line of Lot 17 North 82 degrees 46 minutes 34 seconds West 65.08 feet to a point; thence along a new line within Lot 17 North 23 degrees 55 minutes 18 seconds East 237.05 feet to a point along the Southwestern right of way line of Deer Path Lane; thence along the Southwestern right of way line of Deer Path Lane on a curve to the left a chord bearing and distance of South 63 degrees 48 minutes 34 seconds East 53.65 feet to an iron stake marking the point and place of beginning. This description is in accordance with a Map prepared by Larry L. Callahan, R.LR ,, dated March 30, 1993 entitled “Map for Mitchco, Inc.”
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.
Tract
2:
By: Goddard & Peterson, PLLC 125-B Williamsboro Street Oxford, NC 27565 24-001248-02
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: 28886 - 147784
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: 17172 - 121276
B10
North State Journal for Thursday, September 10, 2026
TAKE NOTICE
JOHNSTON NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 26SP000374-500 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Leonard L. Cross (Deceased) (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Leonard L. Cross) to Westcor Land Title Insurance Company, Trustee(s), dated April 4, 2025, and recorded in Book No. 6858, at Page 659 in Johnston County Registry, North Carolina, default having been made in the payment of the promissory note secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Substitute Trustee Services, Inc. having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust by an instrument duly recorded in the Office of the Register of Deeds Johnston County, North Carolina and the holder of the note evidencing said indebtedness having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the courthouse door in Smithfield, Johnston County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, at
NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 26SP000270-500 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Joseph E. Allen, Jr. (Deceased) and Leslie G. Albea (Deceased) (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Leslie G. Albea and Joseph E. Allen, Jr.) to Heather Lovier, Trustee(s), dated February 14, 2020, and recorded in Book No. 5526, at Page 324 in Johnston County Registry, North Carolina, default having been made in the payment of the promissory note secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Substitute Trustee Services, Inc. having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust by an instrument duly recorded in the Office of the Register of Deeds Johnston County, North Carolina and the holder of the note evidencing said indebtedness having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the courthouse door in Smithfield, Johnston County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, at 12:00 PM on September 15, 2026 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in Wendell in the County of Johnston, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: Tax Id Number(s): 16K03009B, 16-K-03009-BLand situated in the City of Wendell in the
NOTICE OF SERVICE OF PROCESS BY PUBLICATION STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF JOHNSTON GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION 25CV006545-500 Alabama Housing Finance Authority Plaintiff, v. Terrance Brunson a/k/a Terrance L Brunson; Any Spouse of Terrance Brunson a/k/a Terrance L Brunson; Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC; United States of America Defendant(s). To: Any Spouse of Terrance Brunson a/k/a Terrance L Brunson; Terrance Brunson
NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE FILE NUMBER: 25SP000521-500 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a Deed of Trust executed by JANAYA NADYA JONES AND RAUDY JOSE DE LA ROSA RODRIGUEZ dated August 24, 2022 in the amount of $322,245.00 and recorded in Book 6328, Page 785 in the Johnston County Public Registry by GODDARD & PETERSON, PLLC, 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, GODDARD & PETERSON, PLLC, WHOM MAY ACT, having been substituted as Successor Trustee in said Deed of Trust by an instrument duly recorded in the Official Records of Johnston County, North Carolina, in Book 7071, Page 304, and the holder of the note evidencing said indebtedness having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the courthouse door in Johnston County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, on September 24, 2026 at 11:00 AM, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in the County
NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE FILE NUMBER: 26SP000136-500 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a Deed of Trust executed by DEDRIC T. BROOKS AND AMBER M. BROOKS dated January 10, 2025 in the amount of $459,383.00 and recorded in Book 6811, Page 174 of the Johnston County Public Registry by ANTHONY MASELLI OR GENEVIEVE JOHNSON, EITHER OF WHOM MAY ACT, Substitute Trustee, default having been made in the terms of agreement set forth by the loan agreement secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, ANTHONY MASELLI OR GENEVIEVE JOHNSON, EITHER OF WHOM MAY ACT, having been substituted as Successor Trustee in said Deed of Trust by an instrument duly recorded in the Official Records of Johnston County, North Carolina, in Book 7053, Page 339, and the holder of the note evidencing said indebtedness having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the courthouse door in Johnston County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, on September 22, 2026 at 2:00 PM, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in the County of Johnston, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: PARCEL IDENTIFICATION NUMBER(S):
MOORE NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE NORTH CAROLINA, MOORE COUNTY 25 SP000270-620 Under and by virtue of a Power of Sale contained in that certain Deed of Trust executed by LinkSource, LLC , Mortgagor(s), in the original amount of $1,350,000.00, to CV3 Financial Services, LLC, Mortgagee, dated June 18th, 2024 and recorded on June 21st, 2024 in Book 6190, Page 188, Moore 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 Moore County, North Carolina, and the holder of the note evidencing said
11:00 AM on September 15, 2026 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in Wendell in the County of Johnston, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: The land referred to herein below is situated in the County of Johnston, State of North Carolina, and is described as follows: Being all of Lot 11, Echo Forest Subdivision, Section 2, as shown on map recorded in Plat Book 55, Page 35, Johnston County Registry, to which plat reference is hereby made for a full and complete description of said lot. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 141 Tast Drive, Wendell, North Carolina. Title to the above referenced property conveyed to Leonard L. Cross, a single person from Edwards Residential Construction, Inc., a North Carolina Corporation and recorded on June 30, 2000 in Book: 1949 and Page: 67. Parcel ID: 16K03030O Property Commonly Known as: 141 Tast Drive, Wendell, NC 27591 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). Should the property be purchased by a third party, 31 CFR 1031.320 requires certain qualifying residential real estate transactions to be reported to the federal government. If you are the successful bidder in this proceeding, you may be required to provide all applicable identifying information about yourself and, if applicable, any entity or trust purchasing the property. 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.
County of Johnston in the State of NC Beginning in the middle of the run of Small Branch in the line of Lot No. 6 of the A.M. Barnes Division (formerly owned by Mrs. J. W. Boykin) and runs thence with the line of Lot No. 6 North 81 degrees 30 minutes West 200 feet to a stake, a new corner with Ruby Fowler; thence a new line South 8 degrees 45 minutes East 270 feet to a stake , another new corner with Ruby Fowler; thence another new line South 81 degrees 30 minutes East 220 feet to the middle of Small Branch; thence up the meanders of Small Branch to the beginning, containing approximately one (1) acre, more or less and being a portion of Lot No. 7 of the A.M. Barnes Division conveyed to Ruby Fowler by A.M. Barnes and wife, Annie Barnes, by Deed dated August 21, 1923 and recorded in Book 129, Page 262, Johnston County Registry. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 6117B Applewhite Road, Wendell, North Carolina. Together with a perpetual easements and right of ingress, and egress across the lands of Lot No. 7 of the A. M. Barnes Division, said easement conveyed to Will B. Fowler in a Deed from Ruby Fowler, dated March, 1965, said easement leading from the rural paved road to said tract of land known as the one (1) acre tract described in Deed Book 638, Page 20, Johnston County Registry. Also granted to the Grantee is the right to use the existing pond for bathing, fishing, recreation and pleasure.
NOTE: The Company is prohibited from insuring the area or quantity of the land. The Company does not represent that any acreage or footage calculations are correct. References to quantity are for identification purposes only. Commonly known as: 6117B Applewhite Rd, Wendell, NC 27591-8673 The Property Address and Tax Parcel Identification Number listed are provided solely for informational purposes Trustee may, in the Trustee’s sole discretion, delay the sale for up to three hours as provided in N.C.G.S. §45-21.23. Should the property be purchased by a third party, that party must pay the excise tax, as well as the court costs of Forty-Five Cents ($0.45) per One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) required by N.C.G.S. §7A-308(a)(1). Should the property be purchased by a third party, 31 CFR 1031.320 requires certain qualifying residential real estate transactions to be reported to the federal government. If you are the successful bidder in this proceeding, you may be required to provide all applicable identifying information about yourself and, if applicable, any entity or trust purchasing the property. 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.
a/k/a Terrance L Brunson. Take notice that a pleading seeking relief against you has been filed in the above entitled action. The nature of the relief being sought is as follows: The Court determine the Deed of Trust recorded on April 28, 2017, in Book 4950 at Page 483 in the Johnston County Registry was drafted and recorded in a manner sufficient to give a reasonable title searcher notice of the interest of the Plaintiff’s lien on the property located at 194 W. Olive Road, Clayton, North Carolina 27520. The Court declare the Deed of Trust recorded on April 28, 2017, in Book 4950 at Page 483 in the Johnston County Registry is a valid First Lien on the Property as drawn; That the Plaintiff’s lien on the Property be
foreclosed by judicial sale pursuant to the provisions of N.C.G.S. § 1-339.1, et seq., by the Plaintiff’s Counsel or by a Commissioner especially appointed by the Court to serve without bond, with proceeds of the sale applied as follows: To the cost of this action; To the compensation allowed by the Court for a person holding the sale pursuant to the N.C.G.S. § 1-339.11; To the amount due to the Plaintiff under the Note and Deed of Trust, including reasonable fees and costs provided therein; and The surplus, if any, to be paid to the Office of the Clerk of Superior Court of Johnston County pending a determination of those persons entitled thereto.
That the Property located at 194 W. Olive Road, Clayton, NC 27520 shall be sold at a public sale to the highest bidder. That Jeremy B. Wilkins is hereby appointed as Commissioner to conduct the sale pursuant to N.C.G.S. §1-339.11. In the alternative, that the Court declares Defendant Terrance L Brunson, holds the Property described herein subject to a constructive trust and equitable lien to the benefit of the Plaintiff, consistent in all regards with the terms and conditions of the Deed of Trust. That the Court’s Order, shall be duly recorded in the Johnston County Register of Deeds and indexed according to those parties named in said Deed of Trust and named herein for the purpose of establishing
record notice of this proceeding in the chain of title to the Property; and For such other and further relief as the Court deems just and proper. You are required to make defense to such pleading not later than (October 7, 2026 SEE Rule 4(j1)) and upon your failure to do so the party seeking service against you will apply to the court for the relief sought. This, the __18th___ day of August, 2026. BROCK & SCOTT, PLLC __/s/ Matthew Herrle ___________________________ Matthew Herrle, NCSB No. 34815 Attorney for Plaintiff 5431 Oleander Drive Wilmington, NC 28403 Phone: 910-392-4988
of Johnston, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: PARCEL IDENTIFICATION NUMBER(S): 01E08020O ADDRESS: 123 FIRESIDE DR BENSON, NC 27504 PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): JULIO MAXIMO GUERRO AND WENDA JULISSA REANOS ORELLANA THE LAND DESCRIBED HEREIN IS SITUATED IN THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA, COUNTY OF JOHNSTON, AND IS DESCRIBED IN DEED BOOK 6328, PAGE 785, AS FOLLOWS: BEING ALL OF LOT 25, AS SHOWN ON THAT SURVEY DATED JULY 16, 2020 AND ENTITLED “SUBDIVISION MAP FOR BRICKSTONE SUBDIVISION”, PREPARED BY ENOCH ENGINEERS, P.A. AND RECORDED IN PLAT BOOK 91, PAGES 471472, JOHNSTON COUNTY REGISTRY, NORTH CAROLINA. Trustee may, in the Trustee’s sole discretion, delay the sale for up to one hour as provided in N.C.G.S. §45-21.23. 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.
05H03014H ADDRESS: 325 BUCKHORN BRANCH PARK CLAYTON, NC 27520 PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): DEDRIC T. BROOKS AND SPOUSE AMBER M. BROOKS THE LAND DESCRIBED HEREIN IS SITUATED IN THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA, COUNTY OF JOHNSTON, AND IS DESCRIBED IN DEED BOOK 6811, PAGE 174, AS FOLLOWS: THE FOLLOWING PROPERTY SITUATED IN THE COUNTY OF JOHNSTON, STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA, AND DESCRIBED AS FOLLOWS: ALL OF LOT 42, BUCKHORN BRANCH PARK SUBDIVISION, PHASE 1, AS SHOWN ON PLAT RECORDED IN PLAT BOOK 97, PAGES 284-289, JOHNSTON COUNTY REGISTRY, TO WHICH PLAT REFERENCE IS HEREBY MADE FOR A MORE PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION. BEING THE SAME PREMISES CONVEYED UNTO CLAYTON PROPERTIES GROUP, INC. A TENNESSEE CORPORATION, BY VIRTUE OF SPECIAL WARRANTY DEED FROM DEVELOPER’S CAPITAL FUND, LLC A SOUTH CAROLINA LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY, DATED APRIL 14, 2023, RECORDED JUNE 15, 2023, IN BOOK: 6493 AND PAGE: 291; INSTRUMENT: 2023019405. BEING THE SAME PREMISES CONVEYED UNTO DEDRIC T. BROOKS AND SPOUSE, AMBER M. BROOKS, BY VIRTUE OF GENERAL WARRANTY DEED FROM
CLAYTON PROPERTIES GROUP, INC. DBA MUNGO HOMES, A TENNESSEE CORPORATION, DATED NOVEMBER 15, 2023, RECORDED NOVEMBER 16, 2023, IN BOOK: 6578 AND PAGE: 4; INSTRUMENT: 2023036393. PARCEL ID: 05H03014H 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.
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 Moore County, North Carolina, at 2:00PM on September 15th, 2026, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following described property, to wit: Being all of Lot Number 3, as shown on a survey entitled “Property of the Estate of Angelee B. Chick” which survey is recorded in the Office of the Register of Deeds for Moore County, North Carolina, in Plat Cabinet 9, Slide 251. Together with improvements located hereon; said property being located at 34 Beaver Lane, Pinehurst, NC 28374 Tax ID: 00016254 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 Linksource, LLC, a North Carolina Limited
Liability Company. 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.
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.
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
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: 32123 - 168330
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: 31586 - 164867
Andrew L. Peterson Goddard & Peterson, PLLC 125-B Williamsboro Street Substitute Trustee Oxford, NC 27565 Telephone (919) 339-4320
Sarah A. Waldron or Terrass Scott Misher, Esq ROBERTSON, ANSCHUTZ, SCHNEID, CRANE & PARTNERS, PLLC Attorneys for the Substitute Trustee 13010 Morris Rd., Suite 450 Alpharetta, GA 30004 Telephone: (470) 321-7112
Anchor Trustee Services, LLC Substitute Trustee By: David Neill, NCSB #23396 McMichael Taylor Gray, LLC Attorney for Anchor Trustee Services, LLC 3550 Engineering Drive, Suite 260 Peachtree Corners, GA 30092 404-474-7149 (phone) 404-745-8121 (fax) dneill@mtglaw.com 25-003965-01
B11
North State Journal for Thursday, September 10, 2026
TAKE NOTICE
ONSLOW NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 26SP000097-660 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by John Nicholas Martinez Santiago and Hannah M. Munoz (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): John Martinez Santiago and Hannah Munoz) to Pamela S. Cox, Trustee(s), dated October 3, 2022, and recorded in Book No. 5848, at Page 819 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 offer for sale at the courthouse
NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 23SP000399-660 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Michael Blake Watson and Jennifer Watson (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Michael Blake Watson and Jennifer Watson) to Pamela S. Cox, Trustee(s), dated March 2, 2018, and recorded in Book No. 4745, at Page 340 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 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 September 23, 2026 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real
NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 26SP000244-660 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Utmost Industries LLC, a New York Limited Liability Company (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Utmost Industries LLC, a New York Limited Liability Company) to Chicago Title Insurance Company, Trustee(s), dated February 7, 2024, and recorded in Book No. 6096, at Page 870 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 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 September 23, 2026 and will sell to
RANDOLPH NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 26SP000228-750 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Porter’s Hauling, LLC (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Porter’s Hauling, LLC) to Douglas B. Elliott, P.A., Trustee(s), dated April 30, 2024, and recorded in Book No. 2908, at Page 1034 in Randolph County Registry, North Carolina, default having been made in the payment of the promissory note secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Substitute Trustee Services, Inc. having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust by an instrument duly recorded in the Office of the Register of Deeds Randolph County, North Carolina and the holder of the note evidencing said indebtedness having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the courthouse door in Asheboro, Randolph County,
25CV003925-750 AMENDED NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE Under and by virtue of the power and authority contained in a judgment bearing the caption “U.S. Bank National Association, not in its individual capacity, but solely as Trustee for GSMS 2021-1 Trust, Plaintiff, v. Joshua Lee Flynn, and Spouse of, if any; Samantha A. Moore, and Spouse of, if any; United States of America, acting through the Rural Housing Service; and Substitute Trustee Services, Inc., Substitute Trustee, Defendants” 25CV003925-750 Randolph County and pursuant to the terms of the judgment, the undersigned Commissioner will offer for sale that certain property as described below. Said sale will be held in the City of Asheboro, Randolph County, North Carolina at 10:00 a.m. on September 22, 2026 at the Randolph County Courthouse
NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE FILE NUMBER: 26SP000178-750 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a Deed of Trust executed by JOSE M. MONDRAGON SUAREZ AND MAGALI NIEVES CANUTO dated June 16, 2023 in the amount of $255,200.00 and recorded in Book 2863, Page 3 of the Randolph County Public Registry by ANTHONY MASELLI OR GENEVIEVE JOHNSON, EITHER OF WHOM MAY ACT, Substitute Trustee, default having been made in the terms of agreement set forth by the loan agreement secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, ANTHONY MASELLI OR GENEVIEVE JOHNSON, EITHER OF WHOM MAY ACT, having been substituted as Successor Trustee in said Deed of Trust by an instrument duly recorded in the Official Records of Randolph County, North Carolina, in Book 3016, Page 685, 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 September 23, 2026 at 2:00 PM, and
real estate transactions to be reported to the federal government. If you are the successful bidder in this proceeding, you may be required to provide all applicable identifying information about yourself and, if applicable, any entity or trust purchasing the property. 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.
real estate transactions to be reported to the federal government. If you are the successful bidder in this proceeding, you may be required to provide all applicable identifying information about yourself and, if applicable, any entity or trust purchasing the property. 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.
Hundred Dollars ($100.00) required by N.C.G.S. §7A-308(a)(1). Should the property be purchased by a third party, 31 CFR 1031.320 requires certain qualifying residential real estate transactions to be reported to the federal government. If you are the successful bidder in this proceeding, you may be required to provide all applicable identifying information about yourself and, if applicable, any entity or trust purchasing the property. 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.
real estate transactions to be reported to the federal government. If you are the successful bidder in this proceeding, you may be required to provide all applicable identifying information about yourself and, if applicable, any entity or trust purchasing the property. 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.
WEST 79.79 FEET TO AN EXISTING IRON PIPE, NORTH 48 DEGREES 14 MINUTES 40SECONDS WEST 244.37 FEET TO AN EXISITING IRON PIPE AND NORTH 79 DEGREES 58 MINUTES WEST492.95 FEET TO THE BEGINNING AND CONTAINING 5.002 ACRES, MORE OR LESS.
BEGINNING AT AN IRON PIPE IN THE EASTERN RIGHT OF WAY LINE OF N.C. ROAD NO. 1735 (KNOWN LOCALLY AS JONES ROAD), A NEW CORNER FOR NOW OR FORMERLY BOYD AND AT A POINT NORTH 12 DEGREES 19 MINUTES EAST 60.48 FEET FROM THE CORNER OF L. L. JONES AND BOYD’S ORIGINAL SOUTHWEST CORNER OF THE PROPERTY DESCRIBED IN BOOK 1156, PAGE 526; THENCE ALONG THE RIGHT OF WAY LINE OF N.C. SECONDARY ROAD NO. 1735 NORTH 12 DEGREES 19 MINUTES EAST
114.52 FEET TO A NEW IRON PIPE, NOW OR FORMERLY DOUG DAVIS’ CORNER; THENCE ALONG NOW OR FORMERLY DA VIS’ LINE THE FOLLOWING COURSES AND DISTANCES: SOUTH 69 DEGREES 48 MINUTES EAST 230.00 FEET TO A NEW IRON PIPE, NORTH 83 DEGREES 14 MINUTES 22 SECONDS EAST 361.67 FEET TO AN EXISTING IRON PIPE, NORTH 44 DEGREES 49 MINUTES EAST 190.28 FEET AND SOUTH 80 DEGREES 03 MINUTES EAST 229.60 FEET TO AN EXISITING IRON PIPE; THENCE ALONG A NEW LINE FOR NOW OR FORMERLY BOYD THE FOLLOWING COURSES AND DISTANCES: SOUTH 8 DEGREES 28 MINUTES 25 SECONDS WEST 485.44 FEET TO AN EXISITING IRON PIPE, NORTH 79 DEGREES 58 MINUTES WEST 151.00 FEET TO AN EXISITING IRON PIPE, NORTH 64 DEGREES 05 MINUTES 20 SECONDS
payable from the purchaser at the sale. A deposit of certified funds (no personal check) in the amount of five percent (5%) of the high bid will be required at the time of the sale. The sale will be held open for ten days for upset bids as required by law. This the 28th day of August, 2026.
The property is being sold “as is”, without warranties, subject to all taxes, special assessments and prior liens or encumbrances of record and any recorded releases. Any assessments, costs or fees resulting from the sale will be due and
Title: President 201 S. McPherson Church Road, Ste. 201 Fayetteville, NC 28303-4995
will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in the County of Randolph, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: PARCEL IDENTIFICATION NUMBER(S): 8727-32-8502 ADDRESS: 4535 BUNTON SWAIM RD LIBERTY, NC 27298 PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): JOSE M. MONDRAGON SUAREZ AND MAGALI NIEVES CANUTO THE LAND DESCRIBED HEREIN IS SITUATED IN THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA, COUNTY OF RANDOLPH, AND IS DESCRIBED IN DEED BOOK 2863, PAGE 3, AS FOLLOWS: BEING ALL OF LOT 2, CONTAINING 1.75 ACRES, MORE OR LESS, AS SHOWN ON PLAT RECORDED AT PLAT BOOK 99, PAGE 6, RANDOLPH COUNTY REGISTRY, TO WHICH PLAT REFERENCE IS HEREBY MADE FOR A MORE DEFINITE DESCRIPTION. 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.
door in Jacksonville, Onslow County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, at 10:00 AM on September 23, 2026 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in Maysville in the County of Onslow, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: Being all of Lot 25, as shown on that plat entitled, “Stones Throw, Section 11-B” and recorded in Map Book 43, Page 83, Onslow County Registry. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 137 Corena Avenue, Maysville, 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). Should the property be purchased by a third party, 31 CFR 1031.320 requires certain qualifying residential
estate situated in Jacksonville in the County of Onslow, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: BEING all of Lot 53 of Timber Creek Section I as shown more fully on map entitled “Recombination Survey Showing Lot 53 Timber Creek Section I, Jacksonville Township, Onslow County, NC” prepared by John L. Pierce & Associates, P.A. dated April 22, 2004 and recorded in April 27, 2004 in Map Book 46, Page 87, Slide L-231, Onslow County Registry. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 203 Thrush Court, 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 of Forty-Five Cents ($0.45) per One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) required by N.C.G.S. §7A-308(a)(1). Should the property be purchased by a third party, 31 CFR 1031.320 requires certain qualifying residential
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: 1-01763233 ALL that certain lot or parcel of land situated in the City of JACKSONVILLE, JACKSONVILLE Township, ONSLOW County, North Carolina and more particularly described as follows: Lot 33 Block B, Brynn Marr, Section VII-C, as recorded in Map Book 23, Page 189-189A, Slide C-297, Onslow County Registry, which map is by reference incorporated herein. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 537 Shadowridge Road, Jacksonville, North Carolina. Parcel Id #: 035320 For information only: 537 SHADOWRIDGE ROAD, JACKSONVILLE, NC 28546. 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
North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, at 10:00 AM on September 23, 2026 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in Archdale in the County of Randolph, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: BEING all of Lot 29 of Elkes Ridge Estates, per the plat thereof, which said plat is duly recorded in Plat Book 86, at Page 6, in the Office of the Register of Deeds for Randolph County, North Carolina. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 309 Belgian Drive, Archdale, 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). Should the property be purchased by a third party, 31 CFR 1031.320 requires certain qualifying residential
door and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in the County of Randolph, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: CITY OF ASHEBORO TOWNSHIP, RANDOLPH COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA:
THE ABOVE DESCRIPTION IN ACCORD WITH A SURVEY ENTITLED “SURVEY FOR JERRY M. HUNT & MELANIE W. HUNT” DATED OCTOBER 8, 1993 AND PREPARED BY SURVEYING SERVICES, ASHEBORO, NC.
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: 30685 - 159423
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: 2864 - 71426
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: 22795 - 114594
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: 32366 - 170069
BY: C.L. Leader Substitute Trustee Services, Commissioner Printed Name: C.L. Leader
Inc.,
FV# 13563535
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
B12
North State Journal for Thursday, September 10, 2026
TAKE NOTICE
RANDOLPH NORTH CAROLINA RANDOLPH COUNTY IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION FILE NO. 26CV001692-780 LAKEVIEW LOAN SERVICING, LLC, Plaintiff, v. ANGELA GAYLE CONNER; RICHARD
26SP000211-750 NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE NORTH CAROLINA, RANDOLPH COUNTY Under and by virtue of a Power of Sale contained in that certain Deed of Trust executed by Thomas W. McGee and Mitzi B. McGee to Old Republic National Title Insurance Company, Trustee(s), which was dated January 31, 2005 and recorded on February 23, 2005 in Book 1909 at Page 1303, Randolph County Registry, North Carolina. Default having been made of the note thereby secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC, having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust, and the holder of the note evidencing said default having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the courthouse door of the county courthouse where the property is located, or the usual and customary location at the county courthouse for conducting the sale on September 16, 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: BEGINNING AT A UTILITY POLE, A COMMON CORNER WITH BYRON DAVIS (DEED BOOK 507, PAGE 235, WAYNE NELSON (DEED BOOK 729, PAGE 30) AND BYRON DAVIS (DEED BOOK 385,
ROBESON 25SP001277-770 AMENDED NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE NORTH CAROLINA, ROBESON COUNTY Under and by virtue of a Power of Sale contained in that certain Deed of Trust executed by JOSEPH RAMOS AND SARAH RAMOS to David Silverman, Trustee(s), which was dated December 15, 2021 and recorded on December 15, 2021 in Book 2321 at Page 759, Robeson 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
UNION 25SP000747-890 NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE NORTH CAROLINA, UNION COUNTY Under and by virtue of a Power of Sale contained in that certain Deed of Trust executed by Charles E. Storey to Karyn T. Wilson, Trustee(s), which was dated March 15, 2001 and recorded on March 15, 2001 in Book 1520 at Page 730, Union 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,
26SP000249-890 NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE NORTH CAROLINA, UNION COUNTY Under and by virtue of a Power of Sale contained in that certain Deed of Trust executed by Gregory Allen Bryant a/k/a Gregory A. Bryant to Westcor Land Title Insurance Company, Trustee(s), which was dated October 27, 2019 and recorded on October 31, 2019 in Book 7504 at Page 536, Union 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 September 15, 2026 at 12:30 PM, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following described property situated in Union County, North Carolina, to wit: THE LAND REFERRED TO HEREIN
NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE FILE NUMBER: 25SP000638-890 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a Deed of Trust executed by CHANGXI LI AND XUAN XU dated April 1, 2022 in the amount of $495,720.00 and recorded in Book 8447, Page 0172 of the Union County Public Registry by ANTHONY MASELLI OR GENEVIEVE JOHNSON, EITHER OF WHOM MAY ACT, Substitute Trustee, default having been made in the terms of agreement set forth by the loan agreement secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, ANTHONY MASELLI OR GENEVIEVE JOHNSON, EITHER OF WHOM MAY ACT, having been substituted as Successor Trustee in said Deed of Trust by an instrument duly recorded in the Official Records of Union County, North Carolina, in Book 9228, Page 255, 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 Union County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, on September 22, 2026 at 2:00 PM, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following
TIMOTHY FOLAND; SECRETARY OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT; JOHNATHAN GRAVES; and SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE SERVICES, INC. Substitute Trustee; Defendants. NOTICE OF SERVICE OF PROCESS BY PUBLICATION TO: Angela Gayle Conner Johnathan Graves Take notice that a pleading seeking relief against you has been filed in the above entitled action. The nature of the relief being sought is as follows: The Plaintiff in the above entitled action has filed with the Clerk of
Superior Court’s office of Randolph County, North Carolina, a civil action concerning one parcel of real property located at 104 Autumn Hill Court, Archdale, North Carolina 27263. You are required to make defense to such pleading no later than October 6, 2026 (40 days from date of first publication) and upon your failure to do so the party seeking service against you will apply to the court for the relief sought. This the 19th day of August 2026. FOUNDATION LEGAL GROUP LLP By its Partner, HUTCHENS LAW FIRM LLP By: ____/s/ Bryce Ashby____ Claire Collins Dickerhoff
N.C. State Bar No. 44306 Bryce Ashby N.C. State Bar No. 61688 Post Office Box 2505 Fayetteville, NC 28302 Telephone: (910) 864-6888 Facsimile: (910) 864-6848 Claire.dickerhoff@hutchenslawfirm.com Bryce.ashby@hutchenslawfirm.com Attorneys for Plaintiff Dates of Publication: August 27, 2026; September 3, 2026; and September 10, 2026. 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
PAGE 305), THENCE NORTH 75 DEG. 47’ 36” WEST 170.73 FEET TO AN EXISTING IRON PIN; THENCE NORTH 73 DEG. 14’ 39” WEST 199.34 FEET TO AN EXISTING IRON PIN; THENCE NORTH 75 DEG. 36’ 06” WEST 105.11 FEET TO AN EXISTING IRON PIN, THE SOUTHEAST CORNER OF KENNETH SCOTT ADAMS (DEED BOOK 1654, PAGE 82); THENCE NORTH 15 DEG. 18’ 21” EAST 521.68 FEET TO AN EXISTING IRON PIN, THENCE SOUTH 78 DEG. 34’ 07” EAST 305.38 FEET TO AN EXISTING IRON PIN; THENCE SOUTH 85 DEG. 13’ 29” EAST 259.48 FEET TO AN EXISTING IRON PIN; THENCE SOUTH 86 DEG. 39’ 25” EAST 299.65 FEET TO AN EXISTING IRON PIN; THENCE SOUTH 45 DEG. 24’ 04” WEST 753.53 FEET TO THE POINT AND PLACE OF BEGINNING, CONTAINING 8.40 ACRES, MORE OR LESS, AND BEING AS SHOWN ON SURVEY BY MARK TERRY & ASSOC., INC., P.C., ARCHDALE, NC, JOB NO. 7661-120-22, ENTITLED “SURVEY FOR THOMAS W. MCGEE AND MITZI B. MCGEE”, TOGETHER WITH A RIGHT OF WAY OF INGRESS, EGRESS AND REGRESS, IN PERPETUITY OVER, ACROSS AND UPON A ROADWAY 30 FEET IN WIDTH, LYING 15 FEET ON EITHER SIDE OF THE FOLLOWING DESCRIBED LINE; BEGINNING AT A POINT WHICH IS NORTH 75 DEG. 47’ 36” WEST 6.25 FEET FROM THE BEGINNING POINT OF THE ABOVE-DESCRIBED 8.4 ACRE TRACT AND RUNNING THENCE SOUTH 14 DEG. 07’ 28” WEST 623.49 FEET TO A
POINT IN THE CENTER LINE OF NCSR 1537, WHICH SAID POINT IS SOUTH 68 DEG. 53’ 49” EAST 995.64 FEET FROM THE CENTER LINE OF NCSR 1004, WHICH SAID RIGHT OF WAY AND EASEMENT IS ALSO SHOWN ON THE SURVEY PREPARED BY MARK TERRY CITED ABOVE. Save and except any releases, deeds of release or prior conveyances of record. Said property is commonly known as 3898 Nelson Road, Sophia, NC 27350. A Certified Check ONLY (no personal checks) of five percent (5%) of the purchase price, or Seven Hundred Fifty Dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, will be required at the time of the sale. Following the expiration of the statutory upset bid period, all the remaining amounts are immediately due and owing. THIRD PARTY PURCHASERS MUST PAY THE EXCISE TAX AND THE RECORDING COSTS FOR THEIR DEED. Said property to be offered pursuant to this Notice of Sale is being offered for sale, transfer and conveyance “AS IS WHERE IS.” There are no representations of warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at, or relating to the property being offered for sale. Substitute Trustee does not have possession of the property and cannot grant access, prior to or after the sale, for purposes of inspection and/ or appraisal. This sale is made subject to all prior liens, unpaid taxes, any unpaid
land transfer taxes, special assessments, easements, rights of way, deeds of release, and any other encumbrances or exceptions of record. To the best of the knowledge and belief of the undersigned, the current owner(s) of the property is/ are Greenporkday, LLC, a North Carolina Limited Liability Company. 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. If the transaction is subject to the FinCEN Residential Real Estate Reporting Rule (“RRE”) issued pursuant to the Bank Secrecy Act, information necessary to comply with the RRE Rule must be obtained and provided to the Reporting Person, as defined in the RRE Rule, prior to closing. Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC Substitute Trustee Brock & Scott, PLLC Attorneys for Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC 5431 Oleander Drive Suite 200 Wilmington, NC 28403 PHONE: (910) 392-4988 File No.: 25-24931-FC02
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 September 14, 2026 at 01:00 PM, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following described property situated in Robeson County, North Carolina, to wit: BEING all of Lot 7, in subdivision known as Map of Acadiana subdivision being a revision of Lots 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, & 11 as found in map Book 40, Page 83, and the same being duly recorded in Plat Book 40, Page 140, Robeson County Registry, North Carolina. Save and except any releases, deeds of release or prior conveyances of record. Said property is commonly known as 158 Acadiana Dr, Parkton, NC 28371. 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 Joseph Ramos and Sarah Ramos. 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. If the transaction is subject to the FinCEN Residential Real Estate Reporting Rule (“RRE”) issued pursuant to the Bank Secrecy Act, necessary to comply with the RRE Rule must be obtained and provided to the Reporting Person, as defined in the RRE Rule, prior to closing. 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.: 25-22992-FC01
or the usual and customary location at the county courthouse for conducting the sale on September 22, 2026 at 12:30 PM, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following described property situated in Union County, North Carolina, to wit: BEING all of Lot 20, Summerhill Estates, Phase 2, as shown on plat thereof by Walter L. Gordon and Company, NCRLS, recorded in Plat Cabinet F, File 945, Union County Registry, to which reference is made for a more particular description.
PURCHASERS MUST PAY THE EXCISE TAX AND THE RECORDING COSTS FOR THEIR DEED. Said property to be offered pursuant to this Notice of Sale is being offered for sale, transfer and conveyance “AS IS WHERE IS.” There are no representations of warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at, or relating to the property being offered for sale. Substitute Trustee does not have possession of the property and cannot grant access, prior to or after the sale, for purposes of inspection and/ or appraisal. This sale is made subject to all prior liens, unpaid taxes, any unpaid land transfer taxes, special assessments, easements, rights of way, deeds of release, and any other encumbrances or exceptions of record. To the best of the knowledge and belief of the undersigned, the current owner(s) of the property is/are All Lawful Heirs of Charles E. Storey. 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. If the transaction is subject to the FinCEN Residential Real Estate Reporting Rule (“RRE”) issued pursuant to the Bank Secrecy Act, information necessary to comply with the RRE Rule must be obtained and provided to the Reporting Person, as defined in the RRE Rule, prior to closing. 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.: 25-31724-FC01
Property Commonly Known As: 1116 Wind Chime Court, Monroe, NC 28110 Parcel ID: 09345238 Save and except any releases, deeds of release or prior conveyances of record.
Said property is commonly known as 1116 Wind Chime Ct, Monroe, NC 28110. 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 Gregory Allen Bryant. 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. If the transaction is subject to the FinCEN Residential Real Estate Reporting Rule (“RRE”) issued pursuant to the Bank Secrecy Act, information necessary to comply with the RRE Rule must be obtained and provided to the Reporting Person, as defined in the RRE Rule, prior to closing. 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.: 26-08796-FC01
real estate situated in the County of Union, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: PARCEL IDENTIFICATION NUMBER(S): 07096351 ADDRESS: 1005 MATILDA LN INDIAN TRAIL, NC 28079 PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): CHANGXI LI AND XUAN XU THE LAND DESCRIBED HEREIN IS SITUATED IN THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA, COUNTY OF UNION, AND IS DESCRIBED IN DEED BOOK 8447, PAGE 0170, AS FOLLOWS: BEING ALL OF LOT 159 OF TAYLOR GLENN, PHASE I, MAP 3 AS SHOWN IN MAP BOOK G, PAGE 583 AS RECORDED IN UNION COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA. PROPERTY ADDRESS: 1005 MATILDA LANE INDIAN TRAIL, NC 28079 PARCEL: 07096351 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.
See Deed recorded in Book 1520, Page 728, Union County Registry. Save and except any releases, deeds of release or prior conveyances of record. Said property is commonly known as 8028 Hillanby Court, Waxhaw, NC 28173. 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
BELOW IS SITUATED IN THE COUNTY OF UNION, TOWNSHIP OF MONROE, STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA AND IS DESCRIBED AS FOLLOWS: BEING ALL OF LOT 25 OF WINDY RIDGE SUBDIVISION, PHASE 1, AS SHOWN ON PLAT RECORDED IN PLAT CABINET H, FILE 990-991, UNION COUNTY REGISTRY, TO WHICH PLAT REFERENCE IS HEREBY MADE FOR A MORE PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION. PARCEL
ID
#09345238
THIS BEING THE SAME PROPERTY CONVEYED TO KRISTI A. WHITELY AND GREGORY ALLEN BRYANT, AS JOINT TENANTS WITH RIGHT OF SURVIVORSHIP FROM KRISTI A. WHITELY, (UNMARRIED) IN DEED DATED SEPTEMBER 10, 2018 AND RECORDED SEPTEMBER 10, 2018 IN BOOK 07232 PAGE 416. KRISTI A. WHITELY LEFT THIS LIFE ON DECEMBER 30, 2018 IN MONROE, NC. TITLE NOW VESTS SOLELY IN GREGORY ALLEN BRYANT
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
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North State Journal for Thursday, September 10, 2026
TAKE NOTICE
UNION NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE FILE NUMBER: 24SP000376-890 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust executed by NICOLE KOTELES AND KEVIN M. KOTELES DATED NOVEMBER 30, 2007 IN THE AMOUNT OF $343,800.00 AND RECORDED IN BOOK 4751 AT PAGE 560 AND FURTHER MODIFIED BY AGREEMENT RECORDED ON AUGUST 16, 2018 IN BOOK 7217, PAGE 850 IN THE UNION 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, Substitute Trustee, having been substituted as Successor Trustee in said Deed of Trust by an instrument duly recorded in the Official Records of Union County, North Carolina, in Book 8920, Page 0859, 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 Union County, North Carolina, or
AMENDED NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 25SP000250-890 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Michael James Tuttle and Jenny Marie Tuttle (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Michael Tuttle and Jenny Tuttle) to A. Grant Whitney, Trustee(s), dated September 25, 2002, and recorded in Book No. 1941, at Page 884 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 September 24, 2026 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in Monroe in the County
WAKE NOTICE OF SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE’S FORECLOSURE SALE OF REAL AND PERSONAL PROPERTY 26SP001665-910 UNDER AND BY VIRTUE of the power and authority contained in that Deed of Trust by John Annie LLC (“Borrower”), dated February 24, 2025 securing an indebtedness to Loan Mountain Investments Sub-REIT LLC in the original principal amount of $743,400.00 and recorded on February 24, 2025, in Book 19836 , at Page 447 of the Wake County Public Registry (the “Deed of Trust”); and because of default in
AMENDED NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 23SP000189-910 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Nicole L. Cuyan and Roberto Adolfo Cuyan (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Nicole L. Cuyan and Roberto Adolfo Cuyan) to Moore & Alphin - RAL, Trustee(s), dated March 30, 2007, and recorded in Book No. 012477, at Page 00777 in Wake County Registry, North Carolina, default having been made in the payment of the promissory note secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Substitute Trustee Services, Inc. having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust by an instrument duly recorded in the Office of the Register of Deeds Wake County, North Carolina and the holder of the note evidencing said indebtedness having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the Wake County Courthouse door, the Salisbury Street entrance in Raleigh, Wake County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, at 1:30
NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 26SP001302-910 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Capital Match, LLC a North Carolina Limited Liability Company (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Capital Match, LLC a North Carolina Limited Liability Company) to Temple View Capital Funding, LP, Trustee(s), dated August 24, 2023, and recorded in Book No. 019418, at Page 00704 in Wake County Registry, North Carolina, default having been made in the payment of the promissory note secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Substitute Trustee Services, Inc. having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust by an instrument duly recorded in the Office of the Register of Deeds Wake County, North Carolina and the holder of the note evidencing said indebtedness having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the Wake County Courthouse door, the Salisbury Street entrance in Raleigh, Wake County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, at 1:30 PM on September 14, 2026 and will sell to
26SP000385-910 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 Charles D Calloway, an unmarried man to The Caudle Law Firm, P.A., Trustee(s), which was dated September 20, 2024 and recorded on September 25, 2024 in Book 019718 at Page 02583, 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 September 23, 2026 at 10:00 AM, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following described property situated in
ALSO CONVEYED HEREWITH IS AN OFFSITE DRAINFIELD EASEMENT TO SERVE LOT 19 AND AN ELEVEN (11’) FOOT WIDE SANITARY SEWER EASEMENT ACROSS LOTS 20, 21 AND 22 OF BICKETT RIDGE SUBDIVISION TO SERVE THE ABOVE DESCRIBED LOT 19, ALL AS SHOWN ON THOSE PLATS RECORDED
IN PLAT CABINET I, AT FILE NUMBERS 721, 722 AND 723, UNION COUNTY REGISTER OF DEEDS, TO WHICH PLATS REFERENCE IS HEREBY MADE FOR A MORE COMPLETE DESCRIPTION. 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.
of Union, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: All that certain lot or parcel of land situated in Buford Township, Union County, North Carolina and more particularly described as follows: BEING all of Tract 3 of the “Partition of T.S. Smith Property” as shown on Plat Cabinet D, File 614, Union County Registry, to which plat reference is hereby made for a-more particular metes and bounds description. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 3008 Lamplight Road, Monroe, North Carolina. Being the same property conveyed to Michael J. Tuttle and wife, Jenny Marie Tuttle by Deed from Donald Florian and wife Agnes E. Florian, Recorded 11/20/2000 in Deed Book 1467 Page 748. APN #: 04-270-007 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).
Should the property be purchased by a third party, 31 CFR 1031.320 requires certain qualifying residential real estate transactions to be reported to the federal government. If you are the successful bidder in this proceeding, you may be required to provide all applicable identifying information about yourself and, if applicable, any entity or trust purchasing the property. 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.
the payment of the indebtedness secured thereby and failure to carry out and perform the stipulations and agreements contained therein and, pursuant to demand of the holder of the indebtedness secured by said Deed of Trust, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will place for sale, at public auction, to the highest bidder for cash at the usual place of sale at Wake County Courthouse, in Raleigh North Carolina, on Monday September 14, 2026 11:00 A.M. those parcels of land, including all of Borrower’s right, title and interest now owned or hereafter acquired in and to the property, including all estates, rights, tenements, hereditaments, privileges, easements, and appurtenances of any kind benefitting the property, all means of access to and from the property, whether public or private and all water and mineral rights, situated, lying and being in Wake County, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as
follows: BEING ALL OF LOT 610, Part 6 of Bloomsburry Subdivision recorded in Map Book 1920, Page 127, Wake County Registry, and to which reference is hereby made for a more complete and accurate description. Present Record Owner: Cascal Renovations LLC The terms of the sale are that the real property hereinbefore described will be sold for cash to the highest bidder. The sale of the personal property is made in accordance with G.S. § 25-9-604 (a) and (b). A deposit of five percent (5%) of the amount of the bid 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. In the event that the Holder or its intended assignee is exempt from paying the same, the successful bidder shall be required to pay revenue stamps on the Trustee’s Deed, and any Land Transfer
Tax. The real property hereinabove described is being offered for sale “AS IS, WHERE IS” and will be sold subject to all superior liens, unpaid taxes, and special assessments. Other conditions will be announced at the sale. The sale will be held open for ten (10) days for upset bids as by law required. 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 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 declare the sale to be void and return the deposit. The purchaser will have no further remedy. Additional Notice Where the Real Property
is Residential With Less Than 15 Rental Units: 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 upon 10 days’ written notice to the landlord. 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. Dated: August 13, 2026 Cameron D. Scott Trustee 1320 Matthews Mint Hill Rd Matthews, NC 28105
PM on September 14, 2026 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in Fuquay Varina in the County of Wake, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: Lying and being in the City of Fuquay-Varina, Middle Creek Township, WAKE County, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: All of Lot 49 Southern Oaks Subdivision, Phase 2, as shown on a map thereof recorded in Book of Maps 2006, Pages 1236-1239(1239), Wake County Registry, to which map reference is hereby made for a more particular description. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 228 Timber Meadow Lake Drive, Fuquay Varina, 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). Should the property be
purchased by a third party, 31 CFR 1031.320 requires certain qualifying residential real estate transactions to be reported to the federal government. If you are the successful bidder in this proceeding, you may be required to provide all applicable identifying information about yourself and, if applicable, any entity or trust purchasing the property. 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.
the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in Holly Springs in the County of Wake, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: Being Lots #81 and #82 of the Holly Heights Development as surveyed by C.W. Russum, Registered Land Surveyor, in December, 1958, and recorded in Book of Maps 1960, Page 228 of the Wake County Registry, reference to which is hereby made for a more complete and accurate description. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at Lots 81 and 82, Bass Lake Road, Holly Springs, North Carolina. Subject to restrictions contained in Deed from Bernard F. McLeod, Jr. et ux, Virginia C. McLeod to J.R. Johnson, recorded in Book 1463, Page 613 of the Wake County Registry. Parcel ID: 0078379 Tax ID: 0659404651 Property Address: Lots 81 and 82 Bass Lake Rd, Holly Springs, NC 27540 This transaction insured by: Partner Title
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). Should the property be purchased by a third party, 31 CFR 1031.320 requires certain qualifying residential real estate transactions to be reported to the federal government. If you are the successful bidder in this proceeding, you may be required to provide all applicable identifying information about yourself and, if applicable, any entity or trust purchasing the property. 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.
immediately due and owing. THIRD PARTY PURCHASERS MUST PAY THE EXCISE TAX AND THE RECORDING COSTS FOR THEIR DEED.
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.
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.
the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, on September 16, 2026 at 12:00pm, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in the County of Union, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: PARCEL IDENTIFICATION NUMBER(S): 08075101 ADDRESS: 6024 BICKETT RIDGE DRIVE MONROE, NC 28110 PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): NICOLE KOTELES AND KEVIN M. KOTELES THE LAND DESCRIBED HEREIN IS SITUATED IN THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA, COUNTY OF UNION, AND IS DESCRIBED IN DEED BOOK 4751, PAGE 560 AS FOLLOWS: BEING ALL OF LOT NUMBER 19 OF BICKETT RIDGE SUBDIVISION, SECTION II, AS SHOWN ON THOSE PLATS RECORDED IN PLAT CABINET I, AT FILE NUMBERS 721, 722 AND 723, UNION COUNTY REGISTER OF DEEDS, TO WHICH PLATS REFERENCE IS HEREBY MADE FOR A MORE COMPLETE DESCRIPTION.
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
Wake County, North Carolina, to wit: Being all of Lot 23, according to the Survey of Washington Homes Subdivision, as recorded in Book of Maps 1956 Page 73, in the Office of the Register of Deeds of Wake County, State of North Carolina. Being the same property conveyed to Charles D. Calloway, an unmarried man by General Warranty Deed from Charles D. Calloway, an unmarried man, who acquired title as married, dated March 13, 2023, recorded on March 17, 2023 as Book 019286, Page 01132. Save and except any releases, deeds of release or prior conveyances of record. Said property is commonly known as 3012 Optimist Farm Rd, Apex, NC 27539. 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
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 Charles D. Calloway. 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
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
Terrass Scott Misher or Sarah A. Waldron ROBERTSON, ANSCHUTZ, SCHNEID, CRANE & PARTNERS, PLLC Attorneys for the Substitute Trustee 13010 Morris Road, Suite 450 Alpharetta, GA 30004 Telephone: (470) 321-7112
SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE SERVICES, INC. SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE c/o Hutchens Law Firm, LLP P.O. Box 1028 Fayetteville, NC 28302 4317 Ramsey Street Fayetteville, NC 28311 Phone No: (910)864-3068 https://sales.hutchenslawfirm.com Firm Case No: 25391 - 127371
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: 8560 - 33203
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: 31291 - 163050
If the transaction is subject to the FinCEN Residential Real Estate Reporting Rule (“RRE”) issued pursuant to the Bank Secrecy Act, information necessary to comply with the RRE Rule must be obtained and provided to the Reporting Person, as defined in the RRE Rule, prior to closing. 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.: 25-28459-FC01
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North State Journal for Thursday, September 10, 2026
TAKE NOTICE courthouse where the property is located, or the usual and customary location at the county courthouse for conducting the sale on September 23, 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 5, Belleridge North Subdivision, as recorded in Book of Maps 1986, Page 523, Wake County Registry. Save and except any releases, deeds of release or prior conveyances of record. Said property is commonly known as 8300 Wanstraw Way, Apex, NC 27539. A Certified Check ONLY (no personal checks) of five percent (5%) of the purchase price, or Seven Hundred Fifty Dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, will be required at the time of the sale. Following the expiration of the statutory upset bid period, all the remaining amounts are immediately due and owing. THIRD PARTY PURCHASERS MUST PAY THE EXCISE TAX AND THE RECORDING COSTS FOR THEIR DEED. Said property to be offered pursuant to
this Notice of Sale is being offered for sale, transfer and conveyance “AS IS WHERE IS.” There are no representations of warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at, or relating to the property being offered for sale. Substitute Trustee does not have possession of the property and cannot grant access, prior to or after the sale, for purposes of inspection and/ or appraisal. This sale is made subject to all prior liens, unpaid taxes, any unpaid land transfer taxes, special assessments, easements, rights of way, deeds of release, and any other encumbrances or exceptions of record. To the best of the knowledge and belief of the undersigned, the current owner(s) of the property is/are All Lawful Heirs of Steven P. Hopta. 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. If the transaction is subject to the FinCEN Residential Real Estate Reporting Rule (“RRE”) issued pursuant to the Bank Secrecy Act, information necessary to comply with the RRE Rule must be obtained and provided to the Reporting Person, as defined in the RRE Rule, prior to closing. Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC Substitute Trustee Brock & Scott, PLLC Attorneys for Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC 5431 Oleander Drive Suite 200 Wilmington, NC 28403 PHONE: (910) 392-4988 File No.: 24-19656-FC02
Under and by virtue of a Power of Sale contained in that certain Deed of Trust executed by Lourie Miller Craver, and Steven Hoyle Craver to Thomas E. Brock, Trustee(s), which was dated September 7, 2001 and recorded on September 12, 2001 in Book 009074 at Page 00724, 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 September 23, 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 116, Amber Acres, as shown on the map recorded in Book of Maps 1984, Page 1248, Wake County Registry, reference to which is made for a more particular description. Save and except any releases, deeds of release or prior conveyances of record. Said property is commonly known as 5500 Sandy Run, Knightdale, NC 27545. 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 Lourie M. Cracer a/k/a Lourie Miller Craver. 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. If the transaction is subject to the FinCEN Residential Real Estate Reporting Rule (“RRE”) issued pursuant to the Bank Secrecy Act, information necessary to comply with the RRE Rule must be obtained and provided to the Reporting Person, as defined in the RRE Rule, prior to closing. Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC Substitute Trustee Brock & Scott, PLLC Attorneys for Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC 5431 Oleander Drive Suite 200 Wilmington, NC 28403 PHONE: (910) 392-4988 File No.: 24-04857-FC01
26SP001670-910 NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE
will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following described property situated in Harnett County, North Carolina, to wit:
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.
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.
WAKE 26SP000905-910 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 Steven P Hopta to William R. Echols, Trustee(s), which was dated March 6, 2013 and recorded on March 11, 2013 in Book 15179 at Page 560, 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
24SP000622-910 NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE NORTH CAROLINA, WAKE COUNTY
NORTH CAROLINA, WAKE COUNTY Under and by virtue of a Power of Sale contained in that certain Deed of Trust executed by Thaddeus Thompson to Jennifer Grant, Trustee(s), which was dated August 20, 2020 and recorded on August 20, 2020 in Book 3855 at Page 961 and rerecorded/modified/corrected on August 21, 2020 in Book 18030, Page 2322, Harnett 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 September 22, 2026 at 10:30 AM, and
NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE FILE NUMBER: 26SP000284-910 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a Deed of Trust executed by PLJS PROPERTIES, LLC. A NORTH CAROLINA LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY dated July 16, 2024 in the amount of $256,600.00 and recorded in Book 019662, Page 00744 of the Wake County Public Registry by ANTHONY MASELLI OR GENEVIEVE JOHNSON, EITHER OF WHOM MAY ACT, Substitute Trustee, default having been made in the terms of agreement set forth by the loan agreement secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, ANTHONY MASELLI OR GENEVIEVE JOHNSON, EITHER OF WHOM MAY ACT, having been substituted as Successor Trustee in said Deed of Trust by an instrument duly recorded in the Official Records of Wake County, North Carolina, in Book 020089, Page 02453, 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 Wake County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, on September 23, 2026 at 2:00 PM, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in the County of Wake, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows:
NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE FILE NUMBER: 25SP002390-910 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a Deed of Trust executed by HD HOMES & PROPERTIES LLC AND HOSAMELDIN OMER SHIGLAWI, ITS SOLE MEMBER AND MANAGER dated April 4, 2023 in the amount of $245,000.00 and recorded in Book 19301, Page 1911 of the Wake County Public Registry by ANTHONY MASELLI OR GENEVIEVE JOHNSON, EITHER OF WHOM MAY ACT, Substitute Trustee, default having been made in the terms of agreement set forth by the loan agreement secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, ANTHONY MASELLI OR GENEVIEVE JOHNSON, EITHER OF WHOM MAY ACT, having been substituted as Successor Trustee in said Deed of Trust by an instrument duly recorded in the Official Records of Wake County, North Carolina, in Book 20020, Page 984, 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 Wake County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, on September 23, 2026 at 1:00 PM, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following
26SP000885-910 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 Jeanette M. Moran to Scott R. Valby, Trustee(s), which was dated September 21, 2023 and recorded on September 21, 2023 in Book 19438 at Page 1481, 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 September 16, 2026 at 10:00 AM, and
BEING all of Lot 9, Stetson Subdivision, as shown on that plat recorded in Plat Book 2008, Pages 193-195, Harnett County Registry; also recorded in Book of Maps 2008, Pages 752-754, Wake County Registry. Save and except any releases, deeds of release or prior conveyances of record. Said property is commonly known as 195 Moonlight Dr, 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.
Said property to be offered pursuant to this Notice of Sale is being offered for sale, transfer and conveyance “AS IS WHERE IS.” There are no representations of warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at, or relating to the property being offered for sale. Substitute Trustee does not have possession of the property and cannot grant access, prior to or after the sale, for purposes of inspection and/ or appraisal. This sale is made subject to all prior liens, unpaid taxes, any unpaid land transfer taxes, special assessments, easements, rights of way, deeds of release, and any other encumbrances or exceptions of record. To the best of the knowledge and belief of the undersigned, the current owner(s) of the property is/are All Lawful Heirs of Thaddeus Scott Thompson.
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 transaction is subject to the FinCEN Residential Real Estate Reporting Rule (“RRE”) issued pursuant to the Bank Secrecy Act, information necessary to comply with the RRE Rule must be obtained and provided to the Reporting Person, as defined in the RRE Rule, prior to closing. 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
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
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
PARCEL IDENTIFICATION NUMBER(S): 1784511164 ADDRESS: 233 TODD ST WENDELL, NC 27591 PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): PLJS PROPERTIES, LLC. A NORTH CAROLINA LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY THE LAND DESCRIBED HEREIN IS SITUATED IN THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA, COUNTY OF WAKE, AND IS DESCRIBED IN DEED BOOK 019662, PAGE 00744, AS FOLLOWS: BEGINNING AT A POINT IN THE WESTERN RIGHT OF WAY OF TODD STREET; SAID POINT BEING NORTH 03 DEGREES 10 MINUTES 13 SECONDS EAST 427.17 FEET FROM A PK NAIL AT THE INTERSECTION OF TODD STREET AND COOKE STREET THENCE FROM THE POINTAND PLACE OF BEGINNING NORTH 85 DEGREES 01 MINUTES 00 SECONDS WEST 183.14 FEET TO AN IRON SET; THENCE NORTH 06 DEGREES 59 MINUTES 46 SECONDS EAST 105.42 FEET TO AN IRON FOUND; THENCE SOUTH 84 DEGREES 48 MINUTES 10 SECONDS EAST 181.00 FEET TO AN IRON SET IN THE RIGHT OF WAY OF TODD STREET; THENCE WITH THE RIGHT OF WAY OF TODD STREET SOUTH 05 DEGREES 50 MINUTES 26 SECONDS WEST 104.69 FEET TO THE POINTAND PLACE OF BEGINNING, AND BEING ALL OF THE PROPERTY DEPICTED ON A SURVEY ENTITLED “SURVEY FOR. DAWN JACKSON” DATED APRIL 24, 2000 BY LEONDARD H. SULLIVAN, JR. (JOB #3786000).
REID: 0054339 KNOWN AS 233 TODD STREET, WENDELL, NC 27591 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.
real estate situated in the County of Wake, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: PARCEL IDENTIFICATION NUMBER(S): 1712355224 ADDRESS: 2713 DAYTONA DRIVE RALEIGH, NC 27610 PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): HD HOMES & PROPERTIES LLC AND HOSAMELDIN OMER SHIGLAWI, ITS SOLE MEMBER AND MANAGER THE LAND DESCRIBED HEREIN IS SITUATED IN THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA, COUNTY OF WAKE, AND IS DESCRIBED IN DEED BOOK 19301, PAGE 1911, AS FOLLOWS: BEING ALL OF LOT NO. 217 ACCORDING TO PLAT ENTITLED “SECTION 4A KINGWOOD FOREST SUBDIVISION, RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA” DATED APRIL 6, 1970, PREPARED BY RAGSDALE ENGINEERS AND RECORDED IN BOOK OF MAPS 1970, PAGE 317, WAKE COUNTY REGISTRY. 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.
will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following described property situated in Wake County, North Carolina, to wit: BEING all of Lot 28 of The Meadows at Eaglechase Subdivision, Phase II, as same is shown on a map thereof recorded in Map Book 1986 at Page 716 of the WAKE Public Registry. Save and except any releases, deeds of release or prior conveyances of record. Said property is commonly known as 1708 Netherfield 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 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 Jeanette M. Moran. 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. If the transaction is subject to the FinCEN Residential Real Estate Reporting Rule (“RRE”) issued pursuant to the Bank Secrecy Act, information necessary to comply with the RRE Rule must be obtained and provided to the Reporting Person, as defined in the RRE Rule, prior to closing. 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.: 26-11237-FC01
File No.: 25-32331-FC01
IF YOU ARE UNDER THE PROTECTION OF THE BANKRUPTCY COURT OR HAVE BEEN DISCHARGED AS A RESULT OF A BANKRUPTCY PROCEEDING, THIS NOTICE IS GIVEN TO YOU PURSUANT TO STATUTORY REQUIREMENT AND FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES AND IS NOT INTENDED AS AN ATTEMPT TO COLLECT A DEBT OR AS AN ACT TO COLLECT, ASSESS, OR RECOVER ALL OR ANY PORTION OF THE DEBT FROM YOU PERSONALLY. Sarah A. Waldron or Terrass Scott Misher, Esq ROBERTSON, ANSCHUTZ, SCHNEID, CRANE & PARTNERS, PLLC Attorneys for the Substitute Trustee 13010 Morris Rd., Suite 450 Alpharetta, GA 30004 Telephone: (470) 321-7112
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
VOLUME 149 ISSUE 29 | THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2026
CHATHAMNEWSRECORD.COM
THE CHATHAM COUNTY EDITION OF NORTH STATE JOURNAL
GENE GALIN FOR CHATHAM NEWS & RECORD
Farmers’ Day The 51st annual Old-Fashioned Farmers’ Day festival took place in Silk Hope over the weekend in a celebration of the area’s agricultural heritage.
the
BRIEF this week
TSA brings back gate access for some people without plane tickets Las Vegas The Transportation Security Administration has launched a new program at 13 airports allowing eligible TSA PreCheck members without plane tickets to pass through security and enter the gates. This revives a tradition that largely disappeared 25 years ago after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. The program is called “Gateside by TSA PreCheck.” It’s free, but people must apply online one to three days before their planned visit and receive approval. The pass is valid for one calendar day. TSA says members of other trusted-traveler programs who have a Known Traveler Number also can apply for access.
Americans’ satisfaction with schools at low point, new poll shows A new poll shows that only 32% of Americans are satisfied with the quality of K-12 education in the country. That figure represents a low since Gallup began polling on the subject 27 years ago. Democrats are driving the recent slide, with satisfaction dropping 19 points since President Donald Trump’s second term began in 2025. But politics alone do not explain the dissatisfaction. Satisfaction has declined since the COVID-19 pandemic, and most Americans do not feel schools are doing a good job teaching skills like critical thinking and preparing students for jobs.
Family opens pizzeria to honor late patriarch The restaurant scene in Siler City has a new addition By Bob Sutton Chatham News & Record SILER CITY — The name of the newest pizza place in town comes with special meaning
teria and Hayley-Bales Steakhouse in Siler City. He died at age 53 slightly more than five years ago from complications of COVID-19. So launching a new eatery in town seemed appropriate for Tyler White, who has worked for Bestfood Cafeteria since he was a teenager. He said the plans to open a
See PIZZERIA, page A2
Midterm elections head into home stretch as candidates hit Labor Day events With Senate control at stake, Democrats court labor union voters in key competitive races By Patrick Whittle The Associated Press PORTLAND, Maine — Troy Jackson was a longtime labor activist and logger before he unex-
pectedly became the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in Maine. On Monday, he returned to a union hall to tell a packed crowd that workers need to go to the polls this fall — to raise the
minimum wage, expand family medical leave and show support for one another. “Labor Day has never been just another holiday,” Jackson told several hundred union members at a Southern Maine Labor Council event Monday morning in Portland. “Today, here with the people I’ve fought alongside
Fuel prices at record Labor Day high in US thanks to Iran war, refinery issues “Everything points to the Iran war and the Strait of Hormuz.” Tom Seng, Texas Christian University energy finance professor
$2.00
for the owners of the business. Tyler White said Art’s Pizzeria, which served its first slices last week, is named in memory of his father, Art White. “It was an opportunity to help my family,” White said, “and honor my dad and what he taught us.” Art White was a longtime co-operator of Bestfood Cafe-
pizzeria had been in the works since April. His younger brother Zach White returned from Virginia to pitch in, and his cousin D.J. Potter is on board as well. “It’s definitely a family thing,” Tyler White said. Potter came up with the idea to name the business after Art White because of the influence he had on younger family members and their interest in the restaurant business. The elder White was a big-time fan of the UNC Tar Heels, so the pizzeria bearing his name has a blue color scheme. “We changed it up,” said Tyler
Iranian tensions and global refinery strain are converging to push prices higher By Jeffrey Collins The Associated Press IT’S NEVER BEEN more expensive in the U.S. to fill up the tank and take one last summer trip over the Labor Day weekend. The average price of regular gas was $4.14 a gallon heading into the holiday, nearly a
dollar higher than last year and well above the Labor Day weekend record of $3.82 from 2012, according to AAA motor club. Nicole Collins planned to head from Philadelphia to South Carolina to visit friends, but she said her family has spent most of the summer close to home and not taking their typical weekend trips because driving has gotten so expensive. “Gas is pretty high right now. It doesn’t help that we See FUEL, page A7
for years, I want to make a pledge about exactly what I’m going to do in the United States Senate.” Jackson, who became the nominee in a special convention in July, is trying to whip up support in a short period of time as he attempts to unseat longtime See MIDTERMS, page A10
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THURSDAY
9.10.26 #159
Rescue satellite gets close to NASA’s doomed telescope, even if it can’t save it The $30 million rescue attempt failed but provided valuable data for future satellite servicing
“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 Cory Lavalette Senior Editor Jordan Golson Local News Editor Bob Sutton Chatham Editor Shawn Krest Sports Editor Dan Reeves Features Editor Lauren Rose Design Editor 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
By Marcia Dunn The Associated Press CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — A private spacecraft that was supposed to provide a lifeline to NASA’s Swift Observatory managed to get close to the sinking telescope and even snap photos two weeks after the rescue was abandoned. But the three-armed robotic salvager had to turn away because it was low on fuel, according to Katalyst Space Technologies, which attempted the daring operation. “We got so close but so far,” Katalyst CEO Ghonhee Lee told The Associated Press this week. Katalyst’s Link spacecraft got within nine miles of Swift last Tuesday, using its sensors to gather data on the doomed telescope for NASA. The rescue effort had already been called off in August because of Link’s own troubles in orbit, but the company wanted the practice for future satellite-servicing missions. Link went into an uncontrollable spin soon after rocketing to Swift’s rescue in July. Flight controllers managed to slow the tumble and stabilize the spacecraft, using up pre-
cious fuel. In the end, there was not enough fuel remaining to boost the aging Swift into a higher, longer-lasting orbit so it could continue observing the cosmos. Lee blamed Link’s problems on the rush to get it flying. The mission was put together in just nine months, and engineers often had to use whatever was available instead of waiting for the preferred parts, he said. NASA paid the company $30 million to carry out the attempt, which was always going to be rushed. Both sides viewed it as an experiment with little to lose, although no one wanted a collision that would unleash clouds of space debris. “Unfortunately, it wasn’t the outcome that we were expecting,” NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said following Sunday’s launch of the Roman Space Telescope. “But that’s exactly the type of missions that we should be flying at NASA. We will learn from that.” Isaacman said it makes sense to extend the life of a valuable spacecraft, especially if salvaging it costs less than replacing it. That is why the Roman telescope was designed to be refueled even though it is headed toward an observation point 1 million miles away. It is unlikely that Link has enough fuel left to attempt another close approach to Swift, according to Lee. But it can
continue exercising its three 3-foot arms and providing important data before it reenters the atmosphere and burns up in the next few weeks, he said. Launched in 2004, Swift has a little more time remaining in orbit, depending on how active the sun is. Intense solar storms in recent years are responsible for bringing the telescope down much sooner than expected. As of Friday, its orbit had dropped to 208 miles, barely half as high as when it set out to scan some of the biggest explosions in the universe. NASA anticipates Swift will plunge through the atmosphere sometime between October and the end of the year. The space agency resumed observations with the telescope last week after halting them early this year to conserve precious power. Like Swift’s, the Hubble Space Telescope’s orbit also has been lowered by solar activity. Katalyst is developing a next-generation spacecraft that could boost the 36-year-old Hubble into a longer-lasting orbit. “Hubble does still have a few years of life yet, right? So the good news is this isn’t imminent,” Lee said. Servicing old telescopes and other satellites used to be “a very, very niche concept,” he added, “and we believe it’s going to become more and more commonplace.”
SUBSCRIPTION RATES Annual subscription rate: $104.
CRIME LOG
• Watson Henry Rubens, 61, of Goldston, was arrested for assault with a deadly weapon. • Justin Daniel Stiles, 47, of Pittsboro, was arrested for a pretrial release violation. Sept. 1 • Darreus Vo Shon McNeill, 29, of Siler City, was arrested for felony failure to register as a sex offender. Sept. 2 • Shady Paul Tinnin, 50, of Siler City, was arrested for failure to register as a sex offender. Sept. 3 • Maria Lilina Gomez Garcia, 52, of Siler City, was arrested for assault by strangulation, misdemeanor child abuse and misdemeanor crime of domestic violence.
Here’s a quick look at what’s coming up in Chatham County.
Sept. 10 Pittsboro Farmers Market 3-6 p.m. Producers-only farmers market, open year-round, rain or shine. Food and craft producers build connections within the community while giving the public a place to sample and purchase locally made items. 50 W. Salisbury St. Pittsboro
Sept. 17-19 19th annual Hoppin John Fiddlers Convention Thursday: 7:30-10 p.m. Friday: 3-11 p.m. Saturday: 10:15 a.m. to 10:45 p.m. Live musical performances, competitions, music and dance workshops, and film screenings are all part of this weekend celebration of folk and bluegrass tradition. Featuring performers of all skill levels and ages. The Hoppin’ John Cook-Off is a festival highlight, with a chance to taste some creative, homemade dishes. Dog-friendly.
Sept. 17-20 KATALYST SPACE VIA AP
Katalyst Space Technologies’ Link robotic servicing spacecraft orbits Earth on Aug. 24.
Central Electric providing grants to local educators to fund innovative projects Teachers, are you looking for new opportunities to fund projects for your classroom?
Grant applications will be accepted through Sept. 15. However, it pays to apply early. All teachers who submit their applications by the early bird deadline of Aug. 15 will be entered into a drawing for one of five $100 Visa gift cards. Scan the QR code or visit NCBrightIdeas.com for more information or to apply!
Thursday: 4-10 p.m. Friday: 4-8 p.m. Saturday: 1-10 p.m. Sunday: 1-8 p.m. Over four days, a variety of livestock exhibits, agricultural displays and competitions, along with rides, games, live entertainment and lots of family-friendly activities, will be presented. Vendors and food on-site.
PIZZERIA from page A1
919-774-4900 800-446-7752
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128 Wilson Rd SANFORD, NC
76th annual Chatham County Fair
Chatham County Fairgrounds 191 Fairgrounds Road Pittsboro
Central Electric is awarding up to $15,000 in Bright Ideas education grants to local educators in K-12 classrooms for the 2026-27 school year. Educators in K-12 classrooms with creative ideas for learning projects are encouraged to apply for a grant up to $2,000.
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• Chad Leon Graves, 18, of Pittsboro, was arrested for misdemeanor larceny.
happening
1439 Henderson Tanyard Road Pittsboro
Aug. 31 • Jamie Diane Johnson, 45, of Goldston, was arrested for exploiting a disabled or elderly adult in a position of trust, financial card fraud and identity theft, and other charges.
CHATHAM
CEMCPower.com
White, a 2011 graduate of Jordan-Matthews. “Most pizza restaurants are red, but we’re the opposite. Ours is Carolina blue.” The location is in a former Pizza Hut building in the Food Lion plaza. Art’s Pizzeria opened Aug. 31 with a soft opening. The plan is to have hours from 3-8 p.m. daily, though earlier hours might be added at least for the weekends, White said. He said the food is made from scratch.
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Federal investigators probe Amazon cargo jet’s fiery runway crash that killed 5 in Miami Investigators suspect tail winds and a delayed touchdown prevented the plane from braking safely
LYNNE SLADKY / AP PHOTO
An Amazon cargo plane sits at Miami International Airport on Monday after it overshot the runway and killed five people on Sunday. the cargo jet was beyond that area, it should have aborted the landing and gone around for another try, aviation safety expert Steve Arroyo said. Mary Schiavo, who is a pilot and former inspector general of the Transportation Department, said video posted online shows the Amazon plane floating above the runway for an extended period without flaring the nose upward to force the main landing gear onto the ground. It wasn’t raining at the time, but dark storm clouds loomed and strong winds were reported. Schiavo said that if the plane had a tail wind, that could have contributed to it floating further down the runway. “A tail wind would certainly add to your troubles if you’ve already given up a good chunk of the runway by not touching down and landing right away,” Schiavo said. The Miami airport is not equipped with arresting systems the FAA says have been installed at more than 120 airports nationwide to safely stop planes that do go past the end of a runway. Those beds of lightweight, crushable material at the end of a runway have been credited by the FAA with helping save at least 497 lives aboard planes that overran runways. Miami’s airport appears to be in compliance and wasn’t required to have an arresting system because it has a 1,000-foot safety buffer at the end of its runways, said Mike O’Donnell, the FAA’s former director of airport safety and accident investigations. The requirement was prompted by American Airlines Flight 1420 overrunning a runway at Little Rock National Airport in Arkansas in 1999, killing nine. The Prime Air plane came to rest beside a roadway near two semitrucks, images showed. The aircraft appeared to be resting
on its belly and was largely intact despite the fire. The flight had been operated by 21 Air, a cargo carrier based in North Carolina. The 32-year-old Boeing 767 was originally built to carry passengers and flew for several airlines for more than two decades before being converted to a cargo plane in 2015, according to flight-tracking site Flightradar24. Schiavo said the NTSB will also closely examine the maintenance history of the plane — particularly since it has a history of foreign ownership, including by a Russian company. The crash halted flights at the busy travel hub for much of Sunday afternoon and continued to hamper air travel into Monday. Miami International Airport said that two of its four runways remained closed Monday and that operations were to be affected throughout the day because of aircraft and flight crews not arriving there due to Sunday’s cancellations after the crash. An airport spokesperson said there were 160 cancellations and more than 300 delayed flights Sunday, plus another 69 canceled flights Monday through mid-afternoon. Flight tracking sites were reporting widespread delays at the airport. Amazon said in a statement that it would cooperate with any investigation. “We’re heartbroken to learn that five people lost their lives in today’s incident at Miami International Airport,” the company said. “Our deepest sympathies go out to the families, loved ones, and all those affected by this devastating loss.” Last year, a UPS plane crashed after losing its engine while accelerating down the runway at Louisville’s Muhammad Ali International Airport. The crash killed all three pilots and 12 people on the ground. Twenty-three more were injured.
Scientists studying cockroach milk, nose-blowing win Ig Nobel prizes for quirky science Future ceremonies will now rotate between European cities, with Antwerp hosting the 2027 ceremony By Adithi Ramakrishnan The Associated Press TEN RESEARCH teams were honored last Thursday at a satirical science awards ceremony that was hosted outside the U.S. for the first time due to travel concerns. Researchers who studied milk from cockroaches and analyzed soil health using underwear received Ig Nobel prizes celebrating unusual and imaginative contributions to science. The awards organized by a digital magazine called the Annals of Improbable Research
SILER CITY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH Siler City Presbyterian Church at 720 West Third St. in Siler City (across from where the old hospital used to be) is proud to present the Gospel group Redeemed in concert Sunday, Oct. 11 at 5 p.m. Come and join us at Siler City Presbyterian for a wonderful performance of good, old-fashioned Southern gospel music sung by the popular gospel group Redeemed. This all-music event will be something everyone will enjoy. Admission for the concert is one can of food for the Chatham Food Pantry. Everyone is welcome! We hope to see you then! Have a blessed day!
By David Fischer, Marc Levy and Jeffrey Collins The Associated Press MIAMI — The five people killed when an Amazon cargo jet ran off a runway at Miami International Airport were all inside a van carrying seven people from a cleaning company and an SUV hit outside of airport property, National Transportation Safety Board Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy said Monday. Homendy didn’t detail how many people were in the SUV or where the dead were located. Homendy called the scene of Sunday’s crash “utter devastation.” She walked the route the Boeing 767 followed, noting tire marks from the pavement into the grass, a destroyed van carrying the cleaning crew, torn fencing, navigational equipment, and a crushed SUV outside airport property. Federal investigators examining why the jet barreled off the runway and into vehicles, killing at least five people, are likely to focus on a crucial moment in the landing: whether the plane touched down too late to stop safely. Video of Sunday’s landing appears to show the Boeing 767 remaining airborne well down the runway before touching down. Aviation experts said investigators will seek to determine exactly where the plane landed, whether it was beyond the normal touchdown zone, and why the pilots did not abandon the landing. Investigators will also examine the plane’s speed and braking, weather and wind conditions, the aircraft’s mechanical condition and other factors that could have contributed to the deadly overrun. The aircraft overran the runway around 2 p.m. Sunday after arriving from San Juan, Puerto Rico, and plowed across a road used by warehouse workers and other businesses that surround the airport. Five people died, three were critically injured and two others were hospitalized with less severe injuries, officials said. The crash, which sent thick black smoke billowing into the sky, trapped the pilot and copilot in the cockpit and some occupants in cars, said Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Chief Ray Jadallah. The agency said crews also had to extricate a person who was trapped under a vehicle. The typical landing zone for a plane is within the first 3,000 feet of a runway, experts said. If
Church News
shifted to Europe after 35 years in the United States over concerns about attendees being able to get visas. At a convention center in Zurich, research teams received a custom trophy resembling a cross between a mushroom and a human foot. Among them were Matilda Brindle and Stuart West from the University of Oxford and the Florida Institute of Technology’s Catherine F. Talbot, who reconstructed the evolutionary history of kissing, and the late Dr. Tokuji Unno, who investigated the science of blowing one’s nose. Another research team buried 1,000 pairs of underwear in more than 25 countries to study how critters in the soil helped them decompose. As per tradition, audience
members fashioned paper airplanes and hurled them toward the stage to kick off the show. For future ceremonies, organizers plan to alternate between Zurich and other European countries. The 2027 ceremony will be held in the Belgian city of Antwerp. Previous iterations took place at Harvard University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Boston University, but there are no immediate plans to return to the U.S. “During the past year, it has become unsafe for our guests to visit the country,” Marc Abrahams, master of ceremonies and editor of the magazine, told The Associated Press in an email in March. The Nobel Prizes, which have no relation to their cheekily named counterpart, will be announced at the start of October.
RED HILL MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH 2981 N.C. Highway 42 Goldston, N.C. We will be having homecoming on Sunday at 11 a.m. There will be a covered dish lunch served after worship beginning at noon. All are welcome!
SHEEP RIGHT GOATS LEFT! Bible study: Matthew 25:31-46. Church of Living Water; Pastor: James Mitchell. Everyone should ask themselves, “Am I ready to meet the Lord?” None of us know what tomorrow holds. God shall divide His sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. The Democrat goats of today are against all that is good. You, half-goat Republicans that are called RINOs deserve many stripes. We’re so glad you four RINOs will be out by the end of the year. Let’s vote America First Republicans, so we can keep control of the House and Senate. President Trump has done so much to Make America Great Again. Obama/Biden/Goat Democrats did unbelievable harm to America. President Trump, with our military and law enforcement, is making us safe again. I SUD\ IRU WKH IDPLO\ PHPEHUV RI WKH RI¿FHU ZKR ZDV NLOOHG in South Carolina, in Jesus’ name. I pray our soldiers bring Iran to their knees, in Jesus’ name. I pray the Muslims repent and believe Jesus is the Son of God, accepting Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Jesus died and arose so that all the whosoever will can be saved. Those on the left hand of -HVXV VKDOO EH FXUVHG LQWR HYHUODVWLQJ ¿UH SUHSDUHG IRU WKH devil and his angels. All mankind shall choose good or evil, Heaven or Hell.
Send your birth, death, marriage, graduation and other announcements to community@ chathamnewsrecord.com.
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Chatham News & Record for Thursday, September 10, 2026
THE CONVERSATION Trip Hoffend, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor VISUAL VOICES
COLUMN | ANDREW TAYLOR-TROUTMAN
Thoughts on peaceableness Rather than a continuous practice throughout our lives, I suspect many of us compartmentalize our ethics.
SO FAR AS IT DEPENDS on you, live peaceably with all. —Romans 12:18 In solemn reflection on 9/11, I have often turned to the words of Wendell Berry. The Kentucky farmer-poet’s death last Monday, Aug. 31, adds more gravitas to his warnings. Written in 2005, Berry’s essay, “Thoughts in the Presence of Fear: Life in the Wake of 9/11,” criticizes politicians who “have reduced complex problems now facing us to issues of unity, security, normality and retaliation.” A partisan slant to these words separates supporters into so-called “true patriots.” Such fidelity rings hollow with the reduction of freedoms and guiding principles of America — life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Berry wrote, “National self-righteousness, like personal self-righteousness, is a mistake. It is misleading. It is a sign of weakness.” Berry then took his argument further, shifting from the political to the spiritual. He acknowledged, “It is hard to speak of the ways of peace and to remember that Christ enjoined us to love our enemies, but this is no less necessary for being difficult.” Berry lifted up the premier examples of Christ, Gandhi and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., yet insisted the calling to become peacemakers was upon all of us. He argued that peace is not passive but “an alert, informed and active state of being.” Berry emphasized, “The key to peaceableness is continuous practice.” Rather than a continuous practice throughout our lives, I suspect many of us compartmentalize our ethics, meaning
that we understand certain behaviors, like peacemaking, to be limited to the spiritual realm but not the “real” world. We act as though the love commandments are nice to hear from the pulpit on Sunday morning but agree with George Orwell: “People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf.” This is the kind of peace that Rome promised and Jesus rejected with commands like turn the other cheek, go the extra mile and do unto others as you would have them do unto you. A continuous practice of peaceableness means directly engaging people with whom I disagree in respectful dialogue. A symptom of our disconnection and alienation is that people with opposing views talk past one another instead of listening. We do not have to agree in order to understand. We do not have to convince or convict in order to live peaceably. Righteousness is more than merely holding the “right” opinion or voting for the “right” party. It is a higher calling to live in a diverse, multicultural and interconnected society with forbearance and mutual respect. Therein lies the true strength of a free society. Our deepest convictions can bring us together rather than drive us apart. Andrew Taylor-Troutman’s newest book is “This Is the Day.” He serves as pastor of Chapel in the Pines Presbyterian Church as well as a writer, pizza maker, coffee drinker and student of joy.
COLUMN | BOB WACHS
Mother Nature’s darkest can bring out the best Folks along the coast knew from instinct that a storm was brewing; they just didn’t know how bad it would be.
IT WAS, as the classic line in literature says, a dark and stormy night both times the ol’ gals came calling — Hazel on Oct. 15, 1954, and Fran on Sept. 5, 1996. Forty-two years apart. I lived through both those visits. Hope not to have to do anything similar to that again. Not a good time, either one. If you were around for one, the other or both, you know that as well. I was reminded the other day of those times when someone pointed out that last Saturday marked 30 years to the day since Fran passed through. I was 6 when Hazel stopped by North Carolina. To say folks were not prepared for her visit is about as obvious as saying it gets dark at night. All the super-duper weather forecasting gadgets of today weren’t even thought of, much less in existence, then. Most forecasting information relied on ship reports, and they could be hours late coming in. Satellites? Forget it. And computer imagery? What’s that in 1954? Folks along the coast knew from instinct that a storm was brewing; they just didn’t know how bad it would be. How bad was she? Just the only Category 4 hurricane ever to hit the state. Winds at 140 mph, made worse because she came ashore on a full moon high tide. While many coastal towns and communities were hard hit, none were more affected than Long Beach (Oak Island today). It essentially disappeared. Farther inland, things weren’t in great shape. High winds. Heavy rain. Downed trees everywhere on roads and buildings. School officials decided to dismiss students during the height of the storm since it was new territory, reasoning the youngsters would be better off at home than huddled in school buildings. Biggest problem with all that, however, was many buses took hours to wind their way to their destinations because of blocked roads, and with no mobile phones in those days, hours passed before family members were together or at least in contact with each other. Talk about stress. Hazel is still the yardstick for Tarheel hurricanes. She was so bad that her name has officially been retired by the National Weather Service.
And Fran … while not as strong as Hazel, she was strong enough. She’s the one I kept thinking we might dodge until the midnight wind took down a tree that took down our power lines that stayed down for two weeks until an out-of-state utility crew on loan to help local overworked crews came down our road and a lanky Southern gentleman drawled to us, “You can thank us boys from south Georgia.” We did … with all the cold Pepsis and Moon Pies we had on hand. It was hot when all that happened; by the time I got my first shower in quite a spell, I had gone through a case of Right Guard. Let me tell you, when it’s a dark and stormy night and the lights go out in the country, it’s dark. I mean “d-a-double r-k” dark. After the lights went away that night, I sat up in the living room listening to the weather reports on the transistor radio while the guy talking said the worst of the storm should pass by Raleigh within three hours, and I’m thinking if what we’re going through now isn’t the worst, I don’t think I want to be here for it. And the fact I could hear trees cracking and not tell where they were will do wonders for your prayer life. As I remember those long ago events from my youthful perspective today, I think I’ve forgotten much of the fear and trauma of them. They’ve not been completely forgotten, but the emphasis now is more on two things that are a microcosm of life. One is that after those storms, neighbors rallied to help neighbors, and second, after the storms the sun came out again. I’m not belittling the pain that comes in life; it’s real. But the answer to that pain is found in the Book where it says that after loving the Lord with all our heart, soul, strength and mind, we’re supposed to help our neighbor clean up the mess in his yard after a hurricane. That will help the sun come out sooner. Bob Wachs is a native of Chatham County and emeritus editor at Chatham News & Record. He serves as pastor of Bear Creek Baptist Church.
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Chatham News & Record for Thursday, September 10, 2026
COLUMN | JAN HUTTON
COLUMN
Who could have known? Not me
We’d been slinking around, hunched shoulders, wondering if one of us might be next.
A TECH EVOLUTION began with a homicide in our neighborhood … Just so strange. Twenty-plus years ago, I took off for a week’s workshop in Seattle and returned to a neighborhood completely stunned by a homicide. The victim was someone I knew but not well. Our 136-home ’hood was scared to death (no pun intended) by this unsolved murder in our backyard. Wouldn’t you be? Fortunately, a savvy neighbor did considerable footwork (quite literally) and pulled together a sizable gathering of downright scared neighbors at her home. Each of us gathered there probably felt much less alone than we had during the previous week. We’d been slinking around, hunched shoulders, wondering if one of us might be next. Not fun. Finally, empowered by our gathering, my friend Rachel suggested we set up a neighborhood listserv for quicker connectivity. This was more than 20 years ago, and the word “listserv” was uncommon. We were in desperate need of a safety lifeline so this newfangled listserv thing was a go. Oh, brave new world … My beloved late dog and I did the footwork, setting a speedy regimen of visiting the whole neighborhood, signing people up for the listserv. Folks who had not attended the earlier meeting just stared at me when I said “listserv.” Remembered responses: “What’s a listserv?” “If it’s set it up, could someone show me how to use it?”
“I don’t want any more technology in my life! Got it?” Oy! We proceeded. Rachel set up the listserv in the backwaters of our local university web. Fortunately, we eventually moved the whole shebang to Google Groups before we were caught! Thank God, within a month, the murder’s perpetrator was captured. It had been domestic violence. This is the juncture where I really don’t know what to say. Terribly sad, but at least our ’hood felt safer again. The listserv, born of our neighborhood’s deep fear after the murder, took off like a skyrocket. Neighbors could yell for collective help with housing disasters and questions, minus the laborious effort of telephoning everyone in the neighborhood. (Assuming you had their phone numbers.) Instructions for making snow creams were posted during our infrequent North Carolina snowstorms. A particular favorite of mine was a neighbor who reached out for a cup of coffee during a snowstorm when her electricity was off. She got it. And on and on. This private listserv is now the lifeblood of our neighborhood. Who would have known during its difficult beginnings? “Sometimes when things are falling apart, they may actually be falling into place.” Jennifer L. Armentrout
somehow diminishes justice. The question is whether a particular resolution adequately serves it. In the Clancy case, that calculation is exceptionally difficult. Any resolution must acknowledge the enormity of three children’s deaths. It must consider public safety and society’s interest in accountability. But it must also account for the profound mental-health issues at the center of the case and the reality that a jury, after hearing the evidence and deliberating for days, could not unanimously determine criminal responsibility. Then there is the family. We frequently speak about victims and their families as though another trial automatically serves their interests. Sometimes it does. Sometimes families desperately want another jury to hear the evidence. But another trial also asks people who have already endured unimaginable grief to return to the courtroom and experience it again. The human cost deserves a place in the calculation. So does the expenditure of public resources — not because justice has a price tag, but because government has an obligation to use finite resources responsibly. Another lengthy prosecution involving competing experts and extensive medical evidence will consume resources that cannot simultaneously be devoted elsewhere. The question is what another trial is expected to accomplish. Perhaps another jury will reach the definitive answer this jury could not. If prosecutors reasonably believe that will happen, another trial may be justified. However, there is another possibility we should be willing to confront: Twelve new jurors may listen to substantially the same evidence, confront the same agonizing questions about mental illness and criminal responsibility, and arrive at another impasse. Justice does not require endless repetition simply because the first answer was unsatisfying. Nor does mercy require abandoning accountability. Somewhere between those principles may lie a resolution that honors the lives of three innocent children, protects the public, respects the rights of the accused and spares a grieving family from being forced to relive its worst day in a courtroom. A mistrial means the jury could not find its way to a unanimous answer. What happens next will tell us something equally important: Whether our system is capable of recognizing that sometimes the pursuit of justice requires knowing not only when to keep fighting but when to search for another way. Deborah A. Wilson is a Georgetown University Law Center graduate and a practicing Northern Virginia attorney.
Victor Joecks is a columnist for the Las Vegas Review-Journal. (Copyright 2026 Creators.com)
Jan Hutton, a resident of Chatham County and retired hospice social worker, lives life with heart and humor.
Lindsay Clancy and when justice cannot reach a verdict Any resolution must acknowledge the enormity of three children’s deaths.
Why liberty requires virtue A FARMER can’t make his plants grow, but he can create the conditions that lead to their flourishing. A society can’t make its citizens virtuous, but it can nurture the institutions that lead to virtuous citizens. Great thinkers in A people Western civilization have long noted the importance without virtue of virtue. In “Politics,” shouldn’t Aristotle declared, “The best expect to life, both for individuals and states, is the life of enjoy the virtue, when virtue has blessings external goods enough for the performance of good of liberty actions.” indefinitely. “Virtue then is a settled disposition of the mind determining the choice of actions and emotions, consisting essentially in the observance of the mean relative to us, this being determined by principle, that is, as the prudent man would determine it,” Aristotle wrote in “Nicomachean Ethics.” Practically, that means “virtue in a man will be the disposition which renders him a good man and also which will cause him to perform his function well.” Contained in that clunky English is a key insight. Virtue requires ascertaining truth and moving toward it with actions. This presupposes that truth is objective, not a personal possession. This fits in with an observation the great Roman statesman Cicero once made. He contrasted virtuous citizens with those who cared “more for his own interests than for those of the republic.” Perhaps you can start to see the link between liberty and virtue. A man with the ability to do as he chooses can use that ability to oppress others. Or, as Cicero warned, he could make self-centered choices that undermine the governing system that protects liberty more broadly. Since freedom is rare, both are serious threats. A tyrannical government may compel subservience from its citizens by removing their ability to take some destructive actions. The result may look virtuous, but coercion doesn’t create virtue by compelling conformity. Our Founding Fathers talked about the importance of virtue and extended it to Christianity, the ubiquitous religion in the Colonies at the time. In 1776, John Adams declared, “The happiness of society is the end of government.” But his definition of happiness may surprise you. He wrote, “All sober enquiries after truth, ancient and modern, Pagan and Christian, have declared that the happiness of man, as well as his dignity consists in virtue.” That should make you think differently about the Declaration of Independence declaring that the “pursuit of happiness” is an unalienable right. “Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports,” former President George Washington said in his 1796 Farewell Address. “In vain would that man claim the tribute of patriotism, who should labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness, these firmest props of the duties of men and citizens.” In a 1798 letter, Adams explained why morality and religion are essential to check human passions. Without them, human vices “would break the strongest cords of our Constitution as a whale goes through a net. Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.” The country has spent decades rejecting the virtue and Christian principles that the country was founded on. A deeply divided country only seems to agree that the government isn’t working as it should. This is a major reason why. Government can’t make individuals virtuous, but it can stop undermining the institutions, like the family and churches, that once inculcated virtue in the next generation. Government schools once taught students the Bible. Now those schools undermine parents, the country and even the notion of truth. A people without virtue shouldn’t expect to enjoy the blessings of liberty indefinitely. That’s a crisis to jump in and fix, not a foregone conclusion to observe passively.
COLUMN | DEBORAH WILSON
SOMETIMES THE most important verdict is the one a jury cannot reach. After weeks of testimony and nearly 40 hours of deliberations, the jury in the Lindsay Clancy murder trial could not unanimously decide whether she should be held criminally responsible for the deaths of her three children. The result is a mistrial — and an extraordinarily difficult question about what happens next. The easy answer is another trial. The harder question is whether that is necessarily justice. A mistrial in a case of this magnitude carries costs that extend far beyond dollars. Prosecutors have devoted enormous resources to preparing and presenting the case. Defense attorneys have done the same. Experts have testified, medical records have been dissected, witnesses have taken the stand and court personnel have spent weeks managing a proceeding watched across the country. Now imagine doing it all again. A new jury — with knowledge of the case — must be selected. Experts must return. Witnesses must again recount painful events. Attorneys must reconstruct arguments that have already consumed weeks of courtroom time. And a family that has endured an unimaginable tragedy must once again watch the deaths of three children become the subject of testimony, argument and public debate. None of that means prosecutors should abandon the case. Cora, Dawson and Callan Clancy died violently. Their lives matter. The public has a legitimate interest in accountability, and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts has an obligation to enforce its laws. Justice cannot become a calculation in which prosecution ends simply because another trial will be expensive or difficult. But justice has another obligation as well. It must recognize the rights of the accused. A mistrial is not a conviction. Lindsay Clancy remains entitled to the presumption and protections our criminal justice system affords every defendant, regardless of how disturbing the allegations may be. The prosecution’s burden does not become lighter because the first jury could not agree. That leaves prosecutors facing one of the most difficult exercises of discretion our system demands. They can try again, decline to retry the case or explore another option. In other words, can the parties explore whether some negotiated resolution appropriately balances accountability, public safety, mental illness and the interests of a family that has already suffered enough. A plea agreement should not be mistaken for surrender. Our criminal courts resolve cases through negotiated pleas every day. The question is not whether compromise
VICTOR JOECKS
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Chatham News & Record for Thursday, September 10, 2026
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IN MEMORY
SYLVIA BEAL BOWDEN SEPT. 3, 2026 Sylvia Beal Bowden, age 71, of Sanford, passed away on Thursday, September 3, 2026 at Westfield Rehabilitation Center after a period of declining health. She was born in Chatham County to the late Samuel Beal and Virginia Clark Beal. She lived a simple and meaningful life, finding her greatest joy in the happiness of her family. She was a loving and caring woman who took great pleasure in doing for others and making those around her feel loved. She is survived by her husband of 54 years, Charles Bowden; son Jeremy Bowden and wife Mandie of Sanford; daughter Michelle Church and husband Gerald of Deep Gap; sisters Becky Tyson of Emerald Isle, NC and Janet Davis and husband Jeff of North Myrtle Beach, SC; grandchildren Chase Bowden and Brenda Shaw, Roman Buchanan and wife Marie and Victoria Douglas and husband Aaron and seven great-grandchildren. In keeping with Sylvia’s wishes, services will be private.
MARGARET HARRIS HEARNE JULY 29, 1933 – SEPT. 2, 2026 Margaret Harris Hearne, age 93, of Pittsboro, died Wednesday, September 2, 2026, at home. Margaret was born in Johnston County, North Carolina on July 29, 1933, to the late Thomas C. Harris and Flodie Puryear Harris. She was also preceded in death by her husband Nathinel Hearne. Surviving relatives include one son, William Dean Haley of Pittsboro, one daughter, Carolyn Marks of Carrboro, one granddaughter Leah Haley Jestimea, one great-granddaughter Evie, and many nieces and nephews. A graveside service will be held Sunday, September 13, 2026, at 3:00PM at Mt. Gilead Baptist Church Cemetery with Pastor Wesley Thomas presiding.
Shirakawa, co-winner of 2000 Nobel Prize in chemistry, dead at 90 His research showed that plastic could conduct electricity like metal The Associated Press TOKYO — Japanese scientist Hideki Shirakawa, co-winner of the 2000 Nobel Prize in chemistry for discovering and developing conductive polymers, has died. He was 90. The discovery by Shirakawa and two fellow American scientists, Alan Heeger and Alan MacDiarmid, demonstrated that plastic could conduct electricity like metal and be used in applications such as electronics. Shirakawa died Aug. 24, according to the University of Tsukuba, where he taught and researched after joining in 1979. The university did not specify a cause of death. Japan’s largest newspaper, the Yomiuri, said Shirakawa died at a hospital in Yokohama, west of Tokyo. Born in Tokyo in 1936, Shirakawa earned a doctoral degree in engineering at the Tokyo Institute of Technology in
TSUGUFUMI MATSUMOTO / AP PHOTO
Japanese Nobel Prize-winning chemist Hideki Shirakawa has died at the age of 90. 1966. Ten years later, he became a researcher at the University of Pennsylvania, where he worked with MacDiarmid and Heeger. The three scientists’ findings that defied common sense that plastics are not conductive paved the way for the development of inexpensive conductive materials that are lighter and more flexible than metals and used in solar cells and mobile phone screens.
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She had completed a memoir, to be published this fall, despite her declining health By Jocelyn Noveck The Associated Press NEW YORK — Gloria Steinem, the celebrated author and activist who was one of the most visible symbols and potent voices of the U.S. women’s movement for over six decades, has died. She was 92. With her trademark streaked hair and large aviator glasses, Steinem, a co-founder of Ms. Magazine, was a hugely recognizable presence wherever she went. And she went everywhere: Much of her life as an advocate was spent on the road, speaking at college campuses and community centers, at rallies and marches. “You can’t do it on the phone or on the web,” she told The Associated Press in a 2015 interview. “You have to be there with all five senses. It should be obvious that people can’t empathize with each other unless we’re in the same room.” Steinem, who had been in declining health, died last Wednesday at her home in New York City, according to a post on her social media page. She had recently completed a memoir, to be released this fall. “Gloria’s greatest gift was her ability to listen to others, to make others feel seen and heard,” the post said. “Her words, actions, and example gave people permission to be their truest selves.” Though Steinem had recently become more frail physically, her wit and humor remained totally intact, said her friend and fellow activist, Abigail Disney, who visited Steinem’s Manhattan home recently as those close to her gathered by her side. “Everything Gloria did was rooted in kindness,” Disney said. “It flowed through her political activism.” Steinem changed career path after start as journalist Gloria Marie Steinem was born on March 25, 1934, in Toledo, Ohio. Her father was a traveling antique salesperson; she spent her early years on the road with her parents, not attending regular school. “I just read everything I could get my hands on,” she told an audience at Manhattan’s 92NY earlier this year. She began her career as a journalist, notably reporting in 1963 on degrading conditions in Hugh Hefner’s Playboy empire — an undercover assignment she came to later regret. She credits a meeting six years later, where women spoke out in favor of abortion rights, with changing her career path. “That speak-out was the beginning of activism for me,” Steinem, who had undergone a secret illegal abortion at age 22, told the AP in an email in 2022, reflecting on the reversal of Roe v. Wade. “Either our control over our own bodies is equal, regardless of sex or race, or we’re not living in a democracy.” Those who watched Steinem denounce discrimination for so many years likely nev-
HARVEY GEORGES / AP PHOTO
Bella Abzug, left, and Patsy Mink of Women USA sit next to Gloria Steinem as she speaks in Washington, D.C. in 1979. er suspected that she’d had to overcome a deep fear of public speaking. She would have simply stuck to writing, she said, if only editors at the time had been willing to let her write about the women’s movement. Steinem’s visibility endured throughout life Well into her 80s, Steinem was traveling the globe and speaking out on issues of importance to her. It included everything from genital mutilation to Korean reconciliation, but it was equality for women that took precedence. “Being a feminist means that you see the world as whole instead of half,” she once said. “It shouldn’t need a name, and one day it won’t.” The constant visibility came with a price; even into her older years, Steinem expressed frustration that despite her accomplishments, she was often described as beautiful or glamorous. A 1992 Vanity Fair profile even noted her “spectacular racehorse legs.” “Nobody ever called me beautiful until I was publicly a feminist, and that was in my mid-30s,” she told AP in a 2011 interview. “It was clear that label was being assigned to me. The most hurtful part is that you work very hard, and people say it’s because of your looks.” Steinem dealt with hostility from many directions Appearing on Larry King’s talk show on CNN in 1990, she was visibly stunned when a female caller greeted her cheerfully, then told her to “rot in hell” because she had ruined “the beautiful American family.” But by then, she noted, at least people were taking feminists seriously. That wasn’t the case in 1972 when she co-founded Ms. Magazine and many commentators — especially male — dismissed it as ridiculous, predicting an early demise. The magazine continues to this day, published by the Feminist Majority Foundation. Among Steinem’s detractors was President Richard Nixon, who was caught on an Oval Office tape ridiculing both her and the “Ms.” title. The ridicule was mutual: In a 1972 National Press Club speech, Steinem called Nixon “the most sexually insecure chief of state since Napoleon.”
SETH WENIG / AP PHOTO
Gloria Steinem poses for a picture at her home in New York on Oct. 19, 2015. Her wit was a constant, and her many quips were widely circulated. Before she married at 66, she often explained her singlehood by saying, “I can’t mate in captivity.” Laughter, she wrote, was “the only free emotion — the only one that can’t be compelled.” Steinem never had children, and said she never regretted it. “No, not for a millisecond,” she told the AP. “It’s important that some of us not have children, to show that we have a choice.” In 2000, Steinem did something she’d never planned to: She got married, at 66, to British activist and businessman David Bale, the father of actor Christian Bale. The elder Bale died in 2003. Galvanizing speaker, even in later years On Jan. 21, 2017, when hundreds of thousands of women gathered in Washington, D.C., in their pink “pussy hats” for the historic Women’s March, it surprised nobody that the keynote speaker, and the most rousing, was Steinem. “We are linked,” she told the crowd. “And this is a day that will change us forever because we are together.” Though many saw her as a singular figure in history, she liked to say that if she hadn’t come along, someone else would have accomplished the same things. By the same token, she said, it was less important that younger people listen to her, and more important that they listen to themselves. “The primary thing is not that they know who I am,” she said, “but that they know who they are.”
Submit obituaries and death notices to be published in Chatham News & Record at obits@chathamnewsrecord.com
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Chatham News & Record for Thursday, September 10, 2026
Joe Morgan, former Boston Red Sox manager, dead at 95 His managing career began in Raleigh in 1966 The Associated Press BOSTON — Joe Morgan, the popular Boston Red Sox manager who guided his hometown team to a pair of AL East titles, has died. He was 95. In a statement Sunday, the Red Sox announced that Morgan died Saturday night. The club was informed by his daughter, Catherine, team spokesperson Abby Murphy said. No further information was provided. “Joe Morgan holds a special place in Red Sox history,” principal owner John Henry said in the statement. “When he took over in 1988, he changed the course of a season and created one of the most memorable chapters in the history of this club. The two division titles that followed only strengthened a bond with Red Sox fans that endured for the rest of his life. We extend our deepest condolences to his family and all who loved him.” Morgan played 88 major league games as an infielder with five teams from 1959-64 and then spent 18 years in the Red Sox organization as a manager, coach and scout from 1974-91. Along the way, he managed Boston stars such as Wade Boggs, Roger Clemens and Rich Gedman in both the minors and majors. Morgan was inducted
ELISE AMENDOLA / AP PHOTO
Former Red Sox manager Joe Morgan waves to fans as he is honored prior to a baseball game between the Red Sox and the Seattle Mariners in Boston on July 30, 2013. into the team’s Hall of Fame in 2006. “He was a big part of my life and will be missed,” said Boggs, a Hall of Fame third baseman. “I don’t think he got enough credit for how baseball-smart he was. He played baseball hunches instead of statistics. He will always be one of my favorites.” Morgan, who was born in Walpole, Massachusetts, and attended Boston College, became the first base coach for the Red Sox in 1985 and took over as manager on July 14, 1988. The team won its next 12 games and 19 of 20 on the way to a division title before getting swept in four games by the
Oakland Athletics in the American League Championship Series. “‘Morgan Magic’ is forever part of Red Sox lore,” team chairman Tom Werner said. “Joe took over in 1988 and gave New England a summer it would never forget.” Morgan managed the Red Sox to another AL East crown in 1990 before they were again swept by Oakland in the ALCS. His tenure ended after the 1991 season with a 301-262 record. “Joe was a fun manager to play for — always extremely positive. When you didn’t perform well, he’d say, ‘Don’t worry about it. You’ll be great next time — I guarantee it!’” said Cle-
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mens, who won the first three of his seven Cy Young Awards with Boston. “And yes, when he got the job to manage, he brought the magic! ... Thanks for everything, Joe!” Before his promotion to Boston’s big league staff in 1983 as a scout, Morgan managed the Triple-A Pawtucket Red Sox from 1974-82, becoming the longest-tenured in club history. During his playing days, Morgan was signed by the Boston Braves in June 1952. He batted .193 in the majors with two home runs and 10 RBIs for the Milwaukee Braves (1959), Kansas City Athletics (1959), Philadelphia Phillies (1960), Cleveland Indians (1960-61) and St. Louis Cardinals (1964). Morgan’s managing career began in North Carolina. Winding down his playing days, he took over as player-manager of the Raleigh Pirates, Pittsburgh’s Class A affiliate in the Carolina League, in 1966. The Boston Globe reported the Pirates offered to raise his salary to $10,000 if he agreed to take the job. He played his final season that year while running the club at Devereux Meadow, the city’s ballpark off Peace Street that was demolished in 1979. He returned to manage Raleigh in 1967, leading the Pirates to a 77-65 record and first place in the league’s East Division. That roster included several future major leaguers, among them Richie Hebner, Don Mon-
FUEL from page A1 also have a baby, so we also have to pay for that,” Collins said outside a gas station in Claymont, Delaware, where regular gas was $4.199 a gallon. Prices shot up after the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran in February and have not settled down since. Crude oil traffic through the key Strait of Hormuz has plunged, and Iran has refused to reopen the waterway. “Everything points to the Iran war and the Strait of Hormuz,” said Tom Seng, a professor of energy finance at Texas Christian University. Energy Secretary Chris Wright offered few specifics on when the nation’s drivers might see relief at the gas pump, acknowledging that prices are higher now than Labor Day 2025. “Yes, they’re higher today, but we’re doing everything we can to push them down,” Wright said Sunday on ABC’s “This Week.” The national average for regular gas prices is still well below the record of $5.02 a gallon set in June 2022. But diesel is a different story: It hit a national average of $5.85 a gallon last Friday, a record. Trucks and other freight delivery systems use a lot of diesel, and that increased transportation cost is being passed on to consumers, whether at the grocery store or through package delivery services. “It doesn’t really seem like there’s an end to it,” Collins said. Gas prices typically drop as the summer driving sea-
“Joe was a fun manager to play for — always extremely positive. When you didn’t perform well, he’d say, ‘Don’t worry about it. You’ll be great next time — I guarantee it!’” Roger Clemens, former Red Sox pitcher ey, Al Oliver and Gene Garber. It was the final season of professional baseball under the Raleigh name; the franchise merged with Durham the following year. Morgan moved up to Double-A York in 1968 and never managed below Triple-A again. “Joe Morgan managed the Red Sox during some of my most formative years as a fan,” said Red Sox President and CEO Sam Kennedy. “Joe made us believe, and when you experience that as a kid, it stays with you. I was fortunate enough to get to know him later in life and found an even better person than the baseball man I had admired. I will miss him deeply.” In addition to daughter Catherine, Morgan is survived by his children Joseph Jr., William and Barbara, six grandchildren and five great-grandchildren, the Red Sox said.
son ends and refineries turn to making a cheaper winter blend. But Seng said there are other factors this year even beyond the volatile situation in the Middle East that make future prices unpredictable. U.S. refineries are working at 98% capacity, many in the unusually harsh Texas heat. If there are problems there or a hurricane knocks some systems offline, prices will struggle to drop. And it’s not just a Middle East problem. Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian refineries are squeezing diesel supplies. Chinese refiners are seeing declining outputs as well, said Matthew Metzgar, a clinical professor of economics at UNC Charlotte. “There’s just less gasoline coming out of those refineries,” Metzgar said. Wright, the energy secretary, said the Trump administration was taking steps to increase production and that the markets forecast lower prices in the coming months. “If you look at the futures prices, if you wanted to buy today in bulk gasoline for two months out in November, it’s about $0.35 cheaper than it is today. So the marketplace thinks gasoline prices are going to move meaningfully lower,” he said. Geopolitically, though, there is little a driver can do to knock down gas prices. But using price apps can help save a little money, especially on long trips where gas by the interstate could be 10 to 15 cents per gallon more expensive than at stations a short drive down the road, Metzgar said.
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Diesel prices hit a record high in the U.S. as the war in Iran continues to impact fuel costs.
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Chatham News & Record for Thursday, September 10, 2026
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NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY Special Proceedings No. 25SP000213180 Trustee: Philip A. GlassNOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE Date of Sale: September 17, 2026 Time of Sale: 10:00 a.m. Place of Sale: Chatham County Courthouse Description of Property: See Attached Description Record Owners: Shereese Myers, Cierra Brazlyn Neal, Bruce Eugene Neal, Jr., and Trey J. Neal Address of Property: 209 Brown Hill Rd. New Hill, NC 27562 Deed of Trust: Book : 02341 Page: 0644 Dated: December 22, 2022 Grantors: Clarissa Toomer Neal an unmarried person Original Beneficiary: State Employees’ Credit Union CONDITIONS OF SALE: This sale is made subject to all unpaid taxes and superior liens or encumbrances of record and assessments, if any, against the said property, and any recorded leases. This sale is also subject to any applicable county land transfer tax, and the successful third party bidder shall be required to make payment for any such county land transfer tax. It is the intent of the holder of the above Deed of Trust that the execution, delivery and recordation of a Trustee Deed to the holder as high bidder shall not merge with any superior Deeds of Trust held by the holder of the above Deed of Trust, and that the holder of said superior Deed of Trust shall continue to enjoy all rights and remedies set forth in said superior Deed of Trust, including the right to foreclose either by judicial action or under power of sale contained in the superior Deed of Trust. The property to be offered pursuant to this Notice of Sale is being offered for sale “AS IS, WHERE IS.” THERE ARE NO REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES relating to the title or to 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. A cash deposit of 5% of the purchase price will be required at the time of the
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NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING RELATIVE TO APPLICATION BY THE TOWN OF SILER CITY FOR FUNDING UNDER THE HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ACT OF 1974, AS AMENDED Notice is hereby given that the Town of Siler City Board of Commissioners will conduct a public hearing on September 21, 2026, at 6:30 p.m., or as soon thereafter as the agenda will allow, in the Joseph Moody Here’s the information Buckner Courtroom at City Hall, 311 North you requested on Dental insurance Second Avenue, Siler City, NC 27344 in FIRST-CLASS MAIL relation to Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding for a project in the community. The Town of Siler City anticipates submitting CDBG applications within the next twelve months. Information on the amount of funding available, the requirements on benefit to low- and moderate-income persons, eligible activities, and plans to minimize displacement and provide displacement assistance as necessary will be available. Citizens will also be given the opportunity to provide oral and written comments on the town’s use of CDBG funds. All interested citizens are encouraged to attend. O
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sale. Remote bidding will not be accepted pursuant to North Carolina General Statutes Section 45-21.25 (a). Credit bids on behalf of the Noteholder will be accepted. Any successful bidder shall be required to tender the full balance of the purchase price so bid in cash or certified check at the time the Substitute Trustee tenders to him a deed for the property or attempts to tender such deed, and should said successful bidder fail to pay the full balance purchase price so bid at that time, he shall remain liable on his bid as provided for in North Carolina General Statutes Section 45-21.30 (d) and (e). This sale will be held open ten (10) days for upset bids as required by law. Residential real 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 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 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 not 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. 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. Dated: 8/5/26 Philip A. Glass, Trustee Nodell, Glass & Haskell, L.L.P. Posted on 8/6/26 Exhibit A BEGINNING at iron stake in China Hawkins’ line running east 258 feet to a stake Joining J.C. Haithcox line; thence south 160 feet to a stake; thence west 219 feet to a stake joining Howard Crump’s line, thence north 160 feet to the beginning. Subject to easements, restrictions and rights of way of record, and utility lines and rights of way in existence over, under or upon the above-described property. PIN: 969800023810 Property Address: 209 Brown Hill Rd. New Hill, NC 27562
For additional information or to submit written comments, contact the Town Manager at PO Box 769, 311 North Second Avenue, Room 302, Siler City, NC 27344. Comments should be postmarked by September 21, 2026. Persons with disabilities or who otherwise need assistance should contact the Town Manager’s office at (919) 726-8620 (Relay North Carolina TTY# 711 or 1-800-7352962), by Wednesday, September 16, 2026. Accommodation will be made for all who request assistance participating in the public hearing. This information is available in Spanish and any other language upon request. Please contact Town Manager Jack Meadows, at 919-742-4731 or at 311 North Second Avenue, Siler City, NC 27344, for assistance with this request. Esta información está disponible en español o en cualquier otro idioma bajo petición. Por favor, póngase en contacto con Town Manager Jack Meadows, al 919742-4731 o en 311 North Second Avenue, Siler City, NC 27344 de alojamiento para esta solicitud. The Town of Siler City is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer.
Chatham News & Record for Thursday, September 10, 2026
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TAKE NOTICE
CREDITOR’S NOTICE
NOTICE
NOTICE
PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
Having qualified on the 14th day of August 2026, as Administrator CTA of the Estate of Barry D. Edwards, deceased, late of Chatham County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against the decedent to exhibit the same to the undersigned on or before the 10th day of December 2026, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons, firms and corporations indebted to the estate should make immediate payment. This is the 2nd day of September 2026. W. Woods Doster, Administrator CTA of the Estate of Barry D. Edwards 206 Hawkins Avenue Sanford, NC 27330 Attorneys: Law Offices of Doster & Brown, P.A. 206 Hawkins Avenue Sanford, NC 27330 Publish On: September 10, 17, 24 and October 1st, 2026.
NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY NOTICE TO CREDITORS The undersigned, having qualified on the 31st day of August, 2026, as Executor of the Estate of Roxana Shalo, deceased, of Chatham County does hereby notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against said Estate to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before December 20th, 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 10th day of September, 2026. Sibyl Wilmont Executor of the Estate of Roxana Shalo c/o J Alan Campbell Law PO Box 850 Hillsborough, NC 27278 919-451-5441
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY In The General Court of Justice Superior Court Division Before the Clerk NOTICE TO CREDITORS File Number 26E000379-180 Brenda Sites, having qualified as Executor of the estate of Barbara Boone Young, late of Chatham County, North Carolina, hereby wishes to notify all persons having claims against the estate of said deceased to exhibit them to the undersigned at the below listed address on or before the 20th day of November 2026, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to the estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned at the below listed address. This is the 20th day of August, 2026. Brenda Sites c/o Huston Law Firm, PLLC 2501 Blue Ridge Road, Suite 300 Raleigh, NC 27607 A20, 27, 3 and 10
TOWN OF PITTSBORO, NC On Monday, September 14, 2026, at 6:00 pm, the Pittsboro Board of Commissioners will hold a legislative public hearing for the following requests at the Chatham County Agriculture & Conference Center at 1192 Hwy 64 Business West: ZTA-26-12 – A legislative request by Town Staff to amend the Downtown Overlay District found in Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) Section 2.6.4. PB-26-370 – Deborah and Pete Hinton have petitioned to have approximately 0.4 acres of land, Parcel 0008273, currently zoned High Density Residential 10 (R-10) to be rezoned to Office and InstitutionalConditional Zoning (O&I-CZ). The Future Land Use Plan designates this parcel Downtown Support. The property is located along East Salisbury Street, south of the new Town Hall site, west of singlefamily residential, and north and east of commercial and office space. PB-26-215 – Intrepid Build has petitioned to have approximately 4.047 acres of land, Parcel 0007133, currently zoned Rural Residential Agriculture (RA-2) to be rezoned to Community Mixed-Use Center-Conditional Zoning (CMUC-CZ). The Future Land Use Plan designates this parcel Residential. The property is located along Highway 15-501, south and east of single-family residential and west of the Haw River Filtration Plant. The hearing will be held in person. The public can watch the hearing live on the Town’s YouTube channel https://www. youtube.com/@townofpittsboronc/ streams. Members 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 September 14, 2026, with written comments or sign up to speak at the hearing. You can contact Carrie Bailey at cbailey@pittsboronc.gov, (919) 984.282.6647, or PO Box 759, Pittsboro, NC 27312.
RELATIVE TO APPLICATION BY THE TOWN OF SILER CITY FOR FUNDING UNDER THE HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ACT OF 1974, AS AMENDED Notice is hereby given that the Town of Siler City Board of Commissioners will conduct a public hearing on September 21, 2026, at 6:30 p.m., or as soon thereafter as the agenda will allow, in the Joseph Moody Buckner Courtroom at City Hall, 311 North Second Avenue, Siler City, NC 27344, in relation to Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding for a project in the community. In October 2026, the Town of Siler City will submit a CDBG-Neighborhood Revitalization (CDBG-NR) application to the NC Department of Commerce for funds to assist with housing and other public facilities improvements for low- and-moderate income households residing in the Town. Citizens will also be given the opportunity to provide oral and written comments on the Town’s use of CDBG funds. All interested citizens are encouraged to attend. All project activities will serve households with incomes at or below 80% of the Chatham County median income for appropriate household size. The proposed budget includes the following CDBG activities: Housing Rehabilitation: $ 950,000 Street Resurfacing: $2,000,000 Stormwater Improvements: $1,500,000 Fire Station Upgrades: $ 550,000 Total Project Budget: $5,000,000 The Town will make every effort to minimize displacement; however, all applicable requirements of 49CFR24 and 24CFR570 related to the proposed rehabilitation activities will be implemented, and temporary relocation assistance will be available to owners who are displaced from their residences during construction activity. For additional information or to submit written comments, contact the Town Manager at PO Box 769, 311 North Second Avenue, Room 302, Siler City, NC 27344. Comments should be postmarked by September 21, 2026. Persons with disabilities or who otherwise need assistance should contact the Town Manager’s office at 919-742-4731 (Relay North Carolina TTY# 711 or 1-800-7352962), by Wednesday, September 16, 2026. Accommodation will be made for all who request assistance participating in the public hearing. This information is available in Spanish and any other language upon request. Please contact Town Manager Jack Meadows, at 919-742-4731 or at 311 North Second Avenue, Siler City, NC 27344, for assistance with this request. Esta información está disponible en español o en cualquier otro idioma bajo petición. Por favor, póngase en contacto con Town Manager Jack Meadows, al 919742-4731 o en 311 North Second Avenue, Siler City, NC 27344 de alojamiento para esta solicitud. The Town of Siler City is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer.
NOTICE NOTICE TO CREDITORS The undersigned, having qualified as Executor of the Estate of William James Erkes, Deceased, late of Chatham County, North Carolina, does hereby notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against the estate to exhibit them to the undersigned at the offices of Munson Law Firm PLLC, P.O. Box 1811 Pittsboro, NC 27312, on or before the 27th day of November, 2026, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to the estate will please make immediate payment. This 27th day of August, 2026. GARY WILLIAM ERKES, EXECUTOR ESTATE OF William James Erkes
NOTICE TO CREDITORS 26E000377-180 NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY The undersigned, Lynn McClurg, having qualified as Executor of the Estate of Raymond Augustus Kilner, deceased, late of Chatham County, this is to notify all persons having claims against said estate to present them to the undersigned on or before the day of December 2, 2026 or this notice will be plead in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned. This the 3rd day of September 2026. Lynn McClurg Executor Marie H. Hopper Attorney for the Estate Hopper Cummings, PLLC Post Office Box 1455 Pittsboro, NC 27312
PUBLIC NOTICE State of North Carolina County of Chatham The annual meeting of the North Chatham Volunteer Fire Department Inc., will be held at North Chatham Volunteer Fire Department Station #1, U.S. 15-501 North, on Monday, September 14, 2026 at 7:00 PM for the purpose of electing (2) Directors of the Corporation and such other business as may properly come before the meeting. All residents of the North Chatham Fire Protection District eighteen (18) years of age or older and live in Chatham County are entitled to attend and vote at said meeting. The Directors are residents of the North Chatham Fire Protection District in Chatham County and shall fairly be representative of the geographic areas and populations served by the corporation. This 18th day of August 2025. Chuck Quinlan, President North Chatham Volunteer Fire Department, Inc.
NOTICE TO CREDITORS 26E000473-180 NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY The undersigned, Jodi N. Wiley, having qualified as Executor of the Estate of Loretta A. Neely, deceased, late of Chatham County, this is to notify all persons having claims against said estate to present them to the undersigned on or before the day of November 18, 2026 or this notice will be plead in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned. This the 20th day of August 2026. Jodi N. Wiley Executor Marie H. Hopper Attorney for the Estate Hopper Cummings, PLLC Post Office Box 1455 Pittsboro, NC 27312
NOTICE TO CREDITORS Having qualified as Executor of the Estate of James Leon Satterwhite, deceased, late of Chatham County, North Carolina, who died on May 8, 2026, the undersigned hereby notifies all persons, firms, and corporations having claims against the Estate of said decedent to present them to the undersigned on or before December 10, 2026, or this Notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons, firms, and corporations indebted to said Estate are requested to make immediate payment to the undersigned. This the 2nd day of September, 2026. Erica L. Satterwhite, Executor Estate of James Leon Satterwhite 1290 Adrian Ct Mebane, NC 27302 Chatham County, North Carolina Publish: September 10, September 17, September 24, and October 1, 2026.
NORTH CAROLINA NOTICE TO CREDITORS CHATHAM COUNTY ________________________________ ________________________________ ________ HAVING QUALIFIED as Administrator of the Estate of Karl Frederick Ernst of Chatham County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against the estate of said deceased to present them to the undersigned on or before the 19th day of November, 2026, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. This the 12th day of August, 2026. Barbara Gray Ernst, Administrator Of the Estate of Karl Frederick Ernst 711 Red Oak Drive Siler City, North Carolina 27344 MOODY, WILLIAMS, ATWATER & LEE ATTORNEYS AT LAW BOX 629 SILER CITY, NORTH CAROLINA 27344 (919) 663-2850
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NOTICE NORTH CAROLINA NOTICE TO CREDITORS CHATHAM COUNTY ________________________________ ________________________________ ________ HAVING QUALIFIED as Executor of the Estate of Sandra Sexton of Chatham County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against the estate of said deceased to present them to the undersigned on or before the 27th day of November, 2026, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. This the 18th day of August, 2026. Yvonne Sexton Goldston, Executor Of the Estate of Sandra Sexton 1102 N. Hampton Street Siler City, North Carolina 27344 MOODY, WILLIAMS, ATWATER & LEE ATTORNEYS AT LAW BOX 629 SILER CITY, NORTH CAROLINA 27344 (919) 663-2850
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NOTICE TO CREDITORS The undersigned, having qualified as Executor of the Estate of Marilyn Gerk Ozer, Deceased, late of Chatham County, North Carolina, does hereby notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against the estate to exhibit them to the undersigned at the offices of Tillman, Whichard & Cagle, PLLC, 501 Eastowne Drive, Suite 130, Chapel Hill, NC 27514, on or before the 3rd day of December, 2026, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to the estate will please make immediate payment. This 3rd day of September, 2026. TRINA SHILOH MATTA, EXECUTOR ESTATE OF MARILYN GERK OZER
Notice to Creditors ALL PERSONS, firms and corporations having claims against Claire Maureen Miller., deceased, of Chatham County, NC, are notified to exhibit the same to the undersigned on or before December 11th, 2026, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of recovery. Debtors of the decedent are asked to make immediate payment. This the 10th day of September, 2026. Diane Lee Miller, Limited Personal; Representative, c/o Bagwell Holt Smith P.A., 111 Cloister Court, STE 200, Chapel Hill, NC 27514
NOTICE NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY 26E000172-180 Having qualified as Executor of the Estate of Carol A. Reingold, deceased, late 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 November 27, 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 27th day of August, 2026 John Nightingale c/o Jillian E. Brevorka, Esq. Hodgson Russ LLP 7 Corporate Center Court Suite B Greensboro, NC 27408
NOTICE TO CREDITORS NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY 26E000036-180 ALL persons having claims against Susan Hill Oliver, deceased, late of Chatham County, North Carolina, are notified to exhibit the same to the undersigned on or before Nov 20 2026, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of recovery. Debtors of the decedent are asked to make immediate payment. This the 20th day of August, 2026. JAIME SUSAN OLIVER, Executor C/O Haas & Associates, P.A. 5100 Oak Park Road, Suite 200 Raleigh, NC 27612 A20, 27, 3 and 10
NOTICE TO CREDITORS NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY 26E000474-180 ALL persons having claims against Peter Randall Naylor, deceased, late of Chatham County, North Carolina, are notified to exhibit the same to the undersigned on or before Nov 27 2026, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of recovery. Debtors of the decedent are asked to make immediate payment. This the 27th day of August, 2026. c/o Daniel B. Finch, Attorney, Peter Randall Naylor, II, Administrator CTA C/O Pinna, Johnston & Burwell, P.A. 2601 Oberlin Rd, Ste 100 Raleigh, NC 27608 A27, 3, 10 and 17
NOTICE North Carolina Chatham County The Estate of Clark Sentelle Yarbrough 25 E000221-180 Notice to Creditors The undersigned, having qualified on the 23rd day of April 2025, as Executrix of the Estate of Clarke Sentelle Yarbrough, deceased, having last resided in and died of Chatham County, North Carolina, do hereby give this notice to all persons, firms, and corporations having claims against said Estate to present them to the undersigned Executrix on before the 27th day of August 2026, being greater than three months from the date of first publication of this notice. Failure to present a claim(s) to the undersigned Executrix on or before the 27th day of November 2026 at 405 Deming Road, Chapel Hill, NC. 27514 will result in this notice being pleaded in bar of their recovery against the Estate. All persons indebted to said Estate, please make immediate payment to the undersigned. This the 27th day of August, 2026 Terri Yarbrough Lorant, Executrix of the Estate of Clarke Yarbrough 405 Deming Rd., Chapel Hill, NC 27514
NOTICE TO CREDITORS NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY FILE#26E000476-180 The undersigned, SHARLENE HAWKINS, having qualified on the 30TH Day of JUNE 2026 as ADMINISTRATOR of the Estate of BOBBY JEAN HAWKINS, 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 27TH Day of NOVEMBER 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 27TH Day of AUGUST 2026. SHARLENE HAWKINS, ADMINISTRATOR 437 GUM SPRINGS CHURCH RD. MONCURE, NC 27559 Run dates: A27,S3,10,17p
NOTICE TO CREDITORS NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY FILE#26E000488-180 The undersigned, TAMMY F. WESTER, having qualified on the 21ST Day of AUGUST 2026 as ADMINISTRATOR of the Estate of HARRY KIRBY FAGG, 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 27TH Day of NOVEMBER 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 27TH Day of AUGUST 2026. TAMMY F. WESTER, ADMINISTRATOR 196 DEWITT SMITH ROAD PITTSBORO, NC 27312 Run dates: A27,S3,10,17p
NOTICE TO CREDITORS NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY FILE#26E000176-180 The undersigned, FRANK BERRY HILL, having qualified on the 1ST Day of JUNE 2026 as ADMINISTRATOR of the Estate of JO CARROL ELAINE HILL, 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 20TH Day of NOVEMBER 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 20TH Day of AUGUST 2026. FRANK BERRY HILL, ADMINISTRATOR 3664 OYSTER BLUFF DR. BEAUFORT, SC 29907 Run dates: A20,27,S3,10p
NOTICE TO CREDITORS NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY FILE#26E000495-180 The undersigned, CLYDE GRAHAM BARBER, having qualified on the 26TH Day of AUGUST 2026 as EXECUTOR of the Estate of MOLLY YELTON BARBER, 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 3RD Day of DECEMBER 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 3RD Day of SEPTEMBER 2026. CLYDE GRAHAM BARBER, EXECUTOR 174 CRAIG HILL LANE CHAPEL HILL, NC 27516 Run dates: S3,10,17,24p
Notice to Creditors Estate of Richard Locaparra, Sr. ALL PERSONS, firms and corporations having claims against Richard Locaparra, Sr, deceased, of Chatham County, N.C., are notified to exhibit the same to the undersigned on or before 11/20/2026, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of recovery. Debtors of the decedent are asked to make immediate payment. This the 20th day of August, 2026. Richard Locaparra Jr., Executor 220 Bailey Way Siler City NC 27344 c/o Hopler, Wilms & Hanna, PLLC 2314 S. Miami Blvd. Suite 151 Durham, NC 27703 8/20, 27, 9/3, 10, 2026
PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE A public hearing will be held by the Chatham County Board of Commissioners on Monday, September 21, 2026, beginning at 6:00 p.m. The public hearing will be held in the courtroom of the Historic Courthouse in Pittsboro, North Carolina at 9 Hillsboro Street, Pittsboro NC 27312. Additional information is available at the Chatham County Planning Department office. Speakers are requested to sign up at the meeting prior to the hearing. You may also sign up on the county website prior to the meeting at www. chathamcountync.gov by selecting the heading County Government, then Commissioner Meetings, then Public Comment. The public hearing may be continued to another date at the discretion of the Board of Commissioners. The purpose of the Public Hearing is to receive input, both written and oral, on the issues listed below. Legislative Request: A Legislative public hearing rezoning requested by RTP Gardens LLC on Parcel 75202, located off Bob Horton Rd and US 64, Apex, New Hope Township, from R-1 Residential to Conditional District Regional Business (CD-RB) zoning district for multiple uses. A Legislative public hearing requested by Jan Nichols on behalf of US HWY 64 Properties LLC for a General Use Rezoning to rezone parcels 72097 and 17329 from R-1 Residential to RB-Regional Business, on 13.145 acres, located off US HWY 64 W and Ridge View Road. A Legislative public hearing rezoning requested by Steve Miller on Parcel No. 65761, located at 3756 Corinth Rd., Moncure, Cape Fear Township, for a General Use rezoning from R-5 Residential to R-1 Residential. A Legislative public hearing requested by the Chatham County Board of Commissioners for text amendments to the Chatham County Zoning Ordinance; specifically, section 10.13 Zoning Table of Permitted Uses, section 17 Special Use Permits, section 18 Board of Adjustment, and section 19 Amendment to the Zoning Ordinance. These amendments are intended to amend the special use permit process to maintain compliance with NC G.S. 160D. Substantial changes may be made following the public hearing due to verbal or written comments received or based on the Board’s discussions. Notice to people with special needs: If you have audio or visual impairment, unique accessibility requirements or need language assistance, please call the number listed below prior to the hearing and assistance may be provided. If you have any questions or comments concerning these issues, please call the Chatham County Planning Department at 919-542-8204, or write to P.O. Box 54, Pittsboro N.C. 27312. Please run in your paper: September 10th and 17th, 2026
NOTICE TO CREDITORS NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY FILE#26E000475-180 The undersigned, TERRANCE C. JOHNSTON, having qualified on the 12TH Day of AUGUST 2026 as EXECUTOR of the Estate of REBECCA F. BECKER, 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 20TH Day of NOVEMBER 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 20TH Day of AUGUST 2026. TERRANCE C. JOHNSTON, EXECUTOR 1504 MIRIAM AVE. GARNER, NC 27529 Run dates: A20,27,S3,10p
NOTICE TO CREDITORS The undersigned, having qualified as Administrator of the Estate of ETHAN DOUGLAS LONG, Deceased, late of Chatham County, North Carolina, do hereby notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against the Estate to exhibit them to the undersigned at the office of Leigh Peek, Attorney at Law, Attn Noah Oswald obo Leanna Long, PO Box 1059, Hillsborough, NC 27278, on or before the 17th day of December, 2026, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to the Estate will please make immediate payment. This 7th day of September, 2026. LEANNA ELIS LONG, ADMINISTRATOR OF THE ESTATE OF ETHAN DOUGLAS LONG 9/10, 9/17, 9/24, 10/1
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Chatham News & Record for Thursday, September 10, 2026
Good travel writing about more than destinations Feeling brings a place alive By Erika Hoffman For Chatham News & Record TO WRITE AN article about travel that might interest the general public, a writer can’t focus only on the place visited, the transportation used, the schedules, the food, the entertainment provided, the do’s and don’ts of the locals, the history of the region, etc. A writer must convey a feeling. A scribbler must want the reader to understand the emotion felt when a fight breaks out between two elderly men at the breakfast buffet, and someone witnessing it needs to summon a steward to intervene. A writer needs to evoke in the reader the sympathy she felt when a DJ/singer/guitar player’s strings broke, the foot pedal malfunctioned, and the “loop” station went awry, forcing the fellow to improvise by mak-
MIDTERMS from page A1 Republican Sen. Susan Collins in a race Democrats view as critical to winning Senate control. He was among the candidates in key November races who spent Labor Day weekend stumping at festivals, union halls and parades as the midterms enter the final weeks with control of the House and Senate on the line. Labor Day marks beginning of busy stretch of campaign season This year’s campaigns already have been combative, busy and expensive, and they are expected to get even more so as a larger number of voters tune in ahead of the Nov. 3 general election. The first statewide mail ballots already went out, in North Carolina, last Friday. Some of the busiest states are the handful with competitive Senate races, such as Maine, Ohio, Georgia and Michigan. Republicans control the chamber, but Democrats see a path to taking it back if they can flip four seats and hold on in competitive states where they hold a seat.
NOTICE OF TAX FORECLOSURE SALE Under and by virtue of an order of the District Court of Chatham County, North Carolina, made and entered in the action entitled COUNTY OF CHATHAM vs. ADA NOBLE A/K/A ADA NOBLES and spouse, if any, and all possible heirs and assignees of ADA NOBLE A/K/A ADA NOBLES and spouse, if any, or any other person or entity claiming thereunder, ROSA LAWS and spouse, if any, and all possible heirs and assignees of ROSA LAWS and spouse, if any, or any other person or entity claiming thereunder, ROXANNE MCKINNEY A/K/A ROXANNE M. ALSTON A/K/A ROXIE M. ALSTON and spouse, if any, and all possible heirs and assignees of ROXANNE MCKINNEY A/K/A ROXANNE M. ALSTON A/K/A ROXIE M. ALSTON and
NOTICE OF TAX FORECLOSURE SALE Under and by virtue of an order of the District Court of Chatham County, North Carolina, made and entered in the action entitled COUNTY OF CHATHAM vs. GERRARD LEWIS GRADY and spouse, if any, and all possible heirs and assignees of GERRARD LEWIS GRADY and spouse, if any, or any other person or entity claiming thereunder, THE HEIRS, ASSIGNS AND DEVISEES OF ED DEGGRAFFENDREIDT A/K/A EDDIE DEGRAFFENREAIDT and spouse, if any, which may include JOANNE MCCLELLAND and spouse, if any, BRENDA CAROL WILLIAMS and spouse, if any, KATHERINE MARIE
NOTICE OF TAX FORECLOSURE SALE Under and by virtue of an order of the District Court of Chatham County, North Carolina, made and entered in the action entitled COUNTY OF CHATHAM vs. THE HEIRS, ASSIGNS AND DEVISEES OF JESSE SADDLER, JR. and spouse, if any, or any other person or entity claiming thereunder, THE HEIRS, ASSIGNS AND DEVISEES OF SAM SADDLER and spouse, if any, which may include THE HEIRS, ASSIGNS AND DEVISEES OF JIMMY T. SADDLER and spouse, if any, CARL E. SADDLER and spouse, if any, MONIQUE CLARK and spouse, if any, or any other person or entity claiming thereunder, THE HEIRS, ASSIGNS AND DEVISEES OF
NOTICE OF TAX FORECLOSURE SALE Under and by virtue of an order of the District Court of Chatham County, North Carolina, made and entered in the action entitled COUNTY OF CHATHAM vs. MARCIE LYNN MOODY and MARCIE LYNN MOODY’S SPOUSE, if any, and all possible heirs and assignees of MARCIE LYNN MOODY and MARCIE LYNN MOODY’S SPOUSE, if any, or any other person or entity claiming thereunder, et al, 25CV001026-180, the
MANU FERNANDEZ / AP PHOTO
Flamenco dancers and horsemen ride Andalusian horses during the spectacle “Pasion y duende del caballo Andaluz,” which combines an equestrian show with flamenco music in southern Spain. ing light of the comedy of disasters and subsequently engage his audience in an impromptu sing-along. A wordsmith must capture the reader’s attention without glossing over or leaving out unpleasant details. For instance, at the
Outside the Jackson event in Portland, Doug Born, a 64-year-old union stagehand from Westbrook, said Jackson’s background as a logger and longtime support of organized labor are reasons to support him. “I think he’d be the most working class guy in the Senate. That appeals to me,” Born said. “We need more union members in seats of power.” Collins had no events scheduled for Labor Day, but had been campaigning aggressively in the days leading up to the holiday and has several stops coming up this week. She visited shipbuilder Bath Iron Works early in the morning Sept. 1 to greet employees and promise to continue “leveraging her seniority to secure billions in destroyer contracts, infrastructure modernization, and wage enhancements,” a spokesperson said in a statement.
Andalusian horse show in Cartagena, a woman at the ranch explained that stallions were allowed to keep their manes, but the females had crew cuts and chopped-off tails. When asked “Why?” her response was “Tradition!” Tradition was her
“Labor Day has never been just another holiday.” Troy Jackson, Maine Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate
answer to almost every inquiry. The observant listener jots down that gray stallions are born dark, that their height is measured in hands from the withers, and that 17.1 hands is the height of the lady’s model horse. (A hand is 4 inches.) Perhaps the writer at this horse ranch relays that branding is no longer done with a hot iron but by using liquid nitrogen on the left side of the stallions and the right thigh of the mares. It takes 10 to 15 minutes to accomplish but two months for the horse to heal. Also, a smaller brand is etched into the buttocks, and a microchip is inserted into the neck. The lady presenter explained that Andalusian horses have lovely, gentle characters. A gray horse has black eyes; a white horse has blue eyes. Because the males are so gentle, there are no geldings. (A gelding comes about when testicles are removed.) Breeders collect semen daily, and mares are artificially inseminated. The mares have a foal per year, so they are continually pregnant or nursing. The 3-year-old stallions are worth between $15,000 and $45,000. After this informative talk, Carmen, a flamenco dancer, appeared and did a dance around the stallion with her fingers up in
the air, mimicking movements of grabbing an apple, biting an apple and throwing an apple. Tapas were served along with mediocre wine produced at the horse ranch. Could this scribbler enjoy any of it? Flies were everywhere. They assaulted our noses and hovered and landed on our eyes. Tourists bought fans to swat away the omnipresent insects. The owner, who is in the construction business, was quite the salesman, urging us to buy T-shirts with his name, mugs with his name and wine with his name. All this teller of tales could concentrate on was the pesky flies. All she could feel was pity for those mares that had neither manes nor tails to swat away the persistent pests that assembled on their necks, eyes and buttocks. Travel pieces can bore. Ergo, some advice to fellow travelers who want to record their travels for the ages: Include emotions; recall your senses as you experience a new place. Take photos! Repeat your stories to listeners. In so doing, your tales become embedded in your memory. Maybe write them down. Give ’em a catchy title and always keep in mind the advice of the great French “écrivain” Voltaire: “Don’t bore!”
festival in Lorain on Sunday and other events in the state over the weekend. Brown told the crowd at the Lorain event that “the system’s rigged” against working people, and “people are working harder than ever before.” The former three-term senator is running against Republican appointee Sen. Jon Husted. At a separate Ohio event, an armed assailant charged toward Democratic candidate for Ohio governor Amy Acton during a Sunday stop at the Canfield Fair and injured several people before he was stopped by troopers, authorities said. A spokesperson for Acton’s opponent, Republican Vivek Ramaswamy, said in a statement that candidates “should be able to meet with voters without having to worry about threats or violence.”
rade in the western part of the state. Democratic candidate for governor David Crowley spoke Monday at events celebrating unions and organized labor in Milwaukee and Madison, the state’s two largest cities. Crowley supports overturning a state law, passed in 2011, that all but eliminated collective bargaining for public workers. His Republican opponent, U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany, voted for that law when he was a member of the state Legislature. Tiffany attended a parade, a county fair and a Milwaukee-area street fair. In Michigan, Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed marched in the Detroit Labor Day Parade and will attend other union and labor events throughout the day. El-Sayed is running against former Rep. Mike Rogers, who spent part of the weekend campaigning in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Iowa’s Democratic nominee for governor Rob Sand and his running mate Dave Muhlbauer attended Labor Day events in the state. Sand and Muhlbauer are running against Republicans Zach Lahn and Derek Wulf.
President Donald Trump is also stepping up his own campaigning for Republicans in
the coming days. His party is set to gather this week in Dallas for an atypical midterm convention, a two-day event that Trump and other Republicans hope will whip up support for the GOP, which currently controls the White House and Congress. Typically, the party in power in Washington loses seats in Congress during the midterm elections. Trump has also vowed to campaign for Republicans in important races, including Sen. Dan Sullivan in Alaska. One of Sullivan’s opponents, Democrat Mary Peltola, walked in the Fairbanks Labor Day Parade on Monday. In Ohio, Democratic Senate nominee Sherrod Brown’s Labor Day weekend campaign centered on labor unions. He attended a Labor Day
In Wisconsin, both major party candidates in one of the country’s most competitive House districts — Republican Rep. Derrick VanOrden and Democrat Rebecca Cooke — were joining a pa-
spouse, if any, or any other person or entity claiming thereunder, THE HEIRS, ASSIGNS AND DEVISEES OF JOHNNY MCKINNEY A/K/A JOHN RAY MCKINNEY A/K/A JONNY MCKINNEY and spouse, if any, which may include JOHNNY MCKINNEY, JR. and spouse, if any, or any other person or entity claiming thereunder, THE HEIRS, ASSIGNS AND DEVISEES OF ERNEST MCKINNEY and spouse, if any, which may include EARNESTINE A. MCKINNEY and spouse, if any, THE HEIRS, ASSIGNS AND DEVISEES OF PATRICIA A. MCKINNEY and spouse, if any, which may include ELIZABETH A. MCKINNEY and spouse, if any, DEMETRIS MCKINNEY and spouse, if any, or any other person or entity claiming thereunder, THE HEIRS, ASSIGNS AND DEVISEES OF JAMES THOMAS MCKINNEY and spouse, if any, which may include ISAIAH
MCKINNEY and spouse, if any, DAVID LEE MCKINNEY and spouse, if any, or any other person or entity claiming thereunder, THE HEIRS, ASSIGNS AND DEVISEES OF WILLIE DAVIS A/K/A DELORES DAVIS A/K/A DELORIS DAVIS and spouse, if any, which may include CASSANDRA S. DAVIS and spouse, if any, MALCOLM L. DAVIS and spouse, if any, EBONY M. DAVIS and spouse, if any, or any other person or entity claiming thereunder, SAM MCKINNEY and spouse, if any, and all possible heirs and assignees of SAM MCKINNEY and spouse, if any, or any other person or entity claiming thereunder, et al, 15CVD000063-180, the undersigned Commissioner will on the 16th day of September, 2026, offer for sale and sell for cash, to the last and highest bidder at public auction at the courthouse door in Chatham County, North Carolina, Pittsboro,
North Carolina at 12:00 o’clock, noon, the following described real property, lying and being in Williams Township, State and County aforesaid, and more particularly described as follows: LOT NO. 8 of the Cub Creek Subdivision. For further reference see plat recorded in Plat Book 5, Page 43, in the Register of Deeds Office of Chatham County, North Carolina. Subject to restrictive covenants and easements of record. Parcel Identification Number: 0019510 The undersigned Commissioner makes no warranties in connection with this property and specifically disclaims any warranties as to title and habitability. This property is being sold as is, without opinion as to title or any other matter. This sale will be made subject to all outstanding city and county taxes and all
local improvement assessments against the above described property not included in the judgment in the above-entitled cause. A cash deposit of 20 percent of the successful bid will be required. In addition, the successful bidder will be required, at the time the Deed is recorded to pay for recording fees and revenue stamps assessed by the Chatham County Register of Deeds. This sale is subject to upset bid as set forth in N.C.G.S. Section 1-339.25. This the 13th day of August, 2026. Mark D. Bardill/Mark B. Bardill, Commissioner P.O. Box 25 Trenton, NC 28585 Publication dates: September 3, 2026 September 10, 2026
FOUSHEE and spouse, if any, COLUMBUS SHERMAN FOUSHEE and spouse, if any, IRA FOUSHEE and spouse, if any, and TIMOTHY FOUSHEE A/K/A TIMMY FOUSHEE A/K/A TIMOTHY LIMONT FOWLER and spouse, if any, et al, 11CVD000961-180, the undersigned Commissioner will on the 16th day of September, 2026, offer for sale and sell for cash, to the last and highest bidder at public auction at the courthouse door in Chatham County, North Carolina, Pittsboro, North Carolina at 12:00 o’clock, noon, the following described real property, lying and being in Hickory Mountain Township, State and County aforesaid, and more particularly described as follows: ALL THAT parcel of land situated in Hickory
Mountain Township, which is bounded on the West by SR 1506 (Bowers Store Road), on the North by lands of Marvie A. Glover (Book 677, Page 503), and on the East and South by lands of Richard Bailey (Book 384, Page 824) and further described as: BEGINNING at a point in the Eastern margin of SR 1506 (Bowers Store Road), being the Southwest corner of Marvie A. Glover (Book 677, Page 503) running thence with Glover’s line Eastwardly about 585 feet to a point; thence South 5 degrees, West 150 feet to a point; thence North about 85 degrees, East 585 feet to a point in the Eastern margin of SR 1506; thence with the Eastern margin of said road, North 5 degrees, East 150 feet to the point and place of BEGINNING containing 2
acres, more or less. Subject to restrictive covenants and easements of record. Parcel Identification Number: 0010593 The undersigned Commissioner makes no warranties in connection with this property and specifically disclaims any warranties as to title and habitability. This property is being sold as is, without opinion as to title or any other matter. This sale will be made subject to all outstanding city and county taxes and all local improvement assessments against the above described property not included in the judgment in the above-entitled cause. A cash deposit of 20 percent of the successful bid will be required. In addition, the successful
bidder will be required, at the time the Deed is recorded to pay for recording fees and revenue stamps assessed by the Chatham County Register of Deeds. This sale is subject to upset bid as set forth in N.C.G.S. Section 1-339.25. This the 13th day of August, 2026. Mark D. Bardill/Mark B. Bardill, Commissioner P.O. Box 25 Trenton, NC 28585 Publication dates: September 3, 2026 September 10, 2026
BILL SADDLER and spouse, if any, which may include BILL C. SADLER and spouse, if any, BILLIE C. SADLER and spouse, if any, or any other person or entity claiming thereunder, THE HEIRS, ASSIGNS AND DEVISEES OF SUDIA CROSBY A/K/A SUDIE CROSBY and spouse, if any, which may include JACQUELINE U. SAMUEL and spouse, if any, VICKIE V. UNDERWOOD A/K/A VICKIE VANETTA SMITH and spouse, if any, or any other person or entity claiming thereunder, THE HEIRS, ASSIGNS AND DEVISEES OF SOCIAL ARNOLD and spouse, if any, or any other person or entity claiming thereunder, THE HEIRS, ASSIGNS AND DEVISEES OF RUSHIA CHAMBERS and spouse, if any, which may include GERTRUDE F. CHAMBERS and spouse, if any, ANTOINETTE
C. CHAMBERS and spouse, if any, ANITA M. CHAMBERS and spouse, if any, VALERIE D. CHAMBERS N/K/A VALERIE D. BECK and spouse, if any, TROY A. CHAMBERS and spouse, if any, or any other person or entity claiming thereunder, et al, 08CVD000422180, the undersigned Commissioner will on the 16th day of September, 2026, offer for sale and sell for cash, to the last and highest bidder at public auction at the courthouse door in Chatham County, North Carolina, Pittsboro, North Carolina at 12:00 o’clock, noon, the following described real property, lying and being in Matthews Township, State and County aforesaid, and more particularly described as follows: Being all of lot Number 115 of Crestview Subdivision as shown by a plat of the same,
which plat is recorded in the Office of the Register of Deeds for Chatham County, North Carolina, in Plat Book No. 8, at Page 58. Reference to said plat is hereby made for a more accurate description. Subject to restrictive covenants and easements of record. Parcel Identification Number: 0012891 The undersigned Commissioner makes no warranties in connection with this property and specifically disclaims any warranties as to title and habitability. This property is being sold as is, without opinion as to title or any other matter. This sale will be made subject to all outstanding city and county taxes and all local improvement assessments against the above described property not included in the
judgment in the above-entitled cause. A cash deposit of 20 percent of the successful bid will be required. In addition, the successful bidder will be required, at the time the Deed is recorded to pay for recording fees and revenue stamps assessed by the Chatham County Register of Deeds. This sale is subject to upset bid as set forth in N.C.G.S. Section 1-339.25. This the 13th day of August, 2026. Mark D. Bardill/Mark B. Bardill, Commissioner P.O. Box 25 Trenton, NC 28585 Publication dates: September 3, 2026 September 10, 2026
undersigned Commissioner will on the 16th day of September, 2026, offer for sale and sell for cash, to the last and highest bidder at public auction at the courthouse door in Chatham County, North Carolina, Pittsboro, North Carolina at 12:00 o’clock, noon, the following described real property, lying and being in Hickory Mountain Township, State and County aforesaid, and more particularly described as follows: BEING all of Parcel 1, containing 1.48 acres, as shown on a Plat dated September 17, 1991, recorded in Plat Slide 94-316, Chatham
County Registry, drawn by Rufus L. Johnson, RLS, entitled, Survey for Monte Dale Moody and wife, Jeannie R. Moody, to which Plat reference is made for more accuracy and certainty of description. Less and except all that lies within the Rightof-Way of Moody Loop Road. Subject to restrictive covenants, easements, and rights-of-way of record. Parcel Identification Number: 0069974 The undersigned Commissioner makes no warranties in connection with this property and specifically disclaims any warranties as
to title and habitability. This property is being sold as is, without opinion as to title or any other matter. This sale will be made subject to all outstanding city and county taxes and all local improvement assessments against the above described property not included in the judgment in the above-entitled cause. A cash deposit of 20 percent of the successful bid will be required. In addition, the successful bidder will be required, at the time the Deed is recorded to pay for recording fees and revenue stamps assessed by the Chatham
County Register of Deeds. This sale is subject to upset bid as set forth in N.C.G.S. Section 1-339.25. This the 13th day of August, 2026. Mark D. Bardill/Mark B. Bardill, Commissioner P.O. Box 25 Trenton, NC 28585 Publication dates: September 3, 2026 September 10, 2026
Trump hopes to whip up support this week with midterm convention
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CHATHAM SPORTS
GENE GALIN FOR CHATHAM NEWS & RECORD
Seaforth quarterback Duncan Parker avoids the pass rush during a game against Chapel Hill earlier this season.
Seaforth, Northwood to clash after big games of offense The neighboring schools were pouring up points last week in advance of their scheduled meeting By Bob Sutton Chatham News & Record WHEN THE SEAFORTH and Northwood football teams meet Friday night, the rivals will be showing up with all sorts of confidence. They picked up respective
momentum with high-scoring outings in games last week. Duncan Parker had a part in nine touchdown plays on a historic night when Seaforth defeated Princeton 70-56 on Thursday night. Meanwhile, Northwood was bashing Bartlett Yancey 42-0. “It seems like the Pittsboro offenses were kicking in,” Seaforth coach Tolbert Matthews said of the teams with Pittsboro addresses. For Seaforth (2-1), that
Seaforth soars some more in volleyball Conference play has picked up for area teams Chatham News & Record staff SEAFORTH’S volleyball winning streak reached four matches with two sweeps last week. The Hawks took down visit-
ing Chapel Hill by 25-18, 25-17, 25-16 behind Ally Forbes’ 12 kills and Sarah Beth Smith’s 11 kills. Lily Horton had 10 service points, and Abigail Valgus offered 25 assists. Then in a Big Seven Conference match, Seaforth posted a 25-4, 25-7, 25-10 triumph at Oxford Webb with Forbes’ 15
marked the most points scored in the program’s five-year history, while standards were also established for touchdowns, passing yards and team and individual rushing yards. “Offensively, we could do whatever we had to do,” Matthews said. “Them boys are rolling right now. We’ve got to get that defense going now.” Parker threw for six touchdowns and 408 yards against Princeton (1-2). He also rushed for three touchdowns, pick-
kills and Smith’s 11 kills among the top numbers. • Northwood suffered a 25-16, 25-15, 25-19 loss at undefeated Providence Grove in its lone match last week. • Chatham Central won 25-14, 25-17, 28-26 at Jordan-Matthews. The Bears also swept visiting The College Prep & Leadership Academy 25-10, 25-10, 25-9 in the Greater Triad Conference. Chatham Central’s two-match win streak ended with a 25-15, 25-23, 25-12 loss at Bishop See SEAFORTH, page B2
JordanMatthews’ captain Maily Jaimes (3) makes a play at the net during a game earlier this season.
PJ WARD-BROWN / CHATHAM NEWS & RECORD
ing up 78 yards on the ground. Teammate Brayden Moran gained 152 yards on 15 attempts with a touchdown. Seaforth completed the 2025 regular season with a 57-0 victory vs. Carrboro, but this latest outing exceeded the numbers from that game. “Crazy thing about it, to take that and then get this score so early this year,” Matthews said. In the Princeton game, Parker was 21 for 26 in the air, and he also picked up 78
rushing yards on eight carries. Max Hinchman made three touchdown receptions and finished with five catches for 103 yards. Noah Fuller’s 151 receiving yards on six catches came with two touchdowns. Ben Taylor also made a touchdown catch. Princeton’s Teo McPhatter ran for six touchdowns and 343 yards on 29 carries. So the Hawks were faced with a constant challenge. “We had to keep scoring every time we got the ball,” Matthews said. “We knew what we were up against.” On defense, Seaforth linebacker Tyler Truesdale had a busy night in racking up more than a dozen tackles. Seaforth’s only victory against Northwood came last See FOOTBALL, page B2
Chargers like chances for more soccer success Northwood has worked to find the right blend of veterans and newcomers By Bob Sutton Chatham News & Record THE BEST might still be to come for Northwood’s boys’ soccer team. That’s what the Chargers are hoping for after a 10-game stretch to begin the season with a variety of results. “It’s not always consistent, but we’re working on that in practice to make sure we play the best we can every game,” senior defender Ryan Frankena said. Northwood entered this week with a 5-3-2 record. Coach Ascary Arias said a good mixture of opponents has exposed the Chargers to different styles. “Encouraged by the fact that we’ve played (bigger schools),” Arias said. “We do what we can with what we have.” Last week, the Chargers took down Southern Ala-
“We still have a long season ahead of us.” Ryan Frankena, Northwood senior mance for a 3-0 road victory. “Defensively, we’ve been pretty strong,” Northwood senior defender Caleb Stevenson said. “We haven’t had many goals scored (against us). … We didn’t get scored on. That’s what really matters.” Stevenson provided his first goal of the season in that Southern Alamance game. Cruz Arias and Frankena had the other goals that night. Frankena said the Chargers have been working to become more consistent in the midfield. Finding those perfect passes takes time. “Just working on that will make it the best season we can,” Frankena said. “We still have a long season ahead of us.” Frankena said there were See SOCCER, page B3
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Chatham News & Record for Thursday, September 10, 2026
ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Summer Blanton
Northwood boys handle business at home meet The Chargers were overwhelming team winners in the invitational Chatham News & Record staff PITTSBORO — Northwood had the winning boys’ team in the Ron Horton Invitational for cross-country. The Chargers had five top-10 finishes to win the 10-team competition on their home course Aug. 27. A third-place finish from Drew Yell led Northwood’s effort. He finished the 3.1-mile course in 18 minutes, 6.45 seconds. Northwood’s Leo Drust
SEAFORTH from page B1
COURTESY MAXPREPS
Chatham Charter, volleyball Summer Blanton is a junior on the Chatham Charter volleyball team. The Knights are 9-3 and riding a five-match winning streak. In a straight-set win over Eastern Randolph, Blanton came up huge, leading the team with 23 digs. She also had a team-high 15 receptions and four assists, which was second best on the squad. For the season, Blanton is second on the team in receptions, kills and service aces while ranking third in digs and hitting percentage. She leads the Central Tar Heel 1A conference in service aces and is fourth in N.C. Class 1A. She’s also ninth in Class 1A in digs.
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McGuinness in another conference match. • Jordan-Matthews also fell at home to Central Carolina Academy by 25-21, 25-17, 25-19. Next, the Jets lost 25-14, 25-11, 25-13 to visiting East Davidson despite 15 digs from Kinley Jordan. • Chatham Charter won three times last week, beginning with a Central Tar Heel 1A Conference romp past visiting Southern Wake by 25-7,
(fourth, 18:09.19), Liam Patterson (seventh, 19:42.63), Tanner Gilchrist (eighth, 19:43.70) and Sam Bacheler (ninth, 20:03.48) rounded out the team’s scorers.
25-10, 25-8 as Aaliyah Walden notched 10 kills. Also in conference play, the Knights overcame host Ascend Leadership Academy 25-23, 25-19, 25-20, 25-21, 15-11. In between the league matches, Chatham Charter won 25-15, 25-14, 25-19 against visiting Eastern Randolph with Lilly Pike’s 10 kills and Summer Blanton’s 23 digs leading the way. • Woods Charter swept visiting River Mill 25-19, 25-18, 25-13 in a Central Tar Heel
FOOTBALL from page B1 year, so Matthews said he expects the Chargers to be ready when the Hawks visit this week. Northwood 42, Bartlett Yancey 0: Thursday at Yanceyville, Finn Sullivan threw for three touchdowns as the Chargers secured the road victory. Mason Lutterloh also threw for a touchdown for Northwood (1-2). Sullivan threw for 122 yards on 6-for-11 passing with an interception. Raje Torres caught two of Sullivan’s scoring passes as part of his five-catch, 108-yard effort. Nick Armstrong and Zahiem Young both caught a touchdown pass. Brody Murchinson gained
Friday’s Week 4 games • Seaforth at Northwood • North Moore at Chatham Central • Wheatmore at Jordan-Matthews
104 rushing yards on 14 carries, while Bryson Sanders and Aiden Girard each posted a rushing touchdown. Bartlett Yancey fell to 1-2. Chatham Central 14, East Columbus 0: Friday at Lake Waccamaw, Brooks Albright threw two touchdown passes to
Northwood’s team score of 31 made the Chargers a comfortable winner over Wake Prep (63) and Southeast Alamance (68). The individual champion was Joe March of Grace Christian (of Raleigh) in 17:18.81 followed by Wake Prep’s Krew Erwin in 18:02.87. Northwood’s girls placed fourth behind Wake Prep, Grace Christian and Sandhills Highlander Homeschool. Harper Triece of Northwood finished fourth individually in 22:21.55. Elise Armstrong of Grace Christian was first in 20:33.21. Grace Christian’s Elise Armstrong was the winner in 20:33.21.
1A Conference match in its only outing last week. That pushed the Wolves’ overall record to 7-1. BOYS’ SOCCER Jordan-Matthews and host Seaforth tied 1-1 in the only game for both teams last week. • Chatham Charter suffered a 2-1 home loss to Cornerstone Charter. • Woods Charter ended in a 1-1 tie at Research Triangle.
Gavin Williams and the visiting Bears were relentless on defense. Chatham Central (2-0) has doubled last year’s win total. Albright was 7 for 15 for 112 yards in the air and led the team in rushing with 68 yards on 14 attempts. Williams made four catches for 77 yards. On defense, he made a team-high seven tackles. Nolan Mitchell and Tyler Congrove intercepted passes. East Columbus is 2-1. Jordan-Matthews 36, North Stokes 24: Friday at Danbury, the visiting Jets overcame three touchdown passes from Holden Shelton. Jordan-Matthews improved to 2-1. North Stokes is 0-3.
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Chatham News & Record for Thursday, September 10, 2026
NASCAR drivers in favor of return to Chase format, saying change will lead to more legitimate champ The new postseason rules are similar to the ones last used in 2013 By Steve Reed The Associated Press CHARLOTTE — Denny Hamlin has never won a Cup Series championship. This may be the 45-year-old’s best chance based on his overall body of work this season. Hamlin entered the second week of Cup’s modified 10-race playoff format known as “The Chase” with a 12-point cushion over second-place Christopher Bell, a 16-point edge on Ryan Blaney and an even bigger advantage over the rest of the 16-driver field after finishing the regular season with the most driver points. The new format — which was last used in 2013 — is designed to reward performance throughout the entire season and provide a larger sample size to determine a champion. Fans have been clamoring for its return because of its simplicity. And the drivers love it. Hamlin, speaking at last Wednesday’s playoff media day in Charlotte, called it a “giant leap forward in crowning a champion.” “I think all of the drivers would
tell you it’s a more fair way to do it,” Hamlin added. Chase Briscoe agreed. He said the format feels like it will produce a more “legitimate” champion. “I’m not saying the past champions weren’t legit, but before, you could win the first 35 races and go to Phoenix (for the season championship) and blow up and finish fourth in points,” Briscoe said. “It’s not going to be like that anymore. I think this says so much more about your body of work.” Unlike previous years, there will be no elimination rounds. That means no points “reset” midway through the playoffs. The champion will be determined by which driver amasses the most points over the final 10 races. Hamlin began with 2,100 points, 25 more than Blaney and 35 better than then-third-place Tyler Reddick based on the new format. Fourth place started 40 points behind Hamlin, fifth 45 points back and so on in descending five-point increments down to 16th-place Ryan Preece, who started 100 points behind but leaped past William Byron after Sunday’s postseason opener at Darlington. Kyle Larson, who started and remains in seventh place, won
“It’s a grueling 10 weeks. But hey, there is a pretty cool trophy at the end of it.” Joey Logano
ROBERT SIMMONS / AP PHOTO
Denny Hamlin’s pit crew goes over the wall during a race at Richmond last month. last year’s Cup championship. But even he is good with the change. “For the sport, I’m happy with the change for sure, and I think this format has proven to be very exciting,” Larson said referring to Preece’s dramatic win last weekend at Daytona, which allowed him to qualify for The Chase. Larson is more concerned with catching up to the speed of the Toyota cars, which have been running faster all season than the Fords and Chevrolets. Of the top six cars entering the playoffs, five are Toyotas. One notable change to this
year’s format is that wins are weighted heavier. Drivers get 55 points for a race win, an increase from the previous structure of 40 points. The remaining positions pay the same points as the regular season (35 for second, 34 for third, 33 for fourth, etc.) and stage points also are the same (10 points for first, nine points for second, eight points for third, etc.). While wins are rewarded, consistency is the key to winning a championship, Bell believes. “The previous format and system, it was just three races at a time,” Bell, Sunday’s winner
said. “And if you had a bad race, it’s like just survive. Just gotta get above the cut line. Once you get above the cut line, you’re like, ‘OK, we’re in great shape now.’ Whereas now, there are no freebies. You can’t have a bad race and get a reset in three weeks. So you’re going to have to perform every week.” Hamlin and Joey Logano are the only drivers still on the Cup Series circuit who were around the last time NASCAR used this playoff format 13 years ago. Logano said there isn’t much he can take overall from the experience. But he said it harkens back to something seven-time Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson once told him. “Jimmie would say, ‘It’s 10 weeks of hell,’” said Logano, who is going for his fourth Cup title after a late-season push to make the playoffs. “And it’s pretty true. It’s a grueling 10 weeks. But hey, there is a pretty cool trophy at the end of it.”
SOCCER from page B1
GENE GALIN FOR CHATHAM NEWS & RECORD
Northwood’s Berkley Godehn (6) advances the ball during a boys’ soccer game last month at Seaforth.
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adjustments after losing seniors from the 2025 team. “Sometimes it’s hard to get back on our feet and find it,” he said. Coach Arias said two or three freshmen have been in the starting lineup, and other first-year players have been on the field as well. “A bunch of freshmen and learning to put it together,” the coach said. “They’re getting a lot of minutes.” Sometimes frustration has come because the Chargers haven’t converted when they’ve worked into good positions. “We had good possession, but we couldn’t find the back of the net,” Stevenson said. Northwood followed the Southern Alamance game with a 3-1 loss at Graham before going the next night to Southern Lee and securing a 1-0 victory. The Chargers generally know what it takes. Last year’s 13-win season provided Northwood with its first winning record in four years. “We expect to do well,” Stevenson said.
B4 SIDELINE REPORT NCAA FOOTBALL
Chatham News & Record for Thursday, September 10, 2026
Williams sisters reunite iconic doubles team at US Open
No. 16 Michigan catches second-chance Hail Mary, survives scare vs. WMU
The legends lost narrowly but thrilled the New York crowd
Ann Arbor, Mich. Given an unlikely second chance at a game-ending Hail Mary, Bryce Underwood connected with JJ Buchanan for a 47-yard touchdown pass that lifted No. 16 Michigan over Western Michigan 13-12. The Broncos thought they’d secured a historic upset when Underwood’s first Hail Mary sailed out of bounds with the clock expired. WMU players were already on the field celebrating when officials called for a review. TV replays showed the clock hitting zero before the ball hit the hands of a Western Michigan defender, but officials ruled there was a second left.
By Jocelyn Noveck The Associated Press
MLB
Cardinals, Rockies tilt caps day after umpire’s comments to St. Louis rookie Denver Players from St. Louis and Colorado tilted their caps in protest of umpire Doug Eddings one day after he instructed Cardinals rookie pitcher Hancel Rincon to straighten his hat. Eddings’ comments prompted an argument with St. Louis manager Oliver Marmol leading to Marmol’s ejection. Most of the Cardinals’ players had their hats tilted during pregame warmups, and many continued to tilt them in the dugout during the game. Some even tilted their batting helmets to celebrate reaching base. Some Colorado players also wore their caps tilted before the game.
NFL
Former Cowboys running back Smith sued by investor over wind farm project NFL career rushing leader Emmitt Smith is being sued by a Native American investment company over claims that the former Dallas Cowboys running back and his business partners misappropriated a $2.5 million loan that was supposed to fund a wind farm project in Texas. Kituwah LLC claimed in a lawsuit filed this week in Delaware that 4:13 Solutions used the money to repay an investor from previous dealings with Smith’s company. Kituwah’s attorneys said Smith misrepresented efforts to secure a U.S. Department of Energy loan that would have triggered repayment to Kituwah.
TENNIS
Sabalenka complains about the smell of marijuana during U.S. Open match Aryna Sabalenka found something that could stop her at the U.S. Open: the smell of marijuana. The two-time defending champion complained to the chair umpire that it was bothering her early in her third-round victory over Kamilla Rakhimova. Sabalenka said she had never smelled the odor so strong as she did while serving early in the match. While Sabalenka was serving, she tossed the ball but then let it fall to the court twice. She then approached the chair to ask for help.
NEW YORK — “Welcome to the Williams Show,” read one fan’s sign in Arthur Ashe Stadium, as Venus and Serena Williams took the court for their doubles match, 25 years after first facing each other in the 2001 U.S. Open final. A quarter-century of playing pro tennis at a top level — at any level — is not a very common thing. And even more incredibly, the Williams sisters, now ages 46 and 44, showed they can still come agonizingly close to beating a top team that is cumulatively around half their age. In a three-set thriller that delighted a packed and vocal evening crowd, the sisters fell short only at the end, blowing a 5-0 lead in the final 10-point tiebreak to lose to Hao-Ching Chan of Taiwan and Maya Joint of Australia, 6-3, 6-7 (6), 7-6 (10-7). So it was indeed quite a thrilling show — even the sisters themselves, narrowly defeated, walked off with smiles on their faces, though they declined to speak to the media afterward. “It was an amazing match,” Joint said. “They played really well, and I think just the atmosphere on the court. ... I don’t think either of us has experienced quite like that before. And playing two legends of the game is just a super special moment that we might not get again.” The hugely entertaining evening came four years after the sisters last played doubles together at Flushing Meadows. That match came just a few weeks after Serena Williams announced, in a poignant Vogue essay, that she was “evolving away from tennis.” Whatever the wording, though, the message was clear: Daughter Olympia really wanted to be a big sister. And Williams knew she couldn’t accom-
ADAM HUNGER / AP PHOTO
Sisters Venus Williams, left, and Serena Williams arrive for their women’s doubles match at the U.S. Open. plish that and still play tennis the way she wanted. Well, Olympia got her little sister. And this year, her mom was fulfilling another of Olympia’s requests: that she play doubles again at the U.S. Open with Aunt Venus. “You need to play with Auntie VeVe,” 9-year-old Olympia told her, Serena Williams said this week on ABC’s “Good Morning America.” “She said it so clear and so calm,” Williams said. “She’s like my mom — she doesn’t really talk a lot, but when she does talk, you listen. And I was like, ‘OK.’” And so the sisters returned as a team to the tournament where Serena won six singles titles, and Venus two — one of them against Serena, who returned the favor the following year. That 2001 victory for the elder sister came a full quarter-century ago — which was enough to give fans goose bumps that this partnership is alive. They didn’t win, but they made it a close fight — thrilling
“You can do anything at any age as long as you work hard and put some effort and dedication behind it.” Serena Williams the crowd with some vintage volleys as they took the second set tiebreak to force a decider, then came close to winning that set. The unique nature of the evening was clear before a ball was struck, during player introductions. After a fairly routine introduction for Chan and Joint, the announcer moved on to the Williamses. “They’ve transformed and elevated the sport as we know it,” he said. “They’re two of the greatest athletes of all time.” As a doubles team, the sisters won two of their 14 Grand Slam titles at the U.S. Open — in 1999 and 2009. They last played to-
gether at Flushing Meadows in 2022, also losing in the first round. (This year, they had to scrap their appearance at Wimbledon because of Serena’s knee injury, but they played in Cincinnati last month.) But victory or defeat does not seem, for many fans, the point. The point is that they’re back in the spotlight. Green, the fan from Virginia, recalled something a former pastor had told her: “Even the sky is not the limit. You can go beyond it.” Which sounds just like the lesson Serena Williams now wants to teach her daughters — and why, four years after stepping away from tennis, she is back, at least in doubles and probably, she said on “Good Morning America,” in singles again soon. “I just really want my children to see me play at a different age,” she said. “I hope to show them that anything is possible. You can do anything at any age as long as you work hard and put some effort and dedication behind it.”
NBA suspends Clippers owner, fines team $30M, Leonard $700K for cap circumvention Los Angeles was also docked five first-round draft picks By Beth Harris The Associated Press LOS ANGELES — The NBA imposed a sweeping punishment against the Los Angeles Clippers for violating salary cap circumvention rules, suspending owner Steve Ballmer for one year, fining the team $30 million and forcing it to forfeit five first-round draft picks. Also, two-time NBA Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard was hit with a $700,000 penalty, president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank was banned for six months, and team president of business operations Gillian Zucker was suspended for one year. The Clippers will give up one first-round pick in each draft from 2029 to 2033. The league came down hard on the organization after a nearly yearlong investigation led by an outside law firm. The Clippers had said multiple times that they had done nothing wrong and expected to be exonerated. “I think that we’re going to be in the clear,” Leonard said in April, “so I’m not stressing it.” At the same time, Frank said, “If you know Steve and know Steve’s integrity, you know there’s nothing to it. We believe, and we’re very confident we’re on the right side of this.” The Clippers said they will “now fight just as hard to demonstrate our innocence. We intend to vigorously challenge these findings and penal-
ties through every avenue available to us and look forward to an ethical and impartial arbitration process.” “I am deeply disappointed by the flagrant violations of our rules and by the Clippers’ institutional and leadership failures that led to this misconduct,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement. “The severity of the penalties reflects the seriousness of the violations.” The NBA began investigating in September 2025 whether a $28 million endorsement contract between Leonard and Aspiration Fund Adviser LLC — a company that filed for bankruptcy last year — broke league rules, following a report by journalist Pablo Torre. The Clippers released a letter from Ballmer’s attorney David Kelley to Silver in which he described the investigation as “a witch hunt” and the subsequent penalties as a “gross injustice.” Kelley accused Silver of not keeping his promises that the investigation would be governed by due process and fundamental fairness as well as the burden being on the league to prove any violations through evidence. “Mr. Ballmer’s reputation has been irreparably damaged as he now finds himself embroiled not only in this heavily biased investigation, but in civil litigation, the Aspiration bankruptcy proceeding, and more,” Kelley wrote. Kelley wrote that no league rule prohibits team personnel making introductions to both sponsors and vendors in response to player requests.
JENNY KANE / AP PHOTO
Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard warms up before an April game. “Retroactively punishing the Clippers for violating a rule that never existed is hardly consistent with due process,” Kelley wrote. The league said Ballmer knowingly sought to help Leonard obtain off-court income deals, approved a business deal that he knew was a precondition for Aspiration to enter into an endorsement contract with Leonard, and for failing to create conditions under which his team followed league rules. “I accept full responsibility for lapses in judgment by people within my inner circle and regret the distraction this situation has caused the fans and my family,” Leonard said in a statement. The NBA said Leonard, through his former business manager and uncle Dennis Robertson, “violated the circumvention rules by pressur-
ing the Clippers to assist him in obtaining off-court income opportunities, successfully obtaining those opportunities, and failing to reimburse payments by the Clippers for personal expenses.” “I entered into my contract with the Clippers as well as the agreements in question in good faith, fully committed to fulfilling my obligations and with no knowledge of any intent on anyone’s part to circumvent the salary cap,” Leonard said. The league said Ballmer was suspended for “knowingly seeking to help Mr. Leonard obtain off-court income opportunities,” among other issues. Leonard’s trade to the Toronto Raptors has been on hold pending the outcome of the investigation. “As I return to Toronto, I am focused on what I can control, closing this chapter, and moving forward with a clean slate,” Leonard said. The Clippers and their personnel will be under a compliance and monitoring program by the league for five years, and Robertson was banned from doing business with NBA teams for five years. The league penalized Frank for his involvement with the impermissible endorsement arrangements and for approving impermissible expenses incurred by Leonard and his family. Zucker was banned for being primarily and directly culpable for the illegal endorsement arrangements and for lying to investigators. Both will lose their salaries during their bans. Ballmer, 70, was CEO of Microsoft from 2000 to 2014.
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Chatham News & Record for Thursday, September 10, 2026
Bell passes defending Cup Series champion Larson to win Southern 500 to kick off Chase The win at Darlington snapped a nearly yearlong drought for the JGR driver
“Darlington is the epitome of NASCAR.”
By Pete Iacobelli The Associated Press
Christopher Bell
DARLINGTON, S.C. — Christopher Bell’s crazy, frustrating season of seven second-place finishes without a victory at last came to an end with a win at the Southern 500. The Joe Gibbs Racing driver passed defending Cup Series champion Kyle Larson with 18 laps left at Darlington Raceway and held on to win the Chase-opening race and break a winless stretch of 33 races dating to Bristol last September. “Darlington is the epitome of NASCAR,” Bell said. “This is better than a dream come true.” It was his first win in 15 career Cup races at Darlington and pushed him into second in the Chase standings behind teammate Denny Hamlin. “No off weeks. Right back to work next week at Gateway,” he said. “I still feel I’m going to have to win more races if I want to” win the championship. Gibbs finished second, and Tyler Reddick, a five-time winner this season, was third. Chase drivers accounted for nine of the top 10. Ryan Blaney was fourth, followed by Larson, Chase Briscoe, Josh Berry, Bubba Wallace, Joey Logano and Ryan Preece. Berry was the only non-Chase driver in that group. Crew chief Adam Stevens tried to keep Bell focused as the runner-up finishes — along with the driver’s frustration — grew. It was important for him
all 10 playoff races without eliminations. He’s still leading, 12 points in front of teammate Bell. Other Chaser issues
JASON JACKSON FOR NORTH STATE JOURNAL
Christopher Bell does a burn out to celebrate winning Sunday’s Southern 500. to understand that him finishing second wasn’t because his team wasn’t doing everything it could to succeed. “You have to really come into each weekend with a clean slate, and he’s done a fantastic job with that,” Stevens said. Larson gambled during the sixth and final caution, staying on the track while other competitors, including Bell, went into the pits for fresh tires. And for a bit, Larson’s bet looked like it might pay off as he opened a sizeable lead on the restart and forced Bell and the others to come get him. Bell eventually did, moving low on the track to put Larson in his rearview mirror.
Larson thought more racers would’ve stayed out of the pits on the final caution to give him some cover and distance before the fresh-tire drivers got going. “But Bell got to second so fast, I was straight into defense,” Larson said. “Not able to run the lines I ultimately wanted to take care of my tires.” Hamlin’s troubles Hamlin, the top seed in the Cup Series’ Chase, had started the final stage in the top five when he got hit from behind on lap 237 by Michael McDowell and his car struck the wall in turn four. Hamlin immediately told his
crew, “The toe links are gone.” But the incident did not draw a caution and Hamlin had to keep racing, falling to 20th as he and his pit crew waited for the chance to fix the damaged Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota. While the toe links were not damaged, there were extensive repairs and Hamlin was a lap down. He finished 18th. “It was certainly not the finish we were hoping for,” Hamlin said. “We certainly made gains on it all day.” Hamlin came into the race with a 25-point lead over second-seeded Ryan Blaney. The rules of the Cup Series’ postseason changed this year, with all 16 drivers competing in
Hamlin wasn’t the only one of the 16 Chase competitors to have problems. Hendrick Motorsports’ William Byron was in position for a top-10 finish when he spun out with what he believed was a flat tire. After a trip to the pits, smoke billowed out of Byron’s Chevrolet, and he went back to the garage to end his day. Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing had high hopes with two of its three drivers, Chris Buescher and Ryan Preece, in the Chase. But Buescher could not gain any momentum at Darlington and rode in the back of the pack for most of the way. Preece, who won his way into the postseason with a victory at Daytona last week, pledged to continue to be aggressive because, as the 16th seed, his team had nothing to lose. That strategy worked well as he rode in the top 10 for most of the first half of the race. He couldn’t sustain it, though, and ended 10th. And while 23XI co-owner Michael Jordan watched from the pits, his two Chase drivers, Reddick and Wallace, went from running 1-2 at the end of the first stage to falling out of the mix down the stretch.
JASON JACKSON FOR NORTH STATE JOURNAL
The field speeds past pit row during the Southern 500 at Darlington.
Smith, 2-time All-America DB at Wake Forest, dead at 40 The former NFL player apparently left a farewell note on social media
“Do not cry for me!” Alphonso Smith’s Facebook post
The Associated Press PAHOKEE, Fla. — Alphonso Smith, a two-time All-America defensive back who played in the NFL for four seasons, has died. He was 40. Smith died last Wednesday, according to Wake Forest, which was informed by his family. The school’s release last Thursday afternoon didn’t reveal a cause of death. The Associated Press contacted the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office in Florida earlier last Thursday seeking to confirm Smith’s death. In an emailed statement responding to that inquiry, the office said sheriff’s deputies had responded to a Pahokee address “in reference to a suicide attempt” last Wednesday afternoon. “An adult male was transported to the hospital where he succumbed to his inju-
PAUL SANCYA / AP PHOTO
Detroit Lions defensive back Alphonso Smith kneels before a 2012 practice. ries,” the sheriff’s office stated. Smith appeared to post on his Facebook account last Wednesday, lamenting his mental health challenges, apologizing and asking for forgiveness. “Do not cry for me!” a post read on his account. “I tried ev-
erything in my power to fight the demons behind the ones that someone put into ME! I did not want to be that WAY! I know I have disappointed so many folks. This is a DEMON in me! But not only me! It’s EVERYONE! I have HURT so many! I
needed help & did not get it! I am so sorry!” Smith apologized to his children in the note and suggested that trauma from his childhood had caused him mental anguish. “I pray my soul rest in heaven for my heart is pure,” he said. Denver drafted the former Wake Forest star in the second round of the 2009 NFL Draft. After playing in 15 games for the Broncos, returning punts and kickoffs, he was traded to Detroit shortly before the 2010 season. Smith played in 33 games, including 11 starts, over the next two seasons with the Lions and had eight interceptions, returning two for touchdowns. The Lions released him just before the 2012 season, signed him later that year and cut him
again after he played in four games as a backup. Smith went to Pahokee High School in his hometown, where he helped the football team win a Florida state title as a two-way star playing quarterback and defensive back in 2003. He redshirted as a freshman at Wake Forest and went on to become a key player for the program over the next four seasons. Smith was a first-team AP All-America defensive back in 2008 and a third-team All-America in 2007. After playing in 44 NFL games over four years, he worked as a sideline reporter for Wake Forest football games during the 2013 season when he was also an assistant high school coach in nearby Winston-Salem. Smith was a head high school football coach in Moore Haven, Florida, and Pahokee High School, where he was also dean of students in charge of discipline, according to his LinkedIn account. His last listed job was director of marketing for a South Florida family physician.
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entertainment this week in history Al-Qaida attacks U.S. on Sept. 11, Attica prison uprising, General Motors founded in Flint, Michigan The Associated Press SEPT. 10 1608: John Smith was elected president of the Jamestown colony council in Virginia. 1991: The Senate Judiciary Committee opened hearings on Clarence Thomas’ Supreme Court nomination, which became a defining moment in the national debate over sexual harassment after Anita Hill accused him of misconduct. 2025: Conservative activist Charlie Kirk was shot and killed at an outdoor speaking engagement at a Utah university. SEPT. 11 1789: Alexander Hamilton was appointed the first U.S. secretary of the Treasury. 1814: An American fleet scored a decisive victory over the British in the Battle of Lake Champlain in the War of 1812. 2001: Nearly 3,000 people were killed as 19 al-Qaida hijackers seized control of four jetliners, sending two of the planes into New York’s World Trade Center, one into the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, and the fourth into a field in western Pennsylvania. It remains the deadliest terror attack in history. SEPT. 12 1857: The S.S. Central America (also known as the “Ship of Gold”) sank off the coast of South Carolina after sailing into a hurricane in one of the worst maritime disasters in American history.
1940: The Lascaux cave paintings, estimated to be 17,000 years old, were discovered in southwestern France. 1962: In a speech at Rice University in Houston, President John F. Kennedy reaffirmed his support for the manned space program, declaring, “We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy but because they are hard.” SEPT. 13 1788: The Congress of the Confederation authorized the first national election and designated New York City as the temporary national capital. 1940: During World War II, bombs dropped by the German Luftwaffe struck and damaged Buckingham Palace. 1971: A four-day inmate uprising at the Attica Correctional Facility in western New York ended when state troopers and correction officers stormed the prison. SEPT. 14 1847: During the Mexican-American War, U.S. forces under Gen. Winfield Scott took control of Mexico City. 1861: A boat crew from the USS Colorado boarded and burned the schooner Judah at the Pensacola Navy Yard in one of the Civil War’s earliest naval actions. 2018: Hurricane Florence made landfall near Wrightsville Beach, bringing catastrophic flooding to the Carolinas and causing 52 deaths. SEPT. 15 1835: Charles Darwin reached the remote Galápagos Islands aboard the HMS Beagle, an experience that would help shape his ideas about evolution.
GREG GIBSON / AP PHOTO
University of Oklahoma law professor Anita Hill testifies before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Oct. 11, 1991, after accusing Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas of sexual harassment. Thomas’ confirmation hearings had begun Sept. 10. 1935: The Nuremberg Laws were enacted in Nazi Germany, stripping German Jews of citizenship rights and imposing sweeping racial restrictions. 1963: Four black girls were killed when a bomb exploded during Sunday services at the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama. SEPT. 16 1810: Catholic priest Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla called on his parishioners to rebel against Spanish rule, marking the beginning of the Mexican War of Independence. 1893: The largest land run in U.S. history began as more than 100,000 settlers raced to claim parcels across more than 6 million acres of the Cherokee Outlet in what is now northern Oklahoma. 1908: General Motors was founded in Flint, Michigan, by William C. Durant.
AP PHOTO
On Sept. 12, 1940, prehistoric cave paintings estimated to be about 17,000 years old were discovered in Lascaux Cave near Montignac, France.
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120-foot burst of genius: Kerouac’s ‘On the Road’ scroll still cherished The author spoke to and for the Beat generation By Hillel Italie The Associated Press
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NEW YORK — In the spring of 1951, the muse landed so hard in the caffeinated mind of Jack Kerouac that within three weeks he had hurried out a full-length, single-spaced manuscript — a draft for “On the Road” that he taped together into a scroll some 120 feet long. Published six years later to instant acclaim and notoriety, “On the Road” may not be the Great American Novel, but Kerouac’s epiphany surely stands as the Great American Manuscript. “It was a once-in-a-lifetime, once-in-a-century achievement. In short, a literary singularity,” says the author and editor Gerald Howard. Kerouac was among the novelists who embodied the mad American quest to “say it all,” to somehow capture the country’s spirit within a single narrative — the kind of epic ambition behind such canonical books as
CHARLES REX ARBOGAST / AP PHOTO
Jack Kerouac’s “On the Road” and its working manuscript, the extraordinary 120-foot scroll he would unfurl before startled publishers, is on display at the American Writers Museum in Chicago. Herman Melville’s “Moby-Dick” and F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby.” In “On the Road,” the raw, wild energy that drove Kerouac to type down his thoughts as quickly as they came to him would inspire one of the defining tales of the post-World War II era — two young Beats out for adventure, for kicks, “desirous of everything at the same time.”
Howard says Kerouac had been working on the book for three years before his sudden inspiration. The 29-year-old author was in the Manhattan apartment of then-wife Joan Haverty, with rolls of architectural tracing paper that fit seamlessly into his manual typewriter. “He realized that by feeding the paper in it would prevent him from having to change
a sheet of paper over and over, which would pretty much guarantee a higher level of spontaneity,” Howard says. The scroll is now a piece of literary history, but it initially helped delay the novel’s release. His publisher, upon seeing Kerouac unfurl his draft, allegedly told him it couldn’t be edited. Kerouac stormed out. Kerouac’s agent, Sterling Lord, spent years trying to attract interest in Kerouac’s jazzy, unorthodox tale before Viking signed it up for an advance of $1,000. “On the Road” has since sold millions of copies and inspired countless literary — and literal — quests to “find America.” The manuscript itself has made several stops since Kerouac’s death in 1969. Earlier this year, country star Zach Bryan bought it for more than $12 million. “Jack never called it a scroll,” notes Kerouac biographer Gerald Nicosia, adding that the author found the word too pompous. To Kerouac, he said, “it was like the white line of the highway unrolling in front of your front tire as you were speeding down the highway.”
Oasis reunion tour documentary rocks Venice Film Festival The film will be released in Imax theaters Sept. 11 By Lindsey Bahr The Associated Press VENICE, Italy — The Gallagher brothers brought some rock star energy to a sleepy, and sweaty, Venice Film Festival Saturday, where the documentary about their reunion tour made its world premiere. “Oasis: Don’t Look Back in Anger,” is part concert film and part exploration of the contentious relationship between Noel and Liam Gallagher, whose long-held feud led to Oasis disbanding in 2009 in spectacularly theatrical fashion after a backstage altercation moments before they were due on stage in Paris. Noel infamously said his brother is “the angriest man you’ll ever meet. He’s like a man with a fork in a world of soup.” Liam told the Guardian in 2018 that his brother “did me out, mate, he threw me under the (expletive) bus, and I won’t forget that. He split the band up, and it meant the world to me. Just to further his career.” The band was founded in working-class Manchester, England, in 1991 and became one of the most popular British acts of the 1990s, hitting No. 1 with their debut album “Definite-
SCOTT A. GARFITT / INVISION VIA AP
Liam Gallagher, left, and Noel Gallagher pose for photographers at the red carpet for the film ‘Oasis: Don’t Look Back In Anger’ during the 83rd edition of the Venice Film Festival in Venice, Italy, last Friday. ly Maybe” in 1994. Their 1995 follow up, “(What’s the Story) Morning Glory?” became one of the U.K.’s bestselling albums of all time. The film looks at the phenomenon of Oasis and the prickly personalities behind the hit songs, most of which were writ-
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ten by the elder Gallagher brother, Noel, from “Wonderwall” to “Live Forever.” In 2025, the brothers ended a 16-year hiatus with a reunion tour that kicked off in Cardiff, Wales, to an ecstatic, all-ages crowd of more than 60,000. Many worried that like in Par-
is in 2009, it might not actually happen. But the show went on, with former Oasis members Paul “Bonehead” Arthurs and Gem Archer on guitar, bassist Andy Bell and drummer Joey Waronker. Steven Knight, who is credited as the writer of the docu-
mentary, said he and Noel wanted to explore the question of why the music endured, not just with fans who experienced it in the 90s but with the next generation as well that culminated in such intense demand for reunion tour tickets. Filmmakers Dylan Southern and Will Lovelace spoke to the brothers separately before the rehearsals had started and then together while the tour was in full swing to reflect the true progression of the relationship. “We set out to make a film about the reconciliation of two brothers, infamous for their volatile relationship, but we also wanted to make a film about the power of music and the way Oasis’ songs have continued to have a life of their own, as the band lay dormant for 15 years,” the filmmakers said in their directors’ statement. “The documentary, like the reunion and the tour, took on a life of its own.” The filmmakers said their goal was to make their cameras and presence invisible to the band during rehearsals. At the concerts, they wanted to make the audience feel like they were there as well. The film also focuses on various fans from around the world. “Sometimes you might just bump into someone with a dog called Bonehead and that becomes part of the story,” Southern said.
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famous birthdays this week José Feliciano and Leo Kottke turn 81; Linda Gray celebrates 86; Ben Savage hits 46 The Associated Press THESE CELEBRITIES have birthdays this week. SEPT. 10 Scientist-author Jared Diamond is 89. Singer José Feliciano is 81. Former Canadian first lady Margaret Trudeau is 78. Rock musician Joe Perry (Aerosmith) is 76. Film director Chris Columbus is 68. Actor Colin Firth is 66. Director Guy Ritchie is 58. Actor Ryan Phillippe is 52.
MANU FERNANDEZ / AP PHOTO
Former U.S. sprinter Michael Johnson turns 59 on Sunday.
SEPT. 11 Composer Arvo Pärt is 91. Film director Brian De Palma is 86. Singer-actor-dancer Lola Falana is 84. Musician Mickey Hart is 83. Guitarist Leo Kottke is 81. Actor Amy Madigan is 76. Actor Virginia Madsen is 65. Musician-composer Moby is 61. SEPT. 12 Actor Linda Gray is 86. Singer Maria Muldaur is 83. Author Michael Ondaatje is 83. Actor Joe Pantoliano is 75. Photographer Nan Goldin is 73. Composer Hans Zimmer is 69. Actor Rachel Ward is 69. Actor-comedian Louis C.K. is 59.
CHRIS PIZZELLO / AP PHOTO
Jacqueline Bisset turns 82 on Sunday.
SEPT. 13 Actor Barbara Bain is 95. Nobel Peace Prize laureate Óscar Arias is 86. Actor Jacqueline Bisset is 82. Singer Peter Cetera is 82. Actor Jean Smart is 75. Olympic gold medal sprinter Michael Johnson is 59. Fashion designer Stella McCartney is 55. Actor Ben Savage is 46. SEPT. 14 Actor Walter Koenig (“Star Trek”) is 90. Architect Renzo Piano is 89. Basketball Hall of Fame coach Larry Brown is 86. Pope Leo XIV is 71. SEPT. 15 Writer-director Ron Shelton is 81. Actor Tommy Lee Jones is 80. Film director Oliver Stone is 80. Actor Josh Charles is 55. Olympic gold medal swimmer Tom Dolan is 51. Actor
JOEL C RYAN / INVISION / AP PHOTO
Director Brian De Palma turns 86 on Friday. Tom Hardy is 49. Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, is 42. SEPT. 16 Actor George Chakiris is 94. Actor Ed Begley Jr. is 77. Author-historian-filmmaker Henry Louis Gates Jr. is 76. Country singer David Bellamy (The Bellamy Brothers) is 76. Actor Mickey Rourke is 74. Magician David Copperfield is 70. Retired MLB All-Star pitcher Orel Hershiser is 68.
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EVAN AGOSTINI / INVISION / AP PHOTO
The “Call My Agent” team celebrate their best comedy award win at the 49th International Emmy Awards at Casa Cipriani in 2021 in New York. The hit show takes on movie form on Netflix this week.
‘The Paper,’ ‘Call My Agent!’ Bloc Party, ‘Halloween’ game Welsh band the Tubs drops “Hard Life” The Associated Press THE SECOND season of “The Paper” and a new album from Bloc Party are some of the new television, films, music and games headed to a device near you. Also, among the streaming offerings worth your time this week, as selected by The Associated Press’ entertainment journalists: a new “Call My Agent!” movie, a new season of “The Real Housewives of New York” and a multiplayer game based on the “Halloween” slasher films. MOVIES TO STREAM The clever French series “Call My Agent!” has been revived as a movie that starts streaming on Netflix on Thursday. Camille Cottin’s Andréa Martel is no longer an agent but a film director overseeing a disastrous production. Guy Lodge, in his review for Variety, wrote that “Fleet and fast-talking and packed, as ever, with Gallic industry in-jokes and celebrity cameos, Émilie Noblet’s film can hardly fail to please longtime fans.” Henry Cavill, Jake Gyllenhaal and Eiza González star in the Guy Ritchie action pic “In the Grey” about a lawyer and some mercenaries on an impossible mission to retrieve $1 billion. It received mostly mixed reviews and had the misfortune of opening around the same time as the box office phenomenon “Obsession,” but like many Ritchie joints it has its defenders too: An easy bit of action entertainment, coming to Starz and its streaming service Saturday.
OWEN SWEENEY / INVISION / AP PHOTO
Kele Okereke of Bloc Party performs in concert as the opening act for Muse on July 28 at the Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, Maryland. Crown.” That release, a messy mosaic of jangly indiepop and ’80s college rock that was full of gorgeous songs about grief, was great. Its latest, “Hard Life,” may be even greater. At the very least, it confirms The Tubs’ position as one of the principal indie rock bands of the moment. These are impatient pop songs that span a range of emotions, somewhere between empathy and feeling pathetic. Delicious! SERIES TO STREAM
HBO VIA AP
MUSIC TO STREAM
Dana Chandler appears in a scene from the docuseries “A Killer Story.”
In certain corners of the internet, there appears to be a revival of ’00s rock bands. The Strokes are back; Wolf Parade’s “I’ll Believe in Anything” from their 2005 debut album “Apologies to the Queen Mary” got a huge streaming bump due to its placement in “Heated Rival-
ry.” Heck, new generations of listeners are discovering TV on the Radio’s “Wolf Like Me” because of its use in “Spider-Man: Brand New Day.” Hopefully love for the era will extend to the English band Bloc Party, whose new album “Anatomy of a Brief
Romance” arrives Friday. It’s the kind of dance-y post-punk the band has long hung its hat on, made modern. The Tubs first graced this weekly fixture in 2025, ahead of the London-based Welsh band’s sophomore album “Cotton
Carole Radziwill reclaims her “The Real Housewives of New York City” apple full time for Season 16, eight years after her exit. Sai De Silva, Erin Lichy and Jessel Taank return as well, mixing it up with newcomers Hailey Glassman, Erika Hammond and Daisy Toye. Expect Radziwill’s Epstein files mention to come up. The new season is streaming now on Peacock. Also on Peacock, we reunite with the staff of the Toledo Truth Teller celebrating their dominance at the Ohio Journalism Awards on “The Paper.”
The full season of “The Office” spinoff, which stars Domhnall Gleeson as the newspaper’s editor-in-chief, is out now. Season 5 of “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” premieres Thursday, months after production halted amid a domestic violence investigation involving the face of #MomTok, Taylor Frankie Paul, and her ex, Dakota Mortensen. The allegations also caused Disney and ABC to cancel her “Bachelorette” season. In a new condensed season of five episodes, Paul deals with the fallout. And we see Whitney Leavitt fresh off a hit run as Roxie Hart in Broadway’s “Chicago.” Jen Affleck (who also anchors the show’s upcoming Orange County spinoff), Jessi Draper, Layla Taylor, Mayci Neeley, Mikayla Matthews and Miranda Hope also return. Some recent successful young adult dramas have been set at beaches, lakes and hockey rinks. A new one called “Crew Girl” takes us to boathouses. The eight-episode show follows rower Teagan Tao (played by Miku Martineau), who joins an elite prep school’s all-boys crew team after her life is upended by a family scandal. Naturally, a love triangle develops. It debuts on Thursday on Netflix. Jessica Paré (“Mad Men”) also stars. A three-part HBO docuseries digs into the two-decade Dana Chandler case. Chandler was convicted of murdering her ex-husband and his girlfriend in a 2002 shooting. A journalist became convinced of her innocence after spending six years covering the saga, which spanned three trials and included prosecutorial misconduct. “A Killer Story” premieres Thursday on HBO Max, with new episodes dropping weekly through Sept. 24. VIDEO GAMES TO PLAY Looking to get an early jump on trick-or-treating? “Halloween: The Game,” an asymmetrical 1-vs.-4 thriller, is ready to make you scream. One player takes the role of Michael Myers, the relentless slasher from the classic 1978 movie. The other four are residents of Haddonfield, and they join forces to try to stop Mike before he splashes too much blood around their Midwestern suburb. “Halloween” comes from Colorado studio IllFonic, which has built its reputation with multiplayer games based on “Predator,” “Ghostbusters” and, well, “Killer Klowns from Outer Space.” The knives come out on PlayStation 5, Xbox X/S and PC.
VOLUME 11 ISSUE 29 | THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2026
DUPLINJOURNAL.COM
Duplin Journal THE DUPLIN COUNTY EDITION OF NORTH STATE JOURNAL
the
BRIEF this week
9/11 memorial service scheduled Faison Faison Fire and Rescue will host a memorial service at 9:30 a.m. Friday to mark the 25th anniversary of Sept. 11, 2001, and honor the first responders who lost their lives that day. The service will be held at 108 S.W. Center St. in Faison. Community members are invited to attend as the community remembers those who made the ultimate sacrifice.
New stop signs coming Duplin County Drivers traveling through a Duplin County intersection will need to adjust to a new traffic pattern beginning next week. The N.C. Department of Transportation will convert the intersection of Summerlin Crossroad Road and Wards Bridge Road to an all-way stop Sept. 9. Crews will install stop signs and pavement markings as part of the safety improvement. The work is weather-dependent and could be rescheduled. Drivers should use caution near the intersection while crews are working.
Marine Federal Credit Union mobile unit coming to Magnolia Magnolia Marine Federal Credit Union’s mobile unit will begin making weekly visits to Magnolia, giving residents an opportunity to access the credit union’s services closer to home. The mobile unit will be in the parking lot of Magnolia Town Hall at 110 E. Carroll St. on Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Residents do not have to be Marines to become members. Those interested in membership can visit the mobile unit to learn whether they are eligible.
Chinquapin group launches monthly senior gathering Chinquapin A new monthly gathering will give senior citizens an opportunity to socialize, participate in activities, and stay mentally and socially active. Do The Work will host “Senior Citizen Do The Work Wednesday” every third Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. beginning Sept. 16. The gatherings will include activities, classes and games, as well as time for seniors to relax, meet friends and chat in a welcoming environment. The event will be held at 2735 S. N.C. 41 in Chinquapin. Organizers are also seeking volunteers to help with the gatherings.
$2.00
COURTESY FAISON FIRE AND RESCUE
Severe thunderstorms keep crews busy A large tree blocks a roadway in Faison on Saturday as Faison Fire and Rescue responded to several weather-related calls throughout the evening. Severe thunderstorms and strong winds moved through the area, bringing down trees and creating hazards for motorists.
UMO withdraws nursing program from national accreditation The university withdrew its CCNE accreditation in late August, with the program originally scheduled to remain accredited through June 2027 By Ena Sellers Duplin Journal THE UNIVERSITY of Mount Olive (UMO) has voluntarily withdrawn from national accreditation with the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. The program’s nation-
al accreditation was originally scheduled to run through June 2027, but the university officially decided to withdraw in late August. The prelicensure bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) program remains under the active oversight of the North Caroli-
na Board of Nursing (NCBON). According to the information available from NCBON and UMO, eligible students can continue working toward their BSN and pursue the NCLEX-RN licensing exam. The loss of national accreditation could affect some graduates’ employment or graduate-school options, depending on the requirements of individual employers and programs.
Staffing cuts draw concern at Duplin school board meeting District officials said state funding losses and mandated salary increases have contributed to millions of dollars in planned reductions By Rebecca Whitman Cooke For Duplin Journal KENANSVILLE — Concerns about teacher shortages, staff reductions and resources at Du-
plin County schools took center stage during public comments at last Wednesday’s school board meeting, with district officials explaining the financial pressures behind the cuts.
Four people spoke about the loss of a beloved receptionist at Duplin Early College. “Ms. Melbourne was like a second mother to us,” Miguel Balderas, a student at Duplin Early College, said. “She watched out for our safety.” Another student, Ruth Ann Baker, said, “I understand there is a lot going on and we aren’t
Board backs Book Buddies program at Faison Library Commissioners voiced support for a popular reading program led by librarian Holly Horne By Rebecca Whitman Cooke For Duplin Journal FAISON — A complaint about the Faison Library’s Book Buddies program prompted discussion at Faison’s Sept. 2 town board meeting, with commissioners ultimately agreeing to formally ask the county to allow the program — featuring librarian Holly Horne’s two dogs — to continue. Horne created the Book Buddies program, which allows patrons to read to her two dogs at the library on Mondays and
Wednesdays from 2-6 p.m. An alleged complaint about the dogs’ presence led the county to tell Horne to stop bringing them to the library. The board discussed the program’s success in drawing patrons to the library. “She’s been doing the program for a very long time with no incidents or issues, and kids do come in for this,” Executive Administrator Jimmy Tyndall said. The board discussed that dogs are allowed in other places without issue, and it asked for clarity about the legal boundaries of the issue. Town Attorney Joseph Ezzell clarified that the library belongs to Faison, but See LIBRARY, page A2
“She’s been doing the program for a very long time with no incidents or issues, and kids do come in for this.” Jimmy Tyndall, executive administrator
State board data showed UMO’s first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate was 50% in 2025 and 61.1% during the first quarter of 2026. UMO did not respond to requests for comment before press deadline. According to UMO’s website, the university is exploring transfer and educational pathways for students and plans to seek national nursing accreditation again in the future.
like other schools with football teams, but we do our best. We still get overlooked and lose more people than we earn.” Danielle Nixon-Baker asked the board to reinstate Melbourne. “Duplin Early College High School has some of the highest report card grades in the county, yet one of the district’s highest performing schools continues to lose resources and staff,” Nixon-Baker said. “Why is a school that is already operating with limited resources being asked to do even more with less?” She named at least six other See SCHOOL, page A5
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THURSDAY
9.10.26 #142
911 calls lead to indecent exposure arrest in Warsaw Police say the investigation began after 911 callers reported inappropriate behavior at a convenience store By Ena Sellers Duplin Journal
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WARSAW — Calls to 911 following a reported indecent exposure incident at a local convenience store led Warsaw police to identify and
left the business before officers arrived. An officer identified Courtney during the investigation, and warrants were obtained. He was later located and arrested in Pender County. Courtney was charged with felony indecent exposure in the presence of a minor, misdemeanor indecent exposure and additional misdemeanor driving-related charges. He received no bond, according to Warsaw police.
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arrest a Pender County man. According to the Warsaw Police Department, Michael A. Courtney was arrested Sept. 2 with assistance from the Pender County Sheriff’s Office after police investigated a reported indecent exposure incident Aug. 29. According to law enforcement, officers were dispatched to the store after reporting parties said a man had been inside engaging in inappropriate behavior. The suspect had
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Here’s a quick look at what’s coming up in Duplin County.
Sept. 12 Pet Day in the Park
Traffic stops lead to more than 10-year sentence after cocaine, fentanyl seizures Authorities recovered the drugs during two stops and said a Sanford man supplied drugs throughout eastern N.C. Duplin Journal staff A SANFORD MAN was sentenced to more than 10 years in federal prison after two traffic stops led authorities to recover cocaine and fentanyl and helped uncover a drug trafficking operation supplying eastern North Carolina, according to federal prosecutors. Aaron Cotten, 50, was sentenced by Chief U.S. District Judge Richard E. Myers II for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 11 pounds or more of cocaine, 400 grams or more of fentanyl and a quantity of heroin, as well as possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine and 40 grams or more of fentanyl. The case began with a March 15, 2022, traffic stop by
“Every drug trafficking network that gets taken down is an opportunity to prevent violent crime and better protect our communities.” Alicia Jones, ATF special agent in charge the Duplin County Sheriff’s Office. Cotten was a passenger in the vehicle, where deputies detected a strong odor of marijuana. A search found more than $15,000 in cash near Cotten’s seat. When deputies attempted to search Cotten, he resisted, and deputies recovered more than a pound of cocaine and several ounces of fentanyl. On April 3, 2024, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office conducted another traffic stop involving Cotten as a passenger. After a K-9 alerted to narcotics, deputies searched the vehicle and found approxi-
mately one pound of fentanyl concealed in the engine bay. A gun was also found on another passenger. According to the investigation, Cotten distributed multiple pounds of cocaine and fentanyl throughout eastern North Carolina and sourced the drugs from Charlotte. He has prior convictions for robbery with a dangerous weapon and second-degree burglary. The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Drug Enforcement Administration, Jacksonville Police Department, Beulaville Police Department, Goldsboro Police Department, Duplin County Sheriff’s Office and Lee County Sheriff’s Office. “Wherever illegal narcotics are being sold, you find that the likelihood of violent crime greatly increases,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Alicia Jones. “Every drug trafficking network that gets taken down is an opportunity to prevent violent crime and better protect our communities.”
10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The free community event will feature Paw Patrol, a bounce house, a pet costume contest with prizes, a pet picture station, facepainting, airbrush tattoos, a gigantic bubble machine, a Pup Cup station and an art station for kids. Attendees can also visit Agape Farms of Watha and Fresh Start Reptile Rescue, meet local police and fire personnel, and learn from Open Arrow Dog Training. A basketball competition with a prize will also be held. 209 E Clement St., Wallace
50th Grape Stomp Festival 1-8 p.m. Duplin Winery marks the 50th anniversary of its Grape Stomp Festival with live music, wine tastings, food and grape stomping. 918 West Charity Road, Rose Hill
Fall Vendor and Craft Fair 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Cabin Lake County Park hosts a fall craft fair featuring local vendors selling handmade crafts, candles, cups, flowers and food. 220 Cabin Lake Road, Beulaville
LIBRARY from page A1 Horne is a county employee and is subject to county rules. “It is no risk to the county at all (for her to have this program), but they can tell her as a county employee not to do it,” Ezzell said. The board agreed to write a formal letter to the county manager showing their support for both the librarian and the Book Buddies Program. “We are trying to keep that library open, and Holly has done a wonderful job with that library,” Commissioner Carolyn Kenyon said. Mayor Billy Ward gave updates about the Parks and Recreation Department. “Basketball has one weekend left,” Ward said. “Volleyball and soccer sign-ups go through this coming weekend.”
“Afterschool has started, and the school bus has worked out great so far,” Tyndall said. “We are two short of the same enrollment numbers we had last year — 34 presently, and we still have availability.” The board discussed a classroom in the Parks and Recreation Center that has been without air conditioning for two weeks because the old unit stopped working. The room, used for most of the town’s committee meetings, has been nearly unusable during the current heat wave. Tyndall explained the estimates included options ranging from new units to ductless mini-splits. After some discussion about what would be the best fit for the room, the board approved just under $8,000 for Anderson Heat and Air to install a mini-split. The board
also approved appropriating funding from the general fund to pay for it. The board discussed a request from a local artist, Ashley Wall, concerning a drawing she sold to FIG. In exchange for the copyright, Wall requested a free membership to the town’s gym. The board discussed the arrangement and didn’t feel comfortable with a lifetime membership because of the changing appointments of government positions. Tyndall suggested making the membership for a shorter time frame and making it renewable at those same time increments. The board approved giving Wall a five-year gym membership with renewal rights in exchange for the copyright to her artwork, allowing the town to use it in any way it sees fit.
The meeting went into closed session to discuss a legal matter. When the board returned, Ward reminded everyone of the ice cream social Sept. 13 at the Methodist Church for town employees. Commissioner Sandy McCarty shared information about the eighth annual Sportsman’s Giveaway on Sept. 19 to support Faison Fire and Rescue. “Our fire and rescue departments have been very busy,” McCarty said. “This month, they had 31 calls. … So far this year, they have had 364 calls.” Commissioner Christy Allen reminded everyone about the Ghost Walk coming up Oct. 17, and the board approved hosting it again in the Faison Cemetery. The meeting adjourned shortly thereafter.
Sept. 12-14 Duplin Agribusiness Fair Sept. 12-13: 5-10 p.m. Sept. 14: Noon to 10 p.m. The event returns with midway rides, agricultural exhibits and fair food. Admission is $6 for adults, and children 15 and under get in free with an adult. 195 Fairgrounds Drive, Kenansville
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Duplin Journal for Thursday, September 10, 2026
25 years of change at James Sprunt Two longtime employees reflect on the college, their careers and the people who made the journey meaningful By Ena Sellers Duplin Journal FOR LISA HUMPHREY and LaTasha Moore, 25 years at James Sprunt Community College have been about more than time served. They have watched buildings rise, programs expand, technology change and new opportunities emerge for students. They have also built careers, relationships and memories along the way. Both began working full time at James Sprunt in 2000. This year, they were among 13 employees recognized for their years of service during Spartan Ignite, the college’s annual welcome-back event for faculty and staff. Held at the start of the academic year, Spartan Ignite brings employees together for professional development and fellowship before the college president delivers the annual State of the College Address. “The heart of James Sprunt is the people who have dedicated themselves to serving our students and our community,” said former JSCC President Shannon Hair. “Together, these employees represent 145 years of experience and commitment to this college and its mission. We are grateful for their service and the difference they continue to make each day.” For Moore, who began her JSCC career as an administra-
COURTESY JAMES SPRUNT COMMUNITY COLLEGE
LaTasha Moore
“These employees represent 145 years of experience and commitment to this college. ... We are grateful for their service and the difference they continue to make each day.” Shannon Hair, former JSCC president tive assistant in the leadership program and now serves as the college’s controller, reaching 25 years has provided a perspective few employees have. “The ability of James Sprunt to adapt and move forward with the changing times has been especially mean-
Lisa Humphrey ingful to witness,” Moore said. Over the years, Moore has watched conversations about potential new programs develop into programs operating at full capacity. She has also witnessed the college’s physical growth, including the expansion of the WestPark location, the addition of the health education and nursing wing, and the development of a new Workforce Development Center. “I feel the college is ‘in tune’ with its community and surrounding areas,” Moore said. “The college is proactive in addressing areas of interest from the community and businesses.” That responsiveness has helped create opportunities for students preparing for a changing workforce. “Students have the option to do what they really want to do, from linemen to CDL, esthetics
Warsaw development rules move forward after hearing The Board of Commissioners is scheduled to hold a final decision and adoption public hearing Sept. 14 By Ena Sellers Duplin Journal THE WARSAW Planning Board recently held a required public hearing on the town’s draft Unified Development Ordinance, reviewing changes to the final draft and hearing public comments before unanimously recommending the ordinance to the Board of Commissioners. Ashli Barefoot, director of planning with Insight Consulting Group, and Corey Faithley, an attorney with Insight, led the review. The Board of Commissioners is scheduled to hold a final decision and adoption public hearing Sept. 14. The UDO would consolidate Warsaw’s development regulations into one document, including rules covering zoning, subdivisions, housing, nuisance properties, stormwater and flood damage prevention. Insight Consulting Group conducted a technical and statutory review of the draft to ensure compliance with North Carolina General Statutes, including Chapter 160D. Changes included adjustments to density standards in the R6 and R10 districts, restoration of several uses to residential and industrial districts, and
provisions addressing existing nonconforming properties. The draft also removes a 12-month waiting period for refiling denied or withdrawn rezoning applications. Other revisions included standardizing statutory references, adding a definition for a doctor’s office, completing planning board membership information and clarifying extraterritorial jurisdiction representation. The UDO was also reviewed for consistency with Warsaw’s 2023 Land Use Plan. According to the presentation, the ordinance aligns with the plan’s goals related to housing, neighborhood compatibility, mixed-use development, pedestrian connectivity, redevelopment, tree preservation, floodplains, stormwater, community appearance, infrastructure and historic preservation. During public comment, residents raised concerns about communication and public involvement during the land use plan and UDO processes. One resident said printing the 266-page draft at the county library cost $66 and raised concerns about the cost of obtaining copies. “The town charges some astronomical money to print pages,” said Marzella Morrisey. Barefoot said she would provide physical copies of the Land Use Plan and UDO at Town Hall for public viewing. Residents also suggested using water bills or email notifications to provide information about planning meetings
to nursing,” Moore said. “The opportunities are here.” Her 25 years at James Sprunt have also brought personal growth. “I have grown both professionally and personally,” Moore said. “I look back, and I am so proud of myself for staying on this journey.” Humphrey, a library assistant, has experienced the college’s evolution from a different perspective. For her, 25 years at James Sprunt are intertwined with her family’s connection to the college. Both of her children were presidential scholars at James Sprunt, graduated from the college and later transferred to four-year universities. “The college has not only had an impact on my life but also on the life of my family,” Humphrey said. Like Moore, Humphrey has
watched the college change throughout her career. “We have seen new buildings, new services and so many new opportunities for students that simply weren’t available when I first started,” Humphrey said. “There is a real sense of pride in watching the college thrive and continue to make a difference in the lives of our students and in our community.” For Humphrey, though, the milestone is ultimately about the people she has encountered along the way. “I have had the opportunity to meet and work with so many wonderful people and students,” she said. “I am incredibly grateful for the experiences, friendships and memories that working at James Sprunt have given me.” Humphrey and Moore were among 13 employees recognized during this year’s Spartan Ignite. The 2025-26 service award recipients included nine employees recognized for five years of service: Philip R. Anderson, Tonya Shivar Braswell, Elizabeth Turner Howard, Anne Kennedy, Patty C. Oates, Stanley W. Skidmore, Eric Southerland and April Taylor. Ashley Davis Graham was recognized for 15 years of service. Deborah Avant Edwards and Patricia Owens-Sharpe were recognized for 20 years. And Humphrey and Moore marked 25 years. Together, the employees recognized this year represent 145 years of service to James Sprunt. For Moore and Humphrey, those years represent more than a number. They represent a quarter-century of watching James Sprunt grow and change — and finding their own place in that journey.
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and zoning changes. A resident asked whether meetings had occurred without public notice after the May 14 meeting. Barefoot said the changes resulted from her technical review as a consultant rather than additional Planning Board meetings. Faithley said the Planning Board does not have statutory authority to appoint citizen subcommittees, though residents could ask the Board of Commissioners to create them. The consultants also discussed Insight’s services involving Community Development Block Grants and disaster recovery. The board discussed potential neighborhood revitalization and disaster recovery funding for community needs, including roof repairs. After public comment, the Planning Board closed the hearing. A motion recommending that the Board of Commissioners approve the UDO was made and seconded. The motion stated the ordinance is consistent with the 2023 Land Use Plan and is reasonable and in the public interest. The motion passed unanimously.
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Duplin Journal for Thursday, September 10, 2026
THE CONVERSATION Trip Hoffend, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor VISUAL VOICES
COLUMN | DEBORAH WILSON
Lindsay Clancy and when justice cannot reach a verdict Any resolution must acknowledge the enormity of three children’s deaths.
SOMETIMES THE most important verdict is the one a jury cannot reach. After weeks of testimony and nearly 40 hours of deliberations, the jury in the Lindsay Clancy murder trial could not unanimously decide whether she should be held criminally responsible for the deaths of her three children. The result is a mistrial — and an extraordinarily difficult question about what happens next. The easy answer is another trial. The harder question is whether that is necessarily justice. A mistrial in a case of this magnitude carries costs that extend far beyond dollars. Prosecutors have devoted enormous resources to preparing and presenting the case. Defense attorneys have done the same. Experts have testified, medical records have been dissected, witnesses have taken the stand and court personnel have spent weeks managing a proceeding watched across the country. Now imagine doing it all again. A new jury — with knowledge of the case — must be selected. Experts must return. Witnesses must again recount painful events. Attorneys must reconstruct arguments that have already consumed weeks of courtroom time. And a family that has endured an unimaginable tragedy must once again watch the deaths of three children become the subject of testimony, argument and public debate. None of that means prosecutors should abandon the case. Cora, Dawson and Callan Clancy died violently. Their lives matter. The public has a legitimate interest in accountability, and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts has an obligation to enforce its laws. Justice cannot become a calculation in which prosecution ends simply because
another trial will be expensive or difficult. But justice has another obligation as well. It must recognize the rights of the accused. A mistrial is not a conviction. Lindsay Clancy remains entitled to the presumption and protections our criminal justice system affords every defendant, regardless of how disturbing the allegations may be. The prosecution’s burden does not become lighter because the first jury could not agree. That leaves prosecutors facing one of the most difficult exercises of discretion our system demands. They can try again, decline to retry the case or explore another option. In other words, can the parties explore whether some negotiated resolution appropriately balances accountability, public safety, mental illness and the interests of a family that has already suffered enough. A plea agreement should not be mistaken for surrender. Our criminal courts resolve cases through negotiated pleas every day. The question is not whether compromise somehow diminishes justice. The question is whether a particular resolution adequately serves it. In the Clancy case, that calculation is exceptionally difficult. Any resolution must acknowledge the enormity of three children’s deaths. It must consider public safety and society’s interest in accountability. But it must also account for the profound mental-health issues at the center of the case and the reality that a jury, after hearing the evidence and deliberating for days, could not unanimously determine criminal responsibility. Then there is the family. We frequently speak about victims and their families as though another trial automatically serves their interests. Sometimes it does. Sometimes
families desperately want another jury to hear the evidence. But another trial also asks people who have already endured unimaginable grief to return to the courtroom and experience it again. The human cost deserves a place in the calculation. So does the expenditure of public resources — not because justice has a price tag, but because government has an obligation to use finite resources responsibly. Another lengthy prosecution involving competing experts and extensive medical evidence will consume resources that cannot simultaneously be devoted elsewhere. The question is what another trial is expected to accomplish. Perhaps another jury will reach the definitive answer this jury could not. If prosecutors reasonably believe that will happen, another trial may be justified. However, there is another possibility we should be willing to confront: Twelve new jurors may listen to substantially the same evidence, confront the same agonizing questions about mental illness and criminal responsibility, and arrive at another impasse. Justice does not require endless repetition simply because the first answer was unsatisfying. Nor does mercy require abandoning accountability. Somewhere between those principles may lie a resolution that honors the lives of three innocent children, protects the public, respects the rights of the accused and spares a grieving family from being forced to relive its worst day in a courtroom. A mistrial means the jury could not find its way to a unanimous answer. What happens next will tell us something equally important: Whether our system is capable of recognizing that sometimes the pursuit of justice requires knowing not only when to keep fighting but when to search for another way. Deborah A. Wilson is a Georgetown University Law Center graduate and a practicing Northern Virginia attorney.
COLUMN | VICTOR JOECKS
Why liberty requires virtue
A people without virtue shouldn’t expect to enjoy the blessings of liberty indefinitely.
A FARMER can’t make his plants grow, but he can create the conditions that lead to their flourishing. A society can’t make its citizens virtuous, but it can nurture the institutions that lead to virtuous citizens. Great thinkers in Western civilization have long noted the importance of virtue. In “Politics,” Aristotle declared, “The best life, both for individuals and states, is the life of virtue, when virtue has external goods enough for the performance of good actions.” “Virtue then is a settled disposition of the mind determining the choice of actions and emotions, consisting essentially in the observance of the mean relative to us, this being determined by principle, that is, as the prudent man would determine it,” Aristotle wrote in “Nicomachean Ethics.” Practically, that means “virtue in a man will be the disposition which renders him a good man and also which will cause him to perform his function well.” Contained in that clunky English is a key insight. Virtue requires ascertaining truth and moving toward it with actions. This presupposes that truth is objective, not a personal possession. This fits in with an observation the great Roman statesman Cicero once made. He contrasted virtuous citizens with those who cared “more for his own interests than for those of the republic.” Perhaps you can start to see the link
between liberty and virtue. A man with the ability to do as he chooses can use that ability to oppress others. Or, as Cicero warned, he could make self-centered choices that undermine the governing system that protects liberty more broadly. Since freedom is rare, both are serious threats. A tyrannical government may compel subservience from its citizens by removing their ability to take some destructive actions. The result may look virtuous, but coercion doesn’t create virtue by compelling conformity. Our Founding Fathers talked about the importance of virtue and extended it to Christianity, the ubiquitous religion in the Colonies at the time. In 1776, John Adams declared, “The happiness of society is the end of government.” But his definition of happiness may surprise you. He wrote, “All sober enquiries after truth, ancient and modern, Pagan and Christian, have declared that the happiness of man, as well as his dignity consists in virtue.” That should make you think differently about the Declaration of Independence declaring that the “pursuit of happiness” is an unalienable right. “Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports,” former President George Washington said in his 1796 Farewell Address. “In vain would that man claim the tribute of patriotism, who should
labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness, these firmest props of the duties of men and citizens.” In a 1798 letter, Adams explained why morality and religion are essential to check human passions. Without them, human vices “would break the strongest cords of our Constitution as a whale goes through a net. Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.” The country has spent decades rejecting the virtue and Christian principles that the country was founded on. A deeply divided country only seems to agree that the government isn’t working as it should. This is a major reason why. Government can’t make individuals virtuous, but it can stop undermining the institutions, like the family and churches, that once inculcated virtue in the next generation. Government schools once taught students the Bible. Now those schools undermine parents, the country and even the notion of truth. A people without virtue shouldn’t expect to enjoy the blessings of liberty indefinitely. That’s a crisis to jump in and fix, not a foregone conclusion to observe passively. Victor Joecks is a columnist for the Las Vegas Review-Journal. (Copyright 2026 Creators.com)
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Duplin Journal for Thursday, September 10, 2026
COURTESY COUNCILMAN GLENN PRICE
Repairs complete at Boney Mill dam as pond awaits refill Repairs to the Boney Mill Pond dam have been completed following concerns about water seepage and erosion beneath the historic structure. The pond will now refill naturally, and N.C. Wildlife will assist with restocking once water levels return. According to Councilman Glenn Price, the small pond at the back of Farrior Park is scheduled to be restocked within the next two weeks.
SCHOOL from page A1 teachers who had been relocated from the school. Alexis Newkirk said her family was recently denied enrollment at Wallace Elementary because the school did not have enough teachers to take on more students. “If Wallace Elementary is facing a capacity crisis as it was told to me, then we ask you to look into this crisis so our children will not fall behind,” Newkirk said. Though the board did not immediately address the comments, members returned to them after discussing the 2026-27 proposed budget. Duplin County Public Schools Finance Officer Ashley Jata said the district is facing “significant financial pressure” for the second consecutive year, compounded by state-mandated increases in salaries and benefits. “Last year, we lost approximately $2.6 million in low-wealth state funding, and part of how we responded was
appropriating $1.8 million of our savings to balance last year’s budget,” Jata said. “This year, we are facing large mandated increases in salaries and benefits. At the same time, we are also facing another year of spending reductions. We have $2.8 million in reductions planned.” Jata said the district eliminated 17 positions last year and has implemented another $2.8 million in reductions this year. Thirty-three positions were eliminated, mostly through attrition, as part of those reductions. The district had requested a $2.8 million increase in local funding from Duplin County government, but the request was not funded. This year’s reductions include a 9.5% decrease in central office funding, a 1.5% cut to school-level budgets and a 5.5% cut to district operations. Jata said the district is trying to reduce its reliance on its fund balance. “Similar to an emergency account, when we use this fund balance for things like payroll
“Ms. Melbourne was like a second mother to us. She watched out for our safety.” Miguel Balderas, Duplin Early College student that are ongoing, it can add up quickly, and that is not what it’s designed for,” Jata said. “It’s designed to support us in emergencies.” The district had projected an average 3% salary increase, but certified employees received an average increase of approximately 8%. Retirement contributions increased by almost 6% compared with an estimated 4%, while district health insurance contributions rose by another 5%. One-time bonuses added $230,000 to local budget needs, Jata said. Jata said state funding fully covers salaries and benefits for about 550 employees, most-
ly teachers and principals, while more than 600 support positions are funded through fixed dollar allotments. “We estimate the increase in pay allotments will cost $4.1 million more to the district than last year,” Jata said. Jata said the district is proposing to use $1.4 million from its fund balance this year, compared with $1.8 million last year. “Unfortunately, without sustainable fund sources, it is likely that we might face even more reductions in future years,” Jata said. Board Chairman Brent Davis said the district has cut 50 positions over the past two years. “All the raises that went into place, the state did that,” Davis said. “The general public thinks that the state covers all those positions, but the state allotted positions are covered. … The dollar allotted positions have no money out there to do it. Our only two options are to go to the county and ask for additional funding or make cuts to be able
to make those benefit costs and salary raises.” Davis also addressed those who made public comments. “We try to treat every school the same, and we made sure everybody still had a position–we didn’t send anyone home,” Davis said. “Expenses are still going up, and a lot of it is unfunded mandates that puts us in this incredibly difficult position of constantly cutting. … We value every position at every level. … Unfortunately, we are constrained to what funds we have and we’ve got to make them, work the best way we can.” The board then approved a consent agenda including the new budget, policy updates, fundraisers, donations and independent contracts for services across the district. After a closed session for legal matters, the board reopened and approved appointing Laterri Underwood as assistant principal at Wallace Elementary and Maria Uribe as the director of federal programs, counseling and pre-K.
TOWN OF WALLACE, NORTH CAROLINA NOTICE OF INTENT TO REQUEST RELEASE OF FUNDS Date of Publication/Posting: September 10, 2026 Town of Wallace 120 Municipal Drive Wallace, NC 28466 (910) 285-4136 TO ALL INTERESTED AGENCIES, GROUPS AND PERSONS: On or about September 28, 2026, the Town of Wallace will request the North Carolina Department of Commerce to release Federal Funds under Title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 (PL 93-383) for the following project: CDBG-NR Grant No. 24-C-4214 – Demolition and Clearance of Vacant Residential Structures The proposed project consists of the demolition and clearance of three vacant residential structures, including associated site cleanup and stabilization, at the following locations: Unit 2 – 122 Rose Avenue Wallace, Duplin County, North Carolina Unit 3 – 126 Rose Avenue Wallace, Duplin County, North Carolina Unit 4 – Vacant Farmhouse Wallace, Duplin County, North Carolina
Total Project Cost = $556,400; Total CDBG Cost = $556,400; CDBG/Total Cost Percent = 100% An Environmental Review Record applicable to the above project has been made by the Town of Wallace, which documents the environmental review of the project. This Environmental Review Record is on file at the above address and is available weekdays 8:30 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. for public examination and copying, upon request and payment of any authorized copying charges. PUBLIC COMMENTS Any individual, group, or agency may submit written comments on the Environmental Review Record to the Town of Wallace at the address above. All comments received by September 17, 2026 will be considered by the Town of Wallace prior to authorizing submission of a request for release of funds. RELEASE OF FUNDS The Town of Wallace will undertake the project described above with Community Development Block Grant funds from the North Carolina Department of Commerce, under Title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974. The Town of Wallace is certifying to Commerce that Robert Taylor, in his official capacity as Town Manager, consents to accept the jurisdiction of the Federal courts if an action is brought to enforce responsibilities in relation to environmental reviews, decision making, and action; and that these responsibilities have been satisfied. The legal effect of the certification is that upon its approval, the Town of Wallace may use the Block Grant funds, and Commerce will have satisfied its responsibilities under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 and related laws and authorities.
OBJECTION TO RELEASE OF FUNDS Commerce will accept an objection to its approval of the release of funds and acceptance of the certification only if it is on one of the following bases: (A) That the certification was not in fact executed by the chief elected official or other officer of the applicant approved by the State; or (B) The Town of Wallace has omitted a step or failed to make a decision or finding required by HUD regulations at 24 CFR Part 58; (C) The grant recipient has committed funds or incurred cost not authorized by 24 CFR Part 58 before approval of a release of funds by Commerce; or (D) Another federal agency acting pursuant to 40 CFR Part 1504 has submitted a written finding that the project is unsatisfactory from the standpoint of environmental quality. Objections must be prepared and submitted in accordance with the required procedure (24 CFR Part 58) and shall be addressed to Commerce at 301 North Wilmington Street 4th Floor, 4346 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-4346. Objections to the release of funds on bases other than those stated above will not be considered by Commerce. No objection received after October 13, 2026 will be considered by Commerce. This notice is available in Spanish upon request. Language assistance in other languages and reasonable accommodations are also available upon request. Please contact Robert Taylor, Town Manager, Town of Wallace, 120 Municipal Drive, Wallace, NC 28466, (910) 2854136. Este aviso está disponible en español previa solicitud. También hay asistencia lingüística en otros idiomas y adaptaciones razonables disponibles previa solicitud. Comuníquese con Robert Taylor, Administrador Municipal, Town of Wallace, 120 Municipal Drive, Wallace, NC 28466, (910) 285-4136.
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Duplin Journal for Thursday, September 10, 2026
Surprise honor for principal who keeps pushing Christy Eubanks credits her staff and students for the success that earned her the district’s top principal honor By Ena Sellers Duplin Journal CHRISTY Eubanks thought she had blown it. After completing the interview required of Lenoir County Public Schools’ Principal of the Year nominees, Eubanks told Superintendent Brent Williams she thought she had done poorly. On Monday, Williams gathered the staff at Northwest Elementary School and told her otherwise. “She thought she had done poorly,” Williams said. “That’s because she always wants to do better. You see she did great. She won.” Eubanks was named the 2026-27 Lenoir County Public Schools Principal of the Year, capping a tenure at Northwest marked by academic gains, statewide recognition, and a leadership style that puts the emphasis squarely on her staff and students. “I’m just shocked. I’m honored,” Eubanks said after the surprise announcement. The recognition came as a surprise at the end of a previously scheduled meeting between Northwest staff, Williams and other district leaders. What Eubanks did not know was the meeting would end with long and loud cheering from the staff. For Eubanks, the award is the latest recognition in a career with LCPS that began in 1999. She spent 15 years in the classroom as an elementary teacher before moving into roles as a curriculum specialist and assistant principal. Along the way, she led the district’s Read to Achieve summer program. Eubanks has served as princi-
COURTESY LENOIR COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Christy Eubanks, center, celebrates her Principal of the Year award with, from left, Brent Williams, Robin Roberson, Frances Herring, Jennifer Sutton, Elizabeth Pierce, Nicholas Harvey II, Lynn Morris, Steve Saint-Amand, Christel Carlyle and Stacy Cauley. pal of Northwest since July 2022. During that time, the school has earned recognition as a STEM School of Distinction and an Apple School of Excellence. Northwest is one of 24 current STEM School of Distinction honorees to achieve “model” status from the N.C. Department of Public Instruction. Since 2022, student proficiency at Northwest has increased, according to the state’s accountability testing program, and the school has paced the district in students’ academic growth. But Eubanks is quick to point away from herself when asked about those accomplishments. “We have the best staff and students,” she said. “They make me look good because they work
so hard, and they are willing to do whatever it takes to get the job done.” That attitude is part of what Williams saw in Eubanks during the Principal of the Year selection process. The process began with nominations from schools. The selection committee then reviewed nominees’ work histories and accomplishments before narrowing the field to three finalists. South Lenoir High School principal Jeremy Barnett and EB Frink Middle School principal Michael Moon were finalists with Eubanks. Williams said Eubanks’ reaction to her interview was consistent with the mindset that
“She always wants to do better.” Duplin County Superintendent Brent Williams on Christy Eubanks has helped shape her leadership. For Eubanks, that desire to improve appears to be less about individual recognition and more about what she believes a school community can accomplish together. Her career has taken her from the classroom to school administration, but her focus remains on the people working alongside her.
Now Eubanks will take that team-first approach beyond Northwest as she represents LCPS in the competition for Southeast Region Principal of the Year. The regional winner will become a finalist for the Wells Fargo North Carolina Principal of the Year. Eubanks holds an associate degree from Lenoir Community College, a bachelor’s degree from East Carolina and a master’s degree in school administration from Gardner-Webb. For someone who walked away from her most recent interview convinced she had not done well, Monday offered a very different result.
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DUPLIN SPORTS PANTHERS-TIGERS SHOWDOWN: SMASHMOUTH DUPLIN RIVALRY
EDWARDO PUAC / DUPLIN JOURNAL
EDWARDO PUAC / DUPLIN JOURNAL
JK’s Sherrod King, Taulil Pearsall and Jaylon Smith must gang tackle ED’s many runners in Battle Holley’s Wing-T attack.
After routing the Firebirds, JK seeks a third straight win in their 64th meeting with ED By Michael Jaenicke Duplin Journal WARSAW — Fans who didn’t know better might have thought Spring Creek was on the grass of Bill Taylor field during James Kenan’s 39-7 win over 5A Southern Nash. Indeed, that’s how bad the Tigers (2-0) made the Firebirds look Sept. 4. JK lost the bulk of its star power from a season ago when it went 12-2, but younger players are stepping into the backfield, and the Tigers’ lines could be better than they were in 2025. “We were flying around on defense, and it was very good to see 10th and 11th graders we are depending on to play well,” said JK head coach Tim Grady,
whose team will face its biggest nonconference test Friday via a trip to Beulaville to face East Duplin (3-0). “We’re better up front on both sides of the ball. We’re playing confident right now and creating our own identity.” JK is seeking its third consecutive win in the rivalry following a five-game tailspin. The 3A Tigers lead all-time series 35-29 over their 4A rival and have winning streaks of 10, five, six and four (twice) games in an encounter that dates to 1957 when the boys in blue were called Beulaville. Fireworks on, off field Quarterback Keyshawn Murray had his second three-touchdown game in as many starts and running backs Taulil Pearsall (14-129, 2 TDs), Kentrell Morrisey (9-39, TD) and Zyquan Twitty (78-yard TD) and wide receiver Terrell See TIGERS, page B3
ED’s Keeshon Mckinnie and Zachary Cruz will be active in combating JK’s running attack.
ED punished the ’Cats in a physical preparation for its backyard tussle with JK By Michael Jaenicke Duplin Journal RICHLANDS — The team that is often never as big or as fast as its opposition plays the game about as well as any football team in the state. After wins against Wallace-Rose Hill and Princeton, East Duplin crafted a 34-13 win over 5A Richlands despite a few mishaps — a fumble and kickoff return that led to scores, and 72 yards in penalties. “Under the conditions of practicing outside for just 45 minutes all week, I was proud of the way we played,” said ED head coach Battle Holley, whose team will host 3A Duplin rival James Kenan on Friday.
While the Wildcats got a rare win against ED three years ago, the Panthers improved to 3-0 for the second consecutive season as former Wildcat Noah LeBlanc (10-130) ran for three scores, and Keeshon Mckinnie (7-49) and Esiah Bennerman (7-63) paced an offense that cranked out 370 yards from its Wing-T offense. Holley spread the love around as sophomores Zachary Cruz (6-43), Darwin Bonilla (4-42) and James Matas (2-38) all added to the offensive rush. The Panthers led 21-0 in the first half before Camden Warren returned a fumble 43 yards for a score. In front by two scores at halftime, ED put a nail in the victory with two fourth-quarter scores. Cruz made it 27-7 when he scored from the 4 during a drive that was set up by ED stopping Richlands on fourth-and-1 and from a 29-yard connection See PANTHERS, page B2
Bulldogs let opportunities slip away in loss to Dark Horses WRH showed its potential despite struggling with turnovers and penalties By Michael Jaenicke Duplin Journal WALLACE — Wallace-Rose Hill showed its potential last week during a 7-6 loss to Clinton. Yet presnap and holding penalties by the offense and a pair of fumbles at the 1- and 7-yard line dropped the Bulldogs to 1-2, though they lost both games by a total of three points. So close, yet so far from the way WRH has historically played at the Jack Holley Sport Complex inside Legion Stadium.
“I’m very disappoint how we executed offensively and embarrassed the way the kids acted on the sidelines,” said WRH head coach Kevin Motsinger. “They let the outside noises get to them, and they turned on each other.” Yet Motsinger also had words about days leading up to the game regarding the practice policy during 90-plus-degree days. “I’m beyond mad because Clinton practiced for four days, and good for them, but we got in 30 minutes of real practice and chose to spend our time on defense,” Motsinger said. “It showed. So we’re allowed to send them to war but not to basic training. And at the end of the day, there’s no punishment for the programs who
break the rules, and the ones who obey the rules are punished for doing the right thing. “Our kids are angry too because they knew Clinton had four days practice. So the parents and community, who don’t know the rules, don’t know why we couldn’t practice, while others were allowed to.” Motsinger, who didn’t blame the loss on that factor, hasn’t thrown in the towel on his ’Dawgs. He’s amazingly optimistic. “Everyone on our field knows we should be 3-0, but offensively we are very young, and the gameplan is to grind it out until it gets cold (the playoffs) and watch out See BULLDOGS, page B4
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WRH fullback Logan Marks works to get Adrian Glover in the open field.
EDWARDO PUAC / DUPLIN JOURNAL
B2
Duplin Journal for Thursday, September 10, 2026
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PANTHERS from page B1 from Brayden Jones to Greyson Williams. A Bonilla interception helped LeBlanc score from the 35 for his third touchdown and sixth of the season. The Panthers know put their unblemished record on the line against JK. “We had too many penalties, and that’s not acceptable against a really good team,” Holley said. “I really loved the play and effort of our defense. The James Kenan game is not a make-or-break game for our season, but everyone knows how important it is to the players, their families and fans. Our kids want to play games like that.” JK leads the all-time series 35-29, yet since 2012 both schools have won seven times. Defensive takeaways lead to Panthers scores A Semaj Scott fumble recovery deep in Wildcats territory set up the first touchdown as Mckinnie scooted 11 yards to make it 7-0. The edge doubled when ED went 95 yards in 11 plays with LeBlanc hitting pay dirt from the 3 early in the second quarter. Matas had two first-down runs followed by one each by Cruz and Bennerman during the march, overcoming a holding penalty. A 26-yard jaunt by Bonilla set up LeBlanc’s 38-yard touchdown, his longest score of the night, making it 21-0 after Josh Barron’s extra point. ED’s defense stopped Richlands on fourth down for its third scoring drive. Richlands (1-2) had scored three times
SOCCER ROUNDUP
Estrada-led Bulldogs rally to slip past pesky Panthers East Duplin put a scare into WRH before falling 4-3 By Michael Jaenicke Duplin Journal TEACHEY — Melvin Vasquez scored the second goal of his career to send Wallace-Rose Hill to a halftime lead over East Duplin. The two archrivals then scored three times apiece in the second half, with the Bulldogs taking the grudge match 4-3 to sweep the season series, though it took more work than when WRH whipped ED 6-1 Aug. 26 in Beulaville. Yet in the bigger picture, both teams are putting the pieces together after successful seasons in ’25 and heavy graduation losses that followed. Libni Estrada scored twice, and Cerigo Acosta added a score for 5-4 WRH, which has played an array of quality teams during its nonconference slate. ED (3-5) had won its previous two matches after starting out 1-4. Alex Ortiz, Osiris Mendoza and Alex Vazquez connected for the Panthers, who have also played quality competition from Onslow County. The two schools split a pair of matches last fall. WRH went on to capture the Swine Valley Conference title, while ED was 14-8-2 overall and 8-2 in ECC play, finishing second to powerhouse Clinton in the conference race. WRH outshot ED 16-6, though the Panthers had an 11-8 edge in corner kicks. The Panthers were coming off a 4-0 victory over White Oak in which Ortiz, Oscar Sous, Emerson Tabora and Thomas Quintar put balls in the back of the net. The Bulldogs were reeling following a 3-1 setback to Clinton earlier in the week. Tigers continue to win as plot thickens James Kenan has won its first five matches. Yet the truth about the Tigers will be revealed this week with a trip to Clinton. Interim head coach Nelson Martel, a former all-Duplin Tigers goalie, knows it’s a test, even if it’s a nonconference affair and the Dark Horses have a higher classification. JK prepped for its night in Sampson County by shellack-
PHOTOS BY EDWARDO PUAC / DUPLIN JOURNAL
“We have a few less matches this season, and I’m OK with that because we are building this team up.”
Top, Sergio Acosta, left, and WRH are putting the pieces together for a run at a second straight SVC title. Bottom, ND’s Roberson Godinez, right, celebrates with Jerrson Lopez after Godinez scored a goal against Rosewood.
vorites in the SWC as league play begins Sept. 14. The Tigers and Bulldogs won’t collide until Oct. 5. The rematch is Oct. 26, the final day of the regular season. Both promise to be must-see matches for soccer fans.
Nelson Martel, JK interim head coach
Improving Rebels battle Rosewood
ing North Johnston 9-0 in Warsaw. “We have a few less matches this season, and I’m OK with that because we are building this team up,” Martel said. Devis Gomez came through with a hat trick, and Christopher Rodriguez added a pair of goals. Ronald Ramirez, Ismael Covarrubias, Allen Nataren and Kaleb Gallegos added scores, and Elder Bustillo had three assists. JK and WRH look like the fa-
North Duplin lost its season opener to Rosewood 5-2. That made last week’s 2-2 deadlock with the Eagles feel like a breath of fresh air. Roberson Godinez scored a pair of first-half goals for the Rebels, but Erick Zavala and Anderson Zuniga countered with goals as the two teams were knotted at the halftime break. The Rebels (0-1-1) begin Carolina Conference play Sept. 8 by traveling to East Columbus (2-0-1). The next day they host Union (0-7).
in its previous two games, which included a 14-13 win over Southwest Onslow. The ’Cats didn’t have an answer offensively and missed its best player, linebacker Payton Hughes, on the other side of the ball. ED stopped the Wildcats 10 of 11 times on third down and 2 of 4 on fourth down. Richlands also missed a pair of field goal attempts and was limited to 135 yards on the ground and 33 via 10 passes. It had one less penalty yard than ED. Three sophomores were the Panthers top tacklers. Hayes Lanier had nine takedowns, including three for lost yardage and a sack. Matas and Blake Shuddenkoph combined for 14 tackles, including a sack apiece and four plays for lost yardage. Richlands travels to face South Brunswick (1-2) on Friday and will return to Coastal Conference play the following week with a trip to Havelock (1-2). Tigers present “great challenge” Holley, who is 8-7 against JK since coming from Kinston in 2011, has coached in a series that ran continuously from 1957 until the COVID-19 season of 2020. Holley’s late father, Jack, who had two stints at Wallace-Rose Hill, is the second-winningest coach in state history with more than twice the amount of career wins, though Battle Holley is approaching the 200-win plateau. “This game is a great challenge for us because they are fast and big up front,” Holley said. “Their quarterback is a talented athlete. It’s going to be a good test. It’s going to be physical. We cannot have turnovers, penalties and mistakes against them. We don’t have to say much about the rivalry.”
EDWARDO PUAC / DUPLIN JOURNAL
ED’s Battle Holley is 8-7 against JK since coming to Belleville in 2011.
B3
Duplin Journal for Thursday, September 10, 2026
Last-minute bomb rallies favored Christ School past upstart Harrells Christian The Crusaders gave the Arden club all it wanted before falling 42-41
DJ Davis had a hand in four of the Crusaders’ scores.
By Michael Jaenicke Duplin Journal HARRELLS — The last time Harrells Christian Academy played the Christ School, it was for an NCISAA 2A title. The Crusaders lost that game 55-21 at Fayssoux Field in Arden in a game that featured two schools that were clearly not the same size. The Greenies had roughly three times the number of players on the sidelines. Current Crusaders head coach Clayton Hall was the offensive coordinator as HCA sought its 14th state crown. Little has changed since then with the exception that most of Sept. 4 fans at Murphy-Johnson Stadium believed that David could indeed slay Goliath. It nearly came to fruition. But HCA fell 42-41 via a touchdown and PAT by the Greenies in the final minute. “We had no business being in this it,” admitted Hall, who was the offensive coordinator of the ’20 team that had back-to-back finals appearances. “They dressed 69, and we dressed 28. They were massive.” Yet despite the uphill logistics facing HCA, the Crusaders grabbed a 27-14 halftime lead and were on top late in the fourth. The Crusaders were playing without top running back Jeremiah Hall, who carried the ball just five times for 12 yards, though he did score on a 41-yard reception. Fullback Demetrius Jones (15-173) ran for a pair of touchdowns, and quarterback DJ Davis (10-53) found Amir
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Moore and Jeremiah Davis for scores. When HCA scored with 50 seconds remaining, it had the feel of a Crusaders upset. The Greenies scored on a bomb touchdown pass with 11 seconds to play and kicked the PAT for the win. Mak Anderson’s fourth touchdown pass of the night found the hands of Jason Dorel Onana to tie the game at 41-41. Wes McAven’s extra point split the uprights as the Greenies stunned most of the stadium. “We had some bad luck as Jerry (Hall) couldn’t play the entire third quarter because of cramping,” said Hall, who called his team’s inability to practice outside during the week detrimental. “We missed two extra points. We had some bad luck. “Having Jerry not on the field hurt us. The kids were upset after the game, and I was too, but I also couldn’t have been prouder of them. They proved something to themselves, and (it) will prepare us for things down the road. They brought everything they had to
the field and left it there.” HCA (1-1) beat Wayne Christian 35-7 Aug. 7 and had its game against Parrott Academy canceled by the Kinston school, which didn’t want to make it up after a rainy Friday stopped the action. South Wake (0-3) visits HCA on Sept. 11. Crusaders notebook Noah Tanner paced the HCA defense with eight tackles. Javion Peterson had seven, Moore six and DJ Davis five. Trey Owens’ lone takedown was a sack of Anderson. Jones returned the ball 26 yards after intercepting Anderson. McKeithan averaged 36.5 yards on four punts. Jeremiah Davis and Matthew Wilson ran for 2-point conversions. Jones caught a pass for 10 yards in what was his best game with the Crusaders. HCA hosts Ambassador Christian (3-0) on Sept. 1. The Crusaders also play the next three games that follow — Covenant Day, North Raleigh Christian and Asheville Christian — in Harrells.
EDWARDO PUAC / DUPLIN JOURNAL
TIGERS from page B1 Allen (5-53) provided more excitement to a group of players that were largely unknown last season, sans the work of Pearsall. JK looked ready for prime-time. SN (1-2) obliged by making big mistakes and turnovers that fed into the Tigers’ machine-like work. Heading into the game, it had the appearance of a close contest, like it was last season when the Firebirds eked out a 44-42 win in Rocky Mount. It turned into a routine blowout and started early when Morrisey returned the opening kickoff to the SN 43 and then pushed it to the 27 via an 11-yard run and a Firebirds penalty. Pearsall’s sweep to the right on the next play made it 7-0 after playing 78 seconds as fireworks exploded atop of the JK scoreboard. The Tigers kept the pressure on as Jamarion Dudley recovered the Firebirds’ kickoff. Murray scored from the 36 to make it 13-0 after playing for 1:29. JK’s stingy defense gave up a first down but then forced a punt that soared to the Tigers 5 and gave SN an opportunity to gain field position with a stop. Two plays later, Morrisey ran for seven yards, but the ball bounced out of his hands before he hit the ground, and it was alertly scooped up by Twitty and returned 78 yards for a score. Murray ran for the 2-point conversion, and JK led 21-0 after playing for 3:59. It seemingly couldn’t be worse for the Nash County school, which was about to make it that way. JK’s leading tackler on the night, Sherrod King, pounced on the football on the SN kickoff, and two plays later it was 27-0 as Morrisey bolted for 25 yards and Pearsall hit pay dirt from the 18. JK’s only big mistake came when they let DJ Baker scoot 72 yards on the ensuing kickoff. SN recovered from a pair of false start penalties and
Kentrell Morrisey catches a pass from Keyshawn Murray during JK’s win over Southern Wayne.
PHOTOS BY EDWARDO PUAC / DUPLIN JOURNAL
a sack by King to score on third-and-goal from the 20. Fear not, the uprising was anything but a momentum-shifter away from JK. Later in the first quarter, an 18-play, 73-yard march was finished when Murray scored from the 6 to push the margin to 33-7. Morrisey had a 17-yard effort during the drive, and Zavion Woodard (6-32) carried it for 12 yards to reach the 3. JK had possession of the ball six plays later via another Firebirds giveaway. Allen squeezed a 29-yard reception on first-and-20, and his 22-yard catch two plays later took the ball to 5. Morrisey scored, making it 39-7. Neither team scored in the second half, and Grady used every player on the sidelines during a landslide victory. “We were able to put our foot on the gas and work on some stuff I had been wanting to do for a while,” Grady said. “Winning Duplin County” first goal for Tigers Grady made no bones about it in the preseason when he said “winning Duplin County is our first goal.” Yet that will be a fight against a familiar foe. Longtime coach and offensive coordinator
Battle Holley always has something up his Wing-T sleeve, especially for county rivals. “He’s so good at coming up with formations that gets players out of place, and it’s hard to prepare for all his adjustments,” Grady said. “It’s a lot of preparing. We had some ugly moments in our first two games, but those can be cleaned up. “To win, we’ll have to eliminate our mistakes and capitalize on ones they make while using our athletes in space to get one on one.” Sideline chatter King’s 12 tackles were tops for JK. Jaden Garner had nine, Twitty eight, and Dunn, Morrisey and Pearsall seven each. Murray was 6-of-11 passing for 64 yards. Allen has nine catches for 113 yards through two games. The Tigers were without the services of PK Ismael Covarrubias and made 1 of 3 PAT attempts. He hit 7 of 7 against Southern Wayne and will return to play against ED. But running back Mari Graham could still be a no-show following a vehicle crash in the preseason. Yet his return is “very soon,” according to the JK coaching staff. Pearsall has quietly run for 211 yards in two games, and Murray has 174.
James Kenan, football Keyshawn Murray is quickly making fans forget about Eli Avent. Murray, a first-year senior quarterback at James Kenan, has done quite well replacing the two-time all-Duplin quarterback. In two victories this fall, Murray has electrified Bill Taylor Field with his arm and legs. Murray has hit on 12 of his 19 passes for 154 yards and a touchdown. He’s carried the ball 19 times for 174 yards, and the combination of the two has given fits to defensive coordinators at Southern Wayne and Southern Nash. Head coach Tim Grady said his quarterback is only finding his way and that with more game experience, he should be one of the best players on any field he plays on this fall. JK went 12-2 the past two seasons, but despite losing a flock of seniors, the Tigers appear to once again be one of the best teams in the East. The wait is over for Murray. And so far, he’s playing like there’s no tomorrow in sight. He’s fast, strong, agile and has a nice touch on his passes. His biggest test will be Friday when the Tigers visit East Duplin.
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B4
Duplin Journal for Thursday, September 10, 2026
Rebels drop heartbreaker to Eagles, stay out of ’Cats’ trap ND lost a cliffhanger to East Bladen in a CC showdown for first place By Michael Jaenicke Duplin Journal CALYPSO — The North Duplin volleyball team didn’t need inspiration for its match against Hobbton last Thursday. Two losses still stuck in the heads of Rebels volleyball players. Two days earlier, East Bladen dominated the final two sets after the two Carolina Conference foes split a pair of close sets. It was all Eagles after they had eked out a 28-26 verdict in the first set and were tripped by the Rebels 25-23. Taylor Dowiess ripped a match-high 16 kills and Tatum Allen added 10 aces as East Bladen (7-3, 3-0) took early control of first place in the league by winning sets at 25-16 and 25-10. Dowiess has 98 kills this fall after zipping home 184 last fall. Maggie Brown’s 11 scorchers paced the Rebels (5-2, 2-1). Gracie Higginbotham added 15 aces and Marissa Sanchez 18 digs. ND swept EB last season en route to a 17-7 record and second-place finish in the CC. The two schools meet again Sept. 24 on the Rebels’ home court. Being serious about a showdown with Hobbton came after the Wildcats beat ND last season as one of two league setbacks, which cost head coach Heather Best and her squad at least a share of the CC title. East Columbus (21-2, 12-2) walked off with the crown despite splitting two matches with the Rebels, who settled for third-place honors, though they won their first playoff match in Calypso in years in the opening round. Eight players combined for 23 kills as ND beat Hobbton 3-0 (25-17, 25-18, 25-3). Carrly Strickland and Maggie Brown worked together for
BULLDOGS from page B1 then,” he said. “We built this team on defense, and at the end of the day, I’ve done a great job of building teams to get to December.” WRH’s best offensive player was once again Adrian Glover, who ran the ball 24 times for 155 yards. Time and again the Bulldogs shut down the Dark Horses’ drives. When Clinton got into WRH territory nothing went its way. The Bulldogs fumbled the ball away at the Clinton 7 on its first possession after a 25-yard run from Kaleb Carr and a 38-yard rumble by Glover. Defensive end Adrian “Miami” Allen forced and recovered a fumble at the WRH 26 to thwart a Dark Horse scoring attempt. One minute, two scores
EDWARDO PUAC / DUPLIN JOURNAL
Yesenia Gomez, Madison Fields and their ND teammates are 5-2 entering this week’s action. 10 aces, while Higginbotham and Blust each had five assists. ND (6-2, 2-1) will host East Duplin and West Columbus this week, though the Rebels will return to league play for its final seven games, four of which are in Calypso. All six of their victories came via 3-0 scores. Brown (63) leads ND in kills, while Higginbotham is tops in aces (27), Yesnia Gomez (12) in blocks and Trystan Blust (79) in assists. Panthers push Cardinals to the limit East Duplin showed the fight of a champion, even though it lost to 5A Jacksonville in four sets. The Cardinals (10-2) won the first set 25-20. ED took the second 25-16 and then fell 25-16 and 25-22 in four pressure-packed sets. Earlier in the week, Sophia Jones had nine kills and six blocks and Lorena Rodriguez seven kills and nine digs as the Panthers beat Richlands 3-0 (25-21, 25-14, 25-22).
Bennett Holley and Beth Howard combined for 10 kills, and Karsyn Parker hit the floor for 12 digs. ED (7-6) begins ECC play this week against Southwest Onslow (5-4). Tigers-Bulldogs matchup circled Meanwhile, James Kenan and Wallace-Rose Hill started the week with a combined losing streak of five as both race toward a Sept. 15 collision on the Bulldogs’ court. The Tigers (2-6, 2-2) were beaten 3-0 (25-10, 25-14, 25-7) by Midway (8-0, 4-0) and then axed by Goldsboro 3-1. JK won the opening set 25-22 in Warsaw and then dropped three 25-20 sets. Its lone match this week is Thursday against Princeton (3-4, 2-1), which has the look of the second-best team in the league. WRH (4-7, 0-3) has lost four straight, the final two against Princeton 3-1 (26-24, 16-25, 25-13, 25-23) and Midway 3-0 (25-12, 25-14, 25-22).
WRH then went on a 13-play, 53-yard scoring march to take a 6-0 lead after Carr scored from the 9 on second down. That play happened because Glover drew a pass interference flag on a Clinton defender he had beaten in the open field on fourth-and-12 from the 27. The Bulldogs converted on fourth down two more times during the march. But within a minute it was 7-6 as Elijah Bryant (12-28 for 193 yards) hit Bryson Mozingo for a 43-yard pass to take the ball to the WRH 11. Bryant scored on third-and-goal from the 9. Otherwise, the WRH defense was stellar, as it was in
a 13-12 loss on opening night against East Duplin. It allowed 73 yards on the ground. WRH’s first two possessions of the second half ended because of a pair of procedure penalties and two consecutive false start flags. The third ran dry because of a procedure flag, a holding call and fumble it pounced on. Its fourth possession ended via a high snap. That one might have hurt the most since it looked every bit like a game-winning drive. Johan Boone then ran for a pair of first downs to ice the game. Gridiron notebook WRH will seek revenge Friday when Pender rolls into Legion Stadium. The Pats beat the Bulldogs 50-45 in overtime last fall and went on to finish 10-2, falling to ED (38-18) and Northeastern (52-34) in the second round of the 3A playoffs. Pender returns quarterback Austin Deal (32-68 for 632 yards, 1,140 yards, 9 TDs rushing) and running back Zeke Williams (107-1,153 yards, 10 TDs). The Pats rushed for nearly 700 yards in monster wins over West Bladen (52-0) and Red Springs (54-0). They are led by legendary coach Tom Eanes. “They run the flex bone as well as anyone, and the quarterback makes it all go,” Motsinger said. ED’s Battle Holley and HCA’s Clayton Hall likewise offered a complaint about the lack of outside practice time due to the heat. Raquan McCrimmon, Tyran Boney and Trenell MadinaSmith play key roles in WRH’s defensive scheme.
EDWARDO PUAC / DUPLIN JOURNAL
NOTICES NOTICE TO CREDITORS
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
NORTH CAROLINA DUPLIN COUNTY
Estate of Bonnie Howard Mobley Estate File No. 26E000323-300
NORTH CAROLINA DUPLIN COUNTY
FILE#26E000358-300
Having qualified as Personal Representative of the Estate of Bonnie Howard Mobley, deceased, late of Duplin County, North Carolina, the undersigned hereby notifies all persons, firms, and corporations having claims against the estate of the decedent to present their claims to the undersigned at the address below on or before December 3, 2026, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to the estate are requested to make immediate payment.
FILE#26E000351-300
The undersigned, REBECCA C. WALKER, having qualified on the 19TH DAY of AUGUST 2026, as ADMINISTRATOR of the Estate of GRAHAM WALKER, deceased of DUPLIN 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 27TH Day of NOVEMBER 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 27TH Day of AUGUST 2026. REBECCA C. WALKER, ADMINISTRATOR 104 BILL BLAKE DR. WILLARD, NC 28478
This the 25th day of August, 2026. Brittinay Baranowski Personal Representative of the Estate of Bonnie Howard Mobley 2165 Fountaintown Rd Chinquapin, NC 28521 First publication: September 3, 2026
The undersigned, BERTHA J. GOLDBERRY, having qualified on the 14TH DAY of AUGUST 2026, as ADMINISTRATOR of the Estate of LONEY RENEE JUDGE, deceased of DUPLIN 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 10TH Day of DECEMBER 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 10TH Day of SEPTEMBER 2026. BERTHA J. GOLDBERRY, ADMINISTRATOR 9 BASSETT AVE. MINE HILL, NJ 07803 Run dates:S10,17,24,O1p
Run dates:A27,S3,10,17p
TOWN OF WALLACE, NORTH CAROLINA NOTICE OF FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT AND NOTICE OF INTENT TO REQUEST RELEASE OF FUNDS Date of Publication: September 10, 2026 Town of Wallace 120 Municipal Drive Wallace, NC 28466 (910) 285-4136
FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT The Town of Wallace has determined that the proposed action will have no significant impact on the human environment. Therefore, an Environmental Impact Statement under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 is not required. An Environmental Assessment documenting the environmental review and the Town’s determination is available for public examination and may be obtained by contacting:
These notices shall satisfy two separate but related procedural requirements for activities to be undertaken by the Town of Wallace.
Town of Wallace 120 Municipal Drive Wallace, NC 28466 Phone: (910) 285-4136
REQUEST FOR RELEASE OF FUNDS
PUBLIC COMMENTS
On or about September 28, 2026, the Town of Wallace will submit a request to the North Carolina Department of Commerce, Rural Economic Development Division (REDD), for the release of Community Development Block Grant funds under CDBG-NR Grant No. 24-C-4214 to undertake the following project:
Any individual, group, or agency disagreeing with this determination or wishing to comment on the environmental effects of the proposed project may submit written comments to the Town of Wallace at the address above. All comments received by September 25, 2026 will be considered by the Town of Wallace prior to submission of the Request for Release of Funds.
Unit 1 – Former C.W. Dobbins School 908 N. Teachey Road Wallace, Duplin County, North Carolina The proposed activity consists of the demolition and clearance of the vacant former C.W. Dobbins School building, including associated site cleanup and stabilization. The CDBG-NR funds and this environmental review are limited to the demolition, clearance, cleanup, and stabilization activities described above.
ENVIRONMENTAL CERTIFICATION The Town of Wallace certifies to the North Carolina Department of Commerce, Rural Economic Development Division (REDD), that Robert Taylor, Town Manager, in his capacity as Certifying Officer, consents to accept the jurisdiction of the Federal courts. This applies if an action is brought to enforce responsibilities concerning the environmental review process. The Town of Wallace certifies that these responsibilities have been satisfied.
REDD’s certification approval satisfies its responsibilities under NEPA and related laws and authorities and allows the Town of Wallace to use the CDBG-NR program funds for the approved activity. OBJECTIONS TO RELEASE OF FUNDS REDD will accept objections to its release of funds and the Town of Wallace’s certification for fifteen days following the anticipated submission date or the actual receipt of the request, whichever is later. Objections will be accepted only on the following bases: (a) The Certifying Officer did not execute the certification; (b) The Town omitted a required step, decision, or finding under 24 CFR Part 58; (c) Funds were committed, costs incurred, or activities undertaken before approval of the release of funds; (d) Another Federal agency has submitted a written finding under 40 CFR Part 1504 that the project is unsatisfactory from the standpoint of environmental quality. Objections must be prepared and submitted in accordance with the required procedure (24CFR Part 58) and shall be addressed to REDD at 301 N. Wilmington Street, Raleigh, NC 27601-4346. Potential objectors should contact REDD to verify the last day of the objection period. This notice is available in Spanish upon request. Language assistance in other languages and reasonable accommodations are also available upon request. Please contact Robert Taylor, Town Manager, Town of Wallace, 120 Municipal Drive, Wallace, NC 28466, (910) 285-4136. Este aviso está disponible en español previa solicitud. También hay asistencia lingüística en otros idiomas y adaptaciones razonables disponibles previa solicitud. Comuníquese con Robert Taylor, Administrador Municipal, Town of Wallace, 120 Municipal Drive, Wallace, NC 28466, (910) 285-4136.
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Duplin Journal for Thursday, September 10, 2026
obituaries
Clara Copeland Feb. 4, 1951 – Sept. 1, 2026 Clara Lee Kornegay Copeland, 75, passed away Tuesday, September 1, 2026, at ECU Health Duplin Hospital in Kenansville, NC. Clara was born February 4, 1951, in Wayne County, NC, to the late Major and Clara Foss Kornegay. A memorial service will be held at 1:00 pm Saturday, September 5, 2026, at 290 Revelle Road, Warsaw, NC Clara is survived by her daughter, Tammy Brown of Warsaw; son, Jonathan Brown of Warsaw; grandchildren, Amy Townsend and husband, Bradley, Joshua Lassiter and wife, Ashleigh, and William Dave Brown; great-grandchildren, Kylie Townsend, Ellie and Kathryn Lassiter; brothers, Ronnie Elton Kornegay, Leon Joseph Kornegay, and Johnny Kornegay; sisters, Annie Ruth Hall and Teresa Harper. In addition to her parents, Clara was preceded in death by her brothers, Roy Kornegay, Major Allen Kornegay, David Ray Kornegay, William Earl Kornegay, Melvin James Kornegay, and her sisters, Joyce Kornegay, Florine Kornegay, and Lucille Harrell.
Carolyn Lee Fowler
Clara Kathryn Ogden
Feb. 6, 1947 – Aug. 30, 2026
Nov. 27, 1971 – Sept. 3, 2026
Carolyn Lee Fowler, 79, passed gently from her earthly life Sunday, August 30, 2026, at home. She was born February 6, 1947, in Lumberton and was preceded in death by her husband, Dock Billy Fowler, and her mother, Elsie Singletary Hammonds. Carolyn is survived by her loving family, her daughter, Tammy Caison (Timothy); grandchildren, Billy John Blanton (Ashley) and Christopher Shane Olsen (Christine); greatgrandchildren, Sierra Blanton, Skylar Blanton, Lucille Blanton, Isabella Olsen, and Brantley; sister, Shirley Lewis (Allen); several nieces, nephews, and extended family members, all who loved Carolyn. Not to be forgotten is her beloved Canine companion, Fifi. Carolyn was a quiet lady with many interests – reading, fishing, and bird watching. She was a kind and compassionate person and spent much of her life caring for others as a nursing assistant. Most of all, she was loving and proud of her close-knit family. Carolyn was loved and will be fondly remembered forever. A service of Quinn-McGowen Funeral Home Burgaw Chapel.
Clara Kathryn Ogden, age 54, of Rose Hill passed away unexpectedly on Thursday, September 3, 2026. She was born in New Hanover County, the daughter of Terry and Patricia Smith Stonerock of Rose Hill. In addition to her parents, Clara leaves behind two devoted sons who loved their mother dearly Zachary Stonerock and his wife Jessica of Rose Hill and Marcel Brown and his wife Marie Vanhoesen of Colorado Springs, CO; grandchildren Dalton Stonerock, Lofi Brown and Audio Brown; brother Bradley Stonerock of LaMar CO; nephew Landon Stonerock; maternal grandmother Kathryn Smith and numerous uncles, aunts, extended family and friends. Clara was a loving daughter and mother; caring grandmother and sister who loved her family with all her heart. She was a simple woman who enjoyed the simple things in life, but her greatest joy was her sons and spending time with family. Clara was born and lived in North Carolina early in life. Then she moved to Colorado, worked and raised her children but always wanted to come back “home” to North Carolina. She got her wish on August 1, 2026. She moved back to Rose Hill, North Carolina. She was so excited to be “home” again. Clara was a fighter and never complained. With some health problems that tried to hold her back, she would not allow it. She was a determined young lady. She had a big heart and would always put others before herself. Clara loved Flamingos for their beauty and elegance. Clara will surely be missed but treasured memories will forever remain in the hearts of those who knew and loved her. There will be a private family celebration of life service at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you donate to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105, in memory of Clara Kathryn Ogden.
Betty Williams Lanier Nov. 26, 1941 – Aug. 30, 2026 Betty Williams Lanier passed away on August 30, 2026, at her home. Proceeded in death by her parents, Ruth and Melton Williams; spouse, James Dewey Lanier; and a sister, Dorothy Rummage (Kenneth) The funeral service will be Wednesday, September 2, 2026, at 7 p.m. at Community Funeral Home in Beulaville, NC. Visitation will take place after the service. A graveside service will be held Thursday, September 3, 2026, at 10 a.m. at East Duplin Memorial Gardensin Beulaville, NC She is survived by daughters Yvonne Nishimura (Ray) and Pamela Lanier Preast, both of Beulaville, NC; grandson Will Preast of Virginia; and sister Patsy Baysden (Kenneth) of Kinston, NC. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Cedar Fork Baptist Church Building Fund, 668 Cedar Fork Church Rd., Beulaville, NC 28518 or Cedar Fork Community Club, 1336 Cedar Fork Rd., Beulaville, NC 28518. Community Funeral Home of Beulaville is honored to serve the Lanier family.
Donald Ray Rhodes July 14, 1951 – Sept. 1, 2026 Mr. Donald Ray Rhodes, age 75, of Wallace, NC, passed away on Tuesday, September 1, 2026, at Lower Cape Fear Life Center in Wilmington, NC. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 pm on Sunday, September 6, 2026, at Friendship Missionary Baptist Church, 978 Corinth Church Rd, Rose Hill, NC 28458. There will be a viewing one hour prior to the service. Internment will follow immediately after the service in the church cemetery. Left to cherish his precious memories are: sons, Patrick D. Rhodes (Ingrid) of San Antonio, TX and Brandon J. Rhodes (Yolanda) of Castle Hayne, NC; daughter, Donnetta R. Davis (Morris) of Raleigh, NC; grandchildren: Tiffany, Brianna, Makayla, Patrick, Jamal, Brandi, Jordan and Ariel; greatgranddaughter, Nyla; brothers, Bobby Rhodes of Wallace, NC and Marshall Rhodes of Rose Hill, NC; sisters: Patricia Gladden of Dudley, NC, Joanna Pickett of Wallace, NC, Mary Katherine Hill (Joe) of Rose Hill, NC, Rowena Sanchez (Marvin) of Jacksonville, NC, Darlene Rhodes of Concord, NC and Nadine Crawford of Augusta, GA; aunt, Bertha Rhodes of Rose Hill, NC; numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends that will miss him dearly.
SPONSORED BY QUINN MCGOWEN FUNERAL HOME
Ina Ruth Jones
Harold J. Byrd
Sept. 21, 1939 – Aug. 31, 2026
Aug. 22, 1940 – Aug. 29, 2026
Ina Ruth Jones, age 86, of 56 Bay Tree Drive, Harrells, North Carolina, passed away peacefully on Monday, August 31, 2026, at UNC-Rex, surrounded by her immediate family. Born September 21, 1939, in Robeson County, to Rembert Lee and Tolla Cox Foley. Ina Ruth is survived by her daughter, Lisa Jones Johnson and husband, Bill Johnson of Harrells, North Carolina, and two grandchildren, JohnDaniel and Danielle Johnson; son Daniel William Jones Jr. of Warsaw, North Carolina, and granddaughter, Haley Jones. She is preceded in death by her husband of 56 years, Daniel William Jones Sr. She is also preceded in death by her sisters, Janet Williams and Blondell Norris, and brother Ronald Foley. Ina Ruth was a walking testimony, a God-fearing woman, and had a heart of genuine goodness. She fought until the end, and her resilience was undeniable. She was Nana to so many people. Ina Ruth worked alongside her daughter, Lisa, for 25 years at State Farm Insurance in Wallace. There was nothing she loved more than helping her customers. She led a life with immense faith, and inspiringly so. She was a member of First Baptist Church of Clinton. Visitation will be on Friday, Sept 4th, in the church fellowship hall at First Baptist Church, 408 College St, Clinton, NC, at 1 PM. The celebration of life will be held at 2 PM following the visitation at the church. Entombment will be held at Riverview Memorial Park Mausoleum in Watha, North Carolina. Quinn-McGowen Funeral Home of Wallace, North Carolina is serving the Jones family.
A private family burial will be held for Mr. Byrd. Pink Hill, NC Harold J. Byrd, age 86, died Saturday, August 29, 2026, at ECU Health Duplin Hospital in Kenansville. He is preceded in death by his wife, Violette Byrd; parents, Henry and Nancy Byrd; sisters, Iris Sanderson, Doris Williams, Dina Griffin; and brothers, Morris Byrd, Dick Byrd, and Bill Byrd. Mr. Byrd is survived by his daughter, Janice Cottle and husband Cameron of Pink Hill; son, Barry Byrd and wife Rita of Pink Hill; sisters, Peggy Williams and husband Frank of VA, Jean Cole of Beulaville, Hilda King and husband Bob of Pink Hill; two grandchildren and three greatgrandchildren. In lieu of flowers, the family asks you to please donate to a charity of your choice.
Chesley Houston
Dean C. Pickett Feb. 9, 1950 – Sept. 1, 2026 Mr. Dean C. Pickett, age 76, of Chinquapin, NC, passed away on Tuesday, September 1, 2026, at Kenansville Health and Rehab in Kenansville, NC. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, September 5, 2026, at 12:00 noon at The Mount Church, 278 Cole Swamp Rd, Chinquapin, NC 28521. Viewing will be held one hour before the service. Interment will follow at the Batts Cemetery, Hwy 50, Chinquapin, NC 28521. Left to cherish his memories are: one brother, James Pickett (Ellen) of Philadelphia, PA; three sisters: Linda Pickett (Rayfield) of Beulaville, NC, Lannie Pickett of Chinquapin, NC and Cindy Bowen (Kelvin) of Beulaville, NC; two aunts, Iola Hall and Betty Pickett; a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends that will miss him dearly.
Jan. 19, 1943 – Aug. 31, 2026
Alexis GonzálezEspinoza Oct. 12, 2009 – Aug. 30, 2026 Mr. Alexis Gonzalez-Espinoza, 16, of Magnolia, NC, passed away on Sunday, August 30, 2026, at his residence. Fecha De Nacimiento 12 de octubre de 2009 Duplin County, Kenansville, North Carolina Fecha De Fallecimiento 30 de agosto de 2026 Duplin County Magnolia, North Carolina Servicio funerario Domingo, 6 de septiembre de 2026 12:00 pm ~3:30 pm Rose Hill Funeral Home Chapel, 472 Wells Town Road, Rose Hill, North Carolina 28458 Entierro Domingo, 6 de septiembre de 2026 Gonzalez Cemetery, 294 Community Road, Warsaw, North Carolina
Chesley Houston, 83, passed away on Monday, August 31, 2026. He is preceded in death by his brothers, Sherwood Houston and Linwood Houston. The funeral service will be Thursday, September 3, 2026, at 7 p.m. followed by visitation at Community Funeral Home in Beulaville, NC. A graveside service is Friday, September 4, 2026, at 10 a.m. at Sand Hill Cemetery in Pink Hill, NC. He is survived by wife Linda Houston of Pink Hill, NC; son Chesley Mark Houston (Jan) of Pink Hill, NC; brothers Wesley Houston (Pearl) of Beulaville, NC, and Johnny Houston (Carolyn) of Pink Hill, NC; and grandchildren Brayden Houston and Vestin Houston. Community Funeral Home of Beulaville is honored to serve the Houston family.
More obituaries on page B6
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Duplin Journal for Thursday, September 10, 2026
Gloria Steinem, potent voice of US feminism, dead at 92
OBITUARIES
She had completed a memoir, to be published this fall, despite her declining health
McRay Cottle May 31, 1948 – Sept. 5, 2026 McRay Cottle, 78, of Teachey, North Carolina, passed away on Saturday, September 5, 2026, at his home. He was born on May 31, 1948, in Duplin County, the son of the late Benjamin Franklin and Virginia Brown Cottle. Mac, as he was affectionately called, proudly served in the United States Army and was a high school technology and drafting teacher who taught many students in North Carolina throughout the years. Surviving is his children Rob Cottle of Rose Hill, Alix Cottle and husband Tim Peterson of Clinton, NC and Blake Cottle and wife Jennifer of Teachey; grandchildren Mason Cottle and wife Raegan, Hayden Cottle Cooper and husband Logan, Jacob Byrd and wife Alex, Lauren Byrd and Kayla Cottle; greatgrandchildren Mary Caitlin Byrd, Kolton Zurcher, Summit Zurcher and Lainey Zurcher; sister Janice Cottle Williams of Teachey and numerous nieces, nephews, extended family and friends. Mac was a graduate of Wallace-Rose Hill High School. After high school, he attended Florida State University, where he graduated with a Master’s degree and began his teaching career. He taught at numerous schools and spent 10 years at Lakewood High School. Mac loved tinkering on old cars and anything else he could find. He was a homebody who kept mostly to himself since he left his teaching career. Mac loved his family and was proud of each of them. He will surely be missed but will never be forgotten. Funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, at Teachey Baptist Church with Pastor Craig Richardson officiating. The family will receive friends from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, one hour prior to the service at the church. Burial will follow the funeral service at Duplin Memorial Gardens, Teachey, NC. Quinn-McGowen Funeral Home of Wallace is serving the Cottle family.
George McDonald “Mac” Johnson Jr. Aug. 31, 2026 George McDonald “Mac” Johnson Jr. of Warsaw, North Carolina, passed away on Monday, August 31, 2026. Mac was born to the late George and Sue Johnson and raised in Warsaw on the family farm, where his love of the land and the outdoors began. He graduated from James Kenan High School and attended East Carolina University, earning a degree in Physical Education and proudly becoming a Pirate. Mac loved football and spent many years coaching before returning to the family farm and working alongside his wife Dean and his 4 children in the turkey business with Carrolls Foods. He was happiest outdoors, working with his cows, riding the fences, fixing tractors, tinkering with old cars, and taking on whatever project caught his attention. He was especially proud of the pond he spent years digging himself. Mac was a true character who lived life on his own terms. He made friends wherever he went and always had a story to tell. He enjoyed a cold beer after a hard day’s work, a game of pool with friends, country music, fireworks on the Fourth of July, and time spent at the beach and on the water. One of Mac’s greatest passions was the Ford Mustang. He shared that love with his four children, Don, Charlotte, Michael, and Barbara, and made sure each of them grew up with a Mustang of their own. Those cars became a special part of their childhood and a lasting connection they will always share with him. Mac’s life had its share of challenges, but he leaves behind a family shaped by his strength, determination, independence, and resilience. He is survived by his children, George McDonald “Don” Johnson, III (Lori) of Garner, Charlotte Johnson Bradshaw of Kenansville, Michael Wade Johnson (Susan) and Barbara Johnson McGee (Keith) all of Warsaw along with 15 grandchildren, 4 great grandchildren, and one sister, Nina Johnson Carter of Surf City, NC, his long time friend Melanie Register of Wilmington and many friends who will remember him as a one-of-a-kind man. A graveside service will be held at 11:00 am, Friday, September 4, 2026, in Pinecrest Cemetery, Warsaw, NC. A visitation will be held 6:00 - 8:00 pm, Thursday, September 3, 2026, at the home of Barbara and Keith McGee, 524 E. College Street, Warsaw, NC 28398. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Warsaw Fire Department, In memory of Mac Johnson, P. O. Box 483, Warsaw, NC 28398.
By Jocelyn Noveck The Associated Press NEW YORK — Gloria Steinem, the celebrated author and activist who was one of the most visible symbols and potent voices of the U.S. women’s movement for over six decades, has died. She was 92. With her trademark streaked hair and large aviator glasses, Steinem, a co-founder of Ms. Magazine, was a hugely recognizable presence wherever she went. And she went everywhere: Much of her life as an advocate was spent on the road, speaking at college campuses and community centers, at rallies and marches. “You can’t do it on the phone or on the web,” she told The Associated Press in a 2015 interview. “You have to be there with all five senses. It should be obvious that people can’t empathize with each other unless we’re in the same room.” Steinem, who had been in declining health, died last Wednesday at her home in New York City, according to a post on her social media page. She had recently completed a memoir, to be released this fall. “Gloria’s greatest gift was her ability to listen to others, to make others feel seen and heard,” the post said. “Her words, actions, and example gave people permission to be their truest selves.” Though Steinem had recently become more frail physically, her wit and humor remained totally intact, said her friend and fellow activist, Abigail Disney, who visited Steinem’s Manhattan home recently as those close to her gathered by her side. “Everything Gloria did was rooted in kindness,” Disney said. “It flowed through her political activism.” Steinem changed career path after start as journalist Gloria Marie Steinem was born on March 25, 1934, in Toledo, Ohio. Her father was a traveling antique salesperson; she spent her early years on the road with her parents, not attending regular school. “I just read everything I could get my hands on,” she told an audience at Manhattan’s 92NY earlier this year. She began her career as a journalist, notably reporting in 1963 on degrading conditions in Hugh Hefner’s Playboy empire — an undercover assignment she came to later regret. She credits a meeting six years later, where women spoke out in favor of abortion rights, with changing her career path. “That speak-out was the beginning of activism for me,” Steinem, who had undergone a secret illegal abortion at age 22, told the AP in an email in 2022, reflecting on the reversal of Roe v. Wade. “Either our control over our own bodies is equal, regardless of sex
SETH WENIG / AP PHOTO
Gloria Steinem poses for a picture at her home in New York on Oct. 19, 2015. or race, or we’re not living in a democracy.” Those who watched Steinem denounce discrimination for so many years likely never suspected that she’d had to overcome a deep fear of public speaking. She would have simply stuck to writing, she said, if only editors at the time had been willing to let her write about the women’s movement. Steinem’s visibility endured throughout life Well into her 80s, Steinem was traveling the globe and speaking out on issues of importance to her. It included everything from genital mutilation to Korean reconciliation, but it was equality for women that took precedence. “Being a feminist means that you see the world as whole instead of half,” she once said. “It shouldn’t need a name, and one day it won’t.” The constant visibility came with a price; even into her older years, Steinem expressed frustration that despite her accomplishments, she was often described as beautiful or glamorous. A 1992 Vanity Fair profile even noted her “spectacular racehorse legs.” “Nobody ever called me beautiful until I was publicly a feminist, and that was in my mid-30s,” she told AP in a 2011 interview. “It was clear that label was being assigned to me. The most hurtful part is that you work very hard, and people say it’s because of your looks.” Steinem dealt with hostility from many directions Appearing on Larry King’s talk show on CNN in 1990, she was visibly stunned when a female caller greeted her cheerfully, then told her to “rot in hell” because she had ruined “the beautiful American family.” But by then, she noted, at least people were taking feminists seriously. That wasn’t the case in 1972 when she co-founded Ms. Magazine and many commentators — especially male — dismissed it as ridiculous, predicting an early de-
mise. The magazine continues to this day, published by the Feminist Majority Foundation. Among Steinem’s detractors was President Richard Nixon, who was caught on an Oval Office tape ridiculing both her and the “Ms.” title. The ridicule was mutual: In a 1972 National Press Club speech, Steinem called Nixon “the most sexually insecure chief of state since Napoleon.” Her wit was a constant, and her many quips were widely circulated. Before she married at 66, she often explained her singlehood by saying, “I can’t mate in captivity.” Laughter, she wrote, was “the only free emotion — the only one that can’t be compelled.” Steinem never had children, and said she never regretted it. “No, not for a millisecond,” she told the AP. “It’s important that some of us not have children, to show that we have a choice.” In 2000, Steinem did something she’d never planned to: She got married, at 66, to British activist and businessman David Bale, the father of actor Christian Bale. The elder Bale died in 2003. Galvanizing speaker, even in later years On Jan. 21, 2017, when hundreds of thousands of women gathered in Washington, D.C., in their pink “pussy hats” for the historic Women’s March, it surprised nobody that the keynote speaker, and the most rousing, was Steinem. “We are linked,” she told the crowd. “And this is a day that will change us forever because we are together.” Though many saw her as a singular figure in history, she liked to say that if she hadn’t come along, someone else would have accomplished the same things. By the same token, she said, it was less important that younger people listen to her, and more important that they listen to themselves. “The primary thing is not that they know who I am,” she said, “but that they know who they are.”
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VOLUME 146 ISSUE 72 | WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2026 | STANLYNEWSJOURNAL.COM
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Stanly NewS Journal THE STANLY COUNTY EDITION OF NORTH STATE JOURNAL
MY DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE PHOTOGRAPHY FOR STANLY NEWS JOURNAL
Albemarle360 The sun sets over Albemarle in this 360-degree photo taken above downtown on Thursday.
WHAT’S HAPPENING TSA brings back gate access for some people without plane tickets Las Vegas The Transportation Security Administration has launched a new program at 13 airports allowing eligible TSA PreCheck members without plane tickets to pass through security and enter the gates. This revives a tradition that largely disappeared 25 years ago after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. The program is called “Gateside by TSA PreCheck.” It’s free, but people must apply online one to three days before their planned visit and receive approval. The pass is valid for one calendar day. TSA says members of other trusted-traveler programs who have a Known Traveler Number also can apply for access.
Americans’ satisfaction with schools at low point, new poll shows A new poll shows that only 32% of Americans are satisfied with the quality of K-12 education in the country. That figure represents a low since Gallup began polling on the subject 27 years ago. Democrats are driving the recent slide, with satisfaction dropping 19 points since President Donald Trump’s second term began in 2025. But politics alone do not explain the dissatisfaction. Satisfaction has declined since the COVID-19 pandemic, and most Americans do not feel schools are doing a good job teaching skills like critical thinking and preparing students for jobs.
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Biz, Bands & Bonfires charity festival returns for second year Saturday event will benefit Project Pawz By Jesse Deal Stanly News Journal ALBEMARLE — Motorcycles, music, food and fundraising will converge Saturday as the second annual Biz, Bands & Bonfires Charity Music & Bike Festival returns to benefit Project Pawz animal rescue. The festival will run from 2-10 p.m. at Loping Crow Distillery, located at 24030 Endy Road in Albemarle. Live performances by New London artist Jack Burns and Greensboro band Carolina
Rust will accompany vendors, raffles and food from Hatch House BBQ and King of Fire Pizza. Before festivities begin at the distillery, motorcyclists can take part in a five-stop poker run through the Uwharrie Mountains. Registration begins at 9:30 a.m. at Presnell Business Park at 4285 N.C. Highway 24/27 East in Midland with kickstands up at 10:30 a.m. Entry fees for the event are $20 per bike. Riders are expected around 3:30 p.m., when Burns opens the live music. His sound blends soul, funk-rock and R&B, while Carolina Rust fol-
“Project Pawz is a great organization.” Maria Harrell, Loping Crow co-owner
lows with original material and covers spanning country, rock and other genres. Presented by The Biz Exchange, the festival supports Project Pawz, a New London nonprofit that rescues abused, neglected and at-risk animals. The Locust-based Biz Exchange connects small-business owners and professionals See FESTIVAL, page A4
Stanly County Concert Association announces 2026-27 season “The upcoming season features a blend of national touring artists and regional ensembles.” Stanly County Concert Association
Four performances are scheduled for the upcoming season By Jesse Deal Stanly News Journal ALBEMARLE — The Stanly County Concert Association has revealed the lineup for its upcoming 2026-27 season set to begin in October. Four performances will bring a mix of beach music, handbells, orchestral selections and bluegrass to the Stanly County Agri-Civic Center in Albemarle.
“The upcoming season features a blend of national touring artists and regional ensembles,” the SCCA said in a statement. “Association leaders say the season was curated to offer broad musical variety while strengthening community engagement.” Opening the season on Oct. 11 at 4 p.m. will be The Tonez. Featuring a horn section and six lead vocalists, the band performs music spanning multiple genres and decades. The group’s See CONCERT, page A2
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with resources and opportunities for personal and professional development. “Project Pawz is a great organization,” Loping Crow co-owner Maria Harrell said. “They care for and adopt out those animals, cats and dogs that may not have a chance under ordinary circumstances to find good homes. That is something near and dear to our heart.” Project Pawz offers safe shelter, medical care and other assistance before placing animals in permanent homes. It also provides veterinary services for feral cats and
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inside NASCAR’s Chase playoff run kicked off with a thriller at Darlington in the Southern 500. Read more on page B3.
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Stanly News Journal for Wednesday, September 9, 2026
WEDNESDAY
9.9.26 #143
Fuel prices at record STANLY Labor Day high in US thanks happening to Iran war, refinery issues Here’s a quick look at what’s coming up in and around Stanly County.
Iranian tensions and global refinery strain are converging to push prices higher
“Join the conversation” North State Journal (USPS 518620) (ISSN 2471-1365) Trip Hoffend Publisher Jim Sills VP of Local Newspapers Cory Lavalette Senior Editor Jordan Golson Local News Editor Shawn Krest Sports Editor Dan Reeves Features Editor Lauren Rose Design Editor Jesse Deal Reporter PJ Ward-Brown Photographer ADVERTISING Kateland Treece Advertising Representative Published Wednesday and Sunday as part of North State Journal 1548 NC 24-27 BYP W Albemarle NC 28001 TO SUBSCRIBE OR PLACE LEGAL NOTICE: 704-982-2121 STANLYNEWSJOURNAL.COM Annual Subscription Price: $100.00 Periodicals Postage Paid at Albemarle N.C. and at additional mailing offices POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: North State Journal 1201 Edwards Mill Rd. Suite 300 Raleigh NC 27607
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Sept. 11 Food Truck Friday: Too Much Sylvia
By Jeffrey Collins The Associated Press IT’S NEVER BEEN more expensive in the U.S. to fill up the tank and take one last summer trip over the Labor Day weekend. The average price of regular gas was $4.14 a gallon heading into the holiday, nearly a dollar higher than last year and well above the Labor Day weekend record of $3.82 from 2012, according to AAA motor club. Nicole Collins planned to head from Philadelphia to South Carolina to visit friends, but she said her family has spent most of the summer close to home and not taking their typical weekend trips because driving has gotten so expensive. “Gas is pretty high right now. It doesn’t help that we also have a baby, so we also have to pay for that,” Collins said outside a gas station in Claymont, Delaware, where regular gas was $4.199 a gallon. Prices shot up after the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran in February and have not settled down since. Crude oil traffic through the key Strait of Hormuz has plunged, and Iran has refused to reopen the waterway. “Everything points to the Iran war and the Strait of Hormuz,” said Tom Seng, a professor of energy finance at Texas Christian University. Energy Secretary Chris Wright offered few specifics on when the nation’s drivers might see relief at the gas pump, acknowledging that prices are higher now than Labor Day 2025. “Yes, they’re higher today, but we’re doing everything we can to push them down,” Wright said Sunday on ABC’s “This Week.” The national average for regular gas prices is still well below the record of $5.02 a gallon set in June 2022. But diesel is a different sto-
5:30-9 p.m. The city’s free monthly series pairs a rotating lineup of food trucks with live music. Bring a blanket or lawn chair. City Lake Park 815 Concord Road Albemarle
Sept. 12 ELLEN SCHMIDT / AP PHOTO
Diesel prices hit a record high in the U.S. as the war in Iran continues to impact fuel costs.
“Everything points to the Iran war and the Strait of Hormuz.” Tom Seng, Texas Christian University energy finance professor ry: It hit a national average of $5.85 a gallon last Friday, a record. Trucks and other freight delivery systems use a lot of diesel, and that increased transportation cost is being passed on to consumers, whether at the grocery store or through package delivery services. “It doesn’t really seem like there’s an end to it,” Collins said. Gas prices typically drop as the summer driving season ends and refineries turn to making a cheaper winter blend. But Seng said there are other factors this year even beyond the volatile situation in the Middle East that make future prices unpredictable. U.S. refineries are working at 98% capacity, many in the unusually harsh Texas heat. If there are problems there or a hurricane knocks some sys-
tems offline, prices will struggle to drop. And it’s not just a Middle East problem. Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian refineries are squeezing diesel supplies. Chinese refiners are seeing declining outputs as well, said Matthew Metzgar, a clinical professor of economics at UNC Charlotte. “There’s just less gasoline coming out of those refineries,” Metzgar said. Wright, the energy secretary, said the Trump administration was taking steps to increase production and that the markets forecast lower prices in the coming months. “If you look at the futures prices, if you wanted to buy today in bulk gasoline for two months out in November, it’s about $0.35 cheaper than it is today. So the marketplace thinks gasoline prices are going to move meaningfully lower,” he said. Geopolitically, though, there is little a driver can do to knock down gas prices. But using price apps can help save a little money, especially on long trips where gas by the interstate could be 10 to 15 cents per gallon more expensive than at stations a short drive down the road, Metzgar said.
Albemarle Downtown Farmers Market 8 a.m. to noon The Saturday market continues through October with seasonal produce, local meats, baked goods and crafts. Market Station 501 W. Main St. Albemarle
Movie Night: “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie” Movie at sundown The City of Locust’s free movie series continues behind City Hall. Bring a blanket or lawn chair; the feature starts at sundown. The Backyard 186 Ray Kennedy Drive Locust
Sept. 17 Landmark Lounge: Alameda Theatre 5:30-7:30 p.m. A small-group tour of the 1916 movie house, with beer samples and popcorn while you wait. Space is limited. Alameda Theatre 147 N. 2nd St. Albemarle
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CONCERT from page A1 finds appropriate placements for them, including farms. “Our purpose is to help animals that are either facing euthanization or otherwise can’t find a loving home,” Project Pawz said in its mission statement. “We take them in, show them lots of love and get them medical attention if needed.” Festival proceeds will help the rescue pay veterinary bills and purchase food, bedding and other essentials, allowing it to continue caring for vulnerable animals while seeking new homes for them. Vendors and sponsors can also participate in the fundraiser, with remaining spon-
COURTESY THE TONEZ
The Tonez will open the Stanly County Concert Association’s 2026-27 season on Oct. 11. sorship spaces offering businesses a chance to promote their work while supporting the rescue. Sponsorship
details for the Biz, Bands & Bonfires Charity Music & Bike Festival are available at bizexchangenc.com.
(704) 984-8837 Phyllis Kimrey & Adrian Lash
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Stanly News Journal for Wednesday, September 9, 2026
THE CONVERSATION Trip Hoffend, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor VISUAL VOICES
COLUMN | DEBORAH WILSON
Lindsay Clancy and when justice cannot reach a verdict Any resolution must acknowledge the enormity of three children’s deaths.
SOMETIMES THE most important verdict is the one a jury cannot reach. After weeks of testimony and nearly 40 hours of deliberations, the jury in the Lindsay Clancy murder trial could not unanimously decide whether she should be held criminally responsible for the deaths of her three children. The result is a mistrial — and an extraordinarily difficult question about what happens next. The easy answer is another trial. The harder question is whether that is necessarily justice. A mistrial in a case of this magnitude carries costs that extend far beyond dollars. Prosecutors have devoted enormous resources to preparing and presenting the case. Defense attorneys have done the same. Experts have testified, medical records have been dissected, witnesses have taken the stand and court personnel have spent weeks managing a proceeding watched across the country. Now imagine doing it all again. A new jury — with knowledge of the case — must be selected. Experts must return. Witnesses must again recount painful events. Attorneys must reconstruct arguments that have already consumed weeks of courtroom time. And a family that has endured an unimaginable tragedy must once again watch the deaths of three children become the subject of testimony, argument and public debate. None of that means prosecutors should abandon the case. Cora, Dawson and Callan Clancy died violently. Their lives matter. The public has a legitimate interest in accountability, and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts has an obligation to enforce its laws. Justice cannot become a calculation in which prosecution ends simply because
another trial will be expensive or difficult. But justice has another obligation as well. It must recognize the rights of the accused. A mistrial is not a conviction. Lindsay Clancy remains entitled to the presumption and protections our criminal justice system affords every defendant, regardless of how disturbing the allegations may be. The prosecution’s burden does not become lighter because the first jury could not agree. That leaves prosecutors facing one of the most difficult exercises of discretion our system demands. They can try again, decline to retry the case or explore another option. In other words, can the parties explore whether some negotiated resolution appropriately balances accountability, public safety, mental illness and the interests of a family that has already suffered enough. A plea agreement should not be mistaken for surrender. Our criminal courts resolve cases through negotiated pleas every day. The question is not whether compromise somehow diminishes justice. The question is whether a particular resolution adequately serves it. In the Clancy case, that calculation is exceptionally difficult. Any resolution must acknowledge the enormity of three children’s deaths. It must consider public safety and society’s interest in accountability. But it must also account for the profound mental-health issues at the center of the case and the reality that a jury, after hearing the evidence and deliberating for days, could not unanimously determine criminal responsibility. Then there is the family. We frequently speak about victims and their families as though another trial automatically serves their interests. Sometimes it does. Sometimes
families desperately want another jury to hear the evidence. But another trial also asks people who have already endured unimaginable grief to return to the courtroom and experience it again. The human cost deserves a place in the calculation. So does the expenditure of public resources — not because justice has a price tag, but because government has an obligation to use finite resources responsibly. Another lengthy prosecution involving competing experts and extensive medical evidence will consume resources that cannot simultaneously be devoted elsewhere. The question is what another trial is expected to accomplish. Perhaps another jury will reach the definitive answer this jury could not. If prosecutors reasonably believe that will happen, another trial may be justified. However, there is another possibility we should be willing to confront: Twelve new jurors may listen to substantially the same evidence, confront the same agonizing questions about mental illness and criminal responsibility, and arrive at another impasse. Justice does not require endless repetition simply because the first answer was unsatisfying. Nor does mercy require abandoning accountability. Somewhere between those principles may lie a resolution that honors the lives of three innocent children, protects the public, respects the rights of the accused and spares a grieving family from being forced to relive its worst day in a courtroom. A mistrial means the jury could not find its way to a unanimous answer. What happens next will tell us something equally important: Whether our system is capable of recognizing that sometimes the pursuit of justice requires knowing not only when to keep fighting but when to search for another way. Deborah A. Wilson is a Georgetown University Law Center graduate and a practicing Northern Virginia attorney.
COLUMN | VICTOR JOECKS
Why liberty requires virtue
A people without virtue shouldn’t expect to enjoy the blessings of liberty indefinitely.
A FARMER can’t make his plants grow, but he can create the conditions that lead to their flourishing. A society can’t make its citizens virtuous, but it can nurture the institutions that lead to virtuous citizens. Great thinkers in Western civilization have long noted the importance of virtue. In “Politics,” Aristotle declared, “The best life, both for individuals and states, is the life of virtue, when virtue has external goods enough for the performance of good actions.” “Virtue then is a settled disposition of the mind determining the choice of actions and emotions, consisting essentially in the observance of the mean relative to us, this being determined by principle, that is, as the prudent man would determine it,” Aristotle wrote in “Nicomachean Ethics.” Practically, that means “virtue in a man will be the disposition which renders him a good man and also which will cause him to perform his function well.” Contained in that clunky English is a key insight. Virtue requires ascertaining truth and moving toward it with actions. This presupposes that truth is objective, not a personal possession. This fits in with an observation the great Roman statesman Cicero once made. He contrasted virtuous citizens with those who cared “more for his own interests than for those of the republic.” Perhaps you can start to see the link
between liberty and virtue. A man with the ability to do as he chooses can use that ability to oppress others. Or, as Cicero warned, he could make self-centered choices that undermine the governing system that protects liberty more broadly. Since freedom is rare, both are serious threats. A tyrannical government may compel subservience from its citizens by removing their ability to take some destructive actions. The result may look virtuous, but coercion doesn’t create virtue by compelling conformity. Our Founding Fathers talked about the importance of virtue and extended it to Christianity, the ubiquitous religion in the Colonies at the time. In 1776, John Adams declared, “The happiness of society is the end of government.” But his definition of happiness may surprise you. He wrote, “All sober enquiries after truth, ancient and modern, Pagan and Christian, have declared that the happiness of man, as well as his dignity consists in virtue.” That should make you think differently about the Declaration of Independence declaring that the “pursuit of happiness” is an unalienable right. “Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports,” former President George Washington said in his 1796 Farewell Address. “In vain would that man claim the tribute of patriotism, who should
labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness, these firmest props of the duties of men and citizens.” In a 1798 letter, Adams explained why morality and religion are essential to check human passions. Without them, human vices “would break the strongest cords of our Constitution as a whale goes through a net. Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.” The country has spent decades rejecting the virtue and Christian principles that the country was founded on. A deeply divided country only seems to agree that the government isn’t working as it should. This is a major reason why. Government can’t make individuals virtuous, but it can stop undermining the institutions, like the family and churches, that once inculcated virtue in the next generation. Government schools once taught students the Bible. Now those schools undermine parents, the country and even the notion of truth. A people without virtue shouldn’t expect to enjoy the blessings of liberty indefinitely. That’s a crisis to jump in and fix, not a foregone conclusion to observe passively. Victor Joecks is a columnist for the Las Vegas Review-Journal. (Copyright 2026 Creators.com)
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Stanly News Journal for Wednesday, September 9, 2026
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Troy Jackson, Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, seated next to former South Portland mayor Deqa Dhalac, left, speaks with attendees at the Southern Maine Labor Council breakfast Monday in South Portland, Maine.
Midterm elections head into home stretch as candidates hit Labor Day events With Senate control at stake, Democrats court labor union voters in key competitive races By Patrick Whittle The Associated Press PORTLAND, Maine — Troy Jackson was a longtime labor activist and logger before he unexpectedly became the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in Maine. On Monday, he returned to a union hall to tell a packed crowd that workers need to go to the polls this fall — to raise the minimum wage, expand family medical leave and show support for one another. “Labor Day has never been just another holiday,” Jackson told several hundred union members at a Southern Maine Labor Council event Monday morning in Portland. “Today, here with the people I’ve fought alongside for years, I want to make a pledge about exactly what I’m going to do in the United States Senate.” Jackson, who became the nominee in a special convention in July, is trying to whip up support in a short period of time as he attempts to unseat longtime Republican Sen. Susan Collins in a race Democrats view as critical to winning Senate control. He was among the candidates in key November races who spent Labor Day weekend stumping at festivals, union halls and parades as the midterms enter the final weeks with control of the House and Senate on the line. Labor Day marks beginning of busy stretch of campaign season
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FESTIVAL from page A1 accolades include the 2020 Rising Star Award, while the lineup also includes a threetime Carolina Beach Music Awards Female Vocalist and Entertainer of the Year nominee. Next on the schedule, The Raleigh Ringers will perform on Nov. 15 at 4 p.m. The handbell ensemble has toured extensively, appearing in 39 states as well as Cana-
da, England and France. Beyond its concerts, the group promotes handbell music through festivals, workshops, sight-reading sessions and performance opportunities for musicians of varying ages and experience levels. Orchestral music will take center stage when the Salisbury Symphony performs on Jan. 30 at 3 p.m. For nearly six decades, the orchestra has brought professional symphonic music to
This year’s campaigns already have been combative, busy and expensive, and they are expected to get even more so as a larger number of voters tune in ahead of the Nov. 3 general election. The first statewide mail ballots already went out, in North Carolina, last Friday. Some of the busiest states are the handful with competitive Senate races, such as Maine, Ohio, Georgia and Michigan. Republicans control the chamber, but Democrats see a path to taking it back if they can flip four seats and hold on in competitive states where they hold a seat. Outside the Jackson event in Portland, Doug Born, a
Salisbury and Rowan County, typically presenting five to seven concerts each season. Its annual schedule also includes Pops at the Post, a free community concert that has been a Salisbury tradition since 1995. Deeper Shade of Blue will close the season on April 11 at 4 p.m. Based just east of Charlotte, the bluegrass group has performed for more than 20 years and has released six self-produced albums. The band has
64-year-old union stagehand from Westbrook, said Jackson’s background as a logger and longtime support of organized labor are reasons to support him. “I think he’d be the most working class guy in the Senate. That appeals to me,” Born said. “We need more union members in seats of power.” Collins had no events scheduled for Labor Day, but had been campaigning aggressively in the days leading up to the holiday and has several stops coming up this week. She visited shipbuilder Bath Iron Works early in the morning Sept. 1 to greet employees and promise to continue “leveraging her seniority to secure billions in destroyer contracts, infrastructure modernization, and wage enhancements,” a spokesperson said in a statement. Trump hopes to whip up support later this week with midterm convention
“Labor Day has never been just another holiday. Today, here with the people I’ve fought alongside for years, I want to make a pledge about exactly what I’m going to do in the United States Senate.” Troy Jackson, Maine Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate by troopers, authorities said. A spokesperson for Acton’s opponent, Republican Vivek Ramaswamy, said in a statement that candidates “should be able to meet with voters without having to worry about threats or violence.” Candidates have stops planned across key states
President Donald Trump is also stepping up his own campaigning for Republicans in the coming days. His party is set to gather this week in Dallas for an atypical midterm convention, a two-day event that Trump and other Republicans hope will whip up support for the GOP, which currently controls the White House and Congress. Typically, the party in power in Washington loses seats in Congress during the midterm elections. Trump has also vowed to campaign for Republicans in important races, including Sen. Dan Sullivan in Alaska. One of Sullivan’s opponents, Democrat Mary Peltola, walked in the Fairbanks Labor Day Parade on Monday. In Ohio, Democratic Senate nominee Sherrod Brown’s Labor Day weekend campaign centered on labor unions. He attended a Labor Day festival in Lorain on Sunday and other events in the state over the weekend. Brown told the crowd at the Lorain event that “the system’s rigged” against working people, and “people are working harder than ever before.” The former three-term senator is running against Republican appointee Sen. Jon Husted. At a separate Ohio event, an armed assailant charged toward Democratic candidate for Ohio governor Amy Acton during a Sunday stop at the Canfield Fair and injured several people before he was stopped
In Wisconsin, both major party candidates in one of the country’s most competitive House districts — Republican Rep. Derrick VanOrden and Democrat Rebecca Cooke — were joining a parade in the western part of the state. Democratic candidate for governor David Crowley spoke Monday at events celebrating unions and organized labor in Milwaukee and Madison, the state’s two largest cities. Crowley supports overturning a state law, passed in 2011, that all but eliminated collective bargaining for public workers. His Republican opponent, U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany, voted for that law when he was a member of the state Legislature. Tiffany attended a parade, a county fair and a Milwaukee-area street fair. In Michigan, Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed marched in the Detroit Labor Day Parade and will attend other union and labor events throughout the day. El-Sayed is running against former Rep. Mike Rogers, who spent part of the weekend campaigning in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Iowa’s Democratic nominee for governor Rob Sand and his running mate Dave Muhlbauer attended Labor Day events in the state. Sand and Muhlbauer are running against Republicans Zach Lahn and Derek Wulf.
become a regular on the festival circuit and is regarded as one of the region’s established touring bluegrass acts. Memberships for the 2026-27 season cost $80 for adults and $25 for students and include admission to all four concerts. Sponsorship opportunities are also available. Individual tickets are $25 for adults and $10 for students. They may be purchased at Starnes-Bramlett Jewelers, the Agri-Civic Center, at the
door on concert days or online at stanlyconcert.com. All current SCCA members will be admitted with their season passes. Founded in 1947 as a nonprofit, volunteer-run association, SCCA has presented live music in Stanly County for nearly eight decades. Performances were first held at Albemarle High School, later moved to Pfeiffer College and have been staged at the Agri-Civic Center since 1989.
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Alternative for Germany party wins big in regional election, falls short of majority Mainstream parties now face a difficult choice to form government without AfD By Geir Moulson and Kerstin Sopke The Associated Press MAGDEBURG, Germany — The right-wing Alternative for Germany party surged to a resounding victory in a regional election Sunday but fell a little short of winning a majority in its quest to form the country’s first right-wing populist state government since World War II. The party of Germany’s unpopular leader, Chancellor Friedrich Merz, slumped to a disastrous result in the eastern state of Saxony-Anhalt. The antimigration and Russia-friendly Alternative for Germany’s candidate for governor said that “we have written history” and the party had a clear mandate to govern. Ulrich Siegmund, 35, told public broadcaster ARD that voters had sent a signal that “things cannot carry on like this.” He said that “a very good campaigner for us in this election campaign was Friedrich Merz.” AfD wanted to govern on its own Alternative for Germany, or AfD, was seeking an absolute majority in the state legislature to govern alone and overcome the so-called firewall of mainstream parties’ refusal to work with AfD. Final results showed AfD falling three seats short, with 39 lawmakers in an 83-member parliament. Siegmund said it wouldn’t engage in “games” such as a minority government. But it wasn’t evident how its di-
BORIS ROESSLER / DPA VIA AP
vided opponents could assemble any stable government without it. A first state government would be the biggest prize in the antimigration party’s 13-year history, at a time of widespread discontent with a national government that has yet to persuade voters that it can get the country’s sluggish economy moving. Whether or not AfD ends up governing, the result is a blow to Merz, whose center-right party has led Saxony-Anhalt for 24 years. Unlike other countries in Europe, modern Germany hasn’t yet had a right-wing populist party leading a national, state or major-city government. AfD is the biggest opposition party in Germany’s national parliament and is strongest in the formerly communist and less prosperous east, where Saxony-Anhalt is located. Its regional branch in Saxony-Anhalt is one of several classified as a proven right-wing
extremist group by the domestic intelligence agency, which points to members’ denigration of migrants from Muslim countries among other things. The party talks of “remigration,” a politically charged term for the deportation of immigrants. Its leader in a neighboring state appealed two convictions for knowingly using a Nazi slogan. AfD vehemently rejects accusations of extremism and says they’re politically motivated. Big decline for German leader’s party AfD won 43.8% of the vote, more than double its showing five years ago in the region of 2.1 million people west of Berlin. That was far ahead of Merz’s Christian Democratic Union, which polled 17.2% — losing about half its support — and won 15 seats. The center-left Social Democrats polled 9.3%, the Greens 8.9% and the Left
Scientists studying cockroach milk, nose-blowing win Ig Nobel prizes for quirky science Future ceremonies will now rotate between European cities, with Antwerp hosting the 2027 ceremony By Adithi Ramakrishnan The Associated Press TEN RESEARCH teams were honored last Thursday at a satirical science awards ceremony that was hosted outside the U.S. for the first time due to travel concerns. Researchers who studied milk from cockroaches and analyzed soil health using underwear received Ig Nobel prizes celebrating unusual and imaginative contributions to science. The awards organized by a digital magazine called the Annals of Improbable Research shifted to Europe after
35 years in the United States over concerns about attendees being able to get visas. At a convention center in Zurich, research teams received a custom trophy resembling a cross between a mushroom and a human foot. Among them were Matilda Brindle and Stuart West from the University of Oxford and the Florida Institute of Technology’s Catherine F. Talbot, who reconstructed the evolutionary history of kissing, and the late Dr. Tokuji Unno, who investigated the science of blowing one’s nose. Another research team buried 1,000 pairs of underwear in more than 25 countries to study how critters in the soil helped them decompose. As per tradition, audience members fashioned paper airplanes and hurled them to-
ward the stage to kick off the show. For future ceremonies, organizers plan to alternate between Zurich and other European countries. The 2027 ceremony will be held in the Belgian city of Antwerp. Previous iterations took place at Harvard University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Boston University, but there are no immediate plans to return to the U.S. “During the past year, it has become unsafe for our guests to visit the country,” Marc Abrahams, master of ceremonies and editor of the magazine, told The Associated Press in an email in March. The Nobel Prizes, which have no relation to their cheekily named counterpart, will be announced at the start of October.
After the projections for the state election in SaxonyAnhalt were released, members of various coalitions protested against the AfD on the Römer, including one person holding a sign that read “Anti-social, fascist, stupid!!!” in Frankfurt, Germany, on Sunday.
Party 8.6%, winning eight seats apiece. The BSW party, which has said it wouldn’t elect either Siegmund or incumbent Sven Schulze as governor but criticizes the “firewall” against AfD, took 5.3% and five seats. Turnout was very high at 77.8%. AfD appeared to have won over many people who didn’t vote at all five years ago. AfD’s national co-leader, Alice Weidel, described the result as “sensational.” She said the party’s “hand is outstretched to all who want to make Saxony-Anhalt better and move Germany forward.” It may hope to attract defectors from other parties. Schulze congratulated AfD on becoming the state’s strongest political force and said “we as the CDU will also have to deal with this result,” without specifying how. Franziska Hoppermann, the national general secretary of Merz’s party, rejected backing off its refusal to deal with AfD.
“AfD is a right-wing extremist party. It wants to leave the euro; that would be economic downfall ... it works closely together with Russia, it wants a completely different social model,” she said. “We will not work with them.” Once previously AfD won a state election but didn’t end up governing. That was two years ago in neighboring Thuringia, where a CDU governor took power with a minority government, but AfD was much further short of a majority there. Any attempt by Schulze to put together an alliance against AfD would be delicate because it would require at least some tacit support from the Left Party, a hard-left party with which the CDU refuses to form coalitions. Germany’s states have extensive powers Germany’s 16 states have extensive powers, for example in overseeing security matters and running the education system. Siegmund has listed among his top priorities “a deportation offensive” and dropping incentives for people to come to Germany and “exploit our social system.” He wants to initiate a long process to withdraw Saxony-Anhalt from the regional public broadcaster, citing concerns about “disinformation.” AfD in Saxony-Anhalt wants to allow home schooling, which so far isn’t permitted in Germany. It pledges to ban schools from officially raising the rainbow flag, which it says “stands for the devaluation of the family,” and ensure they fly the national flag. It opposes taxpayers’ money being “given away” to Ukraine and says it would push to lift sanctions against Russia, but that isn’t a matter state governments can decide. The 16 states’ governments also sit in Germany’s upper house of parliament, which has to approve some government legislation. The influence there of Saxony-Anhalt, one of the smaller states in a nation of 83.5 million people, is limited — it controls four of the 69 votes.
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From left, Nobel Prize winners Esther Duflo, Abhijit Banerjee, Michel Mayor and Tim Hunt look at underwear handed over by the Soil Science Award Winners during the Ig Nobel Prize ceremony held in the Zurich Convention Center in Zurich last Thursday.
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Stanly News Journal for Wednesday, September 9, 2026
OBITUARIES WADE LOVE
DELLA KIMBLE STARNES
AUG. 20, 1943 – SEPT. 1, 2026
OCT. 16, 1940 – SEPT. 3, 2026
Wade Love, 83, of Midland, NC, passed away Tuesday, September 1, 2026, at Novant Health, Mint Hill. Wade was born August 20, 1943, in Cabarrus County to Luther “Luke” and Cathleen Starnes Love. As a child, Wade loved hunting, fishing, and playing baseball. He cultivated meaningful friendships at Bethel School that lasted throughout the rest of his life. In 1964, he married his sweetheart, Judy L. Mills, and together they built a life centered on faith, family, hard work, and love. Their marriage was a testament to a lifelong commitment to one another. Wade proudly served in Vietnam from 1967-1968, and he was awarded the Air Medal, Purple Heart, and Bronze Star Medal for bravery. After his military service, Wade devoted himself to raising a family and building up a general contracting business, R.L. Mills Construction Company, started by his father-in-law after World War 2. He took great pride in his work ethic, reliability, knowledge, and skills. An avid hunter and fisherman, Wade found joy and peace in the outdoors and developed his natural ability in photography. On early Saturday mornings, he was trying to score the perfect buck with either a rifle or a camera. On Sunday mornings, you would find him at Wayside Baptist Church, worshipping the Lord. Wade sought to honor Jesus through his service, faithfulness, and love for others. He had a remarkable ability to see the needs of others and meet those needs without them knowing, giving generously and expecting nothing in return. His faith, service, and kindness left an enduring impression on all who had the privilege of knowing him. Wade is survived by his son, Chris Love (Holly), his daughter Nikki Drake (Keith), and his brother, Robert Love (Renee). Wade also leaves behind a legacy of hard work and love for others for his grandchildren: Aubrey, Luke, Landon, and Carrie. The family will receive friends from 10:00 am - 12:00 pm on Friday, September 4 at Wayside Baptist Church, 3606 Drake Road, Midland. The funeral service will follow at 12:00 pm and will be officiated by Pastor Tom Gibbs. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Wayside Baptist Church Building Fund, PO Box 222, Midland, NC 28107. Hartsell Funeral Home of Midland is serving the Love family.
Della Kimble Starnes, 85, of New London, passed away on Thursday, September 3, 2026, at Tucker Hospice House. A funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, in the Stanly Funeral Home Chapel in Albemarle, with Pastor Ron Loflin officiating. Burial will follow at Stanly Gardens of Memory. The family will receive friends from 12:00 until 1:45 p.m. prior to the service at Stanly Funeral and Cremation Care in Albemarle. Della was born on October 16, 1940, in Cabarrus County to the late John and Helen Kimble. She is lovingly survived by her husband of 58 years, Teddy Starnes. Those also left to cherish her memory include her children, Wendy Starnes-Reynolds, and Derek Starnes (Christy); grandchildren, Seth Michael Reynolds (Haleigh), Graham Matthew Reynolds (Morgan), Hunter Starnes (Victoria), and Kylee Starnes (Paul); great-granddaughter, Eloise Reynolds; and brother, Donnie Kimble (Linda). In addition to her parents, Della was preceded in death by her siblings, John Thomas “Bo” Kimble Jr. and Gloria “Sissy” Anderson. Della was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother whose greatest joy was found in the people she loved. Family was at the heart of her life, and she especially treasured the time she spent with her grandchildren. She and Teddy shared many wonderful years together and enjoyed fishing in Adam & Eve tournaments, creating memories that became a special part of their life together. Della also loved trips to the beach, working in her garden, and the companionship of her beloved cat, “Lucky.” She enjoyed dancing, especially shagging, and carried with her a love for the simple pleasures that made life meaningful. Whether spending time with family, enjoying the outdoors, or sharing a dance, Della embraced the moments that brought happiness to those around her. The family would like to express their sincere gratitude to the staff of Tucker Hospice House for the compassionate care, kindness, and support provided to Della and her family during her declining health. Della leaves behind the beautiful legacy of a life centered around love, family, and cherished time together. Though she will be deeply missed, the memories made throughout her 58 years of marriage, the joy she found in her children and grandchildren, and the love she so freely shared will remain a lasting source of comfort to all who knew and loved her.
TOMMY KEITH WHITLEY NOV. 1, 1930 – SEPT. 2, 2026 Tommy Keith Whitley, 95, of Frog Pond, North Carolina, passed away peacefully surrounded by the love of his family. Born November 1, 1930, Tommy was a lifelong native of Oakboro, born and raised in the Ridgecrest community. Tommy was a lifelong and faithful member of Pleasant Grove Baptist Church, where his faith and his church family remained an important part of his life throughout the years. A proud veteran, Tommy honorably served four years in the United States Navy. Following his military service, he dedicated 42 years of his life to Charlotte Pipe and Foundry, where he built a long and respected career before retiring. Tommy’s greatest accomplishment, however, was the life and family he built with the love of his life, Avinelle “Allie” Whitley (Barbee). The two were married on October 3, 1954, and shared 72 wonderful years of marriage. After retirement, Tommy and Allie loved traveling together and making memories wherever their adventures took them. Their love and devotion to one another were an inspiration to their family and everyone who knew them. Tommy was a man who found joy in the simple things in life. He was a devoted fan of the Carolina Tar Heels and the Carolina Panthers, and he loved nothing more than spending time fishing. He also enjoyed singing with the Singing Americans, line dancing, and attending the Oakboro Fourth of July celebrations-an event that held a special place in his heart. And if you knew Tommy, you knew there was always one thing close at hand: his Diet Cherry Lemon Sundrop. His family would lovingly say that his blood ran red, mainly because of all that Sundrop he drank over the years. Tommy was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, and friend. He leaves behind a legacy of love, laughter, hard work, faith, and countless memories that will live on for generations. The family will receive friends from 1:30pm - 2:45pm on Sunday, September 6, 2026 at Pleasant Grove Baptist Church. The Funeral service will follow at 3pm at the church. Burial will take place at Pleasant Grove Baptist Church Cemetery,17236 Frog Pond Road, Oakboro, NC 28129. He is survived by his beloved wife of 72 years, Avinelle “Allie” Whitley; his sons, Keith Whitley (Lisa) and Bruce Whitley (Lisa); his grandchildren, Seth Whitley (Jennifer), Michael Whitley (Leslie), CJ Whitley (Elizabeth), Caitlin Austin (Charles), Bailey Williams (Bobby), and Madison Graves (Joseph); his great-grandchildren, Judah and Lucas Whitley, Elijah and Tucker Whitley, Liam Barbee, Riley, Bryson, Jonas and Ezra Whitley, Cayden, Cate and Charleigh Austin, Peyton, Paxton and Preston Williams, and Amelia, Jax and Hallie Graves; and his sister, Edna Tucker. He was preceded in death by his parents, Temple and Bedie Whitley, and his siblings, Truly Burris, Virginia Eudy, Pauline Almond, Truet Whitley, and Seymore Whitley. Tommy’s 95 years were filled with faith, family, service, hard work, music, laughter, travel, and love. He leaves behind a family who will forever carry his stories, his lessons, his humor, and his love in their hearts. Though he may no longer be sitting beside his beloved Allie, cheering for the Tar Heels, casting a fishing line, singing a song, dancing a line, or enjoying an ice-cold Diet Cherry Lemon Sundrop, his memory will remain alive in all who were blessed to know him. A life well lived. A love that lasted 72 years. A legacy that will last forever. Rest peacefully, Tommy. You will be deeply loved and missed. The family would like to send a special thank you to Tillery Compassionate Care for their love and care for Tommy over the last 5 years. What a blessing all of the staff has been to our family.
CYNTHIA EDWARDS GOODMAN AUG. 12, 1959 – SEPT. 2, 2026 Cynthia Edwards Goodman, age 67, passed away peacefully at her home on Wednesday, September 2, 2026, surrounded by her loving family. Funeral services will be at 3:00 pm on Sunday, September 6, 2026, at Mt. Creek Primitive Baptist Church, with Elder Branan Hooven and Elder Richie Broadway officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends on Saturday evening, September 5, 2026, from 6:00 pm until 8:00 pm at Stanly Funeral and Cremation Care in Albemarle. Born August 12, 1959, in Stanly County, Cynthia was the daughter of the late Joe and Rachel Edwards. She grew up in Millingport and graduated from North Stanly High School in 1977. Cynthia is lovingly survived by her husband, Tim Goodman; son, Adam Goodman (Jessica); daughter, Jodi Goodman Piscitelli (Matt); granddaughters, Reese, Quincy, and Joy; and grandson, Micah. She is also survived by many loving family members, friends and Church family members. She was preceded in death by her sister, Shelia Miller. Cynthia was a devoted mother and Mimi. Her greatest joy was caring for the people she loved. Everyone who knew her felt her loving and bubbly personality. She loved flowers and getting her hands dirty digging in dirt. She loved crafting, left a home full of her handiwork, and enjoyed giving her works of art to others. She was fiercely devoted to her family and her church. She was also known as an incredible cook, making holiday spreads that would feed a small army. She fought a courageous battle against ovarian cancer for over 15 years. She was a strong supporter of Relay for Life and Teal Diva, which focused on the emotional and mental health of those affected by gynecologic cancer. Her pride and joy was being a Mimi. She loved caring for her “grands”. Whether it was a Christmas stocking filled with unusually perfect gifts, getting just the right birthday present, or creating surprise bags for our family beach trip, she was always looking for ways to give to others. She made small moments magical. The world was a better place because she was here. She has now entered into her eternal inheritance in the arms of her sweet Savior, Jesus Christ. The family would like to express our heartfelt appreciation to Tillery Compassionate Care of Albemarle, NC, for the love, support and care during her last year of life. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Mountain Creek Primitive Baptist Church, C/O Howard Isenhour, 44097 Ridenhour Road, Gold Hill, NC 28071; Teal Diva or Tillery Compassionate Care. Cynthia’s life as a humble and meek servant will be dearly missed by all who loved her. 1 Thessalonians 4:13 “But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.”
MARIE BARBEE EUDY SEPT. 21, 1934 – SEPT. 3, 2026 Marie Barbee Eudy, 91, of Albemarle, passed away Thursday, September 3, 2026, at Bethany Woods Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Albemarle. Marie was born September 21, 1934, in North Carolina to the late Jonah Phillip Barbee and the late Dora Austin Barbee. She was also preceded in death by her husband, Ralph Homer Eudy, and sisters Ruth Almond, Clara Coley, and Janet Almond. Marie enjoyed cooking Sunday lunch for her family. She had a passion for playing the piano starting at the age of 12. Marie served as piano player at Lakeview Baptist Church for more than 60 years. She also served as activity director at Bethany Woods for many years. Marie loved everyone and was loved by many. The family will receive friends from 12:00 pm - 1:45 pm, Saturday, September 5, 2026, at Lakeview Baptist Church-Albemarle. The funeral service will be on Saturday at 2:00 pm at Lakeview Baptist Church, officiated by Pastor Trent Drye and Rev. Tab Whitley. Burial will follow at the Stanly Gardens of Memory at 2001 East Main St., Albemarle. Survivors include daughter, Debbie Doby (Bobby), son, Terry Eudy, son, Ronnie Eudy(Joyce), daughter, Susie Austin(Randy), son, Greg Eudy (Leslie), daughter/sister-inlaw, Doris Eudy (Jerry C), grandchildren; Cindy Hoffner, Chip Eudy, Craig Eudy, Jill Eudy, Andrea Russell, Erin Atwood, Neal Eudy, Charlie Austin, Phillip Eudy, Kristopher Austin, Brooke Cannon, Lindsey Garner, Lane Eudy, Bradley Eudy and Ryan Eudy, 18 great grandchildren and 1 great-great grandchild, sister, Martha Eudy, and brother, Kenneth Barbee. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be shared to The Ralph and Marie Eudy Scholarship Fund at Lakeview Baptist Church. Hartsell Funeral Home of Albemarle is serving the Eudy family.
HidekiShirakawa, co-winner of 2000 Nobel Prize in chemistry, dead at 90 His research showed that plastic could conduct electricity like metal The Associated Press TOKYO — Japanese scientist Hideki Shirakawa, co-winner of the 2000 Nobel Prize in chemistry for discovering and developing conductive polymers, has died. He was 90. The discovery by Shirakawa and two fellow American scientists, Alan Heeger and Alan MacDiarmid, demonstrated that plastic could conduct electricity like metal and be used in applications such as electronics. Shirakawa died Aug. 24, according to the University of Tsukuba, where he taught and researched after joining in 1979. The university did not specify a cause of death. Japan’s largest newspaper, the Yomiuri, said Shirakawa died at a hospital in Yokohama, west of Tokyo. Born in Tokyo in 1936, Shirakawa earned a doctoral degree in engineering at the Tokyo Institute of Technology in 1966. Ten years later, he became a researcher at the University of Pennsylvania, where he worked with MacDiarmid and Heeger. The three scientists’ findings that defied common sense that plastics are
TSUGUFUMI MATSUMOTO / AP PHOTO
Japanese Nobel Prize-winning chemist Hideki Shirakawa speaks with Swedish Embassy Minister Karl Leifland at his home in Yokohama, Japan, in October 2000. not conductive paved the way for the development of inexpensive conductive materials that are lighter and more flexible than metals and used in solar cells and mobile phone screens.
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STANLY SPORTS
COURTESY LESLIE GRANT PHOTOGRAPHY
West Stanly’s Sam DeFreitas escapes downfield during the Colts’ home win over Albemarle last Friday night.
West Stanly tops Albemarle 30-12 in home opener The Colts held the Bulldogs scoreless over the final three quarters By Jesse Deal Stanly News Journal RED CROSS — The West Stanly football team regained its footing on offense Friday as the Colts’ defense kept Albemarle from answering back. In a 30-12 home-opener victory, West Stanly scored 30 points across the first and third quarters and held the Bull-
dogs scoreless over the final three periods. The Colts improved to 2-1 after rebounding from a 41-0 shutout loss at North Stanly, while Albemarle fell to 1-2 with its second consecutive defeat following a 44-19 road loss to Chase. Both teams had opened the season with victories, making Friday’s matchup an opportunity to reverse course after difficult Week 2 outings. Albemarle put 12 points on the board during a fast-paced opening quarter, but West Stanly quickly erased the early deficit and surged ahead 17-12 by the
end of the period. The Colts then carried that five-point advantage into halftime after a scoreless second quarter. West Stanly pulled away in the third behind two of its most productive offensive players. Senior running back Sam DeFreitas scored on the ground, and junior quarterback Brody Clontz connected with junior wide receiver Goly Gonda for a touchdown. The Colts’ 13 unanswered points extended the lead to 30-12 entering the fourth. Neither offense scored again, allowing West Stanly’s defense to complete three consecutive
shutout quarters and preserve the 18-point win. Clontz completed 8 of 13 passes for 117 yards and two touchdowns with one interception. Gonda caught three passes for 74 yards, accounting for both of Clontz’s touchdown throws. DeFreitas led the revitalized rushing attack with 85 yards and two touchdowns on 10 carries. Junior running back Holden Pope added 57 yards on nine attempts, helping the Colts respond after North Stanly held them scoreless one week earlier. Sophomore linebacker Cooper Hatley paced the defense with seven tackles, including three stops for loss. The result also gave West Stanly consecutive victories over Albemarle. The Colts defeated the Bulldogs 43-7 on the road last season, one of only two wins for West Stanly during its 2025 campaign.
85
Rushing yards by West Stanly running back Sam DeFreitas
West Stanly will remain home Friday to host the Central Eagles (2-1) out of Pageland, South Carolina, who defeated the Colts 35-14 last season. Albemarle has a bye before visiting Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy (1-2) on Sept. 18. North Stanly and South Stanly are also off this week. Over the weekend, the undefeated Comets (3-0) had a 49-21 home win over Montgomery Central, while the winless Rowdy Rebel Bulls suffered a 27-0 loss at Anson.
South Stanly boys’ soccer rolls past Anson for third straight win Bulls improve to 4-2 ahead of their conference opener By Jesse Deal Stanly News Journal NORWOOD — South Stanly’s boys’ soccer team has quickly established momentum after a series of difficult seasons. On Sept. 2, the Rowdy Rebel Bulls improved to 4-2 with a 10-2 road victory over Anson (0-4) in Wadesboro, extending their winning streak to three matches. The 10 goals marked South Stanly’s highest output of the season. Senior Johns Martinez and freshman Jayden Vences led the offensive surge with three goals apiece. Freshman Erik Maldonado and juniors Taylen Caviness and Cameron Crump also scored as the Bulls overwhelmed the winless Bearcats. Through six matches, South Stanly has already exceeded its victory total from each of the previous three seasons. The Bulls won just twice last
10
Goals scored by South Stanly against Anson COURTESY SOUTH STANLY ATHLETICS
The South Stanly boys’ soccer program is on the up and up after a 4-2 start to the season. year, finishing sixth in the Yadkin Valley Conference and dropping all 10 of their league contests. The recent turnaround is especially notable after South Stanly combined for 15 victories over the past six seasons. The Bulls will try to carry their early success into YVC competition Wednesday when they host Albemarle, which enters the matchup with a 1-4-1 record this season. Christ the King 2, Gray Stone 1 Coming off a 16-4-4 season and an appearance in the state championship game, Gray
Stone has endured an uneven start to 2026, with the Knights sitting at 4-3-1 through eight matches. Gray Stone came up short in a 2-1 home loss to Christ the King (4-1) on Sept. 2. The Knights will now head to Concord Friday to face Cox Mill (4-4-1).
season since 2022, the Colts will open Rocky River Conference play Monday as winless Parkwood (0-8) travels to Red Cross. Last year, the Colts placed fourth in the RRC with a 7-4-1 league record.
West Stanly 4, South Rowan 4
Over in New London, the North Stanly Comets (3-4-1) were doubled up by East Rowan (3-3) last week in an 8-4 loss. The Comets, in what has been a back-and-forth fall so far, are set to host Wheatmore (2-4-1) on Thursday. However, North Stanly is only two wins away
The West Stanly Colts (2-6-1) recently had their first tie of the season as a visit from South Rowan (1-5-2) on Thursday led to a 4-4 finish. Seeking their first winning
East Rowan 8, North Stanly 4
from matching its 2025 total as the team seeks its first winning season in more than a decade. West Davidson 3, Albemarle 1 The Albemarle Bulldogs (1-4-1) were handed their fourth loss of the year as they fell by two goals at West Davidson (3-3-1) on Thursday. As the third-place finishers in the YVC (5-4-1) last year, the Bulldogs will begin league play with a trip to Norwood on Wednesday to challenge a South Stanly squad that is coming off a last-place league finish.
B2
Stanly News Journal for Wednesday, September 9, 2026
$1)1
SIDELINE REPORT NCAA FOOTBALL
TENNIS
No. 16 Michigan catches second-chance Hail Mary, survives scare vs. WMU
Sabalenka complains about the smell of marijuana during U.S. Open match
Ann Arbor, Mich. Given an unlikely second chance at a game-ending Hail Mary, Bryce Underwood connected with JJ Buchanan for a 47-yard touchdown pass that lifted No. 16 Michigan over Western Michigan 13-12. The Broncos thought they’d secured a historic upset when Underwood’s first Hail Mary sailed out of bounds with the clock expired. WMU players were already on the field celebrating when officials called for a review. TV replays showed the clock hitting zero before the ball hit the hands of a Western Michigan defender, but officials ruled there was a second left.
Aryna Sabalenka found something that could stop her at the U.S. Open: the smell of marijuana. The two-time defending champion complained to the chair umpire that it was bothering her early in her thirdround victory over Kamilla Rakhimova. Sabalenka said she had never smelled the odor so strong as she did while serving early in the match. While Sabalenka was serving, she tossed the ball but then let it fall to the court twice. She then approached the chair to ask for help.
MLB
Cardinals, Rockies tilt caps day after umpire’s comments to St. Louis rookie Denver Players from St. Louis and Colorado tilted their caps in protest of umpire Doug Eddings one day after he instructed Cardinals rookie pitcher Hancel Rincon to straighten his hat. Eddings’ comments prompted an argument with St. Louis manager Oliver Marmol leading to Marmol’s ejection. Most of the Cardinals’ players had their hats tilted during pregame warmups, and many continued to tilt them in the dugout during the game. Some even tilted their batting helmets to celebrate reaching base. Some Colorado players also wore their caps tilted before the game.
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B3
Stanly News Journal for Wednesday, September 9, 2026
Bell passes defending Cup Series champion Larson to win Southern 500 to kick off Chase The win at Darlington snapped a nearly yearlong drought for the JGR driver
“Darlington is the epitome of NASCAR.”
By Pete Iacobelli The Associated Press
Christopher Bell
DARLINGTON, S.C. — Christopher Bell’s crazy, frustrating season of seven second-place finishes without a victory at last came to an end with a win at the Southern 500. The Joe Gibbs Racing driver passed defending Cup Series champion Kyle Larson with 18 laps left at Darlington Raceway and held on to win the Chase-opening race and break a winless stretch of 33 races dating to Bristol last September. “Darlington is the epitome of NASCAR,” Bell said. “This is better than a dream come true.” It was his first win in 15 career Cup races at Darlington and pushed him into second in the Chase standings behind teammate Denny Hamlin. “No off weeks. Right back to work next week at Gateway,” he said. “I still feel I’m going to have to win more races if I want to” win the championship. Gibbs finished second, and Tyler Reddick, a five-time winner this season, was third. Chase drivers accounted for nine of the top 10. Ryan Blaney was fourth, followed by Larson, Chase Briscoe, Josh Berry, Bubba Wallace, Joey Logano and Ryan Preece. Berry was the only non-Chase driver in that group. Crew chief Adam Stevens tried to keep Bell focused as the runner-up finishes — along with the driver’s frustration — grew. It was important for him
all 10 playoff races without eliminations. He’s still leading, 12 points in front of teammate Bell. Other Chaser issues
JASON JACKSON FOR NORTH STATE JOURNAL
Christopher Bell does a burn out to celebrate winning Sunday’s Southern 500. to understand that him finishing second wasn’t because his team wasn’t doing everything it could to succeed. “You have to really come into each weekend with a clean slate, and he’s done a fantastic job with that,” Stevens said. Larson gambled during the sixth and final caution, staying on the track while other competitors, including Bell, went into the pits for fresh tires. And for a bit, Larson’s bet looked like it might pay off as he opened a sizeable lead on the restart and forced Bell and the others to come get him. Bell eventually did, moving low on the track to put Larson in his rearview mirror.
Larson thought more racers would’ve stayed out of the pits on the final caution to give him some cover and distance before the fresh-tire drivers got going. “But Bell got to second so fast, I was straight into defense,” Larson said. “Not able to run the lines I ultimately wanted to take care of my tires.” Hamlin’s troubles Hamlin, the top seed in the Cup Series’ Chase, had started the final stage in the top five when he got hit from behind on lap 237 by Michael McDowell and his car struck the wall in turn four. Hamlin immediately told his
crew, “The toe links are gone.” But the incident did not draw a caution and Hamlin had to keep racing, falling to 20th as he and his pit crew waited for the chance to fix the damaged Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota. While the toe links were not damaged, there were extensive repairs and Hamlin was a lap down. He finished 18th. “It was certainly not the finish we were hoping for,” Hamlin said. “We certainly made gains on it all day.” Hamlin came into the race with a 25-point lead over second-seeded Ryan Blaney. The rules of the Cup Series’ postseason changed this year, with all 16 drivers competing in
Hamlin wasn’t the only one of the 16 Chase competitors to have problems. Hendrick Motorsports’ William Byron was in position for a top-10 finish when he spun out with what he believed was a flat tire. After a trip to the pits, smoke billowed out of Byron’s Chevrolet, and he went back to the garage to end his day. Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing had high hopes with two of its three drivers, Chris Buescher and Ryan Preece, in the Chase. But Buescher could not gain any momentum at Darlington and rode in the back of the pack for most of the way. Preece, who won his way into the postseason with a victory at Daytona last week, pledged to continue to be aggressive because, as the 16th seed, his team had nothing to lose. That strategy worked well as he rode in the top 10 for most of the first half of the race. He couldn’t sustain it, though, and ended 10th. And while 23XI co-owner Michael Jordan watched from the pits, his two Chase drivers, Reddick and Wallace, went from running 1-2 at the end of the first stage to falling out of the mix down the stretch.
JASON JACKSON FOR NORTH STATE JOURNAL
The field speeds past pit row during the Southern 500 at Darlington.
Smith, 2-time All-America DB at Wake Forest, dead at 40 The former NFL player apparently left a farewell note on social media
“Do not cry for me!” Alphonso Smith’s Facebook post
The Associated Press PAHOKEE, Fla. — Alphonso Smith, a two-time All-America defensive back who played in the NFL for four seasons, has died. He was 40. Smith died last Wednesday, according to Wake Forest, which was informed by his family. The school’s release last Thursday afternoon didn’t reveal a cause of death. The Associated Press contacted the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office in Florida earlier last Thursday seeking to confirm Smith’s death. In an emailed statement responding to that inquiry, the office said sheriff’s deputies had responded to a Pahokee address “in reference to a suicide attempt” last Wednesday afternoon. “An adult male was transported to the hospital where he succumbed to his inju-
PAUL SANCYA / AP PHOTO
Detroit Lions defensive back Alphonso Smith kneels before a 2012 practice. ries,” the sheriff’s office stated. Smith appeared to post on his Facebook account last Wednesday, lamenting his mental health challenges, apologizing and asking for forgiveness. “Do not cry for me!” a post read on his account. “I tried ev-
erything in my power to fight the demons behind the ones that someone put into ME! I did not want to be that WAY! I know I have disappointed so many folks. This is a DEMON in me! But not only me! It’s EVERYONE! I have HURT so many! I
needed help & did not get it! I am so sorry!” Smith apologized to his children in the note and suggested that trauma from his childhood had caused him mental anguish. “I pray my soul rest in heaven for my heart is pure,” he said. Denver drafted the former Wake Forest star in the second round of the 2009 NFL Draft. After playing in 15 games for the Broncos, returning punts and kickoffs, he was traded to Detroit shortly before the 2010 season. Smith played in 33 games, including 11 starts, over the next two seasons with the Lions and had eight interceptions, returning two for touchdowns. The Lions released him just before the 2012 season, signed him later that year and cut him
again after he played in four games as a backup. Smith went to Pahokee High School in his hometown, where he helped the football team win a Florida state title as a two-way star playing quarterback and defensive back in 2003. He redshirted as a freshman at Wake Forest and went on to become a key player for the program over the next four seasons. Smith was a first-team AP All-America defensive back in 2008 and a third-team All-America in 2007. After playing in 44 NFL games over four years, he worked as a sideline reporter for Wake Forest football games during the 2013 season when he was also an assistant high school coach in nearby Winston-Salem. Smith was a head high school football coach in Moore Haven, Florida, and Pahokee High School, where he was also dean of students in charge of discipline, according to his LinkedIn account. His last listed job was director of marketing for a South Florida family physician.
B4
Stanly News Journal for Wednesday, September 9, 2026
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The undersigned has qualified as Executor of the Estate of DELORES BURLESON KIMMER, deceased, late of Stanly County, North Carolina (Stanly County File Number 26E000027-830). This is to notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against said decedent or her estate to present the same duly itemized and verified to the undersigned Executor or her Attorney on or before the 9th day of December 2026, or this Notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons, firms and corporations indebted to the decedent or to her estate are hereby requested to pay the said indebtedness to the undersigned Executor or her attorney. This the 4th day of September 2026. CRYSTAL MISENHEIMER EUDY Executor ESTATE OF DELORES BURLESON KIMMER 1911 Midwood Drive, Apt. 1 Albemarle, NC 28001 CHARLES P. BROWN BROWN & SENTER, P.L.L.C. PO Box 400 Albemarle, North Carolina 28002-0400 Telephone: 704 982-2141 Facsimile: 704 982-0902 PUBLISH: September 9, 16, 23, and 30, 2026
NORTH CAROLINA IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE STANLY COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION BEFORE THE CLERK FILE NO. 26E000368-830 NOTICE TO CREDITORS Having qualified as Executor of the Estate of Theresa M Cutrone, deceased, of Stanly County, North Carolina this is to notify all persons having claims against the Estate of said Theresa M Cutrone to present them to the undersigned on or before December 4, 2026, or the same will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate please make immediate payment. This the 2nd day of September, 2026. Joseph Esposito 47 Church Street, Apt. 2E Malverne, NY 11565
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Estate of: Stella Redfearn Dase Case Number:26E000381-830 Court: Stanly County Clerk of Superior Court NOTICE TO CREDITORS All persons having claims against the Estate of STELLA REDFEARN DASE are hereby notified that all claims must be presented to the Personal Representative, through the attorney listed below, on or before November 26, 2026, or the claims will be forever barred. Claims should be delivered to: Attorney for the Executor: Charles W. Parnell, Jr. Parnell & Scales Law Office P.O. Box 2300 Albemarle, NC 28002 Phone: (704) 985-1332
NOTICE Having qualified as Executrix of the Estate of Ann Blackmore Key, late of Stanly County, North Carolina, the undersigned hereby notifies all persons, firms, and corporations having claims against the Estate of said Decedent to present them to the undersigned, in care of the undersigned’s attorney, at the address below, on or before 20th day of November, 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. This the 19th day of August, 2026. Judith Workman Executrix of the Estate of Ann Blackmore Key c/o Andrew W. Cave Cave Law, PLLC 219 W Stanly St. P.O. Box 30 Stanfield, NC 28163
NOTICE OF SERVICE OF PROCESS BY PUBLICATION
25SP000196-830 NOTICE OF SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE’S FORECLOSURE SALE OF REAL PROPERTY UNDER AND BY VIRTUE of the power and authority contained in that certain Deed of Trust executed and delivered by Michael P. Kerns and Mary Jane Kerns dated January 13, 2021 and recorded on January 15, 2021, in Book 1727 at Page 124, in the Office of the Register of Deeds of Stanly County, North Carolina; and because of default in the payment of the indebtedness secured thereby and, pursuant to demand of the holder of the Note secured by said Deed of Trust, the undersigned Goddard & Peterson, PLLC (Substitute Trustee) will offer for sale at the courthouse door in the City of Albemarle, Stanly County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, on September 16, 2026 at 10:00 AM and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in the County of Stanly, North Carolina and being more particularly described in the above referenced Deed of Trust, together with all improvements located thereon: Address of Property: 8224 Griffin Greene Boulevard, Oakboro, NC 28129 Tax Parcel ID: 559303217954 Present Record Owner: Michael P. Kerns and Mary Jane Kerns 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. Said property is sold subject to applicable Federal and State laws. A deposit of five percent (5%) of the amount of the bid 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. CASH WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. The real property described above is being offered for sale ‘‘AS IS, WHERE IS’’ and will be sold subject to all superior liens, unpaid taxes, and special assessments and any liens or encumbrances that would not be extinguished by non-judicial foreclosure. Neither the Substitute Trustee nor the holder of the Note secured by the Deed of Trust being foreclosed, nor the officers, directors, attorneys, employees, agents or authorized representatives of either the Substitute 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 expressly are disclaimed. The sale will be held open for ten (10) days for upset bids as required by law. Should the property be purchased by a third party, that party must pay the excise tax, and any Land Transfer Tax as required by N.C.G.S. §7A-308(a)(1). Third party, must pay the full bid amount, less any deposit that has been paid to the Substitute Trustee, immediately upon demand after the conclusion of the final upset bid period. Failure of the bidder to comply with the bid shall result in the resale of the property, with the defaulting bidder remaining liable upon their bid under the provisions of N.C.G.S. §45-21-30. If the Trustee or Substitute 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 title include, but are not limited to, the filing of a bankruptcy petition prior to the sale and reinstatement of the loan without knowledge of the Substitute Trustee(s). If the validity of the sale is challenged by any party, the Substitute Trustee(s), in its/their sole discretion, if it/they believe(s) the challenge to have merit, may declare the sale to be void and return the deposit. The purchaser will have no further remedy. Additional Notice where the Real Property is Residential 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 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 ten (10) days, but no more than ninety (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. Upon termination of a rental agreement, the tenant is liable for rent due under the rental agreement prorated to the effective date of such 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. FN# 3016.42325 61134
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF STANLY IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE DISTRICT COURT DIVISION FILE NO. 25CV001704-830 LOOM CAPITAL, LLC, (NC DOI LICENSE #513030453), Plaintiff, Vs. KENNETH WAYNE RIDENHOUR, Defendant. TO: KENNETH WAYNE RIDENHOUR TAKE NOTICE that a pleading seeking relief against you has been filed in the above-entitled action. The nature of the relief being sought is as follows: The Plaintiff is seeking a Judgment against you for monies owed, as a result of default under the terms of an installment sale contract. You are required to make defense to such pleading not later than October 12, 2026. Upon your failure to do so, the Plaintiff will apply to the Court for the relief sought. This law firm is a debt collector within the meaning of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. This communication is an attempt to collect a debt, and any information obtained will be used for that purpose. This the 27th day of August, 2026. Pamela P. Keenan Kirschbaum, Nanney, Keenan & Griffin, P.A. Attorney for Plaintiff Post Office Box 19806 Raleigh, NC 27619 (919) 848-9640 The Stanley News-Journal: 9/2/26, 9/9/26 & 9/16/26.
Executor Information John W Webster 146 North 4th Street Albemarle, NC 28001 Attorney Information
NOTICE NORTH CAROLINA STANLY COUNTY IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION BEFORE THE CLERK FILE NO. 26E000292-830 NOTICE TO CREDITORS Having qualified as Executor of the Estate of Tammy E. Evans deceased, of Stanly County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons having claims against the Estate of said Tammy E. Evans to present them to the undersigned on or before December 4, 2026 or the same will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate please make immediate payment. This the 2nd day of September 2026. Brianna L. Brown 3310 Dunn Commons Parkway Apt. 201 Charlotte, NC 28216 Executor
NOTICE NORTH CAROLINA STANLY COUNTY IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION BEFORE THE CLERK FILE NO. 26E000377-830 NOTICE TO CREDITORS Having qualified as Executor of the Estate of Richard F. Hayes, Jr. a/k/a Richard Floyd Hayes, Jr. deceased, of Stanly County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons having claims against the Estate of said Richard F. Hayes, Jr. a/k/a Richard Floyd Hayes, Jr to present them to the undersigned on or before November 27, 2026 or the same will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate please make immediate payment. This the 26th day of August 2026. Melony S. Doyle 151 Anderson Road Albemarle, NC 28001 Executor
NOTICE NORTH CAROLINA STANLY COUNTY IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION BEFORE THE CLERK FILE NO. 26E000411-830 NOTICE TO CREDITORS Having qualified as Co-Administrator of the Estate of Reinhart Koschatzky deceased, of Stanly County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons having claims against the Estate of said Reinhart Koschatzky to present them to the undersigned on or before December 9, 2026 or the same will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate please make immediate payment. This the 9th day of September 2026. Renee Misenheimer 42615 Caudle Road Richfield, NC 28137 Co-Administrator Ryan Koschatzky 1017 Hornbuckle Ct. Wake Forest, NC 27587 Co-Administrator
NOTICE NORTH CAROLINA STANLY COUNTY IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION BEFORE THE CLERK NOTICE TO CREDITORS Having qualified as Executor of the Estate of Grady O’Neal Cook, Jr. deceased, of Stanly County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons having claims against the Estate of said Grady O’Neal, Jr. to present them to the undersigned on or before November 19, 2026 or the same will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate please make immediate payment. This the 19th day of August 2026. Cynthia A. Cook a/k/a Cynthia C. Yandle 13402 Five Point Road Locust, NC 28097 Executor
HIRING Stanly County Reporter Stanly County Advertising Representative jobs@stanlynewsjournal.com
704-982-2121
Stanly News Journal for Wednesday, September 9, 2026
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THE STREAM
EVAN AGOSTINI / INVISION / AP PHOTO
The “Call My Agent” team celebrate their best comedy award win at the 49th International Emmy Awards at Casa Cipriani in 2021 in New York. The hit show takes on movie form on Netflix this week.
‘The Paper,’ ‘Call My Agent!’ Bloc Party, ‘Halloween’ game Welsh band the Tubs drops “Hard Life”
sition as one of the principal indie rock bands of the moment. These are impatient pop songs that span a range of emotions, somewhere between empathy and feeling pathetic. Delicious!
The Associated Press THE SECOND season of “The Paper” and a new album from Bloc Party are some of the new television, films, music and games headed to a device near you. Also, among the streaming offerings worth your time this week, as selected by The Associated Press’ entertainment journalists: a new “Call My Agent!” movie, a new season of “The Real Housewives of New York” and a multiplayer game based on the “Halloween” slasher films. MOVIES TO STREAM
SERIES TO STREAM
purchased by a third party, 31 CFR 1031.320 requires certain qualifying residential real estate transactions to be reported to the federal government. If you are the successful bidder in this proceeding, you may be required to provide all applicable identifying information about yourself and, if applicable, any entity or trust purchasing the property. 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
OWEN SWEENEY / INVISION / AP PHOTO
Kele Okereke of Bloc Party performs in concert as the opening act for Muse on July 28 at the Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, Maryland.
The clever French series “Call My Agent!” has been revived as a movie that starts streaming on Netflix on Thursday. Camille Cottin’s Andréa Martel is no longer an agent but a film director overseeing a disastrous production. Guy Lodge, in his review for Variety, wrote that, “Fleet and fast-talking and packed, as ever, with Gallic industry in-jokes and celebrity cameos, Émilie Noblet’s film can hardly fail to please longtime fans.” Henry Cavill, Jake Gyllenhaal and Eiza González star in the Guy Ritchie action pic “In the Grey” about a lawyer and some mercenaries on an impossible mission to retrieve $1 billion. It received mostly mixed
reviews and had the misfortune of opening around the same time as the box office phenomenon “Obsession,” but like many Ritchie joints it has its defenders too: An easy bit of action entertainment, coming to Starz and its streaming service Saturday.
NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 26SP000013-830
of Stanly, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: All that certain parcel of land in E. Center Township, Stanley County, State of North Carolina, as more fully described in Book 642, Page 621, ID#47277, being known and designated as Lot 724, fifth addition to Tillery Beach Subdivision, filed in Plat Book 1, Page 219. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 1050 Berry Hill Drive, Norwood, North Carolina.
Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Sherry G. Harris and Tracy R. Harris (Deceased) (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Sherry G. Harris) to B. Hill, Trustee(s), dated June 21, 2004, and recorded in Book No. 1005, at Page 0916 in Stanly County Registry, North Carolina, default having been made in the payment of the promissory note secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Substitute Trustee Services, Inc. having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust by an instrument duly recorded in the Office of the Register of Deeds Stanly County, North Carolina and the holder of the note evidencing said indebtedness having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the courthouse door in Albemarle, Stanly County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, at 11:00 AM on September 23, 2026 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in Norwood in the County
listeners are discovering TV on the Radio’s “Wolf Like Me” because of its use in “Spider-Man: Brand New Day.” Hopefully love for the era will extend to the English band Bloc Party, whose new album “Anatomy of a Brief Romance” arrives Friday. It’s the kind of dance-y post-punk the band has long hung its hat on, made modern. The Tubs first graced this weekly fixture in 2025, ahead of the London-based Welsh band’s sophomore album “Cotton Crown.” That release, a messy mosaic of jangly indiepop and ’80s college rock that was full of gorgeous songs about grief, was great. Its latest, “Hard Life,” may be even greater. At the very least, it confirms The Tubs’ po-
Carole Radziwill reclaims her “The Real Housewives of New York City” apple full-time for Season 16, eight years after her exit. Sai De Silva, Erin Lichy and Jessel Taank return as well, mixing it up with newcomers Hailey Glassman, Erika Hammond and Daisy Toye. Expect Radziwill’s Epstein files mention to come up. The new season is streaming now on Peacock. Also on Peacock, we reunite with the staff of the Toledo Truth Teller celebrating their dominance at the Ohio Journalism Awards on “The Paper.” The full season of “The Office” spinoff, which stars Domhnall Gleeson as the newspaper’s editor-in-chief, is out now. Season 5 of “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” premieres Thursday, months after production halted amid a domestic violence investigation involving the face of #MomTok, Taylor Frankie Paul, and her ex, Dakota Mortensen. The allegations also caused Disney and ABC to cancel her “Bachelorette” season. In a new condensed season of five episodes, Paul deals with the fallout. And we see Whitney Leavitt fresh off a hit run as Roxie Hart in Broadway’s “Chicago.” Jen Affleck (who also anchors the show’s upcoming
MUSIC TO STREAM In certain corners of the internet, there appears to be a revival of ’00s rock bands. The Strokes are back; Wolf Parade’s “I’ll Believe in Anything” from their 2005 debut album “Apologies to the Queen Mary” got a huge streaming bump due to its placement in “Heated Rivalry.” Heck, new generations of
By fee simple Deed from Robert Lee Gallimore, Sr. and wife, Patricia W. Gallimore as set forth in Book 642, Page 621, dated 9-22-1997 and recorded 9-22-97, Stanly County Records, State of 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). Should the property be
Orange County spinoff), Jessi Draper, Layla Taylor, Mayci Neeley, Mikayla Matthews and Miranda Hope also return. Some recent successful young adult dramas have been set at beaches, lakes and hockey rinks. A new one called “Crew Girl” takes us to boathouses. The eight-episode show follows rower Teagan Tao (played by Miku Martineau), who joins an elite prep school’s all-boys crew team after her life is upended by a family scandal. Naturally, a love triangle develops. It debuts on Thursday on Netflix. Jessica Paré (“Mad Men”) also stars. A three-part HBO docuseries digs into the two-decade Dana Chandler case. Chandler was convicted of murdering her ex-husband and his girlfriend in a 2002 shooting. A journalist became convinced of her innocence after spending six years covering the saga, which spanned three trials and included prosecutorial misconduct. “A Killer Story” premieres Thursday on HBO Max, with new episodes dropping weekly through Sept. 24. VIDEO GAMES TO PLAY Looking to get an early jump on trick-or-treating? “Halloween: The Game,” an asymmetrical 1-vs.-4 thriller, is ready to make you scream. One player takes the role of Michael Myers, the relentless slasher from the classic 1978 movie. The other four are residents of Haddonfield, and they join forces to try to stop Mike before he splashes too much blood around their Midwestern suburb. “Halloween” comes from Colorado studio IllFonic, which has built its reputation with multiplayer games based on “Predator,” “Ghostbusters” and, well, “Killer Klowns from Outer Space.” The knives come out on PlayStation 5, Xbox X/S and PC.
property pursuant to a rental agreement entered into or renewed on or after October 1, 2007, may after receiving the notice of foreclosure sale, terminate the rental agreement by providing written notice of termination to the landlord, to be effective on a date stated in the notice that is at least 10 days but not more than 90 days, after the sale date contained in this notice of sale, provided that the mortgagor has not cured the default at the time the tenant provides the notice of termination. Upon termination of a rental agreement, the tenant is liable for rent due under the rental agreement prorated to the effective date of the termination. SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE SERVICES, INC. SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE c/o 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: 28369 - 145077
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Stanly News Journal for Wednesday, September 9, 2026
SUDOKU
OLIVE Solution to last issue’s puzzle
Solution to this issue’s puzzles
VOLUME 8 ISSUE 41 | THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2026
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THE FORSYTH COUNTY EDITION OF NORTH STATE JOURNAL
JARED LAZARUS / DUKE UNIVERSITY
“When in the course of human events …” Three copies of the Declaration of Independence from the early 1800s went on display at the Durham Public Library this week, including the engraved broadside from 1818, above, by Benjamin Owen Tyler. The exhibit at the library runs through Sept. 20 before moving to Duke’s Nasher Museum of Art until early January.
WHAT’S HAPPENING TSA brings back gate access for some people without plane tickets Las Vegas The Transportation Security Administration has launched a new program at 13 airports allowing eligible TSA PreCheck members without plane tickets to pass through security and enter the gates. This revives a tradition that largely disappeared 25 years ago after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. The program is called “Gateside by TSA PreCheck.” It’s free, but people must apply online one to three days before their planned visit and receive approval. The pass is valid for one calendar day. TSA says members of other trusted-traveler programs who have a Known Traveler Number also can apply for access.
Americans’ satisfaction with schools at low point, new poll shows A new poll shows that only 32% of Americans are satisfied with the quality of K-12 education in the country. That figure represents a low since Gallup began polling on the subject 27 years ago. Democrats are driving the recent slide, with satisfaction dropping 19 points since President Donald Trump’s second term began in 2025. But politics alone do not explain the dissatisfaction. Satisfaction has declined since the COVID-19 pandemic, and most Americans do not feel schools are doing a good job teaching skills like critical thinking and preparing
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Winston-Salem to recognize The Chatham Block as landmark The property was designed by a local architect and housed multiple historical businesses By Ryan Henkel Twin City Herald WINSTON-SALEM — The City of Winston-Salem has a new historical landmark. At the Winston-Salem City Council’s Sept. 8 meeting, a public hearing was held for the consideration of an ordinance designating The Chatham Block, located downtown at
the intersection of West Fourth and North Cherry streets, as a local historic landmark. The property includes three addresses: 301, 305 and 311 West Fourth St. To become a local historic landmark, applying properties must meet two criteria: hold special local significance; and possess historic integrity. According to Historic Resources Officer Michelle McCullough, the property has two local special significances, those being an architectural significance, as the building was designed by local architect Harold Macklin, and a
commercial significance, as it housed two historic businesses (Montaldo’s and Frank A. Stith Co.). “This is one of the only buildings (Macklin) did in this Stripped Classicism, Art Deco style,” McCullough said. “It was one of the last designs he did before the depression happened, and the building retains a lot of his character-defining features.” McCullough also argued that the building met all seven qualities of historic integrity: location, setting, feeling, association, design, materials and workmanship.
1931
Year The Chatham Block building was constructed
Following the hearing, the council unanimously approved the designation. The designation also brings tax benefits with it for the property owners. See BLOCK, page A2
Midterm elections head into home stretch as candidates hit Labor Day events With Senate control at stake, Democrats court labor union voters in key competitive races By Patrick Whittle The Associated Press PORTLAND, Maine — Troy Jackson was a longtime labor activist and logger before he unexpectedly became the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in Maine. On Monday, he returned to a union hall to tell a packed crowd that workers need to go to the polls this fall — to raise the minimum wage, expand family medical leave and show support for one another. “Labor Day has never been just another holiday,” Jackson told several hundred union members at a Southern Maine Labor Council event Monday morning in Portland. “Today, here with the people I’ve fought
alongside for years, I want to make a pledge about exactly what I’m going to do in the United States Senate.” Jackson, who became the nominee in a special convention in July, is trying to whip up support in a short period of time as he attempts to unseat longtime Republican Sen. Susan Collins in a race Democrats view as critical to winning Senate control. He was among the candidates in key November races who spent Labor Day weekend stumping at festivals, union halls and parades as the midterms enter the final weeks with control of the House and Senate on the line. Labor Day marks beginning of busy stretch of campaign season This year’s campaigns already have been combative, busy and expensive, and they
“Labor Day has never been just another holiday.” Troy Jackson, Maine Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate are expected to get even more so as a larger number of voters tune in ahead of the Nov. 3 general election. The first statewide mail ballots already went out, in North Carolina, last Friday. Some of the busiest states are the handful with competitive Senate races, such as Maine, Ohio, Georgia and Michigan. Republicans control the chamber, but Democrats see a path to taking it back if they can flip four seats and hold on in competitive states where they hold a seat.
Outside the Jackson event in Portland, Doug Born, a 64-year-old union stagehand from Westbrook, said Jackson’s background as a logger and longtime support of organized labor are reasons to support him. “I think he’d be the most working class guy in the Senate. That appeals to me,” Born said. “We need more union members in seats of power.” Collins had no events scheduled for Labor Day, but had been campaigning aggressively in the days leading up to the holiday and has several stops coming up this week. She visited shipbuilder Bath Iron Works early in the morning Sept. 1 to greet employees and promise to continue “leveraging her seniority to secure billions in destroyer contracts, infrastructure modernization, and wage See MIDTERMS, page A10
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Twin City Herald for Thursday, September 10, 2026
THURSDAY
9.10.26 #417
Alternative for Germany party wins big in regional election, falls short of majority Mainstream parties now face a difficult choice to form government without AfD
“Join the conversation” North State Journal (USPS 20451) (ISSN 2471-1365) Trip Hoffend, Publisher Jim Sills, VP of Local Newspapers Cory Lavalette, Senior Editor Jordan Golson, Local News Editor Shawn Krest, Sports Editor Dan Reeves, Features Editor Ryan Henkel, Reporter PJ Ward-Brown, Photographer BUSINESS David Guy, Advertising Manager Published each Thursday as part of North State Journal 1201 Edwards Mill Rd. Suite 300 Raleigh, NC 27607 TO SUBSCRIBE: 919-663-3232 NSJONLINE.COM Annual Subscription Price: $100.00 Periodicals Postage Paid at Raleigh, NC and at additional mailing offices POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: North State Journal 1201 Edwards Mill Rd. Suite 300 Raleigh, NC 27607
BLOCK from page A1 “This program is the one program where there is a financial benefit of up to 50% property tax deferral,” McCullough said. “That percentage is determined on what portion of the property is designated.” The property holds a current tax value of $4.045 million. Moving forward, any change made to the property will also have to go through design review by the Forsyth County Historic Resource Commission. The council also held three public hearings for the demolition and removal of structures at 2608 Stockton St., 3005 Teresa Ave. and 1511 Attucks St. The council then approved an amendment to its ordinance allowing state and federal wildlife officers to discharge rifles within the boundaries of Smith Reynolds Airport for the purpose of eliminating deer and wild turkeys, extending it by one year. The Winston-Salem City Council will next meet Sept. 21.
By Geir Moulson and Kerstin Sopke The Associated Press MAGDEBURG, Germany — The right-wing Alternative for Germany party surged to a resounding victory in a regional election Sunday but fell a little short of winning a majority in its quest to form the country’s first right-wing populist state government since World War II. The party of Germany’s unpopular leader, Chancellor Friedrich Merz, slumped to a disastrous result in the eastern state of Saxony-Anhalt. The antimigration and Russia-friendly Alternative for Germany’s candidate for governor said that “we have written history” and the party had a clear mandate to govern. Ulrich Siegmund, 35, told public broadcaster ARD that voters had sent a signal that “things cannot carry on like this.” He said that “a very good campaigner for us in this election campaign was Friedrich Merz.” AfD wanted to govern on its own Alternative for Germany, or AfD, was seeking an absolute majority in the state legislature to govern alone and overcome the so-called firewall of mainstream parties’ refusal to work with AfD. Final results showed AfD falling three seats short, with 39 lawmakers in an 83-member parliament. Siegmund said it wouldn’t engage in “games” such as a minority government. But it wasn’t evident how its divided opponents could assemble any stable government without it. A first state government would be the biggest prize in the antimigration party’s 13-year history, at a time of widespread discontent with a national government that has yet to persuade voters that it can get the country’s sluggish economy moving. Whether or not AfD ends up governing, the result is a blow to Merz, whose center-right party has led Saxony-Anhalt for 24 years. Unlike other countries in Europe, modern Germany hasn’t yet had a right-wing populist party leading a national, state or major-city government. AfD is the biggest opposi-
MIDTERMS from page A1 enhancements,” a spokesperson said in a statement. Trump hopes to whip up support this week with midterm convention
Share with your community! Send us your births, deaths, marriages, graduations and other announcements: forsythcommunity@ northstatejournal.com Weekly deadline is Monday at noon
President Donald Trump is also stepping up his own campaigning for Republicans in the coming days. His party is set to gather this week in Dallas for an atypical midterm convention, a two-day event that Trump and other Republicans hope will whip up support for the GOP, which currently controls the White House and Congress. Typically, the party in power in Washington loses seats in Congress during the midterm elections. Trump has also vowed to campaign for Republicans in important races, including Sen. Dan Sullivan in Alaska. One of Sullivan’s opponents, Democrat Mary Peltola, walked in the Fairbanks Labor Day Parade on Monday. In Ohio, Democratic Senate nominee Sherrod Brown’s Labor Day weekend campaign centered on labor unions. He attended a Labor Day festival in Lorain on Sunday and other events in the state over the weekend. Brown told the crowd at the Lorain event that “the system’s
BORIS ROESSLER / DPA VIA AP
After the projections for the state election in Saxony-Anhalt were released, members of various coalitions protested against the AfD on the Römer, including one person holding a sign that read “Anti-social, fascist, stupid!!!” in Frankfurt, Germany, on Sunday. tion party in Germany’s national parliament and is strongest in the formerly communist and less prosperous east, where Saxony-Anhalt is located. Its regional branch in Saxony-Anhalt is one of several classified as a proven right-wing extremist group by the domestic intelligence agency, which points to members’ denigration of migrants from Muslim countries among other things. The party talks of “remigration,” a politically charged term for the deportation of immigrants. Its leader in a neighboring state appealed two convictions for knowingly using a Nazi slogan. AfD vehemently rejects accusations of extremism and says they’re politically motivated. Big decline for German leader’s party AfD won 43.8% of the vote, more than double its showing five years ago in the region of 2.1 million people west of Berlin. That was far ahead of Merz’s Christian Democratic Union, which polled 17.2% — losing about half its support — and won 15 seats. The center-left Social Democrats polled 9.3%, the Greens 8.9% and the Left Party 8.6%, winning eight seats apiece. The BSW party, which has said it wouldn’t elect either Siegmund or incumbent Sven Schulze as governor but criticizes the “firewall” against AfD, took 5.3% and five seats. Turnout was very high at
rigged” against working people, and “people are working harder than ever before.” The former three-term senator is running against Republican appointee Sen. Jon Husted. At a separate Ohio event, an armed assailant charged toward Democratic candidate for Ohio governor Amy Acton during a Sunday stop at the Canfield Fair and injured several people before he was stopped by troopers, authorities said. A spokesperson for Acton’s opponent, Republican Vivek Ramaswamy, said in a statement that candidates “should be able to meet with voters without having to worry about threats or violence.” Candidates have stops planned across key states In Wisconsin, both major party candidates in one of the country’s most competitive House districts — Republican Rep. Derrick VanOrden and Democrat Rebecca Cooke — were joining a parade in the western part of the state. Democratic candidate for governor David Crowley spoke Monday at events celebrating unions and organized labor in Milwaukee and Madison, the state’s two largest cities. Crowley supports overturning a state law, passed in
“AfD is a right-wing extremist party.” Franziska Hoppermann, CDU national general secretary 77.8%. AfD appeared to have won over many people who didn’t vote at all five years ago. AfD’s national co-leader, Alice Weidel, described the result as “sensational.” She said the party’s “hand is outstretched to all who want to make Saxony-Anhalt better and move Germany forward.” It may hope to attract defectors from other parties. Schulze congratulated AfD on becoming the state’s strongest political force and said “we as the CDU will also have to deal with this result,” without specifying how. Franziska Hoppermann, the national general secretary of Merz’s party, rejected backing off its refusal to deal with AfD. “AfD is a right-wing extremist party. It wants to leave the euro; that would be economic downfall ... it works closely together with Russia, it wants a completely different social model,” she said. “We will not work with them.” Once previously AfD won a state election but didn’t end up governing. That was two years ago in neighboring Thuringia, where a CDU governor took power with a minority government, but AfD was much further short of a majority there. Any attempt by Schulze to put together an alliance
against AfD would be delicate because it would require at least some tacit support from the Left Party, a hard-left party with which the CDU refuses to form coalitions. Germany’s states have extensive powers Germany’s 16 states have extensive powers, for example in overseeing security matters and running the education system. Siegmund has listed among his top priorities “a deportation offensive” and dropping incentives for people to come to Germany and “exploit our social system.” He wants to initiate a long process to withdraw Saxony-Anhalt from the regional public broadcaster, citing concerns about “disinformation.” AfD in Saxony-Anhalt wants to allow home schooling, which so far isn’t permitted in Germany. It pledges to ban schools from officially raising the rainbow flag, which it says “stands for the devaluation of the family,” and ensure they fly the national flag. It opposes taxpayers’ money being “given away” to Ukraine and says it would push to lift sanctions against Russia, but that isn’t a matter state governments can decide. The 16 states’ governments also sit in Germany’s upper house of parliament, which has to approve some government legislation. The influence there of Saxony-Anhalt, one of the smaller states in a nation of 83.5 million people, is limited — it controls four of the 69 votes.
ROBERT F. BUKATY / AP PHOTO
Troy Jackson, the Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate who is challenging Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), seated next to former South Portland mayor Deqa Dhalac, left, speaks with attendees at the Southern Maine Labor Council breakfast Monday in South Portland, Maine. 2011, that all but eliminated collective bargaining for public workers. His Republican opponent, U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany, voted for that law when he was a member of the state Legislature. Tiffany attended a parade, a county fair and a Milwaukee-area street fair. In Michigan, Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed marched in the Detroit Labor Day Parade and will attend other union and la-
bor events throughout the day. El-Sayed is running against former Rep. Mike Rogers, who spent part of the weekend campaigning in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Iowa’s Democratic nominee for governor Rob Sand and his running mate Dave Muhlbauer attended Labor Day events in the state. Sand and Muhlbauer are running against Republicans Zach Lahn and Derek Wulf.
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Twin City Herald for Thursday, September 10, 2026
THE CONVERSATION Trip Hoffend, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor
VISUAL VOICES
COLUMN | DEBORAH WILSON
Lindsay Clancy and when justice cannot reach a verdict Any resolution must acknowledge the enormity of three children’s deaths.
SOMETIMES THE most important verdict is the one a jury cannot reach. After weeks of testimony and nearly 40 hours of deliberations, the jury in the Lindsay Clancy murder trial could not unanimously decide whether she should be held criminally responsible for the deaths of her three children. The result is a mistrial — and an extraordinarily difficult question about what happens next. The easy answer is another trial. The harder question is whether that is necessarily justice. A mistrial in a case of this magnitude carries costs that extend far beyond dollars. Prosecutors have devoted enormous resources to preparing and presenting the case. Defense attorneys have done the same. Experts have testified, medical records have been dissected, witnesses have taken the stand and court personnel have spent weeks managing a proceeding watched across the country. Now imagine doing it all again. A new jury — with knowledge of the case — must be selected. Experts must return. Witnesses must again recount painful events. Attorneys must reconstruct arguments that have already consumed weeks of courtroom time. And a family that has endured an unimaginable tragedy must once again watch the deaths of three children become the subject of testimony, argument and public debate. None of that means prosecutors should abandon the case. Cora, Dawson and Callan Clancy died violently. Their lives matter. The public has a legitimate interest in accountability, and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts has an obligation to enforce its laws. Justice cannot become a calculation in which prosecution ends simply because
another trial will be expensive or difficult. But justice has another obligation as well. It must recognize the rights of the accused. A mistrial is not a conviction. Lindsay Clancy remains entitled to the presumption and protections our criminal justice system affords every defendant, regardless of how disturbing the allegations may be. The prosecution’s burden does not become lighter because the first jury could not agree. That leaves prosecutors facing one of the most difficult exercises of discretion our system demands. They can try again, decline to retry the case or explore another option. In other words, can the parties explore whether some negotiated resolution appropriately balances accountability, public safety, mental illness and the interests of a family that has already suffered enough. A plea agreement should not be mistaken for surrender. Our criminal courts resolve cases through negotiated pleas every day. The question is not whether compromise somehow diminishes justice. The question is whether a particular resolution adequately serves it. In the Clancy case, that calculation is exceptionally difficult. Any resolution must acknowledge the enormity of three children’s deaths. It must consider public safety and society’s interest in accountability. But it must also account for the profound mental-health issues at the center of the case and the reality that a jury, after hearing the evidence and deliberating for days, could not unanimously determine criminal responsibility. Then there is the family. We frequently speak about victims and their families as though another trial automatically serves their interests. Sometimes it does. Sometimes
families desperately want another jury to hear the evidence. But another trial also asks people who have already endured unimaginable grief to return to the courtroom and experience it again. The human cost deserves a place in the calculation. So does the expenditure of public resources — not because justice has a price tag, but because government has an obligation to use finite resources responsibly. Another lengthy prosecution involving competing experts and extensive medical evidence will consume resources that cannot simultaneously be devoted elsewhere. The question is what another trial is expected to accomplish. Perhaps another jury will reach the definitive answer this jury could not. If prosecutors reasonably believe that will happen, another trial may be justified. However, there is another possibility we should be willing to confront: Twelve new jurors may listen to substantially the same evidence, confront the same agonizing questions about mental illness and criminal responsibility, and arrive at another impasse. Justice does not require endless repetition simply because the first answer was unsatisfying. Nor does mercy require abandoning accountability. Somewhere between those principles may lie a resolution that honors the lives of three innocent children, protects the public, respects the rights of the accused and spares a grieving family from being forced to relive its worst day in a courtroom. A mistrial means the jury could not find its way to a unanimous answer. What happens next will tell us something equally important: Whether our system is capable of recognizing that sometimes the pursuit of justice requires knowing not only when to keep fighting but when to search for another way. Deborah A. Wilson is a Georgetown University Law Center graduate and a practicing Northern Virginia attorney.
COLUMN | VICTOR JOECKS
Why liberty requires virtue
A people without virtue shouldn’t expect to enjoy the blessings of liberty indefinitely.
A FARMER can’t make his plants grow, but he can create the conditions that lead to their flourishing. A society can’t make its citizens virtuous, but it can nurture the institutions that lead to virtuous citizens. Great thinkers in Western civilization have long noted the importance of virtue. In “Politics,” Aristotle declared, “The best life, both for individuals and states, is the life of virtue, when virtue has external goods enough for the performance of good actions.” “Virtue then is a settled disposition of the mind determining the choice of actions and emotions, consisting essentially in the observance of the mean relative to us, this being determined by principle, that is, as the prudent man would determine it,” Aristotle wrote in “Nicomachean Ethics.” Practically, that means “virtue in a man will be the disposition which renders him a good man and also which will cause him to perform his function well.” Contained in that clunky English is a key insight. Virtue requires ascertaining truth and moving toward it with actions. This presupposes that truth is objective, not a personal possession. This fits in with an observation the great Roman statesman Cicero once made. He contrasted virtuous citizens with those who cared “more for his own interests than for those of the republic.” Perhaps you can start to see the link
between liberty and virtue. A man with the ability to do as he chooses can use that ability to oppress others. Or, as Cicero warned, he could make self-centered choices that undermine the governing system that protects liberty more broadly. Since freedom is rare, both are serious threats. A tyrannical government may compel subservience from its citizens by removing their ability to take some destructive actions. The result may look virtuous, but coercion doesn’t create virtue by compelling conformity. Our Founding Fathers talked about the importance of virtue and extended it to Christianity, the ubiquitous religion in the Colonies at the time. In 1776, John Adams declared, “The happiness of society is the end of government.” But his definition of happiness may surprise you. He wrote, “All sober enquiries after truth, ancient and modern, Pagan and Christian, have declared that the happiness of man, as well as his dignity consists in virtue.” That should make you think differently about the Declaration of Independence declaring that the “pursuit of happiness” is an unalienable right. “Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports,” former President George Washington said in his 1796 Farewell Address. “In vain would that man claim the tribute of patriotism, who should
labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness, these firmest props of the duties of men and citizens.” In a 1798 letter, Adams explained why morality and religion are essential to check human passions. Without them, human vices “would break the strongest cords of our Constitution as a whale goes through a net. Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.” The country has spent decades rejecting the virtue and Christian principles that the country was founded on. A deeply divided country only seems to agree that the government isn’t working as it should. This is a major reason why. Government can’t make individuals virtuous, but it can stop undermining the institutions, like the family and churches, that once inculcated virtue in the next generation. Government schools once taught students the Bible. Now those schools undermine parents, the country and even the notion of truth. A people without virtue shouldn’t expect to enjoy the blessings of liberty indefinitely. That’s a crisis to jump in and fix, not a foregone conclusion to observe passively. Victor Joecks is a columnist for the Las Vegas Review-Journal. (Copyright 2026 Creators.com)
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Twin City Herald for Thursday, September 10, 2026
Assad-era Syrian reactor was configured for nuclear weapons, IAEA chief says IAEA inspectors found 73 tonnes of uranium metal hidden behind walls at an undeclared site
tors also visited a previously undeclared site in the country.
By Stephanie Liechtenstein The Associated Press
Syria notified the agency of the site’s existence in a July 17 letter and invited the IAEA “to cooperate with the Syrian authorities in the inspection and verification of the site and of any nuclear material to be potentially found.” The IAEA said in its confidential report circulated to member states last Tuesday and seen by The Associated Press that this new site contained “natural uranium metal in the form of fuel rods with cladding.” The agency verified the material and confirmed “the presence of around 73 tonnes of natural uranium metal.” Grossi said when the inspectors visited the site in August they had to “tear down walls” and go through “very difficult and narrow passages” to reach the nuclear material that had been hidden. The site had “boxes scattered all over the place,” he said.
VIENNA — The Assad-era government in Syria was constructing a nuclear reactor that was configured to produce fissile material for possible use in nuclear weapons, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency said Monday. The “configuration” and the “technical features” of the nuclear reactor under construction in Syria during the leadership of ousted former President Bashar Assad were “very efficient in the production of fissile material that could be directly used for the fabrication of nuclear weapons,” IAEA director general Rafael Grossi said. “Of course, that was never declared, that was always denied, so, and again, intentions cannot be judged, but that was a very serious proliferation concern that we had, and this has been diffi-
Inspectors had to “tear down walls” to find hidden material
GHAITH ALSAYED / AP PHOTO
International Atomic Energy Agency’s director-general Rafael Mariano Grossi, left, and Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani attend a press conference in Damascus, Syria, on Aug. 18. cult work,” Grossi told reporters on the first day of a regular meeting of the IAEA Board of Governors in Vienna. Syria was believed to have operated an extensive undeclared nuclear program under Assad that included a nuclear reactor built by North Korea in eastern Deir el-Zour province. Following Assad’s ouster,
the new government agreed to give IAEA inspectors access to suspected former nuclear sites. During a visit to Syria in August, IAEA inspectors confirmed that “the cooling infrastructure which has now been uncovered is consistent with that of a nuclear reactor.” Grossi and a team of senior inspec-
Grossi said “the important thing is that this material now is under safeguards” of the IAEA, adding that agency inspectors had managed to install cameras at the location. Syria to decide what happens next Asked if the nuclear material will remain in Syria or be removed, Grossi said it is “a matter that the Syrian government will have to decide.” He added, “We are not requesting them to do this or to do that. For us what’s important is that we know all the time where this (material) is until the last gram.” Logan Mintz, a director for nuclear materials security at the Washington-based Nuclear Threat Initiative, said that natural uranium metal is not directly usable for a nuclear weapon but it could be “diverted to a covert weapons program that further processes it into plutonium for a nuclear weapon.” She said that once deemed safe to move, the material could be “transported in certified containers” to a third country that can “safely and securely disposition it into a more chemically stable and more widely used form” for possible use in nuclear power plants. “As with any transport of nuclear material, this movement would require robust security from theft or sabotage,” she said.
Tale of conquest and symbol of friendship, Bayeux Tapestry proving to be hot ticket at British Museum The tapestry reveals medieval propaganda and vivid details of 11th-century English life By Jill Lawless The Associated Press LONDON — After a wait of almost 1,000 years and a journey of hundreds of miles, the Bayeux Tapestry’s big moment is here. The embroidered panorama depicting the last successful invasion of England goes on public display at the British Museum this week, back on British soil for the first time since the 11th century. Tickets are sold out for months, and the museum expects 1 million visitors to see the tapestry before the exhibition ends in July 2027. Schoolchildren across the U.K. will get special history lessons on it. King Charles III and French President Emmanuel Macron have already had a private viewing. It’s an extraordinary level of excitement for what Prime Minister Andy Burnham jokingly called a 230-foot “reminder of one of Britain’s biggest defeats.” Story with political message Like a medieval comic strip, the tapestry tells a vivid tale of betrayal, bloodshed, suffering and conquest, depicting a pivotal moment in European history: the Norman conquest of England in 1066. It illustrates events leading up to the Battle of Hastings, when William, Duke of Normandy, defeated King Harold’s Anglo-Saxon army. The invasion made William the first Norman king of England, brought the French language and French settlers to England, and forever intertwined the two countries’ fates. Exhibition curator Michael Lewis said at a preview Monday that “1066 is the most important event in English history,” and there is a “propaganda element” stitched into the tapestry. He said it was designed to tell English people that “Harold was king, you probably weren’t crazy to follow him, but the status quo has completely changed now. William is king and you need to kind of accept the new reality.” More than just medieval propaganda The tapestry’s 58 scenes begin with English nobleman
KIN CHEUNG / AP PHOTO
People look at a poster of the Bayeux Tapestry outside the British Museum in London on Monday. Harold Godwinson traveling to France, where he swears an oath to William, perhaps agreeing to back the duke’s succession to the English throne. But when English ruler Edward the Confessor dies, Harold is crowned king, leading William to assemble a fleet and set sail for England. The final sections depict the climactic battle: archers with longbows, charging cavalry, sword-wielding knights, hand-to-hand combat and mutilated bodies. Brutal violence sits alongside domestic detail. Soldiers steal livestock, cook dinner, eat using their shields as plates, burn down an English house as a woman and child flee. People steal from the bodies of the dead. Margins at the top and bottom of the fabric brim with people, fish, dogs and winged beasts, sometimes acting as ironic commentary on the main action. It remains remarkably vivid, and would have been even more powerful for its 11th-century viewers, Lewis said. “Maybe they would even have tried to pick out themselves in the story of these events,” he said. For historians, the tapestry is an invaluable source of insight into 11th-century life: shipbuilding, fashion, cuisine, architecture, armor, even astronomy. At one point Halley’s comet streaks across the sky, as it really did in 1066.
KIN CHEUNG / AP PHOTO
The 230-foot-long Bayeux Tapestry was displayed Monday during a press preview at the British Museum in London after returning to England following a historic agreement between the UK and France. Scholars still debate its mysteries. Was the arrow that hits Harold in the eye, killing him, a later addition? A final scene, possibly depicting William’s coronation, is missing. Historians even argue about the exact number of equine and human penises on display — either 93 or 94. Leonie Hicks, professor of medieval studies at Canterbury Christ Church University, said one reason the tapestry remains so famous is because its vivid, childlike illustrations are “very meme-able.” “It can be used to comment on current politics or mark memorable events,” Hicks wrote in a blog post, noting a recent mag-
azine cover that showed Burnham on horseback advancing on his predecessor Keir Starmer, depicted as Harold with an arrow in his eye. “The margins contained Big Ben and Larry the cat,” she said. Hailed as symbol of friendship between Britain, France The tapestry was likely commissioned by William’s half brother Bishop Odo of Bayeux and has spent almost 1,000 years in the French town. But historians believe it was probably stitched by women in southeast England, not far from the
site of the battle. The king noted at a reception with Macron last week that it might just as accurately be called the Canterbury Embroidery. Governments on both sides of the Channel have hailed its loan as a symbol of a Franco-British friendship. But getting it to London took years of diplomacy. After decades of failed British requests to borrow the tapestry, an agreement was announced in 2018, delayed by COVID-19 and Brexit tensions, and finally confirmed by Macron during a state visit to the U.K. last year. Some French cultural figures, and the late British artist David Hockney, opposed the move because of the risk of damage to the fragile artifact. Insured for 960 million euros ($1.1 billion), the tapestry was nestled inside climate-controlled shockproof packaging before being transported by road and rail to the museum under police escort, arriving in the dead of night. It’s being displayed flat, in what curators say is a robust state-of-the-art case, rather than hanging as it was in Bayeux. Lewis said the “phenomenal expertise” of teams in both France and Britain had allowed it to arrive unscathed. “It has to make that trip back as well,” he said. “But we’ve learnt so much in that process. I’m confident that we’ve learned a lot that helps us be sure that going back is going to be as good.”
Forsyth SPORTS ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Ty’sire McQueen-Johnson Glenn, football Ty’sire McQueen-Johnson is a senior running back for Glenn football. He’s also a conference champion and state qualifier in hurdles and relay. The Bobcats beat Parkland 26-6 last week, and McQueen-Johnson had 187 yards on 15 carries, a 12.5 yards-per-carry average. He also scored three touchdowns, including a 65-yard run. That game followed up a 99-yard performance in a win over R.J. Reynolds the week before. For the season, McQueen-Johnson leads the Piedmont Triad 5A/6A in rushing, is third in the conference in total yards and ranks 13th in all of N.C. Class 6A in rushing.
By Beth Harris The Associated Press
ADAM HUNGER / AP PHOTO
Sisters Venus Williams, left, and Serena Williams arrive for their women’s doubles match at the U.S. Open.
Williams sisters reunite iconic doubles team at US Open The legends lost narrowly but thrilled the New York crowd By Jocelyn Noveck The Associated Press NEW YORK — “Welcome to the Williams Show,” read one fan’s sign in Arthur Ashe Stadium, as Venus and Serena Williams took the court for their doubles match, 25 years after first facing each other in the 2001 U.S. Open final. A quarter-century of playing pro tennis at a top level — at any level — is not a very common thing. And even more incredibly, the Williams sisters, now ages 46 and 44, showed they can still come agonizingly close to beating a top team that is cumulatively around half their age. In a three-set thriller that delighted a packed and vocal evening crowd, the sisters fell short only at the end, blowing a 5-0 lead in the final 10-point tiebreak to lose to Hao-Ching Chan of Taiwan and Maya Joint of Australia, 6-3, 6-7 (6), 7-6 (10-7). So it was indeed quite a thrilling show — even the sisters themselves, narrowly defeated, walked off with smiles on their faces, though they declined to speak to the media afterward. “It was an amazing match,” Joint said. “They played really well, and I think just the atmosphere on the court. ... I don’t think either of us has experienced quite like that before. And playing two legends of the game is just a super special moment that we might not get again.” The hugely entertaining evening came four years after the sisters last played doubles together at Flushing Meadows. That match came just a few
NBA suspends Clippers owner, fines team $30M, Leonard $700K for cap circumvention Los Angeles was also docked five first-round draft picks
COURTESY ROBERT B. GLENN HIGH SCHOOL / FACEBOOK
“You can do anything at any age as long as you work hard and put some effort and dedication behind it.” Serena Williams weeks after Serena Williams announced, in a poignant Vogue essay, that she was “evolving away from tennis.” Whatever the wording, though, the message was clear: Daughter Olympia really wanted to be a big sister. And Williams knew she couldn’t accomplish that and still play tennis the way she wanted. Well, Olympia got her little sister. And this year, her mom was fulfilling another of Olympia’s requests: that she play doubles again at the U.S. Open with Aunt Venus. “You need to play with Auntie VeVe,” 9-year-old Olympia told her, Serena Williams said this week on ABC’s “Good Morning America.” “She said it so clear and so calm,” Williams said. “She’s like my mom — she doesn’t really talk a lot, but when she does talk, you listen. And I was like, ‘OK.’” And so the sisters returned as a team to the tournament where Serena won six singles titles, and Venus two — one of them against Serena, who returned the favor the following year. That 2001 victory for the elder sister came a full quarter-century ago — which was enough to give fans goose bumps that this partnership is alive. They didn’t win, but they made it a close fight — thrill-
ing the crowd with some vintage volleys as they took the second set tiebreak to force a decider, then came close to winning that set. The unique nature of the evening was clear before a ball was struck, during player introductions. After a fairly routine introduction for Chan and Joint, the announcer moved on to the Williamses. “They’ve transformed and elevated the sport as we know it,” he said. “They’re two of the greatest athletes of all time.” As a doubles team, the sisters won two of their 14 Grand Slam titles at the U.S. Open — in 1999 and 2009. They last played together at Flushing Meadows in 2022, also losing in the first round. (This year, they had to scrap their appearance at Wimbledon because of Serena’s knee injury, but they played in Cincinnati last month.) But victory or defeat does not seem, for many fans, the point. The point is that they’re back in the spotlight. Green, the fan from Virginia, recalled something a former pastor had told her: “Even the sky is not the limit. You can go beyond it.” Which sounds just like the lesson Serena Williams now wants to teach her daughters — and why, four years after stepping away from tennis, she is back, at least in doubles and probably, she said on “Good Morning America,” in singles again soon. “I just really want my children to see me play at a different age,” she said. “I hope to show them that anything is possible. You can do anything at any age as long as you work hard and put some effort and dedication behind it.”
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LOS ANGELES — The NBA imposed a sweeping punishment against the Los Angeles Clippers for violating salary cap circumvention rules, suspending owner Steve Ballmer for one year, fining the team $30 million and forcing it to forfeit five first-round draft picks. Also, two-time NBA Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard was hit with a $700,000 penalty, president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank was banned for six months, and team president of business operations Gillian Zucker was suspended for one year. The Clippers will give up one first-round pick in each draft from 2029 to 2033. The league came down hard on the organization after a nearly yearlong investigation led by an outside law firm. The Clippers had said multiple times that they had done nothing wrong and expected to be exonerated. “I think that we’re going to be in the clear,” Leonard said in April, “so I’m not stressing it.” At the same time, Frank said, “If you know Steve and know Steve’s integrity, you know there’s nothing to it. We believe, and we’re very confident we’re on the right side of this.” The Clippers said they will “now fight just as hard to demonstrate our innocence. We intend to vigorously challenge these findings and penalties through every avenue available to us and look forward to an ethical and impartial arbitration process.” “I am deeply disappointed by the flagrant violations of our rules and by the Clippers’ institutional and leadership failures that led to this misconduct,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement. “The severity of the penalties reflects the seriousness of the violations.” The NBA began investigating in September 2025 whether a $28 million endorsement contract between Leonard and Aspiration Fund Adviser LLC — a company that filed for bankruptcy last year — broke league rules, following a report by journalist Pablo Torre. The Clippers released a letter from Ballmer’s attorney David Kelley to Silver in which he described the investigation as “a witch hunt” and the subsequent penalties as a “gross injustice.” Kelley accused Silver of not keeping his promises that the investigation would be governed by due process and fundamental fairness as well as the burden being on the league to prove any violations through evidence. “Mr. Ballmer’s reputation
has been irreparably damaged as he now finds himself embroiled not only in this heavily biased investigation, but in civil litigation, the Aspiration bankruptcy proceeding, and more,” Kelley wrote. Kelley wrote that no league rule prohibits team personnel making introductions to both sponsors and vendors in response to player requests. “Retroactively punishing the Clippers for violating a rule that never existed is hardly consistent with due process,” Kelley wrote. The league said Ballmer knowingly sought to help Leonard obtain off-court income deals, approved a business deal that he knew was a precondition for Aspiration to enter into an endorsement contract with Leonard, and for failing to create conditions under which his team followed league rules. “I accept full responsibility for lapses in judgment by people within my inner circle and regret the distraction this situation has caused the fans and my family,” Leonard said in a statement. The NBA said Leonard, through his former business manager and uncle Dennis Robertson, “violated the circumvention rules by pressuring the Clippers to assist him in obtaining off-court income opportunities, successfully obtaining those opportunities, and failing to reimburse payments by the Clippers for personal expenses.” “I entered into my contract with the Clippers as well as the agreements in question in good faith, fully committed to fulfilling my obligations and with no knowledge of any intent on anyone’s part to circumvent the salary cap,” Leonard said. The league said Ballmer was suspended for “knowingly seeking to help Mr. Leonard obtain off-court income opportunities,” among other issues. Leonard’s trade to the Toronto Raptors has been on hold pending the outcome of the investigation. “As I return to Toronto, I am focused on what I can control, closing this chapter, and moving forward with a clean slate,” Leonard said. The Clippers and their personnel will be under a compliance and monitoring program by the league for five years, and Robertson was banned from doing business with NBA teams for five years. The league penalized Frank for his involvement with the impermissible endorsement arrangements and for approving impermissible expenses incurred by Leonard and his family. Zucker was banned for being primarily and directly culpable for the illegal endorsement arrangements and for lying to investigators. Both will lose their salaries during their bans. Ballmer, 70, was CEO of Microsoft from 2000 to 2014.
JENNY KANE / AP PHOTO
Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard warms up before an April game.
the better pa ing to earn a stitutions,” U don’t know w now.” The outbre for millions taking virtu while also d about tuition
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Twin City Herald for Thursday, September 10, 2026
Bell passes defending Cup Series champion Larson to win Southern 500 to kick off Chase The win at Darlington snapped a nearly yearlong drought for the JGR driver
“Darlington is the epitome of NASCAR.”
By Pete Iacobelli The Associated Press
Christopher Bell
DARLINGTON, S.C. — Christopher Bell’s crazy, frustrating season of seven second-place finishes without a victory at last came to an end with a win at the Southern 500. The Joe Gibbs Racing driver passed defending Cup Series champion Kyle Larson with 18 laps left at Darlington Raceway and held on to win the Chase-opening race and break a winless stretch of 33 races dating to Bristol last September. “Darlington is the epitome of NASCAR,” Bell said. “This is better than a dream come true.” It was his first win in 15 career Cup races at Darlington and pushed him into second in the Chase standings behind teammate Denny Hamlin. “No off weeks. Right back to work next week at Gateway,” he said. “I still feel I’m going to have to win more races if I want to” win the championship. Gibbs finished second, and Tyler Reddick, a five-time winner this season, was third. Chase drivers accounted for nine of the top 10. Ryan Blaney was fourth, followed by Larson, Chase Briscoe, Josh Berry, Bubba Wallace, Joey Logano and Ryan Preece. Berry was the only non-Chase driver in that group. Crew chief Adam Stevens tried to keep Bell focused as the runner-up finishes — along with the driver’s frustration — grew. It was important for him
all 10 playoff races without eliminations. He’s still leading, 12 points in front of teammate Bell. Other Chaser issues
JASON JACKSON FOR NORTH STATE JOURNAL
Christopher Bell does a burn out to celebrate winning Sunday’s Southern 500. to understand that him finishing second wasn’t because his team wasn’t doing everything it could to succeed. “You have to really come into each weekend with a clean slate, and he’s done a fantastic job with that,” Stevens said. Larson gambled during the sixth and final caution, staying on the track while other competitors, including Bell, went into the pits for fresh tires. And for a bit, Larson’s bet looked like it might pay off as he opened a sizeable lead on the restart and forced Bell and the others to come get him. Bell eventually did, moving low on the track to put Larson in his rearview mirror.
Larson thought more racers would’ve stayed out of the pits on the final caution to give him some cover and distance before the fresh-tire drivers got going. “But Bell got to second so fast, I was straight into defense,” Larson said. “Not able to run the lines I ultimately wanted to take care of my tires.” Hamlin’s troubles Hamlin, the top seed in the Cup Series’ Chase, had started the final stage in the top five when he got hit from behind on lap 237 by Michael McDowell and his car struck the wall in turn four. Hamlin immediately told his
crew, “The toe links are gone.” But the incident did not draw a caution and Hamlin had to keep racing, falling to 20th as he and his pit crew waited for the chance to fix the damaged Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota. While the toe links were not damaged, there were extensive repairs and Hamlin was a lap down. He finished 18th. “It was certainly not the finish we were hoping for,” Hamlin said. “We certainly made gains on it all day.” Hamlin came into the race with a 25-point lead over second-seeded Ryan Blaney. The rules of the Cup Series’ postseason changed this year, with all 16 drivers competing in
Hamlin wasn’t the only one of the 16 Chase competitors to have problems. Hendrick Motorsports’ William Byron was in position for a top-10 finish when he spun out with what he believed was a flat tire. After a trip to the pits, smoke billowed out of Byron’s Chevrolet, and he went back to the garage to end his day. Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing had high hopes with two of its three drivers, Chris Buescher and Ryan Preece, in the Chase. But Buescher could not gain any momentum at Darlington and rode in the back of the pack for most of the way. Preece, who won his way into the postseason with a victory at Daytona last week, pledged to continue to be aggressive because, as the 16th seed, his team had nothing to lose. That strategy worked well as he rode in the top 10 for most of the first half of the race. He couldn’t sustain it, though, and ended 10th. And while 23XI co-owner Michael Jordan watched from the pits, his two Chase drivers, Reddick and Wallace, went from running 1-2 at the end of the first stage to falling out of the mix down the stretch.
JASON JACKSON FOR NORTH STATE JOURNAL
The field speeds past pit row during the Southern 500 at Darlington.
Smith, 2-time All-America DB at Wake Forest, dead at 40 The former NFL player apparently left a farewell note on social media
“Do not cry for me!” Alphonso Smith’s Facebook post
The Associated Press PAHOKEE, Fla. — Alphonso Smith, a two-time All-America defensive back who played in the NFL for four seasons, has died. He was 40. Smith died last Wednesday, according to Wake Forest, which was informed by his family. The school’s release last Thursday afternoon didn’t reveal a cause of death. The Associated Press contacted the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office in Florida earlier last Thursday seeking to confirm Smith’s death. In an emailed statement responding to that inquiry, the office said sheriff’s deputies had responded to a Pahokee address “in reference to a suicide attempt” last Wednesday afternoon. “An adult male was transported to the hospital where he succumbed to his inju-
PAUL SANCYA / AP PHOTO
Detroit Lions defensive back Alphonso Smith kneels before a 2012 practice. ries,” the sheriff’s office stated. Smith appeared to post on his Facebook account last Wednesday, lamenting his mental health challenges, apologizing and asking for forgiveness. “Do not cry for me!” a post read on his account. “I tried ev-
erything in my power to fight the demons behind the ones that someone put into ME! I did not want to be that WAY! I know I have disappointed so many folks. This is a DEMON in me! But not only me! It’s EVERYONE! I have HURT so many! I
needed help & did not get it! I am so sorry!” Smith apologized to his children in the note and suggested that trauma from his childhood had caused him mental anguish. “I pray my soul rest in heaven for my heart is pure,” he said. Denver drafted the former Wake Forest star in the second round of the 2009 NFL Draft. After playing in 15 games for the Broncos, returning punts and kickoffs, he was traded to Detroit shortly before the 2010 season. Smith played in 33 games, including 11 starts, over the next two seasons with the Lions and had eight interceptions, returning two for touchdowns. The Lions released him just before the 2012 season, signed him later that year and cut him
again after he played in four games as a backup. Smith went to Pahokee High School in his hometown, where he helped the football team win a Florida state title as a two-way star playing quarterback and defensive back in 2003. He redshirted as a freshman at Wake Forest and went on to become a key player for the program over the next four seasons. Smith was a first-team AP All-America defensive back in 2008 and a third-team All-America in 2007. After playing in 44 NFL games over four years, he worked as a sideline reporter for Wake Forest football games during the 2013 season when he was also an assistant high school coach in nearby Winston-Salem. Smith was a head high school football coach in Moore Haven, Florida, and Pahokee High School, where he was also dean of students in charge of discipline, according to his LinkedIn account. His last listed job was director of marketing for a South Florida family physician.
Twin City Herald for Thursday, September 10, 2026
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the stream
EVAN AGOSTINI / INVISION / AP PHOTO
The “Call My Agent” team celebrate their best comedy award win at the 49th International Emmy Awards at Casa Cipriani in 2021 in New York. The hit show takes on movie form on Netflix this week.
‘The Paper,’ ‘Call My Agent!’ Bloc Party, ‘Halloween’ game Welsh band the Tubs drops “Hard Life” The Associated Press THE SECOND season of “The Paper” and a new album from Bloc Party are some of the new television, films, music and games headed to a device near you. Also, among the streaming offerings worth your time this week, as selected by The Associated Press’ entertainment journalists: a new “Call My Agent!” movie, a new season of “The Real Housewives of New York” and a multiplayer game based on the “Halloween” slasher films. MOVIES TO STREAM The clever French series “Call My Agent!” has been revived as a movie that starts streaming on Netflix on Thursday. Camille Cottin’s Andréa Martel is no longer an agent but a film director overseeing a disastrous production. Guy Lodge, in his review for Variety, wrote that, “Fleet and fast-talking and packed, as ever, with Gallic industry in-jokes and celebrity cameos, Émilie Noblet’s film can hardly fail to please longtime fans.” Henry Cavill, Jake Gyllenhaal and Eiza González star in the Guy Ritchie action pic “In the Grey” about a lawyer and some mercenaries on an impossible mission to retrieve $1 billion. It received mostly mixed reviews and had the misfortune of opening around the same time as the box office phenomenon “Obsession,” but like many Ritchie joints it has its defenders too: An easy bit of action entertainment, coming to Starz and its streaming service Saturday.
OWEN SWEENEY / INVISION / AP PHOTO
Kele Okereke of Bloc Party performs in concert as the opening act for Muse on July 28 at the Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, Maryland. Crown.” That release, a messy mosaic of jangly indiepop and ’80s college rock that was full of gorgeous songs about grief, was great. Its latest, “Hard Life,” may be even greater. At the very least, it confirms The Tubs’ position as one of the principal indie rock bands of the moment. These are impatient pop songs that span a range of emotions, somewhere between empathy and feeling pathetic. Delicious! SERIES TO STREAM
HBO VIA AP
MUSIC TO STREAM
Dana Chandler appears in a scene from the docuseries “A Killer Story.”
In certain corners of the internet, there appears to be a revival of ’00s rock bands. The Strokes are back; Wolf Parade’s “I’ll Believe in Anything” from their 2005 debut album “Apologies to the Queen Mary” got a huge streaming bump due to its placement in “Heated Rival-
ry.” Heck, new generations of listeners are discovering TV on the Radio’s “Wolf Like Me” because of its use in “Spider-Man: Brand New Day.” Hopefully love for the era will extend to the English band Bloc Party, whose new album “Anatomy of a Brief
Romance” arrives Friday. It’s the kind of dance-y post-punk the band has long hung its hat on, made modern. The Tubs first graced this weekly fixture in 2025, ahead of the London-based Welsh band’s sophomore album “Cotton
Carole Radziwill reclaims her “The Real Housewives of New York City” apple full-time for Season 16, eight years after her exit. Sai De Silva, Erin Lichy and Jessel Taank return as well, mixing it up with newcomers Hailey Glassman, Erika Hammond and Daisy Toye. Expect Radziwill’s Epstein files mention to come up. The new season is streaming now on Peacock. Also on Peacock, we reunite with the staff of the Toledo Truth Teller celebrating their dominance at the Ohio Journalism Awards on “The Paper.”
The full season of “The Office” spinoff, which stars Domhnall Gleeson as the newspaper’s editor-in-chief, is out now. Season 5 of “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” premieres Thursday, months after production halted amid a domestic violence investigation involving the face of #MomTok, Taylor Frankie Paul, and her ex, Dakota Mortensen. The allegations also caused Disney and ABC to cancel her “Bachelorette” season. In a new condensed season of five episodes, Paul deals with the fallout. And we see Whitney Leavitt fresh off a hit run as Roxie Hart in Broadway’s “Chicago.” Jen Affleck (who also anchors the show’s upcoming Orange County spinoff), Jessi Draper, Layla Taylor, Mayci Neeley, Mikayla Matthews and Miranda Hope also return. Some recent successful young adult dramas have been set at beaches, lakes and hockey rinks. A new one called “Crew Girl” takes us to boathouses. The eight-episode show follows rower Teagan Tao (played by Miku Martineau), who joins an elite prep school’s all-boys crew team after her life is upended by a family scandal. Naturally, a love triangle develops. It debuts on Thursday on Netflix. Jessica Paré (“Mad Men”) also stars. A three-part HBO docuseries digs into the two-decade Dana Chandler case. Chandler was convicted of murdering her ex-husband and his girlfriend in a 2002 shooting. A journalist became convinced of her innocence after spending six years covering the saga, which spanned three trials and included prosecutorial misconduct. “A Killer Story” premieres Thursday on HBO Max, with new episodes dropping weekly through Sept. 24. VIDEO GAMES TO PLAY Looking to get an early jump on trick-or-treating? “Halloween: The Game,” an asymmetrical 1-vs.-4 thriller, is ready to make you scream. One player takes the role of Michael Myers, the relentless slasher from the classic 1978 movie. The other four are residents of Haddonfield, and they join forces to try to stop Mike before he splashes too much blood around their Midwestern suburb. “Halloween” comes from Colorado studio IllFonic, which has built its reputation with multiplayer games based on “Predator,” “Ghostbusters” and, well, “Killer Klowns from Outer Space.” The knives come out on PlayStation 5, Xbox X/S and PC.
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Twin City Herald for Thursday, September 10, 2026
STATE & NATION
Rescue satellite gets close to NASA’s doomed telescope, even if it can’t save it The $30 million rescue attempt failed but provided valuable data for future satellite servicing
Katalyst Space Technologies’ Link robotic servicing spacecraft orbits Earth on Aug. 24.
By Marcia Dunn The Associated Press CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — A private spacecraft that was supposed to provide a lifeline to NASA’s Swift Observatory managed to get close to the sinking telescope and even snap photos two weeks after the rescue was abandoned. But the three-armed robotic salvager had to turn away because it was low on fuel, according to Katalyst Space Technologies, which attempted the daring operation. “We got so close but so far,” Katalyst CEO Ghonhee Lee told The Associated Press this week. Katalyst’s Link spacecraft got within nine miles of Swift last Tuesday, using its sensors to gather data on the doomed telescope for NASA. The rescue effort had already been called off in August because of Link’s own troubles in orbit, but the company wanted the practice for future satellite-servicing missions. Link went into an uncontrollable spin soon after rocketing to Swift’s rescue in July. Flight controllers managed to slow the tumble and stabilize the spacecraft, using up precious fuel. In the end, there was not enough fuel remaining to boost the aging Swift into a higher, longer-lasting orbit so it could continue observing the cosmos.
KATALYST SPACE VIA AP
Lee blamed Link’s problems on the rush to get it flying. The mission was put together in just nine months, and engineers often had to use whatever was available instead of waiting for the preferred parts, he said. NASA paid the company $30 million to carry out the attempt, which was always going to be rushed. Both sides viewed it as an experiment with little to lose, although no one wanted a collision that would unleash clouds of space debris. “Unfortunately, it wasn’t the outcome that we were expecting,” NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said following Sunday’s launch of the
Roman Space Telescope. “But that’s exactly the type of missions that we should be flying at NASA. We will learn from that.” Isaacman said it makes sense to extend the life of a valuable spacecraft, especially if salvaging it costs less than replacing it. That is why the Roman telescope was designed to be refueled even though it is headed toward an observation point 1 million miles away. It is unlikely that Link has enough fuel left to attempt another close approach to Swift, according to Lee. But it can continue exercising its three 3-foot arms and providing important data before it reen-
ters the atmosphere and burns up in the next few weeks, he said. Launched in 2004, Swift has a little more time remaining in orbit, depending on how active the sun is. Intense solar storms in recent years are responsible for bringing the telescope down much sooner than expected. As of Friday, its orbit had dropped to 208 miles, barely half as high as when it set out to scan some of the biggest explosions in the universe. NASA anticipates Swift will plunge through the atmosphere sometime between October and the end of the year. The space agency resumed observations with the telescope last
Federal investigators probe Amazon cargo jet’s fiery runway crash that killed 5 in Miami Investigators suspect tail winds and a delayed touchdown prevented the plane from braking safely
By David Fischer, Marc Levy and Jeffrey Collins The Associated Press MIAMI — The five people killed when an Amazon cargo jet ran off a runway at Miami International Airport were all inside a van carrying seven people from a cleaning company and an SUV hit outside of airport property, National Transportation Safety Board Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy said Monday. Homendy didn’t detail how many people were in the SUV or where the dead were located. Homendy called the scene of Sunday’s crash “utter devastation.” She walked the route the Boeing 767 followed, noting tire marks from the pavement into the grass, a destroyed van carrying the cleaning crew, torn fencing, navigational equipment, and a crushed SUV outside airport property. Federal investigators examining why the jet barreled off the runway and into vehicles, killing at least five people, are likely to focus on a crucial moment in the landing: whether the plane touched down too late to stop safely. Video of Sunday’s landing appears to show the Boeing 767 remaining airborne well down the runway before touching down. Aviation experts said investigators will seek to determine exactly where the plane landed, whether it was beyond the normal touchdown zone, and why the pilots did not abandon the landing.
LYNNE SLADKY / AP PHOTO
An Amazon cargo plane sits at Miami International Airport on Monday after it overshot the runway and killed five people on Sunday. Investigators will also examine the plane’s speed and braking, weather and wind conditions, the aircraft’s mechanical condition and other factors that could have contributed to the deadly overrun. The aircraft overran the runway around 2 p.m. Sunday after arriving from San Juan, Puerto Rico, and plowed across a road used by warehouse workers and other businesses that surround the airport. Five people died, three were critically injured and two others were hospitalized with less severe injuries, officials said. The crash, which sent thick black smoke billowing into the sky, trapped the pilot and copilot in the cockpit and some occupants in cars, said Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Chief Ray Jadallah. The agency said crews also had to extricate a person who was trapped under a vehicle. The typical landing zone
“A tail wind would certainly add to your troubles if you’ve already given up a good chunk of the runway by not touching down and landing right away.” Mary Schiavo, pilot and former Transportation Department inspector general for a plane is within the first 3,000 feet of a runway, experts said. If the cargo jet was beyond that area, it should have aborted the landing and gone around for another try, aviation safety expert Steve Arroyo said. Mary Schiavo, who is a pilot and former inspector general of the Transportation Department, said video posted online
shows the Amazon plane floating above the runway for an extended period without flaring the nose upward to force the main landing gear onto the ground. It wasn’t raining at the time, but dark storm clouds loomed and strong winds were reported. Schiavo said that if the plane had a tail wind, that could have contributed to it floating further down the runway. “A tail wind would certainly add to your troubles if you’ve already given up a good chunk of the runway by not touching down and landing right away,” Schiavo said. The Miami airport is not equipped with arresting systems the FAA says have been installed at more than 120 airports nationwide to safely stop planes that do go past the end of a runway. Those beds of lightweight, crushable material at the end of a runway have been credited by the FAA with helping save at least 497 lives aboard planes that overran runways. Miami’s airport appears to be in compliance and wasn’t required to have an arresting system because it has a 1,000-foot safety buffer at the end of its runways, said Mike O’Donnell, the FAA’s former director of airport safety and accident investigations. The requirement was prompted by American Airlines Flight 1420 overrunning a runway at Little Rock National Airport in Arkansas in 1999, killing nine. The Prime Air plane came to rest beside a roadway near two semitrucks, images showed. The aircraft appeared to be resting on its belly and was largely intact despite the fire.
week after halting them early this year to conserve precious power. Like Swift’s, the Hubble Space Telescope’s orbit also has been lowered by solar activity. Katalyst is developing a next-generation spacecraft that could boost the 36-year-old Hubble into a longer-lasting orbit. “Hubble does still have a few years of life yet, right? So the good news is this isn’t imminent,” Lee said. Servicing old telescopes and other satellites used to be “a very, very niche concept,” he added, “and we believe it’s going to become more and more commonplace.”
The flight had been operated by 21 Air, a cargo carrier based in North Carolina. The 32-year-old Boeing 767 was originally built to carry passengers and flew for several airlines for more than two decades before being converted to a cargo plane in 2015, according to flight-tracking site Flightradar24. Schiavo said the NTSB will also closely examine the maintenance history of the plane — particularly since it has a history of foreign ownership, including by a Russian company. The crash halted flights at the busy travel hub for much of Sunday afternoon and continued to hamper air travel into Monday. Miami International Airport said that two of its four runways remained closed Monday and that operations were to be affected throughout the day because of aircraft and flight crews not arriving there due to Sunday’s cancellations after the crash. An airport spokesperson said there were 160 cancellations and more than 300 delayed flights Sunday, plus another 69 canceled flights Monday through mid-afternoon. Flight tracking sites were reporting widespread delays at the airport. Amazon said in a statement that it would cooperate with any investigation. “We’re heartbroken to learn that five people lost their lives in today’s incident at Miami International Airport,” the company said. “Our deepest sympathies go out to the families, loved ones, and all those affected by this devastating loss.” Last year, a UPS plane crashed after losing its engine while accelerating down the runway at Louisville’s Muhammad Ali International Airport. The crash killed all three pilots and 12 people on the ground. Twenty-three more were injured.
VOLUME 11 ISSUE 29 | THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2026 | RANDOLPHRECORD.COM
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Randolph record THE RANDOLPH COUNTY EDITION OF NORTH STATE JOURNAL
PJ WARD-BROWN / RANDOLPH RECORD
Downed power lines closed a section of Salisbury Street near the intersection of North Elm Street and East Salisbury Street on Sunday in Asheboro.
WHAT’S HAPPENING TSA brings back gate access for some people without plane tickets Las Vegas The Transportation Security Administration has launched a new program at 13 airports allowing eligible TSA PreCheck members without plane tickets to pass through security and enter the gates. This revives a tradition that largely disappeared 25 years ago after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. The program is called “Gateside by TSA PreCheck.” It’s free, but people must apply online one to three days before their planned visit and receive approval. The pass is valid for one calendar day. TSA says members of other trusted-traveler programs who have a Known Traveler Number also can apply for access.
Americans’ satisfaction with schools at low point, new poll shows A new poll shows that only 32% of Americans are satisfied with the quality of K-12 education in the country. That figure represents a low since Gallup began polling on the subject 27 years ago. Democrats are driving the recent slide, with satisfaction dropping 19 points since President Donald Trump’s second term began in 2025. But politics alone do not explain the dissatisfaction. Satisfaction has declined since the COVID-19 pandemic, and most Americans do not feel schools are doing a good job teaching skills like critical thinking and preparing students for jobs.
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Asheboro cleans up following storm damage The city went into a state of emergency because of power outages and road closures By Bob Sutton Randolph Record ASHEBORO — Storm damage struck Asheboro hard during the weekend and resulted in a state of emergency declared in the city Sunday. Saturday’s storms knocked down trees throughout the area. Some streets were unpassable, with city officials saying more than 40 streets were affected. Thousands of residents expe-
rienced power outages. At one point Saturday, outage maps showed more than 9% of customers were without power. Broken power poles on West Beasley Street and Southway Street kept parts of those streets closed the longest, the city reported. By Sunday morning, there were nearly 150 calls made to emergency services in Randolph County. The number of calls was growing. Reports from the City of Asheboro said about 20% of the wastewater pump stations were operating on backup generators. The water treatment system, including
Lake Lucas and the Water Treatment Plant, operated on backup power sources. The brunt of the storm hit from mid- to late-afternoon Saturday. Local weather reports listed wind speeds reaching or exceeding 60 mph. City crews aimed to clean up downed trees on streets by Sunday. During the afternoon, there were still areas without power. In some cases, replacement poles and service lines were needed. The City of Asheboro has provided a link on its official website for residents to report damages to their home or busi-
ness. Randolph County has provided a similar link and is seeking similar information from residents impacted. City officials are also warning of potential scams related to clean-up from the storm. They suggest contacting the Asheboro Police Department or Randolph County Sheriff’s Office to verify approved assistance providers. It was the second day in a row that parts of Randolph County were hit hard by storms. There was damage in the northern part of the county Friday when late-afternoon storms created havoc in those areas. Downed trees on power lines were among the problems. Power outages forced the postponement of two high school football games — at Randleman and Providence Grove — that were scheduled against in-county opponents because power was out at the respective stadiums.
Midterm elections head into home stretch as candidates hit Labor Day events With Senate control at stake, Democrats court labor union voters in key competitive races By Patrick Whittle The Associated Press PORTLAND, Maine — Troy Jackson was a longtime labor activist and logger before he unexpectedly became the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in Maine. On Monday, he returned to a union hall to tell a packed crowd that workers need to go to the polls this fall — to raise the minimum wage, expand family medical leave and show support for one another. “Labor Day has never been just another holiday,” Jackson told several hundred union members at a Southern Maine Labor Council event Monday morning in Portland. “Today, here with the people I’ve
fought alongside for years, I want to make a pledge about exactly what I’m going to do in the United States Senate.” Jackson, who became the nominee in a special convention in July, is trying to whip up support in a short period of time as he attempts to unseat longtime Republican Sen. Susan Collins in a race Democrats view as critical to winning Senate control. He was among the candidates in key November races who spent Labor Day weekend stumping at festivals, union halls and parades as the midterms enter the final weeks with control of the House and Senate on the line. Labor Day marks beginning of busy stretch of campaign season This year’s campaigns already have been combative, busy and expensive, and they
“Labor Day has never been just another holiday.” Troy Jackson, Maine Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate are expected to get even more so as a larger number of voters tune in ahead of the Nov. 3 general election. The first statewide mail ballots already went out, in North Carolina, last Friday. Some of the busiest states are the handful with competitive Senate races, such as Maine, Ohio, Georgia and Michigan. Republicans control the chamber, but Democrats see a path to taking it back if they can flip four seats and hold on in competitive states where they hold a seat.
Outside the Jackson event in Portland, Doug Born, a 64-year-old union stagehand from Westbrook, said Jackson’s background as a logger and longtime support of organized labor are reasons to support him. “I think he’d be the most working class guy in the Senate. That appeals to me,” Born said. “We need more union members in seats of power.” Collins had no events scheduled for Labor Day, but had been campaigning aggressively in the days leading up to the holiday and has several stops coming up this week. She visited shipbuilder Bath Iron Works early in the morning Sept. 1 to greet employees and promise to continue “leveraging her seniority to secure billions in destroyer contracts, infrastructure modernization, and wage enhancements,” See MIDTERMS, page A2
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Randolph Record for Thursday, September 10, 2026
THURSDAY
9.10.26
Scientists studying cockroach Randolph milk, nose-blowing win Ig Guide Nobel prizes for quirky science Here’s a quick look at what’s coming up in Randolph County.
By Adithi Ramakrishnan The Associated Press
“Join the conversation”
North State Journal (USPS 20451) (ISSN 2471-1365)
TEN RESEARCH teams were honored last Thursday at a satirical science awards ceremony that was hosted outside the U.S. for the first time due to travel concerns. Researchers who studied milk from cockroaches and an-
alyzed soil health using underwear received Ig Nobel prizes celebrating unusual and imaginative contributions to science. The awards organized by a digital magazine called the Annals of Improbable Research shifted to Europe after 35 years in the United States over concerns about at-
tendees being able to get visas. At a convention center in Zurich, research teams received a custom trophy resembling a cross between a mushroom and a human foot. For future ceremonies, organizers plan to alternate between Zurich and other European countries. Antwerp, Belgium, will host the 2027 ceremony.
Asheboro PD for trafficking in methamphetamine; possession with intent to manufacture, sell or deliver methamphetamine; and felony possession of a controlled substance, and other charges.
second-degree trespass.
Randolph Record (ISSN 2768-5268) Trip Hoffend Publisher Jim Sills VP of Local Newspapers Cory Lavalette Senior Editor Jordan Golson Local News Editor Bob Sutton Randolph Editor Shawn Krest Sports Editor Dan Reeves Features Editor Lauren Rose Design Editor Ryan Henkel Reporter PJ Ward-Brown Photographer BUSINESS David Guy, Advertising Manager Published each Thursday as part of North State Journal 1201 Edwards Mill Rd. Suite 300 Raleigh, NC 27607 TO SUBSCRIBE: 919-663-3232 RANDOLPHRECORD.COM Annual Subscription Price: $100.00 Periodicals Postage Paid at Raleigh, NC and at additional mailing offices POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: North State Journal 1201 Edwards Mill Rd. Suite 300 Raleigh, NC 27607
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CRIME LOG Aug. 31 • Tevin Reece Pope, 34, of Trinity, was arrested by RCSO for resisting a public officer. • Courtney Capel, 36, of Archdale, was arrested by Archdale PD for communicating threats, violation of a domestic violence protective order and littering, and other charges. • Juan Carlos Ramos-Garrido, 43, of Asheboro, was arrested by NCHP for driving while impaired, no operator’s license and driving left of center, and other charges. • Kendrell Dontea Mathis, 29, of Statesville, was arrested by RCSO for felony possession of a controlled substance and possession of a controlled substance on prison or jail premises. Sept. 1 • Ryan Michael Barker, 37, of Asheboro, was arrested by Asheboro PD for violation of a domestic violence protective order. • Arianna R. Conner, 22, of Randleman, was arrested by RCSO for assault inflicting serious injury with a minor present, a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence and simple assault. • Cayden Sully Joyce, 21, of Asheboro, was arrested by RCSO for seconddegree sexual exploitation of a minor. • Randall Lynn Lucas, 62, of Asheboro, was arrested by RCSO for non-support of a child. • Nathan Ray Rich, 48, of Asheboro, was arrested by Asheboro PD for larceny after breaking and entering, possession of stolen goods or property and injury to real property, and other charges. • Justin Matthew Santiago, 34, of Asheboro, was arrested by Asheboro PD for felony possession of cocaine. • Joshua Harris Smith, 32, of Randleman, was arrested by Asheboro PD for second-degree trespass.
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• Joshua Daniel Stallings, 33, of Asheboro, was arrested by Asheboro PD for second-degree trespass. • Alberto Diaz Uribe, 28, of Asheboro, was arrested by Asheboro PD for felony conspiracy, carrying a concealed gun and simple possession of a controlled substance, and other charges. Sept. 2 • Denali Za’Mareon Stanback, 21, of Asheboro, was arrested by RCSO for disclosing private images of an adult. • Eber Arroyo, 29, of Seagrove, was arrested by Asheboro PD for reckless driving to endanger and no operator’s license. • Tabitha Elizabeth Hall, 36, of Franklinville, was arrested by
• Max Gray Harris, 31, of Asheboro, was arrested by RCSO for assault on a female and a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence. • Janice Glover Headen, 59, of Seagrove, was arrested by Asheboro PD for driving while impaired, trafficking in fentanyl and possession with intent to sell or deliver cocaine, and other charges. • Samuel Richard Spivey, 39, of Yadkinville, was arrested by RCSO for communicating threats, a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence and injury to real property, and other charges. • Stacy Lynn Crouse West, 42, of Archdale, was arrested by Davidson Correctional Center for violation of a domestic violence protective order. • Hunter Dylan Auldon Whitcher, 28, of Ramseur, was arrested by Asheboro PD for trafficking in methamphetamine; possession with intent to manufacture, sell or deliver a controlled substance; and possession of drug paraphernalia, and other charges. Sept. 3 • Trevor Wayne Allred, 25, of Randleman, was arrested by RCSO for contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile. • Devante Martrez Deaton, 34, of Asheboro, was arrested by Asheboro PD for possession of fentanyl and possession of drug paraphernalia. • Darwin Dephray Hemmingway, 38, of Denton, was arrested by RCSO for domestic criminal trespass, possession of marijuana paraphernalia and resisting a public officer. • Khaled Mohammed Mohammed Abdo, 35, of Asheboro, was arrested by Asheboro PD for possession with intent to manufacture, sell or deliver a controlled substance; sale or delivery of a controlled substance; and maintaining a vehicle or dwelling for controlled substances. • Lauren Grace Mullins, 23, of Trinity, was arrested by Davidson County Jail/ Lexington for simple assault. • Tricia Cranford Needham, 36, of Asheboro, was arrested by RCSO for possession of methamphetamine. • James Adam Perdue, 44, of Randleman, was arrested by N.C. Probation and Parole for possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia. Sept. 4 • Roberto Cordova, 39, of Ramseur, was arrested by RCSO for
• Aaron Jarod Goins, 30, of Troy, was arrested by Asheboro PD for possession with intent to manufacture, sell or deliver a controlled substance; felony possession of a controlled substance; and possession of marijuana paraphernalia, and other charges. • Stacy Renae Richardson, 53, of Randleman, was arrested by RCSO for assault with a deadly weapon. • Savannah Shea Rushing, 25, of Asheboro, was arrested by Asheboro PD for felony larceny, financial card theft and possession of stolen goods or property. • Mason Ray Simmons, 32, of Thomasville, was arrested by Asheboro PD for assault inflicting serious bodily injury. Sept. 5 • Julie Comer, 21, of Archdale, was arrested by Archdale PD for simple assault and a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence. • Charles Raymond Conaway, 24, of Greensboro, was arrested by NCHP for driving while impaired, failure to heed a light or siren and speeding, and other charges. Sept. 6 • Aaron Michael Dunn, 33, of Liberty, was arrested by Liberty PD for felony breaking and entering, larceny after breaking and entering and possession of burglary tools, and other charges. • Jonah Michael Gemme, 21, of Thomasville, was arrested by Asheboro PD for driving while impaired, carrying a concealed weapon and simple possession of a controlled substance, and other charges.
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MIDTERMS from page B1 a spokesperson said in a statement. Trump hopes to whip up support this week with midterm convention President Donald Trump is also stepping up his own campaigning for Republicans in the coming days. His party is set to gather this week in Dallas for an atypical midterm convention, a two-day event that Trump and other Republicans hope will whip up support for the GOP, which currently controls the White House and Congress. Typically, the party in power in Washington loses seats in Congress during the midterm elections. Trump has also vowed to campaign for Republicans in important races, including Sen. Dan Sullivan in Alaska. One of Sullivan’s opponents, Democrat Mary Peltola, walked in the Fairbanks Labor Day Parade on Monday. In Ohio, Democratic Senate nominee Sherrod Brown’s Labor Day weekend campaign centered on labor unions. He attended a Labor Day festival
in Lorain on Sunday and other events in the state over the weekend. Brown told the crowd at the Lorain event that “the system’s rigged” against working people, and “people are working harder than ever before.” The former three-term senator is running against Republican appointee Sen. Jon Husted. At a separate Ohio event, an armed assailant charged toward Democratic candidate for Ohio governor Amy Acton during a Sunday stop at the Canfield Fair and injured several people before he was stopped by troopers, authorities said. A spokesperson for Acton’s opponent, Republican Vivek Ramaswamy, said in a statement that candidates “should be able to meet with voters without having to worry about threats or violence.” Candidates have stops planned across key states In Wisconsin, both major party candidates in one of the country’s most competitive House districts — Republican Rep. Derrick VanOrden and Democrat Rebecca Cooke — were joining a parade in
9/11 Patriot Day Ceremony Noon The Randolph County Sheriff’s Office and Emergency Services will hold its third annual ceremony marking the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks. East Side Fire Department Chief Eric Hoffman and Pastor Mark Wilburn of Balfour Baptist Church will speak, and a fire truck from Elizabeth, New Jersey, carrying a piece of Sept. 11 history will be on display. Randolph County Sheriff’s Office 727 McDowell Road Asheboro
The British Invaders Live in Concert 7:30 p.m. The 1960s British rock tribute act comes to town. Tickets are $15. Sunset Theatre 234 Sunset Ave. Asheboro
Sept. 12 Run to Victory 5K and Fun Run 9 a.m.
• Michael Vincent Gramazio, 43, of Archdale, was arrested by Archdale PD for misdemeanor crime of domestic violence, assault on a female and simple assault.
Victory Junction hosts the event for the 21st time, with participants able to run, walk, roll or stroll to raise money to send children with serious medical conditions to camp. Organizers are aiming to raise $125,000, enough to fund camp for 50 children.
• Alex Marshall Miller, 29, of Ramseur, was arrested by RCSO for misdemeanor crime of domestic violence and assault on a female.
Victory Junction 4500 Adam’s Way Randleman
• Scott Matthew Perry, 28, of Liberty, was arrested by Liberty PD for felony breaking and entering, larceny after breaking and entering and possession of burglary tools, and other charges.
The Malpass Brothers in Concert
• Jairo Pulido, 23, of Greensboro, was arrested by RCSO for possession of drug paraphernalia and resisting a public officer.
The classic country duo performs live.
• Jessica Marie Styers, 36, of Asheboro, was arrested by Asheboro PD for second-degree trespassing. • Jasmine Celeste Trogdon, 21, of Ramseur, was arrested by RCSO for misdemeanor crime of domestic violence and simple assault.
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the western part of the state. Democratic candidate for governor David Crowley spoke Monday at events celebrating unions and organized labor in Milwaukee and Madison, the state’s two largest cities. Crowley supports overturning a state law, passed in 2011, that all but eliminated collective bargaining for public workers. His Republican opponent, U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany, voted for that law when he was a member of the state Legislature. Tiffany attended a parade, a county fair and a Milwaukee-area street fair. In Michigan, Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed marched in the Detroit Labor Day Parade and will attend other union and labor events throughout the day. El-Sayed is running against former Rep. Mike Rogers, who spent part of the weekend campaigning in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Iowa’s Democratic nominee for governor Rob Sand and his running mate Dave Muhlbauer attended Labor Day events in the state. Sand and Muhlbauer are running against Republicans Zach Lahn and Derek Wulf.
7 p.m.
The Liberty Showcase Theater 101 S. Fayetteville St. Liberty
Sept. 13 Summer Concert Series Finale featuring The Entertainers 6 p.m. Downtown Asheboro’s free Sunday night Summer Concert Series comes to a close with one final performance for the season. Bicentennial Park 135 Sunset Ave. Asheboro
Sept. 16 Randleman Chamber Cash Draw Down The fundraiser supports Chamber programs and initiatives. Randleman Chamber of Commerce Randleman
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Randolph Record for Thursday, September 10, 2026
THE CONVERSATION Trip Hoffend, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor VISUAL VOICES
COLUMN | DEBORAH WILSON
Lindsay Clancy and when justice cannot reach a verdict Any resolution must acknowledge the enormity of three children’s deaths.
SOMETIMES THE most important verdict is the one a jury cannot reach. After weeks of testimony and nearly 40 hours of deliberations, the jury in the Lindsay Clancy murder trial could not unanimously decide whether she should be held criminally responsible for the deaths of her three children. The result is a mistrial — and an extraordinarily difficult question about what happens next. The easy answer is another trial. The harder question is whether that is necessarily justice. A mistrial in a case of this magnitude carries costs that extend far beyond dollars. Prosecutors have devoted enormous resources to preparing and presenting the case. Defense attorneys have done the same. Experts have testified, medical records have been dissected, witnesses have taken the stand and court personnel have spent weeks managing a proceeding watched across the country. Now imagine doing it all again. A new jury — with knowledge of the case — must be selected. Experts must return. Witnesses must again recount painful events. Attorneys must reconstruct arguments that have already consumed weeks of courtroom time. And a family that has endured an unimaginable tragedy must once again watch the deaths of three children become the subject of testimony, argument and public debate. None of that means prosecutors should abandon the case. Cora, Dawson and Callan Clancy died violently. Their lives matter. The public has a legitimate interest in accountability, and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts has an obligation to enforce its laws. Justice cannot become a calculation in which prosecution ends simply because
another trial will be expensive or difficult. But justice has another obligation as well. It must recognize the rights of the accused. A mistrial is not a conviction. Lindsay Clancy remains entitled to the presumption and protections our criminal justice system affords every defendant, regardless of how disturbing the allegations may be. The prosecution’s burden does not become lighter because the first jury could not agree. That leaves prosecutors facing one of the most difficult exercises of discretion our system demands. They can try again, decline to retry the case or explore another option. In other words, can the parties explore whether some negotiated resolution appropriately balances accountability, public safety, mental illness and the interests of a family that has already suffered enough. A plea agreement should not be mistaken for surrender. Our criminal courts resolve cases through negotiated pleas every day. The question is not whether compromise somehow diminishes justice. The question is whether a particular resolution adequately serves it. In the Clancy case, that calculation is exceptionally difficult. Any resolution must acknowledge the enormity of three children’s deaths. It must consider public safety and society’s interest in accountability. But it must also account for the profound mental-health issues at the center of the case and the reality that a jury, after hearing the evidence and deliberating for days, could not unanimously determine criminal responsibility. Then there is the family. We frequently speak about victims and their families as though another trial automatically serves their interests. Sometimes it does. Sometimes
families desperately want another jury to hear the evidence. But another trial also asks people who have already endured unimaginable grief to return to the courtroom and experience it again. The human cost deserves a place in the calculation. So does the expenditure of public resources — not because justice has a price tag, but because government has an obligation to use finite resources responsibly. Another lengthy prosecution involving competing experts and extensive medical evidence will consume resources that cannot simultaneously be devoted elsewhere. The question is what another trial is expected to accomplish. Perhaps another jury will reach the definitive answer this jury could not. If prosecutors reasonably believe that will happen, another trial may be justified. However, there is another possibility we should be willing to confront: Twelve new jurors may listen to substantially the same evidence, confront the same agonizing questions about mental illness and criminal responsibility, and arrive at another impasse. Justice does not require endless repetition simply because the first answer was unsatisfying. Nor does mercy require abandoning accountability. Somewhere between those principles may lie a resolution that honors the lives of three innocent children, protects the public, respects the rights of the accused and spares a grieving family from being forced to relive its worst day in a courtroom. A mistrial means the jury could not find its way to a unanimous answer. What happens next will tell us something equally important: Whether our system is capable of recognizing that sometimes the pursuit of justice requires knowing not only when to keep fighting but when to search for another way. Deborah A. Wilson is a Georgetown University Law Center graduate and a practicing Northern Virginia attorney.
COLUMN | VICTOR JOECKS
Why liberty requires virtue
A people without virtue shouldn’t expect to enjoy the blessings of liberty indefinitely.
A FARMER can’t make his plants grow, but he can create the conditions that lead to their flourishing. A society can’t make its citizens virtuous, but it can nurture the institutions that lead to virtuous citizens. Great thinkers in Western civilization have long noted the importance of virtue. In “Politics,” Aristotle declared, “The best life, both for individuals and states, is the life of virtue, when virtue has external goods enough for the performance of good actions.” “Virtue then is a settled disposition of the mind determining the choice of actions and emotions, consisting essentially in the observance of the mean relative to us, this being determined by principle, that is, as the prudent man would determine it,” Aristotle wrote in “Nicomachean Ethics.” Practically, that means “virtue in a man will be the disposition which renders him a good man and also which will cause him to perform his function well.” Contained in that clunky English is a key insight. Virtue requires ascertaining truth and moving toward it with actions. This presupposes that truth is objective, not a personal possession. This fits in with an observation the great Roman statesman Cicero once made. He contrasted virtuous citizens with those who cared “more for his own interests than for those of the republic.” Perhaps you can start to see the link
between liberty and virtue. A man with the ability to do as he chooses can use that ability to oppress others. Or, as Cicero warned, he could make self-centered choices that undermine the governing system that protects liberty more broadly. Since freedom is rare, both are serious threats. A tyrannical government may compel subservience from its citizens by removing their ability to take some destructive actions. The result may look virtuous, but coercion doesn’t create virtue by compelling conformity. Our Founding Fathers talked about the importance of virtue and extended it to Christianity, the ubiquitous religion in the Colonies at the time. In 1776, John Adams declared, “The happiness of society is the end of government.” But his definition of happiness may surprise you. He wrote, “All sober enquiries after truth, ancient and modern, Pagan and Christian, have declared that the happiness of man, as well as his dignity consists in virtue.” That should make you think differently about the Declaration of Independence declaring that the “pursuit of happiness” is an unalienable right. “Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports,” former President George Washington said in his 1796 Farewell Address. “In vain would that man claim the tribute of patriotism, who should
labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness, these firmest props of the duties of men and citizens.” In a 1798 letter, Adams explained why morality and religion are essential to check human passions. Without them, human vices “would break the strongest cords of our Constitution as a whale goes through a net. Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.” The country has spent decades rejecting the virtue and Christian principles that the country was founded on. A deeply divided country only seems to agree that the government isn’t working as it should. This is a major reason why. Government can’t make individuals virtuous, but it can stop undermining the institutions, like the family and churches, that once inculcated virtue in the next generation. Government schools once taught students the Bible. Now those schools undermine parents, the country and even the notion of truth. A people without virtue shouldn’t expect to enjoy the blessings of liberty indefinitely. That’s a crisis to jump in and fix, not a foregone conclusion to observe passively. Victor Joecks is a columnist for the Las Vegas Review-Journal. (Copyright 2026 Creators.com)
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Assad-era Syrian reactor was configured for nuclear weapons, IAEA chief says IAEA inspectors found 73 tonnes of uranium metal hidden behind walls at an undeclared site
tors also visited a previously undeclared site in the country.
By Stephanie Liechtenstein The Associated Press
Syria notified the agency of the site’s existence in a July 17 letter and invited the IAEA “to cooperate with the Syrian authorities in the inspection and verification of the site and of any nuclear material to be potentially found.” The IAEA said in its confidential report circulated to member states last Tuesday and seen by The Associated Press that this new site contained “natural uranium metal in the form of fuel rods with cladding.” The agency verified the material and confirmed “the presence of around 73 tonnes of natural uranium metal.” Grossi said when the inspectors visited the site in August they had to “tear down walls” and go through “very difficult and narrow passages” to reach the nuclear material that had been hidden. The site had “boxes scattered all over the place,” he said.
VIENNA — The Assad-era government in Syria was constructing a nuclear reactor that was configured to produce fissile material for possible use in nuclear weapons, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency said Monday. The “configuration” and the “technical features” of the nuclear reactor under construction in Syria during the leadership of ousted former President Bashar Assad were “very efficient in the production of fissile material that could be directly used for the fabrication of nuclear weapons,” IAEA director general Rafael Grossi said. “Of course, that was never declared, that was always denied, so, and again, intentions cannot be judged, but that was a very serious proliferation concern that we had, and this has been diffi-
Inspectors had to “tear down walls” to find hidden material
GHAITH ALSAYED / AP PHOTO
International Atomic Energy Agency’s director-general Rafael Mariano Grossi, left, and Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani attend a press conference in Damascus, Syria, on Aug. 18. cult work,” Grossi told reporters on the first day of a regular meeting of the IAEA Board of Governors in Vienna. Syria was believed to have operated an extensive undeclared nuclear program under Assad that included a nuclear reactor built by North Korea in eastern Deir el-Zour province.
Following Assad’s ouster, the new government agreed to give IAEA inspectors access to suspected former nuclear sites. During a visit to Syria in August, IAEA inspectors confirmed that “the cooling infrastructure which has now been uncovered is consistent with that of a nuclear reactor.” Grossi and a team of senior inspec-
Grossi said “the important thing is that this material now is under safeguards” of the IAEA, adding that agency inspectors had managed to install cameras at the location. Syria to decide what happens next Asked if the nuclear material will remain in Syria or be removed, Grossi said it is “a matter that the Syrian government will have to decide.” He added, “We are not requesting them to do this or to do that. For us what’s important is that we know all the time where this (material) is until the last gram.” Logan Mintz, a director for nuclear materials security at the Washington-based Nuclear Threat Initiative, said that natural uranium metal is not directly usable for a nuclear weapon but it could be “diverted to a covert weapons program that further processes it into plutonium for a nuclear weapon.” She said that once deemed safe to move, the material could be “transported in certified containers” to a third country that can “safely and securely disposition it into a more chemically stable and more widely used form” for possible use in nuclear power plants. “As with any transport of nuclear material, this movement would require robust security from theft or sabotage,” she said.
Tale of conquest and symbol of friendship, Bayeux Tapestry proving to be hot ticket at British Museum The tapestry reveals medieval propaganda and vivid details of 11th-century English life By Jill Lawless The Associated Press LONDON — After a wait of almost 1,000 years and a journey of hundreds of miles, the Bayeux Tapestry’s big moment is here. The embroidered panorama depicting the last successful invasion of England goes on public display at the British Museum this week, back on British soil for the first time since the 11th century. Tickets are sold out for months, and the museum expects 1 million visitors to see the tapestry before the exhibition ends in July 2027. Schoolchildren across the U.K. will get special history lessons on it. King Charles III and French President Emmanuel Macron have already had a private viewing. It’s an extraordinary level of excitement for what Prime Minister Andy Burnham jokingly called a 230-foot “reminder of one of Britain’s biggest defeats.” Story with political message Like a medieval comic strip, the tapestry tells a vivid tale of betrayal, bloodshed, suffering and conquest, depicting a pivotal moment in European history: the Norman conquest of England in 1066. It illustrates events leading up to the Battle of Hastings, when William, Duke of Normandy, defeated King Harold’s Anglo-Saxon army. The invasion made William the first Norman king of England, brought the French language and French settlers to England, and forever intertwined the two countries’ fates. Exhibition curator Michael Lewis said at a preview Monday that “1066 is the most important event in English history,” and there is a “propaganda element” stitched into the tapestry. He said it was designed to tell English people that “Harold was king, you probably weren’t crazy to follow him, but the status quo has completely changed now. William is king and you need to kind of accept the new reality.” More than just medieval propaganda The tapestry’s 58 scenes begin with English nobleman
KIN CHEUNG / AP PHOTO
People look at a poster of the Bayeux Tapestry outside the British Museum in London on Monday. Harold Godwinson traveling to France, where he swears an oath to William, perhaps agreeing to back the duke’s succession to the English throne. But when English ruler Edward the Confessor dies, Harold is crowned king, leading William to assemble a fleet and set sail for England. The final sections depict the climactic battle: archers with longbows, charging cavalry, sword-wielding knights, hand-to-hand combat and mutilated bodies. Brutal violence sits alongside domestic detail. Soldiers steal livestock, cook dinner, eat using their shields as plates, burn down an English house as a woman and child flee. People steal from the bodies of the dead. Margins at the top and bottom of the fabric brim with people, fish, dogs and winged beasts, sometimes acting as ironic commentary on the main action. It remains remarkably vivid, and would have been even more powerful for its 11th-century viewers, Lewis said. “Maybe they would even have tried to pick out themselves in the story of these events,” he said. For historians, the tapestry is an invaluable source of insight into 11th-century life: shipbuilding, fashion, cuisine, architecture, armor, even astronomy. At one point Halley’s comet streaks across the sky, as it really did in 1066.
KIN CHEUNG / AP PHOTO
The 230-foot-long Bayeux Tapestry was displayed Monday during a press preview at the British Museum in London after returning to England following a historic agreement between the UK and France. Scholars still debate its mysteries. Was the arrow that hits Harold in the eye, killing him, a later addition? A final scene, possibly depicting William’s coronation, is missing. Historians even argue about the exact number of equine and human penises on display — either 93 or 94. Leonie Hicks, professor of medieval studies at Canterbury Christ Church University, said one reason the tapestry remains so famous is because its vivid, childlike illustrations are “very meme-able.” “It can be used to comment on current politics or mark memorable events,” Hicks wrote in a blog post, noting a recent mag-
azine cover that showed Burnham on horseback advancing on his predecessor Keir Starmer, depicted as Harold with an arrow in his eye. “The margins contained Big Ben and Larry the cat,” she said. Hailed as symbol of friendship between Britain, France The tapestry was likely commissioned by William’s half brother Bishop Odo of Bayeux and has spent almost 1,000 years in the French town. But historians believe it was probably stitched by women in southeast England, not far from the
site of the battle. The king noted at a reception with Macron last week that it might just as accurately be called the Canterbury Embroidery. Governments on both sides of the Channel have hailed its loan as a symbol of a Franco-British friendship. But getting it to London took years of diplomacy. After decades of failed British requests to borrow the tapestry, an agreement was announced in 2018, delayed by COVID-19 and Brexit tensions, and finally confirmed by Macron during a state visit to the U.K. last year. Some French cultural figures, and the late British artist David Hockney, opposed the move because of the risk of damage to the fragile artifact. Insured for 960 million euros ($1.1 billion), the tapestry was nestled inside climate-controlled shockproof packaging before being transported by road and rail to the museum under police escort, arriving in the dead of night. It’s being displayed flat, in what curators say is a robust state-of-the-art case, rather than hanging as it was in Bayeux. Lewis said the “phenomenal expertise” of teams in both France and Britain had allowed it to arrive unscathed. “It has to make that trip back as well,” he said. “But we’ve learnt so much in that process. I’m confident that we’ve learned a lot that helps us be sure that going back is going to be as good.”
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obituaries Joe Morgan, former Boston Red Sox manager, dead at 95 Shirley Roehm March 1, 1937 – Aug. 30, 2026 Shirley Marlene Stevens Roehm, age 89, passed away on August 30, 2026, at Randolph Hospice House. She was born on March 1, 1937, in Sterling Township, Brown County, Ohio, to the late Robert Stevens and Lelia Colwell Stevens. A memorial service will be held on Thursday, September 3, 2026, at 4:00 pm at Balfour Baptist Church with Pastor Mark Wilburn officiating
Robert Lee Sechrest March 4, 1943 – Sept. 3, 2026 Robert Lee Sechrest, 83, of Asheboro, died Thursday, September 3, 2026, at Moses Cone Hospital in Greensboro. A funeral service will be conducted at 2:00 p.m., Tuesday, September 8, 2026, at Friendship Baptist Church, 2235 Spero Road, Randleman, where he was a member, with Pastor Landon Flinchum and Pastor Ralph Pugh officiating. Entombment will follow at Randolph Memorial Park, with military honors provided by the Randolph County Honor Guard. Mr. Sechrest was born on March 4, 1943, in Guilford County, the son of the late Robert V. Sechrest and Sudie Lewis Sechrest. Mr. Sechrest honorably served in the United States Army. He was a kindhearted, fun-loving man who had a special way of making people laugh and bringing smiles to those around him. Mr. Sechrest deeply loved the Lord and was devoted to his church and church family. He earned his Doctor of Divinity and faithfully shared his love and faith with others. With a good heart, Mr. Sechrest preached the Word of God on the streets of South Carolina. After working for Marsh Furniture, Mr. Sechrest took great pride in owning Sechrest Catering after being doubted by others. In addition to his parents, Mr. Sechrest was preceded in death by his son Mark W. Sechrest on November 3, 2011. He is survived by his wife, Carolyn Sechrest, of the home; daughter, Angela York, of Alabama; and stepson, Michael D. Stout, of Asheboro. The family will receive friends from 1:00 until 1:45 p.m., Tuesday, at the church prior to the service. Memorials may be made to Baptist Children Home, PO Box 338, Thomasville, NC 27361; or to Friendship Baptist Church, 2235 Spero Road, Randleman, NC 27317.
Rev. Elmo “Gerald” Hutton May 24, 1937 – Aug. 31, 2026 In Loving Memory of Elmo Gerald Hutton Rev. Elmo “Gerald” Hutton of Asheboro, North Carolina, passed away on Monday, August 31, 2026, at age 89. Born May 24, 1937, in Houston, Texas, to Rev. Elmo “Lincoln” Hutton and Golda Lucille Hutton, he lived a life devoted to God, family, and ministry. Gerald began his career as a banker, working for 18 years while also answering his call to the ministry. In 1969, he began serving as Assistant Pastor under Rev. Voar Shoemake in San Jose, California, becoming a licensed minister with the United Pentecostal Church International (UPCI) in 1970. From 1974 to 1999, he pastored five churches throughout Oklahoma and North Carolina. In 2001, he was elected North Carolina District Secretary/Treasurer of the UPCI, faithfully serving in that role until retiring in 2014. Gerald was preceded in death by his parents, “Lincoln” and Lucille; his brothers, David Earl Hutton and Frank Andrew Hutton, husband of Ruth. He is survived by Lucy Emogene Hutton, his wife of 69 years; his sister, Carolyn Lucille Grissom, wife to the late “Buddy” Grissom; his only child, David Gerald Hutton, and wife, Stephanie; grandson Justin Hutton and wife, Ashley; granddaughter Carly Hutton; and greatgranddaughter Parker Hutton. Beyond his ministry, Gerald enjoyed many parts of life frequently finding something new. He loved fishing, cars (especially new ones), and riding motorcycles in retirement. As his family knows, no hobby was safe for long! While His interests frequently changed, one thing never did - his love for the Lord and his family, which remained constant throughout his life. Gerald will be remembered as a faithful minister and loving husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather devoted to God and soul-winning. From Pacific to Atlantic, his life touched countless people, and his legacy of faith and love will continue through the generations. His earthly journey is complete, but his influence remains. He fought a good fight, finished his course, and kept the faith. We can only imagine his joy to hear the words he longed to hear: “Well done, thou good and faithful servant.” The family will receive friends on Thursday, September 3rd, 2026, from 5:30-7:00 pm at LIFEchurch Asheboro, 515 NC Hwy 42 N, Asheboro, NC 27203. A memorial service will follow at 7:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations be sent in Gerald Hutton’s memory to LIFEchurch Asheboro at PO Box 4516, Asheboro, NC 27204.
Celebrate the life of your loved ones. Submit obituaries and death notices to be published in Randolph Record at obits@randolphrecord.com
Benjamin Roy Wilkerson
His managing career began in Raleigh in 1966
Dec. 11, 1948 – Aug. 30, 2026
The Associated Press
Benjamin Roy Wilkerson, known to his family and friends as Ben, departed this world peacefully at his home on August 30, 2026, leaving behind a legacy of love, kindness, and devotion. Born on December 11, 1948, in Asheboro, North Carolina, Ben embraced a life full of rich experiences, deeply rooted in family, community, and service. Ben was the cherished son of the late Roy Wilkerson and Alma Robbins Wilkerson. He grew up in Asheboro, where he graduated from Asheboro High School and furthered his education by attending community college. He proudly served his country in the U.S. Army, where he traveled to Korea, and continued his service with the National Guard Armory in Asheboro, NC. For 28 years, Ben worked diligently at Martin Marietta, retiring only after undergoing open-heart surgery. His career began alongside his father at Randolph Packing, where he learned the value of hard work and dedication. Known for his unwavering commitment, Ben was a man who could always be counted on to lend a hand. Ben was married for 55 wonderful years to his beloved wife, Alice Yow Wilkerson, who predeceased him. Their union was blessed with two children, Amy (Todd) Snider and Eric (Patricia) Wilkerson, who were the pride and joy of his life. As a father and grandfather, Ben was endlessly supportive and delighted in the company of his grandchildren, Kelsey Snider and Caleb (Jada) Wilkerson, Amanda (CJ) Nelson, Madison (Ian) Peksa, great-grandchildren Lucas and Lincoln Wilkerson, and Wyatt Nelson. His Love for them was evident in every smile and gentle embrace. Ben’s heart was as vast as his interests. He loved gardening and playing golf, often seen on the green with his dear friend, Lee Straughn. A devoted fan, he cheered enthusiastically for his favorite team, Duke. His community involvement was profound; he was an active member of Giles Chapel United Methodist Church until its closure and continued his spiritual journey at Neighbors Grove. Ben also cherished the fellowship and camaraderie found during BYF trips with his church family. His kindness extended beyond his own family to the many children he adored. Ben was known for his compassionate spirit, always ready to help those in need. His nurturing nature was particularly evident in the caregiving roles he assumed for his mother-in-law, Swannie Yow, and his dear wife, Alice, during her battle with Alzheimer’s. Ben is survived by his loving children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, as well as his brothers, Jimmy and Gene Wilkerson, and his sisterin-law, Joyce Maness. He was predeceased by his parents, his wife Alice, and his sisters Beulah Mae Hunt and Debbie Kay Wilkerson. In honoring Ben’s life, the family suggests that donations be made to a Randolph County Honor Guard or Giles Chapel Cemetery, as a tribute to a man who touched so many lives with his generosity and warmth. Ben Roy Wilkerson will be remembered as a pillar of strength and kindness, a man whose love and laughter will forever echo in the hearts of those who knew him. The family will receive friends on Thursday, September 3, 2026 from 5:00-8:00 pm at Pugh Funeral Home, 437 Sunset Avenue in Asheboro. Funeral service will be held on Friday, September 4, 2026 at 2:00 pm at the Glen “Mac” Pugh Chapel with Pastor Wyatt Hoogkamp officiating. Interment will follow at Giles Chapel Cemetery.
BOSTON — Joe Morgan, the popular Boston Red Sox manager who guided his hometown team to a pair of AL East titles, has died. He was 95. In a statement Sunday, the Red Sox announced that Morgan died Saturday night. The club was informed by his daughter, Catherine, team spokesperson Abby Murphy said. No further information was provided. “Joe Morgan holds a special place in Red Sox history,” principal owner John Henry said in the statement. “When he took over in 1988, he changed the course of a season and created one of the most memorable chapters in the history of this club. The two division titles that followed only strengthened a bond with Red Sox fans that endured for the rest of his life. We extend our deepest condolences to his family and all who loved him.” Morgan played 88 major league games as an infielder with five teams from 1959-64 and then spent 18 years in the Red Sox organization as a manager, coach and scout from 1974-91. Along the way, he managed Boston stars such as Wade Boggs, Roger Clemens and Rich Gedman in both the minors and majors. Morgan was inducted into the team’s Hall of Fame in 2006. “He was a big part of my life and will be missed,” said Boggs, a Hall of Fame third baseman. “I don’t think he got enough credit for how baseball-smart he was. He played baseball hunches instead of statistics. He will always be one of my favorites.” Morgan, who was born in Walpole, Massachusetts, and attended Boston College, became the first base coach for the Red Sox in 1985 and took over as manager on July 14, 1988. The team won its next 12 games and 19 of 20 on the way to a division title before getting swept in four games by the Oakland Athletics in the American League Championship Series. “‘Morgan Magic’ is forever part of Red Sox lore,” team chairman Tom Werner said. “Joe took over in 1988 and gave New England a summer it would never forget.” Morgan managed the Red Sox to another AL East crown in 1990 before they were again swept by Oakland in the ALCS. His tenure ended after the 1991 season with a 301-262 record. “Joe was a fun manager to play for — always extremely positive. When you didn’t perform well, he’d say, ‘Don’t worry about it. You’ll be great next time — I guarantee it!’” said Clemens, who won the first three of his seven Cy Young Awards with Boston. “And yes, when he got the job to manage, he brought the
ELISE AMENDOLA / AP PHOTO
Former Red Sox manager Joe Morgan waves to fans as he is honored prior to a baseball game between the Red Sox and the Seattle Mariners in Boston on July 30, 2013. magic! ... Thanks for everything, Joe!” Before his promotion to Boston’s big league staff in 1983 as a scout, Morgan managed the Triple-A Pawtucket Red Sox from 1974-82, becoming the longest-tenured skipper in club history. During his playing days, Morgan was signed by the Boston Braves in June 1952. He batted .193 in the majors with two home runs and 10 RBIs for the Milwaukee Braves (1959), Kansas City Athletics (1959), Philadelphia Phillies (1960), Cleveland Indians (1960-61) and St. Louis Cardinals (1964). Morgan’s managing career began in North Carolina. Winding down his playing days, he took over as player-manager of the Raleigh Pirates, Pittsburgh’s Class A affiliate in the Carolina League, in 1966. The Boston Globe reported the Pirates offered to raise his salary to $10,000 if he agreed to take the job. He played his final season that year while running the club at Devereux Meadow, the city’s ballpark off Peace Street that was demolished in 1979. He returned to manage Raleigh in 1967, leading the Pirates to a 77-65 record and first place in the league’s East Division. That roster included several future major leaguers, among them Richie Hebner, Don Money, Al Oliver and Gene Garber. It was the final season of professional baseball under the Raleigh name; the franchise merged with Durham the following year. Morgan moved up to Double-A York in 1968 and never managed below Triple-A again. “Joe Morgan managed the Red Sox during some of my most formative years as a fan,” said Red Sox President and CEO Sam Kennedy. “Joe made us believe, and when you experience that as a kid, it stays with you. I was fortunate enough to get to know him later in life and found an even better person than the baseball man I had admired. I will miss him deeply.” In addition to daughter Catherine, Morgan is survived by his children Joseph Jr., William and Barbara, six grandchildren and five great-grandchildren, the Red Sox said. Boston Red Sox manager Joe Morgan shouts instructions from the dugout Oct. 10, 1990 as he watches his team lose a third straight game in Game 3 of the American League playoffs to the Oakland A’s.
PAUL SAKUMA / AP PHOTO
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STATE & NATION Rescue satellite gets close to NASA’s doomed telescope, even if it can’t save it The $30 million rescue attempt failed but provided valuable data for future satellite servicing
Katalyst Space Technologies’ Link robotic servicing spacecraft orbits Earth on Aug. 24.
By Marcia Dunn The Associated Press CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — A private spacecraft that was supposed to provide a lifeline to NASA’s Swift Observatory managed to get close to the sinking telescope and even snap photos two weeks after the rescue was abandoned. But the three-armed robotic salvager had to turn away because it was low on fuel, according to Katalyst Space Technologies, which attempted the daring operation. “We got so close but so far,” Katalyst CEO Ghonhee Lee told The Associated Press this week. Katalyst’s Link spacecraft got within nine miles of Swift last Tuesday, using its sensors to gather data on the doomed telescope for NASA. The rescue effort had already been called off in August because of Link’s own troubles in orbit, but the company wanted the practice for future satellite-servicing missions. Link went into an uncontrollable spin soon after rocketing to Swift’s rescue in July. Flight controllers managed to slow the tumble and stabilize the spacecraft, using up precious fuel. In the end, there was not enough fuel remaining to boost the aging Swift into a higher, longer-lasting orbit so it could continue observing the cosmos.
KATALYST SPACE VIA AP
Lee blamed Link’s problems on the rush to get it flying. The mission was put together in just nine months, and engineers often had to use whatever was available instead of waiting for the preferred parts, he said. NASA paid the company $30 million to carry out the attempt, which was always going to be rushed. Both sides viewed it as an experiment with little to lose, although no one wanted a collision that would unleash clouds of space debris. “Unfortunately, it wasn’t the outcome that we were expecting,” NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said following Sunday’s launch of the
Roman Space Telescope. “But that’s exactly the type of missions that we should be flying at NASA. We will learn from that.” Isaacman said it makes sense to extend the life of a valuable spacecraft, especially if salvaging it costs less than replacing it. That is why the Roman telescope was designed to be refueled even though it is headed toward an observation point 1 million miles away. It is unlikely that Link has enough fuel left to attempt another close approach to Swift, according to Lee. But it can continue exercising its three 3-foot arms and providing important data before it reen-
ters the atmosphere and burns up in the next few weeks, he said. Launched in 2004, Swift has a little more time remaining in orbit, depending on how active the sun is. Intense solar storms in recent years are responsible for bringing the telescope down much sooner than expected. As of Friday, its orbit had dropped to 208 miles, barely half as high as when it set out to scan some of the biggest explosions in the universe. NASA anticipates Swift will plunge through the atmosphere sometime between October and the end of the year. The space agency resumed observations with the telescope last
Federal investigators probe Amazon cargo jet’s fiery runway crash that killed 5 in Miami Investigators suspect tail winds and a delayed touchdown prevented the plane from braking safely
By David Fischer, Marc Levy and Jeffrey Collins The Associated Press MIAMI — The five people killed when an Amazon cargo jet ran off a runway at Miami International Airport were all inside a van carrying seven people from a cleaning company and an SUV hit outside of airport property, National Transportation Safety Board Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy said Monday. Homendy didn’t detail how many people were in the SUV or where the dead were located. Homendy called the scene of Sunday’s crash “utter devastation.” She walked the route the Boeing 767 followed, noting tire marks from the pavement into the grass, a destroyed van carrying the cleaning crew, torn fencing, navigational equipment, and a crushed SUV outside airport property. Federal investigators examining why the jet barreled off the runway and into vehicles, killing at least five people, are likely to focus on a crucial moment in the landing: whether the plane touched down too late to stop safely. Video of Sunday’s landing appears to show the Boeing 767 remaining airborne well down the runway before touching down. Aviation experts said investigators will seek to determine exactly where the plane landed, whether it was beyond the normal touchdown zone, and why the pilots did not abandon the landing.
LYNNE SLADKY / AP PHOTO
An Amazon cargo plane sits at Miami International Airport on Monday after it overshot the runway and killed five people on Sunday. Investigators will also examine the plane’s speed and braking, weather and wind conditions, the aircraft’s mechanical condition and other factors that could have contributed to the deadly overrun. The aircraft overran the runway around 2 p.m. Sunday after arriving from San Juan, Puerto Rico, and plowed across a road used by warehouse workers and other businesses that surround the airport. Five people died, three were critically injured and two others were hospitalized with less severe injuries, officials said. The crash, which sent thick black smoke billowing into the sky, trapped the pilot and copilot in the cockpit and some occupants in cars, said Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Chief Ray Jadallah. The agency said crews also had to extricate a person who was trapped under a vehicle. The typical landing zone
“A tail wind would certainly add to your troubles if you’ve already given up a good chunk of the runway by not touching down and landing right away.” Mary Schiavo, pilot and former Transportation Department inspector general for a plane is within the first 3,000 feet of a runway, experts said. If the cargo jet was beyond that area, it should have aborted the landing and gone around for another try, aviation safety expert Steve Arroyo said. Mary Schiavo, who is a pilot and former inspector general of the Transportation Department, said video posted online
shows the Amazon plane floating above the runway for an extended period without flaring the nose upward to force the main landing gear onto the ground. It wasn’t raining at the time, but dark storm clouds loomed and strong winds were reported. Schiavo said that if the plane had a tail wind, that could have contributed to it floating further down the runway. “A tail wind would certainly add to your troubles if you’ve already given up a good chunk of the runway by not touching down and landing right away,” Schiavo said. The Miami airport is not equipped with arresting systems the FAA says have been installed at more than 120 airports nationwide to safely stop planes that do go past the end of a runway. Those beds of lightweight, crushable material at the end of a runway have been credited by the FAA with helping save at least 497 lives aboard planes that overran runways. Miami’s airport appears to be in compliance and wasn’t required to have an arresting system because it has a 1,000-foot safety buffer at the end of its runways, said Mike O’Donnell, the FAA’s former director of airport safety and accident investigations. The requirement was prompted by American Airlines Flight 1420 overrunning a runway at Little Rock National Airport in Arkansas in 1999, killing nine. The Prime Air plane came to rest beside a roadway near two semitrucks, images showed. The aircraft appeared to be resting on its belly and was largely intact despite the fire.
week after halting them early this year to conserve precious power. Like Swift’s, the Hubble Space Telescope’s orbit also has been lowered by solar activity. Katalyst is developing a next-generation spacecraft that could boost the 36-year-old Hubble into a longer-lasting orbit. “Hubble does still have a few years of life yet, right? So the good news is this isn’t imminent,” Lee said. Servicing old telescopes and other satellites used to be “a very, very niche concept,” he added, “and we believe it’s going to become more and more commonplace.”
The flight had been operated by 21 Air, a cargo carrier based in North Carolina. The 32-year-old Boeing 767 was originally built to carry passengers and flew for several airlines for more than two decades before being converted to a cargo plane in 2015, according to flight-tracking site Flightradar24. Schiavo said the NTSB will also closely examine the maintenance history of the plane — particularly since it has a history of foreign ownership, including by a Russian company. The crash halted flights at the busy travel hub for much of Sunday afternoon and continued to hamper air travel into Monday. Miami International Airport said that two of its four runways remained closed Monday and that operations were to be affected throughout the day because of aircraft and flight crews not arriving there due to Sunday’s cancellations after the crash. An airport spokesperson said there were 160 cancellations and more than 300 delayed flights Sunday, plus another 69 canceled flights Monday through mid-afternoon. Flight tracking sites were reporting widespread delays at the airport. Amazon said in a statement that it would cooperate with any investigation. “We’re heartbroken to learn that five people lost their lives in today’s incident at Miami International Airport,” the company said. “Our deepest sympathies go out to the families, loved ones, and all those affected by this devastating loss.” Last year, a UPS plane crashed after losing its engine while accelerating down the runway at Louisville’s Muhammad Ali International Airport. The crash killed all three pilots and 12 people on the ground. Twenty-three more were injured.
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Happy huddle Members of Providence Grove’s volleyball team gather during a match against visiting Jordan-Matthews near the beginning of the season. The Patriots made it through the first week of September without a loss. For more on high school volleyball, see Page B3.
Wheatmore selects Wilson to fill AD role Two schools in Randolph County have named new athletics directors in a matter of a few weeks By Bob Sutton Randolph Record TRINITY — Wheatmore named Ken Wilson as the school’s new athletics director after the announced departure of its athletics director to another school in Randolph County. Wilson takes the position at Wheatmore that has been held by Andrew Davis, who’s leaving to take the athletics director position at Uwharrie Charter Academy.
Wilson has been a teacher and coach at Wheatmore since 2014. He has been an assistant football coach at Wheatmore. He also has been a head coach of the track and field program for indoor and outdoor teams. Wilson had two children — Peyton Wilson and Kase Wilson — who were Wheatmore athletes and are now graduates. Davis is finishing duties at Wheatmore for the first part of this month. “This will be my last varsity football game for a while,” he said before Friday night’s home game vs. South Davidson. At UCA, Davis replaces David Hayes, who left for a teach-
WHEATMORE PHOTO
Ken Wilson
Andrew Davis
ing and football staff position at Thomasville. Davis, 39, was an athletics director for 13 years in the
Randolph County School System with time at the middle school and high school levels. He has been a physical
Wildcats seek to shake free from early season struggles The Eastern Randolph team has had trouble scoring against bigger schools By Bob Sutton Randolph Record RAMSEUR — Eastern Randolph’s offense couldn’t generate enough, and that contributed to a long night for the Wildcats football team. A 16-6 loss to Union Pines exposed Eastern Randolph in some areas Friday night, but there were enough signs of breakthroughs that veteran coach Burton Cates said there’s no reason for alarm. The Wildcats hold an uncharacteristic 1-2 record nearly one-third of the way through the regular season going into a matchup against neighboring Providence Grove. “We definitely have time to get it together,” senior receiver Chance Holdaway said. “I think we’ll start to do good and get back.”
Eastern Randolph is a Class 3A school. Its two losses have come to Class 6A opponents. The margin of defeat to Union Pines was far less than last season’s 34-7 outcome when the teams met. “Defense, we played good,” Cates said. “At halftime, 0-0, I was so proud of them.” In Eastern Randolph’s losses, it has scored one touchdown in each game. The absence of senior running back James Combs, who’s one of the top two-way players in the region, because of a knee injury has hindered production. That has put extra attention on running back Kobe Walker, who was held to 39 yards on 13 carries vs. Union Pines (2-1). “I think we battled good against a good Union Pines team,” quarterback Cade McCallum said. McCallum, a three-year starter, was 15 for 38 for 197 yards with a pair of interceptions. “I say we just have to get our run game going on offense,”
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“We just have to move past it.” Cade McCallum, Eastern Randolph quarterback said lineman Maddox Carson, a starter on offense and defense. “That’s really what we rely on.” Holdaway said there needs to be adjustments about “just the way we carry ourselves and how we approach things.” So getting on track soon could nip other problems from developing, he said. Eastern Randolph didn’t convert with favorable field position in the first half. Union Pines began its first three possessions inside its 15-yard line. Following Marcus Bowden’s interception, the Wildcats moved to the Union Pines 16-yard line before a penalty and a sack resulted in a punt. See WILDCATS, page B2
education and health teacher at Wheatmore. Davis was an assistant softball coach for the Warriors before spending time as the softball coach in two different stints. That period covered most of the past decade at Wheatmore, where he was athletics director for the past three years. “It’s going to be different,” he said of changing schools. Davis will oversee various levels of athletics at UCA, where the athletics director doesn’t hold a coaching role at the high school. “They don’t want that person coaching,” Davis said. “It makes a whole lot of sense.”
Game dates become moving targets for area football teams The scheduled kickoff times for Randolph County teams have been merely suggestions so far this year
Monday night’s results Road teams won both make-up games: • Asheboro 42, Randleman 0
By Bob Sutton Randolph Record RANDLEMAN — Little has been normal for high school football teams across the first three weeks of the season in Randolph County. The idea of Friday night football has been largely a myth in some cases. Southwestern Randolph played Monday night at Providence Grove, meaning the Cougars have had games played on a Saturday, a Thursday and now a Monday — no Fridays so far. The root of the scheduling mayhem has been unstable
• Southwestern Randolph 28, Providence Grove 21 and unpredictable weather. Perhaps the situation reached its peak for four teams in Randolph County last Friday. Shortly after late-afternoon storms blew through, the forecast indicated the games should proceed without issues, perhaps with on-time kickoffs. The problem was storm damage, including trees down, not far away. The stadiums at Providence Grove and Randleman were without power. See DATES, page B2
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Randolph Record for Thursday, September 10, 2026
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Southwestern Randolph, Asheboro notch victories A few area teams were involved in ties last week Randolph Record staff ASHEBORO’S Zamire Bush and Manuel Alarcon scored in a 2-1 boys’ soccer victory against visiting Mooresville last week, moving the Blue Comets above .500 for the first time this season. Asheboro’s home game against Butler slated for last Friday was canceled because of concerns about Butler having enough available players.
• Alejandro Jimenez, Kevin Garcia, Griffin Hall, Gio Hernandez and Holt Tyl all had two goals when Southwestern Randolph whipped host Wheatmore 10-1. Garcia and Hernandez each provided three assists. Angel Castilla scored for the Warriors. Jimenez had another productive game when Southwestern Randolph defeated visiting Burlington Cummings 3-0. Hall had the other goal, and Hayden Morrow made five saves for the shutout. That result pushed the Cougars’ winning streak to four games.
• Wheatmore’s 5-1 home loss to North Carolina Leadership Academy came with a goal from Easton Dewitt. • Providence Grove tied with visiting Burlington Cummings 2-2. The Patriots later defeated visiting Southern Alamance 4-3 for their second one-goal victory against that opponent this year. • Randleman and host Uwharrie Charter Academy tied 1-1. Iker Castro scored in the first half for UCA, but the Tigers tied it in the second half. • Trinity fell 7-1 at Ragsdale and by 6-2 to visiting Bishop McGuinness.
Eastern Randolph adds to Athletic Hall of Fame COURTESY PHOTO
Randleman, volleyball Phillips has helped the Tigers to a strong start in the Piedmont Athletic Conference. They’re the only team without a loss in conference play less than halfway through that portion of the schedule under first-year coach Kari Hankins. Phillips, a senior outside hitter, leads the team in aces with nearly one per set. She’s among the top three for the Tigers in kills and digs, while she’s also a primary player in receiving serves from opponents. Phillips also is a standout for Randleman’s softball team. She has committed to play college softball for Wingate.
It marked the 10th edition of an induction class for the school Randolph Record staff RAMSEUR — Former basketball and football players were prominent in the 10th class of the Eastern Randolph Athletic Hall of Fame. The induction took place Friday night on campus. The 2026 Hall of Fame class included inductees covering a span of 35 years.
WILDCATS from page B1
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Eastern Randolph’s Easton Garrett tipped away a fourth-down pass to thwart a Union Pines threat. Carson created problems for the Vikings’ offense along the line of scrimmage in the first half. An interception and subsequent unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on Eastern Randolph put Union Pines in position for a quick score less than two minutes into the second half. The Vikings scored on Vida Blue’s 25-yard touch-
Andrew Marley of the Class of 1974 was a basketball and football player. Keith Harris from the Class of 1984 played football, basketball and baseball. Class of 1990 member Jeremy Needham was a football standout. Ed Hooker of the Class of 1983 participated in football, basketball, baseball and track and field. Tommy Price, a 1984 graduate, played baseball and basketball. Tony Braswell of the Class
of 2003 was a standout in football, basketball and track and field. Kayla Saliga Bowman played volleyball and softball for the Wildcats prior to graduating in 2011. The induction ceremony was scheduled prior to the football game vs. Union Pines. But when the start of the game was delayed because of pregame storms, the ceremony was moved from the stadium into the school. There are now 75 members of the Hall of Fame.
down pass to Adrian Colon. Eastern Randolph was repeatedly stuck in challenging field position after halftime, with McCallum sacked for a safety on a third-down play on the first snap of the fourth quarter. The Wildcats’ next possession began at their own 4-yard line. Blue hooked up with Colon for a 46-yard touchdown play with 5:22 left. Colon did most of the work down the home sideline after making the grab. Eastern Randolph responded with a touchdown drive with
Walker scoring from 1 yard out with 3:04 left. A two-point conversion pass failed. The game started about 80 minutes late because of a storm that blew through. The game ended at 11:31 p.m. The Wildcats look at the early stumbles as disappointing but not discouraging. “We just have to move past it,” McCallum said. There are plenty of opportunities ahead. “We still are (anticipating a good season),” Carson said. “We just have a lot to improve on.”
DATES from page B1 Southwestern Randolph was to play at Providence Grove. Asheboro was ready to play at Randleman. Those games were moved to Monday night. “This,” Asheboro coach Calvin Brown said, “I’ve never been a part of this.” The dilemma for school officials was that they didn’t know when power would be restored. If it took several hours, the starting times would be unreasonably late. “It’s unfortunate,” Randleman athletics director Jake Smith said. “Both teams were practicing all week and had to fight the heat. … Sometimes you can’t control what you can’t control.” Complicating matters is that it came at the start of a holiday weekend. “Three weeks in a row,” Asheboro athletics director Wes Berrier said. “We’ve had to move our (first) game up and delays and now this.” The looks of despair on faces of Asheboro’s players didn’t come from a defeat, just an unfortunate situation. “They want to play,” Brown said. At Randleman, without a working public address system, principal Corey Phillips went to the front of the home seating area and shouted the news about the game’s postponement until Monday. “Not much you can do about it,” Asheboro running back Connor Brinton said. The week-to-week adjustments are discouraging for everyone involved. “Can’t make it up,” Randleman coach David Diamont
BOB SUTTON / RANDOLPH RECORD
Members of Asheboro’s football team wait outside Randleman Middle School, where they went during a delay Friday night before the game vs. Randleman was postponed until Monday night. said, referring to the ongoing logistical challenges. The games from Friday were made up, just three nights later than scheduled. Contributing to the disappointing part for Friday night was that there was cooler and comfortable air following the storm. “It feels beautiful right now,” Berrier said, standing in an end zone as the Blue Comets were nearby and boarding buses to go home. Eastern Randolph played on a Saturday in Week 1 and then the past two Friday nights waited through weather-related delays before playing. Wheatmore’s home game vs. South Davidson was impacted when teams were instructed to leave the field during pregame warmups because of lightning detections. That game itself stayed close to on schedule.
Wheatmore is the only team in Randolph County to play exclusively on Friday nights this year. Friday’s results At Trinity, Wheatmore’s rally came up short in a 26-21 home loss to South Davidson, which scored the go-ahead touchdown with 1:01 remaining. The Warriors (0-3) rallied to go ahead 21-19 with less than 10 minutes remaining on JuJu Banks’ touchdown run. Kayden Abernethy ran for 92 yards and a touchdown for South Davidson (3-0), which led 19-7 going to the fourth quarter. South Rowan 36, Trinity 0: At Trinity, the host Bulldogs suffered a shutout loss for the second week in a row. Trinity is 0-3. South Rowan improved to 3-0.
Randolph Record for Thursday, September 10, 2026
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Providence Grove reaches 10-0 mark Randleman’s team stepped into conference play and secured a couple of victories Randolph Record staff PROVIDENCE GROVE’S volleyball team pushed its season-opening winning streak to 10 matches by winning three times last week. The Patriots began the week with a 25-9, 25-12, 25-14 home victory against Southern Guilford. Providence Grove pulled out a 25-18, 25-6, 23-25, 24-26, 15-13 victory at Eastern Randolph. The Patriots swept visiting Northwood 25-16, 25-15, 25-19. • Trinity won nine of its first 10 matches, opening last week by rallying past visiting Randleman 20-25, 22-25, 30-28, 25-21, 15-9 as Dako-
ta Odell supplied 12 kills, and Mya Hooker had eight kills and four blocks. Ari Pinkston tallied 19 kills and eight blocks as Trinity was a 25-27, 25-17, 18-25, 25-16, 21-19 survivor at Central Davidson. Odell added 17 kills, Avalynn Johnson provided 26 assists and Emma Nance had 20 assists. Trinity had an easier time in putting away host Southern Guilford 25-7, 25-5, 25-6, with Addison McCoy’s nine kills and four aces coming in handy. • Randleman’s 25-20, 25-10, 25-10 romp past host Montgomery Central in the Piedmont Athletic Conference came with Karrington Jones’ 13 kills, and Kaylee Phillips’ 12 digs and seven aces. The Tigers withstood visiting Central Davidson for a 25-22, 22-25, 25-19, 22-25, 15-13 PAC triumph as Jones contributed 19 kills and Phillips had 16 digs and 10 aces. Olivia Ashby’s 30
Caraway Speedway plans special theme for next race night The resent results from the track produced a long list of winners Randolph Record staff SOPHIA — Key races are scheduled in several divisions as Caraway Speedway’s season hits the homestretch with racing Saturday night. The theme will be a “Night of Remembrance” honoring the memory of the 9/11 terrorist attacks 25 years ago this week. Racing will feature the SMART Modified Tour’s Robert Jeffreys Memorial along with a card that includes 602 Modifieds, Chargers, Mini Stocks, UCARs, Crown Vics, Legends, Bandoleros and the second of four Bowman Gray
Stadium Challenge events. Prior to the racing, Randleman High School’s marching band and the Randolph County Honor Guard are scheduled to perform as part of the 9/11 tributes. The activities come following a busy Aug. 29 race card. Here’s a look at those results: • Isaac Harris captured the 61-lapper Chargers race, with Daniel Schadt the runner-up. Reigning track champion Matthew Smith was third, followed by Blake Shupe and Tyler Bush. • Eric Zeh and Jacob Creed split the two 10-lap features for the 602 Modifieds. Fast qualifier Jody Utt was runner-up in the first race and fourth in the second race. • Jason Gallimore and Tom-
digs, and Kenzlie Vaughn’s 32 assists helped as well. • Southwestern Randolph held off host West Stanly 25-22, 25-20, 25-21 as Sara-Kate Marion posted 13 kills, Cheyenne Dixon racked up 26 digs and 12 kills, and Mary Kathryn Coltrane supplied 34 assists. The Cougars also tamed visiting Cornerstone Charter 25-20, 26-24, 25-22 with Coltrane’s 15 assists and Marijose Medina’s 14 assists among the top numbers. • Uwharrie Charter Academy’s 25-14, 25-23, 25-20 road triumph against North Lincoln came with Carly Rush’s 15 kills and 10 digs. The Eagles’ 25-10, 25-23, 25-17 home victory against Asheboro came with Caroline Way’s 15 kills and five digs plus Kenzie Cain’s 12 digs. UCA topped host North Carolina Leadership Academy 25-16, 25-16, 25-4, with Rush’s 14 kills and 18 digs and Way’s 16 kills and seven blocks providing boosts. • Asheboro had a 25-22, 25-13, 25-17 victory at Eastern Randolph as Ady Scherer notched 13 kills, and Emma Ingold made 14 digs and delivered five aces.
my Raino each won in Mini Stocks. Brandon Crotts was the runner-up both times. • In UCARs, Skyler Hughes and Jimmy Cooper split 10-lap sprints. Hughes was in front of Justin Smith, Tito Clapp, Mason Vance and Jake Cline in the first race. In race two, Cooper led the pack ahead of Hughes, Jamie Vance, Richmond and Mason Vance. • In Crown Vics, Corey Wyatt edged Christian Morris for the top spot, with Bubba Cline, Travis Luejten and Gage Dillard rounding out the top five. • In Bandoleros, Lucas McFall edged Charlie Evans for the victory. • In Legends, Samuel Macedo won in a 14-car field, with the next spots occupied by Jaxon Burnette, Cal Anderson, Collin Vanasse and Thomas Everson. • In the Bowman Gray Stadium Challenge category, Riley Neal was the winner ahead of fast qualifier Michael Adams in the 35-lap competition. • The Allison Legacy Series traveling tour made a stop with Kyle Siler capturing first place.
Smith, 2-time All-America DB at Wake Forest, dead at 40 The former NFL player apparently left a farewell note on social media The Associated Press PAHOKEE, Fla. — Alphonso Smith, a two-time All-America defensive back who played in the NFL for four seasons, has died. He was 40. Smith died last Wednesday, according to Wake Forest, which was informed by his family. The school’s release last Thursday afternoon didn’t reveal a cause of death. The Associated Press contacted the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office in Florida earlier last Thursday seeking to confirm Smith’s death. In an emailed statement responding to that inquiry, the office said sheriff’s deputies had responded to a Pahokee address “in reference to a suicide attempt” last Wednesday afternoon. “An adult male was transported to the hospital where he succumbed to his injuries,” the sheriff’s office stated. Smith appeared to post on his Facebook account last Wednesday, lamenting his mental health challenges, apologizing and asking for forgiveness. “Do not cry for me!” a post read on his account. “I tried everything in my power to fight the demons behind the ones
PAUL SANCYA / AP PHOTO
Detroit Lions defensive back Alphonso Smith kneels before a 2012 practice. that someone put into ME! I did not want to be that WAY! I know I have disappointed so many folks. This is a DEMON in me! But not only me! It’s EVERYONE! I have HURT so many! I needed help & did not get it! I am so sorry!” Smith apologized to his children in the note and suggested that trauma from his childhood had caused him mental anguish. “I pray my soul rest in heaven for my heart is pure,” he said. Denver drafted the former Wake Forest star in the second round of the 2009 NFL Draft. After playing in 15 games for the Broncos, returning punts and kickoffs, he was traded to Detroit shortly before the 2010 season. Smith played in 33 games,
including 11 starts, over the next two seasons with the Lions and had eight interceptions, returning two for touchdowns. The Lions released him just before the 2012 season, signed him later that year and cut him again after he played in four games as a backup. Smith went to Pahokee High School in his hometown, where he helped the football team win a Florida state title as a two-way star playing quarterback and defensive back in 2003. He redshirted as a freshman at Wake Forest and went on to become a key player for the program over the next four seasons. Smith was a first-team AP All-America defensive back in 2008 and a third-team All-America in 2007. After playing in 44 NFL games over four years, he worked as a sideline reporter for Wake Forest football games during the 2013 season when he was also an assistant high school coach in nearby Winston-Salem. Smith was a head high school football coach in Moore Haven, Florida, and Pahokee High School, where he was also dean of students in charge of discipline, according to his LinkedIn account. His last listed job was director of marketing for a South Florida family physician.
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Randolph Record for Thursday, September 10, 2026
120-foot burst of genius: Kerouac’s ‘On the Road’ scroll still cherished The author spoke to and for the Beat generation By Hillel Italie The Associated Press NEW YORK — In the spring of 1951, the muse landed so hard in the caffeinated mind of Jack Kerouac that within three weeks he had hurried out a full-length, single-spaced manuscript — a draft for “On the Road” that he taped together into a scroll some 120 feet long. Published six years later to instant acclaim and notoriety, “On the Road” may not be the Great American Novel, but Kerouac’s epiphany surely stands as the Great American Manuscript. “It was a once-in-a-lifetime, once-in-a-century achievement. In short, a literary singularity,” says the author and editor Gerald Howard. Kerouac was among the novelists who embodied the mad American quest to “say it all,” to somehow capture the country’s spirit within a single narrative — the kind of epic ambition behind such canonical books as Herman Melville’s “Moby-Dick” and F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby.” In “On the Road,” the raw, wild energy that drove Kerouac to type down his thoughts as quickly as they came to him would inspire one of the defining tales of the post-World War II era — two young Beats out for adventure, for kicks, “desirous of everything at the same time.” Howard says Kerouac had been working on the book for three years before his sudden inspiration. The 29-year-old
CHARLES REX ARBOGAST / AP PHOTO
Jack Kerouac’s “On the Road” and its working manuscript, the extraordinary 120-foot scroll he would unfurl before startled publishers, is on display at the American Writers Museum in Chicago.
“It was a once-in-alifetime, once-in-acentury achievement.” Gerald Howard, author and editor author was in the Manhattan apartment of then-wife Joan Haverty, with rolls of architectural tracing paper that fit seamlessly into his manual typewriter. “He realized that by feeding the paper in it would prevent him from having to change a sheet of paper over and over, which would pretty much guarantee a higher level of spontaneity,” Howard says. The scroll is now a piece of literary history, but it initially helped delay the novel’s release. His publisher, upon see-
ing Kerouac unfurl his draft, allegedly told him it couldn’t be edited. Kerouac stormed out. Kerouac’s agent, Sterling Lord, spent years trying to attract interest in Kerouac’s jazzy, unorthodox tale before Viking signed it up for an advance of $1,000. “On the Road” has since sold millions of copies and inspired countless literary — and literal — quests to “find America.” The manuscript itself has made several stops since Kerouac’s death in 1969. Earlier this year, country star Zach Bryan bought it for more than $12 million. “Jack never called it a scroll,” notes Kerouac biographer Gerald Nicosia, adding that the author found the word too pompous. To Kerouac, he said, “it was like the white line of the highway unrolling in front of your front tire as you were speeding down the highway.”
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Oasis reunion tour documentary rocks Venice Film Festival The film will be released in Imax theaters Sept. 11 By Lindsey Bahr The Associated Press VENICE, Italy — The Gallagher brothers brought some rock star energy to a sleepy, and sweaty, Venice Film Festival Saturday, where the documentary about their reunion tour made its world premiere. “Oasis: Don’t Look Back in Anger,” is part concert film and part exploration of the contentious relationship between Noel and Liam Gallagher, whose long-held feud led to Oasis disbanding in 2009 in spectacularly theatrical fashion after a backstage altercation moments before they were due on stage in Paris. Noel infamously said his brother is “the angriest man you’ll ever meet. He’s like a man with a fork in a world of soup.” Liam told the Guardian in 2018 that his brother “did me out, mate, he threw me under the (expletive) bus, and I won’t forget that. He split the band up, and it meant the world to me. Just to further his career.” The band was founded in working-class Manchester, England, in 1991 and became one of the most popular British acts of the 1990s, hitting No. 1 with their debut album “Definitely Maybe” in 1994. Their 1995 follow up, “(What’s the Story) Morning Glory?” became one of the U.K.’s bestselling albums of all time. The film looks at the phenomenon of Oasis and the prickly personalities behind the hit songs, most of which were written by the elder Gallagher brother, Noel, from “Wonderwall” to “Live Forever.” In 2025, the brothers ended a 16-year hiatus with a reunion tour that kicked off in Cardiff,
SCOTT A. GARFITT / INVISION VIA AP
Liam Gallagher, left, and Noel Gallagher pose for photographers at the red carpet for the film ‘Oasis: Don’t Look Back In Anger’ during the 83rd edition of the Venice Film Festival in Venice, Italy, last Friday.
“The documentary, like the reunion and the tour, took on a life of its own.” Dylan Southern and Will Lovelace, “Oasis: Don’t Look Back in Anger” filmmakers Wales to an ecstatic, all-ages crowd of more than 60,000. Many worried that like in Paris in 2009, it might not actually happen. But the show went on, with former Oasis members Paul “Bonehead” Arthurs and Gem Archer on guitar, bassist Andy Bell and drummer Joey Waronker. Steven Knight, who is credited as the writer of the documentary, said he and Noel wanted to explore the question of why the music endured, not just with fans who experienced it in the 90s but with the next generation as well that culminated in such intense demand for reunion tour tickets. Filmmakers Dylan Southern and Will Lovelace spoke
to the brothers separately before the rehearsals had started and then together while the tour was in full swing to reflect the true progression of the relationship. “We set out to make a film about the reconciliation of two brothers, infamous for their volatile relationship, but we also wanted to make a film about the power of music and the way Oasis’ songs have continued to have a life of their own, as the band lay dormant for 15 years,” the filmmakers said in their directors’ statement. “The documentary, like the reunion and the tour, took on a life of its own.” The filmmakers said their goal was to make their cameras and presence invisible to the band during rehearsals. At the concerts, they wanted to make the audience feel like they were there as well. The film also focuses on various fans from around the world. “Sometimes you might just bump into someone with a dog called Bonehead and that becomes part of the story,” Southern said.
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famous birthdays this week José Feliciano and Leo Kottke turn 81; Linda Gray celebrates 86; Ben Savage hits 46 The Associated Press THESE CELEBRITIES have birthdays this week. SEPT. 10 Scientist-author Jared Diamond is 89. Singer José Feliciano is 81. Former Canadian first lady Margaret Trudeau is 78. Rock musician Joe Perry (Aerosmith) is 76. Film director Chris Columbus is 68. Actor Colin Firth is 66. Director Guy Ritchie is 58. Actor Ryan Phillippe is 52.
MANU FERNANDEZ / AP PHOTO
Former U.S. sprinter Michael Johnson turns 59 on Sunday.
SEPT. 11 Composer Arvo Pärt is 91. Film director Brian De Palma is 86. Singer-actor-dancer Lola Falana is 84. Musician Mickey Hart is 83. Guitarist Leo Kottke is 81. Actor Amy Madigan is 76. Actor Virginia Madsen is 65. Musician-composer Moby is 61. SEPT. 12 Actor Linda Gray is 86. Singer Maria Muldaur is 83. Author Michael Ondaatje is 83. Actor Joe Pantoliano is 75. Photographer Nan Goldin is 73. Composer Hans Zimmer is 69. Actor Rachel Ward is 69. Actor-comedian Louis C.K. is 59. SEPT. 13 Actor Barbara Bain is 95. Nobel Peace Prize laureate Óscar Arias is 86. Actor Jacqueline Bisset is 82. Singer Peter Cetera is 82. Actor Jean Smart is 75. Olympic gold medal sprinter Michael Johnson is 59. Fashion designer Stella McCartney is 55. Actor Ben Savage is 46. SEPT. 14 Actor Walter Koenig (“Star Trek”) is 90. Architect Renzo Piano is 89. Basketball Hall of Fame coach Larry Brown is 86. Pope Leo XIV is 71.
CHRIS PIZZELLO / AP PHOTO
Jacqueline Bisset turns 82 on Sunday.
SEPT. 15 Writer-director Ron Shelton is 81. Actor Tommy Lee Jones is 80. Film director Oliver Stone is 80. Actor Josh Charles is 55. Olympic gold medal swimmer Tom Dolan is 51. Actor Tom Hardy is 49. Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, is 42. SEPT. 16 Actor George Chakiris is 94. Actor Ed Begley Jr. is 77. Author-historian-filmmaker Henry Louis Gates Jr. is 76. Country singer David Bellamy (The Bellamy Brothers) is 76. Actor Mickey Rourke is 74. Magician David Copperfield is 70. Retired MLB All-Star pitcher Orel Hershiser is 68.
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the stream
EVAN AGOSTINI / INVISION / AP PHOTO
The “Call My Agent” team celebrate their best comedy award win at the 49th International Emmy Awards at Casa Cipriani in 2021 in New York. The hit show takes on movie form on Netflix this week.
‘The Paper,’ ‘Call My Agent!’ Bloc Party, ‘Halloween’ game Welsh band the Tubs drops “Hard Life” The Associated Press THE SECOND season of “The Paper” and a new album from Bloc Party are some of the new television, films, music and games headed to a device near you. Also, among the streaming offerings worth your time this week, as selected by The Associated Press’ entertainment journalists: a new “Call My Agent!” movie, a new season of “The Real Housewives of New York” and a multiplayer game based on the “Halloween” slasher films. MOVIES TO STREAM The clever French series “Call My Agent!” has been revived as a movie that starts streaming on Netflix on Thursday. Camille Cottin’s Andréa Martel is no longer an agent but a film director overseeing a disastrous production. Guy Lodge, in his review for Variety, wrote that, “Fleet and fast-talking and packed, as ever, with Gallic industry in-jokes and celebrity cameos, Émilie Noblet’s film can hardly fail to please longtime fans.” Henry Cavill, Jake Gyllenhaal and Eiza González star in the Guy Ritchie action pic “In the Grey” about a lawyer and some mercenaries on an impossible mission to retrieve $1 billion. It received mostly mixed reviews and had the misfortune of opening around the same time as the box office phenomenon “Obsession,” but like many Ritchie joints it has its defenders too: An easy bit of action entertainment, coming to Starz and its streaming service Saturday.
OWEN SWEENEY / INVISION / AP PHOTO
Kele Okereke of Bloc Party performs in concert as the opening act for Muse on July 28 at the Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, Maryland. Crown.” That release, a messy mosaic of jangly indiepop and ’80s college rock that was full of gorgeous songs about grief, was great. Its latest, “Hard Life,” may be even greater. At the very least, it confirms The Tubs’ position as one of the principal indie rock bands of the moment. These are impatient pop songs that span a range of emotions, somewhere between empathy and feeling pathetic. Delicious! SERIES TO STREAM
HBO VIA AP
MUSIC TO STREAM
Dana Chandler appears in a scene from the docuseries “A Killer Story.”
In certain corners of the internet, there appears to be a revival of ’00s rock bands. The Strokes are back; Wolf Parade’s “I’ll Believe in Anything” from their 2005 debut album “Apologies to the Queen Mary” got a huge streaming bump due to its placement in “Heated Rival-
ry.” Heck, new generations of listeners are discovering TV on the Radio’s “Wolf Like Me” because of its use in “Spider-Man: Brand New Day.” Hopefully love for the era will extend to the English band Bloc Party, whose new album “Anatomy of a Brief
Romance” arrives Friday. It’s the kind of dance-y post-punk the band has long hung its hat on, made modern. The Tubs first graced this weekly fixture in 2025, ahead of the London-based Welsh band’s sophomore album “Cotton
Carole Radziwill reclaims her “The Real Housewives of New York City” apple full-time for Season 16, eight years after her exit. Sai De Silva, Erin Lichy and Jessel Taank return as well, mixing it up with newcomers Hailey Glassman, Erika Hammond and Daisy Toye. Expect Radziwill’s Epstein files mention to come up. The new season is streaming now on Peacock. Also on Peacock, we reunite with the staff of the Toledo Truth Teller celebrating their dominance at the Ohio Journalism Awards on “The Paper.”
The full season of “The Office” spinoff, which stars Domhnall Gleeson as the newspaper’s editor-in-chief, is out now. Season 5 of “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” premieres Thursday, months after production halted amid a domestic violence investigation involving the face of #MomTok, Taylor Frankie Paul, and her ex, Dakota Mortensen. The allegations also caused Disney and ABC to cancel her “Bachelorette” season. In a new condensed season of five episodes, Paul deals with the fallout. And we see Whitney Leavitt fresh off a hit run as Roxie Hart in Broadway’s “Chicago.” Jen Affleck (who also anchors the show’s upcoming Orange County spinoff), Jessi Draper, Layla Taylor, Mayci Neeley, Mikayla Matthews and Miranda Hope also return. Some recent successful young adult dramas have been set at beaches, lakes and hockey rinks. A new one called “Crew Girl” takes us to boathouses. The eight-episode show follows rower Teagan Tao (played by Miku Martineau), who joins an elite prep school’s all-boys crew team after her life is upended by a family scandal. Naturally, a love triangle develops. It debuts on Thursday on Netflix. Jessica Paré (“Mad Men”) also stars. A three-part HBO docuseries digs into the two-decade Dana Chandler case. Chandler was convicted of murdering her ex-husband and his girlfriend in a 2002 shooting. A journalist became convinced of her innocence after spending six years covering the saga, which spanned three trials and included prosecutorial misconduct. “A Killer Story” premieres Thursday on HBO Max, with new episodes dropping weekly through Sept. 24. VIDEO GAMES TO PLAY Looking to get an early jump on trick-or-treating? “Halloween: The Game,” an asymmetrical 1-vs.-4 thriller, is ready to make you scream. One player takes the role of Michael Myers, the relentless slasher from the classic 1978 movie. The other four are residents of Haddonfield, and they join forces to try to stop Mike before he splashes too much blood around their Midwestern suburb. “Halloween” comes from Colorado studio IllFonic, which has built its reputation with multiplayer games based on “Predator,” “Ghostbusters” and, well, “Killer Klowns from Outer Space.” The knives come out on PlayStation 5, Xbox X/S and PC.
VOLUME 11 ISSUE 29 | THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2026 | HOKE.NORTHSTATEJOURNAL.COM
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HOKE COUNTY THE HOKE COUNTY EDITION OF NORTH STATE JOURNAL
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“When in the course of human events …” Three copies of the Declaration of Independence from the early 1800s went on display at the Durham Public Library this week, including the engraved broadside from 1818, above, by Benjamin Owen Tyler. The exhibit at the library runs through Sept. 20 before moving to Duke’s Nasher Museum of Art until early January.
WHAT’S HAPPENING TSA brings back gate access for some people without plane tickets Las Vegas The Transportation Security Administration has launched a new program at 13 airports allowing eligible TSA PreCheck members without plane tickets to pass through security and enter the gates. This revives a tradition that largely disappeared 25 years ago after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. The program is called “Gateside by TSA PreCheck.” It’s free, but people must apply online one to three days before their planned visit and receive approval. The pass is valid for one calendar day. TSA says members of other trusted-traveler programs who have a Known Traveler Number also can apply for access.
Americans’ satisfaction with schools at low point, new poll shows A new poll shows that only 32% of Americans are satisfied with the quality of K-12 education in the country. That figure represents a low since Gallup began polling on the subject 27 years ago. Democrats are driving the recent slide, with satisfaction dropping 19 points since President Donald Trump’s second term began in 2025. But politics alone do not explain the dissatisfaction. Satisfaction has declined since the COVID-19 pandemic, and most Americans do not feel schools are doing a good job teaching skills like critical thinking and preparing students for jobs.
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Commissioners approve overnight truck parking for Starz Gas Station The business had been previously cited for violations related to illegal parking By Ryan Henkel North State Journal RAEFORD — Hoke County has given the green light for an overnight truck stop within its jurisdiction. The Hoke County Board of Commissioners held a public hearing for a special use permit request at its Sept. 8 meeting for the operation of a truck stop (Starz Gas Station) on approximately five acres of property located at 9130 Fayetteville Road. The business was originally approved as a convenience store with gas sales and has been used as such, however, the county’s code enforcement office recently became aware of the fact that trucks were stay-
“I do believe a truck stop is needed.” Commissioner Allen Thomas ing overnight on the property, which wasn’t allowed. According to the applicant, the site is designed to have 17 spots for trucks, and the special use permit would allow them to officially have overnight parking for those trucks. The applicant stated the business intends to make sure all the rules are followed moving forward and that they have security cameras, lighting that faces the building, a 24-hour store, constant monitoring, log-in/log-out requirements, and no repair work nor offloading or loading will be allowed. Following the hearing, the commissioners approved the request, with the addition of a
$1,000 fine to the business having previously allowed overnight parking, which is against the county’s ordinances. “I do believe a truck stop is needed,” said Commissioner Allen Thomas. “My issue is the fact that a letter went out and they still violated our ordinance.” The business will also be required to provide vegetational buffering around the property. A second public hearing was also held for a rezoning request for 0.85 acres of property located at 4805 Arabia Road to go from residential agricultural to highway commercial. According to the applicants, the intention is to construct a new auto mechanic shop on the property. Following the hearing, the board approved the request as well. The board also approved a revision to the Rockfish Area Sewer Project Phase II change order.
NC Fall Festival Raeford-Hoke County returns in October The state-recognized festival carries on traditions By Elaina J. Martin North State Journal THE NC FALL Festival Raeford-Hoke County, once known as the Turkey Festival, is coming up in October. The state recognizes the festival for its long-standing traditions and events in Raeford-Hoke County. This year, the NC Fall Fes-
“For many families, attending the parade is something they’ve done for generations, and now they’re bringing their own children or grandchildren. Traditions like the parade are important to us.” Melissa Crull tival Raeford-Hoke County kicks off Friday night with the “Turkey Bowl” football game at Hoke High School on Oct. 2 at 7:30 p.m. The 6th annual Marvin Johnson Memorial
Golf Tournament takes place at Bayonet at Puppy Creek Golf Course on the following Friday, Oct. 9. Prior registration is required. On Oct. 10 at 10 a.m., the parade moves down Main
The original change order the board approved back in June showed a deduction of $182,000 from the total change order cost, however, this was a miscalculation by the engineering firm the county had hired. The actual amount should have been for $122,000, meaning there is an additional $60,000 hit to the project budget. “Our team made a clerical mistake,” said LKC Engineering Managing Partner Adam Kiker. “I’ll be frank. It’s the type of mistake you pay us to not make.” According to Kiker, the details of the change order — the negotiated scope reduction and additions — haven’t changed from the original presentation in June, and no new dollars are expected to have to be spent on the project. The Hoke County Board of Commissioners will next meet Sept. 21.
Street in Raeford. On Oct. 14, Melissa Kaye Senior Bingo games are at the Hoke County Senior Center and include lunch; this also requires prior registration. The week ends with the crowd favorite, the Fall Festival on Oct. 17 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. “My goal was to bring back the feelings I had as a child at the NC Fall Festival, where it wasn’t just an event, but something the entire community looked forward to and experienced together,” Melissa Crull, who is in her second year as the executive director for the festival, said. This year’s events continue to be family-oriented. Many people look forward to the parade. It has been part of the festival for years, going See FESTIVAL, page A2
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Fuel prices at record Labor Day high in US thanks to Iran war, refinery issues Iranian tensions and global refinery strain are converging to push prices higher
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North State Journal (USPS 20451) (ISSN 2471-1365) Trip Hoffend, Publisher Jim Sills, VP of Local Newspapers Cory Lavalette, Senior Editor Jordan Golson, Local News Editor Shawn Krest, Sports Editor Dan Reeves, Features Editor Ryan Henkel, Reporter PJ Ward-Brown, Photographer BUSINESS David Guy, Advertising Manager Published each Thursday as part of North State Journal 1201 Edwards Mill Rd. Suite 300 Raleigh, NC 27607 TO SUBSCRIBE: 919-663-3232 HOKE.NORTHSTATEJOURNAL.COM Annual Subscription Price: $100.00 Periodicals Postage Paid at Raleigh, NC and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: North State Journal 1201 Edwards Mill Rd. Suite 300 Raleigh, NC 27607
“Everything points to the Iran war and the Strait of Hormuz.” Tom Seng, Texas Christian University energy finance professor
By Jeffrey Collins The Associated Press IT’S NEVER BEEN more expensive in the U.S. to fill up the tank and take one last summer trip over the Labor Day weekend. The average price of regular gas was $4.14 a gallon heading into the holiday, nearly a dollar higher than last year and well above the Labor Day weekend record of $3.82 from 2012, according to AAA motor club. Nicole Collins planned to head from Philadelphia to South Carolina to visit friends, but she said her family has spent most of the summer close to home and not taking their typical weekend trips because driving has gotten so expensive. “Gas is pretty high right now. It doesn’t help that we also have a baby, so we also have to pay for that,” Collins said outside a gas station in Claymont, Delaware, where regular gas was $4.199 a gallon. Prices shot up after the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran in February and have not settled down since. Crude oil traffic through the key Strait of Hormuz has plunged, and Iran has refused to reopen the waterway. “Everything points to the Iran war and the Strait of Hormuz,” said Tom Seng, a professor of energy finance at
ELLEN SCHMIDT / AP PHOTO
Diesel prices hit a record high in the U.S. as the war in Iran continues to impact fuel costs. Texas Christian University. Energy Secretary Chris Wright offered few specifics on when the nation’s drivers might see relief at the gas pump, acknowledging that prices are higher now than Labor Day 2025. “Yes, they’re higher today, but we’re doing everything we can to push them down,” Wright said Sunday on ABC’s “This Week.” The national average for regular gas prices is still well below the record of $5.02 a gallon set in June 2022. But diesel is a different story: It hit a national average of $5.85 a gallon last Friday, a record. Trucks and other freight delivery systems use a lot of die-
sel, and that increased transportation cost is being passed on to consumers, whether at the grocery store or through package delivery services. “It doesn’t really seem like there’s an end to it,” Collins said. Gas prices typically drop as the summer driving season ends and refineries turn to making a cheaper winter blend. But Seng said there are other factors this year even beyond the volatile situation in the Middle East that make future prices unpredictable. U.S. refineries are working at 98% capacity, many in the unusually harsh Texas heat. If there are problems there or a hurricane knocks some systems off-
line, prices will struggle to drop. And it’s not just a Middle East problem. Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian refineries are squeezing diesel supplies. Chinese refiners are seeing declining outputs as well, said Matthew Metzgar, a clinical professor of economics at UNC Charlotte. “There’s just less gasoline coming out of those refineries,” Metzgar said. Wright, the energy secretary, said the Trump administration was taking steps to increase production and that the markets forecast lower prices in the coming months. “If you look at the futures prices, if you wanted to buy today in bulk gasoline for two months out in November, it’s about $0.35 cheaper than it is today. So the marketplace thinks gasoline prices are going to move meaningfully lower,” he said. Geopolitically, though, there is little a driver can do to knock down gas prices. But using price apps can help save a little money, especially on long trips where gas by the interstate could be 10 to 15 cents per gallon more expensive than at stations a short drive down the road, Metzgar said.
Scientists studying nose-blowing cockroach milk, win Ig Nobel prizes for quirky science Share with your community! Send us your births, deaths, marriages, graduations and other announcements: hokecommunity@ northstatejournal.com
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Future ceremonies will now rotate between European cities, with Antwerp hosting the 2027 ceremony By Adithi Ramakrishnan The Associated Press TEN RESEARCH teams were honored last Thursday at a satirical science awards ceremony that was hosted outside the U.S. for the first time due to travel concerns. Researchers who studied milk from cockroaches and analyzed soil health using underwear received Ig Nobel prizes celebrating unusual and imaginative contributions to science.
The awards organized by a digital magazine called the Annals of Improbable Research shifted to Europe after 35 years in the United States over concerns about attendees being able to get visas. At a convention center in Zurich, research teams received a custom trophy resembling a cross between a mushroom and a human foot. Among them were Matilda Brindle and Stuart West from the University of Oxford and the Florida Institute of Technology’s Catherine F. Talbot, who reconstructed the evolutionary history of kissing, and the late Dr. Tokuji Unno, who investigated the science of blowing one’s nose.
“During the past year, it has become unsafe for our guests to visit the country.” Marc Abrahams, Annals of Improbable Research editor Another research team buried 1,000 pairs of underwear in more than 25 countries to study how critters in the soil helped them decompose. As per tradition, audience members fashioned paper airplanes and hurled them toward the stage to kick off the show. For future ceremonies, or-
FESTIVAL from page A1 back to when it was known as the Turkey Festival. Schools, bands, local businesses, organizations, families and community leaders come together in the parade. “For many families, attending the parade is something they’ve done for generations, and now they’re bringing their own children or grandchildren,” Crull said. “Traditions like the parade are important to us.” With more than 170 vendor booths, 24 food trucks, and two stages with live music, there is something for everyone. One of this year’s biggest highlights will be the Kidz Corner on Oct. 17. “Families can spend the entire day together, so a lot of focus went into a fun area just for the kids,” Crull said. The Kidz Corner will feature activities designed for children, including bounce houses, the Skoolie Express-Destination Create School bus, a rock-climbing wall, and other free activities for families. All Kidz Corner activities are free thanks to sponsors of the NC Festival Raeford-Hoke County. Before all the fun and games, the NC Fall Festival Rae-
ford-Hoke County hosts a more solemn Sept. 11 ceremony. The late former executive director, Melissa Kaye Pittman, understood the importance of honoring those lost that day. She wanted to recognize Raeford’s first responders, military members and the families impacted by 9/11. That sentiment continues again this year. “Remembering 9/11/2001: 25th Anniversary Commemoration” on Sept. 11 takes place at the Hoke County Courthouse at 9 a.m., followed by a reception at Raeford City Hall. For more information on the events or sponsorship opportunities, contact Crull at 910-904-2424 or by email at ncfallfestivalraeford@gmail.
A podcast local to Hoke-Raeford, NC, with Ruben Castellon and Chris Holland.
ganizers plan to alternate between Zurich and other European countries. The 2027 ceremony will be held in the Belgian city of Antwerp. Previous iterations took place at Harvard University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Boston University, but there are no immediate plans to return to the U.S. “During the past year, it has become unsafe for our guests to visit the country,” Marc Abrahams, master of ceremonies and editor of the magazine, told The Associated Press in an email in March. The Nobel Prizes, which have no relation to their cheekily named counterpart, will be announced at the start of October.
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THE CONVERSATION Trip Hoffend, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor VISUAL VOICES
COLUMN | DEBORAH WILSON
Lindsay Clancy and when justice cannot reach a verdict Any resolution must acknowledge the enormity of three children’s deaths.
SOMETIMES THE most important verdict is the one a jury cannot reach. After weeks of testimony and nearly 40 hours of deliberations, the jury in the Lindsay Clancy murder trial could not unanimously decide whether she should be held criminally responsible for the deaths of her three children. The result is a mistrial — and an extraordinarily difficult question about what happens next. The easy answer is another trial. The harder question is whether that is necessarily justice. A mistrial in a case of this magnitude carries costs that extend far beyond dollars. Prosecutors have devoted enormous resources to preparing and presenting the case. Defense attorneys have done the same. Experts have testified, medical records have been dissected, witnesses have taken the stand and court personnel have spent weeks managing a proceeding watched across the country. Now imagine doing it all again. A new jury — with knowledge of the case — must be selected. Experts must return. Witnesses must again recount painful events. Attorneys must reconstruct arguments that have already consumed weeks of courtroom time. And a family that has endured an unimaginable tragedy must once again watch the deaths of three children become the subject of testimony, argument and public debate. None of that means prosecutors should abandon the case. Cora, Dawson and Callan Clancy died violently. Their lives matter. The public has a legitimate interest in accountability, and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts has an obligation to enforce its laws. Justice cannot become a calculation in which prosecution ends simply because
another trial will be expensive or difficult. But justice has another obligation as well. It must recognize the rights of the accused. A mistrial is not a conviction. Lindsay Clancy remains entitled to the presumption and protections our criminal justice system affords every defendant, regardless of how disturbing the allegations may be. The prosecution’s burden does not become lighter because the first jury could not agree. That leaves prosecutors facing one of the most difficult exercises of discretion our system demands. They can try again, decline to retry the case or explore another option. In other words, can the parties explore whether some negotiated resolution appropriately balances accountability, public safety, mental illness and the interests of a family that has already suffered enough. A plea agreement should not be mistaken for surrender. Our criminal courts resolve cases through negotiated pleas every day. The question is not whether compromise somehow diminishes justice. The question is whether a particular resolution adequately serves it. In the Clancy case, that calculation is exceptionally difficult. Any resolution must acknowledge the enormity of three children’s deaths. It must consider public safety and society’s interest in accountability. But it must also account for the profound mental-health issues at the center of the case and the reality that a jury, after hearing the evidence and deliberating for days, could not unanimously determine criminal responsibility. Then there is the family. We frequently speak about victims and their families as though another trial automatically serves their interests. Sometimes it does. Sometimes
families desperately want another jury to hear the evidence. But another trial also asks people who have already endured unimaginable grief to return to the courtroom and experience it again. The human cost deserves a place in the calculation. So does the expenditure of public resources — not because justice has a price tag, but because government has an obligation to use finite resources responsibly. Another lengthy prosecution involving competing experts and extensive medical evidence will consume resources that cannot simultaneously be devoted elsewhere. The question is what another trial is expected to accomplish. Perhaps another jury will reach the definitive answer this jury could not. If prosecutors reasonably believe that will happen, another trial may be justified. However, there is another possibility we should be willing to confront: Twelve new jurors may listen to substantially the same evidence, confront the same agonizing questions about mental illness and criminal responsibility, and arrive at another impasse. Justice does not require endless repetition simply because the first answer was unsatisfying. Nor does mercy require abandoning accountability. Somewhere between those principles may lie a resolution that honors the lives of three innocent children, protects the public, respects the rights of the accused and spares a grieving family from being forced to relive its worst day in a courtroom. A mistrial means the jury could not find its way to a unanimous answer. What happens next will tell us something equally important: Whether our system is capable of recognizing that sometimes the pursuit of justice requires knowing not only when to keep fighting but when to search for another way. Deborah A. Wilson is a Georgetown University Law Center graduate and a practicing Northern Virginia attorney.
COLUMN | VICTOR JOECKS
Why liberty requires virtue
A people without virtue shouldn’t expect to enjoy the blessings of liberty indefinitely.
A FARMER can’t make his plants grow, but he can create the conditions that lead to their flourishing. A society can’t make its citizens virtuous, but it can nurture the institutions that lead to virtuous citizens. Great thinkers in Western civilization have long noted the importance of virtue. In “Politics,” Aristotle declared, “The best life, both for individuals and states, is the life of virtue, when virtue has external goods enough for the performance of good actions.” “Virtue then is a settled disposition of the mind determining the choice of actions and emotions, consisting essentially in the observance of the mean relative to us, this being determined by principle, that is, as the prudent man would determine it,” Aristotle wrote in “Nicomachean Ethics.” Practically, that means “virtue in a man will be the disposition which renders him a good man and also which will cause him to perform his function well.” Contained in that clunky English is a key insight. Virtue requires ascertaining truth and moving toward it with actions. This presupposes that truth is objective, not a personal possession. This fits in with an observation the great Roman statesman Cicero once made. He contrasted virtuous citizens with those who cared “more for his own interests than for those of the republic.” Perhaps you can start to see the link
between liberty and virtue. A man with the ability to do as he chooses can use that ability to oppress others. Or, as Cicero warned, he could make self-centered choices that undermine the governing system that protects liberty more broadly. Since freedom is rare, both are serious threats. A tyrannical government may compel subservience from its citizens by removing their ability to take some destructive actions. The result may look virtuous, but coercion doesn’t create virtue by compelling conformity. Our Founding Fathers talked about the importance of virtue and extended it to Christianity, the ubiquitous religion in the Colonies at the time. In 1776, John Adams declared, “The happiness of society is the end of government.” But his definition of happiness may surprise you. He wrote, “All sober enquiries after truth, ancient and modern, Pagan and Christian, have declared that the happiness of man, as well as his dignity consists in virtue.” That should make you think differently about the Declaration of Independence declaring that the “pursuit of happiness” is an unalienable right. “Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports,” former President George Washington said in his 1796 Farewell Address. “In vain would that man claim the tribute of patriotism, who should
labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness, these firmest props of the duties of men and citizens.” In a 1798 letter, Adams explained why morality and religion are essential to check human passions. Without them, human vices “would break the strongest cords of our Constitution as a whale goes through a net. Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.” The country has spent decades rejecting the virtue and Christian principles that the country was founded on. A deeply divided country only seems to agree that the government isn’t working as it should. This is a major reason why. Government can’t make individuals virtuous, but it can stop undermining the institutions, like the family and churches, that once inculcated virtue in the next generation. Government schools once taught students the Bible. Now those schools undermine parents, the country and even the notion of truth. A people without virtue shouldn’t expect to enjoy the blessings of liberty indefinitely. That’s a crisis to jump in and fix, not a foregone conclusion to observe passively. Victor Joecks is a columnist for the Las Vegas Review-Journal. (Copyright 2026 Creators.com)
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Assad-era Syrian reactor was configured for nuclear weapons, IAEA chief says IAEA inspectors found 73 tonnes of uranium metal hidden behind walls at an undeclared site By Stephanie Liechtenstein The Associated Press VIENNA — The Assad-era government in Syria was constructing a nuclear reactor that was configured to produce fissile material for possible use in nuclear weapons, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency said Monday. The “configuration” and the “technical features” of the nuclear reactor under construction in Syria during the leadership of ousted former President Bashar Assad were “very efficient in the production of fissile material that could be directly
used for the fabrication of nuclear weapons,” IAEA director general Rafael Grossi said. “Of course, that was never declared, that was always denied, so, and again, intentions cannot be judged, but that was a very serious proliferation concern that we had, and this has been difficult work,” Grossi told reporters on the first day of a regular meeting of the IAEA Board of Governors in Vienna. Syria was believed to have operated an extensive undeclared nuclear program under Assad that included a nuclear reactor built by North Korea in eastern Deir el-Zour province. Following Assad’s ouster, the new government agreed to give IAEA inspectors access to suspected former nuclear sites. During a visit to Syria in August, IAEA inspectors con-
firmed that “the cooling infrastructure which has now been uncovered is consistent with that of a nuclear reactor.” Grossi and a team of senior inspectors also visited a previously undeclared site in the country. Inspectors had to “tear down walls” to find hidden material Syria notified the agency of the site’s existence in a July 17 letter and invited the IAEA “to cooperate with the Syrian authorities in the inspection and verification of the site and of any nuclear material to be potentially found.” The IAEA said in its confidential report circulated to member states last Tuesday and seen by The Associated Press that this new site contained “natural uranium metal in the
form of fuel rods with cladding.” The agency verified the material and confirmed “the presence of around 73 tonnes of natural uranium metal.” Grossi said when the inspectors visited the site in August they had to “tear down walls” and go through “very difficult and narrow passages” to reach the nuclear material that had been hidden. The site had “boxes scattered all over the place,” he said. Grossi said “the important thing is that this material now is under safeguards” of the IAEA, adding that agency inspectors had managed to install cameras at the location. Syria to decide what happens next Asked if the nuclear material will remain in Syria or be
removed, Grossi said it is “a matter that the Syrian government will have to decide.” He added, “We are not requesting them to do this or to do that. For us what’s important is that we know all the time where this (material) is until the last gram.” Logan Mintz, a director for nuclear materials security at the Washington-based Nuclear Threat Initiative, said that natural uranium metal is not directly usable for a nuclear weapon but it could be “diverted to a covert weapons program that further processes it into plutonium for a nuclear weapon.” She said that once deemed safe to move, the material could be “transported in certified containers” to a third country that can “safely and securely disposition it into a more chemically stable and more widely used form” for possible use in nuclear power plants. “As with any transport of nuclear material, this movement would require robust security from theft or sabotage,” she said.
Tale of conquest and symbol of friendship, Bayeux Tapestry proving to be hot ticket at British Museum The tapestry reveals medieval propaganda and vivid details of 11th-century English life By Jill Lawless The Associated Press LONDON — After a wait of almost 1,000 years and a journey of hundreds of miles, the Bayeux Tapestry’s big moment is here. The embroidered panorama depicting the last successful invasion of England goes on public display at the British Museum this week, back on British soil for the first time since the 11th century. Tickets are sold out for months, and the museum expects 1 million visitors to see the tapestry before the exhibition ends in July 2027. Schoolchildren across the U.K. will get special history lessons on it. King Charles III and French President Emmanuel Macron have already had a private viewing. It’s an extraordinary level of excitement for what Prime Minister Andy Burnham jokingly called a 230-foot “reminder of one of Britain’s biggest defeats.” Story with political message Like a medieval comic strip, the tapestry tells a vivid tale of betrayal, bloodshed, suffering and conquest, depicting a pivotal moment in European history: the Norman conquest of England in 1066. It illustrates events leading up to the Battle of Hastings, when William, Duke of Normandy, de-
feated King Harold’s Anglo-Saxon army. The invasion made William the first Norman king of England, brought the French language and French settlers to England, and forever intertwined the two countries’ fates. Exhibition curator Michael Lewis said at a preview Monday that “1066 is the most important event in English history,” and there is a “propaganda element” stitched into the tapestry. He said it was designed to tell English people that “Harold was king, you probably weren’t crazy to follow him, but the status quo has completely changed now. William is king and you need to kind of accept the new reality.” More than just medieval propaganda The tapestry’s 58 scenes begin with English nobleman Harold Godwinson traveling to France, where he swears an oath to William, perhaps agreeing to back the duke’s succession to the English throne. But when English ruler Edward the Confessor dies, Harold is crowned king, leading William to assemble a fleet and set sail for England. The final sections depict the climactic battle: archers with longbows, charging cavalry, sword-wielding knights, hand-to-hand combat and mutilated bodies. Brutal violence sits alongside domestic detail. Soldiers steal livestock, cook dinner, eat using their shields as plates, burn down an English house as a woman and child flee. People steal from the bodies of the dead. Margins at the top and bottom of the fabric brim with peo-
KIN CHEUNG / AP PHOTO
The 230-foot-long Bayeux Tapestry was displayed Monday during a press preview at the British Museum in London after returning to England following a historic agreement between the UK and France. ple, fish, dogs and winged beasts, sometimes acting as ironic commentary on the main action. It remains remarkably vivid, and would have been even more powerful for its 11th-century viewers, Lewis said. “Maybe they would even have tried to pick out themselves in the story of these events,” he said. For historians, the tapestry is an invaluable source of insight into 11th-century life: shipbuilding, fashion, cuisine, architecture, armor, even astronomy. At one point Halley’s comet streaks across the sky, as it really did in 1066. Scholars still debate its mysteries. Was the arrow that hits Harold in the eye, killing him, a later addition? A final scene, possibly depicting William’s coronation, is missing. Historians even argue about the exact number of equine and human penis-
es on display — either 93 or 94. Leonie Hicks, professor of medieval studies at Canterbury Christ Church University, said one reason the tapestry remains so famous is because its vivid, childlike illustrations are “very meme-able.” “It can be used to comment on current politics or mark memorable events,” Hicks wrote in a blog post, noting a recent magazine cover that showed Burnham on horseback advancing on his predecessor Keir Starmer, depicted as Harold with an arrow in his eye. “The margins contained Big Ben and Larry the cat,” she said. Hailed as symbol of friendship between Britain, France The tapestry was likely commissioned by William’s half
brother Bishop Odo of Bayeux and has spent almost 1,000 years in the French town. But historians believe it was probably stitched by women in southeast England, not far from the site of the battle. The king noted at a reception with Macron last week that it might just as accurately be called the Canterbury Embroidery. Governments on both sides of the Channel have hailed its loan as a symbol of a Franco-British friendship. But getting it to London took years of diplomacy. After decades of failed British requests to borrow the tapestry, an agreement was announced in 2018, delayed by COVID-19 and Brexit tensions, and finally confirmed by Macron during a state visit to the U.K. last year. Some French cultural figures, and the late British artist David Hockney, opposed the move because of the risk of damage to the fragile artifact. Insured for 960 million euros ($1.1 billion), the tapestry was nestled inside climate-controlled shockproof packaging before being transported by road and rail to the museum under police escort, arriving in the dead of night. It’s being displayed flat, in what curators say is a robust state-of-the-art case, rather than hanging as it was in Bayeux. Lewis said the “phenomenal expertise” of teams in both France and Britain had allowed it to arrive unscathed. “It has to make that trip back as well,” he said. “But we’ve learnt so much in that process. I’m confident that we’ve learned a lot that helps us be sure that going back is going to be as good.”
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9/7/22 3:42 PM
HOKE SPORTS ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Isabella Castaneda Volleyball Isabella Castaneda is a senior RS/MB for the Hoke County girls’ volleyball team. The Lady Bucks are 9-3 on the year and won both games last week. Castaneda was one of the coaching staff’s choices for player of the game in a win over Seventy-First. “Isabella did a great job defending the net, serving, & playing middle back defense!” was the comment that went with the coach’s player of the game selection.
Boys’ soccer, girls’ volleyball extend win streaks for Hoke The Bucks’ football team prepares for a return to the field after an off week
North State Journal staff
COURTESY HOKE COUNTY GIRLS VOLLEYBALL / FACEBOOK
Smith, 2-time All-America DB at Wake Forest, dead at 40 The former NFL player apparently left a farewell note on social media
HOKE FOOTBALL got to enjoy its win for an extra week after having its open date in the third week of the season. After not playing last Friday, the Bucks will try to build on their Week 2 win over South View and get over .500 on the season this Friday against Seventy-First. Hoke’s home opener will kick off at 7:30 p.m. The Falcons are 2-0 with lopsided wins over Terry Sanford and Pine Forest to open the season. The Bucks will need to contain senior quarterback Rmaunni Watson,
14th in Class 6A in passing yards, and senior running back Shon Pone, 10th in 6A in rushing, as well as return man I’Shyne Howard. Hoke volleyball swept a home-and-home series with Seventy-First, winning on the road three sets to one, before taking a straight-set win at home. The back-to-back wins snapped a two-match skid and improved the Bucks to 9-3 on the year. This week, Hoke has a trip to Overhills and a home match with Pine Forest. Hoke boys’ soccer saw its two-match win streak end with a 4-3 loss at Cape Fear. The Bucks are now 5-2-2. Sophomores Nicolas Patterson, Urijah Jones and junior Victor DeLaLuz supplied the goals for Hoke. Joas Hernandez and Alexander Garcia had assists.
The Associated Press PAHOKEE, Fla. — Alphonso Smith, a two-time All-America defensive back who played in the NFL for four seasons, has died. He was 40. Smith died last Wednesday, according to Wake Forest, which was informed by his family. The school’s release last Thursday afternoon didn’t reveal a cause of death. The Associated Press contacted the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office in Florida earlier last Thursday seeking to confirm Smith’s death. In an emailed statement responding to that inquiry, the office said sheriff’s deputies had responded to a Pahokee address “in reference to a suicide attempt” last Wednesday afternoon. “An adult male was transported to the hospital where he succumbed to his injuries,” the sheriff’s office stated. Smith appeared to post on his Facebook account last Wednesday, lamenting his mental health challenges, apologizing and asking for forgiveness. “Do not cry for me!” a post read on his account. “I tried everything in my power to fight the demons behind the ones that someone put into ME! I did not want to be that WAY! I know I have disappointed so many folks. This is a DEMON in me! But not only me! It’s EVERYONE! I have HURT so many! I needed help & did not get it! I am so sorry!” Smith apologized to his children in the note and suggested that trauma from his childhood had caused him mental anguish. “I pray my soul rest in heaven for my heart is pure,” he said. Denver drafted the former
SPORTSBLAST / FACEBOOK PAUL SANCYA / AP PHOTO
Detroit Lions defensive back Alphonso Smith kneels before a 2012 practice. Wake Forest star in the second round of the 2009 NFL Draft. After playing in 15 games for the Broncos, returning punts and kickoffs, he was traded to Detroit shortly before the 2010 season. Smith played in 33 games, including 11 starts, over the next two seasons with the Lions and had eight interceptions, returning two for touchdowns. The Lions released him just before the 2012 season, signed him later that year and cut him again after he played in four games as a backup. Smith went to Pahokee High School in his hometown, where he helped the football team win a Florida state title as a two-way star playing quarterback and defensive back in 2003. He redshirted as a freshman at Wake
Forest and went on to become a key player for the program over the next four seasons. Smith was a first-team AP All-America defensive back in 2008 and a third-team All-America in 2007. After playing in 44 NFL games over four years, he worked as a sideline reporter for Wake Forest football games during the 2013 season when he was also an assistant high school coach in nearby Winston-Salem. Smith was a head high school football coach in Moore Haven, Florida, and Pahokee High School, where he was also dean of students in charge of discipline, according to his LinkedIn account. His last listed job was director of marketing for a South Florida family physician.
Fayetteville’s George King, a former NBA player with the Mavericks and Suns, as well as a nine-year pro around the world, spoke to Hoke County athletes recently.
B2 SIDELINE REPORT NCAA FOOTBALL
No. 16 Michigan catches second-chance Hail Mary, survives scare vs. WMU Ann Arbor, Mich. Given an unlikely second chance at a game-ending Hail Mary, Bryce Underwood connected with JJ Buchanan for a 47-yard touchdown pass that lifted No. 16 Michigan over Western Michigan 13-12. The Broncos thought they’d secured a historic upset when Underwood’s first Hail Mary sailed out of bounds with the clock expired. WMU players were already on the field celebrating when officials called for a review. TV replays showed the clock hitting zero before the ball hit the hands of a Western Michigan defender, but officials ruled there was a second left.
MLB
Cardinals, Rockies tilt caps day after umpire’s comments to St. Louis rookie Denver Players from St. Louis and Colorado tilted their caps in protest of umpire Doug Eddings one day after he instructed Cardinals rookie pitcher Hancel Rincon to straighten his hat. Eddings’ comments prompted an argument with St. Louis manager Oliver Marmol leading to Marmol’s ejection. Most of the Cardinals’ players had their hats tilted during pregame warmups, and many continued to tilt them in the dugout during the game. Some even tilted their batting helmets to celebrate reaching base. Some Colorado players also wore their caps tilted before the game.
NFL
Former Cowboys running back Smith sued by investor over wind farm project NFL career rushing leader Emmitt Smith is being sued by a Native American investment company over claims that the former Dallas Cowboys running back and his business partners misappropriated a $2.5 million loan that was supposed to fund a wind farm project in Texas. Kituwah LLC claimed in a lawsuit filed this week in Delaware that 4:13 Solutions used the money to repay an investor from previous dealings with Smith’s company. Kituwah’s attorneys said Smith misrepresented efforts to secure a U.S. Department of Energy loan that would have triggered repayment to Kituwah.
TENNIS
Sabalenka complains about the smell of marijuana during U.S. Open match Aryna Sabalenka found something that could stop her at the U.S. Open: the smell of marijuana. The two-time defending champion complained to the chair umpire that it was bothering her early in her third-round victory over Kamilla Rakhimova. Sabalenka said she had never smelled the odor so strong as she did while serving early in the match. While Sabalenka was serving, she tossed the ball but then let it fall to the court twice. She then approached the chair to ask for help.
North State Journal for Thursday, September 10, 2026
Williams sisters reunite iconic doubles team at US Open The legends lost narrowly but thrilled the New York crowd By Jocelyn Noveck The Associated Press NEW YORK — “Welcome to the Williams Show,” read one fan’s sign in Arthur Ashe Stadium, as Venus and Serena Williams took the court for their doubles match, 25 years after first facing each other in the 2001 U.S. Open final. A quarter-century of playing pro tennis at a top level — at any level — is not a very common thing. And even more incredibly, the Williams sisters, now ages 46 and 44, showed they can still come agonizingly close to beating a top team that is cumulatively around half their age. In a three-set thriller that delighted a packed and vocal evening crowd, the sisters fell short only at the end, blowing a 5-0 lead in the final 10-point tiebreak to lose to Hao-Ching Chan of Taiwan and Maya Joint of Australia, 6-3, 6-7 (6), 7-6 (10-7). So it was indeed quite a thrilling show — even the sisters themselves, narrowly defeated, walked off with smiles on their faces, though they declined to speak to the media afterward. “It was an amazing match,” Joint said. “They played really well, and I think just the atmosphere on the court. ... I don’t think either of us has experienced quite like that before. And playing two legends of the game is just a super special moment that we might not get again.” The hugely entertaining evening came four years after the sisters last played doubles together at Flushing Meadows. That match came just a few weeks after Serena Williams announced, in a poignant Vogue essay, that she was “evolving away from tennis.” Whatever the wording, though, the message was clear: Daughter Olympia really wanted to be a big sister. And Williams knew she couldn’t accom-
ADAM HUNGER / AP PHOTO
Sisters Venus Williams, left, and Serena Williams arrive for their women’s doubles match at the U.S. Open. plish that and still play tennis the way she wanted. Well, Olympia got her little sister. And this year, her mom was fulfilling another of Olympia’s requests: that she play doubles again at the U.S. Open with Aunt Venus. “You need to play with Auntie VeVe,” 9-year-old Olympia told her, Serena Williams said this week on ABC’s “Good Morning America.” “She said it so clear and so calm,” Williams said. “She’s like my mom — she doesn’t really talk a lot, but when she does talk, you listen. And I was like, ‘OK.’” And so the sisters returned as a team to the tournament where Serena won six singles titles, and Venus two — one of them against Serena, who returned the favor the following year. That 2001 victory for the elder sister came a full quarter-century ago — which was enough to give fans goose bumps that this partnership is alive. They didn’t win, but they made it a close fight — thrilling
“You can do anything at any age as long as you work hard and put some effort and dedication behind it.” Serena Williams the crowd with some vintage volleys as they took the second set tiebreak to force a decider, then came close to winning that set. The unique nature of the evening was clear before a ball was struck, during player introductions. After a fairly routine introduction for Chan and Joint, the announcer moved on to the Williamses. “They’ve transformed and elevated the sport as we know it,” he said. “They’re two of the greatest athletes of all time.” As a doubles team, the sisters won two of their 14 Grand Slam titles at the U.S. Open — in 1999 and 2009. They last played to-
gether at Flushing Meadows in 2022, also losing in the first round. (This year, they had to scrap their appearance at Wimbledon because of Serena’s knee injury, but they played in Cincinnati last month.) But victory or defeat does not seem, for many fans, the point. The point is that they’re back in the spotlight. Green, the fan from Virginia, recalled something a former pastor had told her: “Even the sky is not the limit. You can go beyond it.” Which sounds just like the lesson Serena Williams now wants to teach her daughters — and why, four years after stepping away from tennis, she is back, at least in doubles and probably, she said on “Good Morning America,” in singles again soon. “I just really want my children to see me play at a different age,” she said. “I hope to show them that anything is possible. You can do anything at any age as long as you work hard and put some effort and dedication behind it.”
NBA suspends Clippers owner, fines team $30M, Leonard $700K for cap circumvention Los Angeles was also docked five first-round draft picks By Beth Harris The Associated Press LOS ANGELES — The NBA imposed a sweeping punishment against the Los Angeles Clippers for violating salary cap circumvention rules, suspending owner Steve Ballmer for one year, fining the team $30 million and forcing it to forfeit five first-round draft picks. Also, two-time NBA Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard was hit with a $700,000 penalty, president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank was banned for six months, and team president of business operations Gillian Zucker was suspended for one year. The Clippers will give up one first-round pick in each draft from 2029 to 2033. The league came down hard on the organization after a nearly yearlong investigation led by an outside law firm. The Clippers had said multiple times that they had done nothing wrong and expected to be exonerated. “I think that we’re going to be in the clear,” Leonard said in April, “so I’m not stressing it.” At the same time, Frank said, “If you know Steve and know Steve’s integrity, you know there’s nothing to it. We believe, and we’re very confident we’re on the right side of this.” The Clippers said they will “now fight just as hard to demonstrate our innocence. We intend to vigorously challenge these findings and penal-
ties through every avenue available to us and look forward to an ethical and impartial arbitration process.” “I am deeply disappointed by the flagrant violations of our rules and by the Clippers’ institutional and leadership failures that led to this misconduct,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement. “The severity of the penalties reflects the seriousness of the violations.” The NBA began investigating in September 2025 whether a $28 million endorsement contract between Leonard and Aspiration Fund Adviser LLC — a company that filed for bankruptcy last year — broke league rules, following a report by journalist Pablo Torre. The Clippers released a letter from Ballmer’s attorney David Kelley to Silver in which he described the investigation as “a witch hunt” and the subsequent penalties as a “gross injustice.” Kelley accused Silver of not keeping his promises that the investigation would be governed by due process and fundamental fairness as well as the burden being on the league to prove any violations through evidence. “Mr. Ballmer’s reputation has been irreparably damaged as he now finds himself embroiled not only in this heavily biased investigation, but in civil litigation, the Aspiration bankruptcy proceeding, and more,” Kelley wrote. Kelley wrote that no league rule prohibits team personnel making introductions to both sponsors and vendors in response to player requests.
JENNY KANE / AP PHOTO
Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard warms up before an April game. “Retroactively punishing the Clippers for violating a rule that never existed is hardly consistent with due process,” Kelley wrote. The league said Ballmer knowingly sought to help Leonard obtain off-court income deals, approved a business deal that he knew was a precondition for Aspiration to enter into an endorsement contract with Leonard, and for failing to create conditions under which his team followed league rules. “I accept full responsibility for lapses in judgment by people within my inner circle and regret the distraction this situation has caused the fans and my family,” Leonard said in a statement. The NBA said Leonard, through his former business manager and uncle Dennis Robertson, “violated the circumvention rules by pressur-
ing the Clippers to assist him in obtaining off-court income opportunities, successfully obtaining those opportunities, and failing to reimburse payments by the Clippers for personal expenses.” “I entered into my contract with the Clippers as well as the agreements in question in good faith, fully committed to fulfilling my obligations and with no knowledge of any intent on anyone’s part to circumvent the salary cap,” Leonard said. The league said Ballmer was suspended for “knowingly seeking to help Mr. Leonard obtain off-court income opportunities,” among other issues. Leonard’s trade to the Toronto Raptors has been on hold pending the outcome of the investigation. “As I return to Toronto, I am focused on what I can control, closing this chapter, and moving forward with a clean slate,” Leonard said. The Clippers and their personnel will be under a compliance and monitoring program by the league for five years, and Robertson was banned from doing business with NBA teams for five years. The league penalized Frank for his involvement with the impermissible endorsement arrangements and for approving impermissible expenses incurred by Leonard and his family. Zucker was banned for being primarily and directly culpable for the illegal endorsement arrangements and for lying to investigators. Both will lose their salaries during their bans. Ballmer, 70, was CEO of Microsoft from 2000 to 2014.
B3
North State Journal for Thursday, September 10, 2026
obituaries Gloria Steinem, potent voice of US feminism, dead at 92 James Q. Carson April 10, 1935 – Sept. 3, 2026 Mr. James Q. Carson, of Raeford, NC, passed away on Thursday, September 3, 2026, at FirstHealth Hospice House in Pinehurst, at the age of 91. Mr. Carson was born on April 10, 1935, to the late Clarence Q. Carson and Elvira Setliff Carson. Along with his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife of 47 years, Shirley Leslie Carson; and his sister, Kay Barnhill. He retired from Ingersoll Rand in Southern Pines as a machinist after nearly three decades of service. In retirement, he enjoyed watching his vegetable garden grow and sharing the produce with his family and friends. James’ favorite pastimes were fishing, walking the farm, and feeding his kitty cats. He was most proud of shaping his granddaughters’ lives, building memories with them, and sharing their accomplishments. James is survived by his daughter, Priscilla Wade and husband, Joe of Emerald Isle, NC; his son, Robert Carson and wife Leslie, of Raeford, NC; three grandchildren, Hayleigh Lynch and her husband, Tyler, of Greenville, NC; Rebecca Carson and Emily Carson, both of Raeford, NC; one great grandson, Tucker Lynch; and one niece, Debbie Jackson, of Wilmington, NC. A visitation will be held from 3:00-4:00 pm at Crumpler Funeral Home in Raeford on Sunday, September 06, 2026. A service will follow at 4:00 pm with Mr. John Carter officiating. Burial will be in the Raeford City Cemetery. Memorials may be made to: FirstHealth Hospice Foundation, 150 Applecross Road, Pinehurst, NC 28374.
Don Barton Feb. 8, 1945 – Aug. 28, 2026 Mr. Don Barton, age 81, of Maxton, North Carolina, was born on February 8, 1945, to the late English Barton and the late Allie Bertha Locklear Barton in Robeson County, North Carolina. He departed this life on August 28, 2026, at his son’s home surrounded by family. He was preceded in death by his wife Geneva Barton, his parents, English (Black) Barton and Allie Bertha (Bird) Barton, a granddaughter, Brittany Hunt, six brothers, Hubert (Bo) Barton, Louis (Bunk) Barton, Johnny (Bossy) Barton, L.B. Barton, Homer Barton, Herbert (Top) Barton, two sisters, Mary Lee (Mable) Jones, Barbara Ann Collins. Mr. Don attended Hoke County Church of God in Red Springs, North Carolina. He retired from West Point Stevens Plant. He enjoyed spending time with his family and taking care of his chickens. Mr. Don leaves to cherish his memories his son: Rev. Charles Barton and Wife Melissa, two daughters: Sherry Osuna and Annette Hodges, sisters: Faye Bullard and husband Bobby, Annie Faye Chavis, Caroline Locklear and husband Can, Doris Barton, Pauline Miller and husband Gus, eight grandchildren, nine greatgrandchildren, along with a host of other relatives and friends. Special thanks to Liberty Hospice.
Willie R. Purcell Jr. Aug. 23, 1952 – Sept. 3, 2026 Overseer Willie R. Purcell Jr., age 74, went home to rest with his Heavenly Father on Thursday, September 3, 2026. The Celebration of Life will be held on Friday, September 11th, at 1:00 PM at The Cape Fear Conference B Headquarters. Overseer Purcell will be greatly missed.
She had completed a memoir, to be published this fall, despite her declining health By Jocelyn Noveck The Associated Press NEW YORK — Gloria Steinem, the celebrated author and activist who was one of the most visible symbols and potent voices of the U.S. women’s movement for over six decades, has died. She was 92. With her trademark streaked hair and large aviator glasses, Steinem, a co-founder of Ms. Magazine, was a hugely recognizable presence wherever she went. And she went everywhere: Much of her life as an advocate was spent on the road, speaking at college campuses and community centers, at rallies and marches. “You can’t do it on the phone or on the web,” she told The Associated Press in a 2015 interview. “You have to be there with all five senses. It should be obvious that people can’t empathize with each other unless we’re in the same room.” Steinem, who had been in declining health, died last Wednesday at her home in New York City, according to a post on her social media page. She had recently completed a memoir, to be released this fall. “Gloria’s greatest gift was her ability to listen to others, to make others feel seen and heard,” the post said. “Her words, actions, and example gave people permission to be their truest selves.” Though Steinem had recently become more frail physically, her wit and humor remained totally intact, said her friend and fellow activist, Abigail Disney, who visited Steinem’s Manhattan home recently as those close to her gathered by her side. “Everything Gloria did was rooted in kindness,” Disney said. “It flowed through her political activism.” Steinem changed career path after start as journalist Gloria Marie Steinem was born on March 25, 1934, in Toledo, Ohio. Her father was a traveling antique salesperson; she spent her early years on the road with her parents, not attending regular school. “I just read everything I could get my hands on,” she told an audience at Manhattan’s 92NY earlier this year. She began her career as a journalist, notably reporting in 1963 on degrading conditions in Hugh Hefner’s Playboy empire — an undercover assignment she came to later regret. She credits a meeting six years
later, where women spoke out in favor of abortion rights, with changing her career path. “That speak-out was the beginning of activism for me,” Steinem, who had undergone a secret illegal abortion at age 22, told the AP in an email in 2022, reflecting on the reversal of Roe v. Wade. “Either our control over our own bodies is equal, regardless of sex or race, or we’re not living in a democracy.” Those who watched Steinem denounce discrimination for so many years likely never suspected that she’d had to overcome a deep fear of public speaking. She would have simply stuck to writing, she said, if only editors at the time had been willing to let her write about the women’s movement. Steinem’s visibility endured throughout life Well into her 80s, Steinem was traveling the globe and speaking out on issues of importance to her. It included everything from genital mutilation to Korean reconciliation, but it was equality for women that took precedence. “Being a feminist means that you see the world as whole instead of half,” she once said. “It shouldn’t need a name, and one day it won’t.” The constant visibility came with a price; even into her older years, Steinem expressed frustration that despite her accomplishments, she was often described as beautiful or glamorous. A 1992 Vanity Fair profile even noted her “spectacular racehorse legs.” “Nobody ever called me beautiful until I was publicly a feminist, and that was in my mid-30s,” she told AP in a 2011 interview. “It was clear that label was being assigned to me. The most hurtful part is that you work very hard, and people say it’s because of your looks.” Steinem dealt with hostility from many directions Appearing on Larry King’s talk show on CNN in 1990, she was visibly stunned when a female caller greeted her cheerfully, then told her to “rot in hell” because she had ruined “the beautiful American family.” But by then, she noted, at least people were taking feminists seriously. That wasn’t the case in 1972 when she co-founded Ms. Magazine and many commentators — especially male — dismissed it as ridiculous, predicting an early demise. The magazine continues to this day, published by the Feminist Majority Foundation. Among Steinem’s detractors
SETH WENIG / AP PHOTO
Gloria Steinem poses for a picture at her home in New York on Oct. 19, 2015. was President Richard Nixon, who was caught on an Oval Office tape ridiculing both her and the “Ms.” title. The ridicule was mutual: In a 1972 National Press Club speech, Steinem called Nixon “the most sexually insecure chief of state since Napoleon.” Her wit was a constant, and her many quips were widely circulated. Before she married at 66, she often explained her singlehood by saying, “I can’t mate in captivity.” Laughter, she wrote, was “the only free emotion — the only one that can’t be compelled.” Steinem never had children, and said she never regretted it. “No, not for a millisecond,” she told the AP. “It’s important that some of us not have children, to show that we have a choice.” In 2000, Steinem did something she’d never planned to: She got married, at 66, to British activist and businessman David Bale, the father of actor Christian Bale. The elder Bale died in 2003. Galvanizing speaker, even in later years On Jan. 21, 2017, when hundreds of thousands of women gathered in Washington, D.C., in their pink “pussy hats” for the historic Women’s March, it surprised nobody that the keynote speaker, and the most rousing, was Steinem. “We are linked,” she told the crowd. “And this is a day that will change us forever because we are together.” Though many saw her as a singular figure in history, she liked to say that if she hadn’t come along, someone else would have accomplished the same things. By the same token, she said, it was less important that younger people listen to her, and more important that they listen to themselves. “The primary thing is not that they know who I am,” she said, “but that they know who they are.”
Shirakawa, co-winner of 2000 Nobel Prize in chemistry, dead at 90 His research showed that plastic could conduct electricity like metal
Celebrate the life of your loved ones. Submit obituaries and death notices to be published in NSJ at obits@ northstatejournal.com
The Associated Press TOKYO — Japanese scientist Hideki Shirakawa, co-winner of the 2000 Nobel Prize in chemistry for discovering and developing conductive polymers, has died. He was 90. The discovery by Shirakawa and two fellow American scientists, Alan Heeger and Alan MacDiarmid, demonstrated that plastic could conduct electricity like metal and be used in applications such as electronics. Shirakawa died Aug. 24, according to the University of Tsukuba, where he taught and
researched after joining in 1979. The university did not specify a cause of death. Japan’s largest newspaper, the Yomiuri, said Shirakawa died at a hospital in Yokohama, west of Tokyo. Born in Tokyo in 1936, Shirakawa earned a doctoral degree in engineering at the Tokyo Institute of Technology in 1966. Ten years later, he became a researcher at the University of Pennsylvania, where he worked with MacDiarmid and Heeger. The three scientists’ findings that defied common sense that plastics are not conductive paved the way for the development of inexpensive conductive materials that are lighter and more flexible than metals and used in solar cells and mobile phone screens.
TSUGUFUMI MATSUMOTO / AP PHOTO
Japanese Nobel Prize-winning chemist Hideki Shirakawa has died at the age of 90.
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North State Journal for Thursday, September 10, 2026
STATE & NATION
Rescue satellite gets close to NASA’s doomed telescope, even if it can’t save it The $30 million rescue attempt failed but provided valuable data for future satellite servicing
Katalyst Space Technologies’ Link robotic servicing spacecraft orbits Earth on Aug. 24.
By Marcia Dunn The Associated Press CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — A private spacecraft that was supposed to provide a lifeline to NASA’s Swift Observatory managed to get close to the sinking telescope and even snap photos two weeks after the rescue was abandoned. But the three-armed robotic salvager had to turn away because it was low on fuel, according to Katalyst Space Technologies, which attempted the daring operation. “We got so close but so far,” Katalyst CEO Ghonhee Lee told The Associated Press this week. Katalyst’s Link spacecraft got within nine miles of Swift last Tuesday, using its sensors to gather data on the doomed telescope for NASA. The rescue effort had already been called off in August because of Link’s own troubles in orbit, but the company wanted the practice for future satellite-servicing missions. Link went into an uncontrollable spin soon after rocketing to Swift’s rescue in July. Flight controllers managed to slow the tumble and stabilize the spacecraft, using up precious fuel. In the end, there was not enough fuel remaining to boost the aging Swift into a higher, longer-lasting orbit so it could continue observing the cosmos.
KATALYST SPACE VIA AP
Lee blamed Link’s problems on the rush to get it flying. The mission was put together in just nine months, and engineers often had to use whatever was available instead of waiting for the preferred parts, he said. NASA paid the company $30 million to carry out the attempt, which was always going to be rushed. Both sides viewed it as an experiment with little to lose, although no one wanted a collision that would unleash clouds of space debris. “Unfortunately, it wasn’t the outcome that we were expecting,” NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said following Sunday’s launch of the
Roman Space Telescope. “But that’s exactly the type of missions that we should be flying at NASA. We will learn from that.” Isaacman said it makes sense to extend the life of a valuable spacecraft, especially if salvaging it costs less than replacing it. That is why the Roman telescope was designed to be refueled even though it is headed toward an observation point 1 million miles away. It is unlikely that Link has enough fuel left to attempt another close approach to Swift, according to Lee. But it can continue exercising its three 3-foot arms and providing important data before it reen-
ters the atmosphere and burns up in the next few weeks, he said. Launched in 2004, Swift has a little more time remaining in orbit, depending on how active the sun is. Intense solar storms in recent years are responsible for bringing the telescope down much sooner than expected. As of Friday, its orbit had dropped to 208 miles, barely half as high as when it set out to scan some of the biggest explosions in the universe. NASA anticipates Swift will plunge through the atmosphere sometime between October and the end of the year. The space agency resumed observations with the telescope last
Federal investigators probe Amazon cargo jet’s fiery runway crash that killed 5 in Miami Investigators suspect tail winds and a delayed touchdown prevented the plane from braking safely
By David Fischer, Marc Levy and Jeffrey Collins The Associated Press MIAMI — The five people killed when an Amazon cargo jet ran off a runway at Miami International Airport were all inside a van carrying seven people from a cleaning company and an SUV hit outside of airport property, National Transportation Safety Board Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy said Monday. Homendy didn’t detail how many people were in the SUV or where the dead were located. Homendy called the scene of Sunday’s crash “utter devastation.” She walked the route the Boeing 767 followed, noting tire marks from the pavement into the grass, a destroyed van carrying the cleaning crew, torn fencing, navigational equipment, and a crushed SUV outside airport property. Federal investigators examining why the jet barreled off the runway and into vehicles, killing at least five people, are likely to focus on a crucial moment in the landing: whether the plane touched down too late to stop safely. Video of Sunday’s landing appears to show the Boeing 767 remaining airborne well down the runway before touching down. Aviation experts said investigators will seek to determine exactly where the plane landed, whether it was beyond the normal touchdown zone, and why the pilots did not abandon the landing.
LYNNE SLADKY / AP PHOTO
An Amazon cargo plane sits at Miami International Airport on Monday after it overshot the runway and killed five people on Sunday. Investigators will also examine the plane’s speed and braking, weather and wind conditions, the aircraft’s mechanical condition and other factors that could have contributed to the deadly overrun. The aircraft overran the runway around 2 p.m. Sunday after arriving from San Juan, Puerto Rico, and plowed across a road used by warehouse workers and other businesses that surround the airport. Five people died, three were critically injured and two others were hospitalized with less severe injuries, officials said. The crash, which sent thick black smoke billowing into the sky, trapped the pilot and copilot in the cockpit and some occupants in cars, said Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Chief Ray Jadallah. The agency said crews also had to extricate a person who was trapped under a vehicle. The typical landing zone
“A tail wind would certainly add to your troubles if you’ve already given up a good chunk of the runway by not touching down and landing right away.” Mary Schiavo, pilot and former Transportation Department inspector general for a plane is within the first 3,000 feet of a runway, experts said. If the cargo jet was beyond that area, it should have aborted the landing and gone around for another try, aviation safety expert Steve Arroyo said. Mary Schiavo, who is a pilot and former inspector general of the Transportation Department, said video posted online
shows the Amazon plane floating above the runway for an extended period without flaring the nose upward to force the main landing gear onto the ground. It wasn’t raining at the time, but dark storm clouds loomed and strong winds were reported. Schiavo said that if the plane had a tail wind, that could have contributed to it floating further down the runway. “A tail wind would certainly add to your troubles if you’ve already given up a good chunk of the runway by not touching down and landing right away,” Schiavo said. The Miami airport is not equipped with arresting systems the FAA says have been installed at more than 120 airports nationwide to safely stop planes that do go past the end of a runway. Those beds of lightweight, crushable material at the end of a runway have been credited by the FAA with helping save at least 497 lives aboard planes that overran runways. Miami’s airport appears to be in compliance and wasn’t required to have an arresting system because it has a 1,000-foot safety buffer at the end of its runways, said Mike O’Donnell, the FAA’s former director of airport safety and accident investigations. The requirement was prompted by American Airlines Flight 1420 overrunning a runway at Little Rock National Airport in Arkansas in 1999, killing nine. The Prime Air plane came to rest beside a roadway near two semitrucks, images showed. The aircraft appeared to be resting on its belly and was largely intact despite the fire.
week after halting them early this year to conserve precious power. Like Swift’s, the Hubble Space Telescope’s orbit also has been lowered by solar activity. Katalyst is developing a next-generation spacecraft that could boost the 36-year-old Hubble into a longer-lasting orbit. “Hubble does still have a few years of life yet, right? So the good news is this isn’t imminent,” Lee said. Servicing old telescopes and other satellites used to be “a very, very niche concept,” he added, “and we believe it’s going to become more and more commonplace.”
The flight had been operated by 21 Air, a cargo carrier based in North Carolina. The 32-year-old Boeing 767 was originally built to carry passengers and flew for several airlines for more than two decades before being converted to a cargo plane in 2015, according to flight-tracking site Flightradar24. Schiavo said the NTSB will also closely examine the maintenance history of the plane — particularly since it has a history of foreign ownership, including by a Russian company. The crash halted flights at the busy travel hub for much of Sunday afternoon and continued to hamper air travel into Monday. Miami International Airport said that two of its four runways remained closed Monday and that operations were to be affected throughout the day because of aircraft and flight crews not arriving there due to Sunday’s cancellations after the crash. An airport spokesperson said there were 160 cancellations and more than 300 delayed flights Sunday, plus another 69 canceled flights Monday through mid-afternoon. Flight tracking sites were reporting widespread delays at the airport. Amazon said in a statement that it would cooperate with any investigation. “We’re heartbroken to learn that five people lost their lives in today’s incident at Miami International Airport,” the company said. “Our deepest sympathies go out to the families, loved ones, and all those affected by this devastating loss.” Last year, a UPS plane crashed after losing its engine while accelerating down the runway at Louisville’s Muhammad Ali International Airport. The crash killed all three pilots and 12 people on the ground. Twenty-three more were injured.
VOLUME 11 ISSUE 29 | THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2026 | MOORE.NORTHSTATEJOURNAL.COM
SUBSCRIBE: 919-663-3232
MOORE COUNTY THE MOORE COUNTY EDITION OF NORTH STATE JOURNAL
JARED LAZARUS / DUKE UNIVERSITY
“When in the course of human events …” Three copies of the Declaration of Independence from the early 1800s went on display at the Durham Public Library this week, including the engraved broadside from 1818, above, by Benjamin Owen Tyler. The exhibit at the library runs through Sept. 20 before moving to Duke’s Nasher Museum of Art until early January.
WHAT’S HAPPENING TSA brings back gate access for some people without plane tickets Las Vegas The Transportation Security Administration has launched a new program at 13 airports allowing eligible TSA PreCheck members without plane tickets to pass through security and enter the gates. This revives a tradition that largely disappeared 25 years ago after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. The program is called “Gateside by TSA PreCheck.” It’s free, but people must apply online one to three days before their planned visit and receive approval. The pass is valid for one calendar day. TSA says members of other trusted-traveler programs who have a Known Traveler Number also can apply for access.
Americans’ satisfaction with schools at low point, new poll shows A new poll shows that only 32% of Americans are satisfied with the quality of K-12 education in the country. That figure represents a low since Gallup began polling on the subject 27 years ago. Democrats are driving the recent slide, with satisfaction dropping 19 points since President Donald Trump’s second term began in 2025. But politics alone do not explain the dissatisfaction. Satisfaction has declined since the COVID-19 pandemic, and most Americans do not feel schools are doing a good job teaching skills like critical thinking and preparing students for jobs.
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Midterm elections head into home stretch as candidates hit Labor Day events With Senate control at stake, Democrats court labor union voters in key competitive races By Patrick Whittle The Associated Press PORTLAND, Maine — Troy Jackson was a longtime labor activist and logger before he unexpectedly became the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in Maine. On Monday, he returned to a union hall to tell a packed crowd that workers need to go to the polls this fall — to raise the minimum wage, expand family medical leave and show support for one another. “Labor Day has never been just another holiday,” Jackson told several hundred union members at a Southern Maine Labor Council event Monday morning in Portland. “Today, here with the people I’ve fought
alongside for years, I want to make a pledge about exactly what I’m going to do in the United States Senate.” Jackson, who became the nominee in a special convention in July, is trying to whip up support in a short period of time as he attempts to unseat longtime Republican Sen. Susan Collins in a race Democrats view as critical to winning Senate control. He was among the candidates in key November races who spent Labor Day weekend stumping at festivals, union halls and parades as the midterms enter the final weeks with control of the House and Senate on the line. Labor Day marks beginning of busy stretch of campaign season This year’s campaigns already have been combative, busy and expensive, and they
“Labor Day has never been just another holiday.” Troy Jackson, Maine Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate are expected to get even more so as a larger number of voters tune in ahead of the Nov. 3 general election. The first statewide mail ballots already went out, in North Carolina, last Friday. Some of the busiest states are the handful with competitive Senate races, such as Maine, Ohio, Georgia and Michigan. Republicans control the chamber, but Democrats see a path to taking it back if they can flip four seats and hold on in competitive states where they hold a seat.
Outside the Jackson event in Portland, Doug Born, a 64-year-old union stagehand from Westbrook, said Jackson’s background as a logger and longtime support of organized labor are reasons to support him. “I think he’d be the most working class guy in the Senate. That appeals to me,” Born said. “We need more union members in seats of power.” Collins had no events scheduled for Labor Day, but had been campaigning aggressively in the days leading up to the holiday and has several stops coming up this week. She visited shipbuilder Bath Iron Works early in the morning Sept. 1 to greet employees and promise to continue “leveraging her seniority to secure billions in destroyer contracts, infrastructure modernization, and wage See MIDTERMS, page A2
Fuel prices at record Labor Day high in US thanks to Iran war, refinery issues Iranian tensions and global refinery strain are converging to push prices higher By Jeffrey Collins The Associated Press IT’S NEVER BEEN more expensive in the U.S. to fill up the tank and take one last summer trip over the Labor Day weekend. The average price of regular gas was $4.14 a gallon heading into the holiday, nearly a dollar higher than last year and well above the Labor Day weekend
record of $3.82 from 2012, according to AAA motor club. Nicole Collins planned to head from Philadelphia to South Carolina to visit friends, but she said her family has spent most of the summer close to home and not taking their typical weekend trips because driving has gotten so expensive. “Gas is pretty high right now. It doesn’t help that we also have a baby, so we also have to pay for that,” Collins said outside a gas station in Claymont, Delaware, where regular gas was $4.199 a gallon. Prices shot up after the
U.S. and Israel attacked Iran in February and have not settled down since. Crude oil traffic through the key Strait of Hormuz has plunged, and Iran has refused to reopen the waterway. “Everything points to the Iran war and the Strait of Hormuz,” said Tom Seng, a professor of energy finance at Texas Christian University. Energy Secretary Chris Wright offered few specifics on when the nation’s drivers might see relief at the gas pump, acknowledging that prices are higher now than Labor Day 2025.
“Yes, they’re higher today, but we’re doing everything we can to push them down,” Wright said Sunday on ABC’s “This Week.” The national average for regular gas prices is still well below the record of $5.02 a gallon set in June 2022. But diesel is a different story: It hit a national average of $5.85 a gallon last Friday, a record. Trucks and other freight delivery systems use a lot of diesel, and that increased transportation cost is being passed See FUEL, page A2
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North State Journal for Thursday, September 10, 2026
THURSDAY
CRIME LOG
9.10.26
Sept. 1
“Join the conversation” North State Journal (USPS 20451) (ISSN 2471-1365) Trip Hoffend, Publisher Jim Sills, VP of Local Newspapers Cory Lavalette, Senior Editor Jordan Golson, Local News Editor Shawn Krest, Sports Editor Dan Reeves, Features Editor Ryan Henkel, Reporter PJ Ward-Brown, Photographer BUSINESS David Guy, Advertising Manager Published each Thursday as part of North State Journal 1201 Edwards Mill Rd. Suite 300 Raleigh, NC 27607 TO SUBSCRIBE: 919-663-3232 MOORE.NORTHSTATEJOURNAL.COM Annual Subscription Price: $100.00 Periodicals Postage Paid at Raleigh, NC and at additional mailing offices POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: North State Journal 1201 Edwards Mill Rd. Suite 300 Raleigh, NC 27607
• Dennis James DeFranco, 47, of West End, was arrested by MCSO for assault inflicting serious injury, assault on a female and domestic violence. • Robert Travis Hill, 32, of Carthage, was arrested by MCSO for possession of a controlled substance on prison/jail premises, simple possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. • Sequoia Clarnassia Person, 23, of Pinebluff, was arrested by Aberdeen PD for domestic violence and simple assault. • Christopher Edward Puckett, 43, of West End, was arrested by Aberdeen PD for exploitation of a disabled or elderly adult and obtaining property by false pretenses. Sept. 2 • Justis Chad Boles, 24, of Robbins, was arrested by MCSO for disorderly conduct and being intoxicated and disruptive. • Michelle Marie Phillips, 33, of Raleigh, was arrested by MCSO for possession with intent to manufacture, sell or deliver a controlled substance; and possession of a controlled substance.
• Tony Tyson Fields, 64, of Carthage, was arrested by MCSO for driving on a revoked license. • Braulio Martinez Gonzalez, 19, of Aberdeen, was arrested by MCSO for felony possession of a controlled substance, possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia. • Josiah Antonio Lamar Harris, 19, of Fayetteville, was arrested by MCSO for indecent liberties with a child. • Bobby Paul Wade, 50, of Sanford, was arrested by MCSO for possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia and maintaining a vehicle or dwelling for controlled substances. Sept. 3 • Jennifer Kristine Moore York, 48, of Robbins, was arrested by Aberdeen PD for possession of methamphetamine. • Dante Daniel Miron, 28, of Whispering Pines, was arrested by MCSO for communicating threats. • Minter Lee Oxendine, 61, of Robbins, was arrested by MCSO for possession of a firearm by a felon and carrying a concealed gun.
• James Edward Tramel, 45, of Atlanta, was arrested by NCHP for driving while impaired, reckless driving and speeding.
• Victoria Michelle Smith, 33, of Carthage, was arrested by MCSO for violating a domestic violence protection order.
• Danny Lynn Brewer, 60, of Carthage, was arrested by MCSO for possession of a firearm by a felon and possession of drug paraphernalia.
• Jacqueline Amber Stockdill, 33, of Fayetteville, was arrested by MCSO for felony conspiracy and felony larceny.
Diesel prices hit a record high in the U.S. as the war in Iran continues to impact fuel costs.
MIDTERMS from page A1 enhancements,” a spokesperson said in a statement. Trump hopes to whip up support this week with midterm convention President Donald Trump is also stepping up his own campaigning for Republicans in the coming days. His party is set to gather this week in Dallas for an atypical midterm convention, a two-day event that Trump and other Republicans hope will whip up support for the GOP, which currently controls the White House and Congress. Typically, the party in power in Washington loses seats in Congress during the midterm elections. Trump has also vowed to campaign for Republicans in important races, including Sen. Dan Sullivan in Alaska. One of Sullivan’s opponents, Democrat Mary Peltola, walked in the Fairbanks Labor Day Parade on Monday. In Ohio, Democratic Senate nominee Sherrod Brown’s Labor Day weekend campaign centered on labor unions. He attended a Labor Day festival in Lorain on Sunday and other events in the state over the weekend. Brown told the crowd at the Lorain event that “the system’s
• Jorge Alberto Ramirez, 27, of Vass, was arrested by NCHP for driving while impaired, possession of marijuana and possession of marijuana paraphernalia. • Stanley Lee Rolland, 36, of Aberdeen, was arrested by MCSO for assault on a female and domestic violence. • Charles Joseph Cisco, 44, of Aberdeen, was arrested by Aberdeen PD for driving while impaired and misdemeanor child abuse.
on to consumers, whether at the grocery store or through package delivery services. “It doesn’t really seem like there’s an end to it,” Collins said. Gas prices typically drop as the summer driving season ends and refineries turn to making a cheaper winter blend. But Seng said there are other factors this year even beyond the volatile situation in the Middle East that make future prices unpredictable. U.S. refineries are working at 98% capacity, many in the unusually harsh Texas heat. If there are problems there or a hurricane knocks some systems offline, prices will struggle to drop. And it’s not just a Middle East problem. Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian refineries are squeezing diesel supplies. Chinese refiners are seeing declining outputs as well, said Matthew Metzgar, a clinical professor
In Wisconsin, both major party candidates in one of the country’s most competitive House districts — Republican Rep. Derrick VanOrden and Democrat Rebecca Cooke — were joining a parade in the western part of the state. Democratic candidate for governor David Crowley spoke Monday at events celebrating unions and organized labor in Milwaukee and Madison, the state’s two largest cities. Crowley supports overturning a state law, passed in 2011, that all but eliminated collective bargain-
happening Here’s a quick look at what’s coming up in and around Moore County.
Sept. 11 Moore Treasures Pre-Sale 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Alexandria Lynn Brigman, 25, of Eagle Springs, was arrested by Aberdeen PD for seconddegree trespass and injury to real property.
The Moore County Historical Association opens early access to its annual antiques and collectibles sale, offering pottery, jewelry, art, vintage books and glassware ahead of the main Heritage Fair.
• Kelly Edward Lammers, 57, of Cameron, was arrested by Aberdeen PD for felony larceny, obtaining property by false pretenses and possession of stolen goods/property. • Eddie Dwayne Moore, 40, of Carthage, was arrested by MCSO for larceny of a motor vehicle and obtaining property by false pretenses. Sept. 6 • Luke Miller Cunningham, 20, of Cameron, was arrested by Aberdeen PD for underage consumption of alcohol. • Hope Elizabeth Gutierrez, 23, of Aberdeen, was arrested by MCSO for assault on a person with a disability and simple assault.
Shaw House 110 W. Morganton Road Southern Pines
Sept. 12 Miles 4 Moore Pinecone 5K and 1-Mile Fun Run 7:40 a.m. (1-mile fun run) 8 a.m. (5K) Runners take to neighborhood streets for a two runs benefiting the Whispering Pines Veterans Memorial, with medals for the first 100 finishers in each race. Packet pickup is Friday. at Whispering Pines Park. Whispering Pines Police/ Fire Department 10 Hardee Lane Whispering Pines
of economics at UNC Charlotte. “There’s just less gasoline coming out of those refineries,” Metzgar said. Wright, the energy secretary, said the Trump administration was taking steps to increase production and that the markets forecast lower prices in the coming months. “If you look at the futures prices, if you wanted to buy today in bulk gasoline for two months out in November, it’s about $0.35 cheaper than it is today. So the marketplace thinks gasoline prices are going to move meaningfully lower,” he said. Geopolitically, though, there is little a driver can do to knock down gas prices. But using price apps can help save a little money, especially on long trips where gas by the interstate could be 10 to 15 cents per gallon more expensive than at stations a short drive down the road, Metzgar said.
Shaw House Heritage Fair and Moore Treasures Sale 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Moore County Historical Association’s 18th annual fundraiser features vendors, food, live music, old-time craft demonstrations, farm animals for petting and the continuation of the Moore Treasures antiques sale. Shaw House 110 W. Morganton Road Southern Pines
Sept. 13 Pop Up in the Pines 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Local makers, small businesses and food trucks set up on the Weymouth Center grounds for a community market featuring handmade goods and local food. Weymouth Center for the Arts and Humanities 555 E. Connecticut Ave. Southern Pines
rigged” against working people, and “people are working harder than ever before.” The former three-term senator is running against Republican appointee Sen. Jon Husted. At a separate Ohio event, an armed assailant charged toward Democratic candidate for Ohio governor Amy Acton during a Sunday stop at the Canfield Fair and injured several people before he was stopped by troopers, authorities said. A spokesperson for Acton’s opponent, Republican Vivek Ramaswamy, said in a statement that candidates “should be able to meet with voters without having to worry about threats or violence.” Candidates have stops planned across key states
moore
Sept. 5
• Derich Junior Wall, 56, of Mount Gilead, was arrested by MCSO for violating a domestic violence protection order.
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ELLEN SCHMIDT / AP PHOTO
Sept. 4
Sept. 15 Moore County Board of Commissioners Special Meeting on Opioid Settlement Funds 4-5 p.m.
ROBERT F. BUKATY / AP PHOTO
Troy Jackson, Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, seated next to former South Portland mayor Deqa Dhalac, left, speaks with attendees at the Southern Maine Labor Council breakfast Monday in South Portland, Maine. ing for public workers. His Republican opponent, U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany, voted for that law when he was a member of the state Legislature. Tiffany attended a parade, a county fair and a Milwaukee-area street fair. In Michigan, Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed marched in the Detroit Labor Day Parade and will attend other union and labor events
throughout the day. El-Sayed is running against former Rep. Mike Rogers, who spent part of the weekend campaigning in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Iowa’s Democratic nominee for governor Rob Sand and his running mate Dave Muhlbauer attended Labor Day events in the state. Sand and Muhlbauer are running against Republicans Zach Lahn and Derek Wulf.
County commissioners will meet with municipal officials from across Moore County to discuss allocating opioid settlement funds toward abatement efforts. Historic Courthouse 1 Courthouse Square Carthage
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North State Journal for Thursday, September 10, 2026
THE CONVERSATION Trip Hoffend, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor VISUAL VOICES
COLUMN | DEBORAH WILSON
Lindsay Clancy and when justice cannot reach a verdict Any resolution must acknowledge the enormity of three children’s deaths.
SOMETIMES THE most important verdict is the one a jury cannot reach. After weeks of testimony and nearly 40 hours of deliberations, the jury in the Lindsay Clancy murder trial could not unanimously decide whether she should be held criminally responsible for the deaths of her three children. The result is a mistrial — and an extraordinarily difficult question about what happens next. The easy answer is another trial. The harder question is whether that is necessarily justice. A mistrial in a case of this magnitude carries costs that extend far beyond dollars. Prosecutors have devoted enormous resources to preparing and presenting the case. Defense attorneys have done the same. Experts have testified, medical records have been dissected, witnesses have taken the stand and court personnel have spent weeks managing a proceeding watched across the country. Now imagine doing it all again. A new jury — with knowledge of the case — must be selected. Experts must return. Witnesses must again recount painful events. Attorneys must reconstruct arguments that have already consumed weeks of courtroom time. And a family that has endured an unimaginable tragedy must once again watch the deaths of three children become the subject of testimony, argument and public debate. None of that means prosecutors should abandon the case. Cora, Dawson and Callan Clancy died violently. Their lives matter. The public has a legitimate interest in accountability, and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts has an obligation to enforce its laws. Justice cannot become a calculation in which prosecution ends simply because
another trial will be expensive or difficult. But justice has another obligation as well. It must recognize the rights of the accused. A mistrial is not a conviction. Lindsay Clancy remains entitled to the presumption and protections our criminal justice system affords every defendant, regardless of how disturbing the allegations may be. The prosecution’s burden does not become lighter because the first jury could not agree. That leaves prosecutors facing one of the most difficult exercises of discretion our system demands. They can try again, decline to retry the case or explore another option. In other words, can the parties explore whether some negotiated resolution appropriately balances accountability, public safety, mental illness and the interests of a family that has already suffered enough. A plea agreement should not be mistaken for surrender. Our criminal courts resolve cases through negotiated pleas every day. The question is not whether compromise somehow diminishes justice. The question is whether a particular resolution adequately serves it. In the Clancy case, that calculation is exceptionally difficult. Any resolution must acknowledge the enormity of three children’s deaths. It must consider public safety and society’s interest in accountability. But it must also account for the profound mental-health issues at the center of the case and the reality that a jury, after hearing the evidence and deliberating for days, could not unanimously determine criminal responsibility. Then there is the family. We frequently speak about victims and their families as though another trial automatically serves their interests. Sometimes it does. Sometimes
families desperately want another jury to hear the evidence. But another trial also asks people who have already endured unimaginable grief to return to the courtroom and experience it again. The human cost deserves a place in the calculation. So does the expenditure of public resources — not because justice has a price tag, but because government has an obligation to use finite resources responsibly. Another lengthy prosecution involving competing experts and extensive medical evidence will consume resources that cannot simultaneously be devoted elsewhere. The question is what another trial is expected to accomplish. Perhaps another jury will reach the definitive answer this jury could not. If prosecutors reasonably believe that will happen, another trial may be justified. However, there is another possibility we should be willing to confront: Twelve new jurors may listen to substantially the same evidence, confront the same agonizing questions about mental illness and criminal responsibility, and arrive at another impasse. Justice does not require endless repetition simply because the first answer was unsatisfying. Nor does mercy require abandoning accountability. Somewhere between those principles may lie a resolution that honors the lives of three innocent children, protects the public, respects the rights of the accused and spares a grieving family from being forced to relive its worst day in a courtroom. A mistrial means the jury could not find its way to a unanimous answer. What happens next will tell us something equally important: Whether our system is capable of recognizing that sometimes the pursuit of justice requires knowing not only when to keep fighting but when to search for another way. Deborah A. Wilson is a Georgetown University Law Center graduate and a practicing Northern Virginia attorney.
COLUMN | VICTOR JOECKS
Why liberty requires virtue
A people without virtue shouldn’t expect to enjoy the blessings of liberty indefinitely.
A FARMER can’t make his plants grow, but he can create the conditions that lead to their flourishing. A society can’t make its citizens virtuous, but it can nurture the institutions that lead to virtuous citizens. Great thinkers in Western civilization have long noted the importance of virtue. In “Politics,” Aristotle declared, “The best life, both for individuals and states, is the life of virtue, when virtue has external goods enough for the performance of good actions.” “Virtue then is a settled disposition of the mind determining the choice of actions and emotions, consisting essentially in the observance of the mean relative to us, this being determined by principle, that is, as the prudent man would determine it,” Aristotle wrote in “Nicomachean Ethics.” Practically, that means “virtue in a man will be the disposition which renders him a good man and also which will cause him to perform his function well.” Contained in that clunky English is a key insight. Virtue requires ascertaining truth and moving toward it with actions. This presupposes that truth is objective, not a personal possession. This fits in with an observation the great Roman statesman Cicero once made. He contrasted virtuous citizens with those who cared “more for his own interests than for those of the republic.” Perhaps you can start to see the link
between liberty and virtue. A man with the ability to do as he chooses can use that ability to oppress others. Or, as Cicero warned, he could make self-centered choices that undermine the governing system that protects liberty more broadly. Since freedom is rare, both are serious threats. A tyrannical government may compel subservience from its citizens by removing their ability to take some destructive actions. The result may look virtuous, but coercion doesn’t create virtue by compelling conformity. Our Founding Fathers talked about the importance of virtue and extended it to Christianity, the ubiquitous religion in the Colonies at the time. In 1776, John Adams declared, “The happiness of society is the end of government.” But his definition of happiness may surprise you. He wrote, “All sober enquiries after truth, ancient and modern, Pagan and Christian, have declared that the happiness of man, as well as his dignity consists in virtue.” That should make you think differently about the Declaration of Independence declaring that the “pursuit of happiness” is an unalienable right. “Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports,” former President George Washington said in his 1796 Farewell Address. “In vain would that man claim the tribute of patriotism, who should
labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness, these firmest props of the duties of men and citizens.” In a 1798 letter, Adams explained why morality and religion are essential to check human passions. Without them, human vices “would break the strongest cords of our Constitution as a whale goes through a net. Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.” The country has spent decades rejecting the virtue and Christian principles that the country was founded on. A deeply divided country only seems to agree that the government isn’t working as it should. This is a major reason why. Government can’t make individuals virtuous, but it can stop undermining the institutions, like the family and churches, that once inculcated virtue in the next generation. Government schools once taught students the Bible. Now those schools undermine parents, the country and even the notion of truth. A people without virtue shouldn’t expect to enjoy the blessings of liberty indefinitely. That’s a crisis to jump in and fix, not a foregone conclusion to observe passively. Victor Joecks is a columnist for the Las Vegas Review-Journal. (Copyright 2026 Creators.com)
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North State Journal for Thursday, September 10, 2026
Assad-era Syrian reactor was configured for nuclear weapons, IAEA chief says IAEA inspectors found 73 tonnes of uranium metal hidden behind walls at an undeclared site
tors also visited a previously undeclared site in the country.
By Stephanie Liechtenstein The Associated Press
Syria notified the agency of the site’s existence in a July 17 letter and invited the IAEA “to cooperate with the Syrian authorities in the inspection and verification of the site and of any nuclear material to be potentially found.” The IAEA said in its confidential report circulated to member states last Tuesday and seen by The Associated Press that this new site contained “natural uranium metal in the form of fuel rods with cladding.” The agency verified the material and confirmed “the presence of around 73 tonnes of natural uranium metal.” Grossi said when the inspectors visited the site in August they had to “tear down walls” and go through “very difficult and narrow passages” to reach the nuclear material that had been hidden. The site had “boxes scattered all over the place,” he said.
VIENNA — The Assad-era government in Syria was constructing a nuclear reactor that was configured to produce fissile material for possible use in nuclear weapons, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency said Monday. The “configuration” and the “technical features” of the nuclear reactor under construction in Syria during the leadership of ousted former President Bashar Assad were “very efficient in the production of fissile material that could be directly used for the fabrication of nuclear weapons,” IAEA director general Rafael Grossi said. “Of course, that was never declared, that was always denied, so, and again, intentions cannot be judged, but that was a very serious proliferation concern that we had, and this has been diffi-
Inspectors had to “tear down walls” to find hidden material
GHAITH ALSAYED / AP PHOTO
International Atomic Energy Agency’s director-general Rafael Mariano Grossi, left, and Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani attend a press conference in Damascus, Syria, on Aug. 18. cult work,” Grossi told reporters on the first day of a regular meeting of the IAEA Board of Governors in Vienna. Syria was believed to have operated an extensive undeclared nuclear program under Assad that included a nuclear reactor built by North Korea in eastern Deir el-Zour province.
Following Assad’s ouster, the new government agreed to give IAEA inspectors access to suspected former nuclear sites. During a visit to Syria in August, IAEA inspectors confirmed that “the cooling infrastructure which has now been uncovered is consistent with that of a nuclear reactor.” Grossi and a team of senior inspec-
Grossi said “the important thing is that this material now is under safeguards” of the IAEA, adding that agency inspectors had managed to install cameras at the location. Syria to decide what happens next Asked if the nuclear material will remain in Syria or be removed, Grossi said it is “a matter that the Syrian government will have to decide.” He added, “We are not requesting them to do this or to do that. For us what’s important is that we know all the time where this (material) is until the last gram.” Logan Mintz, a director for nuclear materials security at the Washington-based Nuclear Threat Initiative, said that natural uranium metal is not directly usable for a nuclear weapon but it could be “diverted to a covert weapons program that further processes it into plutonium for a nuclear weapon.” She said that once deemed safe to move, the material could be “transported in certified containers” to a third country that can “safely and securely disposition it into a more chemically stable and more widely used form” for possible use in nuclear power plants. “As with any transport of nuclear material, this movement would require robust security from theft or sabotage,” she said.
Tale of conquest and symbol of friendship, Bayeux Tapestry proving to be hot ticket at British Museum The tapestry reveals medieval propaganda and vivid details of 11th-century English life By Jill Lawless The Associated Press LONDON — After a wait of almost 1,000 years and a journey of hundreds of miles, the Bayeux Tapestry’s big moment is here. The embroidered panorama depicting the last successful invasion of England goes on public display at the British Museum this week, back on British soil for the first time since the 11th century. Tickets are sold out for months, and the museum expects 1 million visitors to see the tapestry before the exhibition ends in July 2027. Schoolchildren across the U.K. will get special history lessons on it. King Charles III and French President Emmanuel Macron have already had a private viewing. It’s an extraordinary level of excitement for what Prime Minister Andy Burnham jokingly called a 230-foot “reminder of one of Britain’s biggest defeats.” Story with political message Like a medieval comic strip, the tapestry tells a vivid tale of betrayal, bloodshed, suffering and conquest, depicting a pivotal moment in European history: the Norman conquest of England in 1066. It illustrates events leading up to the Battle of Hastings, when William, Duke of Normandy, defeated King Harold’s Anglo-Saxon army. The invasion made William the first Norman king of England, brought the French language and French settlers to England, and forever intertwined the two countries’ fates. Exhibition curator Michael Lewis said at a preview Monday that “1066 is the most important event in English history,” and there is a “propaganda element” stitched into the tapestry. He said it was designed to tell English people that “Harold was king, you probably weren’t crazy to follow him, but the status quo has completely changed now. William is king and you need to kind of accept the new reality.” More than just medieval propaganda The tapestry’s 58 scenes begin with English nobleman
KIN CHEUNG / AP PHOTO
People look at a poster of the Bayeux Tapestry outside the British Museum in London on Monday. Harold Godwinson traveling to France, where he swears an oath to William, perhaps agreeing to back the duke’s succession to the English throne. But when English ruler Edward the Confessor dies, Harold is crowned king, leading William to assemble a fleet and set sail for England. The final sections depict the climactic battle: archers with longbows, charging cavalry, sword-wielding knights, hand-to-hand combat and mutilated bodies. Brutal violence sits alongside domestic detail. Soldiers steal livestock, cook dinner, eat using their shields as plates, burn down an English house as a woman and child flee. People steal from the bodies of the dead. Margins at the top and bottom of the fabric brim with people, fish, dogs and winged beasts, sometimes acting as ironic commentary on the main action. It remains remarkably vivid, and would have been even more powerful for its 11th-century viewers, Lewis said. “Maybe they would even have tried to pick out themselves in the story of these events,” he said. For historians, the tapestry is an invaluable source of insight into 11th-century life: shipbuilding, fashion, cuisine, architecture, armor, even astronomy. At one point Halley’s comet streaks across the sky, as it really did in 1066.
KIN CHEUNG / AP PHOTO
The 230-foot-long Bayeux Tapestry was displayed Monday during a press preview at the British Museum in London after returning to England following a historic agreement between the UK and France. Scholars still debate its mysteries. Was the arrow that hits Harold in the eye, killing him, a later addition? A final scene, possibly depicting William’s coronation, is missing. Historians even argue about the exact number of equine and human penises on display — either 93 or 94. Leonie Hicks, professor of medieval studies at Canterbury Christ Church University, said one reason the tapestry remains so famous is because its vivid, childlike illustrations are “very meme-able.” “It can be used to comment on current politics or mark memorable events,” Hicks wrote in a blog post, noting a recent mag-
azine cover that showed Burnham on horseback advancing on his predecessor Keir Starmer, depicted as Harold with an arrow in his eye. “The margins contained Big Ben and Larry the cat,” she said. Hailed as symbol of friendship between Britain, France The tapestry was likely commissioned by William’s half brother Bishop Odo of Bayeux and has spent almost 1,000 years in the French town. But historians believe it was probably stitched by women in southeast England, not far from the
site of the battle. The king noted at a reception with Macron last week that it might just as accurately be called the Canterbury Embroidery. Governments on both sides of the Channel have hailed its loan as a symbol of a Franco-British friendship. But getting it to London took years of diplomacy. After decades of failed British requests to borrow the tapestry, an agreement was announced in 2018, delayed by COVID-19 and Brexit tensions, and finally confirmed by Macron during a state visit to the U.K. last year. Some French cultural figures, and the late British artist David Hockney, opposed the move because of the risk of damage to the fragile artifact. Insured for 960 million euros ($1.1 billion), the tapestry was nestled inside climate-controlled shockproof packaging before being transported by road and rail to the museum under police escort, arriving in the dead of night. It’s being displayed flat, in what curators say is a robust state-of-the-art case, rather than hanging as it was in Bayeux. Lewis said the “phenomenal expertise” of teams in both France and Britain had allowed it to arrive unscathed. “It has to make that trip back as well,” he said. “But we’ve learnt so much in that process. I’m confident that we’ve learned a lot that helps us be sure that going back is going to be as good.”
MOORE SPORTS Union Pines gets county’s only football win of Week 3 North Moore was forced to forfeit after not having enough healthy Mustangs North State Journal UNION PINES got back over .500 with the county’s only football win of the week, beating Eastern Randolph 16-6 on the road. Quarterback Vida Blue was 12 of 18 for 106 yards and a touchdown. He added 49 yards on the ground. Running back Adrian Colon carried 11 times for 100 yards and a score. Dylan Benedict led the defensive effort with seven tackles, a tackle for loss and a sack, also scoring two points on a safety. Josiah Sandler had nine tackles and a forced fumble.
This week, the 2-1 Vikings will host West Johnston at 7 p.m. Friday. The Wildcats are 1-1 and well rested after having an open week last Friday. Pinecrest surrendered 22 third-quarter points and couldn’t rally in the fourth, falling at home to Davie County, 42-29. The Patriots had no answer for Braxton Bowling, who rushed for 261 yards and two touchdowns. Najee Gillis was 15 of 23 for 192 yards, throwing two touchdowns. Marquise McNair had 78 rushing yards and a touchdown to go with 51 receiving yards. Carlos McLaughlin had five catches for 67 yards and a score and also had 61 kick return yards.
ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Madelyn Perkins
Pinecrest (1-2) will try to even its record at South View on Friday at 7 p.m. The Tigers are 1-2. North Moore was forced to forfeit last week’s game against West Davidson due to a lack of healthy players. The team had suffered heavy losses to Fike and Wake Prep in the two previous games, and attrition had thinned out the team’s roster of healthy players. The extra time off gave the Mustangs time to heal up, and, with several of the injured players ready to go again, North Moore will give it a go this Friday in a 7 p.m. kickoff against Chatham Central. The Bears are 2-0 and have already doubled last season’s win total.
COURTESY MAXPREPS
Union Pines, volleyball Madelyn Perkins is a senior setter on the Union Pines volleyball team. The Vikings are 6-3 and on a three-match win streak. In a win over Harnett Central, Perkins had a team-high 15 assists. In a win over Southern Lee, she led Union Pines in service aces (four), digs (15) and assists (26) — more than half the team’s total (48). For the season, Perkins is 12th in N.C. Class 6A in assists.
DAVID SINCLAR FOR NORTH STATE JOURNAL
Pinecrest’s Carlos McLaughlin pulls down a catch for a touchdown.
Bell passes defending Cup Series champion Larson to win Southern 500 to kick off Chase The win at Darlington snapped a nearly yearlong drought for the JGR driver By Pete Iacobelli The Associated Press DARLINGTON, S.C. — Christopher Bell’s crazy, frustrating season of seven second-place finishes without a victory at last came to an end with a win at the Southern 500. The Joe Gibbs Racing driver passed defending Cup Series champion Kyle Larson with 18 laps left at Darlington Raceway and held on to win the Chase-opening race and break a winless stretch of 33 races dating to Bristol last September. “Darlington is the epitome of NASCAR,” Bell said. “This is better than a dream come true.” It was his first win in 15 career Cup races at Darlington and pushed him into second in the Chase standings behind teammate Denny Hamlin. “No off weeks. Right back to work next week at Gateway,” he said. “I still feel I’m going to have to win more races if I want to” win the championship. Gibbs finished second, and Tyler Reddick, a five-time winner this season, was third. Chase drivers accounted for nine of the top 10. Ryan Blaney was fourth, followed by Larson, Chase Briscoe, Josh Berry, Bubba Wallace, Joey Logano and Ryan Preece. Berry was the only non-Chase driver in that group. Crew chief Adam Stevens tried to keep Bell focused as the runner-up finishes — along with the driver’s frustration — grew. It was important for him to understand that him finishing second wasn’t because his
JASON JACKSON FOR NORTH STATE JOURNAL
The field speeds past pit row during the Southern 500 at Darlington. team wasn’t doing everything it could to succeed. “You have to really come into each weekend with a clean slate, and he’s done a fantastic job with that,” Stevens said. Larson gambled during the sixth and final caution, staying on the track while other competitors, including Bell, went into the pits for fresh tires. And for a bit, Larson’s bet looked like it might pay off as he opened a sizeable lead on the restart and forced Bell and the others to come get him. Bell eventually did, moving low on the track to put Larson in his rearview mirror. Larson thought more racers would’ve stayed out of the pits on the final caution to give him some cover and distance before the fresh-tire drivers got going. “But Bell got to second so fast, I was straight into de-
fense,” Larson said. “Not able to run the lines I ultimately wanted to take care of my tires.” Hamlin’s troubles Hamlin, the top seed in the Cup Series’ Chase, had started the final stage in the top five when he got hit from behind on lap 237 by Michael McDowell and his car struck the wall in turn four. Hamlin immediately told his crew, “The toe links are gone.” But the incident did not draw a caution and Hamlin had to keep racing, falling to 20th as he and his pit crew waited for the chance to fix the damaged Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota. While the toe links were not damaged, there were extensive repairs and Hamlin was a lap down. He finished 18th. “It was certainly not the fin-
ish we were hoping for,” Hamlin said. “We certainly made gains on it all day.” Hamlin came into the race with a 25-point lead over second-seeded Ryan Blaney. The rules of the Cup Series’ postseason changed this year, with all 16 drivers competing in all 10 playoff races without eliminations. He’s still leading, 12 points in front of teammate Bell. Other Chaser issues Hamlin wasn’t the only one of the 16 Chase competitors to have problems. Hendrick Motorsports’ William Byron was in position for a top-10 finish when he spun out with what he believed was a flat tire. After a trip to the pits, smoke billowed out of Byron’s Chevrolet, and he went back to the garage to end his day.
Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing had high hopes with two of its three drivers, Chris Buescher and Ryan Preece, in the Chase. But Buescher could not gain any momentum at Darlington and rode in the back of the pack for most of the way. Preece, who won his way into the postseason with a victory at Daytona last week, pledged to continue to be aggressive because, as the 16th seed, his team had nothing to lose. That strategy worked well as he rode in the top 10 for most of the first half of the race. He couldn’t sustain it, though, and ended 10th. And while 23XI co-owner Michael Jordan watched from the pits, his two Chase drivers, Reddick and Wallace, went from running 1-2 at the end of the first stage to falling out of the mix down the stretch.
B2 SIDELINE REPORT NCAA FOOTBALL
No. 16 Michigan catches second-chance Hail Mary, survives scare vs. WMU Ann Arbor, Mich. Given an unlikely second chance at a game-ending Hail Mary, Bryce Underwood connected with JJ Buchanan for a 47-yard touchdown pass that lifted No. 16 Michigan over Western Michigan 13-12. The Broncos thought they’d secured a historic upset when Underwood’s first Hail Mary sailed out of bounds with the clock expired. WMU players were already on the field celebrating when officials called for a review. TV replays showed the clock hitting zero before the ball hit the hands of a Western Michigan defender, but officials ruled there was a second left.
MLB
Cardinals, Rockies tilt caps day after umpire’s comments to St. Louis rookie Denver Players from St. Louis and Colorado tilted their caps in protest of umpire Doug Eddings one day after he instructed Cardinals rookie pitcher Hancel Rincon to straighten his hat. Eddings’ comments prompted an argument with St. Louis manager Oliver Marmol leading to Marmol’s ejection. Most of the Cardinals’ players had their hats tilted during pregame warmups, and many continued to tilt them in the dugout during the game. Some even tilted their batting helmets to celebrate reaching base. Some Colorado players also wore their caps tilted before the game.
NFL
Former Cowboys running back Smith sued by investor over wind farm project NFL career rushing leader Emmitt Smith is being sued by a Native American investment company over claims that the former Dallas Cowboys running back and his business partners misappropriated a $2.5 million loan that was supposed to fund a wind farm project in Texas. Kituwah LLC claimed in a lawsuit filed this week in Delaware that 4:13 Solutions used the money to repay an investor from previous dealings with Smith’s company. Kituwah’s attorneys said Smith misrepresented efforts to secure a U.S. Department of Energy loan that would have triggered repayment to Kituwah.
TENNIS
Sabalenka complains about the smell of marijuana during U.S. Open match Aryna Sabalenka found something that could stop her at the U.S. Open: the smell of marijuana. The two-time defending champion complained to the chair umpire that it was bothering her early in her third-round victory over Kamilla Rakhimova. Sabalenka said she had never smelled the odor so strong as she did while serving early in the match. While Sabalenka was serving, she tossed the ball but then let it fall to the court twice. She then approached the chair to ask for help.
North State Journal for Thursday, September 10, 2026
Williams sisters reunite iconic doubles team at US Open The legends lost narrowly but thrilled the New York crowd By Jocelyn Noveck The Associated Press NEW YORK — “Welcome to the Williams Show,” read one fan’s sign in Arthur Ashe Stadium, as Venus and Serena Williams took the court for their doubles match, 25 years after first facing each other in the 2001 U.S. Open final. A quarter-century of playing pro tennis at a top level — at any level — is not a very common thing. And even more incredibly, the Williams sisters, now ages 46 and 44, showed they can still come agonizingly close to beating a top team that is cumulatively around half their age. In a three-set thriller that delighted a packed and vocal evening crowd, the sisters fell short only at the end, blowing a 5-0 lead in the final 10-point tiebreak to lose to Hao-Ching Chan of Taiwan and Maya Joint of Australia, 6-3, 6-7 (6), 7-6 (10-7). So it was indeed quite a thrilling show — even the sisters themselves, narrowly defeated, walked off with smiles on their faces, though they declined to speak to the media afterward. “It was an amazing match,” Joint said. “They played really well, and I think just the atmosphere on the court. ... I don’t think either of us has experienced quite like that before. And playing two legends of the game is just a super special moment that we might not get again.” The hugely entertaining evening came four years after the sisters last played doubles together at Flushing Meadows. That match came just a few weeks after Serena Williams announced, in a poignant Vogue essay, that she was “evolving away from tennis.” Whatever the wording, though, the message was clear: Daughter Olympia really wanted to be a big sister. And Williams knew she couldn’t accom-
ADAM HUNGER / AP PHOTO
Sisters Venus Williams, left, and Serena Williams arrive for their women’s doubles match at the U.S. Open. plish that and still play tennis the way she wanted. Well, Olympia got her little sister. And this year, her mom was fulfilling another of Olympia’s requests: that she play doubles again at the U.S. Open with Aunt Venus. “You need to play with Auntie VeVe,” 9-year-old Olympia told her, Serena Williams said this week on ABC’s “Good Morning America.” “She said it so clear and so calm,” Williams said. “She’s like my mom — she doesn’t really talk a lot, but when she does talk, you listen. And I was like, ‘OK.’” And so the sisters returned as a team to the tournament where Serena won six singles titles, and Venus two — one of them against Serena, who returned the favor the following year. That 2001 victory for the elder sister came a full quarter-century ago — which was enough to give fans goose bumps that this partnership is alive. They didn’t win, but they made it a close fight — thrilling
“You can do anything at any age as long as you work hard and put some effort and dedication behind it.” Serena Williams the crowd with some vintage volleys as they took the second set tiebreak to force a decider, then came close to winning that set. The unique nature of the evening was clear before a ball was struck, during player introductions. After a fairly routine introduction for Chan and Joint, the announcer moved on to the Williamses. “They’ve transformed and elevated the sport as we know it,” he said. “They’re two of the greatest athletes of all time.” As a doubles team, the sisters won two of their 14 Grand Slam titles at the U.S. Open — in 1999 and 2009. They last played to-
gether at Flushing Meadows in 2022, also losing in the first round. (This year, they had to scrap their appearance at Wimbledon because of Serena’s knee injury, but they played in Cincinnati last month.) But victory or defeat does not seem, for many fans, the point. The point is that they’re back in the spotlight. Green, the fan from Virginia, recalled something a former pastor had told her: “Even the sky is not the limit. You can go beyond it.” Which sounds just like the lesson Serena Williams now wants to teach her daughters — and why, four years after stepping away from tennis, she is back, at least in doubles and probably, she said on “Good Morning America,” in singles again soon. “I just really want my children to see me play at a different age,” she said. “I hope to show them that anything is possible. You can do anything at any age as long as you work hard and put some effort and dedication behind it.”
NBA suspends Clippers owner, fines team $30M, Leonard $700K for cap circumvention Los Angeles was also docked five first-round draft picks By Beth Harris The Associated Press LOS ANGELES — The NBA imposed a sweeping punishment against the Los Angeles Clippers for violating salary cap circumvention rules, suspending owner Steve Ballmer for one year, fining the team $30 million and forcing it to forfeit five first-round draft picks. Also, two-time NBA Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard was hit with a $700,000 penalty, president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank was banned for six months, and team president of business operations Gillian Zucker was suspended for one year. The Clippers will give up one first-round pick in each draft from 2029 to 2033. The league came down hard on the organization after a nearly yearlong investigation led by an outside law firm. The Clippers had said multiple times that they had done nothing wrong and expected to be exonerated. “I think that we’re going to be in the clear,” Leonard said in April, “so I’m not stressing it.” At the same time, Frank said, “If you know Steve and know Steve’s integrity, you know there’s nothing to it. We believe, and we’re very confident we’re on the right side of this.” The Clippers said they will “now fight just as hard to demonstrate our innocence. We intend to vigorously challenge these findings and penal-
ties through every avenue available to us and look forward to an ethical and impartial arbitration process.” “I am deeply disappointed by the flagrant violations of our rules and by the Clippers’ institutional and leadership failures that led to this misconduct,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement. “The severity of the penalties reflects the seriousness of the violations.” The NBA began investigating in September 2025 whether a $28 million endorsement contract between Leonard and Aspiration Fund Adviser LLC — a company that filed for bankruptcy last year — broke league rules, following a report by journalist Pablo Torre. The Clippers released a letter from Ballmer’s attorney David Kelley to Silver in which he described the investigation as “a witch hunt” and the subsequent penalties as a “gross injustice.” Kelley accused Silver of not keeping his promises that the investigation would be governed by due process and fundamental fairness as well as the burden being on the league to prove any violations through evidence. “Mr. Ballmer’s reputation has been irreparably damaged as he now finds himself embroiled not only in this heavily biased investigation, but in civil litigation, the Aspiration bankruptcy proceeding, and more,” Kelley wrote. Kelley wrote that no league rule prohibits team personnel making introductions to both sponsors and vendors in response to player requests.
JENNY KANE / AP PHOTO
Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard warms up before an April game. “Retroactively punishing the Clippers for violating a rule that never existed is hardly consistent with due process,” Kelley wrote. The league said Ballmer knowingly sought to help Leonard obtain off-court income deals, approved a business deal that he knew was a precondition for Aspiration to enter into an endorsement contract with Leonard, and for failing to create conditions under which his team followed league rules. “I accept full responsibility for lapses in judgment by people within my inner circle and regret the distraction this situation has caused the fans and my family,” Leonard said in a statement. The NBA said Leonard, through his former business manager and uncle Dennis Robertson, “violated the circumvention rules by pressur-
ing the Clippers to assist him in obtaining off-court income opportunities, successfully obtaining those opportunities, and failing to reimburse payments by the Clippers for personal expenses.” “I entered into my contract with the Clippers as well as the agreements in question in good faith, fully committed to fulfilling my obligations and with no knowledge of any intent on anyone’s part to circumvent the salary cap,” Leonard said. The league said Ballmer was suspended for “knowingly seeking to help Mr. Leonard obtain off-court income opportunities,” among other issues. Leonard’s trade to the Toronto Raptors has been on hold pending the outcome of the investigation. “As I return to Toronto, I am focused on what I can control, closing this chapter, and moving forward with a clean slate,” Leonard said. The Clippers and their personnel will be under a compliance and monitoring program by the league for five years, and Robertson was banned from doing business with NBA teams for five years. The league penalized Frank for his involvement with the impermissible endorsement arrangements and for approving impermissible expenses incurred by Leonard and his family. Zucker was banned for being primarily and directly culpable for the illegal endorsement arrangements and for lying to investigators. Both will lose their salaries during their bans. Ballmer, 70, was CEO of Microsoft from 2000 to 2014.
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North State Journal for Thursday, September 10, 2026
obituaries Gloria Steinem, potent voice of US feminism, dead at 92 Michael Jones Jan. 2, 1962 – Sept. 2, 2026 Michael Jones, 64, of Hoffman, NC, passed away on Wednesday, September 2, 2026, at his home.
Robert Earl Monroe Oct. 29, 1960 – Sept. 1, 2026 Mr. Robert Earl Monroe, 65, of Sanford, North Carolina, entered into eternal rest on Tuesday, September 1, 2026, at his residence. Please keep the family and friends of Mr. Robert Earl Monroe in your thoughts and prayers. Arrangements are entrusted to McLeod Funeral Home of Sanford, North Carolina
Lenora McLeod Nov. 20, 1939 – Aug. 30, 2026 Lenora McLeod, 86, of Aberdeen, North Carolina (Jackson Hamlet community) entered into eternal rest on Sunday, August 30, 2026, at her residence. Please keep the family and friends of Ms. Lenora McLeod in your thoughts and prayers. Arrangements are entrusted to McLeod Funeral Home of Southern Pines, North Carolina. The family will receive visitors at 216 Arnett Street, Aberdeen, North Carolina on Wednesday, September 2nd, & Thursday, September 3rd from 5 pm- 8 pm daily.
She had completed a memoir, to be published this fall, despite her declining health By Jocelyn Noveck The Associated Press NEW YORK — Gloria Steinem, the celebrated author and activist who was one of the most visible symbols and potent voices of the U.S. women’s movement for over six decades, has died. She was 92. With her trademark streaked hair and large aviator glasses, Steinem, a co-founder of Ms. Magazine, was a hugely recognizable presence wherever she went. And she went everywhere: Much of her life as an advocate was spent on the road, speaking at college campuses and community centers, at rallies and marches. “You can’t do it on the phone or on the web,” she told The Associated Press in a 2015 interview. “You have to be there with all five senses. It should be obvious that people can’t empathize with each other unless we’re in the same room.” Steinem, who had been in declining health, died last Wednesday at her home in New York City, according to a post on her social media page. She had recently completed a memoir, to be released this fall. “Gloria’s greatest gift was her ability to listen to others, to make others feel seen and heard,” the post said. “Her words, actions, and example gave people permission to be their truest selves.” Though Steinem had recently become more frail physically, her wit and humor remained totally intact, said her friend and fellow activist, Abigail Disney, who visited Steinem’s Manhattan home recently as those close to her gathered by her side. “Everything Gloria did was rooted in kindness,” Disney said. “It flowed through her political activism.” Steinem changed career path after start as journalist Gloria Marie Steinem was born on March 25, 1934, in Toledo, Ohio. Her father was a
traveling antique salesperson; she spent her early years on the road with her parents, not attending regular school. “I just read everything I could get my hands on,” she told an audience at Manhattan’s 92NY earlier this year. She began her career as a journalist, notably reporting in 1963 on degrading conditions in Hugh Hefner’s Playboy empire — an undercover assignment she came to later regret. She credits a meeting six years later, where women spoke out in favor of abortion rights, with changing her career path. “That speak-out was the beginning of activism for me,” Steinem, who had undergone a secret illegal abortion at age 22, told the AP in an email in 2022, reflecting on the reversal of Roe v. Wade. “Either our control over our own bodies is equal, regardless of sex or race, or we’re not living in a democracy.” Those who watched Steinem denounce discrimination for so many years likely never suspected that she’d had to overcome a deep fear of public speaking. She would have simply stuck to writing, she said, if only editors at the time had been willing to let her write about the women’s movement. Steinem’s visibility endured throughout life Well into her 80s, Steinem was traveling the globe and speaking out on issues of importance to her. It included everything from genital mutilation to Korean reconciliation, but it was equality for women that took precedence. “Being a feminist means that you see the world as whole instead of half,” she once said. “It shouldn’t need a name, and one day it won’t.” The constant visibility came with a price; even into her older years, Steinem expressed frustration that despite her accomplishments, she was often described as beautiful or glamorous. A 1992 Vanity Fair profile even noted her “spectacular racehorse legs.” “Nobody ever called me beautiful until I was publicly a feminist, and that was in
SETH WENIG / AP PHOTO
Gloria Steinem poses for a picture at her home in New York on Oct. 19, 2015. my mid-30s,” she told AP in a 2011 interview. “It was clear that label was being assigned to me. The most hurtful part is that you work very hard, and people say it’s because of your looks.” Steinem dealt with hostility from many directions Appearing on Larry King’s talk show on CNN in 1990, she was visibly stunned when a female caller greeted her cheerfully, then told her to “rot in hell” because she had ruined “the beautiful American family.” But by then, she noted, at least people were taking feminists seriously. That wasn’t the case in 1972 when she co-founded Ms. Magazine and many commentators — especially male — dismissed it as ridiculous, predicting an early demise. The magazine continues to this day, published by the Feminist Majority Foundation. Among Steinem’s detractors was President Richard Nixon, who was caught on an Oval Office tape ridiculing both her and the “Ms.” title. The ridicule was mutual: In a 1972 National Press Club speech, Steinem called Nixon “the most sexually insecure chief of state since Napoleon.” Her wit was a constant, and her many quips were widely circulated. Before she married at 66, she often explained her singlehood by saying, “I can’t mate in captivity.” Laughter, she wrote, was “the only free emo-
Shirakawa, co-winner of Nobel Prize in chemistry in 2020, dead at 90 His research showed that plastic could conduct electricity like metal The Associated Press TOKYO — Japanese scientist Hideki Shirakawa, co-winner of the 2000 Nobel Prize in chem-
istry for discovering and developing conductive polymers, has died. He was 90. The discovery by Shirakawa and two fellow American scientists, Alan Heeger and Alan MacDiarmid, demonstrated that plastic could conduct electricity like metal and be used in applications such as electronics.
Shirakawa died Aug. 24, according to the University of Tsukuba, where he taught and researched after joining in 1979. The university did not specify a cause of death. Japan’s largest newspaper, the Yomiuri, said Shirakawa died at a hospital in Yokohama, west of Tokyo.
tion — the only one that can’t be compelled.” Steinem never had children, and said she never regretted it. “No, not for a millisecond,” she told the AP. “It’s important that some of us not have children, to show that we have a choice.” In 2000, Steinem did something she’d never planned to: She got married, at 66, to British activist and businessman David Bale, the father of actor Christian Bale. The elder Bale died in 2003. Galvanizing speaker, even in later years On Jan. 21, 2017, when hundreds of thousands of women gathered in Washington, D.C., in their pink “pussy hats” for the historic Women’s March, it surprised nobody that the keynote speaker, and the most rousing, was Steinem. “We are linked,” she told the crowd. “And this is a day that will change us forever because we are together.” Though many saw her as a singular figure in history, she liked to say that if she hadn’t come along, someone else would have accomplished the same things. By the same token, she said, it was less important that younger people listen to her, and more important that they listen to themselves. “The primary thing is not that they know who I am,” she said, “but that they know who they are.”
Born in Tokyo in 1936, Shirakawa earned a doctoral degree in engineering at the Tokyo Institute of Technology in 1966. Ten years later, he became a researcher at the University of Pennsylvania, where he worked with MacDiarmid and Heeger. The three scientists’ findings that defied common sense that plastics are not conductive paved the way for the development of inexpensive conductive materials that are lighter and more flexible than metals and used in solar cells and mobile phone screens.
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North State Journal for Thursday, September 10, 2026
STATE & NATION
Rescue satellite gets close to NASA’s doomed telescope, even if it can’t save it The $30 million rescue attempt failed but provided valuable data for future satellite servicing
Katalyst Space Technologies’ Link robotic servicing spacecraft orbits Earth on Aug. 24.
By Marcia Dunn The Associated Press CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — A private spacecraft that was supposed to provide a lifeline to NASA’s Swift Observatory managed to get close to the sinking telescope and even snap photos two weeks after the rescue was abandoned. But the three-armed robotic salvager had to turn away because it was low on fuel, according to Katalyst Space Technologies, which attempted the daring operation. “We got so close but so far,” Katalyst CEO Ghonhee Lee told The Associated Press this week. Katalyst’s Link spacecraft got within nine miles of Swift last Tuesday, using its sensors to gather data on the doomed telescope for NASA. The rescue effort had already been called off in August because of Link’s own troubles in orbit, but the company wanted the practice for future satellite-servicing missions. Link went into an uncontrollable spin soon after rocketing to Swift’s rescue in July. Flight controllers managed to slow the tumble and stabilize the spacecraft, using up precious fuel. In the end, there was not enough fuel remaining to boost the aging Swift into a higher, longer-lasting orbit so it could continue observing the cosmos.
KATALYST SPACE VIA AP
Lee blamed Link’s problems on the rush to get it flying. The mission was put together in just nine months, and engineers often had to use whatever was available instead of waiting for the preferred parts, he said. NASA paid the company $30 million to carry out the attempt, which was always going to be rushed. Both sides viewed it as an experiment with little to lose, although no one wanted a collision that would unleash clouds of space debris. “Unfortunately, it wasn’t the outcome that we were expecting,” NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said following Sunday’s launch of the
Roman Space Telescope. “But that’s exactly the type of missions that we should be flying at NASA. We will learn from that.” Isaacman said it makes sense to extend the life of a valuable spacecraft, especially if salvaging it costs less than replacing it. That is why the Roman telescope was designed to be refueled even though it is headed toward an observation point 1 million miles away. It is unlikely that Link has enough fuel left to attempt another close approach to Swift, according to Lee. But it can continue exercising its three 3-foot arms and providing important data before it reen-
ters the atmosphere and burns up in the next few weeks, he said. Launched in 2004, Swift has a little more time remaining in orbit, depending on how active the sun is. Intense solar storms in recent years are responsible for bringing the telescope down much sooner than expected. As of Friday, its orbit had dropped to 208 miles, barely half as high as when it set out to scan some of the biggest explosions in the universe. NASA anticipates Swift will plunge through the atmosphere sometime between October and the end of the year. The space agency resumed observations with the telescope last
Federal investigators probe Amazon cargo jet’s fiery runway crash that killed 5 in Miami Investigators suspect tail winds and a delayed touchdown prevented the plane from braking safely
By David Fischer, Marc Levy and Jeffrey Collins The Associated Press MIAMI — The five people killed when an Amazon cargo jet ran off a runway at Miami International Airport were all inside a van carrying seven people from a cleaning company and an SUV hit outside of airport property, National Transportation Safety Board Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy said Monday. Homendy didn’t detail how many people were in the SUV or where the dead were located. Homendy called the scene of Sunday’s crash “utter devastation.” She walked the route the Boeing 767 followed, noting tire marks from the pavement into the grass, a destroyed van carrying the cleaning crew, torn fencing, navigational equipment, and a crushed SUV outside airport property. Federal investigators examining why the jet barreled off the runway and into vehicles, killing at least five people, are likely to focus on a crucial moment in the landing: whether the plane touched down too late to stop safely. Video of Sunday’s landing appears to show the Boeing 767 remaining airborne well down the runway before touching down. Aviation experts said investigators will seek to determine exactly where the plane landed, whether it was beyond the normal touchdown zone, and why the pilots did not abandon the landing.
LYNNE SLADKY / AP PHOTO
An Amazon cargo plane sits at Miami International Airport on Monday after it overshot the runway and killed five people on Sunday. Investigators will also examine the plane’s speed and braking, weather and wind conditions, the aircraft’s mechanical condition and other factors that could have contributed to the deadly overrun. The aircraft overran the runway around 2 p.m. Sunday after arriving from San Juan, Puerto Rico, and plowed across a road used by warehouse workers and other businesses that surround the airport. Five people died, three were critically injured and two others were hospitalized with less severe injuries, officials said. The crash, which sent thick black smoke billowing into the sky, trapped the pilot and copilot in the cockpit and some occupants in cars, said Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Chief Ray Jadallah. The agency said crews also had to extricate a person who was trapped under a vehicle. The typical landing zone
“A tail wind would certainly add to your troubles if you’ve already given up a good chunk of the runway by not touching down and landing right away.” Mary Schiavo, pilot and former Transportation Department inspector general for a plane is within the first 3,000 feet of a runway, experts said. If the cargo jet was beyond that area, it should have aborted the landing and gone around for another try, aviation safety expert Steve Arroyo said. Mary Schiavo, who is a pilot and former inspector general of the Transportation Department, said video posted online
shows the Amazon plane floating above the runway for an extended period without flaring the nose upward to force the main landing gear onto the ground. It wasn’t raining at the time, but dark storm clouds loomed and strong winds were reported. Schiavo said that if the plane had a tail wind, that could have contributed to it floating further down the runway. “A tail wind would certainly add to your troubles if you’ve already given up a good chunk of the runway by not touching down and landing right away,” Schiavo said. The Miami airport is not equipped with arresting systems the FAA says have been installed at more than 120 airports nationwide to safely stop planes that do go past the end of a runway. Those beds of lightweight, crushable material at the end of a runway have been credited by the FAA with helping save at least 497 lives aboard planes that overran runways. Miami’s airport appears to be in compliance and wasn’t required to have an arresting system because it has a 1,000-foot safety buffer at the end of its runways, said Mike O’Donnell, the FAA’s former director of airport safety and accident investigations. The requirement was prompted by American Airlines Flight 1420 overrunning a runway at Little Rock National Airport in Arkansas in 1999, killing nine. The Prime Air plane came to rest beside a roadway near two semitrucks, images showed. The aircraft appeared to be resting on its belly and was largely intact despite the fire.
week after halting them early this year to conserve precious power. Like Swift’s, the Hubble Space Telescope’s orbit also has been lowered by solar activity. Katalyst is developing a next-generation spacecraft that could boost the 36-year-old Hubble into a longer-lasting orbit. “Hubble does still have a few years of life yet, right? So the good news is this isn’t imminent,” Lee said. Servicing old telescopes and other satellites used to be “a very, very niche concept,” he added, “and we believe it’s going to become more and more commonplace.”
The flight had been operated by 21 Air, a cargo carrier based in North Carolina. The 32-year-old Boeing 767 was originally built to carry passengers and flew for several airlines for more than two decades before being converted to a cargo plane in 2015, according to flight-tracking site Flightradar24. Schiavo said the NTSB will also closely examine the maintenance history of the plane — particularly since it has a history of foreign ownership, including by a Russian company. The crash halted flights at the busy travel hub for much of Sunday afternoon and continued to hamper air travel into Monday. Miami International Airport said that two of its four runways remained closed Monday and that operations were to be affected throughout the day because of aircraft and flight crews not arriving there due to Sunday’s cancellations after the crash. An airport spokesperson said there were 160 cancellations and more than 300 delayed flights Sunday, plus another 69 canceled flights Monday through mid-afternoon. Flight tracking sites were reporting widespread delays at the airport. Amazon said in a statement that it would cooperate with any investigation. “We’re heartbroken to learn that five people lost their lives in today’s incident at Miami International Airport,” the company said. “Our deepest sympathies go out to the families, loved ones, and all those affected by this devastating loss.” Last year, a UPS plane crashed after losing its engine while accelerating down the runway at Louisville’s Muhammad Ali International Airport. The crash killed all three pilots and 12 people on the ground. Twenty-three more were injured.