North State Journal Vol. 7, Issue 1

VOLUME 7 ISSUE 1

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WWW.NSJONLINE.COM

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2, 2022

Over 2.5 million in state have recovered from COVID-19 Raleigh The estimated number of patients presumed to be recovered from symptoms from COVID-19 stood at 2,534,052 as of the latest report from the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services on Monday, Feb. 28.

NCDHHS estimates a median time to recovery of 14 days from the date of specimen collection for non-fatal COVID-19 cases who were not hospitalized. The estimated median recovery time is 28 days from the date of specimen collection for hospitalized non-fatal COVID-19 cases.

NSJ STAFF

Biden sinks in multiple national polls Washington, D.C. President Joe Biden’s State of the Union address came at a time when he has seen a precipitous drop in national polls.

Two new surveys show Biden’s approval rating below 40% – one from The Washington Post/ABC, which has the president at 37%, and the other from USA Today, at 39%.

Additionally, a CNN poll last week found that 56% of Americans who disapprove of Biden say they approve of ‘nothing’ he has done since becoming president.

“Americans agree: the state of the union is worse after one year under Joe Biden,” an email from the Republican National Committee says.

GARY D. ROBERTSON | AP PHOTO

Candidate filing resumes for May primary Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Cheri Beasley, center, laughs with husband Curtis Owens, right, while son Matthew Owens, watches, before she speaks with reporters at the North Carolina State Fairgrounds in Raleigh, on Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022.

Gov. Cooper vetoes Free the Smiles Act, Moore says override will happen

By A.P. Dillon North State Journal

NSJ STAFF

Vice President Kamala Harris to visit Durham Raleigh Vice President Kamala Harris and U.S. Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh will travel to Durham on Wednesday, according to a media advisory issued by the Vice President’s press office.

The purpose of the visit is to “discuss the Biden-Harris administration’s investments in our workers to create goodpaying, union jobs.”

A time or location for the visit has not been provided as of Tuesday afternoon.

Many members of the Biden administration are fanning out across the country after Tuesday night’s State of the Union address to tout President Joe Biden’s agenda.

NSJ STAFF

NC Rep Richardson announces retirement Raleigh Longtime N.C. Rep. Billy Richardson (D-Cumberland) announced Tuesday he would not seek reelection to the N.C. House of Representatives in 2022.

In a letter, Richardson, who has served for five and half terms, said he owes it to his immediate family to step down after sacrificing so much for him to serve.

“Serving Cumberland County means so much to me, but this is not my seat, this seat belongs to the people of this county,” he said.

NSJ STAFF

TD Bank bids $13B for First Horizon in Southeastern US push Memphis, Tenn.

Toronto-Dominion Bank is buying regional bank First Horizon in a $13.4 billion allcash deal, its biggest ever, hoping to broaden its footprint in the Southeastern U.S. The deal would create one of the top six banks in the U.S. with approximately $614 billion in assets and a network of 1,560 locations serving more than 10.7 million customers across 22 states.

In addition to its home state of Tennessee, First Horizon operates in Louisiana, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

NC well-represented at CPAC Florida “Pupil Propoganda,” featured Budd, Candace Owens, Stacy Langton, Indiana U.S. Rep. ORLANDO, Fla. — Elected Mary Miller, and Deroy Murofficials and attendees from dock.

“Ted was invited to CPAC North Carolina received strong ovations at the annual Conser- and enjoyed spending time vative Political Action Confer- with conservatives from North ence (CPAC) in Orlando, Flori- Carolina at the national gathda, last weekend. CPAC, which ering,” Budd senior advisor rose to prominence during the Jonathan Felts told North presidency of Ronald Reagan, State Journal.

First-term U.S. Rep. Madbrings conservative activists and elected officials together ison Cawthorn (NC-11) spoke and often features many well- on the conference’s second day as well, and he also participatknown names in politics. ed in a breakout sesLt. Gov. Mark sion on Saturday foRobinson adcused on the Second dressed the conferAmendment. ence on Thursday He received a afternoon, speak- “If ever there mention from former ing after one of the was a time for President Donald most popular poliTrump during the ticians in the room: conservatives 45th President’s feaFlorida Gov. Ron to stand up and tured speech on SatDeSantis. Robin- fight in this urday night. Trump son spent much of said that the left was his speech high- nation, it’s now, “doing everything lighting education. right now.” they could” to keep “We are fighting him from running tooth and nail in again, referencing my home state of Lt. Gov. Mark a legal challenge to North Carolina to Robinson his candidacy filed straighten out our by left-leaning voters education system. with the State Board We spend almost half of our state budget on ed- of Elections.

The former president’s ucation and our children can’t read at a grade level. Mean- speech was the most highly anwhile, pornography is in our ticipated of the weekend.

Trump’s speech, which went libraries, we’re in classrooms teaching children about trans- for approximately 90 minutes, genderism, and we’re sitting hit many familiar themes but black children on one side and was noteworthy for time spent white children on the other – on foreign policy and a potenteaching them to despise each tial domestic agenda should he other. If ever there was a time run for president in two years for conservatives to stand up – as he hinted to the crowd and fight in this nation, it’s would happen.

“The Russian attack on now, right now,” Robinson said Ukraine is appalling, an outas the crowd roared.

Robinson also addressed the rage, and an atrocity that Second Amendment, protests should have never been allowed against law enforcement, and to happen. We are praying for his opposition to COVID-19 the proud people of Ukraine,” said Trump in his remarks. mandates.

Speaking later on Thurs- “This would not have happened day afternoon was former U.S. if I was the president.”

Trump also said that he has Rep. Mark Walker, the first of two Republican U.S. Senate been the only president in the candidates to appear at the 21st century whose term in office has passed without Russia conference.

U.S. Rep. Ted Budd (NC-13) invading another country. The appeared on Friday, participat- crowd stood in unison with ing in a panel discussion about education. The panel, titled See CPAC page A2

By Matt Mercer North State Journal

RALEIGH — In the late afternoon of Feb. 24, Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper vetoed Senate Bill 173 (Free the Smiles Act). The bill would have given parents back the power to decide whether or not to mask their children in public school settings.

In his veto message, the governor said he has “encouraged local boards to lift mask mandates” and that “they are doing across the state with the advice of health officials who see that COVID metrics are declining and vaccinations are increasing.”

This is Cooper’s 71st veto as governor. He now holds 67% (71 of 106) of all vetoes issued by NC Governors.

Cooper’s veto message also said the bill was “passed for political purposes” and reiterated previous remarks that people – in this case, parents – should not be able

to “pick and choose” what health rules they follow.

“Passing laws for political purposes that encourage people to pick and choose which health rules they want to follow is dangerous and could tie the hands of public health officials in the future,” wrote Cooper.

At a Feb. 17 COVID media briefing, Cooper characterized the General Assembly’s activities to advance the bill as “frantic.”

“I know they are looking at something today and they are very frantic about it,” Cooper said when asked if he would veto Senate Bill 173. “From what I know about it, I have concerns that it is unwise and irresponsible. I mean, are we going to let people pick and choose which public health rules they are going to follow?”

“I am disappointed that Governor Cooper has vetoed this common-sense bill,” North CarSee MASKS, page A2

Congressional incumbents announce where they’ll seek reelection

By Matt Mercer North State Journal RALEIGH — The courtdrawn interim congressional map that will be used in the 2022 election has shifted where some state incumbents will run for reelection to the U.S. House of Representatives.

Immediately after appeals to the N.C. Supreme Court were denied, U.S. Rep. Richard Hudson announced his intention to run in the new 9th Congressional District, which contains many Sandhills counties and runs up to Chatham and Randolph counties.

“As Fort Bragg’s Congressman, I have a proven track record as a conservative who knows how to get things done for our community,” said Hudson in a statement on Thursday, Feb. 24. “You can count on me to stand up to the mandates, threats to our Second Amendment, and big government socialist policies hurting our economy and your family. I look forward to remaining Fort Bragg’s Congressman and again earning the support of the people of the new 9th District.”

Hudson’s campaign also See INCUMBENTS, page A2

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North State Journal for Wednesday, March 2, 2022

A2 WEDNESDAY

THE WORD: OUR WORDS AND DEEDS ARE IRREVOCABLE

3.2.22

Matthew 12:36

#323

“But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken!”

“The Denial of Saint Peter” by Caravaggio (circa 1610) is a painting in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.

“Variety Vactionland” Visit us online nsjonline.com

North State Journal (USPS 20451) (ISSN 2471-1365) Neal Robbins Publisher Matt Mercer Editor in Chief Cory Lavalette Managing/Sports Editor Frank Hill Senior Opinion Editor Emily Roberson Business/Features Editor Lauren Rose Design Editor Published each Wednesday

by North State Journal 1201 Edwards Mill Rd. Suite 300 Raleigh, NC 27607 TO SUBSCRIBE: 704-269-8461 or online at nsjonline.com Annual Subscription Price: $50.00 Periodicals Postage Paid at Raleigh, N.C. and at additional mailing offices.

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PUBLIC DOMAIN

We cannot recall any word we have spoken. It may be a false word or an unkind word — a word which will blast and burn! Instantly after it has been spoken — we may wish it back and may rush after it and try to stop it — but there is no power in the world that can unsay the hurtful word — or blot it out of our life!

It is just so with our acts. A moment after we have done a wicked thing, we may bitterly repent it. We may be willing to give all we have in the world to undo it, to make it as though it never had been. But in vain. A deed done takes its place in the universe as a fact — and never can be recalled.

We should be sure before we speak a word or do an act — that it is right, that we shall never desire to have it recalled — for when once we have opened our lips, or lifted our hand — there will be no unsaying or undoing possible.

Our words and deeds are irrevocable. We cannot recall anything we

CPAC from page A1

INCUMBENTS from page A1

“USA” chants for that accomplishment.

“Joe Biden is seen as weak, and I want him to do a great job, but when you have a weak president who is not respected by other nations, you have a very chaotic world and the world hasn’t been this chaotic since World War II,” said Trump during his speech.

He closed with a rallying cry for supporters in the room to vote in 2022.

“This coming midterm election is going to be more important than ever before. I’m asking you to vote for candidates who believe in the policies we hold dear. The stakes could not be higher and losing is not an option. We must win in 2022 and 2024,” Trump said at the end of his speech.

In another subtle hint about his future plans, Trump replaced the disco hit “YMCA” by the Village People he had been suing since the 2020 campaign with “Hold On, I’m Coming” by 1960s soul duo Sam and Dave.

Many CPAC attendees come from colleges across the country, with student rates that encourage their participation in the conference. Nearly two dozen came from North Carolina, including Joseph Verykoukis, who attends East Carolina University.

“CPAC 2022 in Orlando was electric! Conservatives are ready to take back the House and Senate in 2022, and the White House in 2024. The America First ideals, values and policies that will save our nation were on full display in Orlando,” Verykoukis told North State Journal. “As a college student and young conservative, the motivation and wisdom from the likes of President Donald J. Trump, Gov. Ron DeSantis, U.S. Sen. John Kennedy and Gov. Kristi Noem, encouraged me and my peers to turn our passion into action here in North Carolina, as we seek to elect conservative patriots to positions in all levels of government.”

pointed out that he has represented 8 of the 9 counties in the newly-configured district in his 10 years in the U.S. House of Representatives.

That decision meant that U.S. Rep. Dan Bishop, who following the court cases teased a run for a statewide judicial office, would run in the new 8th Congressional District. The new district includes many counties he currently represents, including the Republican stronghold of Union County.

The court’s map drew northwest Cabarrus County into the Mecklenburg County district of U.S. Rep. Alma Adams (NC12). Adams also announced she would seek reelection.

Elsewhere, Democrats Deborah Ross (NC-02) and Kathy Manning (NC-06), both elected in 2020, saw their districts remain mostly intact with slight changes. Ross maintains the northern half of Wake County and Manning adds Rockingham and Caswell counties to her Guilford County-centric district.

Republicans Greg Murphy (NC-03), David Rouzer (NC07), and Virginia Foxx (NC05) saw their districts remain mostly intact as well, and both have announced their intent to run for reelection.

“While I eagerly look forward to running in the 5th Congressional district, it’s past time for the courts to stop meddling in the redistricting process,” said Foxx in her announcement.

U.S. Rep. Patrick McHenry (NC-10), who is the ranking member of the House Financial Services Committee, will run for reelection in the district he has held since 2005.

In an announcement on Monday, Feb. 28, first-term firebrand U.S. Rep. Madison Cawthorn was the last current incumbent to make a reelection decision. Cawthorn had announced in a previous iter-

MASKSfrom page A1 olina House Speaker Tim Moore (R-Kings Mountain) said in a statement. “All health care decisions for our students belong with their parents, not with politicians or bureaucrats.”

“Actions speak louder than words, and the governor should do more than ‘encourage’ schools to lift their mask mandates. Return this decision back to parents,” said Moore.

Moore’s communications director Demi Dowdy tells North State Journal that the House Speaker will continue to put pressure on government officials to act.

In a tweet, Moore said, “This

isn’t over. Looking forward to overriding @NC_Governor’s veto and returning this decision to parents, where it belongs.”

The bill passed the House with enough votes for a veto-proof majority. In the Senate, however, only two Democrats voted to pass the act with Republicans, Sen. Kirk deViere (D-Cumberland) and Sen. Ben Clark (D-Cumberland).

The vast majority of North Carolina’s public school districts have moved or seem to be in the process of considering a move to mask-optional policies.

At the end of January, out of the state’s 115 school districts, only 44 districts had chosen to go mask optional whereas 71 were

have done, neither can we change it. But by other words and deeds, we may in some measure modify the effect of that which we cannot blot out. Paul could not undo his persecutions of Christians — but by a life to devotion to Christ’s cause — he could in a sense make reparation for the terrible harm he had done.

Just so, we cannot undo the wrong things we have done — but we should strive to set in motion other influences which may at least compensate in some sense for the harm they have wrought. We cannot unsay the sharp word which wounds our friend’s heart — but we can by kindness and loyal devotion — yet bring good and blessing to his life.

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.

AP PHOTO

Rep. Madison Cawthorn, R-N.C., leaves a House Republican Conference strategy session on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, April 20, 2021. ation of maps he would run in a district closer to Charlotte, running along the South Carolina border between Charlotte and Rutherford County. That district now includes a hefty chunk of Mecklenburg County and favors a Democratic candidate based on previous election results. Cawthorn said he was returning to run in the 11th District.

“I am excited to run for re-

still requiring a mask. As of Feb. 25, the number of mask-optional districts rose to 97. The remaining 18 mask-required districts all have upcoming meetings on the matter within the next two weeks.

Orange County is not included in the mask-optional total as its school board has tied dropping masks in schools to whenever the county decides to lift its mask mandate. Last week, the county decided to keep their mandate in place.

Both of the state’s two largest districts, Wake County Public Schools (WCPSS) and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Public Schools (CMS), voted to make masking optional for all students, staff,

election in North Carolina’s newly solidified 11th Congressional District and represent nearly all of my constituents in the 118th Congress. Western North Carolinians want a fighter in Congress. With their support, I look forward to returning to Washington as a sophomore member and helping enact major change with a history Republican majority,” he said in a statement.

“Western North Carolinians want a fighter in Congress. With their support, I look forward to returning to Washington as a sophomore member and helping enact major change with a history Republican majority.”

and visitors as of March 7, the same day the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services will update the StrongSchools NC toolkit.

Unlike CMS, WCPSS chose to allow student-athletes to go mask optional effective immediately and made masks optional for all other extracurricular activities after 5 p.m. Feb. 25.

Due to the Centers for Disease Control’s transportation order, all districts voted to continue to require masks on school buses and transportation, but that is about to change.

As of Feb. 25, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has rescinded that transportation re-

quirement and altered its masking recommendations.

The StrongSchools NC toolkit has based its guidance off of the CDC’s transmission definitions.

The CDC’s latest update is not much of a change, but its new Community Levels system could create a situation where citizens and children are mask free one day and then required to mask up the next.

CDC Director Rochelle Walensky has rolled out a system called “COVID-19 Community Levels” that have three tiers of transmission: low, medium, and high. Under the high level, the CDC recommends masks be worn indoors, including in schools.

U.S. Rep. Madison Cawthorn (NC-11)

North State Journal for Wednesday, March 2, 2022

CDC rolls out new “Community Levels” tied to masking options As of Feb. 25, the CDC has rescinded the requirement of masking on public and school transportation

By A.P. Dillon North State Journal RALEIGH — The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has introduced a new way to determine masking per its “Community Levels” system rolled out during a Feb. 25 briefing.

“Now, as the virus continues to circulate in our communities, we must focus our metrics beyond just cases in the community and direct our efforts toward protecting people at high risk for severe illness and preventing COVID-19 from overwhelming our hospitals and our healthcare systems,” said CDC Director Rochelle Walensky.

“This new framework moves beyond just looking at cases and test positivity to evaluate factors that reflect the severity of disease, including hospitalizations and hospital capacity, and helps to determine whether the level of COVID-19 and severe disease are low, medium, or high in a community,” said Walensky.

Walensky also said that the new framework “will inform CDC recommendations on prevention measures like masking and CDC’s recommendations for layer prevention measures and will depend on the COVID-19 level in the com-

munity.”

The new “COVID-19 Community Levels” have three tiers; low, medium, and high. These metrics are weekly and could shift quickly.

The tiers are determined by looking at hospital beds being used and hospital admissions, but the first determining factor is the total number of new COVID-19 cases in an area; a metric that earlier this month Walensky claimed the CDC would be moving away from.

The new Community Level system is determined using the following steps: First determine whether a county, state, or territory has fewer than 200 new cases per 100,000 people in the past 7 days or 200 new cases or more per 100,000 people in the past 7 days.

Then, determine the level (low, medium, or high) for the new admissions and inpatient beds and indicators using the scale for the area’s number for new cases.

The COVID-19 Community Level is based on the higher of the new admissions and inpatient beds metrics.

If a community has more than 200 total new COVID-19 cases per 100,000 population in the past 7 days, it appears to override hospitalization and admission rates and the area would then be considered as being in “high” transmission.

Dr. Greta Massetti of the CDC’s COVID-19 Incident Management

Team underscored the CDC’s new system will not require or recommend masking in areas deemed to have low or medium “Community Levels” unless a person is immunocompromised or is otherwise at a higher risk for contracting COVID-19.

“As communities enter into the high level, there is high amount of people experiencing severe disease and high potential for healthcare systems strains. At the high level, CDC recommends that everyone wear a mask indoors, in public, including in schools,” said Massetti.

Massetti gave some specific remarks on school guidance related to the new system that districts could choose to force K-12 school children to mask.

“Today, we’re also updating our recommendations for schools,” Massetti said. “Since July 2021, CDC recommended universal masking in schools, no matter what level of impact COVID-19 was having on the community.

With this update, CDC will now only recommend universal school masking in communities at the high level.”

Massetti continued on to say that as Community Levels shift, “public health prevention strategies can be dialed up” and “dialed down” according to a community’s low, medium or high tier status.

Meanwhile, the Capitol’s attending physician, Brian P. Monahan, said in a notice Sunday that masks will be optional for all at-

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tendees of President Biden’s State of the Union speech taking place March 1.

Some North Carolina school districts have voted to go mask optional based on community rates.

If the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services’ (NCDHHS) StrongSchools NC toolkit adopts the CDC’s Community Levels system, the weekly shifting of tiers could throw those school districts into chaos causing some districts to possibly reverse their recent votes for mask-optional policies.

The StrongSchools NC toolkit is expected to be updated on March 7.

On Feb. 24, Gov. Roy Cooper vetoed Senate Bill 173, the Free the Smiles Act. The bill would have restored the right of parents to decide on whether or not to mask their child in school. The bill passed the House with a vetoproof majority and Speaker Tim Moore (R-Kings Mountain) has signaled he wants to hold a veto override.

That override, however, would have to begin in the Senate where the bill originated. The bill passed the Senate with only two Democrats voting yes.

Effective Feb. 25, the CDC also dropped masking on school buses and other transportation both public and private and including early education and childcare programs.

According to the update, the CDC made the change “to align with updated K-12 guidance that no longer recommends universal indoor mask wearing in K-12 schools and early education settings in areas with a low or medium COVID-19 Community Level.” Despite that update, the CDC also said that school systems can still choose to require masking on buses or vans.

GRAPHIC VIA AP

The new community transmission guidance is shown in this graphic from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Almost 300 NC schools earn Purple Star awards

By A.P. Dillon North State Journal RALEIGH — The N.C. Department of Public Instruction recognized 299 schools with Purple Star awards this month.

The Purple Star award program was launched by the N.C. Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) in 2019 with a purpose of recognizing “the state’s strong military presence and its support for military families.” The award is presented to schools that have proven military-friendly practices and that have shown a commitment to military students and their families.

Recipients this year include five charter schools and seven Department of Defense Education Agency (DODEA) schools located in 15 districts across the state. Details about the Purple Star award and a full list of the 2021-22 schools receiving the award can be found on the NCDPI website under the menu item “students and families.”

According to an NCDPI press release, 10 districts will be given the State Superintendent’s Purple Star District Award. Districts receiving that award include DODEA Camp Lejeune Schools, Carteret County Schools, Craven County Schools, Cumberland County Schools, Harnett County Schools, Hoke County Schools, Moore County Schools, Pender County Schools, Wayne County Public Schools and Whiteville City Schools.

“As a mother of three public school students and a military spouse, I am all too familiar with the challenges military families face in education,” State Superintendent Catherine Truitt said in a statement. “It’s absolutely incredible to see almost 300 North Carolina Public Schools earn the Purple Star designation and a testament to our state’s commitment to serving every student and family. These schools are going above and beyond to meet the needs of military students and families, and I know firsthand how much it means to them.”

For the 2020-2021 school year there were 288 schools, including five charter schools and seven Department of Defense Education Agency schools, that received the award.

Four charter schools and 126 traditional schools in 10 North Carolina districts were recognized as Purple Star schools for the 2019-2020 school year.

State legislative leaders file congressional map appeal with US Supreme Court North State Journal staff RALEIGH — Republican state legislative leaders filed an appeal on Friday, Feb. 25, with the U.S. Supreme Court over the courtdrawn interim congressional map’s use in the 2022 election.

House Speaker Tim Moore (R-Kings Mountain) announced the move, saying in a statement, “The United States Constitution is clear – state legislatures, not state judges, are responsible for setting the rules governing elections. By striking the General Assembly’s congressional map and redrawing their own, with the help of Democrat partisans, the courts have, once again, violated the separation of powers. This effort to circumvent the elected representatives of the people will not stand.”

The filing asks the nation’s top court to stay the interim map.

Candidate filing, however, resumed on Thursday, Feb. 24, as prescribed by an order from the N.C. Supreme Court in December of last year.

Since the Constitution allows state lawmakers to determine the manner of holding U.S. House elections, the panel of three state judges overstepped its authority in adopting boundaries that weren’t set by the state House and Senate, an attorney for the Republican leaders wrote.

The attorney, David Thompson, filed an emergency request asking that the high court set aside the new map while he seeks arguments on the constitutional question before the full court. If the map isn’t set aside, he wrote, his clients will be “losing forever the opportunity to appeal the or-

AP PHOTO

The U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday, Jan.19, 2022, in Washington, D.C. ders ... before the 2022 elections are conducted under a judicially crafted and unconstitutional congressional map.”

The plaintiffs in the state case that sued the legislature responded, with Southern Coalition for Social Justice attorney Allison Riggs saying, “We are confident

this specious attempt to undermine our judiciary will be rejected,” in a press release. The U.S. Supreme Court told Common Cause and other litigants to respond to the stay request by Wednesday, reported the Associated Press.

Moore continued, saying, “Furthermore, this coordinated effort

is funded by Eric Holder and led by disgraced Democrat operative Marc Elias, who have no business in interfering in our elections. I will pursue all legal means to ensure that North Carolina’s elections are decided by North Carolinians and that the constitution and rule of law are followed.”

A review of documents with the U.S. Supreme Court shows that Chief Justice John Roberts has requested a response from the plaintiffs in the case by Wednesday, March 3.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

North State Journal for Wednesday, March 2, 2022

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North State Journal for Wednesday, March 2, 2022

Murphy to Manteo

Jones & Blount

Mask requirements fall in NC schools Over the month of February, a sizable number of NC’s public school districts relaxed their mask requirements.

As of March 1, there are 97 districts that are either mask optional or have voted to go mask optional soon.

Wake County schools and CharlotteMecklenburg schools will go mask optional for all students, staff, and visitors beginning March 7.

Orange County schools have tied their mask optional date to “72 hours” after the county government drops theirs, which they have indicated in public statements they do not expect to do in the coming days.

Currently, 18 of the 115 public school districts still require masks for their students.

WEST

As many as 4 new Democrats could join NC congressional delegation

By Matt Mercer North State Journal

Counties where mask requirements remain

PIEDMONT

Ohio woman drowns while kayaking in river

Police: Man tried to rob store with lighter, spray de-icer Caldwell County Police arrested a man who attempted to rob a convenience store using a lighter and a can of spray de-icer. Lenoir police said a man entered a store and handed the cashier a note demanding money. The cashier refused and the man sprayed the de-icer and ignited it with the cigarette lighter, causing a small fire near the cash register that was quickly extinguished. No injuries were reported.

Logan Ryan Jones, 29, of Lenoir, was arrested at his home by Caldwell County sheriff’s deputies. Jones was charged with attempted robbery with a dangerous weapon and burning certain buildings.

Swain County An Ohio woman drowned while kayaking in the Oconaluftee River according to Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials.

Companions of the kayaker notified park rangers that she disappeared underwater and didn’t resurface. Officials identified the kayaker as Megan Thompson, 34, of Cleveland Heights, Ohio. Thompson floated over swift rapids before being pinned between a fallen tree and the river bank. It took emergency responders 40 minutes to free Thompson and bring her to shore, where she was pronounced dead. This was the first fatality in the park this year and the 61st drowning on record.

AP

AP

Auto Club Group provides $250,000 in scholarships to 5 HBCUs

Feds: Police officer sold cocaine while on duty Wake County A police officer is accused of selling cocaine while on duty. Raleigh police officer Keven Rodriguez was taken into custody by the Drug Enforcement Administration. Rodriguez is charged with distribution of a quantity of cocaine and possession of a firearm. His arrest came after Raleigh police received information from confidential sources in late 2021 that Rodriguez was distributing drugs.

On Jan. 24, Rodriguez met with a confidential informant and sold them cocaine for $2,600.

He drove to the meeting in his patrol car, while in uniform and carrying his department firearm. Rodriguez is on administrative leave without pay.

Durham County Students at five HBCUs, including NC Central, will share $250,000 in scholarships from Dearborn, Michigan-based The Auto Club Group. The AAA Social Justice Innovator Scholarship will be offered to students pursuing careers in science, technology, engineering, math and business at minority serving schools in the 14 states where The Auto Club Group operates. The program is intended to help reduce barriers for underrepresented students in higher education. The scholarship is part of a $1 million social justice initiative. The first round of funding is going to Bethune-Cookman, Claflin University, Clark Atlanta University, Fisk University and North Carolina Central.

Man arrested for slicing open tent, robbery

Buncombe County Rodney Dejuan Allison, 46, of Asheville, was sentenced to 25 years in prison for his role in supplying a drug ring in the western part of the state. In April 2019, a federal grand jury indicted Allison and seven others on drug conspiracy charges after a two-year joint investigation into drug distribution in Buncombe County. Allison supplied the drug ring with cocaine, crack cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin and other narcotics. Investigators seized drugs, 12 firearms and ammunition, and more than $153,000 in cash. Seven other defendants also have been sentenced after pleading guilty to drug conspiracy charges.

Buncombe County Police have arrested a man who sliced open a tent where two men were sleeping and threatened to kill them before one of the victims gave the suspect a jacket. Officers responded to a campsite behind a local business. Two victims were sleeping in their tent, when the suspect used a knife to cut it open and told them he would kill them, and for them to give him everything they had. One of the victims gave the suspect his jacket. They were not injured. Police charged the suspect with armed robbery, assault with a deadly weapon, and damage to personal property.

AP

Man accused of providing drugs in fatal overdose

Maintenance man accused of stealing grave markers from park

Iredell County A man was arrested in connection with the death of another man who overdosed on fentanyl. Deputies responding to a death investigation near Statesville found a man dead in a bathroom. A detective who interviewed the family learned the man had overdosed on fentanyl and was taken to a medical facility for treatment. An autopsy performed on the man by the medical examiner’s office determined the man died of a fentanyl overdose. Undercover officers made multiple purchases of illegal drugs from Kenneth Ty Parent, who was arrested and charged with felony death by distribution.

Alamance County The head of maintenance at a memorial park is accused of stealing more than 200 grave markers. William Allen Shannon Jr., 47, is accused of taking the brass grave markers from Alamance Memorial Park in Burlington.

The markers were in storage and discovered missing Dec. 16. There was no break-in, turning the focus of the investigation to employees with access to the storage closets.

Shannon was charged with felony larceny by employee and felony obtaining property by false pretense. It’s not clear why the markers were stolen. The cemetery said the flat grave markers cost between $250 and $600.

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EAST Police make arrests in 2 cold cases Lenoir County Police arrested two men in separate cold cases. Kinston police arrested Carlos Fields, 32, for his role in the murder of James Franklin. Franklin was in a parked car with two others on Nov. 5, 2013, when he was shot and killed. The other two people in the car also were shot. A second suspect was arrested in a 2015 shooting death: Michael Fisher, 42. Timothy Nobles was shot multiple times on May 31, 2015, while driving. Last month, police received new information and arrested Marquez Outlaw, 32, of Kinston, on a murder charge.

AP

Ex-soldier sentenced to prison in marriage fraud case Cumberland County A former soldier at Fort Bragg was sentenced to 18 months in prison for his part in a sham marriage. Samuel Manu Agyapong, 34, was ordered to pay $110,948 in restitution to the Army. Agyapong was found guilty of theft of government property, witness tampering and visa, marriage and naturalization fraud.

Agyapong, a naturalized U.S. citizen and soldier, was engaged in a sham marriage with Barbara Oppong, a citizen of Ghana unlawfully present in the U.S. Agyapong went through with the sham marriage to obtain an allowance for housing for himself and a permanent resident card for Oppong.

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Accused drug ring supplier gets 25 years

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Ex-police chief arrested in SC after disappearance

Third person arrested in death of son of reality TV star

Columbus County A former police chief who resigned amid a misconduct investigation was arrested in South Carolina after he failed to appear in court. A couple accused of helping stage his suicide is also facing charges. Former Chadbourn Police Chief William Anthony Spivey was reported missing after failing to return from a fishing trip. Warrants for Spivey’s arrest were issued due to his failure to report to court. Spivey was found Thursday at his aunt’s apartment in Loris, South Carolina, and captured after a chase.

The Sassers, accused of helping Spivey, were arrested and charged with obstructing justice.

Johnston County A third person was arrested in connection with the shooting death of a man whose father was featured in a reality television show. Cassidy Lorene Hunter, 21, of Smithfield was arrested Thursday and charged with accessory after the fact in the Feb. 17 death of Harley Alexander Shirley, 21, son of Lizard Lick Towing owner and reality star Ronnie Shirley. The Sheriff’s Office said a 16-year-old and a 17-year-old were charged with murder and attempted murder.

AP

RALEIGH — The combination of retirements and the new court-drawn interim congressional map could send as many as four new Democrats from North Carolina to Congress.

The announced retirements of U.S. Reps. G.K. Butterfield and David Price had already opened two seats held for decades by the two Democrats. The area containing Butterfield’s district, centered in many of the state’s northeastern counties, favors electing a Democrat.

Former state Sen. Erica Smith, who opted to run for the seat instead of making a second U.S. Senate run, entered the race following Butterfield’s retirement announcement. Also in the race are state Sen. Don Davis and state Rep. James Gailliard.

Price’s district, which includes strongly Democratic Durham and Orange counties, has three high-profile Democratic candidates. Singer Clay Aiken previously announced he would run for the seat in his bid to become the first openly gay member of Congress from North Carolina. Durham County Commissioner Nida Allam is also running. She would be the first Muslim member of Congress elected from the state. Orange County state Sen. Valerie Foushee entered the race as well and is seen by many political observers as the favorite in the race.

The court-drawn map also creates a new Democratic district in eastern

Mecklenburg County and a tossup district containing the fast-growing areas of southern Wake County and all of Johnston County.

The new 13th Congressional district, centered in southern Wake and Johnston, will see a rush of candidates on both sides. Already, Democratic Wake County state Sen. Wiley Nickel announced he would run for that seat, abandoning the safe district Price is retiring. Republicans running in that district include many who had already announced their intention to run, including Johnston County businessman DeVan Barbour, Johnston County attorney Kelly Daughtry, and Wake County resident Chad Slotta.

In the new 14th Congressional District, the court-drawn map bisects Mecklenburg County diagonally from the northwest to the southeast, taking in much of western Gaston County.

Former U.S. Senate candidate Jeff Jackson announced he was running for the seat in a statement on Friday.

Jackson, who said he was looking to spend more time with his family when he left the U.S. Senate campaign, said he decided to run after many parts of his former state Senate district were included.

Jackson may not be the only Democrat in the race, though. Several Mecklenburg County Democrats have been rumored to run for the seat, including state Rep. Brandon Lofton, former state Rep. Chaz Beasley, and Charlotte City Council member Julie Eiselt.

NC lawmakers recognized for achievement at CPAC

By Matt Mercer North State Journal ORLANDO, Fla — Ninety-three state lawmakers were recognized for their voting records at the annual Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) on Saturday, Feb. 26.

The American Conservative Union, which puts on the annual conference, released their scorecards of state legislatures earlier this year. The awards were divided into two tiers: those scoring at 90% and above were recognized for conservative excellence, and those between 80% and 89% were recognized for conservative achievement.

Every member of the NC Senate Republican caucus received a score of 91% or above.

State Sen. Chuck Edwards (R-Henderson) said in a statement, “I’m humbled to be recognized for my strong conservative voting record each of the past five years. Only legislators

AP

AP

The

98 % of ALL Farms Truth are Family Farms

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ncfb.org

with proven track records of standing for liberty, limited government, election integrity, parents’ rights, and other conservative pillars receive this honored designation.”

In the NC House, 65 Republicans received awards. 16 members scored at 90% and above, including House Speaker Tim Moore (R-Kings Mountain) and Majority Leader John Bell (R-Wayne).

“ACU Foundation’s ratings of the states are meant to reflect how elected officials view the role of government in an individual’s life,” ACU President Matt Schlapp said in a letter presenting the ratings. “President Lincoln once said, ‘America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves.’ We hope these ratings will empower each and every American to hold their officials accountable and to rally behind the conservative champions who defend our freedoms in statehouses around the country.”

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North State Journal for Wednesday, March 2, 2022

north STATEment Neal Robbins, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor

VISUAL VOICES

EDITORIAL | FRANK HILL

The State of the Union speech Biden should have given

I have been wrong on virtually every single thing since taking office just over a year ago.

MY FELLOW AMERICANS: During my campaign, I promised to be “honest” with you — even though I ran as a faux moderate and have governed like a left-wing, progressive European socialist.

Ladies and gentlemen of Congress, let me give it to you straight tonight: I am in way, way over my head. The American people should never have elected me to the single most important job on earth in the first place.

I have been wrong on virtually every single thing since taking office just over a year ago. The only thing that might eventually work out could be the $1 trillion infrastructure bill that should fix all of our roads and bridges. It could have been done for only $170 billion but you know how things are in Washington, D.C. — I signed a bill with a bunch of junk in it just to get it passed.

My blind, 100% partisan, pursuit of Build Back Better was exactly the wrong policy to pursue at precisely the wrong time. It was never going to be paid for in full anyway — my progressive socialist comrades and I were so blinded by our hatred of the rich that we wanted to punish them for being so rich.

That’s all it was. Class warfare.

On everything else, my decisions have been an abysmal failure. I was dead wrong to overturn all of President Trump’s common sense energy policies on Day One, which has made us dependent on foreign oil again and indirectly led to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. My clownish decision on withdrawing troops from Afghanistan ranks as maybe the worst foreign policy failure since my hero, President Jimmy Carter, botched the evacuation of the hostages in Iran in 1979.

While we are talking about my failed foreign policy, I am quite frankly terrified of Vladimir Putin and Chairman Xi Jinping of China. C’mon man! I got five successive deferments to stay out of the Vietnam War — I sure as heck am not going to commit American troops to any battlefield danger I was unwilling to face for this country. Heck, I was the only person in the Obama Cabinet to oppose the authorization of the strike

that killed Osama Bin Laden in 2011, in case you have forgotten.

The Hounds from Inflation Hell have been unleashed and I quite frankly have no idea what to do about it. I am not an economist or a businessman, you know. I just wanted to be president.

I know that 41 million of the 81 million voters who voted for me knew very little about my undistinguished career as senator from Delaware or vice-president under Obama in Washington. I made the conscious decision to stay in my basement during the campaign not because of COVID but because I know you hated Donald Trump with a passion and would have voted for Mickey Mouse had he been the Democratic nominee in 2020.

But it is not too late, even for me.

From now on, I am going to go back and rescind all of my executive orders and replace all of my policy initiatives with the same ones President Trump had in place that were working and stay off Twitter and say nice things to people from now on. After all, there is no way in Hades my mental or physical health is going to allow me to run again for the White House in 2024 at age 81. I might as well go ahead and do the right thing for the country now since I really am a lame duck and have nothing to worry about electorally anymore.

I’ll even go one step further than President Trump and say I will veto every new spending bill that does not significantly reduce the deficit and I will sign any spending reduction or entitlement reform bill that curbs federal spending.

America will get Trump-esque policies and prosperity without his mean tweets. What could be a better state of the union than that going forward?

God bless you all and America too. We are going to need it.

EDITORIAL | STACEY MATTHEWS

America finally turns a corner a full two years into the pandemic

Making things better is the fact that these issues have helped some on the rank and file left see the light.

DURING THE FIRST FEW MONTHS of the coronavirus outbreak, when restrictive government mandates were being doled out like candy, I remember a feeling of hopelessness enveloping me whenever I thought about what our path forward as a country would be.

How long would the draconian restrictions last? How many more small business owners were we going to see arrested for trying to keep their businesses afloat at a time when the government was ordering them to stay closed for an undetermined amount of time?

How much longer were those local “tip lines” going to be in place where neighbors were being encouraged to snoop on and report other neighbors for allegedly violating government public health edicts?

It seemed like there was no end in sight, which is one reason why we saw scattered “reopen” protests in parts of the country during the first few months of the pandemic as conservatives rebelled against what were essentially lockdowns.

A lot has happened since the early days of the pandemic here in America. We’ve seen one Democrat politician after another, including those at the highest levels of government like President Joe Biden, not practice what they preach on CDC recommendations and the various mandates that they have demanded others follow.

We’ve seen case numbers surge, dip, and surge again. We’ve seen numerous variants, including the Delta and Omicron variants and the additional case numbers they’ve brought.

But in the last few months, we’ve also seen an apparent awakening among people who had previously told us it was best to keep our public schools closed, restaurants and hair salons at limited capacity, and everyone masked.

Some of these same people, which includes government officials and various medical experts, are now talking about how we must learn to live with the virus, saying America can’t go on as it has for the last two years. There’s also been a lot of second-guessing about masking and the supposed benefits of wearing one.

There is also a movement underway at state levels, encouraged by the federal government, to reconfigure what constitutes a COVID

hospitalization or death.

Previously, when Republican governors questioned things like maskwearing and also how COVID statistics were compiled, they were accused of deliberately wanting to put people in danger and of being eager to “hide” actual numbers. But because we’re in an election year and Democrats from Biden on down want to make themselves look better in terms of how they handled the pandemic, suddenly it’s okay to raise those types of questions.

Whether politically motivated or otherwise, this is a remarkable turn of events, brought on in part by a whole lot of persistence by some of the same conservatives who two years ago expressed doubt that a majority of people could be convinced that the federal government and blue state governors had stepped way out of bounds with their authoritarian approach to how to combat COVID-19.

Making things better is the fact that these issues have helped some on the rank and file left see the light. Not a day goes by when I don’t see something tweeted out by someone with a growing number of followers who has in their bio that they’ve been mugged by reality over the last two years.

People are waking up. It’s taken some time, but they’re waking up and saying it’s time for America to get back to normal as much as it can.

We’ve come a long way as a country over the last two years. Though we still have a long way to go, let’s be encouraged by the fact that there is now a light at the end of the tunnel, which wouldn’t have happened if people had simply given up the fight against government overreach.

Sometimes the people do win.

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

North State Journal for Wednesday, March 2, 2022 COLUMN MICHAEL BARONE

COLUMN | STEPHEN MOORE

The State of the Union is ... broke There are “only about three people in the Senate who actually want to cut government spending”.

TO QUOTE A SCREAMING John McEnroe: You cannot be serious!

Last week, the Biden administration requested another $30 billion for COVID relief programs. Yes, I know that these days, $30 billion is a rounding error in the $6 trillion federal budget. But isn’t that precisely the problem?

But, as Joe would say: Come on, man! The White House’s latest plea for more money on top of the $4 trillion to $5 trillion is an insult. Biden wants $18 billion for antivirals, $5 billion for testing and $3 billion to combat future viruses.

Isn’t that already the job of the $7 billion-ayear CDC? It is an incredibly brazen request given the hundreds of billions of dollars of wasteful and fraudulent payments under the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan passed last year. That includes $150 billion in theft from the unemployment insurance program, an estimated $200 billion in wrongful payments under Medicaid and at least $100 billion of fraud in the small business PPP program. (The fraud number could be much more significant than this, but the investigation is ongoing.)

Then there is the $2 billion spent on mailing COVID test kits to people. So, in the middle of the omicron wave, we effectively took the test kits off the shelves of local pharmacies and stores at a time when people needed the tests and then used the Postal Service to mail the free kits to millions. But guess what? Many of the kits took more than two weeks to arrive, and many more still haven’t arrived. They will eventually, but the latest wave of the virus has passed. So, I suspect most will get thrown in the garbage; your tax dollars at work.

The outrage here is that no one in Washington seems to be outraged.

One of the new and few heroes of the

taxpayer is Sen. Mike Braun, the Republican from Indiana. I recently asked him why no one stops the spending machine on Capitol Hill. He shakes his head and tells me that there are “only about three people in the Senate who actually want to cut government spending.”

Republicans are generally better on spending than Democrats, but they are hardly fiscal saints. There were 19 Senate Republicans who voted for the bloated $1.1 trillion infrastructure bill. More than a dozen Republicans support a $300 billion corporate welfare bill for American microchip producers, computer companies and so on. This is called the “American Competitiveness Act.” Can someone please tell these members of Congress that the way to make America more globally competitive is to stop spending and borrowing so much money?

With the national debt now at $30 trillion, Congress should demand an immediate, thorough audit of every government program to find out where the waste is. Then, instead of spending billions more, it is time for an acrossthe-board 10% cut to every program. Then cut 3% to 5% each year until the budget is balanced.

Is that so hard?

Oh, and by the way, you know that $30 billion that Biden wants for more COVID spending?

Believe it or not, there is still at least $500 billion from the last COVID bill that still hasn’t been spent. How sad is that?

The government can’t spend the money Congress is giving it fast enough.

In other words, the state of the union is ... broke.

Stephen Moore is a senior fellow at Freedom Works. He is also author of the new book: “Govzilla: How The Relentless Growth of Government Is Devouring Our Economy.”

COLUMN | FRANK DOWD, IV

Biden’s deliberate border chaos Eliseo Medina of the Service Employees International Union boasts that an influx of illegals “will create a governing coalition for the long-term, not just for an election cycle.”

PRESIDENTIAL ASPIRANTS often tout what they will do “Day One” if elected. These pledges signal the policy priorities of the incoming chief executive. So, facing a raging pandemic, a sagging economy, and global threats, what was President Joe Biden’s top priority Day One? Dismantle Trump-era border protections.

With the stroke of a pen, Biden signed orders to end the “zero tolerance” policy on prosecuting illegal border crossings, halt construction of President Trump’s U.S.Mexico border wall and reinstate a program that grants work permits and protection from deportation to people brought illegally to the U.S. as children. This predictably unleashed a tidal wave of illegal immigration.

More than two million people unlawfully crossed the U.S.-Mexico border last year, more than quadruple the number of illegal entries in 2020. That doesn’t count the untold number who were never detected. Millions more are expected this year.

It’s not just that Biden looks the other way while a few million people sneak into the United States. Every night, under cover of darkness, the feds are transporting illegal migrants on secret charter flights into unsuspecting communities across America.

Officials have obstructed the few who have tried to learn the truth about these clandestine flights. “The government is betraying the American people,” a federal government contractor told a Westchester County police officer in a bodycam-recorded conversation at the county airport on Aug. 13, 2021. The men were discussing a federal chartered flight, which had landed after hours at the Westchester Airport, one of the almost nightly surreptitious flights that last year began shuttling migrants from the border into the American heartland.

Throughout the encounter, police Sgt. Michael Hamborsky expresses frustration that local police have been given no information about the flights arriving after curfew, in a clear breach of airport security protocols.

When pressed, federal contractors admitted they “didn’t want the media” witnessing illegal immigrants being relocated.

The officially sanctioned lawlessness does not stop there. Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas recently boasted, “We have fundamentally changed immigration enforcement. For the first time ever, our policy explicitly states that a noncitizen’s unlawful presence in the United States will not, by itself, be a basis for the initiation of an enforcement action.”

Translation: For the first time ever, breaking the law to enter America is no longer against the law. And thanks to new federal rules,

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illegal aliens who commit crimes will not be automatically deported unless they are deemed a “threat to public safety,” and usually not even then.

Biden’s open borders, his commitment not to deport illegals, even allowing them to commit crimes, is literally indefensible. Americans want to see our border and our communities protected. A recent CNBC poll found 69% of respondents disapproved of Biden’s handling of the border, and 85% rated the “current state of immigration” as “poor.” Americans rated immigration as the second-most urgent issue facing the country today after inflation.

Millions of Americans consider the ongoing border crisis one of Biden’s biggest failures, surpassed only by his disastrous retreat from Afghanistan where he left thousands of U.S. citizens and green card holders behind enemy lines. But Biden doesn’t view America’s breached border as a failure, but instead a stunning triumph.

Why else would Biden willfully erase the southern border, then ignore the inevitable humanitarian and national security disaster he created? Why would he add millions of illegals to the nation ‘s already strained education, healthcare, social welfare and criminal justice systems?

Because he knows any political price he will pay is an easy trade-off for the millions of new Democrat voters streaming into the country.

As Democrats in Blue states water down election laws, this new influx of illegal migrants will show up on Election Day demanding ballots, making it impossible for swamped officials to verify their immigration status. And the proposed federal ban on voter ID would prevent election workers from seeking proof that these people are even who they say they are.

Eliseo Medina of the Service Employees International Union gives up the game, boasting that an influx of illegals “will create a governing coalition for the long-term, not just for an election cycle.” They aren’t even trying to hide it any longer.

The fix for all this chaos is simple — throw the lawless Democrats out of power and enforce the bi-partisan immigration laws that have been on the books for decades to protect America.

If we don’t, we will lose our country. As Ronald Reagan said, “A nation that cannot control its borders is not a nation.”

Frank Dowd IV, Chairman of Charlotte Pipe and Foundry Company, is a registered Independent. Charlotte Pipe and Foundry is a 120-year-old U.S. manufacturer of cast iron and plastic pipe and fittings, with seven plants around the country.

BE IN TOUCH

Letters addressed to the editor may be sent to letters@nsjonline.com

or 1201 Edwards Mill Rd. Suite 300. Raleigh, N.C. 27607. Letters must be signed; include the writer’s phone number, city and state; and be no longer than 300 words.

Letters may be edited for style, length or clarity when necessary. Ideas for op-eds should be sent to opinion@nsjonline.com.

Ukraine’s fate is rooted in a tragic history FOR THOSE TRYING to keep up with the fast-moving events in Ukraine, it may be helpful to consider some lessons of history.

Mistakes made in the past week, added onto developments covering the last two or three centuries, have left the United States and its European allies — in particular the largest of them, Germany — unable to prevent President Vladimir Putin’s Russia from absorbing an as yet undetermined part of a theoretically independent Ukraine.

One lesson of history is contained in the aphorism, “If you set out to take Vienna, take Vienna.” It’s attributed to Napoleon Bonaparte, who in fact took Vienna twice, and whose capacity to “surprise and outmaneuver his opponents,” as the Wall Street Journal’s Walter Russell Mead writes, came from a willingness “to assume risks they would never consider, and so to attack in times and ways they can neither imagine nor plan for.” Putin, another upstart from an obscure backwater, seems to share the same trait.

As for not taking Vienna, consider President Joe Biden’s Jan. 20 insistence that “Russia will be accountable if it invades.”

Unhappily, Biden went on to say, “It’s one thing if it’s a minor incursion, and then we end up having a fight about what to do and not do.” The White House press office lamely tried to walk back those words.

But after the Feb. 20 Olympic closing ceremonies, and Putin’s Feb. 21 speech setting forth his version of history and recognizing the independence of the “people’s republics” of Luhansk and Donetsk, occupied by pro-Russian forces since 2014, the Western response was indeed feckless. Biden announced sanctions on (the presumably negligible) American investments there, and Germany announced (the easily revoked) suspension of certification of the completed Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline running underwater directly from Russia to Germany.

Biden followed up with more sanctions the next day and ordered more troops to the NATO member Baltic states of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. But that line in the sand leaves Ukraine on the other side, open to Russian attack and bereft of active military support. No one supposes the West will fight to uphold Ukraine.

The blame for this goes back to a failure to “take Vienna.” The George W. Bush 43 administration rolled out the idea of NATO membership for the former Soviet republics of Ukraine and Georgia. But Bush was unable to stop Putin from seizing two breakaway provinces of Georgia in 2008.

Similarly, former President Barack Obama, despite his ridicule of Mitt Romney’s anti-Russia statements, was unable to stop Putin from annexing Crimea and effectively seizing Luhansk and Donetsk in 2014.

Interestingly, the only president this century during whose term Putin hasn’t seized territory was Donald Trump, a Putin pawn according to the Russian collusion hoax.

Meanwhile, Europe and particularly Germany has become intertangled with Russia thanks to energy policy. Chancellor (1998-2005) Gerhard Schroeder negotiated the Nord Stream 1 pipeline, increasing European dependence on Russian gas. His successor Angela Merkel (2005-21) increased it much further, abruptly decreeing a phaseout of Germany’s nuclear power, scheduled to be completed later this year, and promoting Nord Stream 2.

What’s not widely appreciated is that their policy of strengthening ties with lessadvanced but much larger Russia is in line with German tradition. Prussia and Austria, humiliated by Napoleon, defeated him only with hordes of Russian troops. Otto von Bismarck forged his Dreikaiserbund alliance with Austria-Hungary and Russia to prevent a vengeful France from finding an ally to Germany’s east.

Kaiser Wilhelm II ditched the Dreikaiserbund, and Germany was defeated in World War I. Afterward, Germany continued to look east. Weimar Germany spurned Western partners by making the Treaty of Rapallo with the Soviet Union in 1922. Nazi Germany and the Soviets signed the Hitler-Stalin pact in August 1939, and war followed eight days later.

Over the centuries, Russia has proved unconquerable (as Napoleon and Hitler found out) and its enormous army has overawed Europe. Tsar Alexander I’s troops dominated post-Napoleonic Europe and Josef Stalin seemed positioned to do so until adroit CIA electioneering defeated postwar Communist parties in France and Italy in 1946 and 1948.

The NATO alliance, as Lord Hastings Ismay said, was designed to “keep the Russians out, the Americans in and the Germans down.” Moreover, the German people have admirably acknowledged the horrors of the Nazi past and have been understandably reluctant to deploy a major military force again, despite American administrations’ insistence they meet their NATO commitment to spend 2% of gross domestic product on defense.

There is plenty to criticize in Biden’s stumbling performance. But Ukraine’s unhappy situation is, once again, the product of much tragic history.

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

North State Journal for Wednesday, March 2, 2022

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NATION & WORLD

AP PHOTOS

Left, a volunteer of Ukraine’s Territorial Defense Forces stands in the crater from the explosion near a checkpoint in Brovary, outside Kyiv, Ukraine, Tuesday, March 1, 2022. Right, a local resident prepares to use a Molotov cocktail against a wall during an all-Ukrainian training campaign “Don’t panic! Get ready!” close to Kyiv, Ukraine, Sunday, Feb. 6, 2022.

Path to war in Ukraine was laid in months of plans, warnings

Russia’s full-on invasion of Ukraine Scope of Russian strikes

THE WEEK BEFORE RUSSIA attacked, a Ukrainian soldier peered through a periscope from the bottom of his trench. Mud seeped into his boots, his clothes and every crack in his gear as he walked the narrow space where he had spent his days for the past 10 months.

Zakhar Leshchyshyn was just 23. He had no memory of Ukraine as anything but a fully independent country. But now he was charged with helping to keep it that way, posted at Ukraine’s eastern front line since early last spring, when 100,000 Russian land and naval forces first encircled most of his country.

“These wars for territory are madness,” he said, “but probably this is human nature.”

Within days, Ukraine was engulfed by what the soldier in the trench saw as humanity’s dark impulse. The largest invasion Europe has seen since World War II has imperiled a young democracy while risking geopolitical instability far beyond the flashpoints of the new war.

In the conflict’s earliest days, each side managed to surprise the other.

Russia unleashed a broader, larger invasion than almost anyone had predicted. And Ukraine, at least by U.S. and other Western accounts, has put up a more tenacious fight than many thought possible against the neighboring superpower. Fortunes can turn at any moment.

And so it has been for much of the past year. Russia alternately added and subtracted troops along the border, diplomacy seemed to make progress until it didn’t, Russian President Vladimir Putin seemed restrained, then not, then maybe, then not.

The path to war was convoluted — but also inexorable.

Chernobyl

An early marker It was back on March 31 of last year when the U.S. military raised an alert of a “potential imminent crisis” arising from Russian drills near the Ukrainian border. Not long after, Russian troops were ordered back to their permanent bases and the sense of alarm eased.

But those orders also required Russian troops to leave their heavy weaponry in Crimea and the Voronezh region bordering Ukraine, where it would already be in place if the forces returned — which they did. The reprieve was brief for Leshchyshyn’s unit and for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who had tweeted that the redeployment “proportionally reduces tension.”

Soon afterward, U.S. President Joe Biden agreed to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Geneva, a summit widely seen as a reward for suspending the drills. But by the end of summer, it was clear that Putin’s military plans were just getting started — even if they hadn’t quite taken shape yet.

Updated Feb. 28, 11 a.m. ET

Western grouping Chernihiv

RUSSIA

Chernihiv

Chernobyl

POLAND Lutsk Lutsk

When Zelenskyy visited Washington on Sept. 1, he came away with a pledge of $60 million in military aid.

Zhytomyr Zhytomyr

Claimed by Russian separatists, held

by Ukraine

Sumy Sumy

Kyiv

Polyava

Russian troops converge on Ukraine’s capital.

Kharkiv Kharkiv

UKRAINE

Luhansk

Dnipro Donetsk

Zaporizhzhia

Alarm in Washington The warnings from the Biden administration grew more pointed, and for the first time, U.S. intelligence officials started sharing specifics with Zelenskyy, European officials and eventually the public.

The White House realized that it was looking at the beginnings of what would probably turn into an enormous crisis by October. Officials were seeing a cascade of worrying intelligence strains, including troop movements, that suggested that Putin was looking to move on Ukraine.

Biden wanted Putin to know what he knew. He sent CIA Director Bill Burns to Moscow to warn Kremlin officials that the U.S. was fully aware of their troop movements. The White House made the calculation that the CIA chief’s travels, normally closely held, needed to be advertised far and wide.

“We wanted it to be known that he was there and understood by the Russians that we were starting to put them on notice and that we were going to do so publicly as well as privately,” said a senior administration official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal deliberations.

In early December, national security officials shared information from an intelligence document with the press showing at least 70,000 Russian troops had massed near the Ukraine border. Much of the information could be gleaned independently but White House officials thought it was crucial to get the information out in the open “with U.S. government branding.”

So began a name-and-shame campaign in which the White House national security officials widely distributed a series of plots they contend Putin was weighing to set a pretext for an invasion of Ukraine.

Critics of U.S. intelligence — Russian officials among them — recalled past failures like the infamously false identification of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq nearly 20 years ago and the unexpectedly swift fall of Kabul last year.

In mid-November, a senior European diplomat spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity to discuss confidential briefings.

The diplomat was unconvinced by U.S. intelligence findings.

“We see the military build-up, at the same time, we don’t have any intelligence that there’s something like military action, or that Russians would be trying to become militarily active, so we don’t share this opinion, even though the Americans have said so,” the diplomat said. “We don’t see that there is intention on Putin’s part so far.”

At NATO, Germany blocked efforts to help Ukraine acquire military equipment. France and Germany objected to launching

Russian military district groupings

Central grouping

BELARUS

Lviv Lviv

By Calvin Woodward The Associated Press

Ground fighting

MOLDOVA

Mykolaiv Mykolaiv Odessa Odessa

Kherson Kherson

ROMANIA

Black Sea 50 miles

Melitopol Melitopol Mariupol

Nova Kakhova

Russian separatist controlled region

Southern grouping

Berdyansk

Southern and Airborne grouping

CRIMEA

Sources: Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine; UK Ministry of Defense; Associated Press reports / Graphic: Phil Holm

NATO’s crisis management system, but eventually relented at a NATO foreign ministers’ meeting in Latvia on Dec. 1. The move was essentially symbolic. The system is used to identify whether there is a crisis and launch preliminary planning to respond.

Putin’s guessing game With some satisfaction, Putin said the military buildup has caused a “certain stress” in the West. “It’s necessary to keep them in that condition for as long as possible” to secure long-term security guarantees for Russia, he added.

He laid down his demands on Dec. 15: a ban on NATO membership for Ukraine and other ex-Soviet nations, a halt to the deployment of NATO weapons in those countries and a rollback of NATO forces from Eastern Europe. Meanwhile Russian troops kept arriving in Belarus to Ukraine’s north and on its eastern frontiers where heavy weaponry had been stockpiled since the spring.

Zelenskyy continued to play down the troop movements, noting that Ukraine had been facing threats from Russia and the separatists since 2014, when Russia annexed Crimea. On Jan. 10, Russia’s deputy foreign minister insisted there were “no plans, intentions or reasons to attack Ukraine.”

Two days later, the United States and NATO rejected Russia’s demands, and the movement of troops and weapons accelerated.

Ukrainian government websites went down en masse, many displaying a warning from the suspected Russian-linked hackers: “Be afraid and expect worse.”

On Jan. 20, Russia announced sweeping naval drills off the coast of Ukraine and Biden said publicly he believed Russia planned an invasion.

On Feb. 4, Putin flew to Beijing, ostensibly for the Olympic Games although Russian athletes were banned from competing under their nation’s flag because of years of doping scandals. He and Chinese President Xi Jinping reaffirmed their support for each other’s foreign policy, including Russia’s backing of China’s claim to Taiwan.

The unspoken message: These two world powers were on the same page or a similar page, and China would not stand with most of the

rest of the world against Putin’s designs on Ukraine.

Macron tries By then, 150,000 Russian troops had all but surrounded Ukraine and the United States had all but abandoned hope for a diplomatic solution. French President Emmanuel Macron attempted a last-ditch intervention. Flying first to Moscow to meet Putin, where the men sat across an absurdly long marble table, then to Kyiv, Macron tried fruitlessly to stave off war.

Publicly Macron said Putin assured him that Russia would not escalate the crisis. But privately he described the Russian leader as “more rigid, more isolated and fundamentally lost in a sort of ideological and security drift,” according to a senior French official.

The American warnings grew increasingly frantic, but life in Kyiv — Ukraine’s capital and its largest population center — continued as usual because, Zelenskyy insisted, Ukrainians would not yield to panic.

Blinken: ‘It’s unfolding’ On Feb. 17, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken laid out “what the world can expect to see unfold.

In fact, it’s unfolding right now.”

First, he said, there would be a staged provocation. Then would come a theatrical high-level meeting of the Russian government, followed by a proclamation that Russia must defend ethnic Russians in Ukraine. Then, he said, the attack would begin, with Kyiv a main target. Events would largely, perhaps fully, prove him right.

“We’ve been warning the Ukrainian government of all that is coming,” Blinken said, looking directly at the camera. “And here today, we are laying it out in great detail, with the hope that by sharing what we know with the world, we can influence Russia to abandon the path of war and choose a different path while there’s still time.”

On the night of Feb. 19, the separatist leaders released near-simultaneous videos announcing a general evacuation of women, children and the elderly. One of those pro-Russia separatists showed video of what he said was a car bomb exploding his personal vehicle — ostensibly, proof that Ukrainian troops were provok-

ing a war.

The destroyed 4X4, however, was a suspiciously older model and metadata showed the videos were actually filmed three days earlier.

Putin summoned his top security officials and, in a dramatic pre-recorded meeting televised nationwide, asked them to explain one by one whether Russia should recognize the separatists and help them.

One by one they agreed; there was little prospect that they would not.

Hours later, the Kremlin released yet another pre-recorded video, this time of Putin alone, cataloging Russian grievances against Ukraine, NATO, the United States and Europe. An independent Ukrainian nation, he said, was a fiction. Without evidence, he accused Ukraine of genocide and of seeking nuclear weapons. Russia, he insisted, had every right to attack such a country.

“I would now like to say something very important for those who may be tempted to interfere in these developments from the outside,” he added. “They must know that Russia will respond immediately, and the consequences will be such as you have never seen in your entire history.”

Global support but no troops The attack began before dawn on Feb. 24 — Thursday in Ukraine but, as it happens, still Wednesday in Washington.

It opened with the firing of more than 100 land- and sea-based missiles in the first hours, said a senior U.S. official who was not authorized to be identified and spoke on condition of anonymity. The official said the main targets of the air assault were barracks, ammunition warehouses, and 10 airfields. Russian ground forces began moving in from Belarus around noon.

Sanctions from the U.S. and Europe came down with hours, but Zelenskyy pleaded for more.

He spoke by phone with many foreign leaders. They expressed solidarity and offered help. None offered what he most wanted — troops to come to his country’s aid and a no-fly zone to protect Ukraine’s skies.

“This morning we are defending our state alone, as we did yesterday,” he said. “The world’s most powerful forces are watching from afar. We hear in our sky and see on our earth that this is not enough.”

Coach K’s Cameron curtain call, B4

CHRIS SEWARD | AP PHOTO

UNC guard R.J. Davis and the Tar Heels will battle Duke guard Trevor Keels and the Blue Devils in the regular season finale for both teams on Saturday. The game will also be Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski’s final game at Cameron Indoor Stadium.

ACC WOMEN’S BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT PREVIEW

The Heels are looking to spoil Coach K’s finale and wipe out an earlier blowout

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

NC State’s Moore named ACC’s top coach Greensboro NC State women’s basketball coach Wes Moore was named the ACC’s Coach of the Year for the second straight year and third time since coming to Raleigh in 2013. Moore received 150 points, more than twice that of Virginia Tech’s Kenny Brooks, from a Blue Ribbon Panel.

Moore also won the award in 2021 and 2017. NC State’s Elissa Cunene, UNC’s Deja Kelly and Wake Forest’s Jewel Spear were named to the conference’s first team, and the Wolfpack’s Diamond Johnson was named Sixth Player of the Year by the panel. Duke guard Shayeann Day-Wilson was chosen as Rookie of the Year.

Duke up to No. 4 in men’s AP poll; NC State women remain 3rd Indianapolis Duke jumped three spots to No. 4 in The Associated Press men’s college basketball poll released Monday, its highest ranking since the Blue Devils (25-4, 15-3 ACC) were ranked second on Jan. 3. Seven of the top nine teams in last week’s rankings lost, including top‑ranked Gonzaga. The Bulldogs (24‑3, 13-1 West Coast) remained at No. 1 despite losing to No. 19 Saint Mary’s in their regular season finale. After being the unanimous No. 1 last week, Gonzaga received 46 first‑place votes in Monday’s poll. No. 2 Arizona (25-3, 15-2 Pac-12) didn’t receive any, but third‑ranked Baylor (25‑5, 13-4 Big 12) was on top of four ballots.

Duke received the secondmost first-place votes with 11.

Davidson (24‑4, 14-2 A-10) received 20 votes this week, putting them just two spots out of the top 25. The top five teams in the women’s poll remained unchanged, with South Carolina the unanimous No. 1 followed by Stanford, NC State, Louisville and Baylor. UNC (23-5, 13-5 ACC) moved up two spots to No. 16 and enters this week’s ACC Women’s Tournament in Greensboro having won four in a row and seven of eight. The Wolfpack (26-3, 17-1 ACC), the tournament’s top seed, have won seven in a row.

UNC faces tall task at Duke

PJ WARD-BROWN | NORTH STATE JOURNAL

Jakia Brown-Turner and the third-ranked Wolfpack could be on a collision course with No. 3 Louisville at this week’s ACC Women’s Tournament in Greensboro.

Wolfpack eye 3-peat in Greensboro NC State won the ACC regular season title and is the favorite in this week’s conference tournament

By Brett Friedlander North State Journal NC STATE’S women’s basketball team accomplished one of the two goals that has eluded it these past two seasons by winning the outright ACC regular season championship. It clinched the title with a 68-66 victory at Virginia Tech on Sunday.

The next bit of unfinished business, getting past the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament, is still to come.

First, though, there’s the matter of defending the ACC Tournament crown the third-ranked Wolfpack won in both 2019 and ’20.

Despite having been there and done that twice already, coach Wes Moore isn’t worried about his top-seeded team taking this tournament — which begins on Wednesday at Greensboro Coliseum — for granted by looking ahead to the next one.

“If anything, it’s an advantage

that our players have had success,” Moore said. “They know our routine when we get over there and how we’re going to prepare for each game.

“I think they go over there realizing it’s all about the process. We’ve got momentum. We’re playing pretty well, so we want to keep that going.”

Moore said there was a point in late January and early February that he was concerned his team might have gotten complacent waiting for March to arrive. But that’s changed over the past few weeks during State’s current seven-game winning streak.

“I’ve seen more focus and preparation, so I’m not worried about that,” he said. “I’m just worried about these great teams that we’re fixing to have to face three days in a row, hopefully. That’s what your goal is. But you know it’s going to be really tough every day out.”

That’s not just typical coachspeak.

While the Wolfpack and second-seeded Louisville — the nation’s fourth-ranked team — are the clear favorites to make it to Sunday’s championship game, their See ACC WOMEN, page B4

an overtime home win over Syracuse.

When the dust cleared, the Heels were 6-1 since the last Duke game, riding a four-game winning streak and having a double

By Shawn Krest bye wrapped up in the ACC TourNorth State Journal nament.

A win at Duke would probably On Monday evening, UNC was fresh off a season-saving Senior remove any doubt of an NCAA Night win over Syracuse. Mere bid for the Tar Heels, while a loss minutes after the game, the ques- shouldn’t hurt UNC’s resume much, if at all. The game, in that tion came up.

What about Duke on Saturday? respect, is the polar opposite of “We just have to come in and the Pitt and Syracuse games, fight it,” said Armando Bacot. “It’s which were near fatal if the Heels going to be a hostile environment, lost but didn’t help them much with a win. so …”

The Tar Heels will have their Bacot trailed off, and the team’s SID quickly warned media to fo- work cut out for them. In addicus on questions related to the tion to finding a way to make up the 20-point gap bejust-completed game tween the two teams with Syracuse. But the on their home floor, message was evident: Carolina will be copNorth Carolina will “We just have ing with perhaps the have its work cut out for to come in toughest Cameron it in Saturday’s rematch Indoor Stadium atwith the fourth-ranked and fight it. mosphere ever expeBlue Devils.

It’s going to rienced by a visitor Duke blitzed the Tar as it will be the final Heels a month ago in be a hostile home game of coach the Smith Center, scor- environment, Mike Krzyzewski’s ing 13 of the game’s so …” career. first 16 points and never The closest emolooking back. The Blue tional equivalent for Devils led 31-8, reached Armando Bacot, UNC might have a 28-point lead in the UNC forward been in 2006 when final four minutes and the Tar Heels travcruised to a 20-point eled to Duke on JJ win, the second-largest road blowout of the Tar Heels in Redick’s Senior Night. The No. 13 Tar Heels knocked off the topCoach K’s career.

“Those guys are really good. ranked Blue Devils, and Carolina And then they have a very good fans still speak fondly of ruining basketball team,” UNC’s Hubert Redick’s final home game.

The emotion of Coach K’s fiDavis said after the first game, “and so, we have to improve. nale promises to be cranked up We’ve got to get better, and for us far higher. That could be a douto compete against them in the ble-edged sword for the Blue latter part of the year, we’re gonna Devils, who will need to contain themselves and avoid the pressure have to play better.”

Duke has done its part since that comes with such a momenthe game, winning six of seven tous occasion.

“It was more than about us verheading into Tuesday’s game at Pitt. The Blue Devils will be look- sus Carolina,” Wendell Moore Jr. ing to put the finishing touches on said after the first game. “Hona regular season title. At 15-3 in estly, it was about Coach, his last the league, Duke had a one-game time coming to Carolina, so we lead over Notre Dame following wanted to send him out with a win because he definitely deMonday’s action.

The Tar Heels have also played serves it.”

That feeling will be amped up better since the first Duke game, although they’ve been plagued by for Duke’s players in this game, inconsistency. UNC escaped at and they’ll need to get off to a fast Clemson, then blew out Florida start to avoid the feelings of “what State, leading 18-0 at one point. if” that could creep in if Carolina That was followed by a nearly threatens an upset.

There’s also the matter of the unfathomable home loss to Pittsburgh that rocked the Tar Heels’ blowout in the first game. There bubble position. UNC righted the isn’t much history of a team in ship the next time out, earning this rivalry bouncing back from a its first Quad I win of the year at home loss that large because the Virginia Tech. Senior Night was first matchup is usually a nail-bitanother near disaster — not quite er. If any blowouts occur, they’re of Pitt proportions but enough often in the regular season finale to scuttle any hope of an at-large bid — as Carolina escaped with See DUKE, page B3

B2

North State Journal for Wednesday, March 2, 2022

WEDNESDAY

3.2.22

TRENDING

Pelé: The legendary Brazilian soccer player has been released from the hospital after a urinary tract infection was treated. The 81-year‑old was admitted on Feb. 13 to Albert Einstein Hospital in Sao Paulo to continue treatment for colon cancer, but days later doctors discovered an infection.

The hospital reported the soccer great was released on Saturday.

Pelé won the 1958, 1962 and 1970 World Cups and remains Brazil’s all-time leading scorer with 77 in 92 matches.

Ali Marpet: The Buccaneers Pro Bowl offensive lineman announced his retirement from the NFL at age 28. A second-round draft pick out of tiny Hobart College in 2015, Marpet became a starter at right guard as a rookie.

He transitioned to center the following season and later settled in at left guard, where he helped the 2020 Bucs win the Super Bowl and was a first-time Pro Bowl selection in 2021.

Tampa Bay also has Pro Bowl center Ryan Jensen and right guard Alex Cappa set to become free agents in March.

Maximo Carrizo: The 14-year-old was signed to a homegrown contract by New York City FC, making him the youngest first-team signing in MLS history.

Carrizo celebrated his 14th birthday on the same day he signed his contract, which runs through the 2027 season with an option for 2028. He’s the 10th homegrown signing in NYCFC history. Carrizo took part in the U-15 MLS Next playoffs last year and was called into U.S. U-15 national team camp earlier this year.

Beyond the box score POTENT QUOTABLES

NASCAR

Defending NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Larson held off Austin Dillon and Daniel Suarez in a tense finish Sunday, surviving a restart with four laps left to win at Auto Club Speedway for his first victory of 2022 in the season’s second race.

Larson’s victory included a collision with teammate Chase Elliott, leaving the 2020 champion and his team furious.

JACOB KUPFERMAN | AP PHOTO

“We can’t play down to our competition.”

Hornets forward Miles Bridges after Charlotte lost at home 127-126 in overtime to 14th-place Detroit.

JACOB KUPFERMAN | AP PHOTO

MLB

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

LYNNE SLADKY | AP PHOTO

“We’re working at it.”

MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred on the ongoing labor talks with the MLBPA. PRIME NUMBER

$468K Price fetched at an auction for an unused ticket to Michael Jordan’s NBA debut with the Chicago Bulls. Michael Cole, a Northwestern student at the time, bought two tickets for $8.50 apiece for the Oct. 26, 1984, game against the Washington Bullets but didn’t find anyone to attend with him.

Heritage Auctions, which conducted the sale on Sunday, said it is the only known intact ticket from Jordan’s debut.

LYNNE SLADKY | AP PHOTO

Derek Jeter announced Monday he is departing from the Miami Marlins after 4½ mostly unsuccessful years as the team’s CEO. The Marlins had the fourth-worst record in baseball during Jeter’s tenure, making the playoffs only in 2020 when more than half of the MLB’s 30 teams qualified in the pandemic-affected year.

SMILEY N. POOL | THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS VIA AP

Disgraced former Baylor football coach Art Briles resigned as Grambling’s offensive coordinator just five days after he was surprisingly hired by coach Hue Jackson. Briles, who said he didn’t want to be a “distraction,” was fired by Baylor in 2016 for taking no action against players accused of sexual assault.

TENNIS

EDUARDO VERDUGO | AP PHOTO

Daniil Medvedev officially moved up to No. 1 in the ATP rankings on Monday, overtaking Novak Djokovic to become the 27th man to hold the top spot since computerized rankings began in 1973.

Medvedev, 26, won last year’s U.S. Open and was runnerup at last month’s Australian Open. Djokovic has played in only one tournament in 2022 because he has not been vaccinated against COVID-19.

North State Journal for Wednesday, March 2, 2022

B3 COLUMN | BRETT FRIEDLANDER

March Madness back where it belongs

PJ WARD-BROWN | NORTH STATE JOURNAL

Guard Shykeim Phillips and UNC Wilmington will look to punch their ticket to the NCAA Tournament with a win at this week’s CAA Tournament in Washington, D.C.

Single-bid conferences offer 1 path to the NCAA Tournament Teams throughout North Carolina will try and win their way into the Big Dance when conference tournaments begin this week

By Brett Friedlander North State Journal The ACC Network is currently airing a documentary series about the league’s postseason basketball tournament, including rare footage of the event when only the winner was eligible to receive an NCAA bid and the opportunity to play for a national championship.

The drama and intensity of the ACC Tournament have long since waned now that multiple teams are allowed to advance, turning it into what former North Carolina coach Roy Williams referred to as a glorified cocktail party.

But fans around the state can still relive the experience now that March has arrived and the madness of one-bid conference tournaments is about to get underway.

Here’s a look at how they all stack up, which teams stand the best chance at getting to the big dance and who has the potential to pull off a surprise.

Colonial Athletic Association March 5-8, Washington, D.C. UNC Wilmington (21-8) missed out on the tournament’s top seed when Towson came from behind to beat Delaware in the completion of a suspended game on Monday. But as the co-regular season champion with a 15-3 league record, including a split of its series with the Tigers, the second-seeded Seahawks are in a prime position to earn the program’s seventh NCAA Tournament bid.

Coach Takayo Siddle’s team, which was picked to finish ninth in the CAA’s preseason poll, begins postseason play at 6 p.m. on Sunday with a quarterfinal

matchup against in-state rival and seventh-seeded Elon (10-21), with the winner taking on either third-seeded Hofstra or No. 6 College of Charleston.

Sun Belt March 3-7, Pensacola, Fla. Seeded second in the 12-team conference, Appalachian State enters this year’s tournament in a more advantageous position than it did a year ago when it won as the No. 4 seed to earn the league’s automatic bid.

Coach Dustin Kerns’ veteran team, which returned 10 lettermen from that 2020-21 squad, received a bye into the quarterfinals, where it will meet the winner of the first round matchup between No. 7 Coastal Carolina and No. 10 Georgia Southern.

The Mountaineers (18-13, 126) lost the only regular season meeting with top-seeded Texas State, 68-66 in San Marcos, Texas, on Feb. 3.

Wednesday include Gardner-Webb against Campbell, UNCA against No. 12 Charleston Southern, High Point against No. 10 Hampton and A&T against No. 8 Radford.

Southern Conference March 4-7, Asheville

5

Teams from North Carolina in the 12-school Big South

UNC Greensboro (17-13, 9-9) is the defending champion but sports a vastly different look as it rebuilds under new coach Mike Jones. The Spartans are seeded sixth and will begin play against No. 3 Samford in their opening game on Saturday.

One day earlier, 10th-seeded Western Carolina — another state team with a first-year coach — will look to get a fresh start after going 11-20 (5-13) during the regular season when it takes on No. 7 Mercer at 7:30 p.m. on Friday.

The winner earns a second-round date against second-seeded Furman on Saturday.

Chattanooga is the top seed.

Big South March 1-6, Charlotte

MEAC March 9-12, Norfolk, Va.

If there’s strength in numbers, then the Big South provides North Carolina one of its best opportunities to send a team to the NCAA Tournament.

Gardner-Webb (17-12, 11-5) stands the best chance as the tournament’s No. 3 seed. But if you’re looking for a dark horse capable of coming out of nowhere to stun the field, a potential candidate is seventh-seeded High Point (13-17, 7-9). Not only did the Panthers beat second-seeded Winthrop during the regular season while losing a pair of close games to No. 1 Longwood, but they’ll also have the incentive of playing for new coach G.G. Smith — who took over when his father, Tubby, retired last month.

The rest of the state contingent includes fifth-seeded UNC Asheville (16-13, 8-8), sixth-seeded Campbell (15-12, 8-8) and No. 9 NC A&T (11-19, 6-10).

First round matchups on

One week remains in the regular season before NC Central (1415, 7-6) gets its shot at returning to the NCAA Tournament after a two-year absence.

At least one mid-major team from North Carolina will enter the postseason confident in its NCAA chances regardless of how it does in its conference tournament. Davidson has put itself in position for an at-large bid by fashioning a 24-4 overall record (14-2 in the Atlantic 10) with one week left in the regular season.

And while the American Athletic Conference and Conference-USA both have the potential to send more than one representative to the NCAA Tournament, state schools East Carolina (1513, 6-10 AAC) and Charlotte (1513, 8-8 CUSA) are in the same boat as their one-bid neighbors in having to win their league tournaments to play the field of 68.

DUKEfrom page B1 or the ACC Tournament.

The most recent example was in 2019 when UNC won by 16 at Cameron in February in the Zion Williamson shoe game.

The Tar Heels also won the rematch, but the score was much tighter.

You have to go back to 2010 to find a comparable game for Duke. The Blue Devils won in the Smith Center by 10 in the first game, then won by 32 at Cameron. In 2008, they won by 11 in Chapel Hill, then lost the rematch at home.

Going back to Coach K’s biggest win in Chapel Hill, Duke beat UNC by 29 in 2002, then nearly repeated the feat in winning by 25 in Durham.

It’s perhaps the toughest sports ticket to get, with secondary prices bypassing those for the Super Bowl. Emotions will be high and there is potential for drama on both sides.

Once again, the college basketball regular season will come down to Duke and Carolina.

A MEMBER of the North Carolina media took a taxi from his hotel to Barclays Center for a session of the ACC men’s basketball tournament the last time it was held in Brooklyn in 2018.

As he got out of the car, the driver asked him who (The ACC the Nets were playing that Women’s night.

Tournament) The point of this story is that while the tournament promises to remains the signature be the kind event on the ACC’s annual of basketball calendar, it no longer has the same stature it once free-for-all that did. Especially when it’s was once the played outside the league’s trademark of the traditional footprint.

With only one team more popular currently in the national men’s event. rankings, No. 4 Duke, this year’s tournament in Brooklyn next week is the least anticipated in recent memory.

That’s a sharp contrast to the gathering of conference basketball teams getting ready to take place this week.

The ACC Women’s Tournament is still the warmup act to the men’s headliner event when it comes to hype, exposure and interest. But while the crowds at Greensboro Coliseum might be smaller than those at Barclays a few days later, recent history suggests the atmosphere in the arena will be every bit as electric.

If not more so.

And with six of the eight teams in the bracket currently ranked among the nation’s top 25, including two in the top four, it will be hard to match the competitiveness that will take place on the court.

“We’re all going to be well prepared,” Boston College coach Joanna Bernabei-McNamee said Monday. “The coaching staffs in our conference are really brilliant and they put together great game plans. The players are hard-nosed. You’re not going to catch a team that’s not going to show up. All the teams are going to bring it with their emotions.”

The intensity figures to ratchet up even higher now that the cardboard cutouts that filled a majority of the seats a year ago will be replaced by actual fans as restrictions brought on by the COVID pandemic continue to be relaxed.

No one is happier about the return of a live audience than NC State’s Wes Moore.

It’s not as if the newly named ACC Coach of the Year and his Wolfpack need any kind of extra advantage or motivation. They come into the tournament as the top seed and two-time defending champion, ranked third in the nation with a 26-3 record.

But with an energized fan base that has already outnumbered home crowds at North Carolina’s Carmichael Arena and Duke’s Cameron Indoor Stadium, Greensboro Coliseum will feel and sound more like Reynolds Coliseum when State is in the house.

As much Syracuse’s curmudgeonly men’s coach Jim Boeheim already dislikes Greensboro as a tournament host, his high-pitched voice would likely go up at least a couple of octaves complaining about the kind of homecourt advantage State will enjoy.

“Two years ago when we won it, there were maybe 8,000 people there. Seven thousand of them were wearing red on the championship day,” Moore said. “No doubt they make a big difference for us.

There’s been games where we maybe struggled for three quarters and a lot of fans would have checked out, but they hung with us and gave us the energy we needed to find a way to win.

“I know some of the schools that came over from the Big East wish this tournament would go somewhere else,” Moore said. “But this is the ACC footprint right here. It is great to be able to have fans there, and the energy and enthusiasm is definitely a big plus for us.”

Even with that plus, along with a talented, experienced lineup, the Wolfpack is far from a sure thing to cut down the nets for the third straight year.

It trailed second-seeded Louisville by 16 points in the fourth quarter before roaring from behind for the victory. It struggled to beat fifth-seeded Virginia Tech and ACC Player of the Year Elizabeth Kitley twice and suffered its only conference loss to third-seeded Notre Dame.

No. 4 North Carolina is a hot team, having won six of its last seven, including an upset of Louisville.

Georgia Tech leads the league in scoring defense.

It promises to be the kind of basketball freefor-all that was once the trademark of the more popular men’s event. And because it will be played in a place where the ACC is as much a part of the local culture as barbecue and sweet tea, it’s doubtful anyone will have to ask what’s going on at the arena.

WALT UNKS | THE WINSTON-SALEM JOURNAL VIA AP CHRIS SEWARD | AP PHOTO

UNC guard Leaky Black and the Tar Heels will try to cement an NCAA Tournament bid while spoiling Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski’s final home game when they face Theo John and the Blue Devils on Saturday in Durham.

The ACC Women’s Tournament is back at Greensboro Coliseum this week, and the return of packed stands watching several ranked teams battling for the title should make for a memorable week of basketball.

B4

North State Journal for Wednesday, March 2, 2022

One last dance at Cameron Coach Mike Krzyzewski prepares for the final home game of his career

By Shawn Krest North State Journal IT’S TIME. We’ve reached the end of the road.

From the time coach Mike Krzyzewski announced that this season would be his last, he’s tried to keep the team focused on the path directly in front of it instead of what lay ahead. He went as far as to ban the words “final” and “last” from Duke’s vocabulary.

Time after time, he deflected questions about his feelings as the end neared. That happened even this week, when Coach K evoked images of shot-blocking center Mark Williams, swatting away questions about the UNC game.

“My total focus is on Pitt,” he said, speaking of the game Duke played on Tuesday night, after press time. “I don’t look at a week. I look at my next opponent. I’ve done that since I learned how to coach a few decades ago.”

“We’ve always evoked a lot of attention, maybe a little bit more now, but it’s something I’ve had the hon-

CHRIS SEWARD | AP PHOTO

Coach Mike Krzyzewski will lead the Blue Devils for the final time at Cameron Indoor Stadium when Duke hosts rival UNC on Saturday. or of dealing with for a good part of my career,” he said later. “Pitt’s the only thing on my mind right now.”

Krzyzewski finished off his shutdown of UNC talk with, “It doesn’t make any difference what happens afterwards. We want to beat Pitt and lock up the No. 1 seed (in the ACC). To me, that’s the biggest thing happening this week.”

But now, with Pitt in the books, there are no detours left. Last

and final can reenter the lexicon.

Krzyzewski’s time at Duke is down to one more regular season game — Saturday evening, at Cameron Indoor, against North Carolina.

It promises to be the hottest ticket in sports, with the cheapest available seats on the secondary market starting at $3,000. The average price is higher than most Super Bowls, NBA Finals and World Series tickets. A charity auction

bidder before the season paid a million dollars for four seats.

In addition to being Coach K’s final game, it’s against the Tar Heels, which is always a hot ticket. Duke may have already wrapped up the regular season title by game time, while UNC is currently at No. 3 in the league. As they are wont to do, Duke students have been camping outside Cameron for more than a month, one last time pitching a tent in Krzyzewskiville before the area gets renamed Scheyerland.

Duke won by 20 in Chapel Hill last month. Before the game, in the tunnel leading to the court, Krzyzewski posed for a photo with Roy Williams, who retired after 18 years as UNC coach prior to this season. Also joining them were Hubert Davis, a former Tar Heels player and Williams assistant who replaced him on the bench, and Jon Scheyer, a former Blue Devil player and Krzyzewski assistant who will replace him when this season ends.

“It was great,” Coach K said of the photo. “I have the ultimate respect (for them). I’m friends with both Roy and Hubert. I have friendship and respect professionally for what they’ve done with the program and carrying on the tradition that’s been there since Coach (Frank) McGuire. Dean (Smith) cemented it. They’ve kept it going.

It meant a lot to have that and to have Hubert and Jon in the picture because they’ll be the ones carrying it forward for a number of years

ahead of them.”

It was a private moment of reflection that eventually came out on social media when the photo was posted. There was also one time this season when Coach K let his deflector shields down publicly, following his penultimate game at Cameron, a win over Florida State on Feb. 19. He had just returned to the bench after suffering a health scare against Wake Forest, and he took a moment to look down the road.

“We have Virginia coming up,” he started. “That’s all I’m thinking of. There’s plenty of time for that.”

Then he reversed course abruptly, giving one fleeting glimpse as to what he’s feeling.

“I know it will be emotional the last game here,” he said. “Some of these games have been a little bit emotional for me in one way and another. Even today with all the crowd, you want to savor that feeling because you’re only going to be able to walk out on that court one more time and have that feeling, but it makes me understand how lucky I’ve been to do it hundreds of times. Not a dozen… Like 600 times or… I don’t know how many games I’ve coached, but a lot. And how lucky I’ve been to have a moment like that to savor, but I’ve had those moments hundreds of times.

It’s been a blessing to be the coach here and with this crowd and our culture. Lucky guy. I’ve been a very, very lucky guy.”

NC State offensive tackle Ikem Ekwonu will have a chance this week to make his case to be the No. 1 pick in the draft when he participates in the NFL Combine in Indianapolis.

WILFREDO LEE | AP PHOTO

Local prospects hope to improve draft stock at NFL Combine The Panthers are looking to fill needs with a week of evaluations

By Shawn Krest North State Journal THE NFL Combine began this week, which, in and of itself, was a relief for the league.

Last month, close to half of the 324 players expected to attend the annual meeting and evaluation of NFL Draft prospects were planning to boycott the event.

The issue was the league’s COVID-19 protocols surrounding the Combine. The plan was to create a “bubble,” severely limiting access to the participants. That meant that players would not be able to interact with their personal doctors, trainers or agents, all while undergoing a series of drills, meetings and tests that would be the most important job interviews of their lives.

The boycott worked, and the league dropped its bubble plan, meaning there should be a full contingent of draft hopefuls in

ACC WOMEN from page B1 road to the finals is anything but smooth.

Four other conference teams are included in The Associated Press top 25 this week. Third-seeded Notre Dame is No. 20, fourth-seeded North Carolina is No. 16 and fifth-seeded Virginia Tech is No. 21.

The Tar Heels (23-5, 13-5) benefitted from rival State’s win Sunday, a result that, combined with their regular season-ending victory against Duke, leapfrogged them past the Hokies for the fourth and final double bye in the tournament.

The top four seeds automatically advance into Friday’s semifinals.

State (26-3, 17-1 ACC) will begin

Indianapolis.

That list includes 11 players from schools in North Carolina.

NC State is one of two teams from the state that will be sending multiple players to the Combine.

The Wolfpack have three players represented and will likely have the highest draftee in the state this year. That would be offensive tackle Ikem “Ickey” Ekwonu, who has a chance to be the first overall selection.

Running back Zonovan “Bam” Knight will also be going through the Combine process. He’s projected to be a sixth-rounder. Knight rushed for 2,200 yards in three seasons and left early to enter the draft.

Former Wolfpack punter AJ Cole was selected for the Pro Bowl this season, and Trenton Gill will look to continue NC State’s punter pipeline. Like most special teamers, he’s not expected to be drafted, which will mean the impression he makes on teams at the Combine is even more critical.

UNC will send the largest contingent to Indy. Five former Tar Heels are expected to participate

in the Combine.

The list is headed by Sam Howell, considered one of the top quarterback prospects in the draft. Several teams, including the Steelers, Bucs, Saints and possibly the Browns, will be looking for a quarterback, giving Howell the potential of landing on a team with a solid nucleus. Howell is a three-year starter who left after his junior year. He’s mocked as a possible first-rounder.

Howell will be joined by Ty Chandler, who had a strong year running the ball for UNC after transferring from Tennessee. Chandler rushed for 1,092 yards this season and is expected to be selected in the sixth round.

Two offensive linemen from UNC will also be at the Combine.

Joshua Ezeudu left after his junior season after starting 28 games in three years.

Marcus McKethan started 38 games at guard over the last three years and leaves after his senior season. Both Ezeudu and McKethan will be looking to improve their chances of getting selected with a strong Combine performance. Neither is a lock to be

drafted at this point.

Linebacker Jeremiah Gemmel is the lone Tar Heel defensive player headed to the Combine. He was the leader on the D and one of the rare bright spots on a unit that struggled this season. He’ll be looking to improve his current seventh-round mock.

Despite winning the ACC Atlantic, Wake Forest only has one player headed to the Combine. Offensive tackle Zach Tom will be looking to improve on his expected sixthround mock.

App State will be represented by linebacker D’Marco Jackson, who is expected to be selected in the sixth round. He had a strong Senior Bowl week last month, and he’ll be looking to continue building momentum.

Fayetteville State hasn’t had a player drafted since 1973, but defensive back Joshua Williams could break that streak. He’s mocked for the sixth round, so it’s not a sure thing by any means. Williams also had a strong performance at Senior Bowl.

While the local players will be one storyline surrounding the

Combine, the state’s NFL team will also be worth watching this week.

The Carolina Panthers have plenty of needs. The quarterback situation is far from settled. Sam Darnold is expected back after a first season in Charlotte that was inconclusive, at best. Cam Newton also may return, but he didn’t seem to be the answer when he was brought in at midseason. The Panthers could bring in a veteran during free agency, but if they look to the draft to solve their problem, Liberty’s Malik Williams and Pitt’s Kenny Pickett are options. Both will be at the Combine.

The Panthers have plenty of other holes, and perhaps the best way to upgrade their quarterback play is by improving the offensive line.

Northern Iowa’s Trevor Penning and Mississippi State’s Charles Cross have both been mentioned as first round options for Carolina in mock drafts. Both will be participating at the Combine.

The Panthers could also look at tight end, defensive tackle and receiver in this year’s draft, with plenty of talent to evaluate in Indianapolis this week.

play against the winner of Thursday’s 8-9 game between Boston College and Florida State. UNC (23-5, 13-5) will face the survivor from a bracket that includes the Hokies, 12th-seeded Syracuse and No. 13 Clemson.

The two other state teams will help get the tournament started with opening round games on Wednesday, with 10th-seeded Duke taking on 13th-seeded Pittsburgh at 3:30 p.m. and 11th-seeded Wake Forest matched against No. 14 Virginia at 6 p.m.

Unlike the rival Wolfpack, who were the preseason favorite to win the ACC and have been ranked in the top 10 from start to finish, coach Courtney Banghart’s Tar

Heels have been one of the league’s biggest surprises.

That is, to everyone other than Banghart and her players.

“I remember I said at ACC media day (in October) that we were better than people expected,” Banghart said. “People didn’t know our grad transfers, didn’t know the commitment in the offseason that our roster had made or the size of our most experienced player Jaelynn Murray’s heart. So I think we’ve proven ourselves week after week.”

Having already beaten Louisville this season, UNC enters the tournament with realistic hopes of bringing home the championship trophy for the first time since 2008.

But even if it doesn’t, a strong show-

ing could earn it a host spot for the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament.

For Duke and Wake Forest, the goal in Greensboro is to win enough games just to get into the NCAA bracket.

At 16-12 overall (7-11 ACC) the Blue Devils stand the better chance.

But it’s still enough of a longshot that coach Kara Lawson isn’t even thinking about it.

“We’re just trying to win the first game, then if we’re fortunate enough to do so we’ll try to win the next one,” she said.

“It’s a new opportunity for everybody. All 15 teams in the tournament have a chance to do that.

We’re one of them and we’ve got a

chance to try and get a win. That’s the way we’re looking at it.”

Wake Forest (14-15, 4-14) will likely need more than just a win or even two to extend its season past this weekend. Coach Jen Hoover’s team, however, has a history of tournament surprises, including an upset win against UNC last year that earned it a surprise NCAA bid.

“The Deacons have been known to go to Greensboro and put some magic together,” Hoover said. “But this is a different squad. They know that. They know there’s a lot of expectations of the past and what (those teams) have been able to do.

It really comes down to your focus and your execution. You have to lock in one game at a time.”

The 3 big questions nob

A7

normal

WITH MOST STATES under either shelter-in-place or stay-at-home hina lied about the origin of the ONE THING IS CERTAIN; after thisthanks COVID-19 virus cavalierofmanner in which C orders to local ordissipates state governments,The a majority Americans THIS WEEK, virus, according to members ofTHE theand fede ed to tell the world there were only “THIS IS DA around the globe and in the United States, China will pay for this covered up its spread tr are having to adjust to what is being called the “new normal.” and state and local governments, Americans have ldwide panic, economic collapse and in it” (Psalm 118:24). catastrophe one way or another.

3,341 related deaths has led to wo Some of these orders extend at least through the end of this month. ce or stay-at-home fallen into place. I understand the seriousness of the virus thetoneed the curve in the novel coronavirus outbreak.

The e eing thrown out of work.

I know that during Inand order put the crisis causedVirginia’s

by Chinastay-at-home in perspective, zero millions of Americans needlessly orders go into June. ty of Americans to take precautions, but I’m uneasy with how people who simply ask muted — after all, trends can easily reverse — but ayer at least $2.4 trillion in added working from home worldwide pandemics can trace their source to theCarolina, United States over Gov.The has cost the U.S. taxp Here in North Democratic Roycrisis Cooper stated during normal.” questions about the data, and when things can start getting back to have abided by recommendations and orders.

The Reserve backup liquidity to the be glad” the Bible our 231-year history. At least fourainrecent the 20th century alone be that “we debt plus trillions more Federa coronavirus press can briefing just don’t know yet”asifin the of this month. are treated in some circles with contempt. to flu,” stay 1977 at home; they’ve practiced socialthe distancing hed U.S. dollar were notnormal the reserve and dad, Easter directly traced to China: 1957 “Asian flu,” 1968 “Hong Kong markets and financial outlets.

If th will extend into May. Since when did state’s stay-at-home orders They’re treated as though we as a society simply must accept flu” without they’ve donned masks. und any of these emergency have to be thankful “Russian and the 2002 SARS outbreak.

There is evidence that the currency, we would not be able toa Perhaps If he it, questions should be asked as to the Wedoes needdecide to extend WALTER E. WILLIAMS questioning per stated during question what the government tells us about when it’s massive safe to begin the The result: a reduction inwithout expected hospitalizati Lenten and of rampant inflation and currency pandemic.

1918 “Spanish flu” pandemic also had its origins in China. measures immediate fear justification for it. And the answers should not be vague ones like “we COVID-19 know yet” if the process of returning back to normalcy.

According to theseasons University of Washington Institu For me, my faith is government There is 100% agreement, outside oftransparency China, thatofCOVID-19 depreciation. must do this out an abundance Easter of caution.” is China’s No. The government works for us, and we have the right to ask those Metrics and Evaluation model most oft cited by m ant ways and decisions through making.

As I celebra and honesty originated in at Wuhan Province probably from the completely China has to pay for their aberr provide a all levels It will need to be explained in detail to the people of this state who sked as to the And the longer stay-at-home orders are in place all over and the unsanitary wet markets. administration, theand expected need for hosp plomacy has obviouslyquestions. not worked Corinthians 1:4, whi Chernobyl. unregulated believe it Trump came of at a home economic financial means.

D fromSome our to are being told remain joblessout and message offor an undetermined become a ue ones like “we country, and the stricter some of them get in states, such as Michigan, peak outbreak was revised down by over 120,000, orld of 21st century health, hygiene affliction, so that we biowarfare lab run by the communist Chinese army. to bring China into the civilized scientific amount of timeexperts why models predicting hundreds of cases w hope that we13,000 willof thousands bad thing? thethe more people, sitting at home feeling isolated and/or anxious about ventilators by nearly and the number of ov unist regimes never take blame affliction, withcomm the co Until China adopts rigorous verifiable policing and regulation of and fair trade.

Totalitarian are reliable.

— we need to once again enjoy of this state who when they can get back to providing for their families, will demand August by nearly 12,000. rse, because that is not what God.” That is what their food safety and health protocols, American business has no other or express sincere regret and rem To know date, what I’ve gone what the state has asked and then they along with ndetermined answers.

Here’s the problem: We still don’t know the answ sporting events, take advantage of every weakness If you are celebrat choice than tofree build redundant manufacturing totalitarian do. They citizens mandated thatplants we do,elsewhere but alongpurely the way I’ve also had governments questions about housands of cases Leaders at the local and state levels should be as forthcoming as they know, what they questions that will allow the economy to reopen. pushing until they win or the reflect on this concerts, family for national security safety reasons as well supply andleaders delivery they find in adversaries andmessa keep the data.

StateasRepublican have, too. living inand a free can be with those answers — and again, not vague answers, but concerns. answer First, what is the true coronavirus fatality and rate?c God’s example don’t and when reliability adversaries push back. gatherings, Unfortunately, when certain types of questions get asked, there is AMERICA’S COLLEGES are rife with society edhappens and then with details that give their statements believability. important because That it determines whether certain nt such asThe the Chernobyl this difficult Th The most direct waywere to make China “pay”hope for this is to offer is, unless an exogenous they to disaster corruption. financial squeeze resulting sometimes a disturbing tendency among people to treat thosetime. ev church some services questions about We should all continue to do what we can to keep our families, be open or closed, whether we ought to pursue — S elieve that event, not the Staropportunities Wars confident we will em supposed from COVID-19 offers for a U.S. tax credits to companies whosimply willknow source at least half of their meltdown in 1986.

Some experts what theythe data and asking questioning when we can start getting back and many more Sponsored by ourselves, and our communities safe.

But we should also still continue more liberalized society that presumes wide sprea Sponsored by the dissolution of the Soviet In thisled same spiritt bit of remediation.

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

There is though approximately programor of are Reagan, directly to do, lastUnited I to normal they are$120 conspiracy theorists people who don’t.as afterdown our own asked, there to of ask questions about the data, because while reasonable stay-at-home ought to lock further. neighbors helping ne mightisbe the root academic corruption, billion worth checked. of American direct investment in plants and equipment in 1989. otherwise don’t care if they get themselves or others sick. title of a recent study, to treatsuggested those by the measures are understandable, they should also have an date. direct investment in the U.S. is about $65We’ve seen rates — Concord, the number of Cd temporary hernobyl.

In a high inexpiration China. Chinese billion by case fatality Perhaps COVID-19 China’s Since when did questioning government at all levels become aisbad “Academic Grievance Studies and the North State Journal for Wednesday, April 15, 2020 start getting back This is all new to Americans, and it is not normal.

Not in any way, the number of identified COVID-19 cases — but bp ady talking about the possibility to buy aare 3-D sacrifices are society comparison.

Senators inmoney Washington alr thing? That is what free citizens living in a free were supposed Corruption of Scholarship.”

The study was we should remain vigilant and are people who shape, or form.

So while stay safe, at and the denominator are likely wrong.

We don’t kn debt we owe them as one way toand get analysis health$1.2 caretrillion workers Thousands NC students An investment tax credit of 30% U.S. investment in China ino over. of China forgiving toon do,half lastof I checked. done

by Areo,ofan opinion same time we shouldn’t get comfortable with this so-called “newbillion, applied to repatriated American manufacturing people have actually died of coronavirus.

Some the sou yick. have caused the US. the Don’t hold your to participate in By Students@ today, or $60 China to “pay” for the damage digital magazine. the way, Areo is short My first concern as we go along in all this, of course, is my family. I’m see” become aAreopagitica, bad SM number beenbreath overestimated, given that classifi to happen but ask normal.” your elected for a speech delivered by Work initiative investment to the U.S. would costworried the U.S.about Treasury billion in has waiting Ifor a Chinese them$18 catching the virus, and I’m worried will.

After “Jubi y were supposed Not one little bit. of death, particularly among elderly patients, untableJohn in tangible financial Milton in defense ways of freefor speech. tax revenue spread over a few years. $18 billion lost revenue hold Chinacan acc suffering fromin the H1N1 virusis(swine flu) representatives during the 2009topandemic, Authors Helen Pluckrose, James A. sources suggest the number is dramatically under RALEIGH – Schools and decimal dust compared to the $6 I’ve trillion+ Marshall Plan we are now this disaster. been trying to take extra precautions, because all of this brings up Lindsay and Peter Boghossian say has that also written under the pseudonym Sister Toldjah e, is my family.

Stacey Matthews manyas people are dying home. d to operate as I’m responsible citizens of businesses across North undertaking to save our own economy, notmany of defeated enemies in the It is at about timenot they expect way too memories of a painful experience I’d prefer to are repeat. something has gone drastically wrong ed I will.

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

Even more importantly, we have no clue how ma ation. Carolina are kicking off past. the world like any other modern n But what also makes me lose sleep is how easily most everyone has in academia, especially within certain 2009 pandemic, actually have coronavirus. Some scientists suggest SM China has been cheating, stealing, pirating and pillaging American Students@Work Month fields within the humanities. They call of this brings up This annual of identified business now for the past 30 years. They have made no secret that theycases could be an order of magnitude these fields “grievance studies,” where this week.

Neal Robbins, publisher | Frank Hill,coronavirus senior opinion efer notscholarship to repeat. is not so much based upon number of people who have had and n intend to replace the U.S. as the premier superpower in the world and career awareness initiative st everyone has finding truth but upon attending to replace the dollar as the reserve currency with their renminbi. is made possible through social grievances. Grievance scholars a partnership between the and other bully students, administrators North Carolina departments into Business adhering to their Committee Education worldview.

Thefor worldview they promote is Jason neither scientific nor North rigorous. Grievance (NCBCE) and the EDITORIAL | STACEY MATTHEWS studies consist of disciplines Carolina Department of such as sociology, anthropology, gender studies, Public Instruction (NCDPI).

COLUMN | REP. RICHARD HUDSON queer studies, sexuality and critical race The goals of the program studies. are expose students toPluckrose, Into 2017 and 2018, authors Lindsay and Boghossian started future career opportunities submitting bogus academic in their communities andpapers to academic journals in cultural, queer, throughout the state and KEITH SRAKOCIC | AP PHOTO race, gender, fat and sexuality studies to help to link what they are to determine if they would pass peer A sign in the vodka area of a Pennsylvania Fine Wine and Good Spirits store reflects the states decision to withdraw Russian-made learning the classroom “THIS IS THEfallen DAYinto the lord has made, let usthe re seriousness of and theinbe virus and the review accepted for need publication.products for sale, Monday, Feb. 28, 2022, WITHinMOST STATES place.

I understand Harmony, Pa. under either shelter-in-place or stay-at-home Acceptance of dubious to real-world jobs. in it” (Psalm 118:24). y with how people who simplyresearch ask that orders thanks to local or state governments, a majority of Americans to take precautions, but I’m uneas editors found sympathetic to their this challenging time of soc This year’s initiative n thingsjournal can start getting back to are having to adjust to what is being called the “new normal.”I know that during questions about the data, and whe intersectional or postmodern leftist vision governments in North Carolina working from home or losing a job, it may becircle diffi with contempt. includes 150 employers Some of these orders extend at least through the end of this month. normal are treated in some of the world would prove the problem of encouraged adopt be glad” asare thestrongly Bible tells us to do.toas However, as aasC a societylow simply accept without and will must impact Virginia’s stay-at-home orders go into June.

They’re treated though we academic standards. similar policies, including divestand dad, the Easter holiday hasthe reminded me oftelj s us about when it’s safefake to begin thepapers approximately 27,000 Here in North Carolina, Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper stated during question what government Several of the research ing from Russian assets to ensure thankful and hopeful for, even m alcy. were students statewide.

As accepted for publication.

The Fat a recent coronavirus press briefing that “we just don’t knowhave yet”to if be thethat process of returning back in to the norm public dollars and operations Lenten and pandemic.do not benefit s, and we have the right to ask those Studies published aSM hoax paper part ofjournal Students@Work state’s stay-at-home orders will extend into May. Russia and avoidNo. The government works for Since when did that argued the term bodybuilding was me, ing my faith is an important part ofstay-atmy dai home orders are in place allwill over the Easter seasons new contracts withthe Russian If he does decide to extend it, questions should be asked asFor to the questions.

And longer Month, students questioning andas should be replaced entities. making.

As I celebrated my family, hem get exclusionary in states, such Michigan, justification for it. And the answers should notabe vague ones like “we country,Easter and thewith stricter some ofI tr provide get a chance to engage with “fat bodybuilding, as a fat-inclusive order will affect alcohol government Corinthians The 1:4, the which reminds us our Lord “comf eling isolated and/or anxiousas about must do this out of an abundance of caution.” more people, sitting at home in virtual programs message of politicized performance.”

One reviewer sales by directing the North Car- those affliction, so that we may be able to comfort ng for their families, will demand Gov. Roy Cooper has at all levels It will need to be explained in detail to the people of this state who when they can get back to providi they“Ilearn aboutenjoyed such reading this said, thoroughly hope that we will olina ABC Commission to rethe U.S. government and other affliction, with the comfort which we ourselves ar officesaunder are beingnations. told to remain jobless and at home for anofundetermined article and believe it has an importantordered state industries as energy “The invasion Ukraine become view itsanswers. list of approved products Western once again enjoy God.” vels should be as forthcoming as they his control to terminate contribution to make to the field and this amount of time why models predicting hundreds of thousands of cases Leaders by at the local enand state le for any produced Russian On Monday, North Carolina production, health care, is an attackevents, on a free If you are celebrating thing? that sporting the Easter season, I—urge again, not vague answers, but answer journal.” governmentbad contracts are reliable. tities and to suspend the approvcan be with those answers and Gov. Roy Cooper signed Execuhospitality, finance, skilled “Our Struggle Is My Struggle: Solidarity people.

This order sends Thatbusinesses is what reflect on this and be that ents believability. benefit Russian concerts, family al ofmessage such products ascomforted, quickly as so tive Order No. 251 inalong response towhat To date, I’ve gone with the state has asked and then with details that give their statem trades, manufacturing, Feminism anfamilies, Intersectional Reply to possible.

Theshould order also affects Russia’s invasion Ukraine that thea way example andWe comfort allall those in need arou at we can to keep as our strong andGod’sabout free citizens mandated that weofdo, but along I’ve message also had questions continue to do wh gatherings, first responders, Neoliberal and Choice Feminism,” was purchases and contracts with thehelping o directs state government agenthis difficult time.

Through faith and by fe. But we should also still continue the data.

State Republican leaders have, too. ourselves, and our communities s church services ensure no public living in a free accepted for publication by Affilia, a By David A. Lieb pharmaceuticals, state, and directs the N.C.pandemic Decies and departments to review helps confident we will emerge out of this str cause while reasonable stay-at-home Unfortunately, when certain types of questions get asked, there is to ask questions about the data, b feminist journal for social workers. The and many more partment of Administration to all existing contracts and opera- dollars The Associatedsociety Press were biotechnology, education, or operations from this same spirit, I continue to be inspired the by y shouldpaper also have an expiration sometimes aterminate disturbing tendency among some people to treatInthose measures are understandable, consisted in part of adate. rewritten identify and terminate contracts tions and to any agreeand publicNot service. after our ownwill benefit North Carolina supposed neighbors helping neighbors. d it is not normal. in any way,Two other SEEKING TO passage from Mein Kampf. simply questioning the data and asking when we can start getting back This is all new to Americans, an with Russian entities.

TIGHTEN the ments or operations that directly “Promising careers temporary In Concord, a shape, high school senior named remainhoax vigilant and stay safe, at includingfinancial squeeze papers were published, Russia and its or unjustified to do, I over to available informanormal as though they are conspiracy theorists are people who Currently or form.

So while weTanner shoul benefit Russian entities. on last Russia ofwith all kinds await North “Rape Culture and Queer Performativity 3-D printer andwe plastic to make fa mfortable this so-called “new sacrifices are sick. money to buy tion a from the time North Carolina “The invasion of Ukraine its war against Ukraine, gover- otherwise don’t care if they is getanthemselves or others the same shouldn’t get co aggression.” checked. at Urban Dog Parks.” from This paper’s Carolina students the subject Commission that a freedid people.

This order nors and lawmakers in numerous attack health careABC workers out of hissuggests own home.

Sinceonwhen questioning government at all levels become a bad normal.” over. was dog-on-dog rape.sea,” But the dog rapeU.S. states were taking actions sends a strong message and helps brands Hammer mountains to the said thing? That is what free citizens living in a free society were supposedthree alcohol Not one little– bit. paper forced Boghossian, & Sickle, Beluga, and Russian Monday to pull state investments ensure no public dollars or oper- N.C. Gov. Roy Cooper (D) Lilyn eventually Hester, NCBCE Chair do, last I checked.

Pluckrose and Lindsay to prematurelyfrom out Russian companies while to Standard – would be subject to ations from North Carolina will and Head of Southeast under the pseudonym Sister Toldjah My first concern as unjustified we go along in all this, of course, is my family. I’m Stacey Matthews has also written themselves.

A Wall Street Journal writer this Executive Order. and its encouraging private entities to do benefit Russia Public Affairs, Google. dState and Legal Insurrection. had figured out what they were doing.the same. worried about them catching the virus, and I’m worried I will.

After and is a regular contributor to Re Many other states are followaggression,” said Governor Roy state government agencies and Some papers accepted for publication The effect of sanctions by U.S. suffering “Students@Work helps fromstate the H1N1 (swine flu) duringover thewhich 2009 the pandemic, departments gov- ing suit. Georgia House SpeakCooper. “Our stands virus in soliin academic journals advocated open young peoples’ eyes training er David Ralston, a Republican, ernor has executive authority, as up darity with the people ofextra Ukraine states often pales in comparison I’ve been trying to take precautions, because all of this brings men like dogs and punishing got a bipartisan standing ovation well as state entities for which the as they fight courageously against to national ones, but state offi- way to the possibilities and white male too many memories of a painful experience I’ d prefer not to repeat. college students for historical slavery by governor appoints the chief execa tyrant to defend their country, cials said they wanted to show gives them a sit head start in But what also makes me lose sleep is how easily most everyone hasMonday when he told represenasking them to in silence on the floor in solidarity with Ukraine and do their democracy and their free- utive or a majority of the board tatives he would seek to have the planning for class theirand futures.” chains during to be expectedwhat to they could to build upon the dom.” members.

business & economy

Fixingn.c. college corruption FAST

FACTS

A6

Approved Logos

north STA

VISUAL VOICES

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

US states adding to financial pressure on Russia over war

learn from the discomfort. Other papers penalties imposed on Russia by celebrated morbid obesity as a healthy life The 2022 weeks choice and advocated treating privately of focus are: conducted masturbation as a form of sexual violence against women. Typically, March 1-4: Education, academic journal editors send submitted Health and Public papers outCare to referees for review. In recommending acceptance for publication, Service many reviewers gave these papers glowing March 7-11: Small praise.

Political scientist Business and Zach Goldberg ran certain grievance studies concepts through Entrepreneurship the Lexis/Nexis database, to see how often they appeared in STEM our press over the years.

March 14-18: He found huge increases in the usages of “white21-25: privilege,” “unconscious bias,” March Hospitality:

By Anne D’Innocenzio “critical race theory” and “whiteness.” The Associated Press Tourism and Retail All of this is being taught to college students, many of whom become primary March 28-31: NEW YORK — Workers at Tarand secondary school teachers who then get stores and distribution centers Manufacturing, indoctrinate our young people. in places like New York, where Transportation and I doubt whether the coronavirus- competition for finding and hirAgriculture caused financial crunch will give college ing staff is the fiercest, could see and university administrators, who are a starting wages as high as $24 an crossbreed between a parrot and jellyfish, hour this year. part this year’s theAs guts andof backbone to restore academic The Minneapolis-based disprogram, there be they get much respectability. Far will too often, count retailer said Monday that it SM of theirStudents@Work political support from campuswill adopt minimum wages that three grievance people who are members of range the from $15 to $24 an hour, Industry Spotlight Days faculty and diversity and multiculturalwith the highest pay going to hires focusing on careers that administrative offices. can found health care, of in the most competitive markets.

Thebe best hopeinlies with boards It currently pays a universal startas a firstthough responder, and in trustees, many serve as yes-men ing wage of $15 an hour. for university president. thethe skilled trades.

HealthI think that aThe new starting wage range is good be to find 1950s part of a company plan to spend Carestart Daywould will take place on or 1960s catalogs. the course offerings at an additional $300 million on its March 2,Look FirstatResponder a time when college graduates knew how Day willwrite takeand place on and makelabor force this year that will also to read, compute, include broader, faster access to March 4, and SkilledAnother Trades helpful them today’s curricula. health care coverage for its hourtool be toplace give careful consideration Daywould will take on ly workers to eliminating March 17. all classes/majors/minors“The market has changed,” containing the word “studies,” such as said Target CEO Brian Cornell SM Students@Work is women, Asian, black or queer studies.in an interview with The Associgeared primarily toward I’d bet that by restoring the traditionalated Press. “We want to continue middle school students, academic mission to colleges, they would to have an industry-leading posibutathere some put seriousare dent into the COVID-19 tion.” budget shortfall. programs that involve Target set a new marker for the retail industry back in 2017 when high school students Walter E. Williams is a professor of it announced it would increase as well. The initiative economics at George Mason University. hourly wages to $15 by 2020. But also works toward the U.S. labor-market dynamics have goal of myFutureNC in changed during the pandemic, assuring that two million with many employers facing severe worker shortages. And many North Carolinians have a of Target’s rivals are now paying postsecondary degree or a minimum of $15 per hour or

The Executive Order covers all

Other state entities and local

Target seeks to entice workers with pay of up to $24 an hour

credential by 2030.

TED SHAFFREY | AP PHOTO

A hiring sign is in front of a Target store in Manchester, Conn., Nov. 39, 2021. more.

Target, which has roughly 1,900 stores and 350,000 employees in the U.S., noted that the turnover rate among its employees is now actually lower than before the pandemic. The retailer also said that it was able to exceed its goal of hiring 100,000 seasonal workers at its stores and 30,000 in its supply chain network across the country throughout the 2021 holiday season. But Target realized it needs to have an even more localized approach to wages. It said it is still doing its analysis and declined to name

the areas that will be getting the highest starting wage.

When Target first announced in 2017 it would pay $15 an hour by 2020, it was one of the first major retailers to do so. But during the pandemic, a number of rivals like Best Buy followed suit, with some surpassing Target. Costco raised its minimum hourly wages for workers from $16 to $17 last fall. Amazon’s starting wage is $15 per hour, and the e-commerce giant’s nationwide average starting wage for jobs in transportation and fulfillment is $18 an hour.

Walmart remains a laggard:

See ORDERS, page B6

Last fall, it boosted its minimum wage to $12, from the $11 hourly base it established in 2018.

Walmart also raised the hourly wages for more than 565,000 store workers by at least a dollar.

Many retailers say they’re struggling to find workers. According to a recent survey of more than 100 major retailers with annual revenues between $500 million to more than $20 billion, 96% said they’re having trouble finding store employees. The survey conducted by global consulting firm Korn Ferry in January also found that 88% said it was difficult to find distribution-center workers.

That demand for workers has steadily pushed up wages, particularly for lower-income workers. According to the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, pay among the poorest one-quarter of workers jumped 5.8% in January, compared with a year ago. That is double the gains for the highest-paid one-quarter.

In January, average pay for retail workers, excluding managers, jumped 7.1% from a year earlier to $19.24 an hour. That’s faster than pre-pandemic gains. In January 2020, pay for retail workers rose 4.2% from the previous year.

In January 2017, it rose just 1.7% from the previous year.

But inflation has eaten away at most of those increases, with consumer prices rising 7.5% in the past year, the biggest increase in four decades. Yet that spike in inflation followed a year of muted price gains. Over the past two years, according to research by the Dallas Fed, pay increases have been strong enough to offset inflation, leaving workers, on average, with slightly higher inflation-adjusted pay.

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North State Journal for Wednesday, March 2, 2022

B6

For the week ending 2/25

Total Cash & Bond Proceeds

$2,729,955,016 Add Receipts

$265,883,690 Less Disbursements

$238,404,045 Reserved Cash

$125,000,000 Unreserved Cash Balance Total

$6,256,196,251 Loan Balance:

$380.3M

ORDERS from page B5 state’s retirement funds quickly divested from any Russian assets.

“I don’t know about y’all, but I don’t want one penny of Georgians’ money going to subsidize Vladimir Putin,” Ralston said.

“While our role in international affairs is limited, we make clear we stand with those who want to live in peace.”

Some actions have been largely symbolic. The capitols in Arizona, Pennsylvania and Tennessee and the governor’s mansion in South Carolina were lit with the blue and yellow colors of Ukraine’s flag. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, a Democrat, and Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, a Republican, issued a joint statement condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as co-chairs of the presidentially appointed Council of Governors. Oklahoma’s Republican-controlled Senate passed a resolution affirming the historical ties between the state and the people of Ukraine and supporting their fight against what it described as “an illegal and violent” Russian invasion.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul signed an executive order Sunday forbidding her state from doing business with Russia. She ordered state agencies to divest money and assets from companies or institutions aiding Russia in its war against Ukraine.

The Democratic governor also said New York would welcome Ukrainian refugees, noting that New York already is home to the largest Ukrainian population in the U.S. Two prominent Republican governors, Florida’s Ron DeSantis and South Dakota’s Kristi Noem, who are widely seen as angling for a White House bid, mostly took aim at President Joe Biden rather than issuing executive orders targeting Russia. They criticized his energy policies and said that had made it difficult to slap sanctions on Russia’s exports of oil and gas.

Other governors are seeking to sever good-will relationships between their home states and those in Russia.

Republican Gov. Larry Hogan announced Monday that he’s dissolving Maryland’s decades-old sister-state relationship with Russia’s Leningrad region after the invasion of Ukraine. Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, a Republican, asked the cities of Norfolk and Roanoke to end their sister city partnerships with Russian cities. Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, a Republican, called for an end to its sister state relationship with Stavrapol Krai, Russia, and a strengthening of its sister state relationship with Cherkasy Oblast, Ukraine.

Several states have expressed a willingness to provide housing to Ukranian refugees. The Washington state House and Senate each have added amendments to their budget proposals setting aside $19 million to provide services and temporary housing to refugees who come from Ukraine.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican, posted on Twitter over the weekend that he has asked restaurants and retailers “ to voluntarily remove all Russian products from their shelves.”

NSJ staff contributed to this report.

AP PHOTO

This combination of images shows logos for companies from left, Twitter, YouTube and Facebook.

Big tech grapples with Russian state media, propaganda The Associated Press WASHINGTON, D.C. — As Russia’s war in Ukraine plays out for the world on social media, big tech platforms are moving to restrict Russian state media from using their platforms to spread propaganda and misinformation.

Google announced Tuesday that it’s blocking the YouTube channels of those outlets in Europe “effective immediately” but acknowledged “it’ll take time for our systems to fully ramp up.”

Other U.S.-owned tech companies have offered more modest changes so far: limiting the Kremlin’s reach, labeling more of this content so that people know it originated with the Russian government, and cutting Russian state organs off from whatever ad revenue they were previously making.

The changes are a careful balancing act intended to slow the Kremlin from pumping propaganda into social media feeds without angering Russian officials to the point that they yank their citizens’ access to platforms during a crucial time of war, said Katie Harbath, a former public policy director for Facebook.

“They’re trying to walk this very fine line; they’re doing this dance,” said Harbath, who now

serves as director of technology and democracy at the International Republican Institute.

“We want to stand up to Russia, but we also don’t want to get shut down in the country. How far can we push this?”

Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, announced Monday that it would restrict access to Russia’s RT and Sputnik services in Europe, following a statement

by European Union President Ursula von der Leyen over the weekend that officials are working to bar the sites throughout the EU. Google followed Tuesday with a European ban of those two outlets on YouTube.

The U.S. has not taken similar action or applied sanctions to Russian state media, leaving the American-owned tech companies to wrestle with how to blunt the Kremlin’s reach on their own.

The results have been mixed.

RT and other Russian-state media accounts are still active on Facebook in the U.S. Twitter announced Monday that after seeing more than 45,000 tweets daily from users sharing Russian state-affiliated media links in recent days, it will add labels to content from the Kremlin’s websites.

The company also said it would not recommend or direct users to Russian-affiliated websites in its

search function.

Over the weekend, the Menlo Park, California-based company announced it was banning ads from Russian state media and had removed a network of 40 fake accounts, pages and groups that published pro-Russian talking points. The network used fictitious persons posing as journalists and experts, but didn’t have much of an audience.

Facebook began labeling state-controlled media outlets in 2020.

Meanwhile, Microsoft announced it wouldn’t display content or ads from RT and Sputnik, or include RT’s apps in its app store. And Google’s YouTube restricted Russian-state media from monetizing the site through ads, although the outlets are still uploading videos every few minutes on the site.

By comparison, the hands-off approach taken by TikTok, a Chinese platform popular in the U.S. for short, funny videos, has allowed pro-Russian propaganda to flourish on its site. The company did not respond to messages seeking comment.

Facebook’s efforts to limit Russian state media’s reach have drawn ire from Russian officials.

Last week, Meta officials said they had rebuffed Russia’s request

to stop fact-checking or labeling posts made by Russian state media. Kremlin officials responded by restricting access to Facebook.

The company has also denied requests from Ukrainian officials who have asked Meta to remove access to its platforms in Russia. The move would prevent everyday Russians from using the platforms to learn about the war, voice their views or organize protests, according to Nick Clegg, recently named the company’s vice president of global affairs “We believe turning off our services would silence important expression at a crucial time,” Clegg wrote on Twitter Sunday.

Russia has spent years creating its sprawling propaganda apparatus, which boasts dozens of sites that target millions of people in different languages. That preparation is making it hard for any tech company to mount a rapid response, said Graham Shellenberger at Miburo Solutions, a firm that tracks misinformation and influence campaigns.

“This is a system that has been built over 10 years, especially when it comes to Ukraine,” Shellenberger said. “They’ve created the channels, they’ve created the messengers. And all the sudden now, we’re starting to take action against it.”

Amazon’s voice assistant Alexa to start seeking doctor help The Associated Press IF THERE IS no doctor in the house, Amazon’s Alexa will soon be able to summon one.

Amazon and telemedicine provider Teladoc Health are starting a voice-activated virtual care program that lets customers get medical help without picking up their phones.

The service, for health issues that aren’t emergencies, will be available around the clock on Amazon’s Echo devices. Customers can tell the voice assistant Alexa that they want to talk to a doctor, and that will prompt a call back on the device from a Teladoc physician.

The program, announced Monday, marks Amazon’s latest expansion into health care and another push by the retail giant into a form of care that grew rapidly during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Telehealth now is something that patients have gotten used to and may come to expect as an option for their care,” said Lori Uscher-Pines, a senior policy researcher with Rand Corp. “(Before) the pandemic, there might not have been this much awareness that this was a service that was available.”

Amazon already dispenses prescription drugs and is expanding an Amazon Care program it launched in 2019 that offers telemedicine visits with an option to send a care provider to the patient if they need an in-person visit.

The company’s latest health care expansion comes as several competitors including Walmart and the drugstore chains CVS and Walgreens also beef up their medical offerings. They are adding care clinics or virtual programs to make it easier for patients to find regular help in the fragmented U.S. health care system.

Insurers and employers that pay medical bills are pushing for this as a way to improve health and cut down on hospital stays or other big medical expenses.

“Health care is a huge industry of enormous value, and it is ripe for disruption,” said Neil Saunders,

TED S. WARREN | AP PHOTO

Dave Limp, senior vice president for Amazon devices & services, holds an Echo Dot with Clock device as he speaks Sept. 25, 2019, in Seattle. managing director of GlobalData Retail. “And Amazon views itself as a disruptor.”

Some hospitals already use Alexa as a voice assistant in patient rooms. In Great Britain, Alexa works with that country’s National Health Service to help answer medical questions with advice from the country’s official website.

The service announced Monday will be available for customers who create an Alexa voice ID. After telling the voice assistant that they need to talk to a doctor, people will be connected to a Teladoc call center and then get a call back from a physician.

The calls are audio-only for now, but the companies say they expect to add video soon. In some cases, doctors will be able to prescribe medications.

Customers can get a call back the same day, but that may depend on the availability of doctors in the state where the patient is located, Teladoc spokesman Chris Savarese said. He noted that the on-

going pandemic may lead to longer wait times.

The cost for a visit can vary depend on the patient’s coverage.

Without insurance, the calls will cost $75.

Savarese said Amazon will not be able to access, record or store the content of the ensuing call.

Amazon is moving deeper into health care as other growth engines slow. In its most recent quarter, the Seattle-based company reported that its online retail business dropped 1%.

Kate McCarthy, senior research director at research firm Gartner, sees room for Amazon to expand beyond simple doctor calls. She noted that the company’s health care segment in its cloud computing division is aimed at coming up with new services and health care products.

McCarthy said she could see Amazon eventually helping to monitor patients that go home after a hospital stay, using Alexa and sensors to check how often they

flush the toilet or open the refrigerator.

With its prescription services, Amazon hasn’t bit off meaningful share from its drugstore rivals, but McCarthy noted it could become a legitimate player.

“There isn’t one kind of magic market entrance,” she added “It will be a combination of things.”

Telemedicine in general grew rapidly when the pandemic first hit the United States and patients wanted to hunker down at home instead of visiting the doctor’s office.

Virtual visits have since leveled off a bit as office visits have widely resumed. But Uscher-Pines said research shows that patients remain interested.

Many want telemedicine available when they need its convenience, not as a replacement for in-person care.

“Most people don’t want that to cannibalize their in-person care,” she said. “They still want those options.”

North State Journal for Wednesday, March 2, 2022

B7

2021 Jaguar XF

A bit different than the rest An attractively priced luxury sedan

By Jordan Golson North State Journal SAN DIEGO — In the early days of motorsport, long before Tide and M&M graced the hoods of NASCAR rides, racing cars would be painted in national colors.

Initially, France was blue, Belgium yellow, and Germany white.

The United States was red, though Italy picked that up a few years later. That meant when Britain began racing a couple of years later, its flag colors of red, white, and blue were already assigned.

They had to come up with something else, and British Racing Green was born. Typically a deep, dark hunter green, it’s one of the all-time great automotive paint colors.

British Racing Green evokes class and excitement, likely in no small part to the existence of James Bond, but also to the legacy of stunning British rides like the Jaguar E-Type or basically any Aston Martin or the classic supercharged Bentley (which was what Bond drove in Ian Fleming’s books,

it should be noted).

And this is all relevant because my test car this week, the Jaguar XF, was also painted in British Racing Green paired with a Light Oyster interior that inferior carmakers might refer to as beige.

I wasn’t sure what to expect when I picked up my Jag at the airport one evening. I was a bit disappointed that there was no leaping Jaguar statue on the front of the car, something lost to, I suspect, the need to keep pedestrians from being impaled on a metal cat.

From the front, the XF seems a bit dull. Large air intakes under the headlamps feel out of place next to the slender daytime running lights, and the silver grille doesn’t move me at all.

The rear end isn’t much better, though I like the half-moon taillights, continuing the clever exterior lighting design that LEDs have made possible in modern road cars.

But look at the XF from the side, and it somehow comes together more naturally. The muscular creases in the hood and door pan-

els make the car seem more agile and sporty, and the 20-inch wheels with red brake calipers brought it all together nicely. Getting that British Racing Green into the sunlight makes any car look superb.

The inside is where the XF shines, which is good because you’ll spend more time staring at the inside than the out.

A gigantic, centrally-located horizontal 11.4-inch touchscreen dominates everything. Running Jaguar Land Rover’s rather excellent Pivi Pro infotainment platform that supports over-the-air updates, the giant touchscreen is responsive and gives access to audio and vehicle functions. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard (albeit not wireless). CarPlay fills the screen, meaning it looks even more like an iPad attached to the dash when you activate that feature.

Directly below the screen is the Jaguar nameplate with “Est. 1935” and “Coventry” there to remind you of Jag’s birthdate and place, lest you forget you’re in a car with some history behind it. Then you have a dedicated climate panel with knobs for adjusting the temperature and confusing-until-youfigure-it-out controls for the seat heaters: push in on the temperature knobs to adjust that, pull to change the fan speed.

The Oyster-colored seats are comfortable and smartly appointed, with soft leather and a lovely

quilted pattern. A wireless phone charger is standard, and there are large center cupholders, but interior storage is worse than you’d find in an SUV. But you didn’t buy a sedan for the storage; you bought it for fun, right?

My XF had the more powerful 296 hp, 295 lb-ft 2.0L turbocharged four-cylinder. It had plenty of pep and scored an impressive 30 mpg highway which isn’t bad for a big cruiser.

My tester, an awkwardly named Jaguar XF P300 R-Dyn SE AWD, starts at $49,995 before a whole host of add-ons drag the price kicking and screaming up to $62,695.

That’s quite affordable compared to the competition, and it has everything you need with all the option boxes checked.

Charging an extra $1,200 for adaptive cruise control is incredibly annoying, but the $1,050 headup display and $800 leather sport seats are more acceptable. Don’t check all the option boxes, and you’ll have a lovely luxury sedan for just over $50,000.

It’s also worth calling out Jaguar’s 5-year 60,000-mile bumperto-bumper warranty, including all scheduled maintenance during that time. This is much better than the 3-year 36K-mile warranties from the competition. But, if we’re honest, you aren’t buying this car for the warranty.

It’s for that gorgeous British Racing Green.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF JAGUAR

North State Journal for Wednesday, March 2, 2022

B8

features Women’s History Month | Dolley Madison – North Carolina’s First Lady Throughout the month of March the NSJ will be celebrating the remarkable contributions of North Carolina women for Women’s History Month.

By Lindsay Moore For the North State Journal IT IS WITH GREAT PRIDE that North Carolina boasts the birthright of America’s original First Lady, Dolley Madison, and for good reason. History predominantly celebrates Dolley for her courage and patriotism in safeguarding our national treasures when the British marched on our nation’s capital and burned the White House in 1814.

However, since March is Women’s History Month, it is important that we consider the character and legacy of the woman whom we revere as our original “First Lady.” Spanning nearly half a century in the political circles of our nation’s capital (1801-1849) as Mrs. Madison, Dolley wielded her femininity and position in public life setting a precedent for our young republic to be renowned for its civil discourse and bipartisan cooperation.

Born on May 20, 1768 in the Quaker community of what is now the Guilford College area of Greensboro, North Carolina, Dolley Payne was the oldest of John and Mary Payne’s nine children. While her days living on North Carolina soil were brief, many historians would argue her humble roots were not far from her thoughts as she ascended influential political spheres. U.S. Senator Elijah Mills, who served during Madison’s second term, remarked “She welcomed all classes of people, greasy boots and silk stockings alike.”

While her formative years were shaped outside of Richmond, VA and later in Philadelphia, PA, Dolley had an innate and profound

PUBLIC DOMAIN

Dolley Madison, 1804, by Gilbert Stuart. sense of confidence and authenticity which made her relatable to many.

By the time her second husband, James Madison, was appointed as the Secretary of State by President Thomas Jefferson, she was already considered a social tour de force.

Undeniably, Dolley was a public woman because of her husband’s prominent position in government, but what was truly remarkable about Dolley is that she proved to be a formidable political player in a day and age when women were completely excluded from politics.

She never voted, never held public office, refused to take credit for any political policy, but instead insisted that government first and foremost

should be “politics by people.”

Dolley was no doubt aware she possessed a considerable amount of political capital. While men wore their power in their position, public debates and monetary possessions, Dolley clothed her political capital with the most modern styles veiled in the culturally approved roles of wife and hostess. While she still existed in a world where she had no legal rights to own property or to vote and instead was at the mercy of her husband’s character, Dolley was savvy and smart and used her position to further both her own and her family’s political goals.

Serving as hostess to both the

widowed Jefferson and her husband, she quickly garnered the title of First Lady. This title originated from her role as primary hostess for the executive branch during both presidents’ administrations. She was known for her perfectly orchestrated and curated gatherings of Washington’s powerful political leaders, a bipartisan mindset that neither the Washington or Adams administration had encouraged between opposing parties. She successfully aided in the granting of political favors, encouraged a new way of ruling that supported cooperation over coercion, all the while supporting the political landmarks of the administration of both presidents. Her goal undoubtedly was to build solid bridges between opposing ideologies rather than building walls of opposing discontent. Dolley learned above all else that using conversation to find congruence between ideas rather than fighting with physical altercations and worse case duels, which had previously been the solution, was a more productive and certainly respectable way to govern.

Dolley wielded her femininity as well by the way she presented herself to Washington society. Her avant garde stylistic choices from her French turbans to European dress set the bar high for future first ladies and made her a cultural icon during her 50-year political life.

However, even more significantly she laid a foundation for the stature of the Office of President with her carefully curated decor and beautifully orchestrated social events for our nation’s newly established home in the city of Washington.

Dolley was 40 years old when her husband became the fourth U.S. president in 1809. She utilized her drawing room in the newly designed and decorated White House and later the temporary Oc-

tagon House following the aftermath of the war of 1812, for her famous gatherings. It was here where she would often be found dipping snuff with her invited guests all the while encouraging common ground and critical conversations between unlikely political members. While President Madison was very much an introvert, Dolley thrived in the role as her husband’s First Lady and was lauded for her friendliness, warm hospitality and skillful entertaining. Her popularity had a profound effect in the lasting rapport of her husband’s administration. Despite war and political unrest, former President John Adams described Madison‘s presidential legacy in 1817 as “notwithstanding a thousand faults and blunders…. has acquired more glory, and established more Union, than all three Predecessors put together.”

Having spent the president’s final years at their home of Montpelier in Virginia, the widowed Dolley returned to the nation’s capital soon after his death in 1836. Her arrival was heralded with much celebration. Washingtonians official and unofficial lined up to pay homage. The House of Representatives granted her free lifetime postal franking, a privilege of congressmen during their terms and granted only to former presidents. They also presented her with her own seat on the floor of the House, an honor unprecedented for a man, let alone a woman.

And when she died in 1849, at age eighty-one, Congress celebrated her with a state funeral, the largest one our nation’s capital had yet seen even those of former presidents.

Along with President Zachary Taylor and his cabinet, both houses of Congress adjourned to march in the procession, escorting, one last time, the woman who had come to be known as “America’s First Lady.”

CHRIS PIZZELLO | AP PHOTO

Ariana DeBose accepts the award for outstanding performance by a female actor in a supporting role for “West Side Story” at the 28th annual Screen Actors Guild Awards at the Barker Hangar on Sunday, Feb. 27, 2022, in Santa Monica, Calif.

‘CODA’ takes top honors at SAG Awards, NC native DuBose tops Cate Blanchett Raleigh’s Ariana DuBose won best supporting actress The Associated Press IN AN UPSET, the deaf family drama “CODA” took top honors at an unpredictable and history-making 28th Screen Actors Guild Awards that also saw wins for the leads of “Squid Game,” the cast of “Ted Lasso” and Will Smith.

The ceremony, held Sunday at Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, California, and broadcast on both TNT and TBS, was notably border-breaking, with historic wins for deaf actors, Korean stars and some of Hollywood’s biggest names. It culminated with “CODA,” Sian Heder’s heartwarming Apple TV+ coming-of-age film featuring a trio of deaf actors in Marlee Matlin, Troy Kotsur and Daniel Durant, along with newcomer Emilia

Jones, winning best ensemble. The film has been seen as a watershed moment for the deaf community in Hollywood.

“This validates the fact that we, deaf actors, can work just like anybody else. We look forward to more opportunities for deaf actors,” said Matlin on stage before teaching the crowd sign language for “I love you.”

Matlin is the only deaf actor to win an Oscar, but her “CODA” co-star, Kotsur, may be in line to join her. Kotsur won best supporting actor Sunday, becoming the first deaf actor win an individual SAG award. When his name was read, the 53-year-old veteran actor plunged his head into his hands.

On stage, he thanked his wife for “reminding me to check my fly before walking the red carpet.”

Netflix’s “Squid Game,” the first non-English language series nominated by the actors guild, came on strong with three awards, includ-

ing Lee Jung-jae for best male actor in a drama series and Jung Hoyeon for best female actor in a drama series. Those wins came over the likes of “Succession” stars Brian Cox and Jeremy Strong, and Reese Witherspoon and Jennifer Aniston of “The Morning Show.”

“I have sat many a times watching you on the big screen dreaming of one day becoming an actor,” Jung told the crowd, fighting back tears.

The SAG Awards are considered one of the most reliable predictors of the Academy Awards. Actors make up the largest percentage of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences, and their picks often align. In 2020, when the cast of “Parasite” and Brad Pitt won, they matched exactly.

Though the actors guild and the academy diverged last year when Aaron Sorkin’s 1960s courtroom drama “Trial of the Chicago 7” topped the SAG Awards and

“Nomadland” triumphed at the Oscars, the win for “CODA” suggests it’s a major threat to win best picture over Kenneth Branagh’s “Belfast” (which went winless Sunday) and Jane Campion’s leading Oscar nominee “The Power of the Dog” (which failed to get an ensemble nod even though three of its actors were individually nominated).

SAG’s track record may also mean Will Smith, star of the Williams family tennis drama “King Richard,” is heading for his first Oscar. Smith took best actor, scoring his first SAG award.

“That may have been one of the greatest moments of my career just now because my name was called for ‘King Richard’ sitting next to Venus Williams,” beamed Smith.

Best actress has been more difficult category to track. Many have seen Olivia Colman (“The Lost Daughter”) as the favorite to win her second Oscar. In an especially competitive category, those snubbed have often drawn the most focus. Kristen Stewart of “Spencer” was passed over by SAG, while Lady Gaga (“House of Gucci”) missed with the film academy.

Yet it was Jessica Chastain, who plays the infamous televangelist in

“The Eyes of Tammy Faye,” who won Sunday, notching her first individual SAG award. Heading into the Oscars on March 27, no category may be more uncertain.

Meanwhile, Ariana DeBose of “West Side Story” confirmed her frontrunner status with a win Sunday for best supporting performance by a female actor. DeBose’s award, too, had historic resonance.

“It’s indicative that doors are opening,” said DeBose, speaking to reports in a virtual backstage media room. “It’s an honor to be seen, it’s an honor to be an Afro-Latina a dancer, a singer, and an actor. It’s indicative to me that I will not be the last, and that’s the important part.”

The SAG Awards also coronated “The Queen” actress Helen Mirren. The five-time SAG winner was honored with a lifetime achievement award.

“Honestly, any achievement that I’ve succeed in is the result of my mantra which is basically: Be on time and don’t be ass,” said the 76-year-old Mirren. “Thank you, thank you, S-A-G so much for this. I hate to say the word ‘sag’ at my age.”

North State Journal for Wednesday, March 2, 2022

B9

Colbert gives sendoff as his producer gets ready to lead CNN The Associated Press NEW YORK — As his executive producer, Chris Licht, prepares to take over as the new chief of CNN, Stephen Colbert joked late Monday that its name will now stand for Colbert News Network.

Despite some expected ribbing, Colbert offered a heartfelt sendoff, telling Licht that “I love you.”

After a career that had been entirely in news, Licht was appointed executive producer of the “Late Show” in 2016 after a rocky first year with Colbert at the helm. He steadied the ship behind the scenes and the show jumped to the top of the ratings, propelled by the host’s biting takedowns of then-President Donald Trump.

On Monday, Discovery CEO David Zaslav announced that Licht will replace Jeff Zucker as head of CNN, likely in May. That’s when Discovery’s corporate takeover of Warner Media, CNN’s parent company, is expected to be complete.

Prior to joining Colbert, Licht had been executive producer of the “CBS This Morning” news show and, before that, helped develop and produced “Morning Joe” with Joe Scarborough at MSNBC. “Six years ago when I met Chris over drinks, he seemed right for the job,” Colbert said on his show, “but, this is true, I wasn’t sure if I would like him.”

Colbert said he and the “Late Show” crew were show biz types, and “Chris is not.”

But he said Licht approached the job with humility and showed the difference between being a boss and a leader.

“I didn’t know whether I’d like him, but six years later I love you,” he said, addressing Licht, who stood just offstage. “I love you not for what you did for us, because that will continue. I love you for the man you are, the doting, thoughtful and loving father and husband to your family and the dear friend to me for the rest of my life.”

Licht will face some immediate challenges at CNN, among them taking over a managerial role at a level far above what he’s done before. He’ll lead a team rocked by the messy departure of Zucker, with a hole that needs to be filled in its prime-time lineup following the firing of Chris Cuomo, and the

CHRIS PIZZELLO | AP PHOTO

Stephen Colbert, left, and Chris Licht, winners of the award for outstanding variety special (live) for “Stephen Colbert’s Election Night 2020: Democracy’s Last Stand Building Back America Great Again Better 2020” attend the 73rd Primetime Emmy Awards on Sept. 19, 2021, in Los Angeles. launch of the CNN+ streaming service.

Licht wasn’t made available for interviews on Monday, but wrote in a memo to CNN employees that he was “a journalist at heart. While I have enjoyed every minute at the ‘Late Show,’ I am joining CNN because I feel a genuine pull to return to news at such a critical moment in history.”

News of Licht’s selection had spread widely over the weekend before Discovery’s confirmation on Monday.

“I think he’s a perfect fit over there,” Scarborough told The Associated Press in an interview on Monday. “He’s a great combination

of a producer who has vision and a no-nonsense guy who gets things done.”

Scarborough also said that Licht is the right person to reemphasize news over opinion at CNN. That’s been a potential change in direction that has been talked about but not explicitly stated as a goal. The idea gained traction when influential cable executive John Malone, a top stockholder in Discovery, said in an interview in November that he would “like to see CNN evolve back to the kind of journalism in started with.”

CNN anchors have been more freely stating opinions on the air, particularly since the onset of the

Trump administration. Opinionated talk is a big part of the business model at Fox News Channel and MSNBC. When Licht was running “Morning Joe,” Scarborough said that while the host and some guests brought on to offer their opinions did so, Licht did not want that from reporters.

“He’s a straight shooter,” he said.

“I couldn’t tell you whether Willie Geist and Chris are Republican or Democrat — and they’re both good friends that I worked with for 15 years, with Chris 17 years.”

Zucker was forced out earlier this month, after admitting that he had violated corporate rules by not

revealing his romantic relationship with a CNN marketing executive, Allison Gollust. Gollust later exited the company, too.

Licht said in the memo he knew that CNN staff wanted to know how the network will change.

“The honest answer is that I don’t know yet,” he said. “David Zaslav has given me one simple directive: To ensure that CNN remains the global leader in NEWS.” Licht’s wife, Jenny, worked for 10 years at CNN in several roles, including as a supervisory producer for Anderson Cooper’s show.

Licht, praised by Zaslav as a “survivor,” wrote a book about recovering from a brain hemorrhage in 2010.

sales, at 12:00 PM on March 14, 2022 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in Kannapolis in the County of Cabarrus, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: Lying and being in the City of Kannapolis, No. 4 Township, Cabarrus County, North Carolina and being part of Lot No. 2 and all of Lots Nos. 3 through 7, inclusive, in Block “E” of Shadybrook, a plat of which is on file in the Office of the Register of Deeds in Map Book 5 at Page 57. The following description being taken from a physical survey of the property dated August 25, 1989 by Mel G. Thompson, R.L.S.

Kannapolis, North Carolina.

Should the property be purchased by a third party, that party must pay the excise tax, as well as the court costs of Forty-Five Cents ($0.45) per One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) required by N.C.G.S. §7A-308(a)(1).

The property to be offered pursuant to this notice of sale is being offered for sale, transfer and conveyance “AS IS, WHERE IS.” Neither the Trustee nor the holder of the note secured by the deed of trust/security agreement, or both, being foreclosed, nor the officers, directors, attorneys, employees, agents or authorized representative of either the Trustee or the holder of the note make any representation or warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at or relating to the property being offered for sale, and any and all responsibilities or liabilities arising out

of or in any way relating to any such condition are expressly disclaimed. Also, this property is being sold subject to all taxes, special assessments, and prior liens or prior encumbrances of record and any recorded releases. Said property is also being sold subject to applicable Federal and State laws.

A deposit of five percent (5%) of the purchase price, or seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, is required and must be tendered in the form of certified funds at the time of the sale.

If the trustee is unable to convey title to this property for any reason, the sole remedy of the purchaser is the return of the deposit. Reasons of such inability to convey include, but are not limited to, the filing of a bankruptcy petition prior to the confirmation of the sale and reinstatement of the loan without the knowledge of the trustee. If the validity of the sale is challenged by any party, the trustee, in its sole discretion, if it believes the challenge to have merit, may request the court to declare the sale to be void and return the deposit. The purchaser will have no further remedy.

Additional Notice for Residential Property with Less than 15 rental units, including Single-Family Residential Real Property An order for possession of the property may be issued pursuant to N.C.G.S. § 45-21.29 in favor of the purchaser and against the party or parties in possession by the clerk

of superior court of the county in which the property is sold.

Any person who occupies the property pursuant to a rental agreement entered into or renewed on or after October 1, 2007, may after receiving the notice of foreclosure sale, terminate the rental agreement by providing written notice of termination to the landlord, to be effective on a date stated in the notice that is at least 10 days but not more than 90 days, after the sale date contained in this notice of sale, provided that the mortgagor has not cured the default at the time the tenant provides the notice of termination. Upon termination of a rental agreement, the tenant is liable for rent due under the rental agreement prorated to the effective date of the termination.

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

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

TAKE NOTICE

CABBARUS NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 22 SP 8 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Sarah Edwards and Bryan Allen Edwards (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Sarah Edwards and Bryan Allen Edwards) to Atty. William Walt Pettit, Trustee(s), dated June 7, 2006, and recorded in Book No. 6798, at Page 100 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

CUMBERLAND AMENDED NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 19 SP 76 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Sharon Bradley and Nelson Soto (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): SharonBradleyandNelsonSoto)toDonaldStephenBunce, Attorney at Law, Trustee(s), dated September 18, 2015, and recorded in Book No. 09725, at Page 0224 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

NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 19 SP 971 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Andre E. Jones and Tanya Jones (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Andre Earl Jones and Tanya R. Jones) to Netco, Inc., Trustee(s), dated May 25, 2016, and recorded in Book No. 09873, at Page 0009 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 March 14, 2022 and will sell to the

21 SP 514 NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE NORTH CAROLINA, CUMBERLAND COUNTY Under and by virtue of a Power of Sale contained in that certain Deed of Trust executed by Denis MacDonald Goodridge to Netco, Inc., Trustee(s), which was dated June 27, 2012 and recorded on July 3, 2012 in Book 08938 at Page 0591, 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 March 9, 2022 at 01:30 PM, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following described property situated in Cumberland County, North Carolina,

Beginning at a new iron in the northern edge of Ashwood Avenue, the northwestern corner of Lot No. 15 in Block “E” of Shady Brook (see Map Book 5 at Page 57) and runs thence N. 78-30-00 W. 150 feet with the northern edge of Ashwood Avenue to a new iron; thence a new iron through Lot No. 2, North 11-30-00 E. 150 ft. to an iron stake, a new corner in the rear of Lot No. 9; thence S. 78-30-00 E. 150 feet with the southern line of Lots Nos. 9 through 14, inclusive to an iron stake, common corner of Lots Nos. 7, 14, 21 and 20; thence S. 11-30-00 W. 150 feet with the western line of Lots Nos. 15 through 20, inclusive to the point of beginning. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 802 Ashwood Street,

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 March 14, 2022 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 224 in a subdivision known as Scotts Mill South At Treyburn, Section Three, Part A, according to a plat of the same recorded in Plat Book 118, Page 80 Cumberland County Registry. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 2141 Yellowbrick Road, Fayetteville, 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

highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in Fayetteville in the County of Cumberland, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: Being all of Lot No. 170, in a Subdivision known as Glen Reilly, Section 5, according to a Plat of same duly recorded in Book of Plats 60, Page 111, Cumberland County Registry, North Carolina. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 6888 Winchester Street, Fayetteville, 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,

to wit: BEING all of Lot Number Eighteen (18) of Hilltop Subdivision as shown on plat of the same recorded in Book of Plats 22, page 57, in the Office of the Register of Deeds, Cumberland County, North Carolina.

Being the same property or a portion of the same property conveyed to Denis McDonald Goodridge by Instrument dated May 09, 1978 from Max Cleland, Administrator of Veteran’s Affairs filed on May 11, 1978 in Book 2653 at Page 802 in the Cumberland County records.

Also being the same property or part of the same property acquired by an instrument dated October 07, 2010 and recorded on November 17, 2010 as (instrument) 37453 (book) 08523, (page) 0583 of the Official Records of Cumberland County, North Carolina from Denis McDonald Goodridge, a single man aka Denis MacDonald Goodridge, grantor, to Denis MacDonald Goodridge, a single man, grantee.

Commonly Drive,

known Fayetteville,

as:

2127 NC

Dillon 28306

For back title reference, see Deed Book 164, Page 127, Deed Book 166, Page 10 and Deed Book 168, Page 92, Cabarrus County Registry.

Parcel # 5613234258 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.

Parcel Number: 0426-22-2453 Save and except any releases, deeds of release or prior conveyances of record.

Said property is commonly known as 2127 Dillon DR, 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. 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 Denis MacDonald Goodridge.

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.

SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE SERVICES, INC. SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE c/o Hutchens Law Firm P.O. Box 1028 4317 Ramsey Street Fayetteville, North Carolina 28311 Phone No: (910) 864-3068 https://sales.hutchenslawfirm.com Firm Case No: 2565 - 5928

on or after October 1, 2007, may after receiving the notice of foreclosure sale, terminate the rental agreement by providing written notice of termination to the landlord, to be effective on a date stated in the notice that is at least 10 days but not more than 90 days, after the sale date contained in this notice of sale, provided that the mortgagor has not cured the default at the time the tenant provides the notice of termination. Upon termination of a rental agreement, the tenant is liable for rent due under the rental agreement prorated to the effective date of the termination.

SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE SERVICES, INC. SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE c/o Hutchens Law Firm P.O. Box 1028 4317 Ramsey Street Fayetteville, North Carolina 28311 Phone No: (910) 864-3068 https://sales.hutchenslawfirm.com Firm Case No: 1252669 - 10722

prorated to the effective date of the termination.

SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE SERVICES, INC. SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE c/o Hutchens Law Firm P.O. Box 1028 4317 Ramsey Street Fayetteville, North Carolina 28311 Phone No: (910) 864-3068 https://sales.hutchenslawfirm.com Firm Case No: 1275701 - 10301

If the trustee is unable to convey title to this property for any reason, the sole remedy of the purchaser is the return of the deposit. Reasons of such inability to convey include, but are not limited to, the filing of a bankruptcy petition prior to the confirmation of the sale and reinstatement of the loan without the knowledge of the trustee. If the validity of the sale is challenged by any party, the trustee, in their sole discretion, if they believe the challenge to have merit, may request the court to declare the sale to be void and return the deposit. The purchaser will have no further remedy.

Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC Substitute Trustee Brock & Scott, PLLC Attorneys for Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC 5431 Oleander Drive Suite 200 Wilmington, NC 28403 PHONE: (910) 392-4988 FAX: (910) 392-8587 File No.: 19-18999-FC01

North State Journal for Wednesday, March 2, 2022

B10 TAKE NOTICE

CUMBERLAND PUBLICATION DATES: February 23, 2022 and March 2, 2022 File No.: 21 CVS 6940 AMENDED NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE Under and by virtue of the power and authority contained in a judgment bearing the caption “Freedom Mortgage Corporation vs. Joseph Allen Smaw,

IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE OF NORTH CAROLINA SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION CUMBERLAND COUNTY 21SP589 IN THE MATTER OF THE FORECLOSURE OF A DEED OF TRUST EXECUTED BY MICHAEL B. WILLIAMS AND PAULA P. WILLIAMS DATED SEPTEMBER 22, 1986 AND RECORDED IN BOOK 3208 AT PAGE 776 AND MODIFIED

BY AGREEMENT RECORDED DECEMBER 20, 2013 IN BOOK 9350, PAGE 720 AND MODIFIED BY AGREEMENT RECORDED FEBRUARY 23, 2015 IN BOOK 9598, PAGE 306 IN THE CUMBERLAND COUNTY PUBLIC REGISTRY, NORTH CAROLINA *102.11-013769.FC05.202* 11-013769 IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE OF NORTH CAROLINA

IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE OF NORTH CAROLINA SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION CUMBERLAND COUNTY 20SP216 IN THE MATTER OF THE FORECLOSURE OF A DEED OF TRUST EXECUTED BY CHRISTOPHER D. FOSTER DATED JULY 31, 2013 AND RECORDED IN BOOK 9260 AT PAGE 530 IN THE CUMBERLAND COUNTY PUBLIC REGISTRY, NORTH CAROLINA *102.19-108653.FC01.202* 19-108653 IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE OF NORTH CAROLINA SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION CUMBERLAND COUNTY 20SP216 IN THE MATTER OF THE FORECLOSURE OF A DEED OF

IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE OF NORTH CAROLINA SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION CUMBERLAND COUNTY 19SP592 IN THE MATTER OF THE FORECLOSURE OF A DEED OF TRUST EXECUTED BY KEVIN C. SOMSAVAENGRANDQUIST AND CHANPHAENG SOMSAVAENGRANDQUIST DATED JANUARY 27, 2012 AND RECORDED IN BOOK 8819 AT PAGE 138 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 the payment of the secured indebtedness and failure to perform the stipulation and agreements therein contained

IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE OF NORTH CAROLINA SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION CUMBERLAND COUNTY 22sp13 IN THE MATTER OF THE FORECLOSURE OF A DEED OF TRUST EXECUTED BY AARON G GARCIA DATED MARCH 7, 2012 AND RECORDED IN BOOK 8873 AT PAGE 336 AND MODIFIED BY AGREEMENT RECORDED FEBRUARY 13, 2018 IN BOOK 10251, PAGE 386 IN THE CUMBERLAND COUNTY PUBLIC REGISTRY, NORTH CAROLINA *102.21-112364.FC01.202* 21-112364 IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE OF NORTH CAROLINA SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION CUMBERLAND COUNTY 22sp13

NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 20 SP 211 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Troy D. Lewis and Cathleen M. Lewis (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Troy D. Lewis and Cathleen M. Lewis) to McGeachy, Hudson & Zuravel, Trustee(s), dated March 17, 2011, and recorded in Book No. 8609, at Page 198 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 March 14, 2022 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate

15 SP 789 AMENDED NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE NORTH CAROLINA, CUMBERLAND COUNTY Under and by virtue of a Power of Sale contained in that certain Deed of Trust executed by Brian Scott Remson and April A. Remson to The Law Offices of Daniel A. Fulco, PLLC, Trustee(s), which was dated June 15, 2006 and recorded on June 27, 2006 in Book 7281 at Page 461, 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

21 SP 514 NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE

Jr., Tahna Shere Stephens aka Tahna Shere Smaw, Castle Credit Co. Holdings, LLC, and Substitute Trustee Services, Inc., Substitute Trustee, 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 Fayetteville, Cumberland County, North Carolina at 12:00 p.m. on Monday, the 7th day of March, 2022 at the courthouse door, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situate in the County of Cumberland North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: BEING all of lot number 50 in a subdivision known as ARRAN HILLS, SECTION 14, PART 3 and the same being duly recorded in Book of Plats 52, at page 3, Cumberland County Registry, North Carolina.

Property Address – 6423 Dunham Drive, Fayetteville, North Carolina 28304 Parcel Identification No.: 0406-16-4098 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 payable from the purchaser at the sale. The sale will not convey any personal property which may be located on the real property and the Commissioner makes no warranties or representations as to whether improvements to the real property are personal in nature.

A cash deposit (no personal check), or

note secured by the deed of trust being foreclosed, nor the officers, directors, attorneys, employees, agents or authorized representative of either the Trustee or the holder of the note make any representation or warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at or relating to the property offered for sale. Any and all responsibilities or liabilities arising out of or in any way relating to any such condition expressly are disclaimed. This sale is subject to all prior liens and encumbrances and unpaid taxes and assessments including any transfer tax associated with the foreclosure.

A deposit of five percent (5%) of the amount of the bid or seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, is required from the highest bidder and must be tendered in the form of certified funds at the time of the sale. This sale will be held open ten days for upset bids as required by law. After the expiration of the upset period, all remaining amounts are IMMEDIATELY DUE AND OWING. Failure to remit funds in a timely manner will result in a Declaration of Default and any deposit will be frozen pending the outcome of any re-sale. If the sale is set aside for any reason, the Purchaser at the sale shall be entitled only to a return of the

deposit paid. The Purchaser shall have no further recourse against the Mortgagor, the Mortgagee, the Substitute Trustee or the attorney of any of the foregoing.

TRUST EXECUTED BY CHRISTOPHER D. FOSTER DATED JULY 31, 2013 AND RECORDED IN BOOK 9260 AT PAGE 530 IN THE CUMBERLAND COUNTY PUBLIC REGISTRY, NORTH CAROLINA NOTICE OF SALE Under and by virtue of the power and authority contained in the above-referenced deed of trust and because of default in payment of the secured debt and failure to perform the agreements contained therein and, pursuant to demand of the holder of the secured debt, the undersigned will expose for sale at public auction at the usual place of sale at the Cumberland County courthouse at 10:00AM on March 14, 2022, 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 Christopher D. Foster, dated July 31, 2013 to secure the original principal amount of $255,290.00, and recorded in Book 9260 at Page 530 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: 2 1 1 8 Winterlochen Rd, Fayetteville, NC 28305 Tax Parcel ID: 0 4 2 7- 5 28827 Present Record Owners: Christopher D. Foster The record owner(s) of the property, according to the records of the Register of Deeds, is/are Christopher D. Foster.

The property to be offered pursuant to this notice of sale is being offered for sale, transfer and conveyance AS IS, WHERE IS. Neither the Trustee nor the holder of the note secured by the deed of trust being foreclosed, nor the officers, directors, attorneys, employees, agents or authorized representative of either the Trustee or the holder of the note make any representation or warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at or relating to the property

offered for sale. Any and all responsibilities or liabilities arising out of or in any way relating to any such condition expressly are disclaimed. This sale is subject to all prior liens and encumbrances and unpaid taxes and assessments including any transfer tax associated with the foreclosure.

A deposit of five percent (5%) of the amount of the bid or seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, is required from the highest bidder and must be tendered in the form of certified funds at the time of the sale. This sale will be held open ten days for upset bids as required by law. After the expiration of the upset period, all remaining amounts are IMMEDIATELY DUE AND OWING. Failure to remit funds in a timely manner will result in a Declaration of Default and any deposit will be frozen pending the outcome of any re-sale. If the sale is set aside for any reason, the Purchaser at the sale shall be entitled only to a return of the deposit paid. The Purchaser shall have no further recourse against the Mortgagor, the Mortgagee, the Substitute Trustee or the attorney of any of the foregoing.

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 February 22, 2022.

Attorney for the Substitute Trustee 10130 Perimeter Parkway, Suite 400 Charlotte, NC 28216 (704) 333-8107 1 9-108653

and, pursuant to demand of the owner and holder of the secured debt, the undersigned substitute trustee will expose for sale at public auction to the highest bidder for cash at the usual place of sale at the county courthouse of said county at 10:30AM on March 7, 2022 the following described real estate and any other improvements which may be situated thereon, in Cumberland County, North Carolina, and being more particularly described in that certain Deed of Trust executed Kevin C. SomsavaengRandquist and Chanphaeng Somsavaeng-Randquist, dated January 27, 2012 to secure the original principal amount of $130,241.00, and recorded in Book 8819 at Page 138 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.

4833 Kevin Present Record Owners: C. Somsavaeng-Randquist and Chanphaeng SomsavaengRandquist And Being more commonly known as: 2542 Silverbell Loop, Fayetteville, NC 28304 The record owner(s) of the property, as reflected on the records of the Register of Deeds, is/are Kevin C. Somsavaeng-Randquist and Chanphaeng SomsavaengRandquist.

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 February 22, 2022.

Attorney for the Substitute Trustee 10130 Perimeter Parkway, Suite 400 Charlotte, NC 28216 (704) 333-8107 11-013769

SPECIAL NOTICE FOR LEASEHOLD TENANTS residing

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 made subject to all prior liens and encumbrances, and unpaid taxes and assessments including but not limited to 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 and must be tendered in the form of certified funds at the time of the sale. This sale will be held open ten days for upset bids as required by law. Following the expiration of the statutory upset period, all remaining amounts are IMMEDIATELY DUE AND OWING. Failure to remit funds in a timely manner will result in a Declaration of Default and any deposit will be frozen pending the outcome of any re-sale. If the sale is set aside for any reason, the Purchaser at the sale shall be entitled only to a return of the deposit paid. The Purchaser shall have no further recourse against the Mortgagor, the Mortgagee, the Substitute Trustee or the attorney of any of the foregoing.

a tenant residing in 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 written notice 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 notice of termination is provided. You may be liable for rent due under the agreement prorated to the effective date of the termination.

The date of this Notice is January 12, 2022.

0405-66-

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 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

IN THE MATTER OF THE FORECLOSURE OF A DEED OF TRUST EXECUTED BY AARON G GARCIA DATED MARCH 7, 2012 AND RECORDED IN BOOK 8873 AT PAGE 336 AND MODIFIED BY AGREEMENT RECORDED FEBRUARY 13, 2018 IN BOOK 10251, PAGE 386 IN THE CUMBERLAND COUNTY PUBLIC REGISTRY, NORTH CAROLINA NOTICE OF SALE Under and by virtue of the power and authority contained in the above-referenced deed of trust and because of default in payment of the secured debt and failure to perform the agreements contained therein and, pursuant to demand of the holder of the secured debt, the undersigned will expose for sale at public auction at the usual place of sale at the Cumberland County courthouse at 10:30AM on March 14, 2022, 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 Aaron G Garcia, dated March 7, 2012 to secure the original principal amount of $89,447.00, and recorded in Book 8873 at Page 336 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: 5 9 2 Waterdown Dr Unit 5, Fayetteville, NC 28314 Tax Parcel ID: 0 4 0 8 -7 3 4603.205 Present Record Owners: G. Aaron Garcia The record owner(s) of the property, according to the records of the Register of Deeds, is/are Aaron G. Garcia.

The property to be offered pursuant to this notice of sale is being offered for sale, transfer and conveyance AS IS, WHERE IS. Neither the Trustee nor the holder of the note secured by the deed of trust being foreclosed, nor the officers, directors, attorneys, employees, agents or authorized representative of either the Trustee or the holder of the note make any representation or warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety

conditions existing in, on, at or relating to the property offered for sale. Any and all responsibilities or liabilities arising out of or in any way relating to any such condition expressly are disclaimed. This sale is subject to all prior liens and encumbrances and unpaid taxes and assessments including any transfer tax associated with the foreclosure.

A deposit of five percent (5%) of the amount of the bid or seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, is required from the highest bidder and must be tendered in the form of certified funds at the time of the sale. This sale will be held open ten days for upset bids as required by law. After the expiration of the upset period, all remaining amounts are IMMEDIATELY DUE AND OWING. Failure to remit funds in a timely manner will result in a Declaration of Default and any deposit will be frozen pending the outcome of any re-sale. If the sale is set aside for any reason, the Purchaser at the sale shall be entitled only to a return of the deposit paid. The Purchaser shall have no further recourse against the Mortgagor, the Mortgagee, the Substitute Trustee or the attorney of any of the foregoing.

SPECIAL NOTICE FOR LEASEHOLD TENANTS residing at the property: be advised that an Order for Possession of the property may be issued in favor of the purchaser. Also, if your lease began or was renewed on or after October 1, 2007, be advised that you may terminate the rental agreement upon 10 days written notice to the landlord. You may be liable for rent due under the agreement prorated to the effective date of the termination.

The date of this Notice is February 22, 2022.

Attorney for the Substitute Trustee 10130 Perimeter Parkway, Suite 400 Charlotte, NC 28216 (704) 333-8107 21-112364

situated in Fayetteville in the County of Cumberland, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: BEING all of Lot 6, in a subdivision known as Brookshire, Section One, Part One, and the same being duly recorded in Book of Plat 113, Page 116, Cumberland County Registry, North Carolina. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 2421 Gray Goose Loop, Fayetteville, North Carolina.

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 Hutchens Law Firm P.O. Box 1028 4317 Ramsey Street Fayetteville, North Carolina 28311 Phone No: (910) 864-3068 https://sales.hutchenslawfirm.com Firm Case No: 2314 - 5206

EXCISE TAX AND THE RECORDING COSTS FOR THEIR DEED.

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.

Address of property: Silverbell Loop, Fayetteville, NC 28304 Tax Parcel ID:

2

5

4

2

PIN #: 0415-75-9299 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,

conducting the sale on March 9, 2022 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:

Said property is commonly known as 4958 Pinewood Drive, Hope Mills, NC 28348.

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, 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 Brian Scott Remson and wife, April A. Remson.

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

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,

Being all of Lot 23 in a Subdivision known as Pinewood Lakes Sub-Div., Section I and the same being duly recorded in Book of Plats 27, Page 49, Cumberland County Registry, North Carolina.

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

Parcel Number: 0426-22-2453

Under and by virtue of a Power of Sale contained in that certain Deed of Trust executed by Denis MacDonald Goodridge to Netco, Inc., Trustee(s), which was dated June 27, 2012 and recorded on July 3, 2012 in Book 08938 at Page 0591, Cumberland County Registry, North Carolina.

Being the same property or a portion of the same property conveyed to Denis McDonald Goodridge by Instrument dated May 09, 1978 from Max Cleland, Administrator of Veteran’s Affairs filed on May 11, 1978 in Book 2653 at Page 802 in the Cumberland County records.

Defaulthavingbeenmadeofthenotetherebysecuredbythe 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 March 9, 2022 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:

Also being the same property or part of the same property acquired by an instrument dated October 07, 2010 and recorded on November 17, 2010 as (instrument) 37453 (book) 08523, (page) 0583 of the Official Records of Cumberland County, North Carolina from Denis McDonald Goodridge, a single man aka Denis MacDonald Goodridge, grantor, to Denis MacDonald Goodridge, a single man, grantee.

20 SP 45 AMENDED NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE

property is located, or the usual and customary location at the county courthouse for conducting the sale on March 9, 2022 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:

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.

BEING ALL OF LOTS 136 & 137 IN THE NANA BROADFOOT SUBDIVISION, ACCORDING TO A PLAT OF THE SAME DULY RECORDED IN BOOK OF PLATS 9, PAGE 57, CUMBERLAND COUNTY REGISTRY, NORTH CAROLINA.

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, 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 Horatio S. Fox and wife, Mary Ann Fox.

Defaulthavingbeenmadeofthenotetherebysecuredbythe 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

THIS IS A COMMUNICATION FROM A DEBT COLLECTOR. THE PURPOSE OF THIS COMMUNICATION IS TO

North Carolina, and being more particularly described in that certain Deed of Trust executed Michael B. Williams and Paula P. Williams, dated September 22, 1986 to secure the original principal amount of $51,100.00, and recorded in Book 3208 at Page 776 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: 4 1 0 6 Glenridge Rd, Fayetteville, NC 28304 0 416 - 62Tax Parcel ID: 4022Present Record Owners: The Heirs of Jason Peoples The record owner(s) of the property, according to the records of the Register of Deeds, is/are The Heirs of Jason Peoples.

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

NORTH CAROLINA, CUMBERLAND COUNTY

Under and by virtue of a Power of Sale contained in that certain Deed of Trust executed by Horatio S. Fox and Mary Ann Fox to Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC, Trustee(s), which was dated August 29, 2005 and recorded on September 2, 2005 in Book 6996 at Page 0851, Cumberland County Registry, North Carolina.

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.

SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION CUMBERLAND COUNTY 21SP589 IN THE MATTER OF THE FORECLOSURE OF A DEED OF TRUST EXECUTED BY MICHAEL B. WILLIAMS AND PAULA P. WILLIAMS DATED SEPTEMBER 22, 1986 AND RECORDED IN BOOK 3208 AT PAGE 776 AND MODIFIED

BY AGREEMENT RECORDED DECEMBER 20, 2013 IN BOOK 9350, PAGE 720 AND MODIFIED BY AGREEMENT RECORDED FEBRUARY 23, 2015 IN BOOK 9598, PAGE 306 IN THE CUMBERLAND COUNTY PUBLIC REGISTRY, NORTH CAROLINA NOTICE OF SALE Under and by virtue of the power and authority contained in the above-referenced deed of trust and because of default in payment of the secured debt and failure to perform the agreements contained therein and, pursuant to demand of the holder of the secured debt, the undersigned will expose for sale at public auction at the usual place of sale at the Cumberland County courthouse at 10:30AM on March 14, 2022, the following described real estate and any improvements situated thereon, in Cumberland County,

BEING all of Lot Number Eighteen (18) of Hilltop Subdivision as shown on plat of the same recorded in Book of Plats 22, page 57, in the Office of the Register of Deeds, Cumberland County, North Carolina.

NORTH CAROLINA, CUMBERLAND COUNTY

certified check in the amount of ten percent (10%) 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 9th day of February, 2022.

Susan R. Benoit, Commissioner

Post Office Box 2505, Fayetteville, NC 28302

(910) 8646888

Commonly Drive,

known Fayetteville,

as:

2127 NC

Dillon 28306

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

Said property is commonly known as 306 North Churchill Drive, Fayetteville, NC 28303.

A certified check only (no personal checks) of five percent (5%) of the purchase price, or Seven Hundred Fifty Dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, will be required at the time

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

Said property is commonly known as 2127 Dillon DR, 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. This sale is made subject to all prior liens, unpaid taxes, any unpaid land transfer taxes,

An Order for possession of the property may be issued

LLG Trustee LLC Substitute Trustee 10130 Perimeter Charlotte, NC 28216 (704) 333-8107 18-103291

Parkway,

Suite

400

SPECIAL NOTICE FOR LEASEHOLD TENANTS: If you are

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 FAX: (910) 392-8587

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.

File No.: 15-09591-FC01

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 Denis MacDonald Goodridge.

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.

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.

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 FAX: (910) 392-8587 File No.: 19-18999-FC01

If the trustee is unable to convey title to this property for

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.

If the trustee is unable to convey title to this property for any reason, the sole remedy of the purchaser is the return of the deposit. Reasons of such inability to convey include, but are not limited to, the filing of a bankruptcy petition prior

to the confirmation of the sale and reinstatement of the loan without the knowledge of the trustee. If the validity of the sale is challenged by any party, the trustee, in their sole discretion, if they believe the challenge to have merit, may request the court to declare the sale to be void and return the deposit. The purchaser will have no further remedy.

Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC Substitute Trustee Brock & Scott, PLLC Attorneys for Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC 5431 Oleander Drive Suite 200 Wilmington, NC 28403 PHONE: (910) 392-4988 FAX: (910) 392-8587 File No.: 19-21538-FC01

North State Journal for Wednesday, March 2, 2022

B11

TAKE NOTICE

DAVIDSON AMENDED NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 20 SP 95 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Donald G. Jones and Janet K. Jones (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Donald G. Jones and Janet K. Jones) to Richard M. Pearman, Jr., Trustee(s), dated October 8, 2008, and recorded in Book No. 1888, at Page 1611 in Davidson County Registry, North Carolina, default having been made in the payment of the promissory note secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Substitute Trustee Services, Inc. having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust by an instrument duly recorded in the Office of the Register of Deeds Davidson County, North Carolina and the holder of the note evidencing said indebtedness having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the courthouse door in Lexington, Davidson County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for

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.

Together with improvements located hereon; said property being located at 1005 Douglas Court, Selma, NC 27576.

Tax ID: 14-0-61-006 Third party purchasers must pay the excise tax, pursuant North Carolina General Statutes §105-228.30, in the amount of One Dollar ($1.00) per each Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) or fractional part thereof, and the Clerk of Courts fee, pursuant to North Carolina General Statutes §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 owners of the property are Melinda T. Garcia and Marco Garcia.

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE: An order for possession of the property may be issued pursuant to North Carolina General Statutes §45-21.29 in favor of the purchaser and against the party or parties in possession by the Clerk of Superior Court of the county in which the property is sold.

Any person who occupies the property pursuant to a rental agreement entered into or renewed on or after October 1, 2007, may, after receiving the notice of sale, terminate the rental agreement by providing written notice of termination

to the landlord, to be effective on a date stated in the notice that is at least 10 days, but no more than 90 days, after the sale date contained in the notice of sale, provided that the mortgagor has not cured the default at the time the tenant provides the notice of termination (North Carolina General Statutes §45-21.16A(b)(2)). Upon termination of a rental agreement, the tenant is liable for rent due under the rental agreement prorated to the effective date of termination. If the Trustee is unable to convey title to this property for any reason, the sole remedy of the purchaser is the return of the deposit. Reasons of such inability to convey include, but are not limited to, the filing of a bankruptcy petition prior to the confirmation of the sale and reinstatement of the loan without the knowledge of the trustee. If the validity of the sale is challenged by any party, the Substitute Trustee, in their sole discretion, if they believe the challenge to have merit, may request the court to declare the sale to be void and return the deposit. The purchaser will have no further remedy.

STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA RANDOLPH COUNTY IN THE SUPERIOR COURT

been filed in the above-entitled Complaint. The nature of the relief being sought is as follows:

accident on November 6, 2019.

Heglar v. Gardner; 21 CVS 1780 To Alexandra Gardner:

Plaintiff is seeking compensatory damages that resulted from property damage to a vehicle and all other consequential damages resulting from a motor vehicle

You are required to make defense to such pleading not later than April 4, 2022, and upon your failure to do so the party seeking service against you will apply to the court for the relief sought.

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

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,

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.

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.

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 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

File No.: 18-19832-FC01

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

Deeds of 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 or other usual place of sale in Johnston County, North Carolina, at 10:00AM on March 15, 2022, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following described property, to wit:

JOHNSTON NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE NORTH CAROLINA, JOHNSTON COUNTY 22 SP 5 Under and by virtue of a Power of Sale contained in that certain Deed of Trust executed by Melinda T. Garcia and Marco Garcia, in the original amount of $72,610.00, payable to Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc., as nominee for Primary Residential Mortgage, Inc., dated December 9, 2010 and recorded on December 9, 2010 in Book 3927, Page 770, modified by Loan Modification recorded on April 7, 2014 in Book 4432, Page 230, Johnston County Registry.

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

RANDOLPH NOTICE OF SERVICE OF PROCESS BY PUBLICATION

Being all of Lot 6 in Edgebrook Estates, Phase 2 as shown on plat recorded in Plat Book 22, Page 5, Johnston County Registry.

Take notice that a pleading seeking relief against you has

UNION NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 18 SP 545 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Seth A. Coltrain and Dina Harris (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Seth A. Coltrain and Dina Harris) to Costner Law Office, Trustee(s), dated April 6, 2016, and recorded in Book No. 6649, at Page 35 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

NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 21 SP 487 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Kevin Blanchard and Andrea N. Blanchard f/k/a Andrea N. Mullis (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Kevin Blanchard) to Paul H. Swan, Trustee(s), dated August 4, 2006, and recorded in Book No. 04280, at Page 0614 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 March 17, 2022 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in Monroe in the County of Union, North

15 SP 0866 AMENDED 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 Jerry Warren and Stacey L. Ravert a/k/a Stacy L. Ravert to McMillan & Terry P. A. and Jill Obermeier, Trustee(s), which was dated October 11, 2012 and recorded on October 11, 2012 in Book 05845 at Page 0409, 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

WAKE NOTICE TO CREDITORS

NORTH CAROLINA IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION WAKE COUNTY 21 CVS 10266 NOTICE OF PUBLICATION COMPLAINT TO QUIET TITLE

foreclosure sales, at 11:30 AM on March 16, 2022 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in Thomasville in the County of Davidson, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: Being all of Lot 3 as shown on map titled “Final Plat Southgrove” which is recorded in Plat Book 21, Page 55 in the Office of the Register of Deeds for Davidson County, North Carolina; save and except any portion thereof previously conveyed. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 283 Grove Court, Thomasville, North Carolina.

OF

DARRIN FENWAY MCCLAIN and BRENDA FAYE MCCLAIN Petitioners,

14 SP 3861 AMENDED NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE NORTH CAROLINA, WAKE COUNTY Under and by virtue of a Power of Sale contained in that certain Deed of Trust executed by Olatunji Ismail Abegunrin to Timothy M. Bartosh or William B. Naryka, Trustee(s), which was dated March 2, 2007 and recorded on March 6, 2007 in Book 012434 at Page 00514 and rerecorded/ modified/corrected on July 21, 2014 in Book 15725, Page 867, 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

AMENDED NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 20 SP 850 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Richard J. Bandy and Michele Bandy to Thomas V. Choiniere, Trustee(s), dated the 21st day of July, 2014, and recorded in Book 015726, Page 00438, in Wake County Registry, North Carolina, default having been made in the payment of the note thereby secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Substitute Trustee Services, Inc. having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust by an instrument duly recorded in the Office of the Register of Deeds of Wake County, North Carolina and the holder of the note evidencing said indebtedness having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the Wake County Courthouse door, the Salisbury Street entrance in the City of Raleigh, Wake County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, at 1:30 PM on March 14, 2022 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in the City of Holly Springs, in the County of Wake, North Carolina, and being more particularly

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 March 10, 2022 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in Monroe in the County of Union, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: Being all of Lot 2, containing 1.082 acres, of MEDLIN FARMS, Section I, according to map recording in Plat Cabinet C, File 530, Union County Registry, to which reference is hereby made for a more particular description. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 5800 Laney Rogers Road, Monroe, North Carolina.Property Address: 5800 Laney Rogers Road, Monroe, NC 28112 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).

Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: All that certain Lot or Parcel of land situated in Monroe Township, Union County, North Carolina and more particularly described as follows: Being all of Lot 16 of Poplin Farms as shown on Plat recorded in Plat Cabinet F, File 537, Union County Registry, to which plat reference is hereby made for a more particular description. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 1415 Clear Creek Drive, Monroe, North Carolina.

Address: 1415 Clear Creek Dr.; Monroe, NC 281106999 Taxmap or Parcel ID No.: 09253102 Parcel ID Number: 09253102 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

conducting the sale on March 15, 2022 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(S) 52 HAMILTON PLACE, PHASE 3, ACCORDINGTOTHEPLATTHEREOFRECORDEDINPLAT CABINET G, FILES 1-4, IN THE OFFICE OF THE REGISTER OF DEEDS OF UNION COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA BEING that same property conveyed to Borrowers herein by deed recorded contemporaneously herewith in the aforesaid Registry.

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

Said property is commonly known as 4117 John Stevenson Road, 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

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, 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 Stacy L. Ravert and All lawful heirs of Jerry Warren a/k/a Jerry E. Warren.

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

Fayetteville, North Carolina 28311 Phone No: (910) 864-3068 https://sales.hutchenslawfirm.com Firm Case No: 2355 - 5330

SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE SERVICES, INC. SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE c/o Hutchens Law Firm P.O. Box 1028 4317 Ramsey Street

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) jtaylor@mtglaw.com

Anchor Trustee Services, LLC Substitute Trustee By: ________________________________________ January N. Taylor, Bar #33512

This, the 2nd day of March, 2022.

D. Darren Howard (Attorney to Debra Heglar; Plaintiff) 820 N. Elm St. High Point, NC 27262

cured the default at the time the tenant provides the notice of termination. Upon termination of a rental agreement, the tenant is liable for rent due under the rental agreement prorated to the effective date of the termination.

SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE SERVICES, INC. SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE c/o Hutchens Law Firm P.O. Box 1028 4317 Ramsey Street Fayetteville, North Carolina 28311 Phone No: (910) 864-3068 https://sales.hutchenslawfirm.com Firm Case No: 1200942 - 12624

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

SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE SERVICES, INC. SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE c/o Hutchens Law Firm P.O. Box 1028 4317 Ramsey Street Fayetteville, North Carolina 28311 Phone No: (910) 864-3068 https://sales.hutchenslawfirm.com Firm Case No: 2979 - 7186

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 FAX: (910) 392-8587

All persons, firms, and corporations having claims against DALLAS JAMES BROWN (aka DALLAS J. BROWN), of 35 Springmoor Drive, Raleigh, North Carolina 27615, are hereby notified to present them to ELIZABETH B. CONNER, 8101 Stillbreeze Drive, Fuquay Varina, NC 27526, and BEVERLY B. McCOY, 242 Pebblebrook Lane,

Macon, GA 31220, Co-Executors, on or before the 23rd day of May, 2022, in care of the undersigned at the address below, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of recovery. All persons, firms and corporations indebted to DALLAS JAMES BROWN (aka DALLAS J. BROWN)will please make immediate payment to the Estate of DALLAS JAMES

BROWN (aka DALLAS J. BROWN).

This the 2nd day of March, 2022.

NOTICE OF PUBLICATION OF

Elizabeth Powell, Baron Powell, James Powell, David Powell, Mitchell Powell, Lewis Powell, Barbara Powell and Albert Powell : PLEASE TAKE NOTICE a complaint has been filed claiming that you have no right, title, or interest in the following property in Wake County and described as follows:

shown on a map recorded in Book of Maps 1999 pg. 1842, WCR, for further reference.

Tel: 888-443-1446 Email: cameron@hemphillgelderlaw.com

You must respond in writing to the address below by March 29, 2022 or your default will be entered and judgment rendered declaring that you have no right, title or interest in this property.

STAM LAW FIRM, PLLC S/ Paul Stam, Attorney for Petitioner P.O. Box 1600 Apex, NC 27502 Tel: 919-642-8971 Fax: 919-387-7329 Email: paulstam@stamlawfirm.com Publish: February 16, February 23, March 2, 2022

COMPLAINT TO QUIET TITLE HENRY POWELL SMITH, et al, including the UNKNOWN HEIRS OF AFFIE “EFFIE” SMITH POWELL, WILLIAM ATLAS POWELL, NITA POWELL, ETHELENE POWELL, CAROLYN POWELL, ELIZABETH POWELL, BARON POWELL, JAMES POWELL, DAVID POWELL, MITCHELL POWELL, LEWIS POWELL, BARBARA POWELL, and ALBERT POWELL, Respondents.

To the unknown heirs of Affie “Effie” Smith Powell, William Atlas Powell, Nita Powell, Ethelene Powell, Carolyn Powell,

BEING that tract of land containing 0.55 acres, more or less, with an address of 2249 E. Williams St., Apex, NC 27539, and bounded on the west by the eastern right of way of N.C. Hwy 55, on the north by other property of the Plaintiffs, see Deed Book 18425 pg. 2211, WCR, on the south by Equity Trust Co., Custodian—Wake ID # 56638, and on the east by Lots 206, 207, and 208 of Sunset Hills Phase 3 Section 1, as

courthouse where the property is located, or the usual and customary location at the county courthouse for conducting the sale on March 16, 2022 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:

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.

BEING ALL OF LOT 24, SHELDON PLACE SUBDIVISION, BOOK OF MAPS 2006 AT PAGES 955-957 (LOT BEING SPECIFICALLY SHOWN ON PAGE 955), WAKE COUNTY REGISTRY, TO WHICH REFERENCE IS HEREBY MADE FOR A MORE PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION OF SAME.

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, 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 Olatunji Ismail Abegunrin.

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

Said property is commonly known as 141 Brockton Ridge Drive, Garner, NC 27529.

A certified check only (no personal checks) of five percent (5%) of the purchase price, or Seven Hundred Fifty Dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, will be required at the time described as follows: Being all of Lot 133 in Twelve Oaks Pud, Phase 1A, as shown on map recorded in Book of Maps 2007, Pages 1516, 1517, and 1518, Wake County Registry 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 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 expressly are disclaimed. Also, this property is being sold subject

ELIZABETH B. CONNER and BEVERLY B. McCOY, Co-

This the 2nd day of March, 2022.

HEMPHILL GELDER P.C. S/ Cameron Stanton Guardian Ad Litem for Unknown Heirs P.O. Box 31205 Raleigh, NC 27622

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.

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

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

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.

By Order dated January 14, 2022, the Wake County Clerk of Court found that, in light of the fact that there have been three (3) upset bidders who have previously defaulted on their bids in this proceeding, it is just and necessary to safeguard the interests of all parties and to require that any third party bidder be required to tender a deposit equal to 25% of their bid amount as a deposit at the time of sale, or when filing a Notice of Upset Bid, which said amount must be tendered in the form of certified funds.

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.

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 Hutchens Law Firm LLP P.O. Box 12497

Executors c/o Tanya N. Oesterreich Oesterreich Law, PLLC PO Box 2067 Concord, NC 28026

the sale is challenged by any party, the trustee, in their sole discretion, if they believe the challenge to have merit, may request the court to declare the sale to be void and return the deposit. The purchaser will have no further remedy.

Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC Substitute Trustee Brock & Scott, PLLC Attorneys for Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC 5431 Oleander Drive Suite 200 Wilmington, NC 28403 PHONE: (910) 392-4988 FAX: (910) 392-8587 File No.: 10-28411-FC03

6230 Fairview Road, Suite 315 Charlotte, North Carolina 28210 Phone No: (704) 362-9255 Case No: 1296582 (CFC.CH)

B12

North State Journal for Wednesday, March 2, 2022

pen & paper pursuits

sudoku

solutions From February 23, 2022

VOLUME 7 ISSUE 1 | WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2, 2022 | RANDOLPHRECORD.COM

THE RANDOLPH COUNTY EDITION OF THE NORTH STATE JOURNAL

Randolph record

KEN TAYLOR | NCWRC | PUBLIC DOMAIN

A whitetail deer in North Carolina in this undated file photo from the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission.

COUNTY NEWS

Randolph’s deer harvest rates top in state

By Bob Sutton Randolph Record

Two schools selected for special recognition Northeastern Randolph Middle School and Randleman Elementary School from the Randolph County School System were picked as Signature Schools for the 2021-2022 school year.

Each year, the Piedmont Triad Education Consortium honors schools from 18 school systems throughout the region that have exemplified excellence and experienced significant improvement in the last 12 months. Designated as Signature Schools, these schools will be recognized at the annual Signature Schools awards breakfast at 9 a.m. March 24 at the Sheraton at Four Seasons in Greensboro.

Haywood, Allen draw GOP primary opponents Incumbent County Commissioners Hope Haywood and David Allen will have opponents in the Republican Primary as both had challengers file against them this week. Board of Commissioners chairman Darrell Frye is also on the ballot but did not have any opposition as of Tuesday. Todd Daniel, of Ramseur, will challenge Allen in the District 3 seat. Craig Frazier, of Sophia, will challenge Haywood for the District 4 seat.

Four candidates file early for county school board Four candidates filed to run for the Randolph County Schools Board of Education, three of them since the filing period resumed last Thursday. Shannon Craven Whitaker of Franklinville, Kurt Melvin of Trinity, Fred Burgess of Climax and Phillip Lanier of Asheboro have formally declared their intentions. Burgess is an incumbent. The filing period was suspended in December, and then reopened last week. Whitaker had put her name in Dec. 6 before filings were cut off based on a ruling from the North Carolina Supreme Court. The other three filed last week. The filing period runs through noon Friday.

The date of municipal election primaries was rescheduled from March 8 to May 17.

DEER HUNTING took place in Randolph County like in no other county in North Carolina. Again.

With numbers tallied for the 2021-22 season through the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission’s electronic reporting system, it showed that 4,422 whitetailed deer had been successfully hunted in Randolph County. That was the most for any county in the state.

“There’s a lot of people in Randolph County who hunt,” said Michael King of the NCWRC. “By and large, those out of that group (responsible for the county’s deer hunting total) are from Randolph County or local to that area.”

Anson County was second with 4,104 deer taken.

The numbers aren’t considered final yet, but King said there aren’t likely to be significant changes at this stage.

King is the NCWRC’s sergeant in charge of Guilford, Randolph and Rockingham counties. He has

been in that role since 2018 in a career with the commission that has spanned about a dozen years.

The deer population in the region has remained high, thus yielding significant hunting opportunities, King said.

It’s no surprise that hunting numbers have been on the rise. It’s a trend that began a couple of years ago.

“From when COVID started to now, our license sales went up drastically,” King said. “More people are getting out and hunting.”

Of the 4,422 that had been counted as of the end of last week in Randolph Country, here’s the breakdown: 2,338 antlered bucks, 207 button bucks, 1,877 does.

The past three-year average deer harvest was 3,694 in Randolph County. Deer season in the Central Region, which includes Randolph County, ended Jan. 1.

Surrounding counties also rated high on the 2021-22 list. The numbers for those counties are Montgomery (3,123), Moore (3,098), Chatham (2,802), Davidson (2,615), Guilford (2,284) and Ala-

“From when COVID started to now, our license sales went up drastically. More people are getting out and hunting.”

Michael King, sergeant with the NCWRC mance (2,190).

Hunters are required to carry a valid Big Game Harvest report card while hunting deer, bear or wild turkey.

Turkey season begins in early April.

“A good percentage of those hunters are the same as from (deer season),” King said.

A look back More complete numbers are available from the 2020-21 hunting season.

Randolph County had the highest total deer harvest with 4,142.

Anson County was second with 4,037.

Of those taken in Randolph County, 1,976 were antlered bucks, 221 were button bucks and 1,945 were does.

Wilkes County was the only county to have more antlered bucks taken during that period, with 2,037 (out of its total of 3,596).

The 2020-21 report from Randolph County indicated 64 of the deer were taken on game lands and 4,078 on other lands.

The breakdown by weapon type for those reported from Randolph County was: 3,025 by gun, 627 by black powder, 287 by bow and 203 by crossbow.

The gun season ran from Nov. 13-Jan. 1 following the archery season (Sept. 11-Oct. 29) and blackpowder (Oct. 30-Nov. 12).

The 2020-21 totals for neighboring counties were: Moore (2,898), Montgomery (2,881), Davidson (2,776), Chatham (2,698), Guilford (2,549) and Alamance (2,439).

Hudson will seek Congressional seat that includes Randolph County Randolph Record staff RALEIGH — After a threejudge panel redrew Congressional maps for North Carolina, a current U.S. House member who previously represented Randolph County has announced he will run in a new district that now includes the county.

Rep. Richard Hudson (R-NC08) is in his fifth term in the U.S. House serving North Carolina’s 8th congressional district. Hudson represented Moore, Anson, Randolph, Scotland, Hoke and Cumberland counties in current and previous versions of the 8th District. All or part of those counties are not included in the new 9th District.

Hudson represented the southwestern corner of Randolph County as part of the 8th District until redistricting changed the maps for 2018.

Randolph County has been represented by Ted Budd (R-13) since redistricting placed the county in the 13th District. Budd is seeking a U.S. Senate seat.

In an announcement late last

week, Hudson said he will “stand up to the mandates, threats to our Second Amendment, and big government socialist policies hurting our economy and your family.”

In a North State Journal oped last week, Hudson called politicians who supported mask mandates “hypocrites” and said, “It’s time to scrap these mandates and give parents the freedom to choose what’s best for their children. If it’s good enough for the politicians, it’s good enough for our kids.”

The new 9th District includes Randolph, Chatham, Moore, Lee, Hoke and Scotland counties as well as portions of Richmond, Harnett and Cumberland counties.

Also entering the 9th District race so far is Rep. Francisco Rios of Charlotte.

Filing for all races closes at noon Friday. Primaries are set for May 17.

For the N.C. Senate seat in the 29th District, David Craven Jr. of Asheboro has put his name on the ballot. The Republican is a sitting state senator.

For the N.C. House of Representatives in the 78th District, the list

of candidates includes two Republicans — Neal Jackson of Robbins and Cory Bortree of Denton. In the 70th District, the candidates so far are Brian Biggs of Trinity and Pat Hurley of Asheboro, also both Republicans.

In the N.C. Superior Court Judge race for District 19B (Seat 2), filings have been received from Taylor Browne of Asheboro and Chris Parrish of Asheboro. Both candidates are registered Republicans.

In the District Court races in District 19B, Republican incumbent Judge Sarah Neely Lanier of Asheboro has filed in Seat 1. Chief District Court Judge Scott Etheridge has filed in Seat 4 as a Republican.

Asheboro attorney Darren Allen, a Republican, has filed for seat 3 which is currently occupied by Judge Lee Gavin, who sources say will not seek re-election.

An expected crowded field for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated

by Rep. Richard Burr has attracted at least a dozen official filings. That list includes Charles Moss, a Republican from Randleman.

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Randolph Record for Wednesday, July 21, 2021

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Randolph Record for Wednesday, March 2, 2022 Randolph Record for Wednesday, July 7, 2021

WEDNESDAY WEDNESDAY WEDNESDAY

7.21.21 7.7.21 3.2.22 #3

WEEKLY FORECAST

Randolph South Asheboro wins district Battle of the Books Guide

WEEKLY FORECAST

#1

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dle schoolers applied their reading PRECIP 15% PRECIP15% 13% PRECIPPRECIP

“Join the “Join the “Join the conversation” conversation”

conversation” Stanly County Journal ISSN: 2575-2278 North NorthState State Journal Journal (USPS 20451) (USPS 20451) Publisher (ISSN 2471-1365) (ISSN 2471-1365) Neal Robbins

Editor

Publisher Publisher Xxx

Neal NealRobbins Robbins Sports Editor Cory Lavalette Editor Editor

Matt Mercer Matt Mercer Senior Opinion Editor Frank Hill Sports Editor Sports Editor

Design Editor Cory Lavalette Cory Lavalette Lauren Rose

Senior Opinion Opinion Editor Editor Senior

Published Frank Hill each Wednesday by Frank Hill North State Media LLC

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DEATH NOTICES

♦ Christopher Enos Burris, WEEKLY FORECAST

40, of Oakboro,X DEATH NOTICES SPONSORED BY

♦ Georgia Bernice Siler, 89, of Siler City, died July 15, 2021, at her home. ♦ Harold Eugene “Gene” Anderson, 82, died at his home on Monday, July 12, 2021 in a tragic house fire.

CALL OR TEXT 336-629-7588 ♦ Addie Mae Hunt McLeod, age 79, died July 11, 2021, at Autumn Care in Biscoe.

WEDNESDAY MAR 2

♦ Jonathan Edward Ferree, 50, of Black Mountain, formerly of Asheboro, died July 11, 2021.

HI 71

♦ Mildred Mae Cozart Poole, LOW 46 age 85, of Asheboro, died July PRECIP 5% See OBITS, page 7 9, 2021.

THURSDAY MAR 3 See OBITS, page 7

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The Randolph HI 87° GuideHIis HI 89° a LO quick look at what’s LO 67° 69° LO PRECIP going on in24% Randolph PRECIP 24% PRECIP County.

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skills and knowledge during an academic competition Tuesday. Asheboro City Schools hosted its annual Battle of the Books district competition on Tuesday at North AsheRANDOLPH COMMUNITY COLLEGE boro Middle School. North and South Asheboro Middle Schools Randolph County competed, with the winner eligible Commissioners for the regional competition. South Asheboro Middle School topped 6pm North Asheboro Middle School by a score of 113 to 82.

Regular meeting of the Individual team members from By Bob Sutton county commissioners sion, there’s enrollment of 915. before those classes start. the South Asheboro Middle School Randolph Record Williams said there’s an ef- That’s off slightly from the usual at the Historic team included: Ghia Crandall, “There has never been a fort to bolster enrollment. He cit- number that ranges up to 1,000, Daniel Hamm, Muaiz Khan, Liam Courthouse, 145 Worth PHOTO COURTESY ASHEBORO CITY SCHOOLS ed the RCC Commitment Grant, Williams said.

ASHEBORO — Enrollment Lambert, Natalie Lester, Delaney better opportunity to attend Street, Asheboro.

Nall, Franchesca Community Piansay, EliasCol-TheaSouth Asheboro Middle battle of the books team.

Traditional enrollment numprogram designed as a School funding at Randolph Scott, and likely Olive Sides.

The team lege isn’t to bounce back to mechanism to fill the gap that’s bers have flattened, but it’s the RCC and not have to worry was led by Ms. Alondra pre-pandemic levels Ruiz rightand away not covered by federal or state aid number of high school students about how to pay for it.”

Forsyth, Guilford, students and their coaches vie, Elkin, Ms. Dana aAntoniou. in programs designed for dual ento students. despite school official pointingschool Lexington, Mount Airy, a list of has books whichbeen coulda betBattle of the Books is financial sponsored in-receive“There rollment that hasRockingdropped, never out unprecedented ham, Stokes, Sur- the level RCC president Dr. Robert tested during competitions. by the N.C.for North Carolina School be ter “We’reThomasville, just not seeing opportunity to attend RCC centives potential students.

Randleman Board of ry, and Yadkin.

Following the Asheboro, along with Randolph Library Media Association.

Each had seen,” Shackleford Jr. Chad Williams, vice president and not have to worry about how of engagement that weregional competition, eight regional County Schools, will compete in year teams complete in district, Aldermen Meeting for student services at RCC, said a to pay for it,” RCC president Dr. Williams said. winners will Mid- break West Regional regional andhigh state competitions.

RCCadvance held to a the one-week Robert Shackleford Jr.comsaid. “We decline in school students inthe Piedmont 6pm dle School Battle of the Books statethe sumalsoexactly includes Al- they Teams form each has school year earlier this month amid meet which students where dual enrollment been thetobig-petition, prepare for competitions. Middle amance, Caswell, Davidson, Da- competition on May 6. are and help them go as far as they mer semester, which began May gest reason for a dip.

Regular business 24 and concludes July 26. Late “Overall, we’re still seeing a de- can possibly go.” meeting of the Board Beginning with the fall semes- registration for the fall semester cline in enrollment comparing to of Aldermen at previous years prior to the pan- ter, qualifying full-time students runs through Aug. 10, with classRandleman City Hall. demic,” Williams said. “I don’t will be eligible for up to $1,000 es beginning Aug. 16.

Still dealing with adjustments know if we’ll get to numbers we’ve per semester.

That makes attending RCC made because of the coronavirus seen in previous fall semesters. …

We’re reaching out to every stu- the most enticing from a finan- pandemic, not all 2021 fall semesclasses will in person. Some cial new standpoint in rules the ef16 years dent we can in every way we can.”plement while ter inpatients and be emergenvisitation North State Journal Staff will can use now a hybrid model with a Williams has been at the school, A fall semester at the two-yearfective cy patients have unlimTuesday. mixture of face-to-faces sessions he said.

He previously worked in school in Asheboro would often Asheboro City ited visitors each day.

Intensive Visiting hours will now be 7am ASHEBORO — Visitors to and virtual sessions.

Many classRCC’s financial office. have 2,600County’s to 3,000only students care patients will still be limited Visitors willaid be screened Randolph hos- en-to 8pm.

Council Meeting provide students with options “There’s never aincluding better timetototwo es daily visitors. rolled.

At have the beginning of thisfor COVID symptoms, pital will more access, Maternity check, and must and patients will be stood able toatsee on howpatients to attendare andperparticipate, go back to college,” he said. week, that number abouta temperature 7pm mittedWilliams to have three of age or older.summer sesmore after changes said. adult visFor the current 1,900visitors, with about a monthanto gobe 12 years Regular meeting of Visitors will still be required itors during active labor. Once nounced Monday.

WEEKLY CRIMERandolph LOG labor is completed, maternity Hospital said in a press release to wear masks. the City Council at COVID patients can now have patients can have unlimited visthat due to decreased COVID-19 ♦ Williams, Denishia Lorren Asheboro City Hall. activity, the hospital would im- two visitors from 4pm to 8pm, itors.

(B /F/30) Arrest on chrg of WEEKLY CRIME 1) Pwimsd Marijuana (F), 2) LOG

March 7

RCC pushes more MEETfor THE STAFFstudents as numbers lag PJ Ward-Brown Matt Lauren Frank Cory Who is “Editor?”

March 8

Randolph Hospital relaxes COVID restrictions

March 10

Maintain Veh/dwell/place Cs (f) (F), 3) Possess X

♦ Boggs, Matthew Harrison (M, 39),

WEEKLY CRIME LOG Arrest on charge of Misdemeanor

Arrest on charge of Resisting Public Officer, 321 Kings Ridge Rd, Randleman, on 07/14/2021.

♦ Whitehead, George Alan (M, 52), March 12

176 E. Salisbury St, Asheboro, on 07/13/2021.

Arrest on charge of Misdemeanor Pops:Possession Movie Muse of Schedule IV CS, Larceny, at 2587 Wayne White Rd, ♦ Millikan, Bobby Wayne (M, 33), Possession of Stolen motor Pleasant Garden, on 07/14/2021. ♦ Cook, Kevin Daniel (M, ♦ Cook, William Jack (M, ♦ Millikan, Bobby Wayne (M, Arrest on charge of Assault on a 7:30pm ♦ Hazelwood, Elizabeth (F, 44), vehicle, imporoper use of a dealer 41), Arrested on charge 47),Arrest Arrested on charge 33), Arrested on charge Female, at 8300 Curtis Power Rd, on chage of Misdemeanor ♦ Bolton McKee, James Henry tag, failure to deliver title, failure to The Carolina of(M, Injury to Real of Simple Exposure, on Bennett, NC, on 07/14/2021.

Larceny,Assault, at Hooveron Hill Rd/Slick of Indecent 47), Arrest on Property, charge of appear on felony, at I-85 Exit 111, Philharmonic returns Breaking and or Entering, 2/22/22, at on 7237 Jordan 2/22/22, at 8300 Curtis Rodk Mtn, 07/14/2021.

Possession of Stolen Goods, at on 07/13/2021. ♦ Passmore, Casey Lynn, Arrest on for a live performance on 2/23/22, at Rd, RCJ. Powers Rd. 6469 Clyde King Seagrove, on Rd. charge of possession of marijuana ♦ Lynch, Detrick Lamont (M, 40), in Owens Auditorium ♦ Cheek, Helenia Spinks (F, 64), 07/15/2021. up to 1/2 oz.,Almaar at Randolph Arrest on charge of Lee Misdemeanor ♦ Cornejo, David Teeny (M, ♦ Elliott, Christopher ♦ Russell, Razuan Arrest onThe charge of Assault by in Pinehurst. oneCourthouse, of Schedule ♦18), Pugh, Robert Daniel (M, 39), Arrested on charge (M,Possession 37), Arrested on VI CS, (M, 21), Arrestedon on7/13/2021. charge pointing a gun, Discharging a night show features Possessiong of Stolen Motor on charge of Simple firearm to cause fear, Reckless ofArrest Carrying Concealed charge of Extradition/ of Possession of Firearm ♦ Roark, Justin Steven (M, 30), grand cinematic scores Vehicle, at I-85 Exit 111, on Assault (M), at 139 Drum St, driving to endanger, Seagrove, on Weapon, on 2/24/22, at Fugitive Other State, on

by Felon, onon2/22/22, at Arrest charge of Possession with video clips and 07/13/2021.

Asheboro, on 07/14/2021.

07/12/2021.

I-73 NB Near New Hope 2/22/22, at Asheboro.

I85 Exit 111. Possession with intent behind-the-scenes of Meth, reels Rd. Erwin Quint Jr (M, to manufacture, sell or distributefrom♦classic ♦ McQueen, James Allen Jr (M, 35), ♦Church Richardson, films.

Helms, Chad Lee (M, 37), Arrest heroin,David SimpleJoseph possession of Arrest on charge of Possession♦ Stockwell, 31), Arrest on charges of Felony ♦ Jimenez-Candido, on charge of Felony Sexual ♦ Fogleman, Dawn (M, 51),upArrested (M, 41), Arrested Schedule II, III,on IV charge CS, Maintaining of Marijuana to 1/2 oz., Larceny andMelissa Possession of Stolen Andres Exploitation of a minor in the (F, 48), Arrested on charge on charge of Carrying of Assault a Female, Place,on Possession of Drug Possession of drug paraphernalia, Goods, at 5471 Needhams Trail, second degree (10 counts), 727 Paraphernalia, at 1029 High Point Failure to Gun, appealon on felony, failureCommunicating on 07/14/2021. ofSeagrove, Obtain CS

by Fraud (10 Concealed Threats McDowell Rd, Asheboro, NC, on Rd, on on 7/13/2021. to appear misdemeanor, counts), on 2/23/22, at 2/22/22, aton I-85 Archdale. at (7 counts), 2/22/22, at 07/12/2021. ♦ Seibert, Sarah Elizabeth (F, 32), James E. Holshouser,

March 18

RCJ.

♦ Redden, Andrea Veronica (F, 30), Arrested on charge of Possession of Stolen Motor Vehicle, Resisting Public Officer (2 counts), on 2/23/22, at RCJ.

♦ Laughlin, Travis Lee Sr (M, 43), Arrested on charge of Indecent Exposure, Communication Threats, on 2/22/22, at 8303 Curtis Powers Rd.

1102 Hover Hill Rd.

♦ Suriel, Jeremy Alberto (M, 18), Arrested on charge of Breaking and or Entering, Larceny After Breaking/ Entering, Injury to Personal Property, on 2/22/22, at RCJ.

Jr. Lecture 7pm

WWE leaves virtual reality behind in 1st tour since 2020 FRIDAY MAR 4

By Dan Gelston The Associated Press

HI 58 LOW 45 PHILADELPHIA — Triple H walked with his arms crossed PRECIP 2% like DEATH NOTICES an X — his signature Degeneration X symbol — with his 7-foot tag-team partner, Joel Embiid, to 5 month ringSATURDAY a ceremonial MAR bell last before a Philadelphia 76ers playoff game.

His theme music blared HI 72 through the arena, and near55 from the ly 19,000 fansLOW hanging 5% rafters roaredPRECIP when the wrestler hoisted his bad-guy weapon-ofchoice sledgehammer and struck the bell.

SUNDAY MAR 6 Sure, the setting wasn’t WrestleMania — though Triple H lost a match in the same building when HI 78 the event was held there in 1999 — but for the superstar-turned-exLOW 61 ecutive, the frenzied atmosphere PRECIP 8% was a reminder of what WWE lost during the 16 months it ran without live events and raucous MONDAY MAR 7 crowds.

“It was a fun opportunity to get back into an arena packed full of fans and have them HI 82go nuts,” said Triple H, known these days as LOW 60Levesque.

WWE executive Paul PRECIP 20% “That adrenaline rush, there’s nothing like it.”

WWE hasn’t been the same without its “Yes!” chants or “This TUESDAY MAR 8 is Awe-some!” singsongs once the pandemic relegated the company to running empty arena matchHI with 68 a piped-in es every week soundtrack and virtual LOW 50fans.

No more. PRECIP 38% With most American sports leagues settled in to their old routines, WWE ditched its stopgap home in Florida and resumed touring last Friday night with “Smackdown” from Houston, a

Dr. Ben Carson, former Housing Secretary under President Donald Trump and candidate for President, will speak ple cheering over him, or booing at Owens Auditorium over him or going into different in Pinehurst.

More directions over him,” have benefitinformation andsaid. tickets ed, Levesque “But that’s the beauty of what we do, to go be enat jehlectures.com.

tertained, however you want to be entertained. As a performer, sometimes that’s difficult.”

WWE’s July 5 “RAW” on USA Network hit 1.472 million viewers, ♦ Cynthia Jean Little the lowest in the 28-plus year hisKristin Chenoweth: Laursen, 64, of Asheboro, tory of the For the Girlsshow. ♦ Brenda Charlene Page died Friday, February 18, Levesque, WWE EVP of glob♦ Bonnie Moore Davis, Bryant, 74, of Asheboro, 2022 at Novant Health 7pmal talent strategy and develop75, of Siler City, died on died Thursday, February Forsyth Medical Center in ment, said the company would “take a hard Wednesday, February 23, 24, 2022, at The Greens at Winston-Salem.

Emmy and Tonylook” at how it can attract more actress fans to the product 2022.

Pinehurst Rehabilitation & Award winning ♦ Shirley Kaye Wyatt each week.

WWE Living Center. and singer Kristin can only hope the combination of live crowds ♦ Burkett Dillion-Ray Phillips, Hopkins, of Trinity, NC, died Chenoweth’s career and the return of box office attrac29, of Siler City died on ♦ Garry Avon Baldwin, 65, of on February 22, 2022. spans film, television, tions such as Becky Lynch, GoldWednesday, February 23, Seagrove, died Wednesday, voiceover and stage. berg, and Cena can ignite interest ♦ Charlie Manuel Cox Jr, 57, 2021 at UNC Chapel Hill.

February 23, 2022 at his and grow ratings during the build Chenoweth has been died Sunday, February 20, home. to the marquee Aug. 21 Summernominated for two ♦ James Garland Comer of 2022, at Randolph Hospice.

Slam at the home of the Las VeEmmy Seagrove died in his home ♦ Joseph “Andy” Anthony gas Awards Raiders. and for a ♦ Julie Allred Ramos died on People’s Choice Award “It never is one thing,” Levesque at the age of 69.

Ritch, III age 72 died on 2/15/2022. for her said.role “Weon see“Glee.” this as a moment in time to shift everything. I think In 2009, she wrote you’ll see it in just the layout of evan upliftingly candid, erything, the set designs, the way PHOTO BY WILLY SANJUAN/INVISION/AP comedic chronicle of it’s presented. There’s a greater her life so far,on “A utilizing Little the spacemphasis In this Jan. 9, 2018, file photo, Paul “Triple H” Levesque participates in the “WWE Monday Night es that we which have and the TV aspect Raw: 25th Anniversary” panel during the NBCUniversal Television Critics Association Winter Press Bit Wicked,” of it while stillNew engaging the fans.

Tour in Pasadena, Calif. debuted on the lot of that comes from the time YorkATimes Hardcover we had toBest experiment Non-Fiction Seller inside the Do you have a birthday, wedding, engagement or other milestone pay-per-view Sunday in Texas and former,” Reigns said. “As a live WWE then moved to its in-house ThunderDome.”

List. Tickets available tooncelebrate?

Contact at celebrations@randolphrecord.com.

The first start is at putting fans that simultaneous re- performance center in Florida on Dallas Monday for the flagship usperformer, sandhillsbpac.com.

“Raw” TV show on USA. WWE sponse keeps you sharp. We had March 13, before setting up what — holding their homemade signs spruced up sets, brought back old to adjust and adapt to the times it dubbed The ThunderDome -- and wearing their catchphrase where fans registered for spots T-shirts — back in the seats. stars and hit the reset button on that were in front of us.”

“When we have that live crowd, With Hulk Hogan in the house, on LED digital videoboards — for TV programming humbled with record-low ratings and a strong WWE held their only Wrestle- stretches in Florida at the Amway sometimes they almost become Mania with fans this past April Center, Tropicana Field and the the cameras for a lot of the perneed for new stars. formers,” Reigns said. “But when “I do think if we were doing this 10 and 11 at Raymond James Sta- Yuengling Center.

“People like Roman have been you don’t have that real-time, flesh in front of the live crowd, it would dium. WWE last ran a weeknight have been a situation that would televised event with a paid crowd able to emotionally bring a per- interaction, the red light becomes have made me an even better per- on March 9, 2020, in Washington. formance that, maybe with peo- the focal point for the performer.”

♦ Sylvia Lorraine Stevens Williams, 78, of Siler City, died peacefully at her home on Thursday, February 24, 2022.

♦ Minerva Reeder Cagle, 78, of Asheboro, NC, died Friday, February 25, 2022 at Randolph Health.

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February 19, 2022 at his residence in Asheboro.

March 26

Randolph Record for Wednesday, March 2, 2022

OPINION Neal Robbins, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor VISUAL VOICES

COLUMN | REP. RICHARD HUDSON

Energy security is national security

One thing is certain – the crisis in Ukraine shows American energy independence and border security have never been more important.

“FREEDOM IS NEVER more than a generation away from extinction.”

Ronald Reagan gave us this warning as then-California Governor in 1967. At that time, the Cold War was at its peak and the United States was in the midst of an incredibly tense global standoff.

Unfortunately, the Russian invasion of Ukraine and our current foreign policy threatens to plunge the world into this level of uncertainty once again.

Last week, the world watched as Vladimir Putin started a war in Ukraine. This is something many thought we would never see in the 21st century and reminds us of President Reagan’s warning.

Russia’s actions this past week mark the country’s second invasion of Ukraine in less than a decade and a clear violation of international law. The images we see of the suffering and destruction are heartbreaking; Renee and I join our nation in praying for all the people of Ukraine.

To be clear, I do not support sending U.S. troops into Ukraine.

Yet, as I have called for throughout this impending crisis, it is now past time to take decisive action to hold Russia accountable.

This week, I will urge my colleagues in Congress to pass even harsher sanctions on Russia than those proposed by President Joe Biden. Potential options include sanctioning the Russian Central Bank, removing Russian banks from the SWIFT payment system, and crippling Russia’s key industries. The eyes of the world are watching what we do next, including adversaries like China and Iran.

One thing is certain – the crisis in Ukraine shows American

energy independence and border security have never been more important.

Europe’s reliance on Russian fuel has been a security threat for years. That’s why I introduced legislation opposing Russia’s Nord Stream II gas pipeline in May and lead European leaders in condemning the project as far back as 2018. Unfortunately, President Biden waived sanctions passed by Congress on Nord Stream II earlier this year— emboldening Russia and giving them more leverage over Europe.

In 2019, under President Donald Trump, America became a net exporter of energy for the first time in 70 years. President Biden’s policies of cancelling the Keystone XL pipeline, limiting permits, and increasing regulations stifled American energy production and drove gas prices to a 7-year high. Like Europe, these policies have also made the U.S. more reliant on foreign countries for energy, including Russia. Because of this, President Biden warned last week that the situation in Ukraine will lead to even higher gas prices affecting you and your family.

We must reverse this energy and job-killing agenda. That’s why last week, I introduced a resolution urging President Biden to take immediate action to restore American energy independence, create American jobs, and sell more natural gas to our allies in Europe.

Energy security is national security. I will continue to closely monitor the events in Europe and the impact they have on our economy and our Fort Bragg community. And I will also continue pushing for American energy independence so our nation and allies never need to be hostage to countries like Russia ever again.

COLUMN | DAVID HARSANYI

Biden’s Putin appeasement has been years in the making Outside of empty braggadocio, meant to contrast himself with Trump, Biden has done little to uphold his promise of deterring Russian expansion.

“One small thing to be thankful for is that DJT is not in the White House as the Ukraine crisis unfolds. He’d side with Russia,” tweeted Francis Fukuyama, author of “The End of History and the Last Man.” The headline on Eugene Robinson’s Washington Post column reads, “With Biden standing firm, Putin must wonder: Where’s Trump when I need him?” You could find similar sentiment from foreign-policy experts strewn across social media.

Surely, even former President Donald Trump’s most passionate antagonists must be slightly curious as to why Russian President Vladimir Putin, the real villain of this tale, didn’t move on eastern Ukraine after successfully installing the orange man as an alleged infiltrator in the White House. What better time could there have been for an invasion or annexation? Why now and not then?

Then again, the notion that President Joe Biden has shown firmness or deftness on foreign policy is at odds with not only recent events — most notably the disastrous pullout from Afghanistan — but also 50 years of his history. On the issue of Putin, Biden has been relentlessly wrong.

In 2009, Biden went to Munich and delivered the Obama administration’s first major foreign-policy speech, arguing that it was “time to press the reset button” after eight years of purported American antagonism toward Russia. It was Biden who then spearheaded the effort to reward Moscow by giving Russia access to the World Trade Organization. He told nominal Russian president Dmitri Medvedev that Russia’s access to the WTO was “the most important item on our agenda.” At the time, a Reuters headline announced, “Biden backs Russia WTO bid, praises Medvedev.”

Biden loves to take credit for Obama-era foreign policies. Well, it was the Obama administration that also spent years trying to kill the Magnitsky Act, which listed corrupt Russian officials and barred them from American financial markets, before bipartisan pressure compelled them to flip-flop. In his book “Red Notice,” Bill Browder, the driving force behind the act, wrote that “ever since Barack Obama had become president, the main policy of the U.S. government toward Russia had been one of appeasement.”

Even before Obama was caught on a hot mic telling Putin’s puppet Medvedev that he would have more “flexibility” on missile defense after the 2012 presidential election, he had already canceled long-promised missile-defense systems to our allies in Poland and the Czech Republic. It was the Trump administration that approved

the sale of a Patriot missile system to Poland. For that matter, it was Trump who, finally, approved the sale of defensive lethal weapons to Ukraine. And it wasn’t during a potential invasion.

Indeed, Democrats didn’t merely mock Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney in 2012 as an out-of-touch amateur for maintaining that Russia was our top geopolitical threat; they sent a smug Biden to appear on the Sunday-morning news shows, where he depicted the Putin kleptocracy as a burgeoning ally and partner.

Though “we have disagreements with Russia,” Biden noted, they were “working closely with us” on a slew of issues. “This is not 1956,” he scoffed, a few years before Putin’s special forces dropped into Crimea.

Obama also allowed Russia to operate with impunity in Syria, almost surely to protect the prospects of the Iran deal. Trump, unencumbered by the need to kowtow to the Iranians, killed a few hundred Russian mercenaries in Syria. Perhaps a policy of deterrence and strength, rather than appeasement, works.

“Putin knows that when I am president of the United States, his days of tyranny and trying to intimidate the United States and those in Eastern Europe are over,” Biden warned during the presidential campaign.

Outside of empty braggadocio, meant to contrast himself with Trump, Biden has done little to uphold his promise of deterring Russian expansion. In his first year in office, the president who promised to stop “rolling over in the face of Russia’s aggressive actions” killed the Keystone pipeline, which would have left us less susceptible to the vagaries of the international energy market.

Biden also strengthened Putin’s hand by waiving Trump-era sanctions on a company building the Nord Stream 2 pipeline from Russia to Germany.

Last year, Biden sent Secretary of State Antony Blinken to the Arctic Council for another shot at a “reset,” in which, as Bloomberg explained it, “Joe Biden and Vladimir Putin can reinvigorate U.S.Russia relations that have been in a deep freeze for years.” Same approach, another bust.

The United States isn’t going to go to war over Donetsk or Luhansk — or even uncontested areas (for lack of a better term) of Ukraine. And perhaps there is little that Biden can do at this point to reverse Putin’s advances. It is also true that Trump’s rhetorical obsequiousness toward Putin was often cringe-worthy and despicable. Yet the fact is that Trump’s foreign policy, in action, was more successful. Biden’s policy appeasement, on the other hand, has been a 15-year project.

It’s no surprise that Putin thinks this is the time to strike.

David Harsanyi is a senior writer at National Review and author of “Eurotrash: Why America Must Reject the Failed Ideas of a Dying Continent.”

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Randolph Record for Wednesday, March 2, 2022

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SPORTS SIDELINE REPORT FOOTBALL

Original USFL execs sue Fox over new league's branding Los Angeles A group of former team owners and executives from the original USFL is suing Fox Sports to halt the launch of the new spring football league with the same name, alleging the new USFL is inappropriately using the old league's branding.

The complaint alleges trademark infringement, false advertising and false association by the new league. The group is seeking an injunction to prevent the new league from using any names or logos associated with the defunct league. The original USFL played games from 1983 to 1985, and the group suing the new league alleges Fox Sports and its partners didn't properly obtain use of the league's trademarks and other intellectual property.

GAMBLING

Bill unveiled to legalize sports betting in Kentucky Frankfort, Ky. Supporters of legalizing sports betting in Kentucky are taking another swing at passing the proposal — this time teaming it with a package of gamblingrelated measures. Similar sports wagering bills died in previous sessions, reflecting the divisiveness of gambling issues in the Bluegrass State.

Supporters of previous bills estimated that legalizing sports wagering would generate about $22 million in yearly revenue. They say the measure is needed to stop Kentuckians from flocking to neighboring states that allow sports betting. The bill unveiled Monday seeks to legalize most forms of sports wagering and regulate the taxation of all online gambling, including fantasy sports and online poker.

MARCIO JOSE SANCHEZ | AP PHOTO

Kyle Larson, bottom right, leads the field during Sunday's NASCAR Cup Series race at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California.

Larson knocked teammate Chase Elliott, pictured behind Larson, out of contention on a move that drew criticism from Elliott.

Larson, Elliott provide early-season Cup drama The Hendrick Motorsports teammates got tangled up during Larson’s win Sunday at Fontana The Associated Press FONTANA, Calif. — A substantial collision between the Cup Series’ defending champion and its most popular driver would be pretty juicy stuff under any circumstances.

Add in the fact that they’re teammates, and NASCAR has a downright tantalizing storyline to follow just two races into the new season.

Kyle Larson sent Chase Elliott into the fence when they made contact Sunday with just under 20 laps to go at Auto Club Speedway. Elliott’s bold move to take the lead was erased when Larson, who had been side drafting off Joey Logano to stay in front, came briskly up the track and pinched

Elliott into the wall.

Larson went on to claim his first victory of the season, even surviving a chaotic restart with four laps left on an entertaining day for the circuit’s new cars on its oldest asphalt.

The restart was even more spicy because it was caused by Elliott, whose spin with eight laps to go was deemed suspicious by plenty of NASCAR fans.

After claiming his second surfboard trophy, Larson realized everybody wanted to know about his contact with his furious fellow Hendrick Motorsports superstar.

Larson patiently repeated that the contact was a mistake, not a block — but that Elliott also deserved a measure of blame.

Larson called it “probably a small bump in the road” for the teammates, but he thinks the next few days should reveal if the bump is getting bigger.

“I think if (more) things happen in the future, then yes, it gets out of

hand,” Larson said. “But Hendrick Motorsports, I don’t think, will ever let it get to that point, and we have enough respect for each other that I don’t think it will get out of hand at all. ... He’s going to be upset, which he has a right to be, but I’ll explain my side, and he’ll believe me or he won’t.”

The Hendrick meeting rooms back in North Carolina should be tremendously entertaining on Monday and Tuesday as the two teams sort out the hard feelings and examine the motives in this drama from the race closest to Hollywood.

Larson repeatedly expressed regret but speculated it probably won’t make Elliott feel much better. Larson’s spotter, Tyler Monn, tried to take the blame for the collision on Twitter, saying he was paying too much attention to Logano.

“They’re great teammates, always have been, and I know we’re all good teammates together,” said

Cliff Daniels, Larson’s crew chief.

“Like he said, that’s nothing that (Larson) would ever do intentionally, and that’s a tough racing deal.

I don’t blame Chase at all for what could have been the race-winning move, and he just told his side of the story.”

Still, Elliott’s radio communication left no doubt about his immediate feelings on the move that ruined his day: An exasperated Elliott profanely asked his team what Larson was doing with his big swerve up high.

Even more intriguingly, Elliott told his team shortly before his spin that he suspected his toe link would break for the second time in the race, and that he “(didn’t) really give a (expletive) who is leading the race.”

Larson and Daniels immediately dismissed the notion Elliott would spin on purpose. The teams had brief communication in the paddock after the race, but more dialogue is coming.

“I think certainly nothing intentional there by Kyle,” Hendrick Motorsports general manager Jeff Andrews said. “I know we’ll go back and talk about it in our meetings tomorrow and Tuesday, and we’ll look at all the facts and we’ll look at what happened, and we’ll talk about it as a company.”

NBA

Simmons unlikely to play in return to Philly New York Brooklyn coach Steve Nash doesn't expect Ben Simmons to practice this week, making it unlikely the former 76ers star will be ready to play when the Nets visit Philadelphia on March 10. The Nets are hopeful Kevin Durant will return from his left knee sprain later this week, but it appears Simmons is still a ways off after not playing at all this season.

His back began bothering him as he tried to increase his workload, and Nash said Monday before the Nets played Toronto that Simmons is unlikely to practice this week.

SOCCER

Russia suspended from international soccer Geneva Russian teams were suspended Monday from all international soccer, including qualifying matches for the 2022 World Cup, as Moscow was pushed toward pariah status in sports for its invasion of Ukraine. World soccer body FIFA and European authority UEFA banned Russian national and club teams from their competitions "until further notice." Russia's men's national team had been scheduled to play in World Cup qualifying playoffs in just three weeks' time.

Ukraine athletes defend country, demand sanctions for Russia Athletes from about two dozen countries also signed a letter to Olympic and Paralympic leaders The Associated Press EARLIER THIS MONTH, Ukrainian skeleton rider Vladyslav Heraskevych flashed a sign at the Olympics: “No war in Ukraine.”

On Sunday, he was hunkered down about 90 miles outside of his nation’s capital with weapons nearby in case he needs to defend his country.

NBC VIA AP “I am a student,” the 23-year-old said in a phone interview with The Vladyslav Heraskevych of Ukraine holds a sign that reads "No War Associated Press. “I am not experi- in Ukraine" after finishing a run at the men's skeleton competition enced in these type of things. But I last month at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing. am ready to stand strong and help in any way I can.”

With Russian troops encircling on the letter were four-time Olym- emboldening both Russia and Bethe capital of Kyiv, Heraskevych pian Paula Radcliffe of Britain, larus violation of international law was among a rapidly growing list six-time Olympian Clara Hughes and your own Charters,” the letter of athletes from Ukraine and about of Canada, two-time Paralympian read.

The advocacy group Global Athtwo dozen other countries who Greta Neimanas and Beckie Scott, sent an open letter to Olympic and the Canadian Olympic champion lete helped coordinate the letter, Paralympic leaders, urging them who served a long term as head of which also was signed by sliders to immediately suspend the Rus- the World Anti-Doping Agency’s from the U.S., Latvia and the Netherlands, members of the Russian sian and Belarusian Olympic and athlete commission.

There were 34 Ukrainian ath- fencing team, an independent athParalympic Committees.

“Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, letes’ names listed on the letter, letes’ group from Germany and the supported by Belarus, is a clear many signing on behalf of their en- Belarus Sport Solidarity Athletes breach of the Olympic and Paralym- tire sports federations. The letter Federation.

The International Olympic Compic Charters — a breach that must said more Ukrainians would have be met with strong sanctions,” said signed but “it has been a challenge mittee has condemned Russia’s inthe letter addressed to IOC Presi- to speak with all athletes from vasion of Ukraine, saying it violatdent Thomas Bach and his counter- Ukraine as they are seeking safety ed the Olympic Truce. It has called on international federations to canpart on the International Paralym- in bomb shelters.”

“If the IOC and IPC refuse to cel or move events planned in Ruspic Committee, Andrew Parsons.

Among those putting their names take swift action, you are clearly sia and Belarus and to stop using

“It’s quiet now. But there is no safe place in Ukraine right now.”

Vladyslav Heraskevych, Ukrainian skeleton rider the countries’ flags and national anthems.

Neither the IOC nor the IPC have taken direct action against the countries themselves, however.

The Paralympics start next Friday.

Neither federation immediately responded to AP requests for comment on the letter.

Among those signing the letter was Ukrainian freestyle skier Oleksandr Abramenko, whose embrace with a Russian athlete in Beijing was caught on camera and captured headlines.

Heraskevych’s “no war” banner did, too. After that gesture on Feb. 11, the IOC came out quickly and said Heraskevych would not face any sanctions for violating the Olympic rule that limits political protests on the field of play at the Games.

“This was a general call for peace,” the IOC said in a statement.

“For the IOC the matter is closed.”

Heraskevych told the AP he left China in mid-February with a guarded sense of optimism; at the time, Russia was amassing troops along Ukraine’s border but had not invaded.

His hopes were quickly dashed.

He spoke to the AP from Zhytomyr, about a two-hour drive from Kyiv. He was preparing to defend Ukraine’s capital if called on.

“It’s quiet now,” Heraskevych said. “But there is no safe place in Ukraine right now.”

Randolph Record for Wednesday, March 2, 2022

PREP BASKETBALL

BEST OVERALL ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

Season comes with highlights for area teams Asheboro defeats Ledford to snatch championship

By Bob Sutton Randolph Record BASKETBALL SEASON came to a close for Randolph County boys’ teams in the North Carolina High School Athletic Association by the end of the second round last week.

On the girls’ side, only Randleman and Uwharrie Charter Academy made it to the weekend’s third round. Randleman’s season was still going this week.

Here are a few notables as the postseason unfolded: Patriots tripped by familiar foe Providence Grove’s boys’ season-ending 61-58 loss in the opening round of the Class 2-A state playoffs to Southwestern Randolph came after the Patriots posted nine- and three-point victories against the Cougars during the regular season.

Providence Grove made significant progress this season, winning the Piedmont Athletic Conference regular season and ending up with an 18-9 record. That’s believed to be the most wins in school history for the program.

It marked only the fifth recorded winning record for the Providence Grove boys’ program. And one of those was in the abbreviated 2021 season with an 8-6 record.

The Providence Grove accomplishments included a first outright conference regular-season championship and a first appearance in a league tournament final.

The Patriots also played a home playoff game for the first time since 2010.

Blue Comets show progress Asheboro’s boys seemed to have it rolling at the right time. So it

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was an abrupt conclusion for the Blue Comets when a seven-game winning streak ended in the first round of the Class 3-A state playoffs with a 68-51 home loss to North Lincoln.

It was the Blue Comets’ fifth-lowest scoring game of the season – and they had won two of the other four when failing to reach 50 points.

Still, coach Brian Nance’s team finished with a 19-8 mark. Part of the success came by winning the Mid-Piedmont Conference Tournament.

That was Asheboro’s most wins since a 22-5 record in 2015-16.

That season, the Blue Comets won twice in the state playoffs.

Big moments for UCA The Uwharrie Charter Academy boys churned out some special memories in the postseason, including winning the PAC Tournament title. They kept the momentum going for a bit in the Class 1-A state playoffs.

Ashton Troutman of UCA finished his junior season with an impressive run in the postseason.

He tallied 27 points in the Eagles’ 63-51 first-round victory against Albemarle, then followed that by posting half of UCA’s points in the second round, collecting 22 points in a 67-44 loss to North Rowan.

On the girls’ side, UCA played three home games in the Class 1-A playoffs, starting with a 5438 defeat of Bradford Prep. That was followed by a 58-56 decision against Swain County as Ashara Spruill totaled 23 points.

Spruill had 12 points in the third round, but it wasn’t enough and the Eagles fell 42-36 to Starmount.

Seeds for thought In both the PAC and Mid-Piedmont Conference, the No. 2 seeds failed to reach the finals in both the boys’ and girls’ league tournaments. The Nos. 3 seeds in those cases played in the title games.

BASKETBALL STATE PLAYOFFS SCOREBOARD

BOYS Class 3-A First round North Lincoln 68, Asheboro 51 Class 2-A First round Southwestern Randolph 61, Providence Grove 58 Trinity 55, Lexington 46 Shelby 52, Randleman 47 Second round Salisbury 59, Trinity 44

Elizabeth York Randleman, girls’ basketball York, a junior guard, had three productive games as the Tigers advanced through three rounds of the Class 2-A state playoffs.

She averaged 19 points in those games.

It began when York piled up 22 points as Randleman stomped Shelby Burns 64-17 in the opening round.

Next, she compiled 24 points in Randleman’s 64-53 victory against Wilkes Central. York tacked on 11 points in a 63-43 decision against Lincoln Charter.

Those results left the Tigers with a 25-0 record going into a West Region semifinal against Shelby.

West Caldwell 78, Southwestern Randolph 43 Class 1-A First round UCA 63, Albemarle 51 Winston-Salem Prep 89, Eastern Randolph 54 Second round North Rowan 67, UCA 44 GIRLS Class 2-A First round Randleman 64, Shelby Burns 17 Shelby 71, Providence Grove 25 Southwestern Randolph 49, Bandys 38 Wheatmore 61, Monroe 42 Second round Newton-Conover 68, Wheatmore 59 North Surry 59, Southwestern Randolph 49 Randleman 64, Wilkes Central 53 Salisbury 59, Trinity 44 Third round Randleman 63, Lincoln Charter 43 Class 1-A First round Cherokee 65, Eastern Randolph 62 UCA 54, Bradford Prep 38 Second round UCA 58, Swain County 56

PJ WARD-BROWN | NORTH STATE JOURNAL

Mac Wheat of Uwharrie Charter Academy goes up for a shot against Lucas Megson and William Browne, right, of visiting Albemarle during the first round of the Class 1-A state playoffs last week.

Third round Starmount 42, UCA 36

PJ WARD-BROWN | NORTH STATE JOURNAL

In both photos, Randleman’s Elizabeth York lays the ball up against Wilkes Central in the Class 2-A state playoffs last week in a second-round game. The Tigers were the only remaining basketball team from Randolph County to be in action this week.

Faith Christian teams finish as state runners-up Randolph Record staff

PJ WARD-BROWN | NORTH STATE JOURNAL

Uwharrie Charter Academy’s Alijah Barker shoots the ball against Albemarle’s Walker Wilkins in the first round of the Class 1-A state playoffs Feb. 22 at Uwharrie Charter Academy in Asheboro.

WALKERTOWN — Faith Christian’s basketball teams reached the state finals in the North Carolina Christian School Association, falling in Class 2-A title games in each case Saturday at Gospel Light.

The Faith Christian girls lost by 47-32 to Wilson Christian in the championship game. That left the Eagles with a 17-8 record.

To reach the final, Faith Christian topped visiting Cramerton Christian by 53-21 before a 37-25 quarterfinals victory against Bethel Christian and a 48-32 semifinals conquest of Hilltop Christian.

Sophomores Karrie Gaines, Kylie Gaines and Lyndsey Cassell were season-long standouts for the Eagles.

On the boys’ side, Faith Christian carried a five-game winning streak into the final, but the Eagles dropped a 47-29 decision to host Gospel Light.

Faith Christian finished with a 19-9 record. The Eagles began the postseason by defeating visiting Woodland Baptist Christian 60-42 and then defeated Wilmington Christian 49-47 in the quarterfinals before nipping Union Grove Christian 43-42 in the semifinals.

Seniors Shawn Cox and Luke Langley received postseason individual honors. They both eclipsed the 1,000-point marks for their careers during the season.

On the junior varsity level, Faith Christian was runner-up to Union Grove Christian in both boys’ and girls’ tournaments.

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Randolph Record for Wednesday, March 2, 2022

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PJ WARD-BROWN | NORTH STATE JOURNAL

Ready to play Southwestern Randolph’s Adam Cole makes the catch in the outfield against Lee County during the Grady Lawson Memorial Baseball Classic, a preseason day of scrimmages held Feb. 19 at Eastern Randolph in Ramseur. Competition in spring sports began this week.

Black returns to Asheboro volleyball team Long-time coach with statetitle background comes back to Blue Comets

By Bob Sutton Randolph Record ASHEBORO – It turns out Kim Black was pulled back to Asheboro High School volleyball after all.

She’ll be in her third stint as coach of the program, where she won a state championship, when the season begins in the late summer.

“I can’t make any promises except to promise to do my best,” Black said.

She’s the all-time winningest coach at Asheboro, holding a 246-97 record as a varsity coach. She directed the Blue Comets to three state finals, including the Class 3-A title in 1994, and eight conference crowns.

Black has made the rounds among schools in Randolph County, but she made it clear that one school holds a special place for her.

PHOTO COURTESY OF ASHEBORO HIGH SCHOOL.

Asheboro High School’s new volleyball coach is Kim Black.

“My volleyball heart has always been at Asheboro,” she said.

She has been filling a parttime position as a math teacher at the school. When athletics director Steve Luck and assistant Owen

George showed up at her classroom proposing that she give coaching another try, she couldn’t turn them down.

“I never expected to do this again,” she said last week. “There’s

a lot of work to be done on my end.

Until three weeks ago, I would have never thought I would do this again.

If I can come to help things and do some good, that’s what I want to do.”

She coached a season at Southwestern Randolph (her alma mater) and later figured she had retired from schools when she retired from her math position there in 2020.

“She will do a great job,” Luck said.

Her first season with Asheboro came in 1988. Then she was away from the Blue Comets for about a decade before returning in 2008 for four more seasons. Along the way, she coached at Trinity and spent the 2013 season directing the Uwharrie Charter Academy team. There were also a few years with South Asheboro Middle School.

Under Black, the Blue Comets reached regional finals in five consecutive years in the 1990s, advancing to state finals in 1993-95.

Now-former coach Karen Blanchard directed the Blue Comets for eight seasons. Last season,

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Kenny J Kidd

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Financial Advisor 211 Worth St Asheboro, NC 27203-5557 336-328-0416

edwardjones.com

Member SIPC

Asheboro went 5-16, including a 2-8 mark in the Mid-Piedmont Conference. The Blue Comets were swept in 12 of their defeats.

That snapped a streak of at least eight consecutive winning seasons, with several records of 20-plus wins during that stretch.

The 2021 team had two seniors.

Black said she’s not familiar with the players who’ll make up the roster, other than one girl who had been in one of her math classes.

Sixty girls showed up at a meeting last week.

“I’ll probably do a lot of the same things (as in the past),” Black said.

“Heart and soul, that’s really what you win with.”

Black said her interest was mostly basketball as a youth. Eventually that changed, but she had to come to a better understanding of the sport.

“The girls (on early teams) were really interested and we started going to camps and we started learning together,” she said. “Volleyball won my heart over.”

So even though Black figured she wouldn’t return to the court, she’s bound to be excited to be back.

“I love it,” she said. “It really broke my heart when I walked away from it. I think about it a lot.”

Randolph Record for Wednesday, March 2, 2022

7

obituaries

Beverly Carol Thomas

Tori Renee’ Gilliland Russell

1964 - 2022

Beverly Carol Thomas, 57, of Asheboro passed away at The Moses H Cone Memorial Hospital on February 25, 2022.

Beverly was born on December 21, 1964 to parents Garland Crabtree and Edna Hall Crabtree.

She worked for over 25 years as an E.C. teacher at Seagrove Elementary School, where she retired. Mrs. Thomas loved dogs, namely her baby Sophie. She also enjoyed reading and loved spending time vacationing at the beach.

Beverly was preceded in death by both of her parents. She is survived by her husband of 29 years, Scottie Thomas; son, Joshua Scott Thomas; daughter, Kristin Lynn Thomas; brother, Barry Crabtree, and nephew, Tyler Wade Crabtree.

Susan Spencer Aldridge 1947 - 2022

Susan Sheryl Spencer Aldridge age 74, of Franklinville passed away February 21, 2022 at her home.

Susan was a 1965 graduate of Grimsley High School and retired from United Brass Works in Randleman. She was a manager at McDonalds in North Asheboro, hair dresser, artist and loved to cook. Susan is preceded in death by her parents, Dr. Richard and Dr. Lorraine Spencer, daughter, Christina Parrish, sister, Deborah Mitchell.

Susan is survived by her husband, William “Bill” Aldridge; son, Mastin Aldridge of Denton; daughter, Kelli Aldridge Mills of Denton; adopted daughter, Judy Bullins-Dean of Thomasville; 8 grandchildren and numerous great grandchildren; sisters, Linda Spencer of Greensboro and Nancy Hertlein of Greensboro; brother-in-law, Curtis Mitchell; nieces, Angela Mitchell and Cheri Rhoton and husband David and her beloved 4 legged babies.

Patty Jean Brigman Cook

Michael Paul “Mike” Jordan

Beverly Wilkins Hooker

1979 - 2022

1959 - 2022

1942 - 2022

Tori Renee’ Gilliland Russell, age 42 of Lexington, passed away on Thursday, February 24, 2022 at her home.

Tori was born August 6, 1979 in Guilford County to James Robert and Elizabeth Ann Craven Gilliland. Tori had a good, giving heart and always tried to help others. She enjoyed fishing with her family, abstract art, and shopping online. Most of all, Tori loved spending time with her family and friends. In addition to her father, Tori is preceded in death by her husband, Lance Russell.

She is survived by her children, Cody Russell of Seagrove, Kayden Russell of Seagrove; stepdaughter, Alyssa Russell of Liberty; grandchildren, Camreigh and Caleum Russell of Liberty; mother, Ann Craven Gilliland of Seagrove; maternal grandfather, Clayton Craven; brother, Jason (Mandy) Gilliland of Champaign, IL; sister, Lisa (Dale) Stevens of Debary, FL; nephew, Andrew Gilliland and her best friend, Terri Smith Leonard.

Service arrangements are incomplete at this time.

Michael Paul “Mike” Jordan, age 62, of Asheboro passed away on Wednesday, February 23, 2022 at his home.

Mr. Jordan was born in Kannapolis on March 20, 1959 to Paul Curtis and Linda Harrington Jordan. He retired, after 23 years of service, from the U.S. Postal Service as a Rural Postal Carrier in Greensboro. Mike loved his Lord and Savior and reading the Bible, and was a member of Friendship Baptist Church in Asheboro. He was preceded in death by his father. Mike loved fishing and the beach. Mike had a great sense of humor and loved to joke around and cut up. Mike loved sports, especially baseball and football. He also loved music and reading.

He is survived by his wife of 43 years, Ginger Yow Jordan; children, Allison Page Jordan (Josh Harris) of Asheboro and Andrew Michael Jordan (Ashley) of Asheboro; grandchildren, Lily and Brock Harris, and Ryleigh Jordan; mother, Linda Harrington Jordan of Taylorsville; sister, Amy Fox of Taylorsville; and several nieces and nephews.

A celebration of Mike’s life will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to The Salvation Army, P.O. Box 1366, Asheboro, NC 27204 or the Randolph SPCA, 300 W. Bailey St., Asheboro, NC 27203.

Patty Jean Brigman Cook, 79, of Asheboro, passed away Sunday, February 20, 2022 at Universal Healthcare of Ramseur.

Patty Jean Brigman Cook was born on June 25th, 1942 in Richmond County, NC. She was the fourth of seven children from Author and Ethel Brigman of Ellerbe.

Patty Jean had worked at Richmond Yarns, Russell Hosiery, Ellerbe Springs and worked as a volunteer at Ellerbe Rescue Squad for more than 10 years. She helped babysit grandchildren for years.

Patty enjoyed pets and loved to rescue cats. She also had competed beagles in field trials. Later she enjoyed spending time reading, doing puzzles, watching Nascar, and eating out with friends and family.

In addition to her parents, Patty was preceded in death by her husband, Hubert Wright Cook, brothers, LaGrand and Jimmy Zack Brigman, and granddaughter, Beth Cook.

She is survived by her Daughter, Kathy Cook Walker (Dr. Bill Walker); Step sons, Ted “Squirrell” Cook (Geri) and Ronnie Cook (Ruth Ann) all of Asheboro; Granddaughter, Camilla Morton and Dylan Sexton of Myrtle Beach, SC; Step Grandchildren, Megan Walker (Chris Brouillard) of Brown Summit and John Walker-Coltrane (Robert) of Jamestown, Chris Cook of Randleman, Tiffany Luther and Laura Lynn Ching of Asheboro; Sisters, Sally Beaman of Ellerbe, Sarah Maddry of Rutherfordton, Nan Stout (George) of Greensboro, and Jackie Laqmond (Manuel) of Ellerbe; Brother in law, Michael Blackmon of Franklinville.

1956 - 2022

Beverly Wilkins Hooker, 65, of Asheboro, passed away on February 20, 2022.

She was born on July 13, 1956 in Fayette County, GA. Beverly’s greatest work was operating a group home for years and she loves her girls dearly.

Beverly is survived by her husband, Dougald Hooker; adopted grandson, Christian D. Hill (Little Man); brother, Scott Wilkins and various brothers and sisters.

She was preceded in death by her parents, John and Virgie Wilkins.

The family will hold a service at a later date.

Marie Garner Pugh 1927 - 2022

Frances Marie Garner Pugh, 94, of Charlotte, NC, passed away peacefully on Friday, February 25, 2022, at home with family by her side.

Marie was born on October 29, 1927, in the mill town of Randleman, NC, to the late Colon and Iola Kirkman Garner. She grew up with a strong work ethic having worked in the hosiery mill 1945 - 2022 as a schoolgirl while still earning excellent grades with many years William Frederick Behr, age 76, of perfect attendance. Marie passed away February 25, 2022 at graduated in 1944 as salutatorian Randolph Hospice House. of Randolph High School. In 1947, William was a native of Marie married her high school Manhattan, NY and served in the sweetheart, Bob Pugh, a U.S. Navy US Navy during Vietnam War. He sailor who had returned from retired from American Express.

1942 - 2022 serving in the Pacific during WWII. William is survived by his Marie and Bob were married for 58 sisters: Claire Rutan (Harold) of JOANNE HILL DAVIS, 79 of years until his passing in 2005.

Randleman and Betty Schneider Asheboro passed peacefully into Marie is survived by her of FL.; brother: Richie Behr of the arms of her Savior Jesus Christ granddaughter, Elle Marie Allen, Randleman; other beloved family on Sunday, February 20, 2022 at and her husband Todd, and by her members, Bill, Tani, Thomas, Kindred Hospital. two beloved great-grandchildren, Andrew, Jim, Jess, Chris, Cindy, Bret Joanne was born and raised Kinsley and James Allen, all of and Holly. in Asheboro and she had proudly Charlotte. As well, she is survived The family will recieve friends served in the United States by two grandchildren in Alpharetta, 1971 - 2022 Thursday, March 3, 2022 from 1:00 Navy. Joanne had retired from GA, Ari and Ana Kazemi. Also -1:50 pm at Pugh Funeral Home, Technimark. She loved seeing surviving are her sisters-in-law Opal Sheila Mueller Clark, age 50, of 600 S. Main St., Randleman. The her family, reading her bible and Garner of Randleman, Jewel Lamb Asheboro passed away on Sunday, funeral service will follow at 2:00 studying His word. of Franklinville, and Donna Dennis February 20, 2022 at High Point pm in the chapel. Burial will be held Joanne is survived by her son of Kennesaw, GA. Many special Medical Center. at Salisbury National Cemetery on William Hutchings III and wife nieces and nephews survive her.

Mrs. Clark was born in Friday, March 4, 2022.

Jana, Grandchildren Brittany Hoke Marie was preceded in death by her Randolph County on August In lieu of flowers, please make and husband Matthew, William late husband, Robert Fitzugh Pugh, 31, 1971 to Peter Mueller and donations to, Victory Junction Hutchings IV and wife Katelyn, and both of her children, Douglas Janice Mueller Gregorek. In Camp, 4500 Adams Way, Courtney Herman and husband Robert Pugh and Joan Marie addition to her parents, Sheila was Randleman, NC 27317 or St. Jude Timothy. Great-Grandchildren, Pugh Kazemi. Marie was the last preceded in death by her husband, Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Isabella Hoke, Lucas Hoke and surviving Garner sibling and was Ronald Wayne Clark, brother, Memphis, TN. Ryker Hutchings. Brothers, Terry Randolph Record for Wednesday, predeceased by her sisters Bernice July Thomas Mueller, and her dog, Hill, (Drema), Kenneth Hill, McDonald, Louise Edmonds, and Sheila enjoyed reading Scooby.

(Anna), Glen Hill, Tommy Hill, Peggy Hall, and by her brother Jack and word games. She loved true (Gail), Sisters, Linda Ritter, (Roger), Garner. crime shows and going out to eat Randolph Record for Wednesday, July 7, 2021 Carolyn Allred, and many neices with her children and grandbaby. and nephews.

She is survived by her children, Joanne was preceded in death by Peter Mueller (Kayla), Kirsten Roger Davis, Parents, WEDNESDAY her husband, WEEKLY FORECAST Litz, Faye Clark, Waylon Clark, Paul and Hazel Hill, Brothers, and Aaron Clark; grandson, Bobby Hill, David Hill and Richard WEDNESDAY Elliot Mueller; half brother, WEEKLY FORECAST Hill.

Robert Mueller; aunt, Renate Auman; cousin, Stuart Clark; and mother-in-law, Cynthia “Mamaw” Williamson.

William F. Behr

Joanne Hill Davis

Sheila Mueller Clark

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STATE & NATION

Senators to watch as Supreme Court fight unfolds certainly vote against Jackson’s nomination, but his role will nonetheless be important as Republicans strategize over how much to criticize her and whether to throw up procedural hurdles to slow the nomination.

In a statement, Grassley congratulated Jackson and said he has “no intention of degrading the advice and consent role” of the Senate, referring to the bitter confirmation battles over Trump’s three Supreme Court nominees.

By Mary Clare Jalonick The Associated Press WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Joe Biden and Senate Democrats say they are hoping for a bipartisan vote to confirm Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court.

That won’t be easy, but some Republicans have expressed an openness to voting for Biden’s nominee, who currently sits on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit and would be the first black woman on the Supreme Court. Republican Sens. Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina voted last year to confirm Jackson for her current position.

As senators review Jackson’s record, some Republicans may drop hints about whether they are willing to vote for Jackson, who would replace liberal Justice Stephen Breyer. But senators in both parties often withhold their support until after they meet with the nominee and confirmation hearings are held.

Democrats will also keep an eye on their own moderate flank, Sens. Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona.

Neither has indicated, so far, that they would vote against Biden’s choice, and they have voted for all his other nominees.

Senators to watch as the confirmation process begins: Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Dick Durbin made one of his first calls to Collins after Justice Stephen Breyer announced that he will retire this summer. The Maine senator, who voted against Justice Amy Coney Barrett, former President Donald Trump’s nominee for Supreme Court in 2020, is perhaps Demo-

Senate Republican Leader Mitch Mcconnell, R-Ky.

JACQUELYN MARTIN | AP PHOTO

Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, leaves a policy luncheon, on Feb., 17, 2022, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. crats’ best chance for a Republican crossover vote.

“I’m reaching out to the Republicans and saying the nominee will be available for you to get to know them,” and answer any questions, Durbin said then of his conversation with Collins, who is a moderate. She responded that she appreciated the offer.

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C. Graham pushed Biden to pick a South Carolinian — federal district court Judge J. Michelle Childs. While the White House said Childs was under consideration, the president eventually picked the more experienced Jackson instead.

He said earlier this month that if the nominee wasn’t Childs, whom he considers more moder-

ate than Jackson, his vote would be more “problematic.”

Graham said he was also pushing Childs because she had not attended college or law school at Harvard or Yale, unlike Jackson and almost every justice on the court. “The Harvard-Yale train to the Supreme Court continues to run unabated,” Graham said in a statement after Biden’s announcement.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska Along with Collins, Murkowski is one of the most moderate Republican members of the Senate and has expressed concerns about whether the court could overturn the landmark Roe v. Wade decision guaranteeing a right to an abortion. But she is up for reelection this year in her conservative

state, and she has signaled she may not be inclined to cross party lines.

In a statement Friday, she said she looks forward to meeting with Jackson but “I’ve been clear that previously voting to confirm an individual to a lower court does not signal how I will vote for a Supreme Court justice.” In January, she told Alaska station KDLL that “there is a pretty tangible difference between being on a district court, a circuit court and the Supreme Court.”

Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa Grassley, the top Republican on the Judiciary panel, is a longtime member of the committee and oversaw the confirmation of two of Trump’s three picks as the then-chairman. He will almost

Like Grassley, McConnell is unlikely to vote for Jackson. But his comments on her nomination will signal to the rest of the conference how to proceed as they decide how aggressively to oppose it.

McConnell questioned Jackson’s productivity on the appeals court and the support for her from some liberal advocacy groups. But he has also tried to dissuade his colleagues from bringing up her race after several of them criticized Biden for saying he would nominate a Black woman.

“Honestly, I did not think that was inappropriate,” McConnell said earlier this week. He promised the nominee will be “respectfully vetted.”

Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., and Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, D-Ariz.

Manchin and Sinema drew the ire of liberal groups, and many of their fellow Democrats, after they helped block a wide-ranging package of Biden’s signature policy goals. But that opposition has not carried over to Biden’s judicial nominees, as both senators have voted for every single one of them.

Neither has given any indication they will oppose his Supreme Court pick.

NTSB: Plane that crashed off NC coast made no distress calls

By Ben Finley The Associated Press MOREHEAD CITY — A plane carrying eight people — including four teenagers — had issued no distress calls and made no declarations of an emergency before it crashed off the North Carolina coast, the National Transportation Safety Board said in a preliminary accident report released Friday.

The single-engine Pilatus PC12/47 went down in the Atlantic Ocean on Feb. 13 near the southern edge of the Outer Banks. Everyone onboard died.

The six passengers were from Carteret County and were returning from a charity hunting event.

The plane had taken off from the Hyde County Airport on the mainland and was headed south to Beaufort, which is the Carteret County seat.

During the flight, the plane’s pilot had been in contact with air traffic controllers because they told him he was about to enter restricted airspace where a military aircraft was flying, the report said.

“After multiple calls with no response from the pilot, the control-

WCTI-TV VIA AP

Carteret County Sheriff Asa Buck speaks with reporters in Carteret County, on Monday, Feb. 14, 2022. ler instructed the military aircraft in the restricted airspace to remain above 4,000 (feet),” the report stated.

The pilot later told the air traffic controllers that he didn’t respond to their calls because he “’was trying to get out’” and was unable to receive the radio transmissions, the report stated.

The pilot was eventually cleared for an approach to a runway at Michael J. Smith Field Airport in Beaufort, the report said. There were more radio exchanges about the plane’s direction and altitude.

The controller told the pilot that the airplane was at 1,700 feet and was supposed to maintain an altitude of 1,900 feet.

“The pilot read back the altimeter setting correctly, and that was the last transmission from the airplane,” the report stated.

Shortly after 2 p.m., the report stated that “the controller called the airplane and asked what altitude it was at because the airplane was at 4,700 (feet, mean sea level) and climbing quickly.”

There was no response, and radar contact was lost, the report said.

“Throughout the communication with air traffic control, there were no distress calls or a declaration of emergency from the airplane,” the report stated.

Divers found the plane’s fuselage and cabin about 3 miles from shore in about 55 feet of water.

Human remains were removed as well as equipment and instruments that could help investigators determine the cause of the crash, Carteret County Sheriff Asa Buck told reporters last week.

Carteret County includes communities such as Emerald Isle and Atlantic Beach as well as the Cape Lookout National Seashore.

But the mostly rural county is also home to older fishing villages. The four teenagers went to East Cart-

eret High School, which has about 600 students.

The sheriff’s office identified the adults on board the plane as pilot Ernest Durwood Rawls, 67, of Greenville; Jeffrey Worthington Rawls, 28, of Greenville; Stephanie Ann McInnis Fulcher, 42, of Sea Level; and Douglas Hunter Parks, 45, of Sea Level.

The teenagers were identified as Jonathan Kole McInnis, 15, of Sea Level; Noah Lee Styron, 15, of Cedar Island; Michael Daily Shepard, 15, of Atlantic; and Jacob Nolan Taylor, 16, of Atlantic.

Charlie Snow, a close friend of the pilot, told The Associated Press last week that Ernest Rawls and passenger Jeff Rawls were father and son.

The elder Rawls had previously flown for Snow’s company, Outer Banks Airlines, and was highly trained and extremely capable, Snow said.

“If anybody could get out of something, if it was possible to get out of it, he could have done it,” Snow said during a telephone interview. “So it makes me think that whatever happened was catastrophic. But you know, it’s just speculation.”

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Stanly County Journal

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Albemarle’s Ty Rankin tries to block the shot of Uwharrie Charter’s Jordan Harrison in the first round of the 1A West playoffs at Uwharrie Charter Academy in Asheboro on Feb.22, 2022.

BASKETBALL SEASON ENDS Six Stanly County high school basketball teams made the state playoffs this season. Three boys’ teams (North Stanly, Albemarle and West Stanly) and three girls’ teams (North Stanly, Albemarle and Gray Stone) received bids to play in the North Carolina High School Athletic Association 2021-22 championships. Just one team — the Albemarle girls — survived the second round. The Lady Bulldogs bowed out with a third-round loss to Murphy on Saturday.

WHAT’S HAPPENING 124-year-old jewelry store closes Starnes Jewelers, in downtown Albemarle, announced last month that it was closing its doors after 124 years of serving customers in the area. Owner Gene Starnes, 80, held a going out of business sale in February but said he will remain open until he sells out his inventory, which could take weeks. He has run the store since the 1970s.

His grandfather originally opened the store in 1898.

Starnes has no children to pass it to and didn’t want to sell to a jewelry store chain. In a February 7 Facebook post, the story announced a retirement sale and said, “Come in and get a piece of history.”

Police rescue woman who gets stuck trying to hide from them Stanfield Police went to the home of Kaila Garcia, 29, last week, to arrest her on multiple felony warrants, including using counterfeit money, according to reports from local law enforcement. After surrounding the house, police couldn’t locate Garcia, even with the use of K9 dogs. While it seemed that she’d found the perfect hiding spot, behind a bathroom cabinet, her plan soon went awry when she got stuck and couldn’t get back out. Police had to rescue her from behind the cabinet, then took her into custody.

Stanly Community College signs agreement with Mount Olive Stanly Community College and the University of Mount Olive recently signed an agreement allowing SCC Agribusiness graduates to easily transfer into the University’s bachelor’s degree program as a junior.

SCC has other agreements with four-year institutions, aimed at simplifying and streamlining the transfer process and minimizing the duplication of coursework. This is the first agreement for the Agribusiness program, which began in 2016.

Mount Olive is the only private institution in the state offering multiple bachelor’s degrees in agriculture.

Bishop will seek re-election in new 8th, Hudson moves to 9th

By David Larson Stanly County Journal ALBEMARLE — The redistricting process in North Carolina has taken many twists and turns, but in what appears to be its likely end, Stanly County will be part of North Carolina’s 8th U.S. Congressional District.

The last remaining question is whether the U.S. Supreme Court will take up an appeal from the state’s Republican leaders. If they do, the districts may again shift, creating a very short window for candidates to file and for voters to get to know these candidates, as primaries for the 2022 midterms happen in May. The current maps were imposed by the state Supreme Court, working through the Wake County Superior Court,

after they deemed both the original maps drawn by the legislature in 2021 and the later redraw early this month to be partisan gerrymanders favoring Republicans. The new maps, which are only for use in the 2022 elections, were drawn not by the legislature, but by a panel of “special masters” chosen by the courts.

Only one candidate has filed to run for the new 8th District seat as of March 1, U.S. Rep. Dan Bishop, a Republican who currently represents much of the territory in the new 8th District.

Bishop is already a U.S. congressman, representing the 9th District under older maps, a district that ran from the southern suburbs of Charlotte along the border with South Carolina east through Robeson County.

Rep. Richard Hudson, the Republican congressman currently representing Stanly County, will now seek re-election in the new 9th District, which is just east of the 8th. His old district included Fort Bragg and other areas to the east of Stanly, and Hudson decided that’s where he could best serve after spending a lot of his time in Congress working on military and veteran issues.

If the U.S. Supreme Court declines to take up the case, the filing deadline to run for any of these seats will close March 4.

While Bishop is currently running alone, it is possible another candidate will jump in the race

by Friday’s deadline.

The district, however, is highly favorable to Republicans, with analysis provided by the courts showing that a composite of re-

“Activist judges have subverted our constitution.”

U.S. Rep. Dan Bishop, Republican running in the new 8th District, on the courts drawing their own maps to replace ones drawn by the legislature. cent races predicts the 8th District to yield 66% of the vote to Republicans and 33% to Democrats. This means whoever wins the Republican primary will be See HUDSON, page 2

COVID-19 numbers for Stanly County continue downward trajectory

By Jesse Deal Stanly County Journal ALBEMARLE — David Jenkins, director of the Stanly County Health Department, presented the county’s COVID-19 data at the Stanly County Board of Commissioners meeting on Feb. 21, showing that the latest statistics are now heading in the right direction after what was a turbulent start to the year.

As of March 1, the county health department is reporting an 8.0% positivity rate with 13 current hospitalizations and 15 new cases; there have been 19,289 reported cases and 265 deaths in total based on figures provided by the N.C. Department of Health of Human Services.

The positivity rate had reached 38.1% in late January.

“Our numbers have decreased significantly in our cases, which is a great direction to be trending in. It’s what we’ve been wanting to see for a while with this latest variant,” Jenkins said. “We

had our latest spike of Omicron which occurred at the first of this year. Now we’re trending on the other side of that and we’re matching up in Stanly County with the state as far as trends are concerned. It’s good to see those numbers improve.”

The county vaccination rate is at 47% for the first dose and 44% for the second dose, while the state averages are at 65% and 61%, respectively. Each of those four percentages have gone up 2% since the beginning of January.

There have been 2,822 breakthrough cases and 22 breakthrough deaths in Stanly County — figures that have increased since the tally of 708 breakthrough cases and nine breakthrough deaths as reported on Jan. 3. At the board meeting, Jenkins presented a graph detailing that all 22 breakthrough deaths have occurred within the 60-and-over age range, with 21 of them in the 70-and-over range.

“Around December of 2020

The county vaccination rate is at 47% for the first dose and 44% for the second dose, while the state averages are at 65% and 61%, respectively. Each of those four percentages have gone up 2% since the beginning of January. into January of 2021, we had our largest amount of deaths, then we saw the Delta spike in the fall of 2021 into the beginning of 2022,” Jenkins said. “The landscape has changed in this pandemic from two weeks ago and even two months ago…the weaker Omicron variant is now dominant and the overall disease burden has decreased.”

Despite the rising number in breakthrough cases and deaths,

the health department is reporting that a substantial number — 91.7% — of all the COVID-19 deaths in the county have been unvaccinated individuals.

The department is still offering free vaccinations throughout the week. The Pfizer vaccine is available on Mondays for children aged 5 to 11 and on Wednesdays for those 12 and older, while the Moderna vaccine is available on Tuesdays for those 18 and older.

The Stanly County Board of Commissioners will meet again at its next regularly-scheduled meeting on March 7 at 6 p.m. where it will receive an updated public data presentation from the health department.

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Nearly half of Biden’s 500M free COVID tests still unclaimed The Associated Press WASHINGTON, D.C. — Nearly half of the 500 million free COVID-19 tests the Biden administration recently made available to the public still have not been claimed as virus cases plummet and people feel less urgency to test.

Wild demand swings have been a subplot in the pandemic, from vaccines to hand sanitizer, along with tests. On the first day of the White House test giveaway in January, COVIDtests. gov received over 45 million orders. Now officials say fewer than 100,000 orders a day are coming in for the packages of four free rapid tests per household.

Still, the White House sees the program as a step toward a deeper, yet more elastic, testing infrastructure that will accommodate demand surges and remain on standby when cases wane. “We totally intend to sustain this market,” Dr. Tom Inglesby, testing adviser to the COVID-19 response

team, told The Associated Press.

“We know the market is volatile and will come up and down with surges in variants.”

The White House says Americans have placed 68 million orders for packages of tests, which leaves about 46% of the stock of tests still available to be ordered.

Testing will become more important with mask requirements now easing, say some independent experts. “If infection control is still our priority, testing is central,” said Dr. Leana Wen, a former Baltimore health commissioner and commentator on the pandemic. “Four tests per household for one family will only last you one time. There should be enough tests for families to test twice a week.”

Private insurers are now required to cover eight free rapid tests per person, per month.

Medicare coverage will start in the spring. The administration has also been making free athome tests available through libraries, clinics and other com-

“There is no question some people found out they were positive from taking one of these tests and were able to keep other people from getting infected.”

Tim Manning, supply coordinator for the COVID-19 response team munity venues. Capacity for the more accurate PCR tests performed by labs has been built up.

The White House recently put out a request to industry for ideas on how to sustain and expand domestic testing for the rest of this year.

Wen says people still need a guide for when to test and how often. “Right now it is still unclear,” she said.

President Joe Biden’s pivot to testing came under duress as

the omicron variant gained force just before Christmas. Tests were frustratingly hard to come by, and expensive. The White House is sensitive to criticism that help may have come too late.

“There is no question some people found out they were positive from taking one of these tests and were able to keep other people from getting infected,” said Tim Manning, supply coordinator for the COVID-19 response team.

Overall about 20% to 25% of the tests have gone to people in distressed areas, officials said.

Now that demand is way down, it’s unclear what will happen to the White House giveaway program.

Although the program is still in its infancy, analyst Lindsey Dawson of the Kaiser Family Foundation believes its legacy may lie in familiarizing more people with testing. “It may get someone comfortable with utilizing the tests, thinking about how they might use testing in their lives,” she said.

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HUDSON from page 1 the presumptive general election winner as well.

Bishop has close ties to powerful Republicans in the state, having served in both the N.C. House and Senate; and nationally, having been a close ally of former President Donald Trump. With these connections, a strong fundraising advantage, experience in Congress and high nameID in many of the other counties in the 8th District, Bishop is widely seen as the favorite to be Stanly County’s next congressional representative.

Bishop made very clear that while he will happily represent the new counties included in his new district, he did not look favorably on how these maps were drawn.

“Activist judges have subverted our constitution,” he said in a press release, adding that he was considering running for statewide judicial office instead.

He decided to file again for U.S. Congress instead of for the state’s courts, but he said on Twitter that believed the constitutional order needed to be restored after the state’s Democrat-majority Supreme Court usurped the Republican legislature’s constitutional duty to draw the districts.

“I’m running because next year we can finally take back the House, fire Nancy Pelosi, and stop Joe Biden from inflicting any more damage to our country,” Bishop said in a statement when he filed.

Bishop concluded by saying that he and his wife, Jo, were “excited to meet voters across Montgomery and Stanly Counties [since he has already represented the other counties in the new 8th] and we hope to earn their trust and yours in the days ahead.”

DAVID DERMER | AP PHOTO

Youngstown City Health Department worker Faith Terreri grabs two at-home COVID-19 test kits to be handed out during a distribution event, Dec. 30, 2021, in Youngstown, Ohio.

WEEKLY CRIME LOG

♦ Fahy, Harry Michael (W /M/25), arrested 2/28/2022 on the primary charge of Misdemeanor Probation Viol by Stanly County Sheriff`S Office. ♦ Jackson, Deon Novell (B /M/47), arrested 2/28/2022 on the primary charge of Assault On Female by Stanly County Sheriff`S Office. ♦ Mccullough, Dequonda Yvette (B /F/38), arrested 2/28/2022 on the primary charge of Simple

Possess Sch VI CS (M) by Stanly County Sheriff`S Office. ♦ Mcmanus, Jasper Ray (W /M/30), arrested 2/28/2022 on the primary charge of Possess Methamphetamine by Stanly County Sheriff`S Office. ♦ Winburn, Cecily Michelle (W /F/24), arrested 2/28/2022 on the primary charge of Fta Release Order by Stanly County Sheriff`S Office.

♦ Garcia, Kaila Marie (W /F/29), arrested 2/25/2022 on the primary charge of Financial Card Theft by Stanly County Sheriff`S Office. ♦ Musselwhite, Tyler Ryan (W /M/30), arrested 2/25/2022 on the primary charge of Possess Methamphetamine by Stanly County Sheriff`S Office. ♦ Snapp, Rachael Elaine (W /F/26), arrested

2/25/2022 on the primary charge of Felony Conspiracy by Stanly County Sheriff`S Office. ♦ Hiatt, Tina Marie (W /F/33), arrested 2/23/2022 on the primary charge of Forgery Of Instrument by Stanly County Sheriff`S Office. ♦ Talbert, Derek RYAN (W /M/32), arrested 2/23/2022 on the primary charge of Possess Stolen Motor Vehicle by Stanly County Sheriff`S Office.

DEATH NOTICES

♦ Kimberly Hendrix Solaris, 43, of Midland, died Friday, February 25, 2022. ♦ Thomas Joseph Kean died February 27, 2022 at his daughter’s home in

Charlotte. ♦ Ralph Eugene Morgan, 92, of Midland, died February 23, 2022, at his home. ♦ Gerald Lloyd Furr, 77, of

Albemarle, died Sunday, February 20, 2022 at Atrium Health Stanly in Albemarle. ♦ Gordon “Pete” Glenn Almond, 87, of New

London, died Sunday, February 20, 2022 at his home.

See OBITS, page 7

Stanly County Journal for Wednesday, March 2, 2022

OPINION Neal Robbins, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor VISUAL VOICES

COLUMN | REP. RICHARD HUDSON

Energy security is national security

One thing is certain – the crisis in Ukraine shows American energy independence and border security have never been more important.

“FREEDOM IS NEVER more than a generation away from extinction.”

Ronald Reagan gave us this warning as then-California Governor in 1967. At that time, the Cold War was at its peak and the United States was in the midst of an incredibly tense global standoff.

Unfortunately, the Russian invasion of Ukraine and our current foreign policy threatens to plunge the world into this level of uncertainty once again.

Last week, the world watched as Vladimir Putin started a war in Ukraine. This is something many thought we would never see in the 21st century and reminds us of President Reagan’s warning.

Russia’s actions this past week mark the country’s second invasion of Ukraine in less than a decade and a clear violation of international law. The images we see of the suffering and destruction are heartbreaking; Renee and I join our nation in praying for all the people of Ukraine.

To be clear, I do not support sending U.S. troops into Ukraine.

Yet, as I have called for throughout this impending crisis, it is now past time to take decisive action to hold Russia accountable.

This week, I will urge my colleagues in Congress to pass even harsher sanctions on Russia than those proposed by President Joe Biden. Potential options include sanctioning the Russian Central Bank, removing Russian banks from the SWIFT payment system, and crippling Russia’s key industries. The eyes of the world are watching what we do next, including adversaries like China and Iran.

One thing is certain – the crisis in Ukraine shows American

energy independence and border security have never been more important.

Europe’s reliance on Russian fuel has been a security threat for years. That’s why I introduced legislation opposing Russia’s Nord Stream II gas pipeline in May and lead European leaders in condemning the project as far back as 2018. Unfortunately, President Biden waived sanctions passed by Congress on Nord Stream II earlier this year— emboldening Russia and giving them more leverage over Europe.

In 2019, under President Donald Trump, America became a net exporter of energy for the first time in 70 years. President Biden’s policies of cancelling the Keystone XL pipeline, limiting permits, and increasing regulations stifled American energy production and drove gas prices to a 7-year high. Like Europe, these policies have also made the U.S. more reliant on foreign countries for energy, including Russia. Because of this, President Biden warned last week that the situation in Ukraine will lead to even higher gas prices affecting you and your family.

We must reverse this energy and job-killing agenda. That’s why last week, I introduced a resolution urging President Biden to take immediate action to restore American energy independence, create American jobs, and sell more natural gas to our allies in Europe.

Energy security is national security. I will continue to closely monitor the events in Europe and the impact they have on our economy and our Fort Bragg community. And I will also continue pushing for American energy independence so our nation and allies never need to be hostage to countries like Russia ever again.

COLUMN | DAVID HARSANYI

Biden’s Putin appeasement has been years in the making Outside of empty braggadocio, meant to contrast himself with Trump, Biden has done little to uphold his promise of deterring Russian expansion.

“ONE SMALL THING to be thankful for is that DJT is not in the White House as the Ukraine crisis unfolds. He’d side with Russia,” tweeted Francis Fukuyama, author of “The End of History and the Last Man.” The headline on Eugene Robinson’s Washington Post column reads, “With Biden standing firm, Putin must wonder: Where’s Trump when I need him?” You could find similar sentiment from foreign-policy experts strewn across social media.

Surely, even former President Donald Trump’s most passionate antagonists must be slightly curious as to why Russian President Vladimir Putin, the real villain of this tale, didn’t move on eastern Ukraine after successfully installing the orange man as an alleged infiltrator in the White House. What better time could there have been for an invasion or annexation? Why now and not then?

Then again, the notion that President Joe Biden has shown firmness or deftness on foreign policy is at odds with not only recent events — most notably the disastrous pullout from Afghanistan — but also 50 years of his history. On the issue of Putin, Biden has been relentlessly wrong.

In 2009, Biden went to Munich and delivered the Obama administration’s first major foreign-policy speech, arguing that it was “time to press the reset button” after eight years of purported American antagonism toward Russia. It was Biden who then spearheaded the effort to reward Moscow by giving Russia access to the World Trade Organization. He told nominal Russian president Dmitri Medvedev that Russia’s access to the WTO was “the most important item on our agenda.” At the time, a Reuters headline announced, “Biden backs Russia WTO bid, praises Medvedev.”

Biden loves to take credit for Obama-era foreign policies. Well, it was the Obama administration that also spent years trying to kill the Magnitsky Act, which listed corrupt Russian officials and barred them from American financial markets, before bipartisan pressure compelled them to flip-flop. In his book “Red Notice,” Bill Browder, the driving force behind the act, wrote that “ever since Barack Obama had become president, the main policy of the U.S. government toward Russia had been one of appeasement.”

Even before Obama was caught on a hot mic telling Putin’s puppet Medvedev that he would have more “flexibility” on missile defense after the 2012 presidential election, he had already canceled long-promised missile-defense systems to our allies in Poland and the Czech Republic. It was the Trump administration that approved

the sale of a Patriot missile system to Poland. For that matter, it was Trump who, finally, approved the sale of defensive lethal weapons to Ukraine. And it wasn’t during a potential invasion.

Indeed, Democrats didn’t merely mock Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney in 2012 as an out-of-touch amateur for maintaining that Russia was our top geopolitical threat; they sent a smug Biden to appear on the Sunday-morning news shows, where he depicted the Putin kleptocracy as a burgeoning ally and partner.

Though “we have disagreements with Russia,” Biden noted, they were “working closely with us” on a slew of issues. “This is not 1956,” he scoffed, a few years before Putin’s special forces dropped into Crimea.

Obama also allowed Russia to operate with impunity in Syria, almost surely to protect the prospects of the Iran deal. Trump, unencumbered by the need to kowtow to the Iranians, killed a few hundred Russian mercenaries in Syria. Perhaps a policy of deterrence and strength, rather than appeasement, works.

“Putin knows that when I am president of the United States, his days of tyranny and trying to intimidate the United States and those in Eastern Europe are over,” Biden warned during the presidential campaign.

Outside of empty braggadocio, meant to contrast himself with Trump, Biden has done little to uphold his promise of deterring Russian expansion. In his first year in office, the president who promised to stop “rolling over in the face of Russia’s aggressive actions” killed the Keystone pipeline, which would have left us less susceptible to the vagaries of the international energy market. Biden also strengthened Putin’s hand by waiving Trump-era sanctions on a company building the Nord Stream 2 pipeline from Russia to Germany.

Last year, Biden sent Secretary of State Antony Blinken to the Arctic Council for another shot at a “reset,” in which, as Bloomberg explained it, “Joe Biden and Vladimir Putin can reinvigorate U.S.Russia relations that have been in a deep freeze for years.” Same approach, another bust.

The United States isn’t going to go to war over Donetsk or Luhansk — or even uncontested areas (for lack of a better term) of Ukraine. And perhaps there is little that Biden can do at this point to reverse Putin’s advances. It is also true that Trump’s rhetorical obsequiousness toward Putin was often cringe-worthy and despicable. Yet the fact is that Trump’s foreign policy, in action, was more successful. Biden’s policy appeasement, on the other hand, has been a 15-year project.

It’s no surprise that Putin thinks this is the time to strike.

David Harsanyi is a senior writer at National Review and author of “Eurotrash: Why America Must Reject the Failed Ideas of a Dying Continent.”

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Stanly County Journal for Wednesday, March 2, 2022

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SPORTS SIDELINE REPORT FOOTBALL

Original USFL execs sue Fox over new league's branding Los Angeles A group of former team owners and executives from the original USFL is suing Fox Sports to halt the launch of the new spring football league with the same name, alleging the new USFL is inappropriately using the old league's branding.

The complaint alleges trademark infringement, false advertising and false association by the new league. The group is seeking an injunction to prevent the new league from using any names or logos associated with the defunct league. The original USFL played games from 1983 to 1985, and the group suing the new league alleges Fox Sports and its partners didn't properly obtain use of the league's trademarks and other intellectual property.

GAMBLING

Bill unveiled to legalize sports betting in Kentucky Frankfort, Ky. Supporters of legalizing sports betting in Kentucky are taking another swing at passing the proposal — this time teaming it with a package of gamblingrelated measures. Similar sports wagering bills died in previous sessions, reflecting the divisiveness of gambling issues in the Bluegrass State.

Supporters of previous bills estimated that legalizing sports wagering would generate about $22 million in yearly revenue. They say the measure is needed to stop Kentuckians from flocking to neighboring states that allow sports betting. The bill unveiled Monday seeks to legalize most forms of sports wagering and regulate the taxation of all online gambling, including fantasy sports and online poker.

MARCIO JOSE SANCHEZ | AP PHOTO

Kyle Larson, bottom right, leads the field during Sunday's NASCAR Cup Series race at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California.

Larson knocked teammate Chase Elliott, pictured behind Larson, out of contention on a move that drew criticism from Elliott.

Larson, Elliott provide early-season Cup drama The Hendrick Motorsports teammates got tangled up during Larson’s win Sunday at Fontana The Associated Press FONTANA, Calif. — A substantial collision between the Cup Series’ defending champion and its most popular driver would be pretty juicy stuff under any circumstances.

Add in the fact that they’re teammates, and NASCAR has a downright tantalizing storyline to follow just two races into the new season.

Kyle Larson sent Chase Elliott into the fence when they made contact Sunday with just under 20 laps to go at Auto Club Speedway. Elliott’s bold move to take the lead was erased when Larson, who had been side drafting off Joey Logano to stay in front, came briskly up the track and pinched

Elliott into the wall.

Larson went on to claim his first victory of the season, even surviving a chaotic restart with four laps left on an entertaining day for the circuit’s new cars on its oldest asphalt.

The restart was even more spicy because it was caused by Elliott, whose spin with eight laps to go was deemed suspicious by plenty of NASCAR fans.

After claiming his second surfboard trophy, Larson realized everybody wanted to know about his contact with his furious fellow Hendrick Motorsports superstar.

Larson patiently repeated that the contact was a mistake, not a block — but that Elliott also deserved a measure of blame.

Larson called it “probably a small bump in the road” for the teammates, but he thinks the next few days should reveal if the bump is getting bigger.

“I think if (more) things happen in the future, then yes, it gets out of

hand,” Larson said. “But Hendrick Motorsports, I don’t think, will ever let it get to that point, and we have enough respect for each other that I don’t think it will get out of hand at all. ... He’s going to be upset, which he has a right to be, but I’ll explain my side, and he’ll believe me or he won’t.”

The Hendrick meeting rooms back in North Carolina should be tremendously entertaining on Monday and Tuesday as the two teams sort out the hard feelings and examine the motives in this drama from the race closest to Hollywood.

Larson repeatedly expressed regret but speculated it probably won’t make Elliott feel much better. Larson’s spotter, Tyler Monn, tried to take the blame for the collision on Twitter, saying he was paying too much attention to Logano.

“They’re great teammates, always have been, and I know we’re all good teammates together,” said

Cliff Daniels, Larson’s crew chief.

“Like he said, that’s nothing that (Larson) would ever do intentionally, and that’s a tough racing deal.

I don’t blame Chase at all for what could have been the race-winning move, and he just told his side of the story.”

Still, Elliott’s radio communication left no doubt about his immediate feelings on the move that ruined his day: An exasperated Elliott profanely asked his team what Larson was doing with his big swerve up high.

Even more intriguingly, Elliott told his team shortly before his spin that he suspected his toe link would break for the second time in the race, and that he “(didn’t) really give a (expletive) who is leading the race.”

Larson and Daniels immediately dismissed the notion Elliott would spin on purpose. The teams had brief communication in the paddock after the race, but more dialogue is coming.

“I think certainly nothing intentional there by Kyle,” Hendrick Motorsports general manager Jeff Andrews said. “I know we’ll go back and talk about it in our meetings tomorrow and Tuesday, and we’ll look at all the facts and we’ll look at what happened, and we’ll talk about it as a company.”

NBA

Simmons unlikely to play in return to Philly New York Brooklyn coach Steve Nash doesn't expect Ben Simmons to practice this week, making it unlikely the former 76ers star will be ready to play when the Nets visit Philadelphia on March 10. The Nets are hopeful Kevin Durant will return from his left knee sprain later this week, but it appears Simmons is still a ways off after not playing at all this season.

His back began bothering him as he tried to increase his workload, and Nash said Monday before the Nets played Toronto that Simmons is unlikely to practice this week.

SOCCER

Russia suspended from international soccer Geneva Russian teams were suspended Monday from all international soccer, including qualifying matches for the 2022 World Cup, as Moscow was pushed toward pariah status in sports for its invasion of Ukraine. World soccer body FIFA and European authority UEFA banned Russian national and club teams from their competitions "until further notice." Russia's men's national team had been scheduled to play in World Cup qualifying playoffs in just three weeks' time.

Ukraine athletes defend country, demand sanctions for Russia Athletes from about two dozen countries also signed a letter to Olympic and Paralympic leaders The Associated Press EARLIER THIS MONTH, Ukrainian skeleton rider Vladyslav Heraskevych flashed a sign at the Olympics: “No war in Ukraine.”

On Sunday, he was hunkered down about 90 miles outside of his nation’s capital with weapons nearby in case he needs to defend his country.

NBC VIA AP “I am a student,” the 23-year-old said in a phone interview with The Vladyslav Heraskevych of Ukraine holds a sign that reads "No War Associated Press. “I am not experi- in Ukraine" after finishing a run at the men's skeleton competition enced in these type of things. But I last month at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing. am ready to stand strong and help in any way I can.”

With Russian troops encircling on the letter were four-time Olym- emboldening both Russia and Bethe capital of Kyiv, Heraskevych pian Paula Radcliffe of Britain, larus violation of international law was among a rapidly growing list six-time Olympian Clara Hughes and your own Charters,” the letter of athletes from Ukraine and about of Canada, two-time Paralympian read.

The advocacy group Global Athtwo dozen other countries who Greta Neimanas and Beckie Scott, sent an open letter to Olympic and the Canadian Olympic champion lete helped coordinate the letter, Paralympic leaders, urging them who served a long term as head of which also was signed by sliders to immediately suspend the Rus- the World Anti-Doping Agency’s from the U.S., Latvia and the Netherlands, members of the Russian sian and Belarusian Olympic and athlete commission.

There were 34 Ukrainian ath- fencing team, an independent athParalympic Committees.

“Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, letes’ names listed on the letter, letes’ group from Germany and the supported by Belarus, is a clear many signing on behalf of their en- Belarus Sport Solidarity Athletes breach of the Olympic and Paralym- tire sports federations. The letter Federation.

The International Olympic Compic Charters — a breach that must said more Ukrainians would have be met with strong sanctions,” said signed but “it has been a challenge mittee has condemned Russia’s inthe letter addressed to IOC Presi- to speak with all athletes from vasion of Ukraine, saying it violatdent Thomas Bach and his counter- Ukraine as they are seeking safety ed the Olympic Truce. It has called on international federations to canpart on the International Paralym- in bomb shelters.”

“If the IOC and IPC refuse to cel or move events planned in Ruspic Committee, Andrew Parsons.

Among those putting their names take swift action, you are clearly sia and Belarus and to stop using

“It’s quiet now. But there is no safe place in Ukraine right now.”

Vladyslav Heraskevych, Ukrainian skeleton rider the countries’ flags and national anthems.

Neither the IOC nor the IPC have taken direct action against the countries themselves, however.

The Paralympics start next Friday.

Neither federation immediately responded to AP requests for comment on the letter.

Among those signing the letter was Ukrainian freestyle skier Oleksandr Abramenko, whose embrace with a Russian athlete in Beijing was caught on camera and captured headlines.

Heraskevych’s “no war” banner did, too. After that gesture on Feb. 11, the IOC came out quickly and said Heraskevych would not face any sanctions for violating the Olympic rule that limits political protests on the field of play at the Games.

“This was a general call for peace,” the IOC said in a statement.

“For the IOC the matter is closed.”

Heraskevych told the AP he left China in mid-February with a guarded sense of optimism; at the time, Russia was amassing troops along Ukraine’s border but had not invaded.

His hopes were quickly dashed.

He spoke to the AP from Zhytomyr, about a two-hour drive from Kyiv. He was preparing to defend Ukraine’s capital if called on.

“It’s quiet now,” Heraskevych said. “But there is no safe place in Ukraine right now.”

Stanly County Journal for Wednesday, March 2, 2022

5

Mickelson losing corporate Albemarle girls’ team relationships over Saudi remarks falls short in third round of state playoffs KPMG and Amstel Light ended their relationship with the golfer, while Callaway Golf is “pausing” its partnership with him

The Bulldogs lost to topseeded Murphy

The Associated Press ALREADY OUT two corporate endorsements, Phil Mickelson and his foundation were removed from the PGA Tour event in the California desert Saturday as the fallout continued over his shocking remarks and involvement in a Saudi-funded rival league.

The Desert Sun in Palm Springs, California, reported The American Express no longer will have The Mickelson Foundation as its main charitable arm, and that Mickelson no longer will be the tournament host.

The foundation had been the host since 2019. The PGA Tour said it would have no further comment except to confirm Mickelson is no longer involved.

Mickelson was quoted as saying to golf writer Alan Shipnuck that the Saudi group behind a proposed new league were “scary mother (expletive)s to get involved with.”

“We know they killed (Washington Post columnist Jamal) Khashoggi and have a horrible record on human rights. They execute people over there for being gay,” Mickelson told Shipnuck, whose biography on Mickelson is due in May. “Knowing all of this, why would I even consider it? Because this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to reshape how the PGA Tour operates.”

The rival league suffered a big blow last week when none of the top 12 players in the world indicated an interest in joining for guaranteed riches. Mickelson offered an awkward statement Tuesday in which he conceded his comments were “reckless” but not meant to be shared.

He also apologized to Greg

DAVID J. PHILLIP | AP PHOTO

Phil Mickelson speaks after winning the PGA Championship last May. Mickelson has lost several sponsors for comments about a Saudi Arabian-funded competitor to the PGA Tour.

6 Major tournaments won by Phil Mickelson, including three Masters titles Norman’s LIV Golf Investments for anything taken out of context and referred to them as visionaries who, like him, want to make golf better.

Mickelson did not mention the PGA Tour or Commissioner Jay Monahan, which he referred to in the Shipnuck interview as a “dictatorship.”

He said he “desperately needs” time away to get his priorities in order.

KPMG was the first to announce it was immediately ending its corporate sponsorship with the six-time major that dat-

ed to 2008, saying they agreed to it mutually. Amstel Light also said it was ending its partnership.

Callaway Golf, which Mickelson has represented since the 2004 Ryder Cup at Oakland Hills, said it was pausing its relationship.

The company told Golf Digest it was “very disappointed in his choice of words — they in no way reflect Callaway’s values or what we stand for as a company.”

Workday, which has sponsored Mickelson since 2017, told Golf Digest it would not be renewing the contract when it expires at the end of March.

The American Express did not have the “elevated status” as other PGA Tour events with players as the host — Tiger Woods at the Genesis Invitational, the Arnold Palmer Invitational and the Memorial run by Jack Nicklaus.

Mickelson is a two-time winner of the tournament, long known as the Bob Hope Classic. He missed the cut each of the last three years.

The Bulldogs bounced back after a 70-46 loss to North Stanly (20-3, 10-0 Yadkin Valley) in the conference tournament championship on Feb. 18. From there,

By Jesse Deal Albemarle defeated No. 25 Blue Stanly County Journal Ridge Early College in the first ALBEMARLE — While the round of the state playoffs with a postseason journey for the Albe- 77-56 victory.

In the second-round matchup marle girls’ basketball team ended on Saturday, the Bulldogs hold the versus No. 9 Mount Airy, the Bullhonor of making it further into the dogs pulled off a 54-42 win to adstate playoffs than any of the five vance to the third round, where other Stanly County teams that they eventually hit a wall against Murphy, a No. 1 seed. received a bid for the Still, Albemarle manNorth Carolina High aged to make it to the School Athletic Associfinal 16 teams out of ation 2021-22 champi“The overall an original pool of 64 onships. teams. Freshmen AmThe North Stanly, Al- core of ari Baldwin and Bianbemarle and West Stanca Robinson and sopholy boys’ teams — as well this team’s mores Kai Spencer and as the North Stanly and going to be Jamirica Everhardt each Gray Stone girls’ teams played key roles in their — each lost in the first together team’s playoff run. round of action, but the for a total “It was a lot of growAlbemarle girls (19-8, of three ing up for them,” Davis 7-3 Yadkin Valley) adcontinued. “Throughout vanced to the third years. This the season, we had some round in the 1A bracket. was their ups and downs and missTop-seeded Muring players due to injury. phy (26-3, 9-1 Smoky first year, Even in the tournament, Mountain) hosted the so it’s going we were missing one of eighth-seeded Bulldogs our starters. The fact on Saturday, sending to be really that they were able to go them home with a 66- exciting the to the third round with36 loss. next two out a starter, that shows Albemarle coach their versatility and that Eric Davis told SCJ years.” they accomplished a lot.” on Monday that, deDavis mentioned that spite his team’s loss, he Eric Davis, one of the qualities that is proud of the direcsticks out is the “high tion and development Albemarle he saw in his players girls’ basketball character” he saw in his players’ camaraderie over the past few weeks. coach with each other.

With six freshmen, six “When they would sophomores and two juniors, his entire team is eligible to come into practice, we never had to get on them about effort,” he return next season.

“The overall core of this team’s said. “They’re very close and they going to be together for a total of don’t have any ego — they’re just as three years. This was their first happy scoring or not scoring. They year, so it’s going to be really excit- celebrate each other really well, so ing the next two years,” Davis said. we were … extremely spoiled.”

ERIC GAY | AP PHOTO

A year after the NCAA got called out for gender inequities between its men’s and women’s basketball tournaments, the organization has made changes over the past six months to make it more equitable.

NCAA makes changes to women’s basketball tournament A report last summer outlined the inequities between the treatment of male and female athletes The Associated Press Nearly a year ago, Oregon forward Sedona Prince took to Twitter to expose some of the more glaring inequities between the men’s and women’s NCAA Tournaments — an unwelcome viral moment for the organization and one that it is still responding to.

The NCAA has made major changes to its women’s basketball tournament. Many of

the changes have been relatively easy to do, such as expanding the tournament to 68 teams and using the phrase “March Madness” — once limited to the men’s tourney — in branding.

“This year there will be numerous and notable enhancements to the championship,” said Lynn Holzman, the NCAA vice president of women’s basketball. “What those have translated to is an enhanced women’s basketball student-athlete experience and fan experience.”

Prince was happy to hear it.

“Making those changes is incredible and I hope it continues to be that way, and not just from a massive scandal, and a play-

er exposing them on a national stage,” she told The Associated Press. “Things shouldn’t be fixed that way. “ There is still a lot of work to do, such as TV rights and revenue disbursement, just two of the issues outlined in a blistering report released last summer that looked into the inequities.

The differences between the two tournaments were stark.

The NCAA said it has made a major effort to make the two tournaments more equitable, on and off the court. While the organization wouldn’t give an exact dollar amount, it did say it has spent millions more on the women’s tournament this year,

with the Final Four set for Minneapolis. The men’s Final Four is in New Orleans.

“The zero-based budgeting exercise mentioned in the gender-equity report has been very detailed and time-consuming in a good way,” said Dan Gavitt, the NCAA senior vice president of basketball. “We’ve taken every budget line for men’s and women’s basketball championships and compared and contrasted them. Where there have been discrepancies, we’ve had significant discussions about the equity standpoint. In many cases, they’ve been adjusted to the tune of millions of dollars.”

Starting in the regional

rounds, which are played at neutral sites after earlier rounds are hosted by higher seeds, there will be “March Madness” logos on the courts instead of “Women’s Basketball.” The Final Four logos will be gender specific, too.

Gifts for each team will be the same. In previous years, while they were comparable in value, they were packaged and presented differently.

Fan events at the Women’s Final Four have been expanded to be more similar to the men, including having an open practice the day before the championship game.

And officials are being paid the same at both tournaments.

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Stanly County Journal for Wednesday, March 2, 2022

Prayers and despair: Ukrainians in the US decry invasion The Associated Press THE REV. MYRON Myronyuk stayed up all night at home in Pennsylvania as his twin brother tried to flee Kyiv, the Ukrainian capital, only to turn back because the road out was choked with traffic. His in-laws, also in Ukraine, told him they couldn’t get basics like bread and milk.

There was little Myronyuk could do but pray that his loved ones would survive the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

A sense of helplessness overcame Ukrainians in America as the war unfolded half a world away, with little chance their loved ones in Ukraine would find refuge in the U.S. any time soon.

For now, they are trying to donate money and supplies, desperately seeking advice from immigration attorneys about how to get family here and pleading for world leaders to intervene more forcefully.

“I say, ‘We’re praying for you, we wish you to be safe, go to a safe place,’” said Myronyuk, pastor of St. Vladimir Ukrainian Catholic Church in Scranton, Pennsylvania. “We have to continue to pray and ask God for help,” he said, but “there’s not much else we can do here.”

Demonstrators gathered in Manhattan’s Times Square and near the Russian Federation’s mission to the United Nations on Thursday, waving blue-and-yellow Ukrainian flags and denouncing Russian President Vladimir Putin. About 100 people took to an overpass in Chicago, putting their hands to their hearts as the Ukrainian national anthem blared from a big speaker.

“The worst part is we cannot help them any more. We would send money, but everything is closed,” said Chicago resident Hrystyna Klym, who has been in the U.S. for 15 years and has family in Ukraine. Klym volunteers with an organization that has regularly sent clothes, magazines, money and other items to help Ukraine’s needy, particularly wounded soldiers, but she said there’s no way to donate directly now.

At Ukrainian Village Food & Deli in the Cleveland suburb of Parma Heights, Mila Radeva, 39, said her father — who lives near

ANDREW HARNIK | AP PHOTO

Ukrainian Oleksandra Yashan holds a sign that reads “No War” during a vigil to protest the Russian invasion of Ukraine in Lafayette Park in front of the White House in Washington, D.C., Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022. the Ukrainian port city of Odessa — had taken shelter in his basement as explosions rocked the area.

“A lot of people are going to die,” said a worried Radeva, who emigrated to the U.S. 20 years ago. Asked if her father and other relatives might flee to another country, she said: “There’s no place for them to run.”

Ekaterina Mouratova, a Miami immigration attorney, said Thursday was “a crazy day,” with phone calls and emails from Ukrainians and Russians seeking refuge in the United States.

Ukrainians hope to flee Russian troops, while Russians worry they may get drafted and have bank accounts frozen in a wartime economy.

She offered little encouragement, predicting Poland would be a far more realistic possibility for escape.

“There is no effective legal

mechanism to bring people here,” she said.

Ukrainians could potentially flee their country, fly to Mexico from Europe as tourists, and enter the U.S. by land to claim asylum, as a growing number of Russians have done over the last year, Mouratova said. Fleeing war, however, is not considered legal grounds for asylum.

Ukrainians could also be eligible for refugee resettlement — under which up to 125,000 can be accepted in the U.S. this year after being approved abroad — but processing has been slow as U.S. authorities focus on Afghans seeking to flee Taliban rule.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki said the U.S. was prepared to accept Ukrainian refugees, “but we certainly expect that most if not the majority will want to go to Europe and neighboring countries.”

Immigration advocates urged

the Biden administration to grant Temporary Protected Status to Ukraine, a form of reprieve for its citizens already in the United States. The U.S. has granted TPS to 12 countries afflicted by war or natural disaster.

Chicago immigration attorney Natalia Blauvelt, who also fielded calls from desperate Ukrainian clients, potential clients and friends, said they are “absolutely devastated, extremely sad.... They are panicking because of what is happening in Ukraine, and many of them don’t know what to do and help their relatives.”

More than 1 million people in the U.S. report Ukrainian ancestry, according to the Census, with sizable populations in New York City, Chicago, Seattle, Sacramento and Los Angeles.

In Philadelphia, the United Ukrainian American Relief Committee — formed in World War II to help resettle Ukrainian ref-

USPS gets final signoff to order new delivery vehicles

By David Sharp The Associated Press WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Postal Service said last week it cleared the final regulatory hurdle to placing orders for next-generation mail vehicles — and getting some of them on delivery routes next year — despite pushback from the Environmental Protection Agency.

Postmaster General Louis DeJoy said the completion of an evaluation required by the National Environmental Policy Act is an important milestone for postal carriers, who have soldiered on with overworked delivery trucks that went into service between 1987 to 1994.

The U.S. Postal Service’s fleet comprises more than 230,000 vehicles. That includes 190,000 local delivery vehicles — and more than 141,000 are the older vehicles, made by federal contractor Grumman.

“The men and women of the U.S. Postal Service have waited

NATI HARNIK | AP PHOTO

In this Aug. 18, 2020, file photo, mail delivery vehicles are parked outside a post office in Boys Town, Neb. long enough for safer, cleaner vehicles,” DeJoy said in a statement.

Environmental groups have pushed back because only 10% of the vehicles would be electric-powered under the Postal Service contract with the manufacturer, Wis-

consin-based Oshkosh Defense.

The decision published in the Federal Register allows the Postal Service to proceed with placing the first order that will include at least 5,000 electric-powered vehicles, along with an undetermined

number of gas-powered vehicles, Postal Service spokesperson Kim Frum said.

The Postal Service believes it has met all its obligations and is moving forward despite criticism by the Environmental Protection Agency over the adequacy of the environmental review.

“After signing the contract to procure these vehicles one year ago, the Postal Service conducted a fundamentally flawed environmental analysis that underestimates the costs of gasoline-fueled vehicles and overestimates the costs associated with electric vehicles,” Vicki Arroyo, EPA’s associate administrator for policy, said Wednesday in a statement.

Brenda Mallory, chair of the White House’s Council on Environmental Quality, criticized the Postal Service as “out of touch” with technology, putting itself at a disadvantage compared to competitors.

Environmental groups joined in the criticism.

“Neither rain, nor sleet, nor fi-

ugees — pivoted to a wartime footing once again, readying a container packed with clothing, diapers, wheelchairs, medical supplies and personal hygiene items. Donations had increased over the past several weeks as Russia massed its military on Ukraine’s doorstep, according to the executive director, Motrja Watters.

The group plans to send the container to Ukraine, or Poland if Russia blocks humanitarian aid. Watters, whose parents were born in Ukraine, said relief groups are coordinating their response so aid is delivered as effectively as possible.

“Everybody’s trying to get a grip on the how and the where the needs are in Ukraine,” she said. “We’re working around the clock... There are so many people already injured, families already split up, and those are the people we need to help right now.”

nancial good sense will stop the leaders of the U.S. Postal Service from trying to buy dirty, polluting delivery trucks,” Patricio Portillo of the Natural Resources Defense Council said after the Postal Service made the announcement.

But DeJoy, an ally of former President Donald Trump, said more of the electric vehicles can be purchased under the contract if additional funding “from either internal or congressional sources becomes available.”

It would cost an extra $3.3 billion to convert the entire Postal Service fleet to electric vehicles.

Money is included in Biden’s Build Back Better plan, but that proposal remains stalled in Congress.

The new vehicles are more environmentally friendly and boast modern amenities like climate control and safety features like air bags, backup cameras and collision avoidance — all currently lacking on the aging Grumman vehicles.

The vehicles are also taller to make it easier for postal carriers to grab packages and parcels that have been making up a far greater portion of their deliveries, even before the pandemic.

Stanly County Journal for Wednesday, March 2, 2022

7

obituaries

David Goldstein June 11, 1950 – February 22, 2022

David Goldstein, 71, of Locust, passed away Tuesday, February 22, 2022 at Atrium Health Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte.

David was born June 11, 1950 in Georgia to the late George Goldstein and the late Bernice Kahn Goldstein.

He was also preceded in death by his sister, Judy Goldstein, and his son, Michael Goldstein.

Survivors include his wife, Janet Furr Goldstein of Locust, NC, and his daughter, Jessica Goldstein of Albemarle.

David enjoyed golf, deep sea fishing, and watching the Atlanta Braves. He finished his career in construction with Habitat for Humanity of Stanly County and was a member of the Rotary Club of West Stanly. David’s family will cherish his memory as a loving husband and father.

Zelma Burris Johnson

James Richard Morris

August 8, 1927 – February 22, 2022

March 22, 1927 – February 24, 2022

Zelma Burris Johnson, 94, of Albemarle passed away on Tuesday, February 22, 2022 in her home surrounded by her children.

Born August 8, 1927 in Stanly County, NC she was the daughter of the late Arnold Burris and Roxie Carter Burris. She was a member of Stony Hill United Methodist Church and retired from Federal Pacific as an inspector. She enjoyed working in her yard and was known as “the card lady” at her church.

Mrs. Johnson was preceded in death by her husband Robert Johnson in 1999. Survivors include 6 children Gloria Muzgay (Joey) of Apache Junction, AZ, Bob Johnson (Kathy) of Albemarle, Donna Nichols of Albemarle, Vivian Chance (Wayne) of Albemarle, Marcia McDonald (Glenn) of Albemarle, and Robin Stanton (Tim) of Albemarle, 19 grandchildren, and 26 greatgrandchildren. In addition to her parents, a brother and two sisters preceded her in death.

James Richard Morris, 94, of Albemarle passed away February 24, 2022 in his home.

Born March 22, 1927 in Stanly County, NC he was the son of the late Cicero Morris and Nellie Russell Morris. He was a member of Grace Baptist Church and a former employee of American and Efird Mills Co. and Stanly Funeral Home. Mr. Morris was a member of Stanly Lodge #348 A. F. & A. M. He served as a Deacon at Grace Baptist Church as well as a former Brotherhood Director and Wednesday Night/Family Night Committee Member.

Mr. Morris is survived by his wife Jane McDowell Morris of the home, daughter Frankie Jo Brandt (Crandall) of Midland, Georgia, 2 grandchildren, 2 great-grandchildren, and a stepdaughter Jan Holmes.

Charles Hyer June 10, 1946 – February 25, 2022

Charles Hyer, 75, of Polkton, NC passed away Friday February 25, 2022 in Monroe. His funeral will be Wednesday March 2nd in the Stanly Funeral & Cremation Care Chapel at 2 PM with Rev. John Green and Rev. Darren Moore officiating. The family will receive friends Tuesday evening from 7 PM till 9 PM at the funeral home. Burial will follow the funeral service at Stanly Gardens of Memory.

Born July 10, 1946 in Anson County, he was the son of the late Lee Taylor and the late Norma Liles Taylor. Charles is survived by his wife, Mary, of the home, and daughters, Tina Hyer Caudle of Polkton and Jennifer Kiker (Bryan) of Polkton. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Timothy Kiker (Amber), Matthew Kiker (Wendy), Zachary Kiker (Jayden Baucom), Katie Kiker, Clarissa Hilliard (Joshua), and Christian Caudle (Shelby Dennis); great-grandchildren, Adaline, Logan, Joshua, Elizabeth, and Caden. Charles is also survived by four sisters and two brothers.

Charles was a member of Polkton Baptist Church and was a veteran of the U.S. Army having served in Vietnam. After his military service, Charles worked at Wiscasset Mill in Albemarle, Collins & Aikman, and Wansona in Wadesboro.

Sylvia Jane Howell Mabry May 7, 1949 – February 25, 2022

Sylvia Jane Howell Mabry, 72, of Albemarle, passed away on Friday, February 25, 2022 at her home surrounded by her loving family.

Mrs. Mabry was born May 7, 1949 in Stanly County to the late Claude Daniel Howell and Sadie Barbee Howell. Sylvia was an avid gardener, a seamstress, and a member at Canton Baptist Church.

Spending time with her family was one of her greatest joys in life.

She would do anything for her family and enjoyed cooking meals for them. In 1967, she married the love of her life, John David Mabry.

They spent the last 54 years doing everything together.

Sylvia is survived by her husband, John David Mabry of the home; son: Chad Mabry (Tracie) of Albemarle; daughter: Inga Shaw (Cecil) of Albemarle; grandchildren: Whitney Tucker (Damon) of Albemarle, Cameren Mabry (Jenny) of Albemarle; greatgrandchildren: Emery Jane Tucker, Berklee Rhett Tucker, Charlie Belle Mabry, Canton Stuart Mabry; special friends and caregivers: Polly Clark, Kelly Bost, and Alicia McKinnon. She is preceded in death by her brother Everett Edwards, Jr.

Junius Clyde Whitley December 24, 1923 – February 24, 2022

Fannie Mae Poplin Haigler September 1, 1931 – February 25, 2022

Junius Clyde Whitley, 98, of Albemarle, passed away peacefully in the presence of his family, Thursday, February 24, 2022 at Trinity Place in Albemarle.

Clyde was born December 24, 1923 in North Carolina to the late Clarence Durant Whitley and the late Cora Jane Whitley.

He was also preceded in death by wife, Ramona Speight Whitley, sisters, Cora Lee Crisco and Myrtle Lou Teeter, brothers, Zeb V. Whitley, Hugh Grant Whitley, Earl Durant Whitley, and John Tommy Whitley.

Clyde was a loving husband and father. He spent many years in the appliance service as a service technician. Clyde proudly served in the United States Navy during WWII as a medic. Clyde greatly loved his family and will be dearly missed. He now rests in the works of the Lord whom he loved and served.

Survivors include son, Ronald Clyde Whitley of Albemarle, NC, son, Phillip (Kathryn) Edward Whitley of Marietta, GA, daughter, Donna (Edwin) Sides of Albemarle, NC, and 9 beloved grandchildren.

Fannie Mae Poplin Haigler, 90, of Locust, NC passed away on February 25, 2022.

Mrs. Haigler was born September 1, 1931, in Stanly County. She was the daughter of the late David Poplin and Gennie Mae Yow Poplin Hatley. She had retired from S&D Hosiery Mill and was a former biscuit maker at the Burger Shack in Locust.

Mrs. Haigler was a member of the Coyle Baptist Church in Stanfield, NC. She loved being a mother and grandmother.

She was married to the late Thomas Lee Haigler and is survived by one son, Randy Haigler and one daughter Geraldine Johnson. She is also survived by 4 grandchildren, Rebecca Wright (Concord, NC), Lori Johnson (Locust, NC), Keith Drake (Midland, NC) and Amanda Harmon (Asheboro, NC), along with 7 greatgrandchildren and 2 great-great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her sons Kenneth Lee Haigler, Rayvon Haigler and Robert Lee Haigler, and by one daughter, Betty Poplin Drake.

Peggy Caulder

Helen Dennis Sasser

Lillian Bowers Poplin October 19, 1926 – February 24, 2022

Mrs. Lillian Bowers Poplin, 95 passed away peacefully on Thursday, February 24 at Spring Arbor, Greensboro, NC. She was born in Stanly Co. in 1926, the daughter of the late Martin Luther and Mary Deese Bowers. She is preceded in death by her husband Lawson Keith Poplin, along with her seven siblings (brothers—Horace (Macie), Roy (Jayvee), Marvin (Pauline), M L Jr. (Martha Jane) and sisters Bessie Mae (Harvey) Trivette, Geneva Bowers, and Ruby (Flave) Hatley . She moved to Greensboro (with son Roger and Nan) in 2009.

Survivors include her son and daughter-in-law, Roger and Nan Poplin of Greensboro, daughter Judy Pante of Chico, CA, grandchildren: Elisabeth (Marvin) Tien, Abigail Poplin, Deborah (Chris) Barnes, and Michael (Penny) Poplin along with several great (and greatgreat) grandchildren.

Lillian and Keith were members of Porter UMC for many years. A quiet, sweet, unassuming, hardworking, caring, smiling woman, she enjoyed her church. Of course, she loved her grandchildren dearly, but her little dogs (Scottie and Nacho) had a special place in her heart.

January 3, 1938 ~ February 26, 2022

Peggy Carriker Caulder, 84, of Norwood, passed away Saturday, February 26, 2022 at her home.

Mrs. Caulder was born on January 3, 1938 in Stanly County to the late Homer Lee and Bertha Almond Carriker. She was a 1956 Norwood High School graduate and retired from First Union Bank. She was also a member at Memorial Baptist Church.

In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her husband Bill Caulder; and her sisters: Frances Underwood, Faye Blalock, and Vallory Story.

She is survived by her daughters: Susan Monk (Stephen) of WinstonSalem, Ann LaMacchia (John) of Knoxville, TN, and Sandra Tollie (Chris) of Norwood; Five grandchildren: John LaMacchia (Andrea), Elizabeth Lanier (Erv), Pierce LaMacchia, Charlie Monk (Liz), and Michael LaMacchia; three great-grandchildren: Lilly, Erickson, and Deacon; one brother: Troy Carriker; her faithful companion, Sassy; and several special and loving nieces and nephews.

October 25, 1935 ~ February 24, 2022

Helen Dennis Sasser, 86, of Albemarle, passed away Thursday, February 24, 2022, at Bethany Woods Nursing & Rehabilitation Center in Albemarle.

Mrs. Sasser was born October 25, 1935 to the late Henry Faye and Jettie Mae Chandler Dennis.

In addition to her parents, she was also preceded in death by her husband, Paul Sasser and sisters, Margaret Hicks, Mary Louise Burris, Ann Clark; brothers, Jessie Dennis and Larry Dennis.

Helen is survived by her sister, Irene Jeffreys; brother, Dr. Bob Dennis; twelve nieces and nephews; numerous great nieces and nephews and several greatgreat nieces and nephews.

Memorials may be made to Community Home Care and Hospice, 1024 Albemarle Road, #904, Troy, NC 27371.

Stanly County Journal for Wednesday, March 2, 2022

8

STATE & NATION

Senators to watch as Supreme Court fight unfolds certainly vote against Jackson’s nomination, but his role will nonetheless be important as Republicans strategize over how much to criticize her and whether to throw up procedural hurdles to slow the nomination.

In a statement, Grassley congratulated Jackson and said he has “no intention of degrading the advice and consent role” of the Senate, referring to the bitter confirmation battles over Trump’s three Supreme Court nominees.

By Mary Clare Jalonick The Associated Press WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Joe Biden and Senate Democrats say they are hoping for a bipartisan vote to confirm Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court.

That won’t be easy, but some Republicans have expressed an openness to voting for Biden’s nominee, who currently sits on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit and would be the first black woman on the Supreme Court. Republican Sens. Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina voted last year to confirm Jackson for her current position.

As senators review Jackson’s record, some Republicans may drop hints about whether they are willing to vote for Jackson, who would replace liberal Justice Stephen Breyer. But senators in both parties often withhold their support until after they meet with the nominee and confirmation hearings are held.

Democrats will also keep an eye on their own moderate flank, Sens. Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona.

Neither has indicated, so far, that they would vote against Biden’s choice, and they have voted for all his other nominees.

Senators to watch as the confirmation process begins: Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Dick Durbin made one of his first calls to Collins after Justice Stephen Breyer announced that he will retire this summer. The Maine senator, who voted against Justice Amy Coney Barrett, former President Donald Trump’s nominee for Supreme Court in 2020, is perhaps Demo-

Senate Republican Leader Mitch Mcconnell, R-Ky.

JACQUELYN MARTIN | AP PHOTO

Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, leaves a policy luncheon, on Feb., 17, 2022, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. crats’ best chance for a Republican crossover vote.

“I’m reaching out to the Republicans and saying the nominee will be available for you to get to know them,” and answer any questions, Durbin said then of his conversation with Collins, who is a moderate. She responded that she appreciated the offer.

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C. Graham pushed Biden to pick a South Carolinian — federal district court Judge J. Michelle Childs. While the White House said Childs was under consideration, the president eventually picked the more experienced Jackson instead.

He said earlier this month that if the nominee wasn’t Childs, whom he considers more moder-

ate than Jackson, his vote would be more “problematic.”

Graham said he was also pushing Childs because she had not attended college or law school at Harvard or Yale, unlike Jackson and almost every justice on the court. “The Harvard-Yale train to the Supreme Court continues to run unabated,” Graham said in a statement after Biden’s announcement.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska Along with Collins, Murkowski is one of the most moderate Republican members of the Senate and has expressed concerns about whether the court could overturn the landmark Roe v. Wade decision guaranteeing a right to an abortion. But she is up for reelection this year in her conservative

state, and she has signaled she may not be inclined to cross party lines.

In a statement Friday, she said she looks forward to meeting with Jackson but “I’ve been clear that previously voting to confirm an individual to a lower court does not signal how I will vote for a Supreme Court justice.” In January, she told Alaska station KDLL that “there is a pretty tangible difference between being on a district court, a circuit court and the Supreme Court.”

Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa Grassley, the top Republican on the Judiciary panel, is a longtime member of the committee and oversaw the confirmation of two of Trump’s three picks as the then-chairman. He will almost

Like Grassley, McConnell is unlikely to vote for Jackson. But his comments on her nomination will signal to the rest of the conference how to proceed as they decide how aggressively to oppose it.

McConnell questioned Jackson’s productivity on the appeals court and the support for her from some liberal advocacy groups. But he has also tried to dissuade his colleagues from bringing up her race after several of them criticized Biden for saying he would nominate a Black woman.

“Honestly, I did not think that was inappropriate,” McConnell said earlier this week. He promised the nominee will be “respectfully vetted.”

Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., and Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, D-Ariz.

Manchin and Sinema drew the ire of liberal groups, and many of their fellow Democrats, after they helped block a wide-ranging package of Biden’s signature policy goals. But that opposition has not carried over to Biden’s judicial nominees, as both senators have voted for every single one of them.

Neither has given any indication they will oppose his Supreme Court pick.

NTSB: Plane that crashed off NC coast made no distress calls

By Ben Finley The Associated Press MOREHEAD CITY — A plane carrying eight people — including four teenagers — had issued no distress calls and made no declarations of an emergency before it crashed off the North Carolina coast, the National Transportation Safety Board said in a preliminary accident report released Friday.

The single-engine Pilatus PC12/47 went down in the Atlantic Ocean on Feb. 13 near the southern edge of the Outer Banks. Everyone onboard died.

The six passengers were from Carteret County and were returning from a charity hunting event.

The plane had taken off from the Hyde County Airport on the mainland and was headed south to Beaufort, which is the Carteret County seat.

During the flight, the plane’s pilot had been in contact with air traffic controllers because they told him he was about to enter restricted airspace where a military aircraft was flying, the report said.

“After multiple calls with no response from the pilot, the control-

WCTI-TV VIA AP

Carteret County Sheriff Asa Buck speaks with reporters in Carteret County, on Monday, Feb. 14, 2022. ler instructed the military aircraft in the restricted airspace to remain above 4,000 (feet),” the report stated.

The pilot later told the air traffic controllers that he didn’t respond to their calls because he “’was trying to get out’” and was unable to receive the radio transmissions, the report stated.

The pilot was eventually cleared for an approach to a runway at Michael J. Smith Field Airport in Beaufort, the report said. There were more radio exchanges about the plane’s direction and altitude.

The controller told the pilot that the airplane was at 1,700 feet and was supposed to maintain an altitude of 1,900 feet.

“The pilot read back the altimeter setting correctly, and that was the last transmission from the airplane,” the report stated.

Shortly after 2 p.m., the report stated that “the controller called the airplane and asked what altitude it was at because the airplane was at 4,700 (feet, mean sea level) and climbing quickly.”

There was no response, and radar contact was lost, the report said.

“Throughout the communication with air traffic control, there were no distress calls or a declaration of emergency from the airplane,” the report stated.

Divers found the plane’s fuselage and cabin about 3 miles from shore in about 55 feet of water.

Human remains were removed as well as equipment and instruments that could help investigators determine the cause of the crash, Carteret County Sheriff Asa Buck told reporters last week.

Carteret County includes communities such as Emerald Isle and Atlantic Beach as well as the Cape Lookout National Seashore.

But the mostly rural county is also home to older fishing villages. The four teenagers went to East Cart-

eret High School, which has about 600 students.

The sheriff’s office identified the adults on board the plane as pilot Ernest Durwood Rawls, 67, of Greenville; Jeffrey Worthington Rawls, 28, of Greenville; Stephanie Ann McInnis Fulcher, 42, of Sea Level; and Douglas Hunter Parks, 45, of Sea Level.

The teenagers were identified as Jonathan Kole McInnis, 15, of Sea Level; Noah Lee Styron, 15, of Cedar Island; Michael Daily Shepard, 15, of Atlantic; and Jacob Nolan Taylor, 16, of Atlantic.

Charlie Snow, a close friend of the pilot, told The Associated Press last week that Ernest Rawls and passenger Jeff Rawls were father and son.

The elder Rawls had previously flown for Snow’s company, Outer Banks Airlines, and was highly trained and extremely capable, Snow said.

“If anybody could get out of something, if it was possible to get out of it, he could have done it,” Snow said during a telephone interview. “So it makes me think that whatever happened was catastrophic. But you know, it’s just speculation.”

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VOLUME 4 ISSUE 23 | WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2, 2022

Twin City Herald

ALEX BRANDON | AP PHOTO

Lucill Ircha, from Bethesda, Md., takes a picture of her dog "Willow" after placing flowers in front of the Ukrainian embassy, Monday, Feb. 28, 2022, in Washington, D.C.

WHAT’S HAPPENING

Masks optional in WS/FC Schools Board rescinded mandate as of this week

Death penalty sought after woman charged in child’s death Forsyth County A prosecutor will seek the death penalty for a woman charged with killing her adopted 5-year-old son.

Kimberly Monique Smith, 37, is charged with firstdegree murder in the June 6, 2021, death of 5-yearold Kendall Marquise Smith. She’s also charged with felony child abuse, inflicting serious bodily injury in connection to Kendall’s 6-year-old brother. Winston-Salem police officers responded to an unresponsive child call at Smith’s home, with emergency-medical technicians, and found Smith’s friend performing CPR on Kendall. He was pronounced dead at a local hospital. An autopsy determined he died from blunt-force trauma to the back of the head.

The Associated Press

WS/FCS employees waiting for paychecks Forsyth County Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools employees got an unpleasant surprise when their paychecks weren’t direct deposited on Friday of last week, like they usually are. The school district’s financial officer said that the money is on the way but got delayed.

The payroll file was sent to the bank on Thursday but “for reasons we are still investigating,” funds were not released. Deposits were expected to go through by 2:00 on Monday.

MY FOX 8

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8

STARTING THIS WEEK, masks are optional in Winston-Salem/Forsyth County schools.

The WS/FCS Board of Education met last Tuesday and came to the decision to discontinue the mandatory mask policy, starting Monday, February 28.

“The Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Board of Education has voted to lift the current mask requirement for students and staff,” read the statement released by the Board. “This means that masks will now be optional in all district school buildings and facilities effective Monday, February 28, 2022. The board made the decision at its regular meeting Tues-

“People and businesses should continue to make the best decisions for themselves, their employees and their customers.”

Gov. Roy Cooper Masks are still required to be worn on buses and all other school district transportation, as required by a federal regulation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The board will continue to evaluate the district’s response to COVID-19.

“The WS/FCS health services team will continue to review COVID data on a daily basis and

will report the data monthly to the Board of Education for mask recommendations,” read the statement.

The policy matches changes to mask mandates made by other major school districts in the state, including Wake, Mecklenburg, Guilford and Alamance Counties.

The decisions came after Gov. Roy Cooper urged school systems and local government to revise their mask policies.

“I encourage schools and local governments to end their mask mandates,” Cooper said. “People and businesses should continue to make the best decisions for themselves, their employees and their customers. There are still some places such as healthcare, longterm care and public transportation where a mask will still be required because of the setting or federal regulations.”

States urged to address funding disparities for HBCUs AP

5

Twin City Herald staff

day night.”

“Newly updated North Carolina COVID-19 guidelines within the Strong Schools NC Toolkit took effect this week,” continued the statement.

Among the new guidelines are a mask requirement for any students who test positive or are exposed to a positive individual.

They must still wear a mask for at least five days after the exposure.

Anyone who demonstrates symptoms of COVID-19 will also be required to wear a mask, while waiting to leave a school/facility or to be tested.

Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools employees will continue to have N95 masks available for the foreseeable future, should they choose to continue wearing them on site. COVID-19 testing is also available to students and staff at all area schools.

SEVERAL MEMBERS of Congress are calling on states to address gaps in their funding for schools in the land grant university system that shortchange historically Black colleges and universities.

In a letter sent to governors, lieutenant governors and statehouse legislative leadership in 18 states on Wednesday, six Democratic members of the U.S. House said equitable state funding is essential for the schools to reach their potential. The letter, which was first shared with The Associated Press, also highlighted the role the HBCUs have played in driving innovation for the nation’s food supply.

“For American agriculture to remain resilient, secure, and globally competitive, we must ensure equitable investment in our land-grant institutions who have been drivers of innovation,” wrote Reps. David Scott and Sanford Bishop of Georgia, Bobby Scott of Virginia, Alma Adams of North Carolina, Stacey Plaskett of the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Al Lawson of Florida.

The country’s land grant university system was first estab-

lished in 1862 under the Morrill Act, which gave public lands to states to establish colleges that focused on educating students in agriculture and mechanics.

In 1890, the Second Morrill Act established 19 public universities for Black students in former Confederate states and incorporated them into the land-grant university system. The schools, sometimes referred to as 1890 institutions, were to receive funding from the federal government as well as a one-to-one dollar match in support from the state.

However, not all states meet their part of the funding obligation in their budgets, leaving schools to either find alternative, nonfederal sources of money to meet the match requirement or to forfeit the federal portion of the funds, unless they seek a waiver.

In contrast, no waivers can be obtained for 1862 land grant institutions, which are typically fully funded by their respective states.

The financial disparity between HBCUs — which include land grant, public and private schools — and other institutions of higher education in many ways mirrors the racial wealth gap. A report from The Century

"It's past time we stopped expecting these institutions to do more with less" Denise A. Smith Foundation found that on average, the per-pupil endowment at public non-HBCUs is three times the size of those at public HBCUs. Among private institutions, that inequity is even greater, with private non-HBCU endowments about seven times the size of private HBCUs’.

Equitable funding for 1890 institutions is essential because they are among the largest HBCUs in the country and are leaders in research and innovation, said Denise A. Smith, senior fellow at the Century Foundation and author of the endowment report. But since their inception, she said, many have never received fair funding from their state legislatures.

“It’s past time that we stopped expecting these institutions to do more with less,” she said. “States have deprived these institu-

tions of their financial stability.

They’re inhibited in their growth and ability to really live out their truest potential, and it’s put their survival at risk.”

Generations of underfunding have set HBCUs further back financially compared to their 1862 counterparts that have received full state support, Smith said.

Over time, those institutions are able to build wealth and stability, while underfunded ones often struggle.

“It’s all these things compounding over time,” Smith said.

“These are challenges that public policy has created. It’s up to public policy to correct them.”

Mortimer Neufville, president and CEO of the 1890 Universities Foundation, said the schools play an important role in American agriculture through their outreach and education in rural and urban farming communities. Though the 1890 institutions may have a smaller enrollment, Neufville said, they have an outsize impact and should be on level ground when it comes to funding.

That gap can be significant for many institutions. A report from the Association of Public LandSee HBCU, page 2

Twin City Herald for Wednesday, March 2, 2022

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COLUMN | JOYCE KRAWIEC

Redistricting maps and Free the Smiles

Publisher Neal Robbins

Editor Shawn Krest

Sports Editor Cory Lavalette

Senior Opinion Editor Frank Hill

Design Editor Lauren Rose Published each Wednesday as part of the North State Journal.

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DEATH NOTICES

♦ Albert Zeno Brown, 84, of Pfafftown, died February 25, 2022. ♦ Barbara Ann Everidge Bryan, 88, died February 24, 2022. ♦ Bobbie Lou Chamelin 92, of Kernersville, died February 25, 2022. ♦ Margaret Frances Frye Farmer, 85, died February 24, 2022.

"It's not about the science, obviously, it's about the control and power."

THIS WAS A BUSY WEEK at the General Assembly in Raleigh. As you know, we have been in the middle of redistricting. The court had ordered that the Congressional and the North Carolina House and Senate maps had to be redrawn. The deadline to submit to the court was Friday, February 18. There was lots of midnight oil burned at the GA this week. Staffers literally, worked all night Wednesday night. I hope they are all getting some rest now.

The Supreme Court is controlled by a Democratic majority and they have not been favorable to the Republican majority in the House and Senate. Even though the Constitution requires that the Legislature draw district maps, the court has intervened repeatedly since Republicans took the majority in 2011. The Constitution requires that districts be redrawn every ten years, after the census. This is required because of population shifts and districts must be proportional.

This will be my fifth election. I have never had the same district twice. So much for districts lasting ten years as the Constitution requires. The Court has redrawn the district for every election. I have no reason to believe it won’t happen again.

In my tenure in the Senate, I have represented different parts of Forsyth County in each election. I have represented Yadkin County and Davie County.

The new district currently has District 31 representing northern and eastern Forsyth and all of Stokes County.

I am honored to serve and, if reelected, I will represent all constituents of the district wherever it might be.

But there is some good news. I filed a bill sometime back called “Free the Smiles”. SB 173 passed the House and Senate this week. This bill puts parents in charge of whether their children wear masks. They are the decision makers. Parents have constantly complained about the masks and the harm it is doing to their children. The Governor and School Boards have paid little attention.

SB 173 requires that local public-school units allow parents discretion in whether their child wears a mask. The parents will notify the school once a year of their decision. This prevents the school from making notification requirements on an ongoing basis. The school may not segregate or treat children differently because of decisions regarding masks.

This is a simple bill, but it does so much. It puts decisions back in the hands of parents where it

♦ M Hewitt Gilbert, 96, died February 24, 2022.

WEEKLY CRIME LOG

♦ Donald Gerald Jackson, 89, of Winston-Salem, died February 24, 2022.

♦ BALDWIN, ANTONIO BERVARD was arrested on a charge of FELON ADW/SER INJURY at 749 W NORTHWEST BV on 2/25/2022

♦ Zachary “Zach” Kapp, 51, died February 24, 2022. ♦ Gail Phipps Shears, 82, of Forsyth County, died February 24, 2022. ♦ Clarence Ray Wilkins, Jr., 75, of Forsyth County, died February 23, 2022.

HBCU from page 1

grant Universities found that from 2010 to 2012, 61% of 1890 land-grant institutions did not receive the full one-toone matching funds from their state. In that two-year period, those institutions missed out on $57 million in combined research and extension funding because of states’ failures to meet their funding obligation.

More recent numbers still mirror those disparities. In the 2020 fiscal year, the authors wrote in the letter, about half the 19 land-grant HBCUs did not receive state matching funds for Evans-Allen funding, which supports agricultural research at 1890 land grant institutions. Eight of them did not receive a full match for federal extension funding.

And while all eligible 1862 land-grant universities, many of which are predominantly white, received state matches for National Institute of Food and Agriculture funds, only 82% of their 1890 counterparts did.

♦ BINYARD, RONALD ANTHONY was arrested on a charge of ASSLT ON OFF/ST EMP at 4665 WALCOTT ST on 2/26/2022 ♦ BLALOCK, BRANDON SCOTT was arrested on a charge of DRIVING WHILE IMPAIRED at 1200 BLK LINK RD on 2/24/2022 ♦ CLAVEL, DAHLIA was arrested on a charge of CONTRIB DELINQ MINOR at 2738 PEPPER CT on 2/25/2022 ♦ COLBERT, CANDICE MORGAN was arrested on a charge of DWI - AID & ABET IMPAIRED DRIVING at 999 W SECOND ST/W FIRST ST on 2/27/2022 ♦ DESSASAU, LOUIS CHARLES was arrested on a charge of PROTECTIVE ORDER at 550 PETERS CREEK PW on 2/27/2022 ♦ DUPREEJORDAN, ROBERT LEE was arrested on a charge of LARCENY AFTER B&E at 500 N JACKSON AV/E FIFTH ST on 2/26/2022 ♦ FARR, CHRISTOPHER MICHAEL was arrested on a charge of ASSAULT-POINT GUN at PETERS CREEK PKWY on 2/26/2022

CHERRY ST on 2/26/2022 ♦ GARLINGTON, DERRICK JEROD was arrested on a charge of BREAKING/LARC-FELONY at 201 N CHURCH ST on 2/28/2022 ♦ GARY, MICHAEL ANTHONY was arrested on a charge of ASSAULT ON FEMALE at 1962 DEW AV on 2/27/2022 ♦ HAYES, DAIJAH SHANESE was arrested on a charge of IMPAIRED DRIVING DWI at 3998 UNIVERSITY PW/NORTH POINT BV on 2/26/2022 ♦ HICKS, TRAVIS RAY was arrested on a charge of FINANCIAL IDENTITY FRAUD at 5719 UNIVERSITY PW on 2/28/2022 ♦ HOLMAN, CHONTEL CYLSSA was arrested on a charge of CYBERSTALKING at 4265 NORTHAMPTON DR on 2/25/2022 ♦ JOHNSON, RECARDO TYRONE was arrested on a charge of DRUGS-POSS SCHED II at CE GRAY DR on 2/28/2022 ♦ KINCAID, EBONY JASMINE was arrested on a charge of ASSLT ON OFF/ST EMP at 1104 SALEM VALLEY RD on 2/25/2022 ♦ LEWIS, AMANDA ILYSE was arrested on a charge of BREAKING/LARC-FELONY at 1933 HUTTON ST on 2/27/2022

♦ FIERLE, SCOTT DAVID was arrested on a charge of ASSAULT ON FEMALE at 5040 LAKE GARDEN CT on 2/25/2022

♦ LINEBERGER, DEVONE LAMONT was arrested on a charge of URINATE OR DEFECATE ON PUBLIC OR PRIVATE PROPERTY at 401 N CHERRY ST on 2/26/2022

♦ FLOYD, DONALD LAVORNE was arrested on a charge of VIO. PROTECTIVE ORDER BY COURTS ANOTHER STATE/ INDIAN TRIBE at 1714 N

♦ Mann, Jon Fitzgerald (M/58) Arrest on chrg of Fugitive Arrest (magistrate`s Order) (F), at 919 Sequoia Dr/holly Hedge Dr, Lewi, NC, on 2/25/2022 21:11.

should have been all along. We will learn more about the damage done to our children, through mask requirements, for many years to come.

A friend told me a sad story this week. She teaches a Sunday School class. She was working on a project with the class and the children were drawing a picture of people. One boy drew all of the people with eyes and no mouths or noses. How sad.

Speech therapists report a 364% increase in small children with speech delays. They can’t see the words formed and it’s harder for them to learn. A child psychiatrist at Johns Hopkins warned that students are falling behind due to masking. It “affects learning and development, particularly for our youngest learners” and “provides little discernible benefit.”

The consequences of masking are everywhere, and the “science” doesn’t support masking requirements.

That’s the reason most countries don’t require masking for children. The United States is only one of seven countries, in the western world to require masks. There is no scientific evidence to support that these countries, with mask requirements, have better outcomes.

We’ve all seen the hypocrisy of elected officials who require masks for everyone and then are caught without wearing one themselves. Georgia Democrat Stacey Abrams was seen recently talking to a large group of children. The children were all masked and she was maskless. Many politicians have been caught enjoying themselves without masks while requiring their “little people” to stay covered. It’s not about the science, obviously, it’s about control and power.

No matter what you do, some people are never going to be happy. Some of the people who have been yelling the loudest about ending mask mandates have been the loudest objectors to my SB 173. They are blasting me because they say parents have to “opt out,” and they shouldn’t have to. They are saying I should have ended masks altogether.

These same people who don’t won’t to be told that they must wear a mask, now want to tell the people who do that they can’t wear a mask. Go figure. As you’ve heard me say before, some people have the attitude, “If I don’t like it nobody does it. If I do like it, then everybody does it.”

Joyce Krawiec represents the 31st district in the N.C. Senate.

♦ MARSH, RENICK JERMAINE was arrested on a charge of ASSAULT - STRANGULATION at 201 N CHURCH ST on 2/24/2022 ♦ MAYFIELD, ANDRE DECOLE was arrested on a charge of PROTECTIVE ORDER at 550 PETERS CREEK PW on 2/27/2022 ♦ MCKEE, LATRESSA YVETTE was arrested on a charge of 2ND DEGREE TRESPASS at 499 N MARTIN LUTHER KING JR DR/E FIFTH ST on 2/27/2022 ♦ MCKINNEY, CHRISTOPHER LEE was arrested on a charge of COMMUNICATE THREATS at 1025 OAKMONT RIDGE DR on 2/27/2022 ♦ MORGAN, KQUASHAND MARQUIS was arrested on a charge of ASSAULT ON FEMALE at 5904 UNIVERSITY PW on 2/27/2022 ♦ ONEAL, RAYMOND HENRY was arrested on a charge of REC/ POSS STOLE MV at 1000 BLK HAGWOOD ST on 2/27/2022 ♦ RANKIN, JUSTIN MICHAEL was arrested on a charge of ASSAULT - INFLICTING SERIOUS BODILY INJURY at 2185 BURKE MEADOWS RD on 2/27/2022 ♦ RAYMER, CODY LEE was arrested on a charge of ASSAULT - STRANGULATION at 2185 BURKE MEADOWS RD on 2/27/2022 ♦ REAVES, TIMOTHY BRIAN was arrested on a charge of CAUSE FALSE BRDCAST at 5601 BETHANIA RD on 2/26/2022 ♦ ROUSSEAU, SHEA DEPAUL was arrested on a charge of ASSAULT ON FEMALE at 7910 N POINT BLVD on 2/25/2022

♦ ROUSSEAU, SHEA DEPAUL was arrested on a charge of FELON ADW/SER INJURY at 201 N CHURCH ST on 2/27/2022 ♦ SETTLE, LAVEL COWAN was arrested on a charge of ASSAULT ON FEMALE at 1312 N MAIN ST on 2/27/2022 ♦ SHEHAN, MARK THOMPSON was arrested on a charge of VIO. PROTECTIVE ORDER BY COURTS ANOTHER STATE/ INDIAN TRIBE at 1601 S HAWTHORNE RD on 2/24/2022 ♦ Smith, Kahlil Shernarnd (M/20) Arrest on chrg of Weap Possession In Prison (F), at 201 N Church St, Winston-salem, NC, on 2/23/2022 19:24. ♦ Tilley, Dewey Blake (M/65) Arrest on chrg of Assault-point Gun, M (M), at 7732 North Point Bv, Winston-salem, NC, on 2/24/2022 10:00. ♦ TRUJILLO, REINALDO SANTANA was arrested on a charge of IMPAIRED DRIVING DWI at 699 WAUGHTOWN ST/DACIAN ST on 2/26/2022 ♦ TRUJILLO, REINALDO SANTANA was arrested on a charge of CHILD ABUSE at 699 WAUGHTOWN ST/DACIAN ST on 2/26/2022 ♦ WARREN, SCOTT GREGORY was arrested on a charge of ASSAULT-SIMPLE at 1837 S HAWTHORNE RD on 2/27/2022 ♦ WILLIAMS, KIONNA ASHANTI was arrested on a charge of CHILD ABUSE at W HANES MILL RD/SB 52_W HANES MILL RD RA on 2/25/2022 ♦ WILLIAMS, REUBEN JR was arrested on a charge of IMPAIRED DRIVING DWI at 5077 WINSTER CR on 2/26/2022

Twin City Herald for Wednesday, March 2, 2022

3

SPORTS

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SIDELINE REPORT FOOTBALL

Original USFL execs sue Fox over new league's branding Los Angeles A group of former team owners and executives from the original USFL is suing Fox Sports to halt the launch of the new spring football league with the same name, alleging the new USFL is inappropriately using the old league's branding.

The complaint alleges trademark infringement, false advertising and false association by the new league. The group is seeking an injunction to prevent the new league from using any names or logos associated with the defunct league. The original USFL played games from 1983 to 1985, and the group suing the new league alleges Fox Sports and its partners didn't properly obtain use of the league's trademarks and other intellectual property.

GAMBLING

Bill unveiled to legalize sports betting in Kentucky Frankfort, Ky. Supporters of legalizing sports betting in Kentucky are taking another swing at passing the proposal — this time teaming it with a package of gamblingrelated measures. Similar sports wagering bills died in previous sessions, reflecting the divisiveness of gambling issues in the Bluegrass State.

Supporters of previous bills estimated that legalizing sports wagering would generate about $22 million in yearly revenue. They say the measure is needed to stop Kentuckians from flocking to neighboring states that allow sports betting. The bill unveiled Monday seeks to legalize most forms of sports wagering and regulate the taxation of all online gambling, including fantasy sports and online poker.

MARCIO JOSE SANCHEZ | AP PHOTO

Kyle Larson, bottom right, leads the field during Sunday's NASCAR Cup Series race at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California.

Larson knocked teammate Chase Elliott, pictured behind Larson, out of contention on a move that drew criticism from Elliott.

Larson, Elliott provide early-season Cup drama The Hendrick Motorsports teammates got tangled up during Larson’s win Sunday at Fontana The Associated Press FONTANA, Calif. — A substantial collision between the Cup Series’ defending champion and its most popular driver would be pretty juicy stuff under any circumstances.

Add in the fact that they’re teammates, and NASCAR has a downright tantalizing storyline to follow just two races into the new season.

Kyle Larson sent Chase Elliott into the fence when they made contact Sunday with just under 20 laps to go at Auto Club Speedway. Elliott’s bold move to take the lead was erased when Larson, who had been side drafting off Joey Logano to stay in front, came briskly up the track and pinched Elliott into the

wall.

Larson went on to claim his first victory of the season, even surviving a chaotic restart with four laps left on an entertaining day for the circuit’s new cars on its oldest asphalt.

The restart was even more spicy because it was caused by Elliott, whose spin with eight laps to go was deemed suspicious by plenty of NASCAR fans.

After claiming his second surfboard trophy, Larson realized everybody wanted to know about his contact with his furious fellow Hendrick Motorsports superstar.

Larson patiently repeated that the contact was a mistake, not a block — but that Elliott also deserved a measure of blame.

Larson called it “probably a small bump in the road” for the teammates, but he thinks the next few days should reveal if the bump is getting bigger.

“I think if (more) things happen in the future, then yes, it gets out of

hand,” Larson said. “But Hendrick Motorsports, I don’t think, will ever let it get to that point, and we have enough respect for each other that I don’t think it will get out of hand at all. ... He’s going to be upset, which he has a right to be, but I’ll explain my side, and he’ll believe me or he won’t.”

The Hendrick meeting rooms back in North Carolina should be tremendously entertaining on Monday and Tuesday as the two teams sort out the hard feelings and examine the motives in this drama from the race closest to Hollywood.

Larson repeatedly expressed regret but speculated it probably won’t make Elliott feel much better.

Larson’s spotter, Tyler Monn, tried to take the blame for the collision on Twitter, saying he was paying too much attention to Logano.

“They’re great teammates, always have been, and I know we’re all good teammates together,” said Cliff Daniels, Larson’s crew chief.

“Like he said, that’s nothing that (Larson) would ever do intentionally, and that’s a tough racing deal.

I don’t blame Chase at all for what could have been the race-winning move, and he just told his side of the story.”

Still, Elliott’s radio communication left no doubt about his immediate feelings on the move that ruined his day: An exasperated Elliott profanely asked his team what Larson was doing with his big swerve up high.

Even more intriguingly, Elliott told his team shortly before his spin that he suspected his toe link would break for the second time in the race, and that he “(didn’t) really give a (expletive) who is leading the race.”

Larson and Daniels immediately dismissed the notion Elliott would spin on purpose. The teams had brief communication in the paddock after the race, but more dialogue is coming.

“I think certainly nothing intentional there by Kyle,” Hendrick Motorsports general manager Jeff Andrews said. “I know we’ll go back and talk about it in our meetings tomorrow and Tuesday, and we’ll look at all the facts and we’ll look at what happened, and we’ll talk about it as a company.”

NBA

Simmons unlikely to play in return to Philly New York Brooklyn coach Steve Nash doesn't expect Ben Simmons to practice this week, making it unlikely the former 76ers star will be ready to play when the Nets visit Philadelphia on March 10. The Nets are hopeful Kevin Durant will return from his left knee sprain later this week, but it appears Simmons is still a ways off after not playing at all this season.

His back began bothering him as he tried to increase his workload, and Nash said Monday before the Nets played Toronto that Simmons is unlikely to practice this week.

SOCCER

Russia suspended from international soccer Geneva Russian teams were suspended Monday from all international soccer, including qualifying matches for the 2022 World Cup, as Moscow was pushed toward pariah status in sports for its invasion of Ukraine. World soccer body FIFA and European authority UEFA banned Russian national and club teams from their competitions "until further notice." Russia's men's national team had been scheduled to play in World Cup qualifying playoffs in just three weeks' time.

Ukraine athletes defend country, demand sanctions for Russia

Vladyslav Heraskevych, Ukrainian skeleton rider

Athletes from about two dozen countries also signed a letter to Olympic and Paralympic leaders

The Associated Press EARLIER THIS MONTH, Ukrainian skeleton rider Vladyslav Heraskevych flashed a sign at the Olympics: “No war in Ukraine.”

On Sunday, he was hunkered down about 90 miles outside of his nation’s capital with weapons nearby in case he needs to defend his country.

“I am a student,” the 23-year-old said in a phone interview with The Associated Press. “I am not experienced in these type of things. But I am ready to stand strong and help in any way I can.”

With Russian troops encircling the capital of Kyiv, Heraskevych was among a rapidly growing list of athletes from Ukraine and about two dozen other countries who sent an open letter to Olympic and Paralympic leaders, urging them to immediately suspend the Russian and Belarusian Olympic and Paralympic Committees.

“Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, supported by Belarus, is a clear breach of the Olympic and Paralympic Charters — a breach that must be met with strong sanctions,” said the letter addressed to IOC President Thomas Bach and his counterpart on the International Paralympic Committee, Andrew Parsons.

Among those putting their names

“It’s quiet now. But there is no safe place in Ukraine right now.”

NBC VIA AP

Vladyslav Heraskevych of Ukraine holds a sign that reads "No War in Ukraine" after finishing a run at the men's skeleton competition last month at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing. on the letter were four-time Olympian Paula Radcliffe of Britain, six-time Olympian Clara Hughes of Canada, two-time Paralympian Greta Neimanas and Beckie Scott, the Canadian Olympic champion who served a long term as head of the World Anti-Doping Agency’s athlete commission.

There were 34 Ukrainian athletes’ names listed on the letter, many signing on behalf of their entire sports federations. The letter said more Ukrainians would have signed but “it has been a challenge to speak with all athletes from Ukraine as they are seeking safety in bomb shelters.”

“If the IOC and IPC refuse to take swift action, you are clearly

emboldening both Russia and Belarus violation of international law and your own Charters,” the letter read.

The advocacy group Global Athlete helped coordinate the letter, which also was signed by sliders from the U.S., Latvia and the Netherlands, members of the Russian fencing team, an independent athletes’ group from Germany and the Belarus Sport Solidarity Athletes Federation.

The International Olympic Committee has condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, saying it violated the Olympic Truce. It has called on international federations to cancel or move events planned in Russia and Belarus and to stop using

the countries’ flags and national anthems.

Neither the IOC nor the IPC have taken direct action against the countries themselves, however.

The Paralympics start next Friday.

Neither federation immediately responded to AP requests for comment on the letter.

Among those signing the letter was Ukrainian freestyle skier Oleksandr Abramenko, whose embrace with a Russian athlete in Beijing was caught on camera and captured headlines.

Heraskevych’s “no war” banner did, too. After that gesture on Feb. 11, the IOC came out quickly and said Heraskevych would not face any sanctions for violating the Olympic rule that limits political protests on the field of play at the Games.

“This was a general call for peace,” the IOC said in a statement.

“For the IOC the matter is closed.”

Heraskevych told the AP he left China in mid-February with a guarded sense of optimism; at the time, Russia was amassing troops along Ukraine’s border but had not invaded.

His hopes were quickly dashed.

He spoke to the AP from Zhytomyr, about a two-hour drive from Kyiv. He was preparing to defend Ukraine’s capital if called on.

“It’s quiet now,” Heraskevych said. “But there is no safe place in Ukraine right now.”

the bett ing to e stitution don’t kn now.”

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Twin City Herald for Wednesday, March 2, 2022

4

STATE & NATION

Senators to watch as Supreme Court fight unfolds certainly vote against Jackson’s nomination, but his role will nonetheless be important as Republicans strategize over how much to criticize her and whether to throw up procedural hurdles to slow the nomination.

In a statement, Grassley congratulated Jackson and said he has “no intention of degrading the advice and consent role” of the Senate, referring to the bitter confirmation battles over Trump’s three Supreme Court nominees.

By Mary Clare Jalonick The Associated Press WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Joe Biden and Senate Democrats say they are hoping for a bipartisan vote to confirm Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court.

That won’t be easy, but some Republicans have expressed an openness to voting for Biden’s nominee, who currently sits on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit and would be the first black woman on the Supreme Court. Republican Sens. Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina voted last year to confirm Jackson for her current position.

As senators review Jackson’s record, some Republicans may drop hints about whether they are willing to vote for Jackson, who would replace liberal Justice Stephen Breyer. But senators in both parties often withhold their support until after they meet with the nominee and confirmation hearings are held.

Democrats will also keep an eye on their own moderate flank, Sens. Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona.

Neither has indicated, so far, that they would vote against Biden’s choice, and they have voted for all his other nominees.

Senators to watch as the confirmation process begins: Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Dick Durbin made one of his first calls to Collins after Justice Stephen Breyer announced that he will retire this summer. The Maine senator, who voted against Justice Amy Coney Barrett, former President Donald Trump’s nominee for Supreme Court in 2020, is perhaps Demo-

Senate Republican Leader Mitch Mcconnell, R-Ky.

JACQUELYN MARTIN | AP PHOTO

Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, leaves a policy luncheon, on Feb., 17, 2022, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. crats’ best chance for a Republican crossover vote.

“I’m reaching out to the Republicans and saying the nominee will be available for you to get to know them,” and answer any questions, Durbin said then of his conversation with Collins, who is a moderate. She responded that she appreciated the offer.

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C. Graham pushed Biden to pick a South Carolinian — federal district court Judge J. Michelle Childs. While the White House said Childs was under consideration, the president eventually picked the more experienced Jackson instead.

He said earlier this month that if the nominee wasn’t Childs, whom he considers more moder-

ate than Jackson, his vote would be more “problematic.”

Graham said he was also pushing Childs because she had not attended college or law school at Harvard or Yale, unlike Jackson and almost every justice on the court. “The Harvard-Yale train to the Supreme Court continues to run unabated,” Graham said in a statement after Biden’s announcement.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska Along with Collins, Murkowski is one of the most moderate Republican members of the Senate and has expressed concerns about whether the court could overturn the landmark Roe v. Wade decision guaranteeing a right to an abortion. But she is up for reelection this year in her conservative

state, and she has signaled she may not be inclined to cross party lines.

In a statement Friday, she said she looks forward to meeting with Jackson but “I’ve been clear that previously voting to confirm an individual to a lower court does not signal how I will vote for a Supreme Court justice.” In January, she told Alaska station KDLL that “there is a pretty tangible difference between being on a district court, a circuit court and the Supreme Court.”

Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa Grassley, the top Republican on the Judiciary panel, is a longtime member of the committee and oversaw the confirmation of two of Trump’s three picks as the then-chairman. He will almost

Like Grassley, McConnell is unlikely to vote for Jackson. But his comments on her nomination will signal to the rest of the conference how to proceed as they decide how aggressively to oppose it.

McConnell questioned Jackson’s productivity on the appeals court and the support for her from some liberal advocacy groups. But he has also tried to dissuade his colleagues from bringing up her race after several of them criticized Biden for saying he would nominate a Black woman.

“Honestly, I did not think that was inappropriate,” McConnell said earlier this week. He promised the nominee will be “respectfully vetted.”

Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., and Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, D-Ariz.

Manchin and Sinema drew the ire of liberal groups, and many of their fellow Democrats, after they helped block a wide-ranging package of Biden’s signature policy goals. But that opposition has not carried over to Biden’s judicial nominees, as both senators have voted for every single one of them.

Neither has given any indication they will oppose his Supreme Court pick.

NTSB: Plane that crashed off NC coast made no distress calls

By Ben Finley The Associated Press MOREHEAD CITY — A plane carrying eight people — including four teenagers — had issued no distress calls and made no declarations of an emergency before it crashed off the North Carolina coast, the National Transportation Safety Board said in a preliminary accident report released Friday.

The single-engine Pilatus PC12/47 went down in the Atlantic Ocean on Feb. 13 near the southern edge of the Outer Banks. Everyone onboard died.

The six passengers were from Carteret County and were returning from a charity hunting event.

The plane had taken off from the Hyde County Airport on the mainland and was headed south to Beaufort, which is the Carteret County seat.

During the flight, the plane’s pilot had been in contact with air traffic controllers because they told him he was about to enter restricted airspace where a military aircraft was flying, the report said.

“After multiple calls with no response from the pilot, the control-

WCTI-TV VIA AP

Carteret County Sheriff Asa Buck speaks with reporters in Carteret County, on Monday, Feb. 14, 2022. ler instructed the military aircraft in the restricted airspace to remain above 4,000 (feet),” the report stated.

The pilot later told the air traffic controllers that he didn’t respond to their calls because he “’was trying to get out’” and was unable to receive the radio transmissions, the report stated.

The pilot was eventually cleared for an approach to a runway at Michael J. Smith Field Airport in Beaufort, the report said. There were more radio exchanges about the plane’s direction and altitude.

The controller told the pilot that the airplane was at 1,700 feet and was supposed to maintain an altitude of 1,900 feet.

“The pilot read back the altimeter setting correctly, and that was the last transmission from the airplane,” the report stated.

Shortly after 2 p.m., the report stated that “the controller called the airplane and asked what altitude it was at because the airplane was at 4,700 (feet, mean sea level) and climbing quickly.”

There was no response, and radar contact was lost, the report said.

“Throughout the communication with air traffic control, there were no distress calls or a declaration of emergency from the airplane,” the report stated.

Divers found the plane’s fuselage and cabin about 3 miles from shore in about 55 feet of water.

Human remains were removed as well as equipment and instruments that could help investigators determine the cause of the crash, Carteret County Sheriff Asa Buck told reporters last week.

Carteret County includes communities such as Emerald Isle and Atlantic Beach as well as the Cape Lookout National Seashore.

But the mostly rural county is also home to older fishing villages. The four teenagers went to East Cart-

eret High School, which has about 600 students.

The sheriff’s office identified the adults on board the plane as pilot Ernest Durwood Rawls, 67, of Greenville; Jeffrey Worthington Rawls, 28, of Greenville; Stephanie Ann McInnis Fulcher, 42, of Sea Level; and Douglas Hunter Parks, 45, of Sea Level.

The teenagers were identified as Jonathan Kole McInnis, 15, of Sea Level; Noah Lee Styron, 15, of Cedar Island; Michael Daily Shepard, 15, of Atlantic; and Jacob Nolan Taylor, 16, of Atlantic.

Charlie Snow, a close friend of the pilot, told The Associated Press last week that Ernest Rawls and passenger Jeff Rawls were father and son.

The elder Rawls had previously flown for Snow’s company, Outer Banks Airlines, and was highly trained and extremely capable, Snow said.

“If anybody could get out of something, if it was possible to get out of it, he could have done it,” Snow said during a telephone interview. “So it makes me think that whatever happened was catastrophic. But you know, it’s just speculation.”

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MOORE COUNTY COUNTY NEWS Candidate filing is underway Moore County is now part of the 9th Congressional District, but county voters will still see a familiar name on the GOP ballot as Rep. Richard Hudson (R-NC08) has announced he will seek re-election to Congress in the newly drawn 9th District, which includes Moore County. Francisco Rios has also filed in the GOP primary as of Tuesday.

In the Democratic primary, Benjamin Clark III has announced he will seek the party’s nomination in the 9th.

In county races, several candidates have filed. Below is a list of races and candidates as of Tuesday.

DAVID SINCLAIR | FOR THE NORTH STATE JOURNAL

BATTER UP!

NC SENATE 21 (GOP) Tom McInnis

High School baseball season is underway. Pinecrest opened its season with a 5-4 victory over Millbrook, from Raleigh, on Monday. The Patriots host Heritage, from Wake Forest, on Wednesday and Terry Sanford on Friday. Pictured is the homestanding Pinecrest team during the National Anthem.

Elizabeth Woolard (yellow jersey) is the team statistician and daughter of longtime assistant coach Roger Woolard, who passed away in January. Woolard threw out the first pitch as the family joined her at the mound for the dedication of Woolard Wall.

Union Pines won its opener at home against Gray’s Creek on Monday night 3-2. The Vikings will next travel to Hope Mills for a second game against Grey’s Creek on Thursday.

North Moore opened its season Tuesday night against Southern Wake Academy, but the game finished after press time. The Mustangs play back-to-back games Thursday (home) and Friday (away) against Eastern Randolph.

NC HOUSE 51 (GOP) John Sauls NC HOUSE 52 (GOP) Ben Moss Jamie Boles NC HOUSE 78 (GOP) Neal Jackson Cory Bortree David Ashley DISTRICT COURT JUDGE 19D SEAT 1 (GOP)

Aberdeen increases fire department funding

Warren McSweeney DISTRICT COURT JUDGE 19D SEAT 2 (GOP) Beth Tanner DISTRICT COURT JUDGE 19D SEAT52 (DEM) Regina M. Joe COUNTY COMMISSIONERS DISTRICT I (GOP) Jim Von Canon David McLean COUNTY COMMISSIONERS DISTRICT III (GOP) John L. Ritter COUNTY COMMISSIONERS DISTRICT V (GOP) Kurt Cook COUNTY COMMISSIONERS DISTRICT II (GOP) Nick Picerno

Aberdeen Sportsplex delayed by weather

By Ryan Henkel North State Journal staff ABERDEEN — The Aberdeen Town Board met Monday with special projects and funding as the primary agenda items. The town will see increased support for fire and emergency services with a vote to increase the number of firefighters.

The board had several new business items on the agenda as well as appointments to various board and commissions at its regular business meeting Monday.

One of the first items on the board’s agenda was “A Proclamation on the Importance of Girl Scouts to Today’s Girls” made

by Mayor Robert A. Farrell. The board approved the proclamation which makes March 12 Girl Scout Day in the Town of Aberdeen in honor of the Girl Scout Movement and North Carolina Coastal Pines.

The proclamation recognizes Girl Scouts “providing girls with a safe, inclusive, all-girl space where they can hone their skills and develop leadership abilities.”

The board next took public comments. Comments included an update on the Aberdeen and Rockford Caboose #309 restoration project and two speakers who expressed concerns about the need to address speeding issues on residential streets, including W. Saunders Ave. In his formal report to the board, town manager Paul Sabiston reported that while final plans

for what to do with the old Aberdeen Elementary School continue to take shape, the site has had growing interest for rental use.

Sabiston also said the Aberdeen Sportsplex project had run into setbacks due to weather, but he hoped workers could be laying sod for the fields by late March or early April.

Finance Director Butch Watson reported overall net income of $3,820,000 so far through the end of January. Based on the current revenue and fund balances, the town is in a fiscal surplus with four more months until the end of the fiscal year, according to Watson.

The board next approved the request by Fire Chief Phillip Richardson for three additional fulltime firefighter positions to help deal with the increased workload and call volume that the fire de-

CLERK OF COURT (GOP) Chris Morgan REGISTER OF DEEDS (GOP) William (Bill) Burton Andrew Ritter George W. (Wes) Little, Jr. SHERIFF (GOP) Ronnie Fields BOARD OF EDUCATION DISTRICT III

North State Journal staff

Shannon David Helen G. Maness BOARD OF EDUCATION AT-LARGE Ken Benway Pauline Bruno Robin Calcutt Rollie Simpson Forrest Leach

5

20177 52016 $1.00

Southern Pines approves Patrick’s Pointe development

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SOUTHERN PINES — After three months of debate, a multi-family residential development that will bring new living spaces to Southern Pines was approved. The Patrick’s Pointe development has been on the council’s docket repeatedly since late 2021. The December meeting of the council included seven hours of testimony on the project.

The developers initially requested a special use permit for 288 residential units on the site along U.S. Hwy 1. After residents from the neighboring Village Green community were consulted, the developers reduced the density of the project to 226 units.

“It’s a rather unusual one but it’s nice to be meeting at 3pm instead of 3am,” said mayor Carol Haney at the outset of the Monday meeting.

“We have worried over this project for three very long months,” said Haney.

“We love this town and it’s been very difficult; we’ve agonized over this and we’ve certainly done our due diligence.”

Mayor Carol Haney “We have worried over this project for three very long months,” said Haney. “We love this town and it’s been very difficult; we’ve agonized over this and we’ve certainly done our due diligence.”

Haney said the extensive exhibits and expert testimony were the

reasons for the extended time the council took considering the project.

Haney laid out six separate criteria for the approval of the project. “We have to deal with what is legally in front of us,” said Haney.

The council heard additional testimony, asked questions and debated the project for more than 90 minutes during the meeting Monday night.

After adding conditions related to sidewalk placement and buffers, the council voted 4-1 to approve the special use permit for the project. Councilmember Ann Petersen was the lone vote against the project. The developers agreed to the conditions verbally before the vote.

After the lengthy hearing on the Patrick’s Pointe project, the council also approved a retail development at the corner of Morganton Road and Brucewood Road, as well as the first phase of the Waterworks project, which is an adaptive reuse project at the former Southern Pines water treatment plant.

The Southern Pines town council will next meet Wednesday evening for their regular agenda meeting, and the next regular business meeting will be Tuesday, March 8.

partment has been dealing with.

The increase in personnel will allow the department to increase the number of firefighters on each shift.

The final bsuiness item was consideration of a petition to Moore County for the allocation of more acres of watershed land for potential development. The motion failed but the board agreed to return to and discuss the subject at their next work session.

The board also approved several appointments to various board and commissioners. They approved appointments on both the Downtown Aberdeen Advisory Board and Board of Adjustment. Nathan Lonnen was appointed to Position 2 on the Downtown Aberdeen Advisory Board and Raymond Lee was appointed to Position 4 on the Board of Adjustment.

The board also voted to elect Commissioner Teressa V. Beavers as an alternate for the representative for Aberdeen on the Triangle J Council of Governments, a regional planning and administrative council for North Carolina’s Region J. The town board will meet next on March 28.

North State Journal for Wednesday, March 2, 2022

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Rep. Richard Hudson with President Donald J. Trump in this undated file photo.

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moore

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

Publisher Neal Robbins

Editor Matt Mercer

Sports Editor Cory Lavalette

Senior Opinion Editor Frank Hill

HUDSON CAMPAIGN

Published each Wednesday

by North State Media, LLC 1201 Edwards Mill Rd. Suite 300 Raleigh, NC 27607

Rep. Richard Hudson will seek re-election in new 9th District

TO SUBSCRIBE: 704-269-8461 or online at nsjonline.com

North State Journal staff

Design Editor Lauren Rose

Annual Subscription Price: $50.00 Periodicals Postage Paid at Raleigh, N.C. and at additional mailing offices.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: North State Journal

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WEEKLY CRIME LOG ♦ GUINN, JERRY DEAN (W, M, 42) of Aberdeen, arrested 2/28/2022 on charges of Possession of Firearm by Felon, Possession of CS on Prison/Jail Premises, Possess Meth, Fict/ Alt Title/Registration Card/Tag, DWLR by Robbins PD. Bond: $75,000 Secured. Next Court Date: 3/2/2022.

RALEIGH — After a threejudge panel redrew congressional maps for North Carolina, Moore County’s current representative in the U.S. House of Representatives announced he will run in a new district that will include Moore County. U.S. Rep. Richard Hudson (NC-08) is in his fifth term in the U.S. House serving the N.C.’s 8th congressional district. Hudson represented Moore, Anson, Randolph, Scotland, Hoke and Cumberland in current and previous versions of the 8th District. All or part of those

counties are not included in the new 9th District.

In an announcement on Thursday, Feb. 24, Hudson said he will “stand up to the mandates, threats to our Second Amendment, and big government socialist policies hurting our economy and your family.”

In a North State Journal op-ed last week, Hudson called politicians who supported mask mandates “hypocrites” and said, “It’s time to scrap these mandates and give parents the freedom to choose what’s best for their children. If it’s good enough for the politicians, it’s good enough for

our kids.”

The new 9th District includes Moore, Randolph, Chatham, Lee, Hoke and Scotland and portions of Richmond, Harnett and Cumberland counties.

As Hudson makes the move from the 8th District to the 9th, Republican U.S. Rep. Dan Bishop (NC-09) announced that he will seek re-election in the new 8th District. The new 8th District encompasses much of Bishop’s current constituency and includes Anson, Davidson, Montgomery, Rowan, Stanly, Union and portions of Cabarrus and Richmond counties.

TUNE INTO The John and Maureen show

♦ GREEN, PATRICK KYLE (W, M, 28) of Lakeview, arrested 2/28/2022 on charges of Probation Violation (2 Counts), Defrauf Drug/Alc Test 1st by Moore County Sheriff. Bond: $15,000 Secured. Next Court Date: 3/16/2022.

Sundays

1 - 2PM WEEB 990 AM 104.1 and 97.3 FM

♦ LITTON, STEPHANIE MICHELLE (W, F, 28) of Vass, arrested 2/27/2022 on charges of Possession of Heroin, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Resisting Public Officer by Moore County Sheriff. Bond: $2,500 Secured.

Next Court Date: 3/31/2022.

♦ MORGAN, JAMES LYNN (W, M, 47) of Robbins, arrested 2/25/2022 on charges of Possession of Meth, Resisting Public Officer, Assault Government Official/Employee, Disorderly Conduct by Robbins PD. Bond: $2,500 Secured.

Next Court Date: 3/7/2022.

9am-4pm The influence of Korean ceramics on North Carolina’s pottery tradition is a relatively recent development. It has its origins in some of the designs Jacques Busbee incorporated when he started Jugtown Pottery in 1917, most notably a Korean bowl form. Examples of modern works, as well as a few early examples from Jugtown Pottery, will be highlighted in this show. Featured artists include: Kyle Carpenter, Po Wen Liu, Ben Owen III, Benjamin Owen IV, Pam Owens, Phillip Pollet, David Stuempfle, and Ben Winslow.

March 4-6 7:30pm/2pm Sandhills Repertory Theatre along with Temple Theatre Company present the musical theater production featuring Peggy Tophorn, Lisa Domes and a sixpiece band at Owens Auditorium.

March 12 Pops: Movie Muse 7:30pm The Carolina Philharmonic returns for a live performance in Owens Auditorium. The one-night show features grand cinematic scores with video clips and behind-the-scenes reels from classic films.

–

♦ SMITH, BRITTNEY GAIL (W, F, 36) of Aberdeen, arrested 2/25/2022 on charges of Trafficking in Cocaine, PWISD Cocaine, Felony Possession of Cocaine, Possession of Schedule VI CS, Maintaining Veh/Dwell/Place CS, Possession of Drug Para by Moore County Sheriff. Bond: $15,000 Secured. Next Court Date: 3/7/2022. ♦ SINGLETON, MARCUS REESE (W, M, 47) of Carthage, arrested 2/25/2022 on charges of Communicating Threats, Felony Larceny, Obtain Property by False Pretenses by Moore County Sheriff. Bond: $50,000 Secured. Next Court Date: 3/7/2022.

Korean Influence Pottery Exhibit

Always, Patsy Cline

♦ BLACKMON, WILLIS MAURICE (B, M, 60) of Aberdeen, arrested 2/28/2022 on charges of Financial Card Theft (3 Counts), Obtain Property

by False Pretense (4 Counts), Exploitation of a Disabled or Elder Adult by Aberdeen PD. Bond: $12,500 Secured. Next Court Date: 3/16/2022.

♦ DUMAS, COREY ALONZO (B, M, 25) of Eagle Springs, arrested 2/26/2022 on charges of Breaking or Entering

by Moore County Sheriff. Bond: $5,000 Secured. Next Court Date: 4/13/2022.

February 5 – June 25

March 18 James E. Holshouser, Jr. Lecture 7pm

East Knollwood, Little River, North Southern Pines, Pinehurst B2, Pinebluff, West End, Westmoore

County Chairman Tom Beddow Candidates

Keynote Speaker: Cleta Mitchell Conservative Partnership Institute/Election Integrity Network

Dr. Ben Carson, former Housing Secretary under President Donald Trump and candidate for President, will speak at Owens Auditorium.

More information and tickets at jehlectures.com.

North State Journal for Wednesday, March 2, 2022

OPINION Neal Robbins, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor VISUAL VOICES

COLUMN | REP. RICHARD HUDSON

Energy security is national security

One thing is certain – the crisis in Ukraine shows American energy independence and border security have never been more important.

“FREEDOM IS NEVER more than a generation away from extinction.”

Ronald Reagan gave us this warning as then-California Governor in 1967. At that time, the Cold War was at its peak and the United States was in the midst of an incredibly tense global standoff. Unfortunately, the Russian invasion of Ukraine and our current foreign policy threatens to plunge the world into this level of uncertainty once again.

Last week, the world watched as Vladimir Putin started a war in Ukraine. This is something many thought we would never see in the 21st century and reminds us of President Reagan’s warning.

Russia’s actions this past week mark the country’s second invasion of Ukraine in less than a decade and a clear violation of international law. The images we see of the suffering and destruction are heartbreaking. Renee and I join our nation in praying for all the people of Ukraine.

To be clear, I do not support sending US troops into Ukraine. Yet, as I have called for throughout this impending crisis, it is now past time to take decisive action to hold Russia accountable.

This week, I will urge my colleagues in Congress to pass even harsher sanctions on Russia than those proposed by President Joe Biden. Potential options include sanctioning the Russian Central Bank, removing Russian banks from the SWIFT payment system, and crippling Russia’s key industries. The eyes of the world are watching what we do next, including adversaries like China and Iran.

One thing is certain – the crisis in Ukraine shows American energy independence and border security have

never been more important.

Europe’s reliance on Russian fuel has been a security threat for years. That’s why I introduced legislation opposing Russia’s Nord Stream II gas pipeline in May and lead European leaders in condemning the project as far back as 2018. Unfortunately, President Biden waived sanctions passed by congress on Nord Stream II earlier this year— emboldening Russia and giving them more leverage over Europe.

In 2019 under President Donald Trump, America became a net exporter of energy for the first time in 70 years.

President Biden’s policies of cancelling the Keystone XL pipeline, limiting permits, and increasing regulations stifled American energy production and drove gas prices to a 7-year high. Like Europe, these policies have also made the US more reliant on foreign countries for energy, including Russia. Because of this, President Biden warned last week that the situation in Ukraine will lead to even higher gas prices affecting you and your family.

We must reverse this energy and job-killing agenda. That’s why last week, I introduced a resolution urging President Biden to take immediate action to restore American energy independence, create American jobs, and sell more natural gas to our allies in Europe.

Energy security is national security. I will continue to closely monitor the events in Europe and the impact they have on our economy and our Fort Bragg community.

And I will also continue pushing for American energy independence so our nation and allies never need to be hostage to countries like Russia ever again.

COLUMN | ROBERT LEVY

Defunding the police: a classic bait-and-switch Defunding the police is the defunding of individual liberty.

NOT EVEN THE MOST radical American Marxists want to “defund the police.”

Nor is that the goal of the socialist leaders of the Democratic Party. Their real desire is to “control the police.”

Once they gain that control, they want to enhance the police. Like any authoritarian elite they need the police.

They know that exercising the police power of the state is the key to achieving their social and political goals.

As socialist philosopher Max Weber explained in 1919, “The monopoly of the legitimate use of physical force is a core concept of modern public law.” In other words, the government, often with the assent of its citizenry, maintains its power by force, sometimes even violent force. So, if a crook robs a bank, the crook is forcibly arrested. That maintains a civil society. The same is the case for a murderer or even someone who refuses to pay his income tax.

But what happens to a Canadian or D.C. trucker who illegally parks his truck? The same state power used to arrest the murderer is used to handcuff the trucker, tow his truck and seize his bank account. The state considers this the “legitimate use of force.” It is their template to maintain political control.

Without the police, many wielding clubs and automatic weapons, the exercise of such power would be impossible. In that sense, “defunding the police” is only what the radicals say. It is not what they do.

President Joe Biden could not have imprisoned the January 6th so-called “insurrectionists” without the massive mobilization of political police. Even the arrest and trial of Kyle Rittenhouse was more an exercise of political control than peaceful law enforcement. As such, “defund the police” really means to “defund” only those police who defend the former capitalist, civil society. Only police officers who arrest property offenders like shoplifters or looters must be defunded. Perhaps such officers should be arrested themselves. Conversely, those who arrest or even shoot an unarmed military veteran protesting inside the Capitol should be given medals.

The mission of the police is becoming the protection of

state power in general and the protection of those who hold state power in particular. In pursuit of that effort, police funding is actually being increased.

Perhaps “defunding” is really a euphemism for “reeducation.” Our Constitution is based on the idea that the individual is more important than the state.

The Bill of Rights ensures that government respects individual liberty. In fact, the former police were established by government to protect those individual rights. In that sense, the “defunding of police” is actually the “redirection of police.” Such police are directed to marginalize individual rights. Their duty is to relegate those rights to the collective power of the state.

It is a revolutionary power which redefines Weber’s “legitimate use of force.” As the Mao Zedong socialists believe, such power only “comes from the barrel of a gun.”

That gun is carried by a new type of “defunded” police.

That is why police were not allowed to interfere with ANTIFA protestors burning down a church in Washington’s Lafayette Park or seizing the streets of Seattle. It is why police power was encouraged against parents voicing peaceful opposition at school board meetings.

That is also why it is neither hypocritical nor oxymoronic for politicians to order the arrest of gym owners while they bail looters out of jail. For other criminals they never set bail in the first place.

“Woke” reform is not a struggle to “defund the police.”

Instead, it is integral to the struggle to dismantle the “old police” and construct a new one. Such a force would be only loyal to collective political goals, not individual safety.

So, when we hear the cry to “defund the police” or “reimagine policing” what we are really hearing is a euphemism for the reconstruction and redirection of state power. It is the creation of a political police state.

Defunding the police is the defunding of individual liberty. It does for freedom what masks do for education. It seizes tomorrow and transforms it into tyranny.

Robert M. Levy is a resident of Moore County

3

North State Journal for Wednesday, March 2, 2022

4

obituaries

SPONSORED BY BOLES FUNERAL HOMES & CREMATORY

DEATH NOTICES

♦ Mary Janice Mayberry (née Morrissey) died on Thursday, February 24, 2022. ♦ Joseph Frank Diggs, 85 of Southern Pines, died on Thursday, February 24, 2022 at First

Dayne Bickley Sousa

June 3, 1927 - February 21, 2022

Marie Barbara Kelting April 17, 1930 February 23, 2022

Dayne McGiehan Sousa passed away on February 21, 2022, at her home in Pinehurst, at the age of 94. Born in Bronxville, New York, on June 3, 1927, to Donald and Hazel (Bickley) McGiehan.

She grew up in Yonkers and Hartsdale, New York. Dayne graduated from Bronxville High School in 1944, the valedictorian of her class. She then attended Duke University and graduated in 1948 with honors, majoring in Chemistry. Dayne met her husband Joseph while at Duke and they were married in 1949, residing in Hartsdale, New York.

Dayne was predeceased by her husband Joseph in July 2020. She is survived by her 4 children and their partners, 5 grandchildren, 5 great grandchildren, 7 grand dogs and 2 grand cats.

Services are entrusted to Boles Funeral Home of Pinehurst.

Marie “Ree” Barbara Murch Kelting, of Southern Pines, passed away peacefully in her home among family the morning of February 23, 2022. “Ree” was born April 17, 1930, in Lynbrook, New York, and is survived by her husband Chester “Louie” Louis Kelting, 3 sons, Dana, Darryl and Darren Murch, (predeceased) daughter Danette, and 5 grandchildren.

The family will receive friends from 11 a.m. until 12 noon on Tuesday, March 1, 2022 at Christ Fellowship Church, 1425 Midland Rd, Southern Pines, NC 28387.

The funeral service will take place following the visitation at 12 noon with Pastor Jim Thyme officiating.

Services entrusted to Boles Funeral Home of Southern Pines.

Philip H. Trace, USAF Ret. TSgt

Walter Eugene King

August 12, 1961 February 21, 2022

Philip H. Trace, USAF Ret. TSgt, age 60 of Seven Lakes, passed away on Monday, February 21, 2022, at FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital in Pinehurst.

Philip was born on August 12, 1961, in West Haven, Connecticut, to the late Howard Arthur Trace and Marjorie Simmons Trace. He graduated from West Haven, CT High School. Philip proudly served his country in the United States Air Force where he retired after 20 years of service. He then spent 13 years as a government contractor in Afghanistan and Iraq working in logistics. Philip received his Bachelor Degree in Business.

He is survived by his wife of 24 years, LaVerne Pettyjohn Trace; two children: Paul Trace of Newport News, Virginia, and Crystal Marie Hayes and her husband Drew of Hampton, Virginia; a step-son, Gregory Adams of Robbins. He is also survived by his grandchildren: Ava Lilliana, Mila Lianne, Chayce Michael, Jackson Howard and Levi McAuley.

October 17, 1946 February 20, 2022

Dyan Janelle Cocchi

Carol Jean LeFavor

August 2, 1969 February 23, 2022

Dyan Janelle Cocchi, age 52 of Pinehurst, passed away on Wednesday, February 23, 2022, at FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital in Pinehurst.

Dyan was born on August 2, 1969, in Las Vegas, Nevada, to Margaret A. Dooley Banke and the late Bruce Eldon Banke.

Dyan grew up in Las Vegas and attended UNLV, married Brantley Cocchi and had her son, “Niko.” She worked for Fletcher Jones Mercedes dealership for 10 years. Dyan moved to North Carolina in 2008.

Dyan was a talented artist that was well known in the community for her artistic greeting cards available in local retail stores. She enjoyed the outdoors, travel, camping and especially her dog, “Fritz.” She will forever be remembered for her warm, bubbly, fun-loving personality.

Dyan is survived by her son, Nikoli S. Cocchi and his wife Loren of Henderson, Nevada; mother, Margaret A. BankeHamernick and her stepfather, Jim L. Hamernick of Pinehurst; her brother, Bryan K. Banke and his wife Christelle of California; grandson, Elias Cocchi, a niece, Yseult Banke; and a close friend, Jason McKinney.

A private service will be held by the family at a later date.

Memorial contributions may be made in Dyan’s name to: The Arts Council of Moore County and/or Sandhills/ Moore Coalition for Human Care.

Services entrusted to Boles Funeral Home of Southern Pines.

There will be a Celebration of Life service for Walter Eugene King on Monday, February 28, at Boles Funeral Home in Pinehurst, NC. The visitation will begin at 12pm, followed by the Celebration of Life service at 1pm. The interment at Pinelawn Memorial Park will be followed by a reception/repast at Boles Funeral Home in Pinehurst.

Walter was born in Bailey’s Bay, Hamilton Parish, Bermuda, on October 17, 1946, to the late Archibald Cranfield King and Miriam Ellen Elizabeth Wilson King. He peacefully transitioned on February 20, 2022, at 10:17pm at his home in Pinehurst, surrounded by his loving family.

Walter leaves to cherish his memories: Wife: Phyllis Simmons-King; Children: Kacy King, Charryse Bean, Miriam King-Gill, and Isaiah King; Brothers: David King Sr. and Richard King; Sisters: Myrnelle King and Rosemarie Hollis; 3 Grandchildren, and a host of Nieces, Nephews, In-laws, Cousins, and friends.

January 11, 1945 February 27, 2022

Carol Jean LeFavor (Hardy) passed away at age 77 peacefully with her husband at her side on February 27, 2022, in her home in Pinehurst, due to complications from Alzheimer’s.

Carol was born on Thursday, January 11, 1945, on the second floor of St. John’s Hospital in Santa Monica, California, to Paul J (aged 40) and Cecelia P. Hardy (age 33).

She was a great wife, friend and mother to all of her kids and kids’ friends. Her beautiful smile, laugh, and her love of her husband Frenchy, family and extended family/friends is already and will always be missed. Carol was a kick in the pants. Thank you for brightening our lives!

She is survived by her loving husband, George LeFavor; two children, Michael Preedin and Suzette Preedin Tingley; step-daughter, Lesley Yoho; one brother, Timothy Hardy and one sister, Gloria Ann Gish, two nieces, Kendra Lynn and husband John Steinmeyer and family, and Kathryn Ann Berrend and her children.

She is also survived by four grandchildren, Kristen Yoho, Alicia Rapini, Jordan Tingley and Robert Chandler LeFavor; and four great grandchildren, Auktober Genzmer, Kyah Delgado, Riley Morgan and Leonidas LeFavor.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Paul J Hardy and Cecelia P. Hardy, step-daughter Laurel Anne LeFavor and brother-in-law Richard William Gish, nephew William Fredrick Gish and niece Kimberly Jean Gish.

Services are entrusted to Boles Funeral Home of Pinehurst.

Florence Moore November 3, 1930 February 25, 2022

Florence Van Loon Moore, 91, of Southern Pines, died on Friday, February 25, 2022, in FirstHealth Moore Regional.

Florence was born in Houston, Texas, in 1930, and graduated from Stephen F. Austin High School in 1949 and from Baylor University, Waco, Texas, in 1953.

Florence married the late Wallace W. Moore in 1954. They were active members of Our Saviour Lutheran Church and Church Woman United. Florence and Wallace were active members of the community since moving to Southern Pines in 1968.

Wallace and Florence were the proud parents to Theresa McCrickard of Clayton, the late Vicky Smith of Saxton, Pennsylvania, and Ronald Moore of Vass. She is also survived by her sister, Earline Jones Prescott of Scottsdale, Arizona. Florence leaves behind seven grandchildren, Brian McCrickard and his wife, Anna, the late Andrew McCrickard, Rebecca Catlett, Meryl Davidson, and her husband, Ron, Sarah Beth Williams and her husband, Kaegan, Aaron Moore and his wife, Jessica, and Micah Moore. She also leaves behind 5 great-grandchildren A celebration of life will be held at Our Saviour Lutheran Church on Saturday, March 5, 2022, beginning at 1:00 pm. A reception will follow the service in the church fellowship hall.

Celebrate the life of your loved ones.

Submit obituaries and death notices to be published in NSJ at obits@northstatejournal.com.com

Proudly supporting you every step of the way on your grief journey.

CONTACT

www.bolesfuneralhome.com Email: md@bolesfuneralhome.com Locations in: Southern Pines (910) 692-6262 | Pinehurst (910) 235-0366 | Seven Lakes (910) 673-7300

@BolesFuneralHomes