North State Journal Vol. 7, Issue 2

VOLUME 7 ISSUE 2

|

WWW.NSJONLINE.COM

|

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9, 2022

Double bunks and call ups lead NC Senate candidate filing

By Matt Mercer North State Journal RALEIGH — The N.C. Senate will say goodbye to some current members who are running against one another and welcome a freshman class of several N.C. House lawmakers after the 2022 elections.

Following the end of candidate

filing on Friday, March 4, the fields are set for the May 17 primary and Nov. 8 general election.

The General Assembly’s upper chamber consists of 50 seats across the state. Following the drawing of remedial maps, candidates had just under two weeks to file if they hadn’t already.

The most-watched primary in the NC Senate is likely to be a

contest between two senators in the western part of the state double-bunked by the maps: Deanna Ballard and Ralph Hise.

Both have held leadership roles within the Senate.

In her third elected term, Ballard chairs the Senate Education Committee and has been the lead See FILING page A2

Prominent North Carolinians helping Ukraine Raleigh Two high-profile natives of North Carolina have made separate announcements to help the people of Ukraine following Russia’s invasion of the country.

Franklin Graham’s Boonebased Samaritan’s Purse sent disaster teams and a 30-bed field hospital to Ukraine on March 4.

“Ukrainian families are hurting and in desperate need of physical aid and prayer during this difficult time,” said Graham. “We are deploying life-saving medical care to aid people who are suffering.

We want to meet the needs of these families in their darkest moments while pointing them to the light and hope of Jesus Christ.”

NASCAR team owner Richard Childress is taking up Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s call for ammunition and is donating 1 million rounds to the nation.

Childress said the company he sits on the board of, AMMO, Inc., is working through a private company to overcome logistical hurdles to get the ammunition to the country.

NSJ STAFF

Florida to recommend against COVID vaccines for healthy kids Tallahassee, Fla. Florida Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo said Monday that the state will formally recommend against COVID-19 vaccinations for healthy children.

“The Florida Department of Health is going to be the first state to officially recommend against the COVID-19 vaccines for healthy children,” Ladapo said at roundtable event organized by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis.

Last month, Ladapo and DeSantis announced new policy recommendations that discouraged mask-wearing and directed physicians to exercise their own judgment when treating virus patients.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Half of US adults exposed to harmful lead levels as kids Washington, D.C. Over 170 million U.S.-born people who were adults in 2015 were exposed to harmful levels of lead as children, a new study estimates.

The scientists from Florida State University and Duke University found significant impact on cognitive development: on average, early childhood exposure to lead resulted in a 2.6-point drop in IQ. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

5

20177 52016 $0.50

8

AP PHOTO

North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper speaks at an event at Durham Technical Community college, where Vice President Kamala Harris also spoke about creating jobs for Americans in Durham, Wednesday, March 2, 2022.

Gov. Roy Cooper’s statewide COVID-19 emergency order turns two years old

By A.P. Dillon North State Journal RALEIGH — Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper’s executive order declaring a statewide COVID-19 emergency turns two on Thursday, March 10.

The order passes the two year mark as the U.S. Senate passed a joint resolution ending the national state of emergency order instituted by former President Donald Trump on March 13, 2020. That order has twice been extended by President Joe Biden, and Senate Democrats voted against the measure to end it with a vote down party lines of 48–47.

House Majority Leader John Bell (R- Wayne) and the entire House Republican Caucus sent a letter to Cooper demanding to know when he was lifting his order.

“After two years of executive or-

ders that shut down businesses, restricted gatherings, closed schools, and mandated masks, the people of North Carolina are more than ready to move on,” the letter states.

“As key metrics continue to fall and vaccines remain readily available to those who want one, there is no justification for a continued state of emergency.”

“Simply put, there is no emergency,” reads the letter. “We urge you to immediately end your emergency order and allow our state to move forward.”

In June 2021, Cooper was questioned multiple times about when he would end his statewide emergency order, which has no listed end date.

He refused to say how or when he would end that order, citing it was needed to “continue to draw down federal funds” and that “we are still in the middle of this pandemic.”

Neither state nor federal elected

“After two years of executive orders that shut down businesses, restricted gatherings, closed schools, and mandated masks, the people of North Carolina are more than ready to move on” N.C. House Republican letter to Gov. Roy Cooper officials who spoke to North State Journal could determine what federal funds the governor was referring to.

Order 116 states that, “The State of Emergency maintains state’s ability to receive federal funding

to meet challenges presented by COVID-19;” however, this does not appear to be correct. An examination of the CARES Act and President Biden’s American Rescue Plan (ARP) did not have any requirement for a state to declare a statewide emergency to qualify for funds.

Similarly, FEMA’s Lost Wages Supplemental Payment Assistance requires a declaration to be made by the president of the United States, not a state governor.

Cooper had also claimed there are “many other reasons” to maintain the state of emergency order, such as freeing up “resources, personnel and being able to wave regulations.”

After more questions about his statewide emergency order arose, Cooper issued a press release on June 11, 2021, which referred to the See COOPER, page A2

Public school superintendents around the state working with secretive nonprofit The Innovation Project received $8M in state budget

By A.P. Dillon North State Journal RALEIGH — A non-profit with “equity” objectives received a multi-million dollar contract through the most recent state budget.

The General Assembly has allocated $8 million to The Innovation Project (TIP) through Senate Bill 105, the 2021 Appropriations Act, signed into law by Gov. Roy Cooper. The funding comes from the federal Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund funds also known as ESSER funds.

According to its website, The Innovation Project is a “nonprofit collaborative working group of North Carolina public school district superintendents created to envision the future of education and design equitable, learner-centered strategies to get

ROADMAP ROADMAP COURTESY IMAGE

The logo of The Innovation Project, a 501(c)3 nonprofit, is shown in this image.

the state budget, TIP is getting there.”

“The Innovation Project brings the money to “create the North together forward-thinking North Carolina High-Tech Learning AcCarolina school district superin- celerator.” The description of the tendents to find and implement project states it will be “an initiainnovative and transformative tive to provide a network of placepractices in public education so based learning hubs for students that students and their commu- with rigorous and experiential nities can thrive,” reads the TIP pathways for jobs in the technoloThe Innovation Project (TIP) brings mission statement.

According to theforward-thinking line item in See SCHOOLS, A2 together Northpage Carolina

MISSION

school district superintendents to find and implement innovative and transformative practices in public

“This is the best reason to in order to predict the fu yourself of the past and i alternative destinies.” – Ha

Homo Deus: A Brief History of T HarperCollins. Kindle Edition.

North State Journal for Wednesday, March 9, 2022

A2 WEDNESDAY

3.9.22 #324

THE WORD: AN OIL CAN IN MY POCKET

“I am not writing you a new command, but one we have had from the beginning — that we love one another.” 2 John 1:5 “The entire law is summed up in a single command: Love your neighbor as yourself.” Galatians 5:14 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you — so you must love one another.” John 13:34

Christ in the House of Simon”

by Dieric Bouts (circa 1440) is a painting in the collection of The Gemäldegalerie Museum, Berlin.

“Variety Vacationland” 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.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: North State Journal 1201 Edwards Mill Rd. Suite 300 Raleigh, NC 27607

PUBLIC DOMAIN

There is a good illustration in one of Dr. Parkhurst’s books. He tells of a workman who was in a trolley car one day. As the door was opened and shut, it squeaked.

The workman quietly got up and, taking a little can from his pocket, dropped some oil upon the offending spot, saying as he sat down, “I always carry an oil can in my pocket, for there are so many squeaky things in this world which a little oil will help.”

Dr. Parkhurst applies this to life, saying that love is a lubricant, with which we can soften or prevent a great

COOPER from page A1

FILING from page A1

order around six times. By then, Bell and state Rep. Keith Kidwell (R-Beaufort) had already sent the governor a letter questioning the continued order, but the press release did not provide any answers.

“We cannot find any truth to his statement that we must be in a state of emergency to draw down federal funds or the other reasons listed in his latest executive order,” Bell said in a statement to North State Journal. Bell also noted that other states wouldn’t be ending their emergency declarations if doing so would cut off much-needed funding.

Near the end of October 2021, the N.C. House passed the Emergency Powers Act intended to put checks and balances on statewide emergency orders as Cooper’s state of emergency passed its 600 day mark. Within days, Cooper vetoed the bill on Nov. 2, 2021.

Just 16 days later on Nov. 18, Cooper signed the state budget into law which contained elements of the Emergency Powers Act. The emergency powers line item was pulled from Senate Bill 105. The bill stipulated an emergency declaration beyond 30 days would need concurrence from the Council of State.

If concurrence is received, at the 60-day mark the state of emergency would expire unless the General Assembly acted to extend it. The effective date for the measures is Jan 1, 2023.

As of March 4, 2022, 23 states still have some form of a state of emergency health order in place and 15 of those 23 states have Democratic governors. In the Southeast, only North Carolina and Georgia have such an order.

sponsor of many education-related reform bills in her tenure.

Hise, in his sixth term, is one of three Senate Appropriations Chairs and also chaired the Senate Redistricting and Elections Committee.

The new 47th District contains counties they have both represented over the last several years. Ballard represents nearly 44% of the current county makeup with Alleghany, Ashe, and the district’s largest county, her home of Watauga.

Hise currently represents a six-county region, three of which are located in the new district: Madison, his home of Mitchell, and Yancey. Those three counties account for 26% of the new district. In addition, three counties neither currently represent are also in the new district. Those are Avery, most of Caldwell, and part of Haywood. The three new counties make up 30% of the new district.

Another district on the other side of the state will see two incumbents taking on one another, with senators Norm Sanderson and Bob Steinburg competing in the 1st district.

The new district splits approximately 60% to 40% in favor of Steinburg among the counties they both represent, although the district’s largest county, Carteret, is represented by Sanderson.

The redrawn 4th District race features three current or former elected officials. On the Democratic side, incumbent state

SCHOOLS from page A1 gy industry.”

Additionally, “The initiative shall offer summer immersion and out-of-school options, in addition to other student supports in a core program aimed at enhancing curriculum opportunities for work-based learning.”

Since the appropriation is such a large dollar amount, it was required to be presented to the N.C. State Board of Education.

That presentation has already occurred and was approved by the voting board members. The contract spans from March 2022 through September 2024.

A records request revealed there have been no past contracts or payments by the N.C. Department of Public Instruction to TIP. But what is TIP really doing and how are they doing it?

TIP “formally began on July 1, 2015,” with Gerry Hancock and Ann McColl as co-founders. The pair created TIP as “a service of the Raleigh law firm, Everett Gas-

kins Hancock LLP,” according to its website.

In 2017, TIP became a 501(c)3 non-profit. At the time it went non-profit, Joe Ableidinger was the acting CEO while Ann McColl is listed as “President Emeritus.”

While it is difficult to discern from its website exactly what TIP actually does or how it does it, target areas appear to include creating a reimagined version of turnaround schools they refer to as “restart schools,” as well as an “Early Learning Network,” involved in “redesigning learning environments to better address the early learning needs of vulnerable children.”

One resource TIP promotes on its website is labeled as “Crisis to Transformation” which contains articles on “how we can use the circumstances created by COVID-19 to reimagine public education.” The links provided include the Center on Reinventing Public Education, Jeb Bush’s Chiefs for Change and FutureEd. Featured on the “Crisis to

many unpleasant frictions with other — if we always have love and will speak the gentle word, the soft word, the kindly word, at the right time. I used the illustration recently in my church in a sermon, and suggested to the people that they all carry oil cans, thus trying to make the world a little sweeter place to live in.

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.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE N.C. GENERAL ASSEMBLY

State senators Deanna Ballard (R-Watauga) and Ralph Hise (R-Mitchell) are featured in this combination photo.

Sen. Toby Fitch will face current state Rep. Raymond Smith, who chose to run for the Senate instead of challenging House Majority Leader John Bell (R-Wayne) in his native Wayne County. On the Republican side, former state Sen. and 2016 Republican Attorney General nominee Buck Newton is seeking a return to Raleigh. He faces former Wayne County Board of Education member Joe Democko in the Republican primary.

Newton is one of four former Republican state senators running in 2022.

In Cumberland County, Wesley Meredith is running again against state Sen. Kirk deViere, who defeated Meredith in 2018 and 2020. DeViere also faces a

Transformation” page is a quote

by Tom Vander Ark, CEO of Getting Smart, an education “strategic solutions” group, which reads, “Post-pandemic, more people will think of education as a public service more than a place.”

Vander Ark was a major proponent of the Common Core Standards and, unsurprisingly, was one of the first executive directors of education for Common Core’s largest funders, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. He was at one time the treasurer for the International Association for K-12 Online Learning (iNACOL).

Vander Ark has ties to North Carolina through his service on the board of DigiLearn founded and run by former North Carolina Governor Beverly Perdue.

During May 2020, TIP created the “Solution Creators Action Network” or TIP-SCAN. “TIP-SCAN has provided a transformative framework and a structure for TIP member districts to respond to the upheaval generated by the COVID-19 pan-

formidable primary challenge from former Fayetteville city council member Val Applewhite.

Two Piedmont seats also see former senators running. Eddie Gallimore is in a rematch with current state Sen. Steve Jarvis in District 30, which now includes all of Davidson and Davie counties. In District 36, which is now a four-county district consisting of Alexander, Surry, Wilkes, and Yadkin counties, former state Sen. Shirley Randleman is one of four candidates running along with Eddie Settle of Wilkes County, Vann Tate of Surry County, and state Rep. Lee Zachary of Yadkin County, who opted to run for the new seat instead of com-

demic to reexamine longstanding district systems and processes,” the TIP website says.

TIP-SCAN states it has “distilled three commitments” that include a full perspective on equity; a commitment to learner-centered transformation; and a commitment to “transparent, open design.”

The overview page for TIPSCAN says each commitment “embodies deeply held beliefs regarding the relationship of public educators to their students, their communities and the world at large.”

“The COVID-19 pandemic and the embedded structural racism recently exposed by the killing of George Floyd and others make these commitments more compelling and urgent,” the overview reads. “TIP-SCAN seeks transformation through what is collectively seen as more possible in this time when systems are ripe for paradigm change.”

TIP-SCAN also touts itself as a source that could be “incorpo-

peting against longtime state Rep. Julia Howard in a primary for the N.C. House.

Zachary is one of seven current members of the N.C. House looking to join the upper chamber.

Four Democrats are running for the N.C. Senate following redistricting. They are Kandie Smith of Pitt County, Gale Adcock of Wake County, Graig Meyer of Orange County, and Rachel Hunt of Mecklenburg County.

Smith, Meyer, and Hunt opted to make runs for the Senate after the current holders of their seats decided to run for higher office.

On the Republican side, Bobby Hanig of Currituck County and Tim Moffitt of Henderson County are running for seats in the Senate. Hanig will take on incumbent Democratic state Sen. Ernestine Bazemore in the reconfigured northeastern NC district and Moffitt, who held state House seats first in Buncombe and currently in Henderson County, looks to succeed Chuck Edwards, who is running for Congress.

Eight current senators will not return when the new session begins in 2023. They include six Democrats and two Republicans. The Democrats are Ben Clark, Sarah Crawford, Don Davis, Valerie Foushee, Jeff Jackson, and Wiley Nickel.

The two Republicans are Edwards and Majority Leader Kathy Harrington.

Harrington is the only one of the eight who isn’t seeking another office.

rated” in the state’s plans with regard to the long-running Leandro case.

Despite the claim for transparent and open design, few details are available on exactly what TIPSCAN actually involves or how it works. The “three phases” of TIPSCAN is also vague, with no real description of the apparent focus areas that include “equity” and a “learner-centered approach.”

A possible hint may be found in the current projects listed on TIP’s website such as the “Courageous Leadership Series” and a previous installment focused on how the “pendulum has swung back to white supremacy” in education and how “inequity is built into the model for public education.”

Over the last few months, North State Journal has attempted to contact TIP for more information but has yet to receive an acknowledgement or response.

This is part 1 of a 2 part series. Part two will examine TIP’s membership and funding.

North State Journal for Wednesday, March 9, 2022

Fox News defense reporter challenges war comments on air The Associated Press NEW YORK — Fox News national security correspondent Jennifer Griffin couldn’t hold back when following a retired U.S. Army colonel on the air recently, saying she barely had time to correct all of his “distortions.”

She tried, though. And it wasn’t for the first time or the last time.

Griffin, who has reported for Fox News Channel since 1996, has attracted attention over the past two weeks as she has publicly corrected or contradicted several Fox analysts and hosts on the air about the crisis in Ukraine. When Tucker Carlson suggested this week that some reporters are acting as flacks for the Pentagon, some interpreted that as a criticism of his colleague.

Meanwhile, former Fox host Bill O’Reilly singled Griffin out as a gutsy reporter unafraid to challenge others.

Griffin says her efforts are consistent with what she’s always tried to do for 25 years, both on the air and behind the scenes at Fox News.

“I think you want your experts, in today’s media environment, to be passionate about what they know and what they feel about the facts,” said Steve Krakauer, author of The Fourth Watch, a media newsletter with a conservative viewpoint. “I want them to be in the story.”

Griffin knows her beat as much as anyone in journalism and her real-time fact-checks are a valuable public service, as long as she doesn’t get caught in the muck of partisan debating, he said.

Griffin has pushed back on

FOX NEWS VIA AP

This image from video released by Fox News shows correspondent Jennifer Griffin reporting on crisis in Ukraine. comments made by Sean Hannity, Steve Doocy, Harris Faulkner and Greg Gutfeld during appearances on their own shows. After Hannity criticized President Joe Biden on Ukraine policy, Griffin noted that every president since the fall of the Soviet Union has made mistakes there. Doocy argued on “Fox & Friends” that sanctions haven’t worked against Russia; Griffin said it was too soon to say that.

When Faulkner similarly questioned whether sanctions were a sufficient step, Griffin said that sending troops to the area would have given Putin an excuse to invade. She said it was “not some wag-the-dog situation” when Gutfeld suggested on “The Five” that the Ukraine crisis had been manufactured.

This past Sunday, she took on a

retired U.S. Army brigadier general, Don Bolduc, after he said that it “boggles my mind” that the United States hadn’t already gone “all in” on Ukraine. Griffin said Bolduc was a politician, not a student of history.

“To suggest that the U.S. would put indirect fire or special operations or CIA on the ground to give Putin any sort of excuse to broaden this conflict is extremely dangerous talk at a time like this,” Griffin said.

Earlier that day, she was interviewed by Trey Gowdy after an appearance by retired U.S. Army Col. Doug Macgregor, who urged the United States to stay out of Ukraine and not ship it any weapons. He said the Russians should be allowed to annex the portion of Ukraine they are most interested

in.

When Griffin followed him, she said she needed to correct some of what Macgregor had said, “and I’m not sure 10 minutes is enough time because there are so many distortions.” She said that Macgregor sounded like an apologist for Putin. “That kind of projection of withdrawal and weakness is what made Putin think he could move into a sovereign country,” she said.

Griffin, who is based at the Pentagon and had stints in Moscow and Jerusalem for Fox, has a reputation for being knowledgeable and a straight-shooter, said David Lapan, a former Pentagon spokesman who dealt with her professionally in several national security capacities.

Much of her work reporting for her employer is done behind the scenes, Lapan said. He believes her recent on-the-air correctives indicate how important she considers the issues involved.

“I hope there are no reprisals because she’s doing the right thing,” Lapan said. “The stakes are too high.”

Fox News Media, in a statement, said that “we are incredibly proud of Jennifer Griffin and her stellar reporting as well as all of our journalists and talent covering this story across our platforms.”

O’Reilly, on his web show, praised Griffin and said that “propagandists” on television news aren’t challenged often enough, according to the Wrap.

She appeared on Fox’s weekend show “Media Buzz,” where she told host Howard Kurtz that she doesn’t believe her role at Fox News has changed.

“I’m here to fact-check facts, because I report on facts,” she said.

“My job is to try and figure out the truth as best as I know it. I share that information internally, so our network can be more accurate.

That’s what I’ve always done.”

Former state Rep. David Lewis reemerges as a lobbyist Lewis has formed a lobbying firm called Trek Strategies

By A.P. Dillon North State Journal RALEIGH — Former North Carolina state Rep. David Lewis has reemerged into public life in the role of lobbyist.

As of Monday, March 7, Lewis has filed paperwork for his lobbying firm, Trek Strategies, LLC. The company has a website, TrekNC. com, which states the company is a “strategic consulting firm with decades of experience in public relations, government affairs, business development, and political consulting.”

Lewis spoke exclusively to North State Journal about becoming a lobbyist, saying that he hopes to utilize his experience in the legislature and working with the executive branch and local governments to advocate for good public policy in a variety of areas.

“I envision my expertise in agriculture, healthcare, and education, as well as general business, will help craft good public policy,” Lewis told North State Journal.

During his tenure at the legislature, Lewis was a key player in the passage of the NC Farm Act, as

well as bringing forward the major tax policy reforms for North Carolina.

Lewis said he decided to go down the lobbying route because he enjoys the process and appreciates what it takes to make our government and economy run.

“I have the utmost respect and appreciation for public servants – both elected and civil servants,” said Lewis. “I believe I have a unique experience skill set that will help me advocate for businesses and other entities that are outside the legislative and executive sphere.”

He went on to say that public servants are terribly busy with high demands on their time and Lewis believes what is needed is someone who “truly understand the issues they are advocating for” to help public officials get a “true understanding” of the issues before them.

Lewis has received some words of support from House Majority Leader John Bell (R-Wayne).

“David Lewis was not only my colleague and seatmate, he is my friend,” Bell said in a statement to North State Journal. “While he made some bad choices, he has faced it head on, overcome and it’s great he’s getting a second chance to be active in politics. David

served in the legislature for over 18 years, he knows the system and will do a great job representing his clients.”

North State Journal asked Lewis what he would say to those questioning his return to public life following his 2020 resignation and subsequent legal issues.

“I have taken full responsibility for my actions and I have gone through the process,” Lewis said.

“I think each individual will have to judge me based on the totality of my work and the experiences they have had with me in the past and their own individual expectations.”

“There are good and bad in all of us,” added Lewis.” I hope and believe I have overcome the bad.”

Lewis said he is going into this venture offering his past experience that includes a wide range of policy fields. He also said he has never been accused of not having a strong work ethic and he believes people will see he will be working hard for his clients, his respect for the process and that he can “contribute in a positive way.”

In late August of 2020, Lewis, who represented Harnett County, submitted his resignation letter to House Speaker Tim Moore (R-Kings Mountain). He had originally announced his intention

to retire a month earlier on July 24. At the time of his resignation, Lewis had been charged with two federal crimes in the U.S. Western District of North Carolina.

According to the case filings, Lewis pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge for late filing of taxes and a felony charge related to making a false statement to a bank. The charges are related to transactions tied to Lewis’ campaign accounts.

Court documents alleged that Lewis’ campaign issued checks in the amount of $50,000 and $15,000 to the bank account of an entity called “NC GOP Inc.” Lewis created the NC GOP Inc. account in 2018, but it was not actually affiliated with the NC Republican Party.

As reported by the Associated Press, earlier in the year, Lewis made about $300,000 in transfers from his campaign account to his bank account for his farm, and Lewis had said his farming business had been struggling for several years.

Around Aug. 26, 2020, Lewis entered into a plea agreement that a year later would result in a sentence of two years of supervised release and a fine of $1,000 for taking $65,000 in campaign funds to help his family farm.

A3 US Supreme Court denies Republicans’ motion to stay congressional map North State Journal staff RALEIGH — The U.S. Supreme Court denied a motion to stay the court-drawn congressional map that will now be used in the state’s 2022 elections.

The court voted to deny the application by a 6-3 decision, with Chief Justice John Roberts, Justice Brett Kavanaugh and Justice Amy Coney Barrett joining the court’s three Democrats to deny the motion.

Justice Samuel Alito joined with Justices Clarence Thomas and Neil Gorsuch to dissent from the majority on the application.

“We are disappointed in the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision allowing elections under a congressional map drawn by the conflict-ridden special masters to continue. While we’re focusing on the 2022 elections, we will continue to evaluate this decision and next steps in this case,” Senate Leader Phil Berger (R-Eden) said in a statement following the decision.

The map, drawn by special masters, will likely give Democrats an additional House seat in 2023.

The justices provided no explanation for their actions, as is common in emergency applications on what is known as the “shadow docket.”

While the high court did not stop the state court-ordered plan from being used in this year’s elections, four conservative justices indicated they want it to confront the issue that could dramatically limit the power of state courts over federal elections in the future, the Associated Press reported. The Republicans argued that state courts lack the authority to second-guess legislatures’ decisions about the conduct of elections for Congress and the presidency.

“We will have to resolve this question sooner or later, and the sooner we do so, the better.

This case presented a good opportunity to consider the issue, but unfortunately the court has again found the occasion inopportune,” Justice Samuel Alito wrote in a dissent from the Supreme Court’s order, joined by Justices Neil Gorsuch and Clarence Thomas.

Justice Brett Kavanaugh made a similar point, but said he didn’t want to interfere in this year’s electoral process, which already is underway. The filing deadline in North Carolina was Friday.

The state courts were involved after a coordinated effort by left-leaning groups to attack Republican redistricting plans led by former Obama administration Attorney General Eric Holder.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

NC Treasurer on inflation, retirement systems and local government spending

By A.P. Dillon North State Journal

“We are in great shape on the debt side, but we are very concerned about inflation for the local governments.”

RALEIGH — North Carolina State Treasurer Dale Folwell discussed his concerns of recent inflation trends, labor shortages, and the impact on small towns and counties during his monthly “Ask Me Anything” press call on March 1.

With inflation rates hitting a 40year high at 7.5% in January, Folwell was asked about the impact and status of both the Teachers’ and State Employees’ Retirement System (TSERS) and the Local Governmental Employees’ Retirement System.

“Your pension is safe,” said Folwell on the status of the retirement systems. “This plan has always been very conservatively managed for the last 50 years.” He added that when markets have dropped in the past, the state’s pension plan situation has not fallen as much.

“The pension plan has lost about 4% at the high mark at the end of December,” Folwell said.

“And that is about half of what the stock market has lost.”

The same day as the treasurer’s call, the Local Government Com-

State Treasurer Dale Folwell

FILE PHOTO

State Treasurer Dale Folwell is shown in this undated file photo. mission (LGC) also held a meeting to discuss upwards of $1 billion in financing for various projects around the state. All of the items on the agenda were approved by the close of the meeting.

“As I have said before, inflation is a thief,” Folwell said when asked about the impact of inflation on current requests for bonds and funding to the LGC. “It’s not just a

thief to people, but to local and state governments.”

Folwell called the inflation situation “highly serious” and that it impacts the final cost of purchases and services funding requests being reviewed by the LGC. He gave an example of buying sewer pumps at $548,000 for a community that ends up costing over $800,000.

Referencing a recent report on

the state debt for North Carolina, Folwell said that over the last five years and over the next four upcoming years the state’s debt is “projected to be cut in half.”

“We are in great shape on the debt side, but we are very concerned about inflation for the local governments,” said Folwell. He added they are watching the impact of inflation on the stock market as it relates to the retirement systems but that his office is also paying attention to investment opportunities in fixed income at higher rates of interest.

Two primary areas of debt covered in the report are General Obligation debt and N.C. Department of Transportation (NCDOT)

debt. Referring to the NCDOT debt chart, Folwell said, “We’ve maxed out that credit card,” due to issues with money and project management within the agency over the last three years.

Topics of discussion at the LGC meeting included the North Carolina Housing Finance Agency asking for the approval of $850 million in home ownership revenue bonds aimed at helping low to moderate income earners afford a home and increase affordable housing over the next two years.

According to a related press release from the treasurer’s office, the Housing Finance Agency plans to use the bonds proceeds to buy pooled mortgage loans and to refund previously issued bonds.

Also discussed by the LGC was the refunding of $185 million in federal Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) bonds related to the construction of the Monroe Expressway, an 18-mile stretch of toll road that runs through Mecklenburg and Union counties. The North Carolina Turnpike Authority is seeking that refunding to save $8.7 million through lower interest rates, according to Folwell’s office.

North State Journal for Wednesday, March 9, 2022

A4

North State Journal for Wednesday, March 9, 2022

Murphy to Manteo

Jones & Blount

NC’s sales tax rates by county The majority of North Carolina’s 100 counties have sales tax rates at either 6.75% or 7%, with the state rate across the board coming in at 4.75%.

Sales taxes are applied to tangible personal property according to state statute.

That is defined as “personal property that may be seen, weighed, measured, felt, or touched or is in any manner perceptible to the senses.

The term includes electricity, water, gas, steam, and prewritten computer software.”

Four counties (Durham, Mecklenburg, Orange, Wake) currently have an additional half-cent transit sales tax on top of their existing sales tax rates. That additional amount gives Durham and Orange the highest sales tax rates by county, at 7.5%.

WEST

Party of one: 33 state legislators unopposed for reelection

By Matt Mercer North State Journal RALEIGH — When the dust settled shortly after 12 p.m. on Friday, 34 legislators punched their tickets to another two years in Raleigh.

In both the N.C. House and Senate, it was Republicans who benefited from not having an opponent. Of the 24 in the lower chamber, 20 were Republicans, compared to 4 Democrats. In the Senate, just one Democrat is unopposed, and eight Republicans are unopposed.

The members who effectively won reelection at filing are:

6.75%

7%

Buncombe County A group of abandoned animals was found locked in cages on the side of a road, according to police. The Black Mountain Police Department says the animals were left off Dunsmore Avenue late Tuesday or early Wednesday. Police posted photos of two cages sitting on the side of the road, each with multiple animals crammed inside. One photo shows three dogs sharing one crate and what appears to be a rabbit in a cage with other dogs. Police didn’t provide information on the conditions of the animals or whether they would be available for adoption.

7.25%

Graham County Corbin Lee Nunez was arrested for allegedly murdering his 8-month-old daughter in February. The Graham County Sheriff’s Office was notified of an alleged assault of the girl by an out-of-state medical facility.

The assault is said to have taken place in Robbinsville. The child died a day later, and, later in the month, police arrested Nunez.

He’s being held without bond at the Graham County Detention Center.

WPDE

AP

7.5%

Wake County A man was arrested for a third time for impersonating a law enforcement officer.

The Wake County Sheriff’s Office said an off-duty deputy was traveling east on U.S. Highway 70 in Garner when he saw a Dodge Charger with active blue lights. The vehicle belonged to a man who has been arrested twice for impersonating a law enforcement officer in the last five years. An inspection of the vehicle found several lights and a lightbar which could be mistaken as a law enforcement vehicle. Authorities charged Devin Alexander Stenulis with impersonation of a law enforcement officer.

Alleghany County The National Register added seven sites in North Carolina to its register of Historic Places. That list included the downtown Sparta historic district. The historic center of Alleghany County, the district includes several building dating back to the early 20th century, including the courthouse, built in 1933. The buildings are well preserved and demonstrate a variety of the styles of architecture used during the period.

YES WEEKLY

Guilford County A woman whose dog disappeared more than a year ago was reunited with her pet 200 miles away. Emerald Tinae thought someone might have taken Mochi, a hound mix, who was living in Wilmington when he disappeared. Kendelle Federico, foster coordinator for Guilford County Animal Services, said Mochi was believed to be a stray when he first came to the shelter last November. The shelter shared a photo of him on Facebook in February. Tinae’s daughter, who lives in New York, saw a social media post and set out to bring about the reunion.

AP

Supporters protest suspension of Wayne County teacher

Police: Teen stabbed at high school track practice Halifax County A high school student was stabbed multiple times Thursday at track practice, police said.

Roanoke Rapids Police said the 18-yearold man was flown to a hospital with lifethreatening injuries. The assault happened at Manning Elementary School where Roanoke Rapids High School students were using the school’s track, officials said. A 16-yearold suspect in the stabbing was taken into custody, police said. Investigators don’t yet know what led up to the stabbing, but said there were multiple witnesses in the area during the attack.

AP

AP

Polk County Jay Bennett Gardner, 59, died on Feb. 18. Gardner, a bus driver for Polk County Schools, had been involved in a single-car collision in his bus just two days earlier. The bus ran off the road and overturned in a field. Gardiner was charged with failure to maintain lane control. Twenty students were on board at the time, and five were treated for non-life threatening injuries at local hospitals. Police did not release the cause of death.

WLOS

Wayne County Family, students and supporters joined members of the NAACP to speak out about the Feb. 22 suspension of teacher Anthony Williams. A science teacher at Southern Wayne High since 2008, Williams was suspended with pay following an alleged physical altercation with Wayne County deputy Albert Wood during a Feb. 16 basketball game. Wood found Williams with a pocket knife, questioned him and asked that he turn over the knife, which is banned from school property. He refused, resulting in “physical contact.” Williams was charged with misdemeanor possession of a weapon on school property and misdemeanor resist/ delay/obstruct a public officer.

AP

Police: 1 fatally shot in Salisbury center parking lot Rowan County Michael Dwayne Connor Jr., 35, of Salisbury was shot and killed in the parking lot of the Salisbury Shopping Center, Thursday night. Arriving officers found Connor suffering from at least one gunshot wound.

Police didn’t provide additional details and wouldn’t comment on whether the victim was shot inside a vehicle. His body was found next to a white sedan with the rear driverside door ajar and the lights on. He died on the scene. There is no one in custody. No other injuries were reported.

AP

Pulitzer winner Walter Mears dies, AP’s ‘Boy on the Bus’

Man pleads guilty in his wife’s death in 2020

Orange County Walter R. Mears, who for 45 years wrote about presidential campaigns for The Associated Press and won a Pulitzer Prize doing it, died at 87, eight days after being diagnosed with cancer. In 1972, Timothy Crouse featured Mears in “The Boys on the Bus,” a book chronicling the reporters covering the presidential campaign. Over four decades, Mears covered 11 presidential campaigns, from Kennedy-Nixon in 1960 to Bush-Gore in 2000. In 1977 he was awarded a Pulitzer Prize. After retiring, Mears taught journalism for a time at the University of North Carolina and made his home there, in Chapel Hill.

Nash County Alexander Dzikowski, 34, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and was sentenced to up to 31 years in prison for killing his wife in front of their kids. Tiara Dzikowski was stabbed multiple times at their home in Battleboro on Dec. 6, 2020. Deputies said the children in the home witnessed the crime, then went next door to a neighbor’s house and said their mother had been stabbed by their father. District Attorney Robert Evans and Tiara Dzikowski’s family agreed to the plea deal so her four children would not have to relive the event.

AP

School bus driver cited in accident Johnston County A school bus driver is facing charges and was suspended after she crashed, injuring 11 students. The bus went off the right side of the road near Cleveland High School, then crossed the road and overturned.

The driver was not impaired and had no medical condition that would have caused the accident. Road conditions were clear, and there were no obstructions on the road.

The driver was taken to a local hospital with serious injuries and cited for failure to maintain control. The students were taken to hospitals for minor injuries before they were taken back to high school.

AP AP

98% of ALL Farms are Family Farms

ncfb.org

Rep. Pricey Harrison (HD-61) Rep. John Autry (HD-100) Rep. Ed Goodwin (HD-01) Rep. Steve Tyson (HD-03) Rep. Matthew Winslow (HD-07) Rep. John Bell (HD-10) Rep. Carson Smith (HD-16) Rep. Charlie Miller (HD-19) Rep. William Brisson (HD-22) Rep. Brenden Jones (HD-46) Rep. Wayne Sasser (HD-67) Rep. David Willis (HD-68) Rep. Donny Lambeth (HD-75) Rep. Harry Warren (HD-76) Rep. Julia Howard (HD-77) Rep. Hugh Blackwell (HD-86) Rep. Jay Adams (HD-96) Rep. Jason Saine (HD-97) Rep. John Torbett (HD-108) Rep. Kelly Hastings (HD-110) Rep. Tim Moore (HD-111) Rep. Karl Gillespie (HD-120 Additionally, newcomer Brad Overcash, who announced he would run for the Gaston County seat held by Kathy Harrington, is unopposed and he will join the state Senate in 2023.

Voter ID lawsuit to NC Supreme Court in accelerated appeal

EAST

Dog owner reunited with pet after 1 year

Man arrested for impersonating law officer

Bus driver dies days after crash

Sparta Historic District added to National Register of Historic Places

Sen. Mujtaba A. Mohammed (SD-38) Sen. Jim Perry (SD-08) Sen. Michael Lazzara (SD-06) Sen. Bill Rabon (SD-08) Sen. Brent Jackson (SD-09) Sen. Phil Berger (SD-26) Sen. Joyce Krawiec (SD-31) Sen. Todd Johnson (SD-35) Sen. Ted Alexander (SD-44) Rep. Allison Dahle (HD-11) Rep. Vernetta Alston (HD-29)

PIEDMONT

Man arrested for killing 8-month-old daughter

Police find abandoned animals locked in cages on roadside

A5

The Associated Press RALEIGH — The North Carolina Supreme Court has agreed to accelerate appeals in a photo voter identification lawsuit by hearing the case without waiting for the Court of Appeals to deliberate first.

In an order last week, the justices granted the request of lawyers for minority voters who successfully sued at the trial-court level to bypass arguments at the intermediate-level appeals court.

In September, a divided panel of three trial judges threw out the state’s latest photo ID law, which was approved by the General Assembly in late 2018, weeks after a photo ID mandate was added to the state constitution. Still, the panel’s majority declared the implementing law unconstitutional, in part because the justices said it intentionally discriminated against Black voters.

Republican legislative leaders who were sued appealed the ruling. They say there was no evidence of racial bias and that the rules ensured ballot access for all registered voters.

The attorneys for the minority voters asked the Supreme Court to take the case now because it addresses substantial legal issues. They also argued that it would help to avoid any delays

in the legislature fashioning a voter ID law that complies with the constitution, which it would do if the justices uphold the trial court order.

Attorneys for Republicans wanted the case to work through the Court of Appeals first. They argued that a pending federal lawsuit challenging the same law likely won’t be resolved for at least more than a year, so accelerating the state case isn’t necessary.

The state Supreme Court didn’t say in Wednesday’s order when oral arguments would be held, but the group providing lawyers for the plaintiffs said in a news release Thursday that it expects them this summer.

The Republicans’ attorneys also argued that the lawsuit plaintiffs simply wanted to move the case to a more favorable forum with the Supreme Court.

Four of the seven justices are registered Democrats. Two of the seven seats — both held by Democrats — are on the November statewide ballot. Ten of the 15 Court of Appeals judges, which usually meet in panels of three, are registered Republicans.

Arguments were held before the state Supreme Court in February in another pending case focused on the legality of the constitutional amendment requiring a photo ID to vote.

A6

North State Journal for Wednesday, March 9, 2022

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

VISUAL VOICES

EDITORIAL | FRANK HILL

When the ACC Tournament really mattered

Teachers would halt all classes and roll out A/V carts with TVs to watch just two things: a NASA rocket launch and the ACC Tournament.

NOT THAT LONG AGO, the ACC Tournament was a matter of life-or-death for players, coaches and fans. It was a combination of a heavyweight boxing championship, Shakespearean drama, and good old morality plays right out of the Old and New Testament that gripped Tobacco Road basketball fans for 72 straight hours.

ACC players, coaches and fans loved it — and hated it at the same time.

“The History of the ACC Tournament” — or “toonament” as Maryland coach Lefty Driesell and many southern gentlemen called it — now airing on the ACC Network helps older fans relive those glory days and younger fans understand what made the ACC great in the first place.

For 20 years from 1954-1974, only the winner of the ACC Tournament, not the regular season, would get invited to the NCAA Tournament. Had last weekend been the ACC Tournament finals under the original setup, heavily-favored and nationally-ranked Duke would have been sent home in a massive upset by the Tar Heels who would be the only ACC team in the NCAA Tournament.

The ACC Tournament back then essentially was the equivalent of the first three rounds of the NCAA Tournament today. Lose and go home just like in the NCAAs. There were only 24 teams in the 1954 NCAA Tournament; it wasn’t until 1975 that it expanded to 32 teams and then to 64 teams in 1985.

The problem was that a second-round ACC Tournament game might pair two Top Ten teams in the nation, not a #1 seed against Wagner College of New York.

Games would start at noon on Thursdays and last until the wee hours of Friday morning if there were overtimes along the way. Wispy gray clouds of cigarette smoke from anxious chain-smoking fans would descend from the rafters during games at Reynolds Coliseum in Raleigh.No wonder it is called “Tobacco Road.”

Everyone knew the tournament was a big deal starting in the first grade. Teachers would halt all classes and roll out A/V carts with TVs to watch just two things: a NASA rocket launch and the ACC Tournament.

It was a modern-day gladiator battle, figuratively speaking. The hopes and dreams of all the fans, coaches and players for their season and career would be prosecuted during each 40-minute game.

Over three days, otherwise normal and sane people would project their views of morality on the players, coaches and fans of the opposition. Our side is always “good”; those guys are always “bad.”

Dean Smith would be viewed as a saint with angel wings and halo

by Carolina fans; Duke fans saw him as a sanctimonious whiner who chickened out by making his players hold the ball instead of playing the more talented Blue Devils.

There was a unique Shakespearean tragedy aspect to each ACC Tournament. Would Lefty Driesell of Maryland beat his nemesis NC State with David Thompson and win the title? (No, he wouldn’t but he finally won in 1984 with Len Bias.)

Would David take down Goliath? Vann Williford of NC State led the Pack to a gargantuan upset over John Roche and his South Carolina teammates to win the 1970 tournament. The rest of the ACC rejoiced almost as much as State fans since everyone hated USC coach Frank McGuire and his New York City players.

Allowing only one ACC team to advance to the NCAAs was totally “unfair” to the other great teams in the conference on an annual basis. But that restriction is what made the ACC “The Greatest Basketball Conference of America.” It forced great coaches such as Everett Case at NC State; Frank McGuire (UNC/USC); Bones McKinney (Wake Forest); Vic Bubas (Duke); Dean Smith (Carolina); Norm Sloan (NC State) and Driesell to recruit the top talent in the nation to win the ACC Tournament and then the national title.

Sadly, the era of extraordinarily high-quality ACC basketball is on the wane. Younger fans will never physically, emotionally or psychologically experience the thrill of victory or the agony of defeat as did their parents and grandparents watching the original ACC Tournament.

It sure was fun while it lasted.

EDITORIAL | STACEY MATTHEWS

Pat Sajak has words of wisdom after frustrating “Wheel of Fortune” segment prompts dogpiling

Unless you’re there, you have no idea how different it is in the studio.

Most people in this country will never know what it feels like to be on a televised game show, but for three contestants on a recent episode of “Wheel of Fortune,” their experience during one particularly frustrating round of spins will be one they — and many Americans — won’t soon forget.

The segment in question was about a common phrase that most people know. The phrase was “Another feather in your cap,” but after one contestant wrongly guessed “another feather in your hat,” they all appeared to be stumped at what the answer could be.

The attempts at figuring it out lasted for over two minutes, and even with most of the letters on the screen, it took multiple tries by all three players, some of who either spun to the “bankrupt” spot or “lose a turn” spot, before one finally guessed the correct answer.

Not surprisingly, the clip went viral on social media and some news websites, logging millions of views as of this writing. Some sites described the segment as an “epic fail” while others noted the phrase should have been “easy” for the contestants to guess.

While taking care to point out that there’s nothing wrong with some good-natured teasing over such moments, “Wheel of Fortune” host Pat Sajak took to the Twitter machine the day after the video blew up the Internet and shared some timely words of wisdom about how people should resist the urge to participate in Internet shaming.

“It always pains me when nice people come on our show to play a game and win some money and maybe fulfill a lifelong dream, and are then subject to online ridicule when they make a mistake or something goes awry,” Sajak began.

He then went on to talk about how the pressure of being on national TV could be pretty intense, and cause some people to worry about “looking stupid” if they don’t get it right.

“Now imagine you’re on national TV, and you’re suddenly thrown a

curve and you begin getting worried about looking stupid,” he wrote, “and if the feather isn’t in your hat, where the heck can it be? You start flailing away looking for alternatives rather than synonyms for ‘hat.’”

Noting that for losing contestants, once a puzzle is solved by the next contestant they “want to crawl in a hole,” Sajak said that even though he’s “been praised online for … not making fun of the players,” he seeks to reassure them that “those things happen even to very bright people.”

He then looked to Internet shamers, and advised them against it.

“Mocking them online and calling them names” was foolish, Sajak observed, considering contestants were “good people in a bad situation under a kind of stress that you can’t begin to appreciate from the comfort of your couch.”

“Unless you’re there, you have no idea how different it is in the studio.”

Lastly, he advised people to cool their jets a bit because one day it could be them on the other end of this type of story, feeling the same pressure to get it right and perhaps coming up short when all was said and done.

“Have a little heart,” he tweeted. “After all, you may be there one day.

And no one wants to be trending on Twitter.”

The man has a point. Several of them, in fact.

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 9, 2022 COLUMN | STEPHEN MOORE

Free market capitalism is under siege — from capitalists Ed Crane, the founder of the libertarian Cato Institute, noted that free markets have created $100 trillion of wealth in America.

WE LIVE IN A STRANGE WORLD. John D. Rockefeller, the founder of Standard Oil, helped provide the energy that powered the American century beginning in the early 1900s. Today, his grandchildren spend the billions of dollars that he donated to the Rockefeller Foundation to attack the same oil and gas industry that he almost single-handedly built. Likewise, Henry Ford’s trust, the Ford Foundation, now spends millions of dollars on climate change — as if the automobile was a sinister invention.

And now we learn from the Chronicle of Philanthropy that the Hewlett Foundation and a partner foundation will donate some $40 million “to five academic institutions” to “rethink” the benefits of free markets.

Bill Hewlett and Dave Packard were two of America’s most outstanding entrepreneurs, co-founding their iconic computer company Hewlett-Packard out of a garage in Northern California.

According to the Chronicle of Philanthropy, the purpose of the foundation grants is to “challenge neoliberalism, an intellectual movement that began in the late 1940s that established broadly accepted principles on the role of markets and governments that became firmly established over decades.” Specifically, the grants are meant to discredit “the economic models of Friedrich Hayek and Milton Friedman, (whose) policies were to shrink the size of government, reduce government debt, open up trade, and deregulate the market.” The Hayek/Friedman model, of course, was adopted under former President Ronald Reagan in the United States and under former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in the United Kingdom.

In short, neoliberalism was the intellectual counterassault to the faddish trend in Europe and Asia after World War II toward socialism and communism, two economic models that eventually crashed and burned by the end of the 20th century, when the Berlin Wall came down and China abandoned Maoism.

Now the trustees at the Hewlett Foundation appear to have remarkably concluded that the wrong side won in the fight against big government totalitarianism.

It raises the question of why anyone today would look back on these reforms and conclude they were a mistake. The Hayek, Friedman, Reagan and Thatcher eras re-established the supremacy of free market capitalism, free trade, privatization and lower tax rates. It launched the most significant period of wealth creation, poverty reduction and technological progress in human history. The World Bank and others had concluded that over the period when free markets regained their foothold (1980-2020), close to 2 billion people on the planet, almost half living in China and India, were moved out of severe

poverty due to the triumph of liberalization and the collapse of central government planning. The median incomes in the U.S. and the U.K. soared, and the planet’s wealth tripled.

A strong case could be made that free trade alone has done more to reduce global poverty than every government welfare program invented. Even 100 Hewlett and Ford foundations couldn’t reduce human deprivation more than free trade, lower tax rates and deregulation. The Brookings Institution has shown that deregulation, which began under former President Jimmy Carter and then Reagan, lowered costs to consumers by roughly one-third in the industries where price controls and other government interferences were lifted.

Larry Kramer, the president of the Hewlett Foundation, said the goal of the grants is to overcome the mantra that “government is bad, markets are good.” Ironically, he said this in the immediate wake of the big government debacle of COVID-19, when politicians made decisions that crushed local economies and small businesses, got the “science” of the virus repeatedly wrong, increased government debt burdens by trillions of dollars and made more than $500 billion of fraudulent unemployment, health care and business revival payments.

These are the government officials we should entrust with more power over the economy?

The saddest part of this saga is how foundation trustees recklessly disregard the original donors’ intent, which in each case is to make the world a more livable and prosperous place for all. One wonders whether it has even dawned on those running these trusts that without the freemarket system they want to disassemble, there would never have been a Standard Oil, a Ford Motor Company or a Hewlett-Packard. And indeed, there wouldn’t be billions of dollars in the coffers of these giant tax-free foundations.

Ed Crane, the founder of the libertarian Cato Institute, noted that free markets have created $100 trillion of wealth in America. Yet not even one-tenth of 1% of that wealth is used to defend the economic system that made that wealth and prosperity possible. But as the Hewlett Foundation donations remind us, it is much worse than that. Instead, much of the inherited money goes to tear down capitalism and freedom institutions.

The big question now is: What great American capitalist who has gotten rich off our free enterprise system will put up $40 million to defend the infrastructure of economic liberalization?

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 | FRANKLIN D. GILLIAM, JR.

Regional public universities need your support to fuel prosperity and economic growth This fall, 96% of our first-year students came from Tier 1 or Tier 2 counties — the most economically distressed regions of North Carolina.

IF YOU’VE SEEN THE RECENT HEADLINES about higher education, you’ve probably noticed that a lot of colleges seem to be in trouble.

The nation’s universities have lost one million undergraduates in just two years because of the pandemic, a robust job market and rising college prices. Worse, demographics won’t rescue higher education this time around. After two decades of steady growth, the population of high school graduates is projected to peak within the next several years before leveling off in North Carolina and falling most everyplace else.

These declines won’t hit all colleges and universities equally. Elite institutions such as Duke and UNC-Chapel Hill will have no trouble attracting students thanks to their high-profile, well-known brands, deep-pocketed donors and multi-billion-dollar endowments.

However, these demographic trends represent an existential crisis for the rest — small private colleges with few financial resources and public regional universities that serve a vast and diverse student population.

Regional public universities — like UNC Greensboro — are too important to ignore.

They produce the teachers, nurses, accountants, computer scientists, lab techs, counselors and many others who are crucial contributors to the economy and society. In fact, UNCG provides more first-generation and lower-income students with paths to prosperity than any other public university in the state. We build the people that make North Carolina better for all.

Consider this: of UNCG’s 19,038 students, 92% are from North Carolina and represent almost all 100 counties. More than half of our students are racial and ethnic minorities.

Among those, 13% are Latino, giving us the largest Latino student population of any of North Carolina’s 16 public universities. Nearly half — 49% — are the first members of their family to attend a four-year college. Moreover, 75% of our students receive financial aid, and 48% are eligible for Pell Grants because they come from homes of severely limited or moderate means.

This fall, 96% of our first-year students came from Tier 1 or Tier 2 counties — the most economically distressed regions of North Carolina. What’s even more impressive: 73% of our graduates return to those counties to

live and work. We also serve large numbers of non-traditional students: Nearly 20% of our undergraduates are 25 or older, and many have jobs, families and children of their own.

The demographic changes that have been taking place across North Carolina for years are plainly evident on our campus. We saw these changes coming and built the right academic and advising programs to best support a student body that looks much different than it did a generation ago. As a result, not only have we increased graduation rates for all students, but we’ve also closed the achievement gap between white and minority students.

Here’s one more thing to remember: access to higher education doesn’t have to come at the expense of academic excellence. For the past 32 years, UNCG has been recognized by U.S. News and World Report as one of the “Best Colleges” in the nation. We prove that strong regional public universities play a vital role in providing a quality and affordable education that graduates students and helps them find good jobs. In this regard, UNCG continues its legacy of excellence building on the foundation of the historic Woman’s College.

The critical student support systems that make these outcomes happen are not inexpensive. Many of our students come from families where graduating from college isn’t a foregone conclusion. Many need tremendous amounts of academic and social counseling and financial assistance to stay on track to earn their degrees. It is here where the generosity of our donors makes the biggest impact.

Moreover, we need to prioritize continued investments in the support systems that help more of our state’s students transform untapped potential into prosperity, particularly (but not exclusive to) those from under-represented and lower-income groups.

Despite the gloom you might have heard around higher education, we’re getting the job done at UNCG — and we remain laser-focused on providing a more prosperous future for our graduates and for North Carolina. We hope that you will join us as regional universities like ours put thousands of North Carolina students on their “paths to prosperity.”

Dr. Franklin D. Gilliam Jr. is Chancellor of UNC Greensboro

A7 COLUMN ROBERT LEVY

The Second Amendment: America’s arsenal of democracy IT’S ONE OF THOSE STORIES that is impossible to confirm. Even though I read it on Wikipedia, there is at least a 50% possibility that it’s true. It alleges that the First Great War was won by the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution.

Could Ukraine survive its war with Russia the same way?

The story starts during the new year of 1916.

World War I was raging in Europe and the Kaiser wanted to “prepare the ground” for a final victory. The only problem was the distinct possibility that the United States and the strength of its industry might enter that war on the side of France and Great Britain.

The Kaiser asked his foreign minister Arthur Zimmermann to telegram his Ambassador to Mexico proposing an alliance. If Mexico would attack the United States, busying the American Army with its southern border, Germany would assure Mexico the return of land from Texas to Colorado, all the territory it lost during The Mexican War of 1836.

Mexico considered the offer and rejected it.

Why? In part because average Americans “were better supplied with arms than were most other civilian populations.” Pacifying a well-armed resistance would be costly.

As a result, Mexico did not attack. The telegram backfired. It prompted an American Declaration of War against Germany on April 6, 1917. By November 11, 1918, a short 19 months later, “The guns fell silent on the Western Front.”

Germany was defeated.

Most historians believe that the American Expeditionary Force was the cause of the Kaiser’s demise. Perhaps. But others believe that the real reason America won its first European War was that the home front was equipped with the Second Amendment.

Ironically, just a few days ago, a much smaller but just as concerning European war erupted in Ukraine. Soldiers from Russia rolled their tanks toward Kyiv. How could 44 million Ukrainians even try to fight off 144 million Russians? The Russians had a superior army and modern weapons. Ukraine only had the will to fight. Yet, the Ukrainian government figured out a partial answer.

Ukraine gave a Kalashnikov Rif le to every willing civilian from 18 to 60 years of age. It knew that the key to the survival of a culture was both its willingness to fight and the availability of something with which to fight.

To that end, even Karl Marx suggested an intellectual solution. Perhaps American Marxists forgot what he and Frederick Engels wrote in 1850: “Under no pretext should arms and ammunition be surrendered; any attempt to disarm the workers must be frustrated, by force if necessary.”

Both Marx and Madison actually agreed. If the goal is to keep “power with the people,” the right to keep and bear arms is essential.

Of course, contrary to Marx, essential to Madison, is that freedom is based on two intertwined principles: 1) That freedom must be enshrined in a nation’s founding charter as it was in the First Amendment and 2) That freedom must be protected by an armed civilian population as was guaranteed in the Second Amendment. One without the other is useless.

Yet, when combined, they form the necessary bulwark for the preservation of liberty.

Hence, it is no wonder that one of the first things that the government of Ukraine did to defend against Russia was to arm a civilian militia. Nor is it a wonder that ANTIFA, BLM and the American Radical Democrats, all of which want to dismantle individual liberty, strike both at the Second Amendment as well as the First. When natural rights like free speech, rights granted by God, are eviscerated by despots, armed resistance becomes both necessary and inevitable.

According to some, if it was not for our Second Amendment, Texas and the Southwest would be part of Germany or Mexico.

The right to own an AK-47 has nothing to do with deer wearing Kevlar vests. What liberals call “weapons of war” are actually integral to the preservation of liberty. More clearly, in Kyiv or Kalamazoo, protecting the civilian right to keep and bear arms is the best method to insure the survival of our democracy.

Robert M. Levy is a resident of Moore County.

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.

North State Journal for Wednesday, March 9, 2022

A8

NATION & WORLD New US ambassador arrives in Democrats see ‘no reason to wait’ on Beijing amid tense relations

Supreme Court vote

The Associated Press BEIJING — New U.S. Ambassador Nicholas Burns has arrived to take up his post in Beijing amid heightened tensions between China and the United States over Taiwan, trade, human rights and the war in Ukraine.

Burns arrived Friday with his wife, Libby, and a group of other U.S. diplomats and their families and will undergo three weeks of quarantine at his official residence as China requires, according to a U.S. Embassy spokesperson.

During his quarantine, the ambassador will virtually meet with U.S. Mission staff, the spokesperson said.

The post had been empty since Terry Branstad departed in October 2020.

Burns is a career diplomat, former State Department spokesperson, ambassador to NATO and leading academic, teaching most recently at the Harvard Kennedy School and serving as a foreign policy adviser to Joe Biden’s presidential campaign.

He has framed the U.S. relationship with China as manageable, saying Americans should “have confidence in our strength” when dealing with the rise of China.

The U.S. and China are considered leading geopolitical rivals, particularly for influence in the Indo-Pacific region where China’s growing military and economic clout is challenging U.S. dominance.

While the Biden administration professes a desire for a more stable and predictable relationship, it has maintained higher tariffs on Chinese imports imposed by former

The Associated Press

PATRICK SEMANSKY | AP PHOTO

Ambassador to China Nicholas Burns speaks during his confirmation hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., Wednesday, Oct. 20, 2021.

President Donald Trump and continued a trend of closer relations with Taiwan, the self-governing island China claims as a breakaway province.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, in a phone conversation Saturday with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, expressed “grave concern over recent words and deeds of the U.S. side,” a Chinese Foreign Ministry statement said.

Wang called on the U.S. to stop encouraging Taiwan independence and interfering in China’s internal affairs.

Most recently, China was irked by a U.S.-led diplomatic boycott of last month’s Beijing Winter Olympics in protest over human rights violations, particularly the mass incarceration and mistreatment of Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities in the northwestern region of Xinjiang.

China has also refused to condemn Russia over its brutal invasion of Ukraine, blaming the U.S. for instigating the conflict by encouraging NATO expansion and refusing to consider Moscow’s security concerns.

In their phone call, Blinken told Wang that the world is responding in unison to the invasion and watching to see which nations stand up for the principles of freedom and sovereignty, a U.S. State Department statement said.

Burns’ own appointment became caught up in U.S.-China differences when Republican Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida announced in November that he had put the nomination on hold in an effort to press Biden to sign into law bipartisan legislation he co-authored banning products made with Uyghur forced labor in western China.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Supreme Court nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson began courting senators on Capitol Hill, making her case for confirmation in private meetings as Democrats worked to move her through the Senate within weeks.

Senate Democrats concerned about their narrow 50-50 majority — Vice President Kamala Harris breaks the tie — announced Jackson’s hearings will begin March 21, just three weeks after President Joe Biden nominated her to replace retiring Justice Stephen Breyer. With a goal of an April confirmation, they are using Justice Amy Coney Barrett’s confirmation ahead of the 2020 presidential election as a model for Jackson.

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Dick Durbin called the quick confirmation process “a contemporary standard” after he met with Jackson in his office, while acknowledging that part of the reason for the rapid timeline was because of his party’s tenuous hold on the Senate.

“There’s no reason to wait,” Durbin said, even though Breyer has said he won’t leave the bench until summer. He noted that the committee is also familiar with Jackson, who was just confirmed as an appeals court judge last year and had been confirmed by the Senate two times before that.

There has been little pushback from Republicans, who confirmed Barrett and two other justices, Neil Gorsuch and Brett

Kavanaugh, while they controlled the Senate and President Donald Trump was in office. While few GOP senators are expected to vote for Jackson, and several have questioned whether she is too liberal, they are not spending much political energy to oppose her, so far.

Texas Sen. John Cornyn, a GOP member of the Judiciary panel, said, “I don’t think there’s a lot of mystery involved,” since Jackson isn’t new to the committee.

As is tradition, the hearings this month will last four days, with opening statements March 21 and testimony and questioning the next two days. The fourth day will include testimony from outside witnesses.

Biden spoke about Jackson and honored Breyer in his State of the Union speech last week, calling the nominee “one of our nation’s top legal minds, who will continue Justice Breyer’s legacy of excellence.”

In addition to her time as a federal judge, Jackson, 51, once worked as one of Breyer’s law clerks and served on the U.S. Sentencing Commission, the agency that develops federal sentencing policy.

Among Republicans, only Sens.

Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina voted to confirm Jackson to the appeals court last year. While Collins has appeared open to voting for Jackson again, Murkowski said in a statement last week that her previous vote did not mean she would be supportive this time.

WE BUILD THE PEOPLE THAT MAKE NORTH CAROLINA BETTER FOR ALL.

At UNC Greensboro, we believe excellence in education changes lives. That’s why we provide paths to prosperity for more first-generation and lower-income students than any other public university in the state. Find your way to prosperity.

PURPOSEFUL PROFESSIONS

HEALTH CARE AND WELLNESS

SCIENCE AND BIOMEDICAL

COMPUTER SCIENCE AND IT

EDUCATORS, COUNSELORS AND SOCIAL WORKERS

VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTISTS

ACCOUNTING, BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT, MARKETING

Visit prosperity.uncg.edu

Charlotte FC’s historic debut, B3

PJ WARD-BROWN | NORTH STATE JOURNAL

NC State guard Kai Crutchfield lays down in a pile of balloons after the Wolfpack defeated Miami 60-47 on Sunday to win their third straight ACC Women’s Tournament title at Greensboro Coliseum.

Wolfpack win 3rd straight ACC Tournament

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

Wake Forest’s Williams, Forbes lead ACC basketball awards Greensboro Wake Forest’s Alondes Williams and coach Steve Forbes have earned the top individual honors from the Atlantic Coast Conference. The league announced Williams as ACC Player of the Year and Forbes as its top coach on Monday. The Demon Deacons were picked 13th in the preseason but have enjoyed a 23-win season and hold the No. 5 seed at this week’s ACC Tournament in Brooklyn.

Duke freshman Paolo Banchero was voted Rookie of the Year, while teammate Mark Williams was chosen as Defensive Player of the year. NC State’s Dereon Seabron was most improved player, while Florida State’s Matthew Cleveland was sixth man of the year. Alondes Williams and Banchero joined North Carolina’s Armando Bacot on the all-ACC first team, and Seabron, Duke’s Wendell Moore Jr., and Wake’s Jake LaRavia were among those voted to the second team.

NFL

Russell Wilson traded to Broncos Denver Russell Wilson, who went from undersized third-round draft pick to Super Bowl-winning quarterback, has been traded to the Denver Broncos, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported. Wilson started in two Super Bowls during his 10 seasons with the Seahawks, beating Denver 43-8 in the 2014 Super Bowl, and he was named to nine Pro Bowls. He played three years at NC State before transferring to Wisconsin for his final collegiate season. His No. 16 was honored

by NC State in 2014. Wilson has thrown for more than 10,000 in his NFL career with 292 passing touchdowns. He has also rushed for 4,689 yards during his 10year career, the fourth most in NFL history. The Seahawks will reportedly receive quarterback Drew Lock, defensive lineman Shelby Harris and multiple draft picks in the trade.

NC State should be a No. 1 seed when the NCAA brackets are released Sunday

PJ WARD-BROWN | NORTH STATE JOURNAL

Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski will coach in his final ACC Tournament this week when his top-seeded Blue Devils compete in Brooklyn.

Start spreading the news: ACC Tourney returns to New York Brooklyn is hosting the event in a down year for the league

By Shawn Krest North State Journal THE ACC HEADS north this week to hold its gem event of the season in Brooklyn for the third time. The ACC Tournament returns to Barclays Center for the first time since the 2017 and 2018 tourneys.

Despite having Duke-Carolina games on the Friday schedule both years, the ACC Tournament didn’t seem to capture the attention of the Big Apple, at least in terms of media exposure and general public awareness of the event.

That doesn’t bode well for this year’s tournament making an impact in the big city. In 2017 and 2018, the event featured a total of 11 ranked teams, six in the top 10 and two in the top five.

This year, the league is down across the board. When the tournament tipped off on Tuesday, there were only two ranked teams

in the field — No. 7 Duke and No. 25 North Carolina. It was the fewest ranked teams since only 2013’s tournament only had two. This will be just the fourth time it’s happened in the last 20 ACC Tournaments. It’s also the second straight year without a top-five team, which previously hadn’t happened since 2004.

The conference’s down year could help create a sense of urgency in Brooklyn, however. Only five ACC teams are currently projected to earn NCAA bids, according to ESPN’s latest bracketology. Two additional teams are firmly on the bubble, and the five teams currently in will be fighting to either tighten their grip on a spot or improve their seeding.

Starting from the bottom, NC State received the bottom seed in the tournament, opening play as the No. 15 on Tuesday. It’s the lowest seed ever for the Wolfpack and the first time they’ve entered as the bottom seed since 1995-96 when the league still had just nine teams.

The bubble teams take the court See ACC MEN, page B4

the rafters at the final buzzer — point guard Raina Perez said the path to this title wasn’t nearly as easy as she and her teammates made it look.

“I definitely thought it was more challenging this year,” the second-year graduate transfer

By Brett Friedlander said. “Teams know that everyone North State Journal is coming back, and they know GREENSBORO — With all what we have. But I think we just five starters returning and the had to dig deep in ourselves and addition of a blue-chip transfer execute everything, and everyto the mix, the NC State wom- thing would just fall through.”

As it turned out, everything en’s basketball team expected to continue its dominance of the did break just right for State in a tournament that didn’t follow ACC this season. form for anyone othThe problem is ever than the event’s eryone else expected it, top seed. Thanks to too. a series of upsets, That, said coach “I think it was injuries and unexWes Moore, made win- a challenge for pected comebacks, ning much more diffithe Wolfpack only cult for his Wolfpack. me and maybe had to face one of But despite the lofty for them, too.” the ACC’s five other expectations, a difficult ranked teams. schedule and the tarS e c ond- se e de d get it wore on its col- NC State coach Louisville, ranked lective back against a Wes Moore on his right behind the conference loaded with team winning a Wolfpack at No. 4 in ranked contenders, third straight ACC the nation and conState accomplished g Tournament sidered the greatest goal. threat to State’s title The Wolfpack went hopes, was upset in 17-1 in the league to the quarterfinals win their first ACC regular season championship since when Miami stormed back from 1990, then posted three straight 15 points down in the final 5½ double-digit victories at Greens- minutes.

Third-seeded Notre Dame boro Coliseum to cut down the nets for their third straight con- was also taken out by the surprising Hurricanes, while ference crown.

“I think it was a challenge for fourth-seeded North Carolime and maybe for them, too,” the na went one-and-done with an Wolfpack coach said. “But that’s overtime quarterfinal loss to what makes it even sweeter Virginia Tech.

Even the one ranked oppowhen you’re able to come out and accomplish both those things nent the Wolfpack did have to this year, regular and postsea- face, the fifth-seeded Hokies, were far from full strength after son tournament.”

The Wolfpack (29-3) won all their best player, ACC Player of three of their games in Greens- the Year Elizabeth Kitley, was boro by double digits — starting sidelined with a shoulder injury.

State nearly got caught up in their run by breezing to an 8454 quarterfinal victory against the injury/illness epidemic that Florida State on Friday, before also claimed Georgia Tech’s Lotaking down Virginia Tech 70- rela Cubaj, Virginia Tech’s Cayla 55 on Thursday and Miami 60- King and Wake Forest’s Christi47 in Sunday’s championship na Morra when star center Elissa Cunane tweaked her ankle early final.

While the results and the cel- in the third quarter of Sunday’s ebration that followed were fa- title game against Miami.

State was comfortably ahead miliar — with hugs and smiles among the players, cheers from by that time, thanks to the bala partisan crowd in the stands, ance it enjoys and the individual and a shower of confetti and balloons floating down from See ACC WOMEN, page B4

B2

North State Journal for Wednesday, March 9, 2022

WEDNESDAY

3.9.22

TRENDING

Jessie Bates III: The Bengals placed their franchise tag on the safety, keeping him with the team for the 2022 season.

The Bengals had tried unsuccessfully to come to terms on a long‑term contract for the 25-year-old Bates, whose rookie deal expired at the end of the season. Bates was selected in the second round of the 2018 draft out of Wake Forest and was a key player in 2021 as the Bengals reached their first Super Bowl in 33 years. Bates will be under contract in 2022 season for roughly $13 million under the tag.

Ivan Kuliak: The Russian gymnast is expected to be investigated after displaying a symbol on his uniform supporting the invasion of Ukraine. Kuliak, 20, taped the “Z” symbol — embraced by supporters of the war — to his vest for a medal ceremony at a World Cup event on Saturday in Doha, Qatar. He took bronze in parallel bars and stood next to a gold medalist from Ukraine.

The International Gymnastics Federation pledged to ask its independent integrity unit to investigate.

Richard Sherman: The Buccaneers cornerback pleaded guilty in Seattle on Monday to two misdemeanor charges stemming from a drunken driving and domestic disturbance last summer, as part of an agreement that spares him further jail time. Sherman was arrested July 14 after police said he crashed his SUV in a construction zone and tried to break into his in-laws’ suburban Seattle home.

Beyond the box score POTENT QUOTABLES

NASCAR

Alex Bowman edged teammate Kyle Larson to win in overtime of Sunday’s race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. A week after Larson and Chase Elliott tangled racing for the lead at Fontana, Rick Hendrick told his drivers to race each other cleanly.

Bowman and Larson did just that, with the No. 48 winning by just 0.178 seconds in the third race of the Cup Series season.

PJ WARD-BROWN | NORTH STATE JOURNAL

“I never lost one ounce of sleep about it.”

Wake Forest basketball coach Steve Forbes after he received a long-term contract extension the same day he was named ACC Coach of the Year.

JOHN LOCHER | AP PHOTO

NFL

MMA

ADAM HUNGER | AP PHOTO

“I bet 1500 total I don’t have a gambling problem.”

Falcons receiver Calvin Ridley, on Twitter, after he was suspended for the 2022 NFL season for betting on games in 2021.

CHRIS CARLSON | AP PHOTO

The Panthers paused construction on their $800 million practice facility in Rock Hill, South Carolina, due to concerns over a lack of funding from the city. The 240-acre practice facility was set to open in 2023. Panthers owner David Tepper has reportedly already invested $170 million in the project.

ARIC CRABB | BAY AREA NEWS GROUP

Former two-time UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez was denied bail Monday after being charged with attempted murder and multiple gun assault charges after authorities said he chased and fired at a pickup truck carrying a man accused of sexually abusing a 4-year-old family member.

PRIME NUMBER

4 Fifty-point games for former Duke star Jayson Tatum in his Celtics career after he scored 54 points in Boston’s win Sunday over the Nets.

Tatum tied Larry Bird for the most 50-point games in franchise history, accomplishing the feat in 351 games to Bird’s 897.

WNBA

CHRIS JONES | WACO TRIBUNE-HERALD VIA AP)

WNBA star Brittney Griner was detained at a Moscow airport after Russian authorities said a search of her luggage revealed vape cartridges containing oil derived from cannabis, which could carry a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.

Griner has played in Russia for the last seven years in the winter, earning over $1 million per season — more than quadruple her WNBA salary.

North State Journal for Wednesday, March 9, 2022

B3

PJ WARD-BROWN | NORTH STATE JOURNAL

More than 74,000 fans packed Bank of America Stadium for MLS expansion team Charlotte FC’s first home match.

Record crowd welcomes Charlotte FC to Queen City The newest MLS expansion team held its home opener Saturday

By Brett Friedlander North State Journal CHARLOTTE — It looked and sounded more like an outdoor rock concert than a competitive sporting event, complete with a light show, smoke machines and plenty of singing.

The vibe that enveloped Bank of America Stadium and its surrounding area both before and during Charlotte FC’s inaugural home match Saturday was so strong that it carried over to the participants on the field.

For at least this one night, the final score didn’t matter.

As Charlotte coach Miguel Angel Ramirez noted, the moment was simply too special and the party too festive to be spoiled by a 1-0 loss to the more established LA Galaxy.

“We play football because we want to win, but I believe that I am the happiest coach in the world,” Ramirez said after the match, which was decided in the 77th minute on a goal by the Galaxy’s Efrain Alvarez. “I cannot describe it in words, the energy, and I would like to thank everyone that joined us in this party because it really was a party.”

The crowd of 74,479 on hand for the festivities was the largest in Major League Soccer history for a team debut and, according to MLS commissioner Don Garber, was the second biggest for a soccer game in the world this year.

As electric as the atmosphere was inside the stadium, it was equally as raucous around the streets of uptown Charlotte in the hours leading up to the 7:30 p.m. nationally televised kickoff.

In addition to the restaurants

PJ WARD-BROWN | NORTH STATE JOURNAL

Charlotte FC forward Karol Swiderski, right, and LA Galaxy defender Sega Coulibaly go for a header during Saturday’s match.

and bars being filled with crowds decked out in the expansion team’s distinctive teal jerseys, hats and scarves, a tailgate area was set up in a nearby parking lot.

About an hour before game time, many of those fans took part in an organized parade in which they marched about a half-mile to the stadium down Graham and South Mint streets — which were both closed to traffic — chanting “Charlotte (clap, clap) FC” and singing “Olé, Olé, Olé.”

It was a scene that was familiar to Lincolnton resident Matt Perez, a native of Uruguay whose father

wrapped himself in the blue, yellow and white flag of his native nation.

“This is great,” Perez said.

“There’s still not as much singing and chanting as there would be for a match in Uruguay, but this is just the start. It’s going to take some time. We’re going to get there.”

For some who aren’t as familiar with the passion soccer evokes in other nations, the atmosphere was already off the charts — especially compared to that surrounding a Carolina Panthers game in the same stadium during the struggling NFL team’s past few seasons.

“It’s way better for a soccer match

because everybody wants to come here.” Charlotte native Josh Canady said. “It is the first home game, so it might be more packed because of that, but as many people as I’ve seen buying their merchandise, it will probably be packed for multiple games.”

Even those who aren’t avid soccer fans were gobbling up Charlotte FC swag. Jacob Gallimore was wearing a Charlotte Hornets NBA jersey as he sat at an outdoor restaurant table across from the stadium waiting for the game with friends Max Hester-Newnam, Ans Liebert and Zade Eldomiaty.

But he said that would change as soon as he got through the gates.

“The plan is to get something,” he said. “A scarf, for sure. I’ve got to rep the home team.”

It’s yet to be seen what attendance will be like once the novelty of having a new team wears off, especially if it has trouble winning as most expansion franchises do. But the competitiveness of Saturday’s home opener was a good sign.

Although scoring chances heavily favored the visiting Galaxy, which held a 21-5 advantage in shots attempted, possession time broke down almost evenly — with LA maintaining a slight 50.5%49.5% edge.

The game’s only goal came on a counterattack less than a minute after Charlotte FC nearly scored on a shot by captain Christian Fuchs and a rebound that hit the goalpost by young Benjamin Bender, the No. 1 pick in this year’s MLS SuperDraft.

Between the performance of the team and the diversity of its home region, local resident Elvis Orellana said that the team stands a good chance of having staying power among the fans.

“Charlotte has always been a big soccer market,” he said. “I’m sure if you ask everybody, they have a favorite foreign club. But this is a big change. Everybody actually has a home team they can root for now and get emotionally involved.”

That’s what MLS had in mind when it awarded Charlotte and owner David Tepper its 28th franchise on Dec. 17, 2019.

As high as expectations have been for the new team among

league officials, Garber said that Saturday’s home debut — which was delayed a year because of the COVID pandemic — far exceeded anything he could have hoped.

“We’re not in Barcelona, we’re not in Munich or Madrid, London or Mexico City. It’s Charlotte, North Carolina,” the MLS commissioner said. “If you can deliver this kind of energy and commitment in this part of the country, imagine what this is going to look like in the years to come.

“We always knew the Carolinas would be great for Major League Soccer. It took us 27 years to get a team here, but it’s been terrific.”

Tepper celebrated the occasion by making a lap around the field before the game, high-fiving fans and leading them in cheers.

Other than the owner, no one in the stadium Saturday was more excited about the new team and the welcome it was given than defender Jaylin Lindsey, who grew up in Charlotte and attended International Challenge Cup matches at Bank of America Stadium dreaming of the day he might play in a game there.

It’s a dream that was realized Saturday.

“That was probably the best game I’ve been part of my entire life,” he said. “Walking off the pitch, I saw right in the middle of the field and was just trying to soak it all in.

“I was picturing myself seven or eight years ago in the nosebleeds watching Panthers games and countless ICC games in the summer with European teams. To know I’m that person on the field, it was just unbelievable and why I’m so proud of myself and the team, how we played.”

Lindsey said he was also proud of the fans, not just for their support during the game, but for singing “The Star-Spangled Banner” en masse when the on-field performer’s mic malfunctioned.

“What hyped me up the most was the national anthem when everybody was singing,” he said. “That’s when it hit me that this is it. This is what I’ve been working for my whole life. It’s a remarkable thing, and I feel like I’ve accomplished it now and can just build from this.”

As can his team.

PJ WARD-BROWN | NORTH STATE JOURNAL

Charlotte FC goalkeeper Kristijan Kahlina stretches to make a save against the LA Galaxy in Saturday’s home opener.

North State Journal for Wednesday, March 9, 2022

B4

Where does UNC’s win in Coach K’s farewell rank?

A look at the biggest regular season wins in UNC history

regular season history takes us to March 6, 2005. The Tar Heels needed a win to clinch their first ACC regular season title since 1993, but it looked unlikely when Duke led 73-64 with three minutes to go.

Carolina mounted a comeback and went to the line with a chance to tie it with 19 seconds left. Raymond Felton made the first and missed the second, but Marvin Williams was there to tip in the rebound and draw a foul, leading to what Roy Williams later said was the loudest arena he’d ever been in his life as the Heels beat Duke 75-73.

By Shawn Krest North State Journal NORTH CAROLINA added another log to the raging fire of sports’ greatest rivalry, beating Duke in Mike Krzyzewski’s final game at Cameron Indoor Stadium last weekend.

The upset spoiled Coach K’s epic going-away party and avenged a 20-point loss to the Blue Devils in Chapel Hill a month earlier.

Tar Heels players and fans celebrated the big win. Many, most notably Armando Bacot, declared it to be one of North Carolina’s biggest wins ever.

“I think it was probably one of the greatest Carolina wins that was not a National Championship game,” Bacot said.

Most observers were not quite as aggressive as Bacot. Wins earning a spot in the Final Four or National Championship game were undoubtedly bigger, as were ACC Tournament championships, of which the Tar Heels have won 18.

With that perspective in mind, social media seemed to settle on the title of “biggest regular season win” ever for UNC’s win over Duke on Coach K’s final home game.

For a team that has been one of the blue bloods in college basketball for decades, there’s plenty of competition for that title.

Could the biggest win for such an accomplished program really be spoiling someone else’s big night?

There are plenty of other reasons a game could be big. We’ve identified five. In addition to spoiling things for rivals, there are epic comebacks, wins that set up runs to a championship, celebrations of the program’s success and wins during desperate times

Epic comebacks GERRY BROOME | AP PHOTO

UNC forwards Brady Manek (45) and Armando Bacot (5) react celebrate during the second half of the Tar Heels’ win over Duke in retiring Blue Devils coach Mike Krzyzewski’s final game at Cameron Indoor Stadium on Saturday. for the program.

Here’s a look at each category, and where the Duke win ranks.

Celebrations of the program’s success There are plenty of options in this category. The Tar Heels celebrated the 2,000th win in program history with a win over Miami on March 2, 2010, becoming just the third program to reach that milestone. Tyler Hansbrough set the school scoring record in a win over Evansville on Dec. 18, 2008. Later that season, UNC celebrated Hansbrough’s Senior Night by beating Duke 79-71 in a game that also clinched the regular season title for the Heels.

Twenty-one years earlier, UNC beat Duke to clinch the regular season on Phil Ford’s Senior Night, our No. 10 moment. Coming in at sixth on our list, however, is the Jan. 18, 1986, win over Duke in which the No. 1 Heels beat the No. 3 Blue Devils 95-92 in the first game at the Dean Smith Center.

Spoiling things for rivals Saturday’s win on Coach K Day is the clear-cut winner in this category, and we have that game at No. 4 on the overall list.

Also in this category is the March 4, 2006, win at Cameron Indoor when the Tar Heels beat the Blue Devils 83-76, spoiling JJ Redick’s Senior Night. Redick missed 15 of his last 16 shots in that game to help move into the No. 7 spot on our list. The “Bloody Montross” game, where UNC beat Duke at the Smith Center in 1992 to spoil a potential undefeated run for the defending national champion Blue Devils, is No. 5 on the list.

Championship runs A key regular season win often is credited with spurring a run to the NCAA title for the Tar Heels.

In 1993, UNC wiped out a 21-point deficit against Florida State with an epic comeback. That game ranks No. 8.

The No. 3 biggest win in UNC

UNC has a history of never being out of a game. The list includes the ’93 FSU rally, a 16-point comeback against UVA — capped by a Michael Jordan dunk — in 1983, a 24-point comeback against Wake Forest days after the Bloody Montross game in 1992, Dudley Bradley’s steal to break NC State’s heart in 1979 (No. 9), and Marcus Paige’s buzzer-beater against the Pack in 2014.

Coming in at No. 2 on the list, however, is March 2, 1974. UNC trailed Duke by eight with 17 seconds to play (and no 3-point line to help accelerate a rally). The Heels managed to tie the score, capped by a buzzer-beater by Walter Davis to send the game to overtime. UNC won 96-92.

Desperate times Success hasn’t always been assured for the Tar Heels, and some of the biggest wins came at the darkest moments. In 2002, with the team struggling through its worst season, the Tar Heels put it together for one night and beat Clemson, helping keep the Tigers winless in Chapel Hill for another 18 years.

The top game on our list came at another time when the program was down. On Jan. 6, 1965, UNC

10 biggest regular season wins in Tar Heels history 1. Jan. 6, 1965 Dean Smith’s legend begins 2. March 2, 1974 Walter Davis buzzer-beater forces OT 3. March 6, 2005 Marvin Williams stuns Duke 4. March 5, 2021 Spoiling Coach K’s big night 5. Feb. 5, 1992 Bloody Montross” game 6. Jan. 18, 1986 Opening Smith Center 7. March 4, 2006 JJ Redick goes cold 8. Jan. 27, 1993 FSU comeback 9. Jan. 17, 1979 Dudley Bradley steals win from State 10. Feb. 25, 1978 Phil Ford Senior Night lost at Wake Forest for its fourth straight loss, dropping the Heels to 6-6 on the year. When the team bus returned to campus from Winston-Salem, the players saw an effigy of young coach Dean Smith, which angry students had hung from a campus tree. Three days later, the reeling Tar Heels went to Cameron and beat the No. 8 Blue Devils 65-62. They would win nine of their next 11 games to salvage the season and get the Dean Smith legend started. The game remains the biggest regular season win in UNC history.

ACC WOMEN from page B1 efforts of Perez, fellow guard Diamond Johnson, who arrived from Rutgers this season to become the ACC’s Sixth Woman of the Year, and backup center Camille Hobby.

Still, it was a comforting sight when Cunane returned from the locker room and, after a short turn on a stationary bike, returned to the lineup for the final 6½ minutes as the Wolfpack wore down the fatigued Hurricanes and began pulling away.

“I trusted my team to be able to handle the game,” said Cunane, who averaged 17.3 points and 8.7 rebounds in three games to earn her second straight tournament MVP award. “But I was pretty happy to be out there for the last couple minutes.”

Moore said he put his star back into the game primarily to let “those 8,000 or so people (in attendance) wearing red know she was OK.” Cunane and her teammates will take the next week off before learning their NCAA draw on Sunday.

That’s when the pressure figures to ramp up even higher, especially for the Wolfpack’s “super seniors” — Perez, Kayla Jones and Kai Crutchfield, all of whom chose to return for the extra year of eligibility granted them because of the COVID pandemic.

For them, the next few games represent their last shot at advancing past the Sweet 16 and competing for a national championship.

“That’s why they came back, the fifth-year kids, to try to rewrite the final chapter,” Moore said, adding that the ACC Tournament “isn’t the final chapter, but it’s a pretty nice chapter to go out. I just couldn’t be prouder of what they’ve done.”

ACC MEN from page B1 in Wednesday’s action. Virginia Tech will face the winner of Tuesday’s Clemson/NC State game. The Hokies are the No. 7 seed and are currently projected by ESPN to be among the “first four out” of receiving a bid. Virginia is in the “next four out” and will face the winner of Louisville/Georgia Tech as the No. 6 seed. Both teams need to make a run to crash the field, and their paths would potentially cross on Friday.

Wake Forest is the second North Carolina team to see action. The Demon Deacons earned a No. 5 seed, their best since 2010. Wake boasts both the ACC Player and

PJ WARD-BROWN | NORTH STATE JOURNAL

Clockwise starting at left, NC State center Elissa Cunane was named MVP of the ACC Women’s Tournament for the second straight year. NC State guard Diamond Johnson shoots the ball over Miami defenders during Sunday’s ACC Women’s Tournament final. NC State coach Wes Moore poses with the basketball net on his head after the Wolfpack won the ACC Women’s Tournament on Sunday in Greensboro.

Coach of the Year. Steve Forbes has coached Wake to a 17-win improvement over last year, and the Deacs set an ACC record with a 10-game improvement in their conference win total.

Alondes Williams is the first player in ACC history to lead the league in scoring and assists. He and Forbes swept the major awards for the Deacs, the first time a Wake duo has done that since Skip Prosser and Josh Howard in 2003.

Despite the success in the postseason awards, ESPN placed the Deacs as a No. 10 seed in the NCAAs after they lost three of their last six games in the regular season. Wake opens with the winner of Pitt/Boston College on Wednesday.

Wake has plenty of company on that seed line in the ACC. Two other league teams are also slotted as No. 10 seeds in the Big Dance: Miami (No. 4 in the ACC Tournament) and Notre Dame (No. 2).

All three are hurt by the down season the conference is having.

Wake’s strength of schedule ranks near No. 100 in the nation. Notre Dame is close to 80th, and Miami is at 50. All three will need to make a statement in the tournament to state a case for moving up a seed or two.

North Carolina made that case on Saturday. The win over Duke in the regular season finale vaulted the Tar Heels from the bubble to a projected No. 8 seed in the NCAAs.

The Heels would face Virginia on Thursday if the seedings hold. Carolina ended a long losing streak to the Cavaliers with a blowout win in its only meeting this season. UNC enters the tournament on a fivegame winning streak and winners of seven of its last eight as the Heels fought for their NCAA Tournament life.

Duke comes into the tournament with a chip on its shoulder after getting embarrassed in the much-hyped Coach K home finale on Saturday. The loss snapped a seven-game winning streak and gave the retiring Hall of Fame coach the perfect motivational fodder.

The loss also was a blow to Duke’s

NCAA resume. The Blue Devils are still expected to be a No. 2 seed but could fall with a poor showing in Brooklyn. Duke would also like to avoid being sent out West as the weakest No. 2 seed, which might require a couple of wins this week.

The Blue Devils open Thursday’s action with the winner of FSU-Syracuse.

If Brooklyn wants to see another Duke-Carolina matchup, they’ll have to wait until Saturday’s championship game, but there’s plenty of drama for the other teams in the field as well. Even in a down year, the ACC Tournament is a must-watch event. Whether it will register on the Big Apple’s radar remains to be seen.

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 oneopinion way toand get analysis health$1.2 caretrillion workers Funds support An investment tax credit of 30% U.S. investment in China ino over. of China forgiving toon do,half lastof I checked. done byawarded Areo, an to the 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. Don’t hold your NC travel, tourism today, or $60 China to “pay” for the damage digital magazine.

Byand 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, badbut ask normal.” number beenbreath overestimated, given that classifi to happen your elected for a speech delivered by investment to the U.S. would costworried the U.S.about Treasury billion in has waiting Ifor a Chinese recreation 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 — North 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.

Matthews manyas people are dying home. d to operate as I’m responsible citizens Carolina wasStacey awarded $6.4of 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. million to establish a new 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 China has been cheating, stealing, pirating and pillaging American tourism-focused economic fields within the humanities. They call of this brings up “grievance studies,” where of identified business now for the past 30 years. They have made no secret that theycases could be an order of magnitude these fieldsinitiative. recovery The new 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 program, Supporting and st everyone has finding truth but upon attending to replace the dollar as the reserve currency with their renminbi.

Strengthening Resiliency social grievances. Grievance scholars in North Carolina’s Travel, and other bully students, administrators Tourism, and Outdoor departments into adhering to their Recreation Sectors worldview.

The worldview they promote is Jason neither scientific nor develop rigorous. Grievance Initiative, will help EDITORIAL | STACEY MATTHEWS studies consist of disciplines such as and implement economicsociology, anthropology, gender studies, building strategies for COLUMN | REP. RICHARD HUDSON queer studies, sexuality and critical race the recovery of North studies.

Carolina’s travel In 2017 and 2018,and authors Pluckrose, Lindsay Boghossian started tourismand industries that AP PHOTO submitting bogus academic papers to suffered economic losses academic journals in cultural, queer, Jennifer Quinn, of Needham, Mass., fills her SUV at a gas station Monday, March 7, 2022, in Needham. due to the pandemic. race, gender, fat and sexuality studies “The travel, tourism to determine if they would pass peer and outdoor recreation “THIS IS DAY the lord made, re seriousness of and the be virus and the review accepted for need publication.

WITH MOST STATES under either shelter-in-place or stay-at-home 60THE million barrels of oilhas from stra- let usthe fallen into place.

I understand Acceptance of dubious industries are major in it” (Psalm 118:24). y with how people who simplyresearch ask that tegic reserves, 30 million orders thanks to local or state governments, a majority of Americans to takeincluding precautions, but I’m uneas editors found sympathetic to their barrels from U.S. to data, trytime to and during this reserves, challenging of soc n thingsjournal can start getting back to contributors to North are having to adjust to what is being called the “new normal.”I know that questions about the whe intersectional or postmodern leftist vision stabilize global markets. working from home or losing a job, it may becircle diffi with contempt.

Carolina’s economy, 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 be glad” as the Bible tells us to do. as However, as aasC a societylow simply must accept bringing people herewithout from Virginia’s stay-at-home orders go into June.

They’re though we academic standards.

What happens if treated the and dad, the Easter holiday hasthe reminded me oftelj s us about when it’s safe toand begin thepapers allSeveral over the world Here in North Carolina, Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper stated during question what government of the fake research U.S. acts alone? and of hopeful for, even m alcy. were accepted for publication. making our state a great The Fat a recent coronavirus press briefing that “we just don’t knowhave yet”to if be thethankful process returning back in to the norm Lenten and pandemic. If the U.S. s, and we haveto the right to ask those Studies journal published a hoax paper state’s stay-at-home orders will extend into May. acts alone in banning No. The government works for place live and work,” Gas prices inSince majorwhen citiesdid that the term was me, imports my faith an important part ofstay-atmy dai home orders are in place all bodybuilding over the Easter seasons ofisRussian oil and more, any curbs on RusIfWhat’s he does decide to extend it, questions should be asked asFor to the questions.

And therefined longer saidargued Governor Roy Cooper. andas should be replaced around Northquestioning Carolina top $4 justification products, the impact on Moscow sian oil exports would send already making.

As I celebrated Easter with my family, hem get exclusionary in states, such Michigan, for it.

And the answers should not be vague ones like “we country, and the stricter some ofI tr provide a “Investing in the resilience The United States generally with “fat bodybuilding, as a fat-inclusive would likely bereminds minimal.

The Unitper gallon government skyrocketing oil and gasoline prices of Corinthians 1:4, which us our Lord “com eling isolated and/or anxious about must do this out of an abundance caution.” the more people, sitting at home f and growth of this sector message of 100,000 politicized performance.”

Oneisreviewer ed that Stateswe imports a able smallto share of those ever higher on both continents and imports about affliction, so may be comfort ng for their families, will demand 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 the right thing toenjoyed do for our said, “I thoroughly reading this hope that we will Russia’s oil exports and doesn’t buy further squeeze consumers, busiaffliction, with the comfort which we ourselves ar barrels a day from Russia, are being told to markets remain jobless at home for an undetermined answers. article believe it has an importantThe Associated become entireand economy.” a any of Moscow’s natural gas. nesses, financial and theand Press once again enjoy God.” vels should be as forthcoming as they contribution to make to the field and this amount of time why models predicting hundreds of thousands of cases Leaders atimports the local and state le The United States about global economy. about 5% of Russia’s crude With funding from bad thing? sporting events, If you are celebrating the Easter season, I—urge again, not vague answers, but answer journal.”

100,000 barrels a day from Russia, are reliable. can be with those answers and Here is a deeper look: WASHINGTON, D.C. — As a United StatesIs My Struggle: Solidarity oil exports.

“Our Struggle That is what reflect on this and be comforted, that ents believability. concerts, family only message about 5% of Russia’s crudetheir oil so Russia has intensified its war on To date, I’ve gone along with what the state has asked and then with details that give statem Economic Development Feminism anfamilies, Intersectional Reply to exports, toallRystad EnerWhat will happen a U.S. Ukraine, killing civilians and trig- mandated God’sabout example andaccording comfort in need arou at we can to keep as our free citizens that wewith do, but along the way I’ve also had questions We should allthose continue to do wh gatherings, Administration Tourism Neoliberal and Choice Feminism,” was gy.

Last year, roughly 8% of U.S. im-helping o ban on Russian oil? gering a mass refugee crisis, Presthis 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 living in a free accepted for publication

by Affilia, Grant, this newstay-at-home initiative will a ident Joe Biden ports of oil and petroleum products “We haveservices not been completeannounced a ban confident we will emerge out of this pandemic str cause while reasonable Unfortunately, when certain types of questions get asked, there is to ask questions about the data, b feminist journalspectrum for social workers.

The and many more on all of the sanctions,” came from Russia.

Amid rising gasoline prices in ly identical on importing Russian on Tuesoffer a broad of societyfuel were Inthose this same spirit, I continue to be inspired the by y shouldpaper also have an expiration athe disturbing tendency among some people to treat understandable, consisted in part of adate. rewritten day. Critics of Russia have said this sometimes The measures U.S. could are replace Russian Sherman said.

“Not country the U.S. — average price has programs and services to after our own everyneighbors supposed helping neighbors. d it is not normal.

Not in any way, passage from Mein Kampf.

Two other would be the best simply questioning the data and asking when we can start getting back This is all new to Americans, an — perhaps only — topped $4 a gallon for the first time has done exactly the same thing, but crude with imports from Saudi support the development temporary Inthat Concord, a shape, high school senior named remainhoax vigilant and stay safe, at includingway to force Moscow papers were published, to do,tolast and the United Arab Emir-weTanner to normal they are conspiracy theorists oraare people who Arabia we have all reached threshold or form.

So while shoul since 2008as —though the Biden adminispullIback. and expansion the“new “Rape Culture andofQueer PerformativityA full embargo would be most ef- otherwise money 3-D printer andwe plastic to make fa mfortable with this so-called sacrifices ates.aFor itssame part, Russia might find is necessary toare impose severeto buy tration hasdon’t faced care growing pressure if they get themselves or others sick.the the time shouldn’t get co checked. at Urbantravel, Dog Parks.”

This paper’s subject state’s tourism, buyers fuel, percostsover. thatat weall have all agreed to.”a bad imposewhen further sanctions on Rusfective if it included European allies, toSince health carealternative workers out of for histhat own home. did questioning government levels become normal.” was rape. But the dog rapewhich are also desperate to stop the sia, including a ban on oil imports. or India.

Even the U.S. ban, the haps in China anddog-on-dog outdoor recreation That is what free citizens living in a with free society were supposed Not one littleSuch bit. a step paper eventually forced Boghossian, violence in Ukraine and the danger thing?

For now, a broad U.S.-European Biden administration and Congress “would introduce massive ineffisectors, including the gear do,appears last I checked.

Pluckrose and Lindsay to prematurelyMoscow out ban elusive. On Monday, “remain laser-focused on bringing ciency in the market,” which escaposes to the continent. Yet to manufacturing industry, under the pseudonym Sister Toldjah My first concern asOlaf we go along in all this, of course, is my family.

Stacey Matthews has also written themselves.

A Wall Street Journal writer lates prices, said Claudio Galimberdown the higher energy costs for I’m Scholz it’s far from clear that Europe would German Chancellor dState and Legal Insurrection. while increasing the had figured out what they were doing.take part in a total embargo. worried about them catching the virus, and I’m worried I will.

After and is a regular contributor to Re made clear that his country, Eu- American families and our part- ti, senior vice president of analysis Some papers accepted for publication Unlike the United States, Europe suffering resiliency. from the H1N1 virus of (swine during the pandemic, nersflu) stemming from2009 Putin’s inva- at Rystad Energy. rope’s single-largest consumer in academic journals sion,” House Speaker Pelo- up Yet if Russia were shut off from Russian plans to join is deeply reliant on energy it im- I’ve The initiative willadvocated training beenenergy, tryinghas to no take extra precautions, because all ofNancy this brings men like dogs and the global market, Galimberti said, si said. in any ban.

In response, U.S. Depports from Russia. While the U.S. way capitalize on thepunishing state’s white male too many memories of a painful experience I’ d prefer not to repeat. college students for historical slavery by Pelosi, who has expressed suputy Secretary of State Wendy Shercould replace the relatively small amplethem natural, But what also makes me lose sleep is how easily most everyone hasrogue countries such as Iran and asking to sitcultural, in silence on the floor in amount of fuel it receives from Mos- man hinted that the U.S. could act port for a U.S. ban on Russian oil, Venezuela might be “welcomed and other tourism assets, chains during class and to be expectedcow, to Europe could not, at least not alone or with a smaller group of al- nevertheless also cited Biden’s acin addition todiscomfort. growing Other papers learn from the tion in leading U.S. allies to release See OIL, page B6 lies. anytime soon. celebrated morbid obesity as a healthy life North Carolina’s outdoor choice and advocated recreation businesstreating privately conducted masturbation as a form of in rural, underserved sexual violence against women. Typically, communities, academic journalincluding editors send submitted the N.C. Street papers outMain to referees for review. In recommending acceptance for publication, program communities.

“We are acutely aware that many these papers glowing Fromreviewers strategicgave economic praise. our decision last week to development planning Political scientist Zach Goldberg ran purchase a cargo of Russian services to workforce certain grievance studies concepts through development the Lexis/Nexis support, database, to see how often crude oil to be refined into they press over the years. the appeared initiative in willour also products like petrol and He found huge increases in the usages implement strategies diesel … was not the right of “white privilege,” “unconscious bias,”

By Danica Kirka that encourage travel and “critical race theory” and “whiteness.” The Associated Press one and we are sorry.” tourism aretaught consistent All of this that is being to college with CDC guidelines. students, many of whom become primary LONDON — Energy giant Shell CEO Ben van Beurden and“North secondary school teachers who then Carolina’s Shell said Tuesday that it will indoctrinate young hospitality our sector is people. stop buying Russian oil and natI doubt whether the coronavirus- ural gas and shut down its service dependent on a strong caused financial crunch will give college stations, aviation fuels and otheconomic recovery,” and university administrators, who are sia is the world’s second-biggest eraoperations in the country amid said N.C. Commerce crossbreed between a parrot and jellyfish, oil producer, accounting for more international pressure for compaSecretary Baker the guts andMachelle backbone to restore academic than 12% of global production, acnies to sever ties over the invasion respectability.

Far the too often, Sanders. “With right they get much cording to the International Enerof Ukraine. of their political North support from campus The company said in a stategy Agency. partnerships, grievance people who are members of ment the that it would withdraw from Ukraine and its supporters Carolina will create a faculty and diversity and multiculturalall Russian hydrocarbons, includhave called on countries around more resilientoffices. economy administrative the world to stop buying Russian ing crude oil, petroleum products, for these and The best industries hope lies with boards of natural gas and liquefied natural oil to restrict funding for Putin’s trustees, though many serve as yes-men the thousands of small military exploits. But that is cergas, “in a phased manner.” for the university tain to affect consumers. businesses andpresident. workers I think that aThe decision comes as surging good start would be to find 1950s or 1960s A month ago, oil was selling for oil prices have been rattling global that rely on visitor catalogs. Look at the course offerings at about $90 a barrel. Now, prices markets and days after Ukraine’s aspending.” time when college graduates knew how are surging past $120 a barrel as foreign minister criticized Shell AP PHOTO In 2019, to read, writethe andNorth compute, and makefor continuing to buy Russian oil, buyers shun Russian crude, with them today’s curricula.

Another helpful Carolina tourism industry many refiners fearing that sanclashing out at the company for This Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2016 file photo shows the Shell logo at a tool would be to give than careful consideration tions could be imposed in the fucontinuing to do business with gas station in London. contributed more to eliminating all classes/majors/minors ture. They worry about being left President Vladimir Putin’s gov$29 billion to the state’s containing the word “studies,” such as ernment. with oil they couldn’t resell as gaseconomy andblack 11%or ofqueer the studies. women, Asian, “We are acutely aware that our Dmytro Kuleba said he had been “shocked by the loss of life in oline if sanctions were imposed in workforce. visitor I’d bet that byWhile restoring the traditionaldecision last week to purchase a told Shell “discreetly” bought the Ukraine” and would end its joint the near future. academic to colleges, they would spendingmission decreased “These societal challenges cargo of Russian crude oil to be oil Friday and appealed to the ventures with Gazprom, the masput a serious dent into the COVID-19 refined into products like petrol public to pressure the company sive oil and gas company con- highlight the dilemma between by 32% following the budget shortfall. and diesel — despite being made and other international firms to trolled by the Russian govern- putting pressure on the Russian pandemic, visitors to N.C. government over its atrocities in ment. with security of supplies at the halt such purchases.

State Parks increased Walter E. Williams is a professor of forefront of our thinking — was While the U.S., Britain and the Ukraine and ensuring stable, se“One question to Shell: doesn’t by 1.2 million people economics at George Mason University. not the right one and we are sor- Russian oil smell (like) Ukrainian European Union have imposed cure energy supplies across Eucompared to 2019. blood for you?” Kuleba said on tough economic sanctions on rope,” van Beurden said. ry,” CEO Ben van Beurden said.

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

Biden bans Russian oil imports after talks with Venezuela

Shell says it will stop buying Russian oil, natural gas

He said profits from the company’s “limited, remaining amounts of Russian oil” would go to a fund for relief efforts for Ukrainians.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister

Twitter. “I call on all conscious people around the globe to demand multinational companies to cut all business ties with Russia.”

Last week, Shell said it was

Russia, they have stopped short of banning oil and gas imports from Russia because of concerns about the impact that would have on global energy supplies. Rus-

He said Shell would work with governments “to help manage the potential impacts on the security of energy supplies, particularly in Europe.’’

North State Journal for Wednesday, March 9, 2022

B6

For the week ending 3/4

Total Cash & Bond Proceeds

$2,757,488,845 Add Receipts

$228,563,541 Less Disbursements

$126,821,360 Reserved Cash

$125,000,000 Unreserved Cash Balance Total

$6,459,641,881 Loan Balance:

$380.3M

OIL from page B5 back” as sources of oil. Such additional sources could, in turn, potentially stabilize prices.

A team of Biden administration officials were in Venezuela over the weekend to discuss energy and other issues, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said. Officials discussed “a range of issues, including certainly energy security,’’ Psaki said.

How could a Russian oil ban affect prices?

A month ago, oil was selling for about $90 a barrel. Now, prices are surging past $120 a barrel as buyers shun Russian crude, with many refiners fearing that sanctions could be imposed in the future. They worry about being left with oil they couldn’t resell as gasoline if sanctions were imposed in the near future.

Energy analysts warn that prices could go as high to $160 or even $200 a barrel for crude oil if oil sanctions are imposed by the West or if buyers continue shunning Russian crude.

Oil prices that high could send an average gallon of U.S. gasoline past $5 a gallon, a scenario that Biden and other political figures are desperate to avoid.

Will Europe go along?

A ban on Russian oil and natural gas would be painful for Europe.

Russia provides about 40% of Europe’s natural gas for home heating, electricity and industry uses and about a quarter of Europe’s oil. European officials are looking for ways to reduce their dependence, but it’s going to take time.

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak underlined that urgency, saying Russia would have “every right” to halt natural gas shipments to Europe through the Nord Stream 1 pipeline in retaliation for Germany halting the parallel Nord Stream 2 pipeline, which was not yet operating. He added that “we have not taken this decision” and that “no one would benefit from this.” It was a change from earlier Russian assurances that they had no intention of cutting off gas to Europe.

Oil is easier to replace than natural gas. Other countries could increase production of oil and ship it to Europe. But much oil would have to be replaced, and this would drive up prices even more because the oil would likely have to travel farther.

Replacing the natural gas that Russia provides to Europe is likely impossible in the short term. Most of the natural gas Russia provides to Europe travels through pipelines.

To replace it, Europe would mostly import liquefied natural gas, known as LNG. The continent doesn’t have enough pipelines to distribute gas from coastal import facilities to farther reaches of the continent.

In January, two-thirds of American LNG exports went to Europe.

Some ships filled with LNG had been heading to Asia but turned around to go to Europe because buyers there offered to pay higher prices, according to S&P Global Platts.

While U.S. oil and gas producers could drill for more natural gas, its export facilities are already operating at capacity. Expanding those facilities would take years and billions of dollars.

AP PHOTO

In this Feb. 9, 2021, photo, the Bitcoin logo appears on the display screen of a cryptocurrency ATM at the Smoker’s Choice store in Salem, N.H.

Biden to issue executive order on cryptocurrency The Associated Press WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Joe Biden is expected to sign an executive order on cryptocurrency this week that will mark the first step toward regulating how digital currency is traded.

The move comes as administration officials have raised concerns in recent weeks about Russia’s use of cryptocurrency to evade the impact of crushing sanctions in response to its invasion of Ukraine.

The sanctions have sent the ruble to historic lows and have closed the country’s stock market.

Two people familiar with the process said the executive order on cryptocurrency was expected to be issued this week and it had been in the works long before the war. Both people spoke on condition of anonymity to preview the order.

The order is expected to describe what government agen-

cies, including the Treasury Department, need to do to develop policies and regulations on digital currencies. It is expected to include a request for the State Department to ensure that American cryptocurrency laws are aligned with those of U.S. allies and will ask the Financial Stability Oversight Council — which monitors the stability of the U.S. financial system — to study illicit finance concerns.

Additionally, the order will explore the possibility of a new central bank digital currency. The Federal Reserve issued a paper on the topic in January that explores the risks and benefits of U.S.backed digital currency.

Implicit in the order will be that cryptocurrency will remain a part of the U.S. economy for years to come. The White House’s plans to move forward with the executive order were first reported by Bloomberg News.

While U.S. officials have played down the significance of cryptocurrency to Russia’s ability to evade sanctions, it remains a concern.

“We will continue to look at how the sanctions work and evaluate whether or not there are liquid leakages and we have the possibility to address them. I often hear cryptocurrency mentioned and that is a channel to be watched,” Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said last week.

A senior administration official who spoke on condition of anonymity said the president’s national security team has already been on the lookout for the use and creation of front companies and alternative financial institutions that Moscow might try to employ to get around sanctions.

Crypto is one of several spaces that the Biden administration is looking to shore up as it tries to make certain that sanctions

on Russia have maximum impact. The official said past experiences in Iran and Venezuela with sanctions evasion are informing the administration’s efforts. Additional export controls and new sanction targets are also expected to be unveiled in the days and weeks ahead to counter Russian sanction evasion efforts, the official said.

On Monday, Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network issued an alert advising financial institutions to be “vigilant” against any efforts to evade sanctions in connection with Russia’s war in Ukraine.

“Although we have not seen widespread evasion of our sanctions using methods such as cryptocurrency, prompt reporting of suspicious activity contributes to our national security and our efforts to support Ukraine and its people,” acting Director Him Das said in a statement.

Buttigieg tells states to consider safety for road projects The Associated Press WASHINGTON, D.C. — The federal government has a new warning to states seeking billions of dollars from President Joe Biden’s infrastructure law to widen roads: protect the safety of pedestrians and bicyclists or risk losing the money.

In a report submitted to Congress and made public Wednesday, the Department of Transportation says it will aim to prioritize the safety and health of the all the users of today’s modern roadway, from riders of public transit and electric scooters to Uber rideshare pickups and people delivering goods. Projects such as bike paths and traffic roundabouts, enhanced sidewalks, pedestrian pathways to bus stops and transit lanes will be favored in the distribution of the money.

The department led by Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg wants to change a longtime focus by the states that directed federal money toward adding car lanes to relieve congestion and increase speed — often at the cost of mostly nonwhite communities living next to the busy roadways.

“Safety is consistently DOT’s top priority,” according to the report, which was written in response to a request by the House a year ago to address record spikes in U.S. roadway deaths during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The report said the Federal Highway Administration’s adoption of the “Complete Streets” strategy, which is already followed by hundreds of communities, will “have a positive impact on the safety of all roadway users — reversing the trend of increasing fatal and serious injuries and creating a healthier, greener, and more equitable surface transportation system.”

Approximately one-third of U.S. traffic fatalities are people who are outside of vehicles. New data released Wednesday show 38,824 lives were lost in traffic crashes overall in 2020, with especially high levels for motorcyclists and bicyclists.

AP PHOTO

A bicycle lane along Market Street in Philadelphia, on June 4, 2018.

“A Complete Street is safe, and feels safe, for everyone using the street,” said Stephanie Pollack, the deputy head of the highway administration. “We can’t keep people safe on our roads if we don’t have safer roads and roads that slow down drivers to safe speeds.”

The shift promises a boost to cities from Atlanta and Austin, Texas, to Nashville, Tennessee, that have strained to raise money to build out green-friendly transit options, reduce fatalities by slowing traffic and stitch together communities racially divided by highways after states balked in providing funds for that purpose.

In 2020, the latest data available, U.S. traffic fatalities for Black people jumped 23% compared with 7% overall. Lower-income Black residents are more likely to live next to pedestrian crash hotspots, according to the report, and during the pandemic were disproportionately represented among essential workers

who continued to travel to work, often on public transit.

Still, the effort could add to tensions with Republican-led states and governors who bristle at the notion of ceding power to pick their road projects, with some casting the bipartisan law as a vehicle for Biden’s liberal causes. Others worry that rural areas could lose in the process.

“Americans expect new roads and real infrastructure needs to be addressed — not a vehicle for the administration’s woke agenda,” said Missouri Rep. Sam Graves, the top Republican on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.

In a letter to governors last month, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W. Va., two of the 19 Republicans who voted in the 50-50 Senate to approve the infrastructure bill, criticized a December memo by the highway administration that urged states to use new funding

to maintain and improve highways before adding lanes. McConnell and Capito said states should continue spending formula funding as they see fit to meet local needs.

At a congressional hearing Wednesday, Buttigieg said he would consider safety, climate and other factors in the award of billions in competitive grants.

“It certainly reflects our priorities,” he said. “When it comes to discretionary grants ... safety, state of good repair, economic strength, resilience — these are national priorities, and administration priorities, and things that will certainly guide me within the parameters of the law in our decisions.”

While the report to Congress does not have the force of law, the department points to potential legal authority under federal statutes to refocus money for up to 70% of the nation’s highways and does not rule out stronger efforts to push states into compliance.

North State Journal for Wednesday, March 9, 2022

B7

2022 Lincoln Navigator

PHOTOS COURTESY OF LINCOLN

Hands-free tranquility Almost-but-not-quite self-driving

By Jordan Golson North State Journal PHOENIX — The Lincoln Navigator is a vehicle that evokes opinion.

Folks seem to either love the sheer enormity and luxuriousness of the Navigator — or they despise its enormity and unnecessaryness.

For 2022, there’s an updated Navigator that won’t win over any haters, but it might draw some looks away from the competition thanks to a few must-have features, a gorgeous interior — and something called the “Lincoln sanctuary.”

The copywriters at Lincoln broke out the thesaurus when writing the press release for the new Navigator.

Elegant, effortless, serene, commanding, and unmistakable were just a few of the adjectives used to describe the luxury beast.

First introduced in 1998, the Navigator has helped keep Lincoln in the conversation over the decades when so many other brands have fallen by the wayside. Still, Navigator sales of 15,631 units in 2021 fell well short of the 40,505 Escalades sold by archrival Cadillac.

I reviewed the Escalade last year and found it stuffed with a mind-boggling amount of tech, including an augmented reality mode with floating navigation arrows superimposed over a camera view out the front of the car on the dash cluster that was a neat preview of what we’ll see on windshields just in time for cars to drive themselves so we don’t need navigation anymore.

Speaking of cars driving themselves, the 2022 Navigator features ActiveGlide, the Lincolnized version of Ford’s Blue Cruise. It works identically here as to BlueCruise, allowing for hands-off driving on 130,000 miles of “Blue Zones” — generally limited access, multi-lane thoroughfares like interstate high-

ways — so long as the driver is always paying attention.

The Navigator has infrared cameras on the top of the steering column tracking eye and head movement to make sure the driver is paying attention to the road and not distracted by their phone, iced caramel macchiato, spicy chicken sandwich from Chick-Fil-A, or whatever else one might be distracted by while driving a threeton, seven-passenger luxury SUV at 80 mph.

So long as you keep your eyes on the road, ActiveGlide will handle the steering and speed controls while you relax and make sure nothing weird happens. If it seems like I’m describing a self-driving car, that’s only because “self-driving” has lost all meaning in automotive discourse.

Autonomous vehicle-expert Alex Roy defined a self-driving car as one that you can sleep in while it drives along. You cannot sleep in the 2022 Lincoln Navigator while it drives you along, but it feels awfully close.

Think of ActiveGlide as another level of the adaptive cruise control system. When you first turn on the adaptive cruise control, an image of a steering wheel with two hands firmly attached appears on the dash cluster and the head-up dis-

play. Then, if you’re in a Blue Zone, ActiveGlide takes over the steering, and you’ll see the hands coming off the steering wheel.

And it works! In an hour of rush hour commuting in the Phoenix suburbs, I was able to cruise down the highway without a care in the world (so long as I didn’t look away from the road for too long). The system did disconnect when I was approaching a sweeping turn and the sun was directly in front of us, presumably blinding the camera, but it wasn’t an emergency disconnect and both the car and I handled it without any fuss.

Look away for too long (or stop responding for medical or other reasons), and the Navigator will alert you in several ways. First, you’ll get a bright yellow visual warning on the screen telling you to watch the road. That is followed by an audible alert and then a more urgent audible and a red visual alert.

If you still don’t respond, ActiveGlide will begin a series of rather alarming, jerky braking events.

These aren’t enough to get you rear-ended, but they should bring your attention back to the road if you’re able to. Finally, if you keep ignoring the situation, the car will gradually come to a stop within your lane.

When I’ve posted about this fea-

ture on TikTok, people inevitably talk about how stopping the car on the highway is very dangerous, somehow forgetting that allowing a car to continue at 80 mph out of control down the highway is far worse. This is a critical safety feature that will save lives, and it also makes your highway commute or a long road trip significantly less fatiguing. You wouldn’t think steering was that difficult, but spending a rush hour behind the wheel while ActiveGliding feels like far less of a chore than usual.

While the updated Navigator includes a bigger center screen and available Walnut open-pore wood with a laser-etched map of Central Park (on the Central Park Black Label trim, at least), my favorite feature was the new 10.1-inch touchscreens on the back of the front seats.

They run the automotive version of Amazon Fire TV, which means backseat passengers can stream movies and TV shows, listen to music, and do whatever you might do with your Amazon Fire TV at home. The two tablets connect to the AT&T LTE-powered Wi-Fi hotspot in the car ($20/month for unlimited data), so as long as you have good connectivity, your backseat passengers will remain entertained and quiet for hours.

Each tablet has 9GB of usable storage plus an SD card slot, and Prime Video supports downloading content for use in connectivity-dead zones. Amazon expects more apps will begin supporting video downloads soon. The two tablets can send video to the other if folks in the back want to watch the same thing, and audio can be sent to the main car stereo via Bluetooth if everyone wants to listen. Two Bluetooth headphones are included (and a headphone jack on each tablet) to free parents from listening to Encanto for the 674th time.

Putting Amazon Fire TV in the car — it’s also available in the 2022 Ford Expedition; Chrysler Pacifica; Jeep Grand Cherokee, Wagoneer, and Grand Wagoneer; and more to come — makes in-vehicle entertainment actually useful. Previously, road-tripping parents needed to bring along Blu-Ray or DVDs, or maybe they could bring along

a Roku stick for a built-in HDMI port.

Combining in-car live streaming of YouTube, Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, or whatever with an unlimited-data AT&T hotspot is a family-hauler killer app. In five years, it’ll be hard to believe we lived without this. It makes even more sense for self-driving (the kind where you can sleep) or during electric-car charging sessions.

My test Navigator featured massaging, heated, and cooled 30-way front seats, which sounds great, but it takes forever to get adjusted perfectly. If you owned the thing, though, you’d just set it and forget it. The 28-speaker Revel Ultima audio system sounded terrific, and Lincoln’s signature chimes — recorded specifically for the company by the Detroit Symphony Orchestra — make for a serene alternative to a blaring beep when you leave the fuel door open by accident.

Actually driving the Navigator was slightly less serene. Though the interior is stunning, and it has plenty of oomph thanks to 440 hp and 510 lb-ft of torque from a 3.5-liter turbocharged V6, it nevertheless delivers a firm, truck-like ride from its body-on-frame design.

Lincoln’s engineers have done their best with adaptive suspension and a trick feature that uses the camera to scan the road ahead for dips and bumps to preload the suspension for what’s to come.

This is advanced tech, and I spoke with another journalist who found a railroad crossing far less jarring than expected, which we attributed to this Road Preview feature.

An improved, easier-to-set-up version of Pro-Trailer Backup Assist, which makes backing up a trailer as easy as turning a knob, is available, along with the latest versions of all Ford’s best driver-assist features including semi-automated parallel and perpendicular parking and unparking.

All in, the new 2022 Lincoln Navigator is a compelling entrant in the high-end SUV wars, but I don’t know if it’s enough to knock the Escalade from its lofty luxury perch. But, between the stunning interior, the clever streaming TVs, and ActiveGlide, perhaps it should be.

North State Journal for Wednesday, March 9, 2022

B8

features Cherokee on a smartphone: Part of a drive to save a language The Associated Press

BY ITSELF, BEING able to read smartphone home screens in Cherokee won’t be enough to safeguard the Indigenous language, endangered after a long history of erasure. But it might be a step toward immersing younger tribal citizens in the language spoken by a dwindling number of their elders.

That’s the hope of Principal Chief Richard Sneed of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, who’s counting on more inclusive consumer technology — and the involvement of a major tech company — to help out.

Sneed and other Cherokee leaders have spent several months consulting with Lenovo-owned Motorola, which last week introduced a Cherokee language interface on its newest line of phones.

Now phone users will be able to find apps and toggle settings using the syllable-based written form of the language first created by the Cherokee Nation’s Sequoyah in the early 1800s. It will appear on the company’s highend Edge Plus phones when they go on sale in the spring.

“It’s just one more piece of a very large puzzle of trying to preserve and proliferate the language,” said Sneed, who worked with members of his own western North Carolina tribe and other Cherokee leaders who speak a different dialect in Oklahoma that is more widely spoken but also endangered.

It’s not the first time consumer technology has embraced the language, as Apple, Microsoft and Google already enable people to configure their laptops and phones so that they can type in Cherokee. But the Cherokee language preservationists who

AP PHOTO

Benjamin Frey, American Studies professor at the University of North Carolina, sits under the native Ilex vomitoria tree on campus in Chapel Hill, Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022. worked on the Motorola project said they tried to imbue it with the culture — not just the written symbols — they are trying to protect.

Take the start button on the Motorola interface, which features a Cherokee word that translates into English as “just start.”

That’s a clever nod to the casual way Cherokee elders might use the phrase, said Benjamin Frey, a member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

“It could have said ‘let’s get started’ in many different ways,” Frey said. “But it said ‘halenag-

wu’ — just start. And that’s very Cherokee. I can kind of see an elder kind of shrugging and saying, ‘Well, I guess let’s do it.’ ... It reminds me very fondly of how the elders talk, which is pretty exciting.”

When Motorola thought of incorporating Cherokee into its phones, Frey was one of the people it reached out to. It was looking to incorporate a language that the U.N.’s culture agency, UNESCO, had designated as among the world’s most endangered but also one that had an active community of language scholars it could consult.

“We work with the people, not

about the people,” said Juliana Rebelatto, who holds the role of head linguist and globalization manager for Motorola’s mobile division. “We didn’t want to work on the language without them.”

Motorola modeled its Cherokee project on a similar Indigenous language revitalization project Rebelatto helped work on in Brazil, where the brand — part of China-based parent company Lenovo — has a higher market share than it does in the U.S. The company last year introduced phone interfaces serving the Kaingang community of southern Brazil, and the Nheengatu community of the Amazonian regions of Brazil and neighboring countries.

Several big tech companies have expressed interest in recent years in making their technology work better for endangered Indigenous languages, more to show their good will or advance speech recognition research than to fulfill a business imperative.

Microsoft’s text translation service recently added Inuinnaqtun and Inuktitut, spoken in the Canadian Arctic, and grassroots artificial intelligence researchers are doing similar projects throughout the Americas and beyond. But there’s a long way to go before digital voice assistants understand these languages as well as they do English — and for some languages the time is running out.

Frey and Sneed said they recognize that some Cherokee will have concerns about tech companies making a product feature of their work to preserve their language — whether it’s a text-based interface like Motorola’s or potential future projects that could record speech to build a voice assistant or real-time translator.

“I think it is a danger that com-

panies could take this kind of material and take advantage of it, selling it without sharing the proceeds with community members,” Frey said. “Personally, I decided that the potential benefit was worth the risk, and I’m hoping that that will be borne out.”

Frey didn’t grow up speaking Cherokee, largely due to his grandmother’s experiences of being punished for speaking the language when she was sent to boarding school. For over 150 years, Indigenous children in the U.S. and Canada were taken from their communities and forced into boarding schools that focused on assimilation.

She and others of her generation were beaten for speaking the language, had her mouth washed out with soap and was told that “English was the only way to get ahead in the world,” Frey said. She didn’t pass it on to Frey’s mom.

“This was a 13,000-year chain of intergenerational transfer of a language from parents to children that was broken because the federal government decided that English was the only language that was worthwhile,” he said.

Only about 225 of the roughly 16,000 members of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians spoke Cherokee fluently as their first language at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Now I think we’re down to 172 or so,” said Sneed. “So we’ve lost quite a few in the last couple of years.”

Frey hopes the new tool will be a conversation-starter between older Cherokee language speakers and their tech-savvy grandkids.

“We do have to make sure that the language continues to be used and continues to be spoken,” said Frey. “Otherwise, it could die out.”

A modern Churchill? Zelenskyy praised as war communicator The Associated Press TO A WATCHING WORLD, his message is this, in both his words and his resolute, sometimes haggard appearance: He stands as a mirror to the suffering and spirit of his people.

It appears to be getting through.

Just days into the war engulfing his nation, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is drawing historical comparisons as an effective and stirring wartime communicator — yet with a distinctly modern touch inflected by the sensibilities of live television and the personal feel of social media.

His baby-faced complexion is now usually puffy and pasty, with a faint growth of beard. Suits and dress shirts have been replaced by olive military-style garb. His raspy voice betrays exhaustion. Together, these help form a narrative of personal courage, of David fighting mighty Goliath and refusing safe passage out of his homeland — embodied by his line that he needed “ammunition, not a ride.”

It’s all quite a development for a former TV actor and comedian who weeks ago was disdained in some corners as a political novice too eager to seek compromise with Moscow.

“Here’s a guy who was basically considered to be a lightweight, out of his element, about to be crushed by a major superpower next door.

And it didn’t happen,” says Andrew J. Polsky, a professor of political science at Hunter College in New York and author of a book on wartime U.S. presidents. “I think people really expected that he would flee ... and I think he surprised people by sharing the danger that they were sharing.”

That, Polsky says, has created “a reciprocal relationship between Zelenskyy and the Ukrainian people. I think they have gotten energy from each other and confidence from each other. That’s an impressive communications accomplishment for a leader, to be that much in touch with his people in the middle of a crisis.”

Winston Churchill, who rallied Britons during World War II’s darkest days, is a name frequently invoked — even by Churchill’s biographer. One analyst compared Zelenskyy to Benjamin Franklin and his success in soliciting French support for the American Revolution.

Through interviews and appearances via video link from

UKRAINIAN PRESIDENTIAL PRESS OFFICE VIA AP, FIL

In this image from video provided by the Ukrainian Presidential Press Office, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks in Kyiv, Ukraine, March 6, 2022. hidden locations, Zelenskyy has sought to rally the world to Ukraine’s side. When he told the European Parliament “we’re fighting just for our land and for our freedom,” the translator struggled not to cry.

Speaking the other day at a San Francisco fundraiser, U.S. first lady Jill Biden said that “I just have to turn on the TV every morning and pray that Zelenskyy is still alive.”

Some of Zelenskyy’s appearances seem designed to deliver that simple assurance. Shortly after Russia invaded, he was seen in what appeared to be mobile phone video from a darkened street in Kyiv, four grim-faced colleagues standing behind him.

“We are all here,” he said. “Our soldiers are here, the citizens of our country are all here protecting our independence, and we are going to continue to do so. Glory to the defenders of Ukraine.”

Zelenskyy’s insistence on stay-

ing, along with his wife and children, was a turning point, says Orysia Lutsevych, a research fellow and manager of the Ukraine Forum in the Russia and Eurasia Program at Chatham House, a London-based think tank. “People saw he had courage,” she says.

The Ukraine president’s words have projected a mixture of defiance and an escalating desperation, and he seems unafraid of alienating those whose help he might need. For example, he told NATO officials they would bear responsibility for civilian deaths if they didn’t enforce a no-fly Zone over Ukraine.

Through those messages, he’s not just speaking to NATO leaders, but directly to the citizens who may put pressure on them to do more, says Kenneth Osgood, professor of history at the Colorado School of Mines and an expert on propaganda and intelligence.

U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley of Illinois told ABC News that he took

notes when Zelenskyy spoke to members of Congress over the weekend. “Calm,” heroic” and “unprecedented” were among the words he wrote. “I don’t think you can sit there with human emotions and not be moved, not be motivated,” Quigley said.

He cited the Churchill comparison. So did Andrew Roberts, author of the 2018 biography “Churchill: Walking with Destiny”: Speaking on a Commentary magazine podcast, he noted both Zelenskyy’s personal bravery and his refusal to sugarcoat things.

Zelenskyy doesn’t possess the same rhetorical prowess as Churchill did in radio messages as German bombs rained down upon London, says Osgood, the propaganda expert. “Zelenskyy is much blunter — sort of, ‘Here’s the story. I’m just going to give it to you straight.’ So there’s not the same poetry to it. But there’s the same desperation.”

Indeed, in style, the more for-

mal Churchill and Zelenskyy could not be more different. But each man, Polsky says, mastered the media of his era.

“Churchill made good use of radio, the written word as well,” he says. “And Zelenskyy makes excellent use of casual social media. He walks through the streets and holds his cell phone up, and he talks to people.” His off-the-cuff remarks, with no time to prepare a long speech, add to the genuine nature of his presentations, he and others say, and resonate with a younger generation.

Not many people in Ukraine saw Zelenskyy as a great leader before the war, says Lutsevych, at the Ukraine Forum in London.

Now, though, he has become the voice of the nation.

“He has a personal quality, especially being sensitive to your environment, to be able to play different roles, to be sensitive to your audience,” she says. “He’s quite empathetic as a leader.”

North State Journal for Wednesday, March 9, 2022

B9

After a year away, Oscar nominees celebrate together The Associated Press LOS ANGELES — The Oscar race may be heating up, but you wouldn’t know it to peek in on the nominees luncheon Monday in Los Angeles.

Attendees packed into a ballroom at the Fairmont Century City for the annual luncheon, where nominees get to mingle and celebrate. It was a long awaited homecoming for many after a year away due to the pandemic.

Before the lunch, nominees excitedly greeted one another. Will Smith and Denzel Washington, both best actor nominees this year, smiled and grabbed each other’s hands. “CODA” Star Emilia Jones was signing with co-star Daniel Durant, who plays her brother in the movie.

Kristen Stewart arrived with her fiance Dylan Meyer, circling the room in her Chanel outfit, while Netflix exec Ted Sarandos shook hands with Questlove, whose documentary “Summer of Soul” is nominated. Benedict Cumberbatch made his way around holding hands with wife Sophie Hunter.

Nominees continued mingling, ignoring the pleas to be seated.

“Just being back together without a hazmat suit is cause for celebration,” said Will Packer, who is producing the show this year.

“This is a year like no other, this is THE year.”

During lunch most chose to ignore their quinoa salad. Bradley Cooper made sure to say hello to Questlove. Steven Spielberg was deep in conversation Paul Thomas Anderson. Both are nominated for best director.

The luncheon was a first for many including Andrew Garfield, a best actor nominee for “tick, tick…Boom.” He said it was a “special moment” to be among fellow nominees like “PTA and Ariana,” referring to Anderson and best supporting actress front-runner Ariana DeBose from “West Side Story” who were standing close by.

Kim Morgan, the “Nightmare Alley” screenwriter, was a little overwhelmed by the experience which was also her first time. “I’m a writer,” she said.

Osnat Shurer, an animation

AP PHOTO

Will Smith, left, and Denzel Washington arrive at the 94th Academy Awards nominees luncheon on Monday, March 7, 2022, in Los Angeles. nominee for “Raya and the Last Dragon,” said it was a joy to be at the luncheon. She was excited to tell Jessica Chastain that she loved her performance in “The Eyes of Tammy Faye.” What she didn’t expect was that Chastain was also a fan and frequent watcher of “Raya,” thanks to her children.

Near the end of the festivities, Washington gave big hugs to Garfield and “Belfast” director Kenneth Branagh, while supporting actor nominee Troy Kotsur made his way over to embrace Bradley Cooper, who is a best picture nominee as a producer of “Nightmare Alley.”

Top of mind for many were the changes to the broadcast, in which eight categories are going to be presented off air before the show. While many have spoken out against the decision, some are supportive too.

At Spielberg’s table was Penelope Cruz, who is nominated nominated for her work in the film “Parallel Mothers” which is entirely in Spanish.

The experience, she said was “Very emotional” and she’s also happy “to see how the Academy opens a little more every year.”

Her husband Javier Bardem is also nominated for his work in

“Being the Ricardos.”

Cruz said she was not happy about the decision to hand out some of the awards before the broadcast.

“Every single category is important,” Cruz said.

“I believe that when people are watching the ceremony they know we depend on (them)..all these departments are equally important.”

“Dune” director Denis Villeneuve said he’s worried that the nominees in the categories “feel humiliated.”

“That’s very sad, too, when it’s supposed to be a celebration,” he

said. “We’ll see how it goes this year. I’ll be there at 4 p.m. to clap … for my all of my collaborators, for everybody.”

Bill Corso, an Oscar winning hair and makeup artist, is one who was on the committee that made the decision. In 2004, he was given his Oscar in the aisle, another attempt to streamline the broadcast and, he said, it felt like he didn’t get his moment.

This change he hopes will let the winners have that moment on stage at the podium, which will be edited into the broadcast in a way that won’t be obvious to the viewing audience.

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

$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.

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.

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

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

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,

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 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

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.

5 9 Address of property: 2 Waterdown Dr Unit 5, Fayetteville, NC 28314 Tax Parcel ID: 0 4 0 8 -7 3 4603.205 Present Record Owners: Aaron G. 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

SPECIAL NOTICE FOR LEASEHOLD TENANTS residing

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

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

North State Journal for Wednesday, March 9, 2022

B10 TAKE NOTICE

CUMBERLAND 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

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

DAVIDSON IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION 21SP342 NOTICE OF SALE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY DAVIDSON IN THE MATTER OF THE FORECLOSURE OF A DEED OF TRUST EXECUTED BY ROBERT D. JOHNSON, SR. AND LEXIE JOHNSON DATED MAY 17, 2005 RECORDED IN BOOK 1611 AT PAGE 1959 IN THE DAVIDSON COUNTY PUBLIC REGISTRY, NORTH CAROLINA

21 SP 279 NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE NORTH CAROLINA, DAVIDSON COUNTY Under and by virtue of a Power of Sale contained in that certain Deed of Trust executed by Palvonia H. Borders to Alex Trullinger, Trustee(s), which was dated October 20, 2010 and recorded on October 22, 2010 in Book 1994 at Page 194, Davidson County Registry, North Carolina.

Default having been made of the note thereby secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC, having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust, and the holder of the note evidencing said default having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the courthouse 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 24, 2022 at 11:00 AM, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following described property situated in Davidson County, North Carolina, to wit:

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,

FORSYTH NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 21 SP 585 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Timothy Pope (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Timothy Pope) to Alexis Alan, Trustee(s), dated December 1, 2017, and recorded in Book No. RE 3380, at Page 3795 in Forsyth 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 Forsyth County, North Carolina and the holder of the note evidencing said indebtedness having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned

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

RANDOLPH IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION 22SP3 NOTICE OF SALE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY RANDOLPH IN THE MATTER OF THE FORECLOSURE OF A DEED OF TRUST EXECUTED BY FRANCIS D. WEAFER AND CATHERINE WEAFER DATED JUNE 23, 2008 RECORDED IN BOOK 2084 AT PAGE 530 IN THE RANDOLPH COUNTY PUBLIC REGISTRY, NORTH CAROLINA Under and by virtue of the power and authority contained in

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 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.

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, 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

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,

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 Tax Parcel ID: 0 416 - 624022Present 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

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

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.

Under and by virtue of the power and authority contained in the above-referenced deed of trust and because of default in payment of the secured debt and failure to perform the agreements therein contained and, pursuant to demand of the holder of the secured debt, the undersigned will expose for sale at public auction at the usual place of sale at the Davidson County courthouse at 10:00 AM on March 23, 2022, the following described real estate and any improvements situated thereon, in Davidson County, North Carolina, and being more particularly described in that certain Deed of Trust executed by Robert D. Johnson, Sr.; Lexie Johnson, dated May 17, 2005 to secure the original principal amount of $15,519.43, and recorded in Book 1611 at Page 1959 of the Davidson County Public Registry. The terms of the said Deed of Trust may be modified by other instruments appearing in the public record. Additional identifying information regarding the collateral property is below and is believed to be accurate, but no representation or warranty is intended.

Address of property: Hill Road, Lexington, NC 27295 Tax Parcel ID: 1118200000024 Present Record Owners: Johnson, Sr.; Lexie Johnson

THE FOLLOWING DESCRIBED PROPERTY, TOGETHER WITH ALL IMPROVEMENTS LOCATED THEREON, LYING IN THE COUNTY OF DAVIDSON, STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA, TO-WIT: BEGINNING AT AN IRON ON THE NORTH SIDE OF HOLLY GROVE ROAD, FORMERLY RALEIGH ROAD, CORNER TO PANSY A. AND CARROLL APPLEBEE; SAID BEGINNING CORNER BEING 390 FEET PLUS OR MINUS IN AN EASTERN DIRECTION FOR THE CENTER LINE INTERSECTION OF OLD HIGHWAY NO. 64 AND HACKNEY STREET; THENCE WITH A LINE TO PANSY A. AND CARROLL APPLEBEE NORTH 4 DEGREES 36 MINUTES EAST 116.08 FEET TO AN IRON IN BRANCH, PANSY A. AND CARROLL APPLEBEE’S CORNER IN W. E. BRIGGS’ LINE; THENCE WITH A LINE TO W. E. BRIGGS AND LESTER TYSINGER NORTH 77 DEGREES 51 MINUTES EAST 56.25 FEET TO AN IRON FOUND IN SAID BRANCH, HAROLD CARVER’S CORNER IN LESTER TYSINGER’S LINE; THENCE WITH A LINE TO HAROLD CARVER SOUTH 4 DEGREES 53 MINUTES WEST, AND CROSSING IN AN IRON FOUND AT 57.58 FEET AND CONTINUING FOR A TOTAL DISTANCE OF 140.06 FEET TO AN IRON FOUND ON THE NORTH SIDE OF HOLLY GROVE ROAD AND BEING 1.55 FEET BACK OF ASPHALT CURBING; THENCE WITH A LINE ALONG THE NORTH

SIDE OF SAID ROAD NORTH 77 DEGREES 06 MINUTES WEST 53.75 FEET TO THE POINT OF BEGINNING AND CONTAINING 6,885 SQUARE FEET, PLUS OR MINUS.

North Carolina, or the customary location designated for 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.

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).

Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the courthouse door in Winston-Salem, Forsyth County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, at 1:15 PM on March 23, 2022 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in Winston Salem in the County of Forsyth, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: Being known and designated as Lot No. 56, as shown on the Map of Forest Hill, Section 1, as recorded in Plat Book 7, Page 29, in the Office of the Register of Deeds of Forsyth County, North Carolina, reference to which is hereby made for a more particular description. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 229 Forest Hill Avenue, Winston Salem, North Carolina.

Property Address: 229 Forest Hill Avenue, Winston-Salem, NC 27105 Pin No. 6837-13-4670.000 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.

undersigned, Anchor Trustee Services, LLC having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust by an instrument duly recorded in the Office of the Register of Deeds of Johnston 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: Being all of Lot 6 in Edgebrook Estates, Phase 2 as shown on plat recorded in Plat Book 22, Page 5, Johnston County Registry.

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

the above-referenced deed of trust and because of default in payment of the secured debt and failure to perform the agreements therein contained and, pursuant to demand of the holder of the secured debt, the undersigned will expose for sale at public auction at the usual place of sale at the Randolph County courthouse at 1:00 PM on March 22, 2022, the following described real estate and any improvements situated thereon, in Randolph County, North Carolina, and being more particularly described in that certain Deed of Trust executed by Francis D. Weafer; Catherine Weafer a/k/a Catherine Demorais, dated June 23, 2008 to secure the original principal amount of $136,010.00, and recorded in Book 2084 at Page 530 of the Randolph County Public Registry. The terms of the said Deed of Trust may be modified by other instruments appearing in the public record. Additional identifying information regarding the collateral property is below and is believed to be accurate, but no representation or warranty is intended.

Address of property: Farm Rd, Seagrove, NC 27341

3365 Teague

141 Pleasant

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

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 11-013769

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

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 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.

BEING THE SAME FEE SIMPLE PROPERTY CONVEYED

BY GENERAL WARRANTY DEED FROM ROBERT HENRY COVINGTON, III SINGLE and ELLIS CLEVELAND HICKS SINGLE TO PALVONIA H. BORDERS SINGLE, DATED 04/19/2010 RECORDED ON 04/19/2010 IN BOOK 1968, PAGE 1494 IN DAVIDSON COUNTY RECORDS, STATE OF NC. Save and except any releases, deeds of release or prior conveyances of record.

Said property is commonly known as 1008 Holly Grove Rd, Lexington, NC 27292.

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 Palvonia H. Borders.

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.

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.: 21-05410-FC01

The property to be offered pursuant to this notice of sale is being offered for sale, transfer and conveyance “AS IS, WHERE IS.” Neither the Trustee nor the holder of the note secured by the deed of trust/security agreement, or both, being foreclosed, nor the officers, directors, attorneys, employees, agents or authorized representative of either the Trustee or the holder of the note make any representation or warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at or relating to the property being offered for sale, and any and all responsibilities or liabilities arising out of or in any way relating to any such condition are expressly disclaimed. Also, this property is being sold subject to all taxes, special assessments, and prior liens or prior encumbrances of record and any recorded releases. Said property is also being sold subject to applicable Federal and State laws.

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

the form of certified funds at the time of the sale.

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

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

Any person who occupies the property pursuant to a rental agreement entered into or renewed

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

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

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.

($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.

Tax Parcel ID: 17525 Present Record Owners: Patrick R Demorais; Estate of Catherine Demorais; Shane Demorais; Jennifer C. Demorais; Heirs of Francis Weafer; Patrick Demorais, Administrator of Estate of Catherine Demorais

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.

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.

Robert

D.

The record owner(s) of the property, according to the records of the Register of Deeds, is/are Robert D. Johnson, Sr. and Lexie Johnson.

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

The record owner(s) of the property, according to the records of the Register of Deeds, is/are Patrick R Demorais and Estate of Catherine Demorais and Shane Demorais and Jennifer C. Demorais and Heirs of Francis Weafer and Patrick Demorais, Administrator of Estate of Catherine Demorais.

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

SPECIAL NOTICE FOR LEASEHOLD TENANTS residing at the property: be advised that an Order for Possession of

The date of this Notice is 2nd day of February, 2022.

Grady I. Ingle, Attorney for Substitute Trustee Ingle Law Firm, PA 13801 Reese Blvd West Suite 160 Huntersville, NC 28078 (980) 771-0717 Ingle Case Number: 2522-2763

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: 2355 - 5330

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: 2843 - 6858

Anchor Trustee Services, LLC Substitute Trustee January N. Taylor, Bar #33512 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

The date of this Notice is 23rd day of February, 2022.

Grady I. Ingle, Attorney for Substitute Trustee Ingle Law Firm, PA 13801 Reese Blvd West Suite 160 Huntersville, NC 28078 (980) 771-0717 Ingle Case Number: 5078-5850

North State Journal for Wednesday, March 9, 2022

B11

TAKE NOTICE

RANDOLPH NOTICE OF SERVICE OF PROCESS BY PUBLICATION

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:

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

Take notice that a pleading seeking relief against you has

UNION 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

15 SP 0866 AMENDED NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE NORTH CAROLINA, UNION COUNTY

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 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

BEING ALL OF LOT(S) 52 HAMILTON PLACE, PHASE 3, ACCORDING TO THE PLAT THEREOF RECORDED IN PLAT CABINET G, FILES 1-4, IN THE OFFICE OF THE REGISTER OF DEEDS OF UNION COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA

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.

BEING that same property conveyed to Borrowers herein by deed recorded contemporaneously herewith in the aforesaid Registry.

Default having been made of the note thereby secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC, having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust, and the holder of the note evidencing said default having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the courthouse door of the county courthouse where the property is located, or the usual and customary location at the county courthouse for 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:

Said property is commonly known as 4117 John Stevenson Road, Monroe, NC 28110.

WAKE NOTICE TO CREDITORS

IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION BEFORE THE CLERK FILE NO. 21SP 1535 NOTICE OF SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE’S SALE OF REAL ESTATE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF WAKE In the matter of the Foreclosure of that certain Deed of Trust executed by BEATRICE H. LEWIS, payable to RBC CENTURA BANK, Lender, to CB SERVICES CORPORATION, Trustee, dated May 8, 2006, and recorded in Book 11952, Page 1951 of the WAKE County Public Registry by Frances S. White or Rick D. Lail, Substitute Trustee either of whom may act as successor trustee under the Deed of Trust.

21 SP 2039 NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE

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.

Under and by virtue of a Power of Sale contained in that certain Deed of Trust executed by Lee A. Wagner to William R. Echols, Trustee(s), which was dated May 16, 2011 and recorded on May 20, 2011 in Book 014353 at Page 02711, Wake County Registry, North Carolina.

Default having been made of the note thereby secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC, having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust, and the holder of the note evidencing said default having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the courthouse door of the county courthouse where the property is located, or the usual and customary location at the county courthouse for conducting the sale on March 23, 2022 at 10:00 AM, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following described

IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION 21SP1774 NOTICE OF SALE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY WAKE IN THE MATTER OF THE FORECLOSURE OF A DEED OF TRUST EXECUTED BY JACQUELYN M. AVERY AND DEVONA L. AVERY DATED JULY 27, 2007 RECORDED IN BOOK 12679 AT PAGE 2288 IN THE WAKE COUNTY PUBLIC REGISTRY, NORTH CAROLINA Under and by virtue of the power and authority contained in the above-referenced deed of trust and because of default in payment of the secured debt and failure to perform the agreements therein contained and, pursuant to demand of the holder of the secured debt, the undersigned will expose for sale at public auction at the usual place of sale at the

NORTH CAROLINA IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE

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

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.

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.

FAX: (910) 392-8587

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

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

amount of the bid, or $750, whichever is greater, is required from the highest bidder and must be tendered in the form of certified funds or cash at the time of sale. This sale will be held open for ten (10) 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 paid 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 Trustee, or the attorney of any of the foregoing.

Said property is commonly known as 8344 Broken Yolk Trail, Apex, NC 27523.

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.

Wake County courthouse at 11:00 AM on March 24, 2022, the following described real estate and any improvements situated thereon, in Wake County, North Carolina, and being more particularly described in that certain Deed of Trust executed by Jacquelyn M. Avery; Devona L. Avery, dated July 27, 2007 to secure the original principal amount of $15,016.80, and recorded in Book 12679 at Page 2288 of the Wake County Public Registry. The terms of the said Deed of Trust may be modified by other instruments appearing in the public record. Additional identifying information regarding the collateral property is below and is believed to be accurate, but no representation or warranty is intended.

Address of property: Drive, Raleigh, NC 27610 Tax Parcel ID: Present Record Owners: Avery; Thurston Lavaughn Avery

3113 Mango 0250020 Devona L.

The record owner(s) of the property, according to the records of the Register of Deeds, is/are Devona L. Avery

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.

Should the property be purchased by a third party, that party must pay the tax of forty-five cents per One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) required by N.C.G.S § 7A-308(a)(1), up to a maximum of Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00). The property to be offered pursuant to this NOTICE OF SALE is being offered for sale 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 makes 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 liabilities or responsibilities arising out of or in any way relating to any such condition are expressly disclaimed by the Trustee and/or the holder of the note herein. This sale is subject to all prior liens, encumbrances, and unpaid taxes and assessments, including any transfer tax associated with foreclosure. A deposit of five percent (5%) of the

Said property to be offered pursuant to this Notice of Sale is being offered for sale, transfer and conveyance “AS IS WHERE IS.” There are no representations of warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at, or relating to the property being offered for sale. 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 Lee A. Wagner.

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

and Thurston Lavaughn Avery.

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

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:

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

File No.: 18-19832-FC01

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.

PRESENT RECORD OWNERS as reflected on the records of the Register of Deeds: HEIRS AND UNKNOWN HEIRS OF BEATRICE H. LEWIS.

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

820 N. Elm St. High Point, NC 27262

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

Under and by virtue of the power and authority contained in the above-referenced deed of trust and because of a default and failure to perform the agreements contained therein, and pursuant to the demand of the holder of the secured debt, the Substitute Trustee will expose for sale, at public auction, at the usual place of sale, at the WAKE COUNTY COURTHOUSE on MARCH 25, 2022 at 11:00 AM all of that certain parcel of land and all improvements thereon, as secured by the above-referenced Deed of Trust, recorded in Book 11952 at Page 1951, of the WAKE County Register of Deeds, and as situated in WAKE COUNTY, with said parcel being more particularly described therein, and with said legal description being made a part hereof and incorporated herein by reference as if fully set forth herein, and being briefly described as LOT 48, BLOCK A OF APOLLO HEIGHTS SUBDIVISION, BOOK OF MAPS 1969, PAGE 167, WAKE COUNTY REGISTRY.

Being all of Tract 3, according to a map and survey entitled “Survey for Lennie M. Goodwin”, by Smith and Smith Surveyors, dated August 15, 1985, and recorded in Book of Maps 1985, Page 1513, Wake County Registry, Reference to which is hereby made for a greater certainty of description.

D. Darren Howard (Attorney to Debra Heglar; Plaintiff)

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.

BROWN (aka DALLAS J. BROWN).

This the 9th day of March, 2022.

ADDRESS SHOWN AS SECURITY ON THE NOTE AND DEED OF TRUST: 1844 MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. BLVD., RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA 27610 TAX ID: 1713653645

This, the 9th day of March, 2022.

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

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

NOTICE OF PUBLICATION OF

SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION WAKE COUNTY 21 CVS 10266

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.

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,

property situated in Wake County, North Carolina, to wit:

NORTH CAROLINA, WAKE COUNTY

NOTICE OF PUBLICATION COMPLAINT TO QUIET TITLE

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

accident on November 6, 2019.

ELIZABETH B. CONNER and BEVERLY B. McCOY, Co-

In the event the property which is the subject of this NOTICE OF SALE is residential real property with less than fifteen (15) rental units, an order for possession of the property may be issued pursuant to N.C.G.S. § 45-21.29 in favor of the purchaser and against the party or parties in possession by the Clerk of Superior Court of the county in which the property is sold. Any person who occupies the property pursuant to a rental agreement entered into or renewed on or after October 1, 2007, may, after receiving

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.

Executors c/o Tanya N. Oesterreich Oesterreich Law, PLLC PO Box 2067 Concord, NC 28026

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. The notice shall also state 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.

ROBERTSON, ANSCHUTZ, SCHNEID, PARTNERS, PLLC Attorney for the Substitute Trustee 110 Frederick Street, Suite 200 Greenville, South Carolina 29607 Telephone: (470) 321-7112 Facsimile: (404) 393-1425

CRANE

&

5431 Oleander Drive Suite 200 Wilmington, NC 28403 PHONE: (910) 392-4988 FAX: (910) 392-8587 File No.: 16-01122-FC03

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

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.

Ingle Law Firm, PA 13801 Reese Blvd West Suite 160 Huntersville, NC 28078 (980) 771-0717 Ingle Case Number: 2441-2681

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 2nd day of March, 2022.

Grady I. Ingle, Attorney for Substitute Trustee

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

This the 9th 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

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 9, 2022

pen & paper pursuits

sudoku

solutions From March 2, 2022

VOLUME 7 ISSUE 2 | WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9, 2022 | RANDOLPHRECORD.COM

THE RANDOLPH COUNTY EDITION OF THE NORTH STATE JOURNAL

Randolph record

PJ WARD-BROWN | NORTH STATE JOURNAL

High gas prices The national average price of gasoline in the U.S. broke the existing record, exceeding $4 per gallon, according to GasBuddy. The previous alltime high was set back in 2008 ahead of the U.S. Great Recession and housing crisis. Many gas price records have been broken due to Russia’s war on Ukraine, which has pushed Western countries to impose severe sanctions on Russia, curbing Russian exports of crude oil to the global market. AAA Carolinas says the average rate in North Carolina as of Tuesday, March 8 is $4.02 per gallon. Just one year ago, the average price was $2.57 per gallon.

COUNTY NEWS

Commissioners vote leaves courthouse monument in place

Lt. Gov. endorses Neal Jackson in House race

County will consider new fire tax procedure

North Carolina’s lieutenant governor is weighing in on the N.C. House District 78 race with an endorsement of Neal Jackson. Jackson is a first-time candidate and faces a three-way GOP primary against David Ashley and Cory Bortree.

In his endorsement, Robinson said, “I am proud to endorse my friend, Neal Jackson, for the State House. He understands the needs and challenges facing our state and has the leadership skills necessary to represent Randolph and Moore counties in Raleigh.

Neal will fight for your family every day and be a champion for the causes of life and liberty.”

Commissioners approve various county projects At Monday’s commissioners meeting, the board approved over $370,000 in strategic planning projects, including projects for Seagrove potters, RhinoLeap Productions, the N.C. Aviation Museum, Archdale parks and recreation, and Keaton’s Place. The board also approved a potential broadband expansion project that would commit $300,000 in local funds as a match for a $3.8 million federal grant the county has applied for. Seagrove’s Luck’s Cannery project also received $500,000 and the Deep River Trail Capital Project received $1 million; both were part of the state budget.

5

20177 52016 $1.00

8

By Ryan Henkel Randolph Record ASHEBORO –– The Randolph County Board of Commissioners met on Monday to vote on and discuss multiple items on the agenda, in particular ones pertaining to emergency services and the allocation of funding for special projects.

As promised at the previous meeting, the board also voted on the status of the Confederate monument standing in front of the historic courthouse.

After nearly an hour of public comments related to the Confederate monument, Board Chairman Darrell Frye said he believed it was time to take a vote related to the statue to make the board’s position clear.

Commissioner Hope Haywood

asked county attorney Ben Morgan to discuss the state law on historical monuments. Morgan said, “In its plain language says that you are prohibited from removing that.”

Morgan told Haywood there were pathways to removing statues, but in his opinion the law is clear that the commissioners do not have authority to move or remove any historical monuments.

Commissioner Maxton McDowell made a motion that the statue should “remain where it is and as it is.” Commissioner David Allen asked about the appropriateness of having a vote during the night’s meeting and was told the vote was in order.

During debate on McDowell’s motion, Haywood spoke of plans to establish a Randolph County Museum at the historic courthouse.

“The grounds and the courthouse are becoming a museum,” said Haywood. She lamented that as she was speaking to people about the Con-

federate memorial that few knew about the other veterans’ memorial on the courthouse grounds. Haywood said she did not want the Confederate monument moved but said, “I think the time might come when we would want to consider making it less prominent.”

“We had to make a decision and state what our intentions are and how we felt about this issue,” said Chairman Darrell Frye on the impromptu vote. “This has gone on long enough. It’s been mentioned before and has gone on long enough and we needed to clarify where this board stood.”

“I’m afraid that this is not going to be the end,” said David Allen. “I am in favor of preserving the monument.”

“I am flabbergasted and fascinated,” said Commissioner Kenny Kidd. “We did receive a resolution today … I guess we’re not considering that. I’m surprised that you did not present this resolution to pass

Ms. Haywood, I know you’ve been working hard on moving this,” said Kidd.

“Excuse me, excuse me, commissioner,” said Haywood. “I represent everyone in this county and anybody who calls me for a conversation gets one. That was low. That was not Christ-like.”

After that exchange, Frye called for a vote on the motion, which carried, 5-0.

Also on the agenda, the Board of Commissioners approved the purchase of 10 Dodge Chargers and six Dodge Durangos for the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office through the NC Sheriffs’ Association Vehicle Procurement Program for $493,458.

The Sheriff’s Office did not have an estimate of when these vehicles might be ready to be put into operation.

“These vehicles are on the ground,” said Major Steven Nunn of the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office. “We have them. The issue is the same as with the vehicles before. It’s the equipment and the equipment manufacturers.”

The board also began the process for reformatting the current See MONUMENT, page 2

Hearing provides chance for sharing educational ideas Randolph Record staff ASHEBORO — Developing the best ideas with students in mind and securing the support to pursue those goals is what Randolph County educators advocated for during a special public hearing Monday.

“Think about where we’re going. Being innovative,” said Aaron Woody, superintendent of Asheboro City Schools.

The House Select Committee held a public hearing on “An Education System for North Carolina’s Future” at South Asheboro Middle School.

Renee Hayes was one of three speakers who requested to make comments following the formal presentation. The Asheboro woman said state leaders should follow the guidelines in place to make sure there’s proper funding in place.

“Support these teachers who are still in the classroom,” Hayes said. “For more than a decade (schools) have had to do more with less.”

Rhonda Dillingham, who described herself as a career ed-

“Pushing on each other so the very best ideas for young people can rise to the top.

Making sure we’re listening and we’re thinking.”

Aaron Woody, superintendent of Asheboro City Schools ucator, advocates for charter schools as the executive director of the North Carolina Association for Public Charter Schools. She said concerns about the funding structure related to all public schools must be monitored.

Dillingham said decision-makers should assess situations where school districts and charter school collaborations have been successful.

Stephen Gainey, superintendent of the Randolph County Schools System, was the first presenter on the agenda. He pointed out the growth of pro-

grams that have made a difference within county schools.

“We need people who are engaged,” Gainey said.

Gainey also emphasized the positive relationship that has been formed for high school students through a connection with Randolph Community College.

Uwharrie Charter Academy superintendent Sharon Castelli said she appreciates how her school fits within the educational structure in Randolph County.

“Not one size does fit all,” Castelli said. “We’re all unique. We all offer different opportunities for our students.”

UCA has operated for about nine years. The school has grown from 181 students to more than 1,700.

Woody said reaching proper goals within schools is an ongoing process. One of the first steps is creating the missions that should be followed.

“Pushing on each other so the very best ideas for young people can rise to the top,” Woody said.

“Making sure we’re listening and we’re thinking.”

Randolph Record for Wednesday, July 21, 2021

2 22

Randolph Record for Wednesday, March 9, 2022 Randolph Record for Wednesday, July 7, 2021

WEDNESDAY WEDNESDAY WEDNESDAY

7.21.21 7.7.21 3.9.22 #3

WEEKLY FORECAST

Election contests set after filing deadline

WEEKLY FORECAST

#1

“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

Design Editor 1550 N.C. Hwy 24/27 W, Design Editor

Lauren Rose Albemarle, Lauren RoseN.C. 28001 Published each Wednesday Published each Wednesday by(704) North State Media, LLC 269-8461

by North State Media, LLC 1201 Edwards Mill Rd. INFO@STANLYJOURNAL.COM 3101 Industrial Dr., Suite 105 Suite 300 STANLYJOURNAL.COM Raleigh, 27609 Raleigh,N.C. NC 27607 TO SUBSCRIBE: 704-269-8461 orSUBSCRIBE: online at nsjonline.com TO SUBSCRIBE: 704-269-8461 TO 704-269-8461 oronline online at at nsjonline.com nsjonline.com or Annual Subscription Price: $50.00

Annual Subscription Price: $50.00 Periodicals Postage Paid at Raleigh, Annual Subscription Price: $50.00N.C. and at additional mailing offices.

PeriodicalsPostage Postage Paid Paid at Periodicals at Raleigh, Raleigh,N.C. N.C. POSTMASTER: and atadditional additional mailing mailing offices. and at Stanly County Journal offices.

1550 N.C. Hwy 24/27 W, POSTMASTER: POSTMASTER: Albemarle, N.C. 28001.

Send address changes Send address changes to: North State Journal to: North State Journal 1201 Edwards Mill Rd. 3101 Industrial Dr., Suite 105 Suite 300 Raleigh, N.C. 27609 Raleigh, NC 27607

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 9

♦ Jonathan Edward Ferree, 50, of Black Mountain, formerly of Asheboro, died July 11, 2021.

HI 53

♦ Mildred Mae Cozart Poole, LOW 41 age 85, of Asheboro, died July PRECIP 84% See OBITS, page 7 9, 2021.

THURSDAY MAR 10 See OBITS, page 7

HI 49 LOW 39 PRECIP 24%

Randolph

Guide

filed for commissioner seats in two David Ashley districts or any county judgeship. Cory Bortree Register of Deeds Krista M. Lowe SATURDAY ASHEBORO — Following FRIDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY SUNDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY SUNDAY RANDOLPH COUNTY GENERAL and Board of Commissioners several delays, the election filing JULY 23 JULY 3 JULY 24 JULY JULY 27 JULY 21 JULY 25 5 JULY 2Darrell JULY JULY 26 6 JUNE 30 1JULY 22Chairman JULY 4 CANDIDATES Frye will also be ELECTION period closed Friday. JULY Republican primary 91° voters see HI numerous The Randolph re-elected without opposition.

HI 86° 84° HI HI HI 87° GuideHIis a 88° 88°will 88° 86° HI 78° HI89° 81°HI 88° HI 89° HI HI HI 91° HI Randolph County Board contested elections in local quick look at going LO 66° LO68° 62°LO 65° LO 67° LO LO 70° 67° LO LO 69° 62° LO LO LO LO 69°what’s LO 69° LO 70° 67° 69° of Education At-Large – races while the only Democratic RANDOLPH COUNTY PRECIP 57% PRECIP 43% PRECIP 32% 17% PRECIP 24% PRECIP PRECIP 15% PRECIP onPRECIP in Randolph PRECIP 20% PRECIP 24% 24% 24% County.

PRECIP 24% PRECIP15%will 13% Non-Partisan (Vote PRECIP for 3) primaries occur atPRECIP the state 5% CONTESTED RACES Fred Burgess (i) and federal levels.

David B. Carter Highlights on the GOP primary Randolph County Board Phillip Lanier ballot include two contested of Commissioners District 3 Kurt Melvin county commissioner races as well – GOP RANDOLPH COMMUNITY COLLEGE Shannon Craven Whitaker as a three-way primary battle for Todd Daniel Pinehurst St. Patrick’s sheriff.

David L. Allen (i) Day Parade Randolph County Register Redistricting has resulted in Randolph County Board of of Deeds three N.C. House districts and two 11am Krista M. Lowe (i) (GOP) † State Senate districts serving the Commissioners county.

District 4 The annual Village of Randolph County Board of Longtime state Rep. Pat Hurley – GOP Pinehurst St. Patrick’s Commissioners District 2 faces a challenge in the seat she has Hope Haywood (i)

By Bob Sutton Darrell Frye (i) (GOP) † Day parade will flood the held for eight terms. The seat being Craig sion, there’s enrollment of 915. before those classes start.

Frazier Randolph Record vacated by the retirement of Allen Williams said there’s an ef- That’s off slightly from the usual streets with Irish spirit.

Randolph County Board of up to 1,000, “There has never been a McNeill has three candidates Randolph number that ranges fort toCounty bolsterClerk enrollment. He citCommissioners running: Neal Jackson, David of Superior – GOP WilliamsDistrict said. 4 ed the Court RCC Commitment Grant, ASHEBORO — Enrollment Kimberly Walker (DEM) enrollment num- better opportunity to attend Ashley, and Cory Community Bortree. In theCol-PamaHill (i) Traditional program designed as a funding at Randolph primary theto54th District Lonestar RCC and not have to worry Julian mechanism to fill the gap that’s bers have flattened, but it’s the lege isn’tfor likely bounce back toAnthony District Court Judge seat that covers the northeastern pre-pandemic levels right away not covered by federal or state aid number of high school students about how to pay for it.”

District 19B Seat 1 7pm corner of the county, two Chatham Randolph County Sheriff – GOP in programs designed for dual endespite a school official pointing to students.

Sarah Neely Lanier (i) (GOP) † County Republicans are running Robert Graves “There has never been a bet- rollment that has dropped, out unprecedented financial inNashville recording artist to face House Minority Leader Timmy Hasty “We’re just not seeing the level RCC president Dr. Robert ter opportunity to attend RCC centives for potential students.

District Court Judge Robert Reives in the November Greg Seabolt Lonestar will perform at engagement that we had seen,” Shackleford Jr. have to worry about how Chad Williams, vice president and not (i) Districtof19B Seat 3 general election. the Liberty Showcase Dr. Williams for services RCC, said a to pay for it,” RCC president Darren Allen (GOP)said. † Instudent the State Senate, at Sen. David NC Superior Court Judge District Theater.

RCC held a one-week break Robert Shackleford Jr. said.

“We decline in high school students in Craven Jr. of Asheboro was the 19B Seat 2 – GOP earlier this month amid the summeet students exactly where they dual enrollment has been the bigDistrict Court Judge only Republican to file in the Chris Parrish which began May areBrowne and help them go as far as they gest reason a dip. The lone Taylor Districtmer 19B semester, Seat 4 Senate’s 29thfor District.

24 and (i)concludes July 26. Late “Overall, still Scott Etheridge (GOP) † Democrat to we’re file for theseeing seat ais de- can possibly go.”

Beginning with the fall semes- registration for the fall semester cline inCrump enrollment Brookie of Mt.comparing Gilead. In toNC House of Representatives runs through Aug. ter, 54 qualifying prior the pan-District NC State Senate District 2510, with classaprevious race that years includes just to a portion – GOP full-time students es beginning Aug. 16.

Sean C. Ewing (DEM) be eligible for up to $1,000 Randolph County Williams said.County, “I don’tCraigwill ofdemic,” northeast Randolph Kinsey Amy ScottStill Galeydealing (i) (GOP)with adjustments perPetty semester. knoware if we’ll get to numbers we’veWalter there no entrants from the Republican Party county.

District 25semesters. race will …

That makes attending RCC made because of the coronavirus seen inThe previous fall Convention NC State District 29 be between Burlington’s Amystu-NC House pandemic, not all 2021 fall semesthe most enticing from a finanWe’re reaching out to every of Representatives Brooketer Crump (DEM) Scott who’s classes will be in person. Some cial 70 standpoint in the 16 years dent Galey, we canainRepublican every way we can.”District – GOP 5pm David (Dave) Craven, Jr. (i) (GOP) currently serving in Raleigh, and will use a hybrid model with a Williams A fall semester at the two-yearPat B. Hurley (i) has been at the school, Mebane’s Sean Ewing, a Democrat heBiggs said. He previously worked in mixture of face-to-faces sessions school in Asheboro would oftenBrian The 2022 GOP County Randolph who’s the Mebane citystudents council. en- RCC’s financial aid office. andCounty virtualSheriff sessions. Many classhaveon 2,600 to 3,000 Convention will be held at (DEM) students with options Republicans will continue of Representatives es provide “There’s never a better timeSean to Walker rolled.

At the beginning of thisNC House the Historic Courthouse toweek, holdthat the number advantage in many 78 – to GOP on how to attend and participate, go back college,” he said. stood at aboutDistrict in downtown Asheboro. county offices as no Democrats † No general election Williams said. opponent For the current summer ses1,900 with about a month to goNeal Jackson Randolph Record staff

March 12

RCC pushes more MEETfor THE STAFFstudents as numbers lag PJ Ward-Brown Matt Lauren Frank Cory Who is “Editor?”

March 17

All registered Republicans as of January 31, 2022, are eligible to participate. ♦ Williams, Denishia Lorren (B /F/30) Arrestfrom on chrg of1 Registration begins MONUMENT page WEEKLY CRIME The fire plans examiner position 1) Pwimsd Marijuana (F), 2) LOG tion. They just fall in with any othat 5pm with precinct er taxes instead of having a $0.15 will focus primarily on plan reMaintain Veh/dwell/place Cs views and permitting in new contax rate.”

Fire Protection County Service meetings beginning at (f) (F), 3) Possess X Whitehead, George E. Salisbury Asheboro, on6pm♦followed on charge Resisting ♦ Boggs,toMatthew Harrison projects whichSt, will free begin the process,ofthe board struction176 Districts eliminate the tax(M, rate39), To Arrest by the Alan (M, 52), Arrest on charge of Misdemeanor 07/13/2021. up the fire inspectors, who previPublic 321 Kings theOfficer, reformatting of Ridge the Rd, on charge Misdemeanor capArrest on them.

Underofthe current approved convention business Franklinville, Guil-Rand ously had to do this work as well, format, the at districts have aWhite $0.15Rd,Climax, Possession of Schedule IV CS, Randleman, on 07/14/2021.

Larceny, 2587 Wayne at 6:30pm.

Millikan, Wayneand (M, 33), meeting to focus♦on routineBobby inspections capped tax Garden, rate andonseveral fire and Westside fire districts.

Possession of Stolen motor Pleasant 07/14/2021.

WEEKLY CRIME LOG

Arrest on charge of Assault on a ♦ Hazelwood, (F, 44), investigations.

There will be aElizabeth public hearing districts have notified a need to exvehicle, imporoper use of a dealer “We have an employee who has to abolish theon fire districts, and afceed that cap.

Female, at 8300 Curtis Power Rd, Arrest chage of Misdemeanor ♦ Bolton McKee, James Henry tag, failure to deliver title, failure to most of 07/14/2021. our new a vote will take place to re- been handling “This does not on mean that Bennett, NC, on Larceny, at Hoover Hill Rd/Slick (M, 47), Arrest charge of the ter that, appear on felony, at I-85 Exit 111, newMtn, districts.

The new dis- construction projects for the better districts are completely totalon 07/14/2021.

Possession of Stolen and Goods, at instateRodk on 07/13/2021. years now,” Fire ly uncapped,” said Associate Coun- ontricts will all be geographically the part of♦three Passmore, Caseysaid Lynn, Arrest on 6469 Clyde King Rd, Seagrove, Erik Beard.

“As it’s of bewithout the $0.15 tax(M, rate ty Attorney Aimee Scotton. “What same of possession marijuana ♦ Lynch, Detrick Lamont 40),Marshalcharge James E. Holshouser, ♦ Cheek, Helenia Spinks (F, 64), 07/15/2021. come more time we’ve it means is that they have the same cap. Arrest on charge of Misdemeanor up to 1/2consuming, oz., at Randolph Jr. Lecture Arrest on charge of Assault by need for this.on Our plan is Along with the of reformatted fire cap that applies taxation gen7/13/2021.

Possession Schedule VI CS, seen the Courthouse, ♦ Pugh, RoberttoDaniel (M,in 39), pointing a gun, Discharging a to move that person into this role districts, the board also approved a eralArrest in North Carolina.

That is that 7pm firearm to cause fear, Reckless Possessiong of Stolen Motor on charge of Simple and then we’ d be reall of the taxes taken together can new position within the Emergen- permanently ♦ Roark, Justin Steven (M, 30), Vehicle, at I-85 Exit 111, on Assault (M), at 139 Drum St, driving to endanger, Seagrove, on cruiting for a new inspector.” not exceed $1.50 per $100 valua- cy Services department.

Arrest onfire charge of Possession Dr. Ben Carson, former 07/13/2021.

Asheboro, on 07/14/2021.

07/12/2021. of Meth, Possession with intent Housing Secretary to manufacture, sell or distributeunder ♦ McQueen, James Allen Jr (M, 35), ♦ Richardson, Erwin Quint Jr (M, President Donald ♦ Helms, Chad Lee (M, 37), Arrest heroin, Simple possession of Trumponand Arrest on charge of Possession 31), Arrest on charges of Felony charge of Felony Sexual candidate WEEKLY CRIME of LOG Schedule II, III, IV CS, Maintaining of Marijuana up to 1/2 oz., Larceny and Possession Stolen Exploitation of aspeak minor in the for President, will Place, Possession of Drug Possession of drug paraphernalia, Goods, at 5471 Needhams Trail, second degree (10 at Owens Auditoriumcounts), 727 Paraphernalia, at 1029 High Point Failure to appeal felony, failure40), Arrested Seagrove, on 07/14/2021. ♦ Jones, Ashley Joselyn (F, Paraphernalia, onon 3/2/22, on charge McDowell Rd, Asheboro, NC, on in Pinehurst.

More Rd, onwith 7/13/2021. to appear on misdemeanor, 27), Arrested on charge at Trinity High School and at of Assault a Deadly 07/12/2021. ♦ Seibert, Sarah Elizabeth (F, 32), information and tickets at

March 18

of Misdemeanor Larceny, Possession of Stolen Goods, on 3/2/22, at the Courthouse.

RCJ.

♦ Oxendine, Justin Jay (M, 30), Arrested on charge of Robbery with Dangerous Weapon, on 3/2/22, at the Courthouse.

Weapon, Second Degree Trespassing, on 3/1/22, at 4112 Cross Creek Rd.

♦ Edwards, Melvin Jay Jr (M, 63), Arrested on charge of Simple Assault, Second Degree Trespassing, on 3/12/22, at 4112 Cross Creek Rd.

jehlectures.com.

March 25

WWE leaves virtual reality behind in 1st tour since 2020 FRIDAY MAR 11

By Dan Gelston The Associated Press

♦ Kelly, Brandon Travis (M, 45), Arrested on charge of Simple Assault, on 3/2/22, at 8675 US Hwy 64W.

HI 66 ♦ Kinley, Harold Bryce LOW 47 PHILADELPHIA — Triple H Jr (M, 36), Arrested on walked with his arms crossed PRECIP 13% like charge of Breaking and or an X — his signature DegeneraEntering, Felony Larceny, tion X symbol — with his 7-foot Possession of Stolen tag-team partner, Joel Embiid, to SATURDAY 12month Goods, on 3/2/22, at Old ring a ceremonialMAR bell last before a Philadelphia 76ers playNC HWY 49 Asheboro. off game.

His theme music blared HI 52 through the arena, and near21 from the ly 19,000 fansLOW hanging 86% rafters roaredPRECIP when the wrestler hoisted his bad-guy weapon-ofchoice sledgehammer and struck the bell.

SUNDAY MAR 13 Sure, the setting wasn’t WrestleMania — though Triple H lost a match in the same building when HI 52 the event was held there in 1999 — but for the superstar-turned-exLOW 31 ecutive, the frenzied atmosphere PRECIP 0% was a reminder of what WWE lost during the 16 months it ran without live events and raucous MONDAY MAR 14 crowds.

“It was a fun opportunity to get back into an arena packed full of fans and have them HI 63go nuts,” said Triple H, known these days as LOW 42Levesque.

WWE executive Paul PRECIP 3%there’s “That adrenaline rush, nothing like it.”

WWE hasn’t been the same without its “Yes!” chants or “This TUESDAY MAR 15 is Awe-some!” singsongs once the pandemic relegated the company to running empty arena matchHI with 66 a piped-in es every week soundtrack and virtual LOW 46fans.

No more. PRECIP 42% 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

♦ Turner, Amanda Gail, (F, 31), Arrested on charge of Domestic Criminal Trespass, on 3/2/22, at RCJ. ♦ Allen, Amanda Paige (F, 28), Arrested on charge of Conduct on Licensed Premesis Violation, False Report to Police Station, on 3/1/22, at RCJ.

♦ Kelly, Markeyse Lamar (M, 43), Arrested on charge of Possession Schedule I CS, Possession of Marijuana, on 3/1/22, at I85 MM 109. ♦ McDonald, Jonathan Ray Jr (M, 22), Arrested on charge of Larceny of Motor Vehicle, Possession of Stolen Motor Vehicle, Failure to Appear on Misdemeanor, Misdemeanor Probation Violation, Injury to Personal Property, on 3/1/22, at RCJ.

Lincoln Day Dinner 6pm

cheering over him, or booing The ple annual Republican over him or going into different fundraising willhave benefitdirectionsdinner over him,” be held at AVS Banquet ed, Levesque said. “But that’s the beauty of what we do, to go be enCenter in Asheboro. tertained, you want to Tickets can behowever purchased be entertained.

As a performer, at the GOP headquarters sometimes that’s difficult.” on Sunset Avenue WWE’s July 5in “RAW” on USA Asheboro.

Network hit 1.472 million viewers,

the lowest in the 28-plus year history of the show. ♦ Oliver, Anthony Tyrone Levesque, WWE EVP of glob(M, 24), Arrested on al talent strategy and develop♦ Crotts, Brandon Lane (M, charge of Tresspass Public ment, said the company would 44), Arrested on charge School Bus, Resisting Kristin For “takeChenoweth: a hard look” at how it can of Assault on a Female, on Public Officer, Assault the attract Girls more fans to the product 3/1/22, at 5082 Walker each week. WWE can only hope on Government Official, 7pm Mill Rd. the combination of live crowds Misdemeanor Possession and the return of box office attracSchedule VI CS, Emmy and Tony ♦ Edwards, Melinda Gail (F, tions such as Becky Lynch, GoldPossession of Marijuana Award winning actress berg, and Cena can ignite interest grow ratings during the build and and singer Kristin to the marquee Aug. 21 SummerChenoweth’s career Slam at the home of the Las Vespans film, television, gas Raiders.

DEATH NOTICES voiceover andisstage.

“It never one thing,” Levesque Chenoweth been said. “Wehas see this as a moment in ♦ Barbara Hayes Tesh, 65, of Home in Asheboro.

2022 at Randolph Hospice. time to shift everything. I think nominated for two Robbins, died on Monday, you’ll see it inand just for the a layout of evEmmy Awards ♦ Eula Mae “Tootie” Hunt ♦ Hilda Faye Teague, 76, February 28, 2022. erything, the set designs, the way People’s Choice Award PHOTO BY WILLY SANJUAN/INVISION/AP Trotter, of Asheboro, died March died Wednesday, it’s presented. There’s a greater for her role onon“Glee.” ♦InCarol Ann 9, Seawell Morris, Friday, March 4, 2022 at 2, 2022 High Point emphasis utilizing the spacthis Jan. 2018, file photo, Paul “Triple H” Levesque participates in the at “WWE Monday Night wrote es thatshe we have and the TV aspect Raw: 25th Anniversary” the NBCUniversal TelevisionRegional.

Critics Association Winter Press In 2009, age 62 of New London, panel NC during her home. an upliftingly candid, of it while still engaging the fans.

Tour in Pasadena, Calif. died on Monday, February A lot of that comes from the time ♦ Thomas Ervin Eddinger, ♦ Arnold Ray Allred, 66, died comedic chronicle of her 28, 2022 at Bethany Woods wefar, had“A toLittle experiment inside the 30, of Denton, died Sunday, February 27, 2022 life so Bit Nursing & Rehab Center, WWE then moved to its in-house ThunderDome.” former,” Reigns said. pay-per-view Sunday in Texas and Saturday, February 26, “As a liveat his home.

Wicked,” which debuted Albemarle, NC. The first start is putting fans Dallas on Monday for the flagship performer, that simultaneous re- performance center in Florida on 2022 at Novant Health on the New York Times their homemade signs March 13, before setting up what — holding “Raw” TV show on USA. WWE sponse keeps you sharp. We had ♦ Nathaniel Eugene ♦spruced Bertie Richardson Strider, Medical Non-Fiction their catchphrase -- and wearing to adjust and adapt to the times it dubbed The ThunderDome Hardcover up sets, brought back old Thomasville Ashleman, 27, died 96, of Asheboro died Friday, back in the seats. where fans registered for spots that were in front of us.” stars and hit the reset button on Center.

BestT-shirts Seller — List.

Tickets 26, “When we have that live crowd, on LEDFebruary digital videoboards — for With Hulk Hogan in the house,Saturday, TV programming March 4, 2022 athumbled Clapp’s with available at at Moses Cone at the Amway sometimes they almost become stretches in Florida WWE Lou heldBoger their Poole, only Wrestle-2022 record-low ratings and a strong♦ Jeanne Convalescent Nursing sandhillsbpac.com.

Center, Tropicana Field and the the cameras for a lot of the perMania with fans March this past need for new stars.

67, died Thursday, 3, AprilHospital. 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.”

4” Ad

March 26

Randolph Record for Wednesday, March 9, 2022

OPINION

3

Neal Robbins, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor VISUAL VOICES

COLUMN | REP. RICHARD HUDSON

The state of our union

Additionally, in just over one year, we have gone from border security to a border crisis.

LAST WEEK, President Biden gave his first State of the Union address and said, “the state of our union is strong because the American people are strong.” I agree with that. Our community, our service members, and all Americans are strong and can overcome any challenge. However, while the President may be right about the American people, I believe the state of our leadership is the weakest it’s ever been. The result has been one crisis after another.

In just over one year under President Biden, the United States has gone from energy independence to an energy crisis.

Biden’s assault on American energy began his first day in office when he stopped the Keystone XL pipeline and suspended oil and gas leasing on federal lands and water. As a result of these anti-American energy policies, gas prices have reached their highest levels in 7 years.

Last week, gas prices soared yet again in North Carolina and around our country, as Russia continued its despicable attack on Ukraine.

Yet instead of boosting American energy production, we are giving Vladimir Putin $75 million a day to buy Russian oil. That’s $75 million every single day.

Additionally, in just over one year, we have gone from border security to a border crisis.

Also in his first days in office, Biden ended construction of the border wall and deportations. Since then, a record 2 million illegal migrants have crossed our southern border. That’s more than the populations of Raleigh, Charlotte, Greensboro, and Fayetteville – combined.

In just over one year under President Biden, inflation has increased to its highest level in 40 years. Reckless spending has driven inflation up every month of Biden’s presidency.

Over the past year, we’ve also seen a supply chain crisis, a COVID mandate disaster, a dramatic increase in crime, a botched withdrawal from Afghanistan and now, the crisis in Ukraine.

Our country is facing challenges like never before. However, these challenges are not insurmountable, and we have proven solutions to every one of these issues.

We can ensure American energy independence by lifting needless restrictions and boosting the production of our own oil and gas.

We can secure the border by finishing the wall and deporting those who enter illegally.

We can stop the crime wave plaguing our cities by supporting our police and putting criminals in jail.

We can face our adversaries and defend our allies by standing up for what we believe in and bolstering our military. President Reagan called it “peace through strength.”

We can stand up to threats to our kids and our freedoms by opposing overreaching regulations like mask mandates. I’ve led the fight against school mask mandates in our state because it’s parents, not government, who should decide what’s best for kids when it comes to their health and their education.

The solutions to the problems at-hand are right in front of us. We only need to work together to deliver them. Unfortunately, the President’s State of the Union ignored many of the crises facing our nation and the concerns you and your family think about every day. Rest assured, I am focused on solving these problems for our community, state, and nation.

We are facing crisis after crisis. But the American people are strong and so can be the state of our union.

COLUMN | MICHAEL BARONE

Volodymyr Zelensky transforms Germany — and Europe One man courageously standing his ground and a people braving the odds have overturned the consensus of a smug, continental elite and have alerted them to confront real dangers.

IT’S BEEN ALMOST TWO WEEKS since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and Kyiv, and even Kharkiv, 20 miles from the Russian border, remain under Ukrainian control. Contrary to many predictions, Russian President Vladimir Putin’s forces have fallen short of their goals so far, but there can be no certainty about the outcome in Ukraine — or Russia.

What is clear is that there has been a vast and historic transformation in Europe, and especially in its largest nation, Germany, that will continue reverberating no matter what happens in Ukraine. Old policies have been cast aside as readily as last week’s garbage.

Credit for this goes to the Ukrainian people, who have been resisting the Russian attack, and especially to their president, the former comedian Volodymyr Zelensky. He has remained in Kyiv, refusing to flee to safety. When the United States offered to fly him out of Ukraine, he refused. “I want ammunition,” he said, “not a ride.”

Each day, he has sent out videos of him speaking from the heart of Kyiv, proclaiming his determination to stay. His example has undoubtedly helped added to the spirited resistance of ordinary Ukrainians.

It has certainly transformed opinion in Europe and beyond.

The contrast between Zelensky, on the street in a dark T-shirt and increasingly unshaven, contrasts vividly with the photographs of Putin sitting at the far end of an absurdly long conference table, far from a gaggle of nervous aides.

That contrast was undoubtedly apparent when Zelensky called in to a Zoom teleconference of European Union leaders last weekend. In his brief pitch for support, he reminded his counterparts, sitting securely in comfortable chairs in opulent offices, that this might be the last time they would see him alive.

The effect was galvanic on German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. Speaking to the Bundestag Saturday, he declared that “February 24 marks a turning point” (Zeitenwende in German) “in the history of our continent.” “It is our duty to support Ukraine to the best of our ability in defending against Putin’s invading army. That is why we are delivering 1,000 anti-tank weapons and 500 Stinger missiles to our friends in Ukraine.”

That’s a stark reversal of policy. Before Russia’s attack, Germany had blocked Estonia from sending German-made weapons to Ukraine.

Scholz also announced that Germany would increase its defense spending from 1.4% of gross domestic product to the 2% required by NATO. Another stark reversal: His long-serving predecessor, Angela Merkel, had been keeping defense spending down — a stick in the eye of

Donald Trump, perhaps — and said it couldn’t approach 2% for years.

To this transformation, the Biden administration has been a spectator. As I noted last week, its initial response to the Feb. 24 attack was desultory — a ban on U.S. investments in places where there aren’t many, while Germany responded only with a reversible suspension of certification of the undersea Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline from Russia to Germany.

This was in line with German voters’ admirable yearning to atone for Germany’s Nazi past — but also with their belief, now obviously delusional, that all problems can be solved in peaceful negotiations. In the Merkel years, Germany effectively disarmed, so that when Russia attacked, commanding Gen. Alfons Mais lamented, “The Bundeswehr, which I have the honor of leading, is more or less empty-handed. The options we can offer policymakers to support the Alliance are extremely limited.”

Germany’s pacifist inclination has not been shared by all NATO members (Britain, France, Greece and Russia’s neighbors Poland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Romania have been ponying up 2% or more on defense). But Germany’s preoccupation with climate change has been steadfast. The country relies increasingly on wind and solar and has just about completed Merkel’s 2011 order phasing out its nuclear power plants. Merkel and her predecessor, Gerhard Schroeder, pushed the Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 pipelines, making Germany dependent on Russian natural gas. As I noted last week, that was in line with historic German tilts toward Russia, but it seems to be part of history now.

Now, even though the Green Party is part of Scholz’s coalition, that may well change. The Finance Ministry is considering keeping the remaining nukes open, and Scholz has backed two new LNG import terminals to take in American fracked natural gas.

“Germany is a different country tonight,” tweeted Handelsblatt journalist Torsten Riecke. “Almost every pillar of German foreign policy has been shattered.”

One man courageously standing his ground and a people braving the odds have overturned the consensus of a smug, continental elite and have alerted them to confront real dangers. That’s a considerable achievement in just one week, whatever else happens in Ukraine — and Russia.

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.

Randolph Record for Wednesday, March 9, 2022

4

SPORTS SIDELINE REPORT NHL

NHL suspends agreement with Russia-based KHL New York The NHL suspended its dealings with the Russiabased KHL on Monday, a move that could make it more difficult for teams to sign players from there.

The NHL told its teams to cease contact with KHL counterparts and Russia-based agents as part of the suspension of the memorandum of understanding between the leagues. They can continue to communicate with North American agents certified by the NHL Players’ Association but may have more difficulty completing agreements.

JOHN LOCHER | AP PHOTO

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Alex Bowman celebrates after winning Sunday's NASCAR Cup Series race in Las Vegas.

Former Arizona State QB Daniels transfers to LSU

Bowman edges Larson in OT to win at Las Vegas

Baton Rouge, La. Former Arizona State quarterback Jayden Daniels is transferring to LSU, where he will enter a wideopen competition to be the starter in coach Brian Kelly’s first season with the Tigers. Daniels entered the transfer portal last month, not long after Arizona State fired its offensive coordinator in the midst of an NCAA investigation.

He has been Arizona State’s starter the last three seasons, throwing for 6,025 yards, 32 touchdowns and 13 interceptions in 29 games. The junior has two years of eligible remaining after the NCAA granted an extra year to all athletes who competed during the pandemic-altered 2020 season.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

MSU’s Izzo passes Knight for wins by Big Ten coach East Lansing, Mich.

Tom Izzo became the alltime Big Ten leader in career wins after Michigan State defeated Maryland 77-67 on Sunday. With his 663rd win at Michigan State, Izzo passed Indiana’s Bob Knight for the most wins at a Big Ten school.

Knight remains the leader in conference wins, with 353 to second-place Izzo’s 322. The 67-year-old Izzo is in his 27th season with the Spartans, winning 10 Big Ten regular season titles and six conference tournament championships, reaching eight Final Fours and winning a national championship in 2000.

TENNIS

Zverev put on 1-year probation for outburst in Acapulco London Alexander Zverev was put on probation for one year by the ATP on Monday for violently hitting the chair umpire’s stand repeatedly with his racket following a loss in doubles at the Mexico Open. If Zverev receives a code violation that results in a fine for unsportsmanlike conduct or for “verbal or physical abuse of an official, opponent, spectator or any other person while oncourt or on-site,” he will be suspended from ATP events for eight weeks and fined an additional $25,000, the men’s tennis tour announced. Zverev, the third-ranked player in the world, has until Friday to appeal.

The Hendrick Motorsports teammates battled cleanly in overtime The Associated Press LAS VEGAS — The racing rule is quite clear at Hendrick Motorsports, where the boss will let his drivers go door-to-door so long as they don’t tear up his cars.

After two of his stars tangled last week in California, Hendrick gave his team a rules refresher.

Message delivered.

Alex Bowman and Larson went wheel-to-wheel Sunday in a twolap overtime shootout at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The racing was clean from the restart to the checkered flag, and Bowman bested the reigning NASCAR champion for his first win of the season.

The win made it two straight for Hendrick through three Cup races. The winningest owner in NASCAR now has 281 victories.

Bowman took pride in scoring a seventh career victory with a clean 1-2 finish for Hendrick following the meeting with the boss.

“The talk was a big wakeup call,” Bowman said. “When Mr. H calls a meeting like that, it gets your attention.”

Hendrick called the meeting after Larson and Chase Elliott collided racing for the lead at California. Larson said he didn’t see Elliott when he squeezed him into the wall and apologized. Elliott was furious, and Hendrick put the matter to rest.

Just a week later, though, the Hendrick cars again had to race one another for the win and make sure to do it without any bumping or banging. The Hendrick chance came when a spin by Erik Jones with three laps remaining brought out the 12th caution of the race and shifted the fight from a pair of Joe Gibbs Racing cars to the Hendrick cars.

Las Vegas native Kyle Bus-

“Kyle and I historically have always raced each other really clean and this was no different.”

Alex Bowman ch and teammate Martin Truex Jr. had been in a lap-by-lap chess match for the win until Jones’ crash. Busch thought he’d inched ahead of Truex and had the win locked up until the caution.

“I don’t know what it was,” Busch said. “But anyways, wasn’t meant to be. Not our day. See you next week.”

The Hendrick trio of Bowman, Larson and William Byron all changed just two tires to get off pit road first through third. Busch, who had gone to the pits as the leader, took four tires and came off pit road in fourth.

Larson, the defending Las Vegas winner and winner last week in California, chose the outside line for the restart with Bowman on his inside. The two were in a drag race over the final two laps and Bowman, who led three times for 16 laps, beat Larson to the finish line by 0.178 seconds.

“Kyle and I historically have always raced each other really clean and this was no different,” Bowman said.

Ross Chastain finished third for TrackHouse Racing and a podium sweep for Chevrolet. Chastain, who had led just 75 laps over 117 previous starts, led a race-high 83 laps.

Busch finished fourth in a backup Toyota after crashing in Saturday morning practice when his tire went flat. The wreck destroyed his car and because backups are in short supply at the start of NASCAR’s rollout of the Next Gen model, the only option JGR had was a “parts car” not meant for competition.

Byron was fifth to give Hendrick three drivers in the top five and Aric Almirola was sixth and the highest-finishing Ford. Almirola is the only driver to finish inside the top-10 through NASCAR’s first three races of the season.

Despite vitriol, MLB owners, locked-out players closing gap The work stoppage is approaching 100 days and jeopardizing a full 162-game season The Associated Press NEW YORK — For all the vitriol, Major League Baseball owners and locked-out players have closed the gap in recent weeks and are negotiating on similar frameworks for a new collective bargaining agreement.

With the lockout in its 96th day Monday, the sides remained apart to various degrees on three of the most significant items: the luxury tax, pre-arbitration bonus pool and minimum salary.

MLB told the union on Monday that Tuesday was the last possible day to reach an agreement that would allow a 162-game schedule, along with full salary and service time, a deadline first reported by The Athletic.

Openers on March 31 were among 91 games already canceled, and Commissioner Rob Manfred appeared to be on the verge of calling off more.

“This is a horrible, horrible situation. Everyone on the Yankees, everyone in Major League Baseball shares the blame, players, owners, executives for where we are. It’s a really bad look, especially (with) what’s going on in the world,” Yankees president Randy Levine said Monday on the team’s YES Network. “We all look pretty bad. ... It’s embarrassing to be where we are.”

In an industry where payrolls project to total in the $4 billion range, the percentage differences

WILFREDO LEE | AP PHOTO

Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred speaks during a news conference last Tuesday. The owners and players seem to be inching toward a compromise that could preserve a 162-game season. on some items do not appear to be insurmountable.

The sides appear to be about $15 million apart on the minimum salary for this year, $20 million for 2023 and $25 million for 2024, each less than 1% of payrolls. This assumes about half of players in the major leagues at any given time are impacted by the minimum.

Differences are greater in the final two seasons, when the union is asking for cost-of-living increases.

The gap in the new pre-arbitration bonus pool is $50 million this year, rising to $70 million by 2026.

But, again, the percentage of overall payroll affected by this item is relatively small, under 2%.

And then there is the most di-

visive issue, luxury tax thresholds.

The sides are $18 million apart this year, a difference rising to $33 million by 2026.

Both sides are close to an agreement on an amateur draft lottery aimed to incentive competition.

Management has offered the top five selections and players asked for the top six, with some differences on limitations for teams participation in consecutive years.

Despite moving toward each other, the sides remain headed to a lost season unless they find a compromise.

“That’s a mind-boggling, horrid, horrid thought,” Levine said.

“Shame on all of us if it ever gets to that.”

“We all look pretty bad. ... It’s embarrassing to be where we are.”

Randy Levine, Yankees president

Randolph Record for Wednesday, March 9, 2022

Miller’s slam gives Blue Comets memorable opener

By Bob Sutton Randolph Record GAGE MILLER remembers the details of his final at-bat in the season opener for Asheboro’s baseball team.

After that, it becomes a little less clear.

Miller’s game-winning grand slam in the bottom of the seventh inning sent the Blue Comets to a 5-3 victory against Chatham Central last week at Kiwanis Park in Asheboro.

“That was something different right there,” Miller said. “My teammates were fired up. Came across home plate and we were all going crazy.”

Miller said it’s his first grand slam. Of course, it came at an ideal time.

The Blue Comets needed his production. “The game wasn’t going as we planned,” he said.

So with the bases jammed, Miller stepped to the plate with one out.

There was a fastball in the dirt before he chased a curve ball. Then he swung at a high fastball.

From there, he said coach Brett Hoogkamp helped calm the situation. Then another curveball was on the way.

“He hung it and I didn’t miss it,” Miller said.

That resulted in a rather emphatic bat flip, one caught on video. Miller said his parents weren’t happy with that reaction and that Hoogkamp discussed it with him the next day.

“The bat flip was a little too much,” Miller said. “My adrenalin was just through the roof. I don’t even remember running around the bases.”

At the beginning of that trot, he had to shoo away teammate Josh Meadows who approached the firstbase line in an early celebration.

Miller, a junior, is a third baseman who also has been used regularly as a relief pitcher. After last year’s solid season for the Blue Comets, he said his role is expanding.

“I came off a hot season last year,” he said. “We lost a couple of key seniors (from the 2021 team) and I knew I’d have to step up.”

“I came off a hot season last year. We lost a couple of key seniors (from the 2021 team) and I knew I’d have to step up.”

Gage Miller, Asheboro junior Miller has been with the varsity since his freshman season. In last year’s abbreviated season, he smacked two home runs. He credits his work with hitting instructor Neal Pritchard, an Asheboro alum and former minor leaguer in the St. Louis Cardinals organization, for helping his development.

Miller has made a verbal commitment to play collegiately for North Carolina State.

To begin this week, Miller had another late-game turn at the plate with the bases loaded against Jordan-Matthews. This time, he drew a walk in Monday’s 9-1 home victory.

5 BEST OVERALL ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

Macie Crutchfield Southwestern Randolph, softball

Crutchfield began her career by pitching a shutout and she added to that list of early accomplishments later in the week.

Crutchfield, a freshman, threw a one-hitter with five strikeouts and one walk when the Cougars blanked host Oak Grove 3-0 COURTESY PHOTO in their first game of Macie Crutchfield had a strong the season. Later in first week in the pitching circle. the week, she struck out 15 batters in a 7-0 defeat of visiting Central Davidson.

Crutchfield gave up five hits and three walks in her second outing in the circle. On offense in that game, Maddie Varner and Madeline Smith both drove in two runs and Molly Strider notched two doubles.

In between the shutouts, the Cougars dropped a 6-1 decision at state power North Davidson during a busy opening week of the season in non-conference action.

PREP NOTES

PHOTO COURTESY OF ASHEBORO HIGH SCHOOL

Gage Miller created drama at the plate in the first game of the season for Asheboro.

Randleman girls will seek more after deep run Randolph Record staff RANDLEMAN — Another deep run into the state playoffs for the Randleman girls’ basketball team might just be incentive to take it another round or two next time.

“We’ll be back,” coach Brandon Varner said. “We’re close. We’ve just got to keep getting after it, building toward next year. We’ll be back.”

The Tigers finished the season with a 25-1 record, with the only loss coming in the Class 2-A regional semifinals.

When defending state champion Shelby knocked off host Randleman 51-41 last week, it concluded a season full of championships for the Tigers. They won a holiday tournament, the Piedmont Athletic Conference regular season and PAC Tournament.

Even in their final game, there

were encouraging moments.

“It was our kind of game … low-scoring, tight game,” Varner said. “Girls played hard. I can’t ask for anymore.”

Randleman had balanced scoring in its last game. Gracyn Hall posted 12 points, Hannah Hinshaw notched 10 points, Elizabeth York had nine points and Audra Petty added eight points.

Shelby went on to lose 45-44 in double overtime to Salisbury in Saturday’s regional final in Greensboro.

As for the Tigers, there could be more good days ahead when next season arrives.

“We’re going to get back in the gym and keep working,” Varner said.

PJ WARD-BROWN | NORTH STATE JOURNAL

Eastern Randolph’s Brody Gardner hits a double against visiting North Moore on Friday. North Moore won 11-8.

Providence Grove coach nabs milestone in opening game Randolph Record staff PROVIDENCE GROVE softball coach Tim Brown picked up his 100th career victory when the Patriots defeated host Southern Guilford 14-0 to open the season last week.

Assistant coach Andy Beane has been there for each of those victories.

Makayla McClain, who homered twice in that game, scored four runs for Providence Grove.

Mailey Way, who hit two doubles, drove in five runs. Emma Mazzarone pitched the shutout in the

game reduced to five innings.

Best of seven Two track and field teams from Randolph County won seven-team meets to begin the season.

On the girls’ side, Wheatmore topped the field in competition at South Davidson. The Warriors scored 123 points to runner-up Mt. Pleasant’s 104.

Trinity won the boys’ meet in overwhelming fashion, collecting 162 ½ points. Runner-up Central Davidson had 110.

PJ WARD-BROWN | NORTH STATE JOURNAL PJ WARD-BROWN | NORTH STATE JOURNAL

Randleman’s Audra Petty shoots a 3-pointer against Shelby during the Class 1-A West Regional semifinals March 1 at Randleman.

Eastern Randolph’s Samuel Asbill delivers the pitch to North Moore in the first inning of Friday’s non-league game.

e l t e -

e h o t k h d t o d

r

s s -

f a -

d t s y f

n a n d p d s -

’

e e , a s e

t n e s -

s e d e e -

h -

e d s -

Randolph Record for Wednesday, March 9, 2022

6 SOFTBALL

Asheboro names scoreboard after former softball coach

By Bob Sutton Randolph Record ASHEBORO — Asheboro High School has a new scoreboard at its softball field named after former coach Lisa Robertson.

The dedication ceremony took place last week prior to this season’s home opener.

“She left an indelible mark on not just coaches and staff, but also look at all the people around here,” athletics director Steve Luck said after the ceremony. “Former players are bringing their kids back to see the memory of her. I’m not surprised.”

Robertson spent her entire professional career with Asheboro City Schools. She died in 2018 after a battle with ALS. “Under her guidance the Lady Comets were challenged to put team before self,” principal Dr. Penny Crooks said in a statement. “As

a peer, Ms. Robertson was an enduring leader. She held her peers to a high level of accountability, keeping the whole department in shape.”

Robertson coached softball at Asheboro for 20 years. She has been considered instrumental in bringing fast-pitch softball to Randolph County.

Kristen Faircloth, a former player for Robertson, is a teacher at Asheboro. She made the request to name the scoreboard in Robertson’s honor.

Robertson was a physical education teacher for 20 years at South Asheboro Middle School before eight more years at the high school.

She also coached basketball at the middle school and high school.

Former University of North Carolina coach Donna Papa and longtime friend Carol McCauley were considered instrumental in Robert-

PHOTO COURTESY OF ASHEBORO HIGH SCHOOL.

Carol McCauley, left, and assistant coach Kristen Faircloth help unveil the new softball field scoreboard in memory of former coach Lisa Robertson at Asheboro High School on March 2. son’s coaching career.

“Lisa’s friends have made sure her legacy continues,” said Elaine Robertson, the former coach’s mother. “Since 2018, her friends and colleagues have established an endowed scholarship in her name through the Asheboro City Schools Education Foundation. They al-

ways remember us on her birthday and holidays, and they have now secured a spot for Lisa in AHS history for generations to come.”

Retired school administrator Dr. Tim Allgood said Robertson’s name should be included along with Martin Smith, Max Morgan and Lee J. Stone as being among the most in-

Randolph County Farmers Market Alliance

By Annie Mills For the Randolph Record ASHEBORO — The pandemic has strained many aspects of life in the last few years, disrupting supply chain issues in the food system and exacerbating preexisting food security challenges to name a few. According to the 2021 Piedmont Triad Regional Food Assessment between 2019 and 2020 15% of adults fell below the poverty rate in Randolph County, there was a 12% increase in food nutrition services needed and a 9% increase in child food insecurity.

However, Randolph County is home to 620 food businesses that bring in $2.9 billion in annual sales with $199 million in food sales staying in the Piedmont Triad. Randolph is home to roughly 89 farms that sell direct to consumers. Almost $2 million in revenue is generated from vegetables alone and the county is in the top 10 counties in the state for value of food sold directly to consumers, according the 2017 USDA Agriculture Census. When we think of fresh produce and local foods, farmers’ markets often come to mind — and Randolph County is home to five.

All the markets operate independently, but each has the potential to promote rural livelihood and farmland, stimulate the local economy and increase fresh food consumption. The Randolph County

COURTESY PHOTO

Farmers’ Market Alliance was born as a partnership between the farmers market managers, Randolph County Cooperative Extension, and the Tourism Development Authority in an effort to develop a directed approach to strengthening these assets to our county. Markets include: the Eastern Randolph Farmers Market, Randleman, Archdale, Asheboro, and Liberty. The first task of the Market Alliance was to assess the current state of the markets and decide how we could work together

towards providing a profitable place for local entrepreneurs to sell while meeting the needs of customers and the community.

To gain a better perspective on ways to support the markets, Randolph County Cooperative Extension created and distributed surveys for market vendors, customers, and market managers as an initial assessment. The survey was distributed in the summer of 2021 and have helped the Market Alliance learn more about topics related to the

farmers’ markets such as EBT acceptance, food waste, vendor income from market sales, and customer satisfaction. Over 200 responses were received and are now being used as a guide for the upcoming market season. Survey results included 90 responses from vendors, 106 from customers and 3 responses from market managers. The results show one third of farmers’ market customers visit a market once a week and one third spend more than $50 a year at the markets. Main findings related to vendors were that 30% of vendors make 50% or more of their sales at the markets each year — indicating that sales from the markets can serve as a substantial part of income for local farms and businesses.

The alliance’s 2022 goals prioritize raising more awareness of the markets in Randolph County. The group will create and disseminate promotional materials such as posters, signs and banners to advertise the markets as group. The group will use social media to promote that markets and allow customers to see when their favorite vendors are there. The markets will also be visible on the Visit NC Farms App as well as in visitors’ centers.

Annie Mills is a Horticulture Extension Agent with the Randolph County office of the N.C. State Cooperative Extension Service.

s .

Kenny J Kidd

IRT-1948J-A

Financial Advisor 211 Worth St Asheboro, NC 27203-5557 336-328-0416

edwardjones.com

Member SIPC

fluential coaches at Asheboro High School.

Luck said the scoreboard naming is a fitting tribute.

“She was just a very humble person,” he said. “Someone who you want on your staff that you didn’t have to worry about. You knew things would be taken care of.”

RANDOLPH COUNTY’S FARMERS MARKETS Archdale Farmers Market (Creekside Park) 100 Park Dr., Archdale, NC 27263 May 19 – September 15, Thursday 2PM- 6PM Asheboro Farmers Market 134 S. Church St., Asheboro, NC 27203 May 1 – October 31, Tuesday, Thursday & Saturday, 7AM – 1PM Eastern Randolph Farmers Market 506 Parks Crossroads Church Rd., Ramseur, NC 27316 Saturdays, May 7 – August 27, 9AM – 1PM Liberty Farmers Market 423 W. Swannanoa Ave., Liberty, NC 27298 April 1 – October 31, 7 days a week, dawn to dusk Randleman Farmers Market 128 Commerce Square, Randleman, NC 272317 Generally, Monday – Friday 10AM – 5PM, Saturday 8AM – 2PM (seasonal)

Randolph Record for Wednesday, March 9, 2022

7

obituaries

Debra Gail McMillon Neese

William Douglas “Bill” Rush

1957 - 2022 Debra Gail McMillon Neese, age 64, of Asheboro passed away on Tuesday, March 1, 2022 at Randolph Hospital.

Ms. Neese was born in Randolph County on October 23, 1957 to Samuel and Almeria Smith McMillon, who preceded her in death. Debra was formerly employed with Economart. She was a member of Giles Chapel United Methodist Church. She loved to sew and was a seamstress for about 20 years. Debra loved gardening, sitting outside with her grandkids, and music.

She is survived by her daughter, Nancy Kersey (Justin) of Asheboro; grandchildren, Vance and John Kersey, Christopher Spivey, Madison Spivey, and Kegan Duke; aunt, Linda McMillon of New London

1943 - 2022 William Douglas “Bill” Rush, age 78, of Asheboro passed away on Thursday, March 3, 2022 at Randolph Hospital.

Mr. Rush was born in Montgomery County on December 19, 1943 to Calvin and Winnie Greene Rush. Bill retired from Ramtex after 40 years where he had 38 years of perfect attendance. He was member of Foster Street Wesleyan Church. In addition to his parents, Bill was preceded in death by his brothers, Walter, Benny, Robert, Alton, and Donald Rush, and sister, Earlene Rush. Bill loved working outside in the yard.

He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Doris Marie Callicutt Rush; son, Chad Rush (Trisha); daughter, Angie Rush; and granddaughters, Brittainy Reza (Luke) and Brooklyn Rush. Bill loved being on the softball field watching his grandkids play, plus spending quality time with friends and family

Marjorie Nichols Farlow

Tori Renee’ Gilliland Russell

1979 - 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.

2

1929 - 2022 Marjorie Nichols Farlow, age 92, of Randleman passed away Wednesday, March 2, 2022 at Clapp’s Nursing Home, Pleasant Garden.

Marjorie was a native of Randolph County and the owner of The Country Store and Deli in several locations in the county.

She was a member of Cedar Square Friends Meeting. Marjorie enjoyed cooking for others and everyone especially loved her ham.

She loved traveling to the beach and Florida. Marjorie is preceded in death by her parents, Panco and Mary Nichols, husband, Fred Farlow, daughter-in-law, Cheryl Farlow, brothers, Austin and Frank Nichols, and her sister, Emma Jean Zook.

Marjorie is survived by her daughters: Ruthie Ponce (Martin) of Orlando, FL., Stacy Farlow of Supply, NC and Karen Overby (Gary Kirkpatrick) of Randleman; grandchildren: Jasmine, Robbie, Mauree, Hunter, Heather and Hogan; 6 great grandchildren and 2 on the way; sister, Jackie Canoy (Joe) of Archdale.

A memorial graveside service will be held Saturday, March 12, 2022 at Cedar Square Friends Meeting, 7546 Harlow Rd., Archdale, NC 27263 at 2:00 pm with Rev. Michael Fulp officiating.

2

WEDNESDAY

7.21.21

WEDNESDAY

7.7.21 #3 #1

Mozelle Bullins McKinney

1932 - 2022 Mozelle Bullins McKinney, age 90 of Randleman passed away Tuesday, March 1, 2022 at Randolph Hospice House.

Mrs. McKinney was born February 3, 1932 to William and Dell Bullins. She formerly attended Rushwood Wesleyan Church and along with her husband, Thurman McKinney, managed Sea King Seafood Restaurant.

Mrs. McKinney is survived by her son, Mike McKinney and his wife, Monica of Durham; daughters, Gail Wells and her husband David of Archdale, Rhonda Bullard and her husband Brad of High Point, and Kim McLaughlin and her husband Derrick of Asheboro; grandchildren, Dana Wells Layne and her husband Chris, Sarah Wells Parker and her husband Brandon, Tiffany McLaughlin Hayworth and her husband Jimmy, Josh McLaughlin and Kellan McKinney; great grandchildren,Thomas, Andrew and Maddie Layne, Emily and Matthew Parker, Keaton McLaughlin.

In addition to her parents, Mrs. McKinney was preceded in death by her husband, Thurman McKinney, brothers, Grover, Roy and Clyde Bullins.

The family would like to express a special thanks to Hospice of Randolph staff for their wonderful care and compassion given to Mrs. McKinney.

A private graveside service will be held at Randolph Memorial Park

Florence Berneda “Flo” Trotter

1938 - 2022 Florence Berneda Trotter “Flo”, 83, completed her journey here on earth after an extremely tough battle with cancer. She died February 28, 2022 at Randolph Hospice House in Asheboro, surrounded by her family.

Flo was born April 7, 1938, in Denver, Colorado to Dale and Berneda McMurtrey. She was one of six siblings. Flo later married and had six children. She was incredibly devoted to her children and often worked many long hours to provide for them.

Flo enjoyed playing golf, reading, collecting dolls, gardening, line dancing and traveling with her father and her friends. What brought her the most joy was spending time with her family and faithful companion-her pet chihuahua, Emma. She felt they were her greatest blessings.

Flo is survived by her sons, Clay Trotter (Debbie) of Trinity, Dean Trotter (Donna) of Lexington, Richard Trotter of Asheboro, and Dale Trotter of Asheboro; daughters, Whitney Harris (Jeff) of Mt. Gilead and Cathy Henley (Jeff) of Mt. Gilead; 11 grandchildren; 7 great grandchildren; brother, Robert McMurtrey of Asheboro; sister, Dianna Welch of California; half brother, Dave McMurtrey of California; and half sister, Dori McMurtrey of California.

Visitation will be held Saturday, March 12, 2022, from 6-8 pm at Pugh Funeral Home in Asheboro, NC. The family is planning a private service to be held at a later date.

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.

June Carol Johnson Easter

1951 - 2022 June Carol Johnson Easter went to her heavenly home on March 5, 2022.

Mrs. Easter was born in Chatham County on January 3, 1951, the daughter of Eulas and Lillie Elmore Johnson.

June was a loving wife, mother, and grandmother. The family attended Franklinville Pentecostal Holiness Church, where she helped with the Nursing Home Ministries.

June was a Licensed Mission Worker/Local Minister through the Cornerstone Conference of the Pentecostal Holiness Church. June also worked with her husband as an Assistant Conference Food service 1958 - 2022 Coordinator with Royal Rangers Jeffery Allen Bodenhamer, age of the Cornerstone Conference.

1944 – 2022 63, passed away March 1, 2022 at his She was presently attending the Junior Phillips, 77, of Siler City, home.

West Asheboro Church of God. went to his heavenly home on He was a native of Randolph She loved to send greeting cards, Monday, February 28, 2022 at UNC County and graduated from such as Birthday, Anniversary, Hospital.

Randleman High School. Jeffery is Get Well, Cheer, etc. to all of her Mr. Phillips was born in preceded in death by his parents, family, friends, and church family.

Chatham County on October, 30, Bobby and Dorothy Bodenhamer, In addition to her parents, June is 1944, the son of William C. Phillips, brothers: Gary, Tim, and Jerry preceded in death by her brothers, Sr. and Lydia Thomas Phillips.

Bodenhamer.

Rexford, Paul, Herman and William was a proud US Army Jeffery is survived by his siblings: Herbert Johnson; and sisters, Ruby Veteran. He was a member of Ricky Bodenhamer, Dennis Abee and Magdalene Gaines.

Hickory Grove Baptist Church, Bodenhamer, Teresa Branch June is survived by her husband and attended Life Springs Church (Curtis), Cathy Davis (Grerg), Patty of 51 1/2 years, Larry R. Easter in Sanford, and spent his working Beck (Ernest), Beverly Martin of Siler City; son, Stephen Easter years as a self employed carpenter.

(Skip), Bobby Bodenhamer, and of the home; daughter, Angela William loved being outside, sister-in-law Tammy Bodenhamer; Easter Weeks and husband Rev. daughters, Megan Burrows (Dustin) hunting, fishing and spending time Shelton Weeks, Jr. of Elizabeth in his garden. He was aRandolph beloved and Sherry Burrows (Derek); son, City; son, Kevin Easter and friend July Record for Wednesday, family man, and cherished his Randle Bodenhamer.

Robin Lawrence of Sanford; In lieu of flowers, memorials may grandchildren. William spent years grandchildren, Caleb Weeks, Noah coaching baseball. In addition to his be made to, Victory Junction, 4500 Easter and Silas Easter; brother, Record Wednesday, 7, 2021 parents, heRandolph is preceded in death by for Adams Way, Randleman, NC 27317 Roland Johnson andJuly wife Bunny his son, Keith Phillips; and sister, of North Wilkesboro; sisters, Janet K. Bennett.

Doris Tallent and husband Rev. He is survived by his sons, Chris James Tallent of Yadkinville, and WEEKLY FORECAST Phillips and wife Amanda, Daren Margaret Hough of Siler City.

Phillips and wife Heather, both WEEKLY FORECAST of Siler City, and Lynn Wood and wife Ashley of West End; daughter, Lauren Baker and husband Jay of Sanford; 8 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren.

Jeffery Allen Bodenhamer

WEDNESDAY

WEDNESDAY

JULY JUNE 30 21

William Cleveland “Junior” Phillips, Jr

THURSDAY

THURSDAY

JULY 1JULY 22

FRIDAY

JULY 2

Celebrate HI life of 88°loved HI Submit 88° HI HI the 91°your HI ones.

91° obituaries and death notices to be published in LO LO LO 70° 67° LO LO 70° 67° Randolph Record at obits@randolphrecord.com PRECIP PRECIP 15% PRECIP15% 13% PRECIPPRECIP 5%

“Join the “Join the conversation” conversation”

Beverly Carol Thomas

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

JULY 23 JULY 3

HI78° 66° LO 57% PRECIP

HI89° LO68° PRECIP 20%

RANDOLPH COMMUNITY COLLEGE

21

SATURDA

SU JULY 24 JU

8 81°HI HI 62°LO LO 6 43% PRECIPPRECIP 2

Randolph Record for Wednesday, March 9, 2022

8

STATE & NATION

Zelenskyy’s ‘desperate’ plea to Congress: Send more planes

By Lisa Mascaro The Associated Press WASHINGTON, D.C. — Fighting for his country’s survival, Ukraine’s leader made a “desperate” plea Saturday to American lawmakers for the United States to help get more warplanes to his military and cut off Russian oil imports as Kyiv tries to stave off the Russian invasion.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy opened the private video call with U.S. lawmakers by telling them this may be the last time they see him alive. He has remained in Kyiv, the capital, which has a vast Russian armored column threatening from the north.

Appearing in what is now his trademark army-green shirt in front of a white wall with the Ukrainian flag, he told them Ukraine needs to secure its skies, either through a no-fly zone enforced by NATO or through the provision of more warplanes so Ukraine could better defend itself.

Zelenskyy has been pleading for a no-fly zone for days, but NATO has refused, saying it could provoke a widespread war with Russia.

The hourlong exchange with some 300 members of Congress

and their staffs came as Russian troops continued to shell encircled cities and the number of Ukrainians who have fled the country grew to 1.4 million.

“President Zelenskyy made a desperate plea,” said Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer.

He said Zelenskyy wants the U.S. to facilitate the transfer of planes from Eastern European allies. “I will do all I can to help the administration to facilitate their transfer,” Schumer said.

There appears to be a logistical problem, however, in sending F-16s to Poland or other East European allies because of a production backlog. These countries would essentially have to give their MiGs to the Ukrainians and accept an IOU from the U.S. for the F-16s. The situation is further complicated because the next shipment of F-16s is set for Taiwan, and Congress would be reluctant to delay those deliveries as it eyes China.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken reiterated that the U.S. support for Ukraine “not only has been unprecedented, not only is it going to continue, it’s going to increase.”

The U.S. Congress is working on a $10 billion package of mil-

itary and humanitarian aid to Ukraine. Schumer told Zelenskyy lawmakers hope to send it quickly to Ukraine, according to a person on the call and granted anonymity to discuss it.

When Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell asked about the types of military support his country needs, Zelenskyy said drones as well as planes would be the most helpful.

During the call, Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia asked Zelenskyy about the idea of banning the import of Russian oil to the U.S., according to two other people granted anonymity to discuss the private call. They said Zelenskyy indicated such a ban would be effective in putting pressure on Russia.

Republicans and a growing number of Democrats, including Speaker Nancy Pelosi, back the idea of an Russian oil import ban.

The Biden administration has so far resisted that step, worried about rising prices at the pump.

Zelenskyy urged U.S. lawmakers to sanction Russia’s oil and gas sector, which has so far escaped the mounting sanctions imposed by the Biden administration and other countries.

The Ukrainian leader also

AP PHOTO

In this photo, Feb. 27, 2022, taken from video provided by the Ukrainian Presidential Press Office, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks to the nation in Kyiv, Ukraine. urged lawmakers to suspend Visa and Mastercard credit card access in Russia — and the two announced later Saturday that they were doing just that. Mastercard said cards issued by Russian banks will no longer be supported by its network and any card issued outside the country will not work at Russian stores or ATMs. Visa said it’s working with clients and partners in Russia to cease all Visa transactions over the coming days.

In a video posted to Twitter after the call, Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said: “Anything that could hurt the Russian economy will help the Ukrainian people and may make this war more difficult for Putin.”

Zelenskyy’s office said he also

suggested the U.S. consider imposing an embargo on all Russian goods and stripping Russia of its most-favored-nation trade status.

Lawmakers are concerned that Zelenskyy will be killed in the Russian invasion. They are also worried that a Ukrainian government under assault will be unable to function and to receive aid.

When one lawmaker asked diplomatically what would happen if he was killed, Zelenskyy acknowledged the concerns but implored Congress to do whatever it can to help Ukraine fight off Russia’s assault on his country.

Sen. Ben Sasse, R-Neb., said in a statement that Zelenskyy’s “message is simple: ‘close the skies or give us planes.’”

Western NC Rep. Cawthorn’s candidacy challenge blocked

By Gary D. Robertson The Associated Press RALEIGH — A federal judge on Friday blocked an effort by voters to disqualify North Carolina Rep. Madison Cawthorn from seeking reelection this fall by alleging his involvement with the rally that preceded the U.S. Capitol riot in January 2021 made him ineligible.

U.S. District Judge Richard Myers in Wilmington issued a preliminary injunction, according to a hearing summary provided by the federal court system.

The order is a victory for Cawthorn, a 26-year-old, first-term Republican and close ally of former President Donald Trump.

Myers declared the state’s candidate challenge process didn’t apply to a portion of the 14th Amendment designed to prevent congressmen who had fought on the Confederate side during the Civil War from returning to Congress, according to attorneys involved in the challenge and Cawthorn’s lawsuit.

Several North Carolina voters affiliated with left-leaning organizations had filed candidate challenges alleging Cawthorn is disqualified because evidence shows he “engaged in insurrection” related to the events of Jan. 6, 2021, including the rally in which he spoke and where the presidential election outcome was questioned.

The amendment says no one can serve in Congress “who, having previously taken an oath, as a member of Congress . . . to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same.”

AP PHOTO

Rep. Madison Cawthorn, R-N.C., arrives in the chamber of the House of Representatives before the State of the Union address by President Joe Biden to a joint session of Congress at the Capitol, Tuesday, March 1, 2022, in Washington, D.C. The ruling means the State Board of Elections can’t move ahead with a formal review of his qualifications based on the voters’ arguments, which would have required the creation of a special panel to investigate as soon as Monday.

Cawthorn, who voted against certifying Joe Biden’s presidential victory days after he was sworn in to office, says he’s never participated in an insurrection against the U.S., and the amendment didn’t apply to him. He filed a lawsuit that sought to block candidacy investigations by the State Board of Elections against him and anyone

else, saying the process violates his due process rights.

Myers, who was nominated to the federal bench by Trump and confirmed in 2019, issued a more narrow ruling, declaring that challenges under the portion of the 14th Amendment couldn’t be heard by North Carolina elections officials.

Myers cited an 1872 federal law that removed office-holding disqualifications for most Confederates but kept the prohibition in part for those who served in only a couple of specific sessions of Congress, according to John Wallace, an attorney for the voters chal-

lenging Cawthorn, who was in the courtroom.

The 14th Amendment provision states that Congress can vote to remove such disqualifications.

Therefore, the provision doesn’t apply to Cawthorn, according to his lawsuit.

“HUGE VICTORY!” Cawthorn’s campaign tweeted. “The left’s lawfare tactics have failed.

On to reelection!”

Free Speech for People, a national election and campaign finance reform group backing the challenges, was disappointed with the decision. The group has said it intends to file similar chal-

lenges against other members of Congress associated with the protest.

“The ruling must be reversed on appeal, and the right of voters to bring this challenge to Cawthorn’s eligibility must be preserved.” Ron Fein, the group’s legal director, said in a written statement. The State Board of Elections, a lawsuit defendant, was reviewing the court’s decision, board spokesperson Pat Gannon said.

North Carolina government attorneys for the elections board said in filings the state had the authority to police which candidates should or shouldn’t be disqualified under the 14th Amendment provision, just like the powers used to enforce age and residency requirements before elections.

Candidate challenges were initially brought in January, after Cawthorn had officially filed to run in the 13th District created by the General Assembly during redistricting.

But redistricting litigation led to two more redraws that largely eliminated that district and shifted the 13th to eastern North Carolina. Cawthorn decided this week to run in a far-western 11th District that largely mirrors the region he represents now. Since challenges must come from voters within the district in which the candidate is running, the old challenges had become moot, and two voters in the new 11th District filed challenges on Wednesday.

If the ruling stands, Cawthorn will face seven other Republicans running in the May 17 GOP primary for the 11th District nomination. Six Democrats also filed to run.

Need Ammo?

.223  .45  .40  .308  9mm NCammunition.com

TO SUBSCRIBE: 704-269-8461

VOLUME 5 ISSUE 23 | WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9, 2022 | STANLYJOURNAL.COM

Stanly County Journal

PJ WARD-BROWN | NORTH STATE JOURNAL

High gas prices The national average price of gasoline in the U.S. broke the existing record, exceeding $4 per gallon, according to GasBuddy. The previous alltime high was set back in 2008 ahead of the U.S. Great Recession and housing crisis. Many gas price records have been broken due to Russia’s war on Ukraine, which has pushed Western countries to impose severe sanctions on Russia, curbing Russian exports of crude oil to the global market. AAA Carolinas says the average rate in North Carolina as of Tuesday, March 8 is $4.02 per gallon. Just one year ago, the average price was $2.57 per gallon.

WHAT’S HAPPENING

Stanly County Schools lift additional mask restrictions

COVID cases drop dramatically across county

Early start calendar to be drafted, voted on in April

Cases of COVID-19 have dropped precipitously over the past month. Since the week ending February 11, cases have dropped 87% on a weekly basis. Last week, Stanly County averaged 5 cases per day compared to 38 cases per day a month ago. Over 15% of the Stanly County’s recorded cases of COVID-19 have been among those who had received a vaccine.

ALBEMARLE –– The Stanly County Board of Education met last week to vote on new mask guidelines and to tackle issues for the current and upcoming school years.

In line with new CDC guidelines announced prior to the meeting, the county school sys-

By Ryan Henkel Stanly County Journal

A popular regional burger chain is opening a restaurant in Locust.

What-A-Burger #13 has been operating a food truck with stops in Albemarle, Oakboro and Locust recently. The truck has also been part of local street fairs and festivals since it was launched in 2015. The new Locust location will replaced the former Carolina Barbecue Company at the intersection of Central Avenue and N.C. 24-27. The restaurant has been operating out of Mt. Pleasant since 1969.

Stanly County Journal staff

ALBEMARLE — Candidate filing for Stanly County in the 2022 elections ended on Friday, March 4.

Republicans will continue to hold countywide offices, as no Democrats filed for county commission seats, school board seats, district court judge, and district attorney.

In District 4 on the county commission, Trent Hadley is unopposed.

Additionally, state Rep. Wayne Sasser is unopposed for reelection, and in the state Senate incumbent Carl Ford faces Rowan County Democrat Tangela Morgan.

Republican primaries will take place for seven county offices on the county commission, board of elections, and clerk of court.

Golden Shoe Event starts March 12 Stanly County’s annual Golden Shoe Event will take place this month to encourage physical activity.

To play, vsit any Stanly County Park with a Golden Shoe between March 12 and March 25 and search for golden shoes. After finding a shoe, bring the shoe and tag to the prize claim on March 26 at the City Lake Park in Albemarle.

20177 52016 $0.50

counties that are saying, ‘We turned in a resolution and now we are going to follow it up with an early start calendar,’ then the ball would be in the legislature’s court.” said Board Chairwoman Glenda Gibson. “We’re trying to address learning loss in our county. We’re trying to do the best that we can by our students.”

A new calendar plan could see the traditional school year starting for students around August 10 and ending around May 20, with high school graduation

Filing deadline sets Albemarle city primary ballots council receives update on business center project

What-A-Burger to open in Locust

5

tem will no longer require masks on public school transportation. It will instead be optional, in line with the masking policies already in place in other areas of Stanly County Schools.

The board gave the go ahead for Stanly County Superintendent Dr. Jarrod Dennis to work with the Calendar Committee in drafting an early start calendar for next school year that will be voted on in April.

“I’m hoping that if we get a good number of surrounding

wrapping up before Memorial Day, according to Dr. Dennis.

“I would encourage everyone, once this new plan is likely approved by the school board, to contact your state representatives and get them to move on this,” said board member Anthony Graves. “This is one thing we can do that would impact every single student in a positive way in Stanly County Schools.”

The board also authorized the application for four grants from the Needs-Based Public Schools Capital Fund. The money – only 5% of which would have to be matched by Stanly County Schools – would go toward the renovation of one high school and additions on campuses with mobile classrooms.

“We cannot secure mobiles,” said Executive Director of Main-

STANLY COUNTY CONTESTED RACES

8

Stanly County Board of Commissioners District 1 – GOP Levi Greene Mike Haigler Mike Barbee (i) Stanly County Board of Commissioners District 2 – GOP Bill Lawhon (i) Jon Ledbetter Thomas Townsend

Stanly County Board of Commissioners District 3 – GOP Tommy Jordan (i) Brandon King Stanly County Board of Education At-Large – GOP Anthony Graves (i) Melvin B. Poole Robin B. Whittaker John Wright Stanly County Board of Education District 1 – GOP Dustin Lisk (i) Meghan Almond

Stanly County Board of Commissioners At-Large – GOP Patty Crump Lane Furr (i) Leon Eugene Warren See FILINGS, page 2

By Jesse Deal Stanly County Journal ALBEMARLE — At its Monday night meeting, the Albemarle City Council received an update on the construction timeline for the Albemarle Business Center, the largest project currently taking place within the city.

The 287-acre business park — located between U.S. Highway 52 and N.C. Highway 24-27 — is projected to contain over 2.5 million square feet of warehouse space.

Albemarle Economic Director Keith Tunnel addressed the council last month on the industrial park project, estimating that the completion will occur by the third quarter of 2022 and that it could create 2,800 manufacturing jobs while generating under $1 billion in total new investment.

Albemarle City Manager Michael Ferris presented the latest information at Monday’s meeting.

“Our crews have completed the

electric work to serve the property from the Highway 52 side of the project,” Ferris told the council members. “The work will begin soon on the Hinson Street side by our crews and then we’ll begin seeking contract services for the construction inside. We have held discussions with the water, sewer and road contractor — the NJR Group — about the coordination of their work as it relates to the city entering the property for contractors to install the electric.”

A year ago, the council awarded the New London-based NJR Group a bid to handle the ABC’s infrastructure construction. The group held a preconstruction meeting among their subcontractors on Feb. 1 and will hold regular construction progress meetings with the city going forward.

“Several months ago, they ordered much of the materials and supplies they’re going to need for See BUSINESS CENTER, page 2

Stanly County Journal for Wednesday, March 9, 2022

2 WEDNESDAY

WEEKLY FORECAST

3.9.22 #227

WEDNESDAY

MAR 9

HI LO PRECIP

“Join the conversation” Stanly County Journal ISSN: 2575-2278

Publisher Neal Robbins

Editor Matt Mercer

Sports Editor Cory Lavalette

Senior Opinion Editor Frank Hill

Design Editor Lauren Rose Published each Wednesday by North State Media LLC 1550 N.C. Hwy 24/27 W, Albemarle, N.C. 28001 (704) 269-8461 INFO@STANLYJOURNAL.COM STANLYJOURNAL.COM

TO SUBSCRIBE: 704-269-8461 or online at nsjonline.com

57° 42° 94%

THURSDAY

MAR 10

HI LO PRECIP

52° 38° 16%

FRIDAY

MAR 11 HI LO PRECIP

66° 46° 14%

SATURDAY

MAR 12

HI LO PRECIP

50° 23° 88%

SUNDAY

MONDAY

MAR 13

HI LO PRECIP

52° 32° 0%

MAR 14

HI LO PRECIP

64° 42° 5%

TUESDAY

MAR 15

HI LO PRECIP

66° 45° 43%

Morgan Wallen wins at ACM Awards; Lambert wins top prize The Associated Press MORGAN WALLEN won album of the year at the Academy of Country Music Awards on Monday night for “Dangerous: The Double Album,” a year after he was removed from the ACMs ballot after he was caught on camera using a racial slur.

Wallen made no direct reference to the incident or his absence from recent awards shows while accepting the trophy at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, but may have dropped a hint about it.

“To my son, this award will signify that his daddy was a fighter,” Wallen said, finishing his speech by enthusiastically thanking the fans in attendance.

Miranda Lambert took home the night’s top prize, entertainer of the year, for the first time after losing out in five previous years, but was not in Las Vegas to accept it.

“I cannot believe I’m not there to celebrate,” Lambert said in a video message from London, “it’s the first time I’ve missed the ACMs in 17 years. I’ve been waiting a long time for this.”

Carly Pearce won best female artists and Chris Stapleton won best male artist over Wallen, who took no other awards Monday night after being nominated for three.

Wallen was among the few winners who did not perform on the show.

Jason Aldean and Carrie Underwood won single of the year for their duet “If I Didn’t Love You,” while Lainey Wilson won song of the year for “Things a Man Oughta Know.” The artists later performed the songs live in a show that was heavy on performances.

The show, streamed live on Amazon Prime Video, tried to evoke a party atmosphere while paying tribute to tragedies both

“Every person here have fought for their dreams, but there are people out there fighting for their lives.”

Singer Matthew Ramsey of Old Dominion global and local.

As Old Dominion took the stage to claim its fifth straight ACM Award for best group, lead singer Matthew Ramsey said he was glad host Dolly Parton had opened the show by dedicating the night to Ukraine amid the Russian invasion.

“I was feeling a little bit strange because we’re in this beautiful bubble,” Ramsey said. “Every person here have fought for their dreams, but there are people out

there fighting for their lives.”

As the show drew to a close, Kelly Clarkson performed “I Will Always Love You,” first written and recorded by Parton, in tribute to the host.

“I love you Dolly Parton!”

Clarkson screamed as Parton stepped out to present the entertainer of the year award.

Drawn by the ACM’s reputation for having a fun, inviting and inclusive atmosphere, Amazon sought to go beyond the live sporting events it has previously aired to connect that with a large audience of country fans who listen to Amazon Music.

The show attempted to have a sporting look, with three stages, overhead spider cameras, nonstop action and heavy on graphics.

It was touted as commercial-free, but there were breaks to promote Amazon’s original movies and television series.

Annual Subscription Price: $25.00 Periodicals Postage Paid at Raleigh, N.C. and at additional mailing offices.

POSTMASTER: Stanly County Journal 1550 N.C. Hwy 24/27 W. Albemarle, N.C. 28001

Get in touch!

www stanlyjournal.com

FILINGS from page 1 Stanly County Clerk of Superior Court – GOP Ginger Efird Michael Greene Pam Blake STANLY COUNTY GENERAL ELECTION CANDIDATES Stanly County Board of Commissioners District 4 Trent Hatley (GOP) † Stanly County Sheriff Jeff Crisco (i) (GOP) Davara Ponds (DEM) District Attorney District 28 T. Lynn Clodfelter (i) (GOP) † Stanly County Clerk of Superior Court Todd H. Lowder (DEM) NC Superior Court Judge District 20A Seat 1 Phillip Cornett (i) (GOP) † NC Superior Court Judge District 20A Seat 2 John R. Nance (i) (GOP) † NC Superior Court Judge District 20A Seat 3 Thai Vang (i) (GOP) †

AP PHOTO

Brad Tursi of Old Dominion accepts the award for group of the year at the 57th Academy of Country Music Awards on Monday, March 7, 2022, at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.

BOE from page 1 tenance and Facilities Todd Bowers. “They are not safe in today’s environment and so we are going to try and get additions in places on campus where we have mobiles today and we’re going to look at some renovations.”

A decision on whether or not Stanly County Schools will receive any of the grants should come in April.

Stanly County Schools will also

BUSINESS CENTER from page 1

NC House of Representatives District 67 Wayne Sasser (i) (GOP) †

the project and they anticipated potentially being on site at the end of last week to begin clear-cutting,” Ferris said. “I don’t know if that took place on Friday or not but if it hasn’t, that will begin very shortly.”

NC State Senate District 33 Tangela (Lucy Horne) Morgan (DEM) Carl Ford (i) (GOP) †

WEEKLY CRIME LOG

† No general election opponent

DEATH NOTICES

♦ Corene Sides Parker died Saturday, February 26,2022, surrounded by her loving family. ♦ Barbara Ethel Finney, 69, of Albemarle, NC died Friday, February 25, 2022 at her home.

♦ Harris, Nathan Adryll (B /M/46), arrested 3/7/2022 on the primary charge of Assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill or seriously injure. by Stanly County Sheriff`S Office. ♦ Smith, Joann Preston (B /F/56), arrested 3/7/2022 on the primary charge of Second degree trespass by Stanly County Sheriff`S Office. ♦ Talbert, Derek Ryan

submit a plan for a relaunch of its Summer Testing Program for the current school year after pre-approval from the board.

The voluntary program — which was last utilized in 201819 — is for select students who passed a course but did not earn a proficient score on the corresponding EOG or EOC. The program provides a three-day, fourhours a day remediation time with an available retest on the fourth day.

“For 2018-19, we tested 901 students, and out of those, 281 attained a proficient score that had not had one previously,” said Director of Accountability and Testing Tim Hatley. “That means of those tested, 31.1% of them became proficient, a huge turnaround through this program.”

The program plan will be submitted to the NC Department of Public Institution for final approval.

The board renewed its audit

contract for the 2021-22 school year and authorized the use of fund balance to pay for the first six months of service from their telecommunications provider.

Stanly County Schools had been and still is waiting on an appeal to be processed for funding to help pay for its telecommunication services through the Universal Service Administrative Company’s E-Rate program.

The Board of Education will meet next on April 5.

Back on Feb. 7, the council approved the electric budget that designated all the electric work that’s being performed or overseen by the city to be fully paid with retained earnings so that there won’t be any borrowing.

Ferris continued on with the top-

ic of sewer easement acquisitions, stating that all the easements have been secured although there are some procedural matters left in the easements to finalize.

As the project goes forward, the council will receive a monthly status report or updated progress re-

port on the ABC, with the next one likely to occur in April after construction by the subcontractor begins.

The Albemarle City Council is scheduled to meet again in the city hall council chambers on March 21 at 6:30 p.m.

(W /M/32), arrested 3/7/2022 on the primary charge of Domestic criminal trespass by Stanly County Sheriff`S Office.

3/7/2022 on the primary charge of Assault on govt official/emply by Stanly County Sheriff`S Office.

County Sheriff`S Office.

♦ Thomas, Kenya Monet (B /F/27), arrested 3/7/2022 on the primary charge of Assault with deadly weapon (m) by Stanly County Sheriff`S Office. ♦ Voncannon, Robbie Dale (W /M/50), arrested

♦ Moujid, Yasmine Asiya (U /F/21), arrested 3/6/2022 on the primary charge of Poss stolen goods/prop (m) by Stanly County Sheriff`S Office. ♦ Wall, Dwight Wendell (B /M/60), arrested 3/6/2022 on the primary charge of Death by distribution by Stanly

♦ Crowder, Demauree Jasun (B /M/19), arrested 3/3/2022 on the primary charge of Fel prob viol out of county by Stanly County Sheriff`S Office. ♦ Garcia, Kaila Marie (W /F/29), arrested 3/2/2022 on the primary charge of Identity theft by Stanly County Sheriff`S Office.

Stanly County Journal for Wednesday, March 9, 2022

OPINION

3

Neal Robbins, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor VISUAL VOICES

COLUMN | REP. RICHARD HUDSON

The state of our union

Additionally, in just over one year, we have gone from border security to a border crisis.

LAST WEEK, President Biden gave his first State of the Union address and said, “the state of our union is strong because the American people are strong.” I agree with that. Our community, our service members, and all Americans are strong and can overcome any challenge. However, while the President may be right about the American people, I believe the state of our leadership is the weakest it’s ever been. The result has been one crisis after another.

In just over one year under President Biden, the United States has gone from energy independence to an energy crisis.

Biden’s assault on American energy began his first day in office when he stopped the Keystone XL pipeline and suspended oil and gas leasing on federal lands and water. As a result of these anti-American energy policies, gas prices have reached their highest levels in 7 years.

Last week, gas prices soared yet again in North Carolina and around our country, as Russia continued its despicable attack on Ukraine.

Yet instead of boosting American energy production, we are giving Vladimir Putin $75 million a day to buy Russian oil. That’s $75 million every single day.

Additionally, in just over one year, we have gone from border security to a border crisis.

Also in his first days in office, Biden ended construction of the border wall and deportations. Since then, a record 2 million illegal migrants have crossed our southern border. That’s more than the populations of Raleigh, Charlotte, Greensboro, and Fayetteville – combined.

In just over one year under President Biden, inflation has increased to its highest level in 40 years. Reckless spending has driven inflation up every month of Biden’s presidency.

Over the past year, we’ve also seen a supply chain crisis, a COVID mandate disaster, a dramatic increase in crime, a botched withdrawal from Afghanistan and now, the crisis in Ukraine.

Our country is facing challenges like never before. However, these challenges are not insurmountable, and we have proven solutions to every one of these issues.

We can ensure American energy independence by lifting needless restrictions and boosting the production of our own oil and gas.

We can secure the border by finishing the wall and deporting those who enter illegally.

We can stop the crime wave plaguing our cities by supporting our police and putting criminals in jail.

We can face our adversaries and defend our allies by standing up for what we believe in and bolstering our military. President Reagan called it “peace through strength.”

We can stand up to threats to our kids and our freedoms by opposing overreaching regulations like mask mandates. I’ve led the fight against school mask mandates in our state because it’s parents, not government, who should decide what’s best for kids when it comes to their health and their education.

The solutions to the problems at-hand are right in front of us. We only need to work together to deliver them. Unfortunately, the President’s State of the Union ignored many of the crises facing our nation and the concerns you and your family think about every day. Rest assured, I am focused on solving these problems for our community, state, and nation.

We are facing crisis after crisis. But the American people are strong and so can be the state of our union.

COLUMN | MICHAEL BARONE

Volodymyr Zelensky transforms Germany — and Europe One man courageously standing his ground and a people braving the odds have overturned the consensus of a smug, continental elite and have alerted them to confront real dangers.

IT’S BEEN ALMOST two weeks since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and Kyiv, and even Kharkiv, 20 miles from the Russian border, remain under Ukrainian control. Contrary to many predictions, Russian President Vladimir Putin’s forces have fallen short of their goals so far, but there can be no certainty about the outcome in Ukraine — or Russia.

What is clear is that there has been a vast and historic transformation in Europe, and especially in its largest nation, Germany, that will continue reverberating no matter what happens in Ukraine. Old policies have been cast aside as readily as last week’s garbage.

Credit for this goes to the Ukrainian people, who have been resisting the Russian attack, and especially to their president, the former comedian Volodymyr Zelensky. He has remained in Kyiv, refusing to flee to safety. When the United States offered to fly him out of Ukraine, he refused. “I want ammunition,” he said, “not a ride.”

Each day, he has sent out videos of him speaking from the heart of Kyiv, proclaiming his determination to stay. His example has undoubtedly helped added to the spirited resistance of ordinary Ukrainians.

It has certainly transformed opinion in Europe and beyond.

The contrast between Zelensky, on the street in a dark T-shirt and increasingly unshaven, contrasts vividly with the photographs of Putin sitting at the far end of an absurdly long conference table, far from a gaggle of nervous aides.

That contrast was undoubtedly apparent when Zelensky called in to a Zoom teleconference of European Union leaders last weekend. In his brief pitch for support, he reminded his counterparts, sitting securely in comfortable chairs in opulent offices, that this might be the last time they would see him alive.

The effect was galvanic on German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. Speaking to the Bundestag Saturday, he declared that “February 24 marks a turning point” (Zeitenwende in German) “in the history of our continent.” “It is our duty to support Ukraine to the best of our ability in defending against Putin’s invading army. That is why we are delivering 1,000 anti-tank weapons and 500 Stinger missiles to our friends in Ukraine.”

That’s a stark reversal of policy. Before Russia’s attack, Germany had blocked Estonia from sending German-made weapons to Ukraine.

Scholz also announced that Germany would increase its defense spending from 1.4% of gross domestic product to the 2% required by NATO. Another stark reversal: His long-serving predecessor, Angela Merkel, had been keeping defense spending down — a stick in the eye of

Donald Trump, perhaps — and said it couldn’t approach 2% for years.

To this transformation, the Biden administration has been a spectator. As I noted last week, its initial response to the Feb. 24 attack was desultory — a ban on U.S. investments in places where there aren’t many, while Germany responded only with a reversible suspension of certification of the undersea Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline from Russia to Germany.

This was in line with German voters’ admirable yearning to atone for Germany’s Nazi past — but also with their belief, now obviously delusional, that all problems can be solved in peaceful negotiations. In the Merkel years, Germany effectively disarmed, so that when Russia attacked, commanding Gen. Alfons Mais lamented, “The Bundeswehr, which I have the honor of leading, is more or less empty-handed. The options we can offer policymakers to support the Alliance are extremely limited.”

Germany’s pacifist inclination has not been shared by all NATO members (Britain, France, Greece and Russia’s neighbors Poland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Romania have been ponying up 2% or more on defense). But Germany’s preoccupation with climate change has been steadfast. The country relies increasingly on wind and solar and has just about completed Merkel’s 2011 order phasing out its nuclear power plants. Merkel and her predecessor, Gerhard Schroeder, pushed the Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 pipelines, making Germany dependent on Russian natural gas. As I noted last week, that was in line with historic German tilts toward Russia, but it seems to be part of history now.

Now, even though the Green Party is part of Scholz’s coalition, that may well change. The Finance Ministry is considering keeping the remaining nukes open, and Scholz has backed two new LNG import terminals to take in American fracked natural gas.

“Germany is a different country tonight,” tweeted Handelsblatt journalist Torsten Riecke. “Almost every pillar of German foreign policy has been shattered.”

One man courageously standing his ground and a people braving the odds have overturned the consensus of a smug, continental elite and have alerted them to confront real dangers. That’s a considerable achievement in just one week, whatever else happens in Ukraine — and Russia.

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.

Stanly County Journal for Wednesday, March 9, 2022

4

SPORTS SIDELINE REPORT NHL

NHL suspends agreement with Russia-based KHL New York The NHL suspended its dealings with the Russiabased KHL on Monday, a move that could make it more difficult for teams to sign players from there.

The NHL told its teams to cease contact with KHL counterparts and Russia-based agents as part of the suspension of the memorandum of understanding between the leagues. They can continue to communicate with North American agents certified by the NHL Players’ Association but may have more difficulty completing agreements.

JOHN LOCHER | AP PHOTO

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Alex Bowman celebrates after winning Sunday's NASCAR Cup Series race in Las Vegas.

Former Arizona State QB Daniels transfers to LSU

Bowman edges Larson in OT to win at Las Vegas

Baton Rouge, La. Former Arizona State quarterback Jayden Daniels is transferring to LSU, where he will enter a wideopen competition to be the starter in coach Brian Kelly’s first season with the Tigers. Daniels entered the transfer portal last month, not long after Arizona State fired its offensive coordinator in the midst of an NCAA investigation.

He has been Arizona State’s starter the last three seasons, throwing for 6,025 yards, 32 touchdowns and 13 interceptions in 29 games. The junior has two years of eligible remaining after the NCAA granted an extra year to all athletes who competed during the pandemic-altered 2020 season.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

MSU’s Izzo passes Knight for wins by Big Ten coach East Lansing, Mich.

Tom Izzo became the alltime Big Ten leader in career wins after Michigan State defeated Maryland 77-67 on Sunday. With his 663rd win at Michigan State, Izzo passed Indiana’s Bob Knight for the most wins at a Big Ten school.

Knight remains the leader in conference wins, with 353 to second-place Izzo’s 322. The 67-year-old Izzo is in his 27th season with the Spartans, winning 10 Big Ten regular season titles and six conference tournament championships, reaching eight Final Fours and winning a national championship in 2000.

TENNIS

Zverev put on 1-year probation for outburst in Acapulco London Alexander Zverev was put on probation for one year by the ATP on Monday for violently hitting the chair umpire’s stand repeatedly with his racket following a loss in doubles at the Mexico Open. If Zverev receives a code violation that results in a fine for unsportsmanlike conduct or for “verbal or physical abuse of an official, opponent, spectator or any other person while oncourt or on-site,” he will be suspended from ATP events for eight weeks and fined an additional $25,000, the men’s tennis tour announced. Zverev, the third-ranked player in the world, has until Friday to appeal.

The Hendrick Motorsports teammates battled cleanly in overtime The Associated Press LAS VEGAS — The racing rule is quite clear at Hendrick Motorsports, where the boss will let his drivers go door-to-door so long as they don’t tear up his cars.

After two of his stars tangled last week in California, Hendrick gave his team a rules refresher.

Message delivered.

Alex Bowman and Larson went wheel-to-wheel Sunday in a twolap overtime shootout at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The racing was clean from the restart to the checkered flag, and Bowman bested the reigning NASCAR champion for his first win of the season.

The win made it two straight for Hendrick through three Cup races. The winningest owner in NASCAR now has 281 victories.

Bowman took pride in scoring a seventh career victory with a clean 1-2 finish for Hendrick following the meeting with the boss.

“The talk was a big wakeup call,” Bowman said. “When Mr. H calls a meeting like that, it gets your attention.”

Hendrick called the meeting after Larson and Chase Elliott collided racing for the lead at California. Larson said he didn’t see Elliott when he squeezed him into the wall and apologized. Elliott was furious, and Hendrick put the matter to rest.

Just a week later, though, the Hendrick cars again had to race one another for the win and make sure to do it without any bumping or banging. The Hendrick chance came when a spin by Erik Jones with three laps remaining brought out the 12th caution of the race and shifted the fight from a pair of Joe Gibbs Racing cars to the Hendrick cars.

Las Vegas native Kyle Bus-

“Kyle and I historically have always raced each other really clean and this was no different.”

Alex Bowman ch and teammate Martin Truex Jr. had been in a lap-by-lap chess match for the win until Jones’ crash. Busch thought he’d inched ahead of Truex and had the win locked up until the caution.

“I don’t know what it was,” Busch said. “But anyways, wasn’t meant to be. Not our day. See you next week.”

The Hendrick trio of Bowman, Larson and William Byron all changed just two tires to get off pit road first through third. Busch, who had gone to the pits as the leader, took four tires and came off pit road in fourth.

Larson, the defending Las Vegas winner and winner last week in California, chose the outside line for the restart with Bowman on his inside. The two were in a drag race over the final two laps and Bowman, who led three times for 16 laps, beat Larson to the finish line by 0.178 seconds.

“Kyle and I historically have always raced each other really clean and this was no different,” Bowman said.

Ross Chastain finished third for TrackHouse Racing and a podium sweep for Chevrolet. Chastain, who had led just 75 laps over 117 previous starts, led a race-high 83 laps.

Busch finished fourth in a backup Toyota after crashing in Saturday morning practice when his tire went flat. The wreck destroyed his car and because backups are in short supply at the start of NASCAR’s rollout of the Next Gen model, the only option JGR had was a “parts car” not meant for competition.

Byron was fifth to give Hendrick three drivers in the top five and Aric Almirola was sixth and the highest-finishing Ford. Almirola is the only driver to finish inside the top-10 through NASCAR’s first three races of the season.

Despite vitriol, MLB owners, locked-out players closing gap The work stoppage is approaching 100 days and jeopardizing a full 162-game season The Associated Press NEW YORK — For all the vitriol, Major League Baseball owners and locked-out players have closed the gap in recent weeks and are negotiating on similar frameworks for a new collective bargaining agreement.

With the lockout in its 96th day Monday, the sides remained apart to various degrees on three of the most significant items: the luxury tax, pre-arbitration bonus pool and minimum salary.

MLB told the union on Monday that Tuesday was the last possible day to reach an agreement that would allow a 162-game schedule, along with full salary and service time, a deadline first reported by The Athletic.

Openers on March 31 were among 91 games already canceled, and Commissioner Rob Manfred appeared to be on the verge of calling off more.

“This is a horrible, horrible situation. Everyone on the Yankees, everyone in Major League Baseball shares the blame, players, owners, executives for where we are. It’s a really bad look, especially (with) what’s going on in the world,” Yankees president Randy Levine said Monday on the team’s YES Network. “We all look pretty bad. ... It’s embarrassing to be where we are.”

In an industry where payrolls project to total in the $4 billion range, the percentage differences

WILFREDO LEE | AP PHOTO

Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred speaks during a news conference last Tuesday. The owners and players seem to be inching toward a compromise that could preserve a 162-game season. on some items do not appear to be insurmountable.

The sides appear to be about $15 million apart on the minimum salary for this year, $20 million for 2023 and $25 million for 2024, each less than 1% of payrolls. This assumes about half of players in the major leagues at any given time are impacted by the minimum.

Differences are greater in the final two seasons, when the union is asking for cost-of-living increases.

The gap in the new pre-arbitration bonus pool is $50 million this year, rising to $70 million by 2026.

But, again, the percentage of overall payroll affected by this item is relatively small, under 2%.

And then there is the most di-

visive issue, luxury tax thresholds.

The sides are $18 million apart this year, a difference rising to $33 million by 2026.

Both sides are close to an agreement on an amateur draft lottery aimed to incentive competition.

Management has offered the top five selections and players asked for the top six, with some differences on limitations for teams participation in consecutive years.

Despite moving toward each other, the sides remain headed to a lost season unless they find a compromise.

“That’s a mind-boggling, horrid, horrid thought,” Levine said.

“Shame on all of us if it ever gets to that.”

“We all look pretty bad. ... It’s embarrassing to be where we are.”

Randy Levine, Yankees president

Stanly County Journal for Wednesday, March 9, 2022

5

Falcons’ Ridley suspended for West Stanly softball aims for state 3-peat ’22 for bets on NFL games The Colts are led by new coach Emily Smith

The Atlanta wide receiver admitted to gambling on the NFL while taking a leave from the team

The Associated Press ATLANTA — Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Calvin Ridley has been suspended for the 2022 season for betting on NFL games in 2021.

The suspension announced by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell on Monday is for activity that took place while Ridley was away from the team addressing mental health concerns. The league says the suspension will carry “through at least the conclusion of the 2022 season.”

The NFL says the betting took place during a five-day period in late November 2021. Ridley was placed on the non-football illness list following Week 8 last season, which ended Nov. 1.

A league investigation uncovered no evidence inside information was used or that any game was compromised by Ridley’s betting, Goodell’s announcement said. Nor was there evidence suggesting Falcons coaches, players or staff were aware of Ridley’s betting activity.

Ridley may petition for reinstatement after Feb. 23, 2023.

During the offseason, the Falcons have had no update on Ridley’s status. The team released a statement Monday in which it said it cooperated with the league’s investigation in the last month.

“We were first made aware of the league’s investigation on Feb. 9,” the Falcons said in the statement. “We have cooperated fully with the investigation since receiving notice, and support the league’s findings and actions. We are moving forward in the 2022 season with the decision that was made. With the decision that was made by the NFL, any further questions on the investigation should be directed to the league office.”

36

By Jesse Deal Stanly County Journal

JOHN BAZEMORE | AP PHOTO

Falcons wide receiver Calvin Ridley has been suspended for the 2022 season for betting on NFL games in the 2021 season.

In a letter from Goodell to Ridley, the commissioner said: “There is nothing more fundamental to the NFL’s success — and to the reputation of everyone associated with our league — than upholding the integrity of the game.

“This is the responsibility of every player, coach, owner, game official, and anyone else employed in the league. Your actions put the integrity of the game at risk, threatened to damage public confidence in professional football, and potentially undermined the reputations of your fellow players throughout the NFL. “For decades, gambling on NFL games has been considered among the most significant violations of league policy warranting the most substantial sanction.

In your case, I acknowledge and commend you for your promptly reporting for an interview, and for admitting your actions.”

Even before the suspension, Ridley’s future with the Falcons was in doubt. He sat out the final two months of the season after he was a last-minute scratch before the team’s 19-13 loss to Carolina

on Oct. 31.

On that day, Ridley explained his absence when he wrote on his Twitter account “I need to step away from football at this time and focus on my mental well being.”

Ridley had posted no update on his Twitter account until Friday, when he posted an icon of a football and added “is life.” On Sunday, he added another update “I learn from my Ls.” The Falcons’ 2018 first-round draft pick had 90 catches for 1,374 yards and nine touchdowns in 2020. Ridley was expected to be quarterback Matt Ryan’s top playmaker after Julio Jones was traded to Tennessee before the 2021 season. But Ridley had only 31 receptions for 281 yards and two touchdowns in his shortened season.

The Falcons had been approximately $7.3 million over the salary cap for 2022. They will be able to remove Ridley’s $11.1 million salary from their payroll for the season, moving them under the cap. That contract shifts to 2023, when Ridley would have been a free agent.

ALBEMARLE — The 2022 season will be both a rebirth and a reconfiguration for the West Stanly Colts softball team.

The two-time defending NCHSAA 2A softball state champion Colts (2-0, 0-0 Rocky River) have started their season with two wins despite a coaching change and losing six senior players to graduation.

Under new coach Emily Smith — a previous assistant to former coach Craig Carter, who retired after last season — West Stanly opened the year with a 10-0 home win over Porter Ridge (2-2, 0-0 Southern Carolina) on March 1 and a 3-2 road victory against South Stanly (2-1, 0-0 Yadkin Valley) on March 4.

“I am very excited and honored to be given the opportunity to be the head coach of West Stanly Softball,” Smith said last June when her new leadership role was announced. “This program is very special to me. It has so much tradition and success, and I am excited to keep that going. I have enjoyed coaching with Coach Carter and will cherish those memories forever. I look forward to getting back to work with our team.”

Seniors Ashlyn Hughes, Carmen McRae, Aliyah Rush, Kristen Smith, Kaylyn Little and Lilly Hartsell will all look to step up to replace the production from the star players of last year’s squad.

The Colts are now without Jordan Hatch, a left-handed pitcher who finished her Colts career with a 51-2 record, 1.02 ERA, 554 strikeouts and a .140 opponent batting average. The former RRC Pitcher of the Year committed to East Carolina and currently holds a 1-7 record with a 6.00 ERA in 10 games pitching for the Pirates.

In her final season with West Stanly, she led the Colts to a 20-0 record along with state and conference titles. Hatch’s performance from the mound in the Colts’ recent state championship series victory over South Granville earned her the NCHSAA 2021 2A Softball State Championship Most Valuable Player award.

Over the past four seasons, the Colts’ overall record is 78-4, with a 26-game win streak, including three wins from the shortened 2020 season and the 2019 title game. The school has was won four state softball championships in its history (1997, 2013, 2019, 2021).

West Stanly was set to play West Rowan (1-1, 0-0 South Piedmont) at home Tuesday and will face Mount Pleasant (2-1, 0-0 Yadkin Valley) at home Wednesday; the Colts will travel to North Davidson (1-1, 0-0 Mid-Piedmont) on Friday. The group is currently riding a 36-0 winning streak against Rocky River Conference opponents and has a chance to extend that hot stretch when conference play begins on March 22 against Central Academy (3-1, 0-0 RRC).

Straight wins for the West Stanly softball team against Rocky River Conference opponents

MARK THIESSEN | AP PHOTO

Dallas Seavey is tied with musher Rick Swenson for the most Iditarod victories ever at five, and Seavey has started his quest for his sixth title in the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race.

Alaska musher on brink of becoming Iditarod’s best ever Dallas Seavey is seeking a record sixth title The Associated Press TALKEETNA, Alaska — Dallas Seavey is on the cusp of becoming mushing’s greatest ever champion, but he is also secure enough in himself to say that win or lose, this year’s race across Alaska will be his last — at least for a while.

The defending champion who turned 35 Friday is tied with Rick Swenson for the most Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race victories, with five. Swenson, a 71-year-old known as the King of the Iditarod, won his titles between 1977-1991 and last ran the world’s most fa-

mous sled dog race in 2012, the year Seavey won his first.

Seavey has his shot to make history in the 50th running of the Iditarod, which started in Anchorage on Saturday. First run in 1973, the nearly 1,000-mile race takes mushers and their dog teams over Alaska’s unforgiving terrain, including two mountain ranges, the frozen Yukon River and the treacherous Bering Sea ice to finish in the old Gold Rush town of Nome, on Alaska’s western coast.

“I’m really stoked for this race.

You know, this is a big one for me,” Seavey told The Associated Press last week at his home in Talkeetna, about 100 miles north of Anchorage. “It’s a big one for the Id-

itarod.”

Seavey grew up around mushing and his family lore is steeped in the race. His grandfather Dan Seavey ran in the very first Iditarod and still mushes recreationally today in his 80s. Dallas’ father, Mitch, won titles in 2004, 2013 and 2017.

But if Dallas Seavey doesn’t bag his sixth crown this month after also winning in 2014, 2015 and 2016, he’s not entirely sure how many more races he has in him.

He said he was on the fence about even running this year.

Having grown up in the sport, Seavey said he has seen how people run the race year in and year out almost out of habit or the feel-

ing that they have to do it.

Seavey said what burns out athletes is that they don’t feel they have an option to leave. He said he thinks it’s time for him to exercise that option.

“I’m still excited about mushing, maybe more so than I had before. I still want to keep growing as a musher, but Iditarod is only one way that we can be a musher,” said Seavey, who also operates a mushing tourism business in Talkeetna.

The single dad said he wants to spend time with his daughter, who turns 12 in a few months.

“I’ve had so much fun with her these last couple of years where we have spent a lot of time, just

one-on-one, doing stuff, having fun or just living life, hanging out,” he said.

“Once she is out of the house or has more of her own life and dad’s not so cool anymore, I probably will be back into mushing, but I’m not going to make that commitment now,” Seavey said.

Seavey said he’s “not dumb enough” to say he’s retiring.

“We don’t have to make some statement or big announcement or proclamation,” he said.

Instead, he’s adhering to the concept of living one year at a time.

“I feel like this is the last one for a while,” he said. “Let’s get through this one.”

6

Stanly County Journal for Wednesday, March 9, 2022

Pentagon to shut down leaking fuel tank facility in Hawaii The Associated Press WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Defense Department will permanently shut down the Navy’s massive fuel tank facility in Hawaii that leaked petroleum into Pearl Harbor’s tap water, and will remove all the fuel, the Pentagon said Monday.

Pentagon press secretary John Kirby said the decision by Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is based on a new Pentagon assessment, but also is in line with an order from Hawaii’s Department of Health to drain fuel from the tanks at the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility.

The tanks, built into the side of a mountain during World War II to protect them from enemy attack, had leaked into a drinking water well and contaminated water at Pearl Harbor homes and offices.

Nearly 6,000 people, mostly those living in military housing at or near Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam were sickened, seeking treatment for nausea, headaches, rashes and other ailments.

And 4,000 military families were forced out of their homes and are in hotels.

Lauren Wright remembers her skin peeling, feeling nauseous and vomiting. Her symptoms disappeared only when she stopped drinking, showering and washing dishes with her home’s water.

Since early December, Wright, her sailor husband and their three children ages 7 to 17 have been among the thousands of military families living in Honolulu hotels paid for by the Navy so they can have clean water.

“I am happy because it is a step in the right direction. It should have happened a long time ago,” Wright said. “Hopefully, they don’t drag their feet and it moves quickly so another spill or leak

doesn’t happen again.”

She said her water at home still has a sheen and smell. The Wright family hopes to find a new home and said she and her family won’t be drinking the water, even after officials sign off on its safety.

Austin spoke with Hawaii government leaders on Monday to inform them of the decision, which he said will protect the population and the environment, and will also lay the groundwork for a more secure military fueling system.

“This is the right thing to do,” Austin said in a statement. “Centrally-located bulk fuel storage of this magnitude likely made sense in 1943, when Red Hill was built. And Red Hill has served our armed forces well for many decades. But it makes a lot less sense now.”

The Pentagon said it will move to a more dispersed fueling system for military ships and aircraft in the Indo-Pacific. Based on the new assessment, the expanded system will be more cost effective and provide greater security by spreading the fuel supply more broadly across the region.

The new plan, laid out in recommendations delivered to Austin by a study group, would increase the fuel contracts that the U.S. has with other territories and nations in the Indo-Pacific, and add several more tanker ships that are based at sea. There are currently less than a dozen tanker ships, so several more would have to be built.

After the facility can operate again, the defueling will begin and the process is expected to take about a year, meaning it would be finished some time next year. Austin has asked the Navy secretary to plan a budget for all necessary corrective action for any prior fuel releases from the

AP PHOTO

In this Dec. 23, 2021, photo provided by the U.S. Navy, Rear Adm. John Korka, Commander, Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command (NAVFAC), and Chief of Civil Engineers, leads Navy and civilian water quality recovery experts through the tunnels of the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility, near Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. facility.

Austin said the department will also work with state, national and local leaders to clean up the contamination and consider other uses for the property after the fueling plant is closed. And the military will also provide health care to the families and workers affected.

The tanks can hold 250 million gallons of fuel, and they are at less than half capacity right now. Officials said that 13 of the 20 tanks have fuel in them, two are permanently closed and five are being

repaired.

The Navy hasn’t determined how the petroleum got in the water. Officials are investigating a theory that jet fuel spilled from a ruptured pipe last May and somehow entered a fire suppression system drain pipe. They suspect fuel then leaked from the second pipe on Nov. 20, sending it into the drinking water well.

Weeks after the leak was discovered, Hawaii state officials and members of Congress began to demand the shutdown of the facility.

Settlement over NC driver license revocations OK’d

By Gary D. Robertson The Associated Press RALEIGH — A federal judge has approved an agreement designed to help tens of thousands of North Carolina residents regain driving privileges only because their licenses were revoked when they couldn’t afford to pay traffic fines and court costs.

The settlement signed by U.S. District Judge Thomas Schroeder and disclosed last week essentially ends a 2018 lawsuit that challenged the constitutionality of North Carolina’s practice of revoking the licenses of people for the inability to pay.

Lawyers for a pair of low-income motorists who initially sued the Division of Motor Vehicles commissioner said the agency failed to alert drivers in danger of losing their licenses that they could get a reprieve by pleading to a judge that they could not afford to pay their penalties.

The lawsuit ultimately expanded to include everyone whose licenses were revoked since mid2015 because of their failure to pay these costs for traffic offenses and who were still unable to drive lawfully. They wanted the law govern-

PHOTO VIA NCDMV OFFICE

A woman walks into a Division of Motor Vehicles office in this undated file photo. ing license revocations for nonpayment struck down and licenses reinstated where the question of indigency applied.

DMV estimates there are 57,000 people with revoked licenses in which their failure to pay is the only obstacle to reinstatement, a state’s attorney told Schroeder at a hearing in Winston-Salem last week.

The settlement “will help miti-

gate the harms of the unnecessarily harsh and punitive practice of revoking people’s drivers’ licenses because they are not wealthy, a practice which has disproportionately affected people and communities of color,” Michele Delgado, an attorney for the ACLU of North Carolina, which helped represent the plaintiffs, said in a news release.

Under the agreement, reached

following negotiations with a mediator’s help, DMV will send letters and emails to an estimated 185,000 people letting them know of the legal process in place to seek a judge’s waiver of their traffic fees and court costs. Similar notices will be sent in the future before revocations are complete.

DMV also will pay $30,000 to fund a third-party website that provides information to motorists seeking how to prevent their licenses from being suspended due to nonpayment of penalties and costs, including legal resources.

Notices will be posted in DMV offices and courthouses statewide about the settlement and options to prevent revocations.

Schroeder wrote that while the motorists had not demonstrated a likelihood that the law was unconstitutional, the “increased notice provisions included in the settlement seek to provide additional procedural due process safeguards” so drivers plainly know they can retain their licenses.

“The settlement appears fair, reasonable, and adequate,” Schroeder wrote in his order, dated Wednesday. The settlement contains no admission of wrongdoing by the DMV commissioner, he

The Navy in early February appealed the state’s closure order, and at the time Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks said the appeal would give the military time “to make evidence-based and transparent decisions.”

Kirby on Monday said the department realizes the closure of the fuel complex will not be a quick fix.

“We have work to do,” he said.

“But we do believe that this decision by the Secretary today marks a significant first step in the path forward.”

added.

DMV said in a statement Thursday that the state offered not long after the lawsuit was filed to make improvements to the current warning that drivers receive when their permit may be revoked, but the plaintiffs rejected it. The settlement contains conditions the state offered earlier, the agency said.

DMV “always looks for new ways to improve communications as we strive to provide outstanding customer service to all North Carolinians,” the statement said.

The initial plaintiffs described in the litigation their struggles to get restored their licenses, which the lawsuit says are essentially a prerequisite to employment in a state like North Carolina. A 2016 U.S. Department of Transportation report said more than 90% of North Carolina residents traveled to work by car and only 1% got there by public transit, according to the lawsuit.

The initial plaintiffs — both Cabarrus County residents at the time — described in the lawsuit a cycle of fines and attempts to catch up on their debts as they try to hold on to their jobs and support their families.

One unemployed resident said he faced revocation because he failed to pay $228; the other could not pay several hundred dollars in penalties.

Stanly County Journal for Wednesday, March 9, 2022

7

obituaries

Carol Glover

January 3, 1938 ~ March 3, 2022 James Carol Glover, 84, of Norwood, passed away Thursday morning, March 3, 2022 at his home.

Carol was born January 3, 1938 to the late Bill and Eunice Poplin Glover. He was an avid golfer his entire life and also enjoyed playing cards and basketball. He was the owner and operator for Gloves Cut and Sew for 18 years. He enjoyed spending time with his family and loved to make people laugh. Carol was a genuine person who will be truly missed by all who knew him.

In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by his son, Joseph ‘Bubba’ Glover, his daughter, Dorinda Ann Dunn, and his sister, Doris Smith.

He is survived by his wife, Sue Lowery Glover of the home; his children: Rodney Glover (Trena) of New London, Stoney Glover (Stacy) of Oakboro, Jason Glover of Louisiana, and Donna Altman (Mackie) of Rockingham; nine grandchildren: Payton, Miranda, Megan, Trey, Ali, Sarah, Blake, Randy, and Hannah; and four great-grandchildren: Danilo, Arlee, Beckham, and Anna Kate.

Kathleen McIntyre November 2, 1932 ~ March 5, 2022

Kathleen Little McIntyre 89 of Norwood died Saturday Evening, March 5, 2022.

Mrs. McIntyre was born November 2, 1932 in Stanly County to the late Dee and Beulah Bost Little. She was a 1951 graduate of Aquadale High School and a member of South Stanly Baptist Church. She was a retired bookeeper, having worked for many years with Norwood Stockyard and Lee’s Mobile Homes.

She is survived by her daughter Rev. Vanessa McIntyre of Norwood and her son David McIntyre (Belinda) of Norwood. Two brothers, Richard and Max Little both of Albemarle. Two grandchildren, Tessa Moore (Rev. Wilson) and Ryan McIntyre (Jessica) and two greatgrandchildren, Rylynn and Nolan McIntyre. Special friends, Richard Culp and Lee Flippin.

She was preceded in death by her husband Clarence Eugene McIntyre.

Five brothers and two sisters, Billy, Kenneth, Jack, Tommy and George Little, Doris Burgess and Pattie Poole.

Jack Allen Crabtree

March 12, 1930 ~ March 5, 2022

July 28, 1944 ~ March 6, 2022

Jack Allen Crabtree, 63, of Stanfield, passed away at his home surrounded by family Sunday, February 27, 2022.

Jack was born September 19, 1958 in Germany to Jack Crabtree and the late Geraldine Crabtree. He was also preceded in death by his brother, Luther Gene Crabtree.

Survivors include daughters, Jessica (Michael) Mack of Fort Wayne, IN, Ashley (Seth) Russell of Norwood, NC,son, Cody (Samantha) Crabtree of Stanfield, NC;father, Jack (Buffy) Crabtree; grandchildren, Payton Russell, Amelia Russell, Micah Mack, and Diana Mack; sister, Anna Kriedel; and brother, Dennis Crabtree.

Memorials may be made to Atrium Health Levine Children’s Hospital 1000 Blythe Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28203.

Kathryn Ann Speight Laton, 91, passed away on Saturday, March 5, 2022, at Trinity Place Albemarle.

She was born in Elberton, Georgia on March 12, 1930, to Amos Virgil and Lillian Griffin Speight.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband of sixtynine years Luther James Laton, and great-granddaughter Violette Isabelle Laton.

She is survived by her three children: Steve Laton and wife Marcie of Albemarle; Ann Hayward and her husband Tony of Monroe, LA; Donald Laton of Raleigh; brother Amos Speight and wife Marian of Fayetteville, GA; four grandsons and seven greatgrandchildren.

The funeral will be held Thursday, March 10th at 2:00 pm at the First United Methodist Church in Norwood. Interment will be at Norview Gardens in Norwood following the service.

Linda Harvell Swaringen, 77, of Norwood, died Sunday morning, March 6, 2022 at her home.

Funeral Services will be held at 2:00PM Wednesday, March 9, 2022 at Community Full gospel Church. Rev. Mike Lisk will officiate and interment will follow in Porter Community Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6:00 until 8:00 Tuesday Evening, March 8, 2022 at Edwards Funeral Home of Norwood.

Linda was born July 28, 1944 in Stanly County to the late Lester and Inez Morton Harvell. She was a retired sales representative for Lee’s Mobile Homes. She was a longtime faithful member of Community Full Gospel Church where she was active in all phases of church work, including being able to share her love of singing and sharing her love for Jesus with the congregation.

She is survived by her son Bradley Swaringen (Wanda) of North Myrtle Beach, SC. One brother, Leonard Harvell (Donna) of Oakboro. Three grandchildren, Christin Swaringen, Drake Bowers (Jenny Loflin) and Brittney Thomas (Michael). One great-grandchild, Hendrix Thomas. Her special in-laws, Particia Almond, Glenn Swaringen and Barbara Harrington (Danny).

She was preceded in death by her husband Bradford Eugene Swaringen and her brother Gary Harvell.

September 19, 1958 ~ February 27, 2022

Sylvester Bennett

Jane Marie (Harrington) Boger Deane February 9, 1930 ~ February 27, 2022

Jane Boger Deane passed away Sunday, February 27, 2022, with family by her side after a period of declining health.

Jane Marie Harrington was born on February 9, 1930, in Albemarle, N.C. to parents Vance Benton and Dora Lee Mann Harrington.

She was pre-deceased by her two husbands, parents, siblings; Marshall Brian Harrington and twin, Myron Gene Harrington Sr. Jane graduated from Albemarle High School and remained in touch with classmates throughout her life.

Jane was a wonderfully rare soul; feisty, strong-willed but at the same time, kind and generous. She loved unconditionally and cherished her children and grandchildren. Jane is remembered as an honorable, gifted, loving woman who worked hard with admirable endurance. She overcame obstacles, often turning them into successes. She took care of others in illness and endured her own with poise.

Jeanette Duke March 8, 1934 ~ March 1, 2022

Jeanette Mesimer Duke, 87, of Norwood, passed away Tuesday afternoon, March 1, 2022 at Atrium Stanly in Albemarle.

Graveside services will be held at 2:00PM, Thursday, March 3, 2022 at Norview Gardens in Norwood. Rev. Derrick Adcock will officiate. Mrs. Duke will lie in state at Edwards Funeral Home in Norwood from 10:00AM until 12:00PM, prior to the service, where friends and family are welcome to pay their respects.

Jeanette was born March 8, 1934 in Stanly County to the late Gilbert C. and Sadie Plyler Messimer. She was an active member of Norwood Church of the Nazarene and a retiree of Collins & Aikman, Norwood.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Haywood Duke and their son, Perry Dean Duke.

She is survived by her daughter in law, Sheila Duke; grandsons, Jesse Duke(Leanna) and Jacob Duke(Alyssa) ; three great grandchildren, Deacon, Dawson and Bennett; brother, Bobby R. Mesimer.

Kathryn Laton

Alene Lowder Brooks

January 6, 1925 February 27, 2022

June 26, 1925 - March 2, 2022

Sylvester Bennett, 97, of Badin, passed away Sunday, February 27, 2022in the Salisbury VA Medical Center, Salisbury, NC. Mr. Bennett was born January 6, 1925 in Anson County, NC, to the late George Bennett and Mary Lee Marshall Bennett. He was a Veteran of the United States Army. Sylvester retired from ALCOA after twentynine years.

Sylvester was preceded in death by his wife, Fannie Mae Powell Bennett in November, 2015. He is survived by three sons, Sylvester Ricardo Bennett, Jr. of Badin, NC, Oliver Bryon Bennett (Theresa) of Pembroke, GA and Stanley Burnell Bennett (Sharon) of Concord, NC; six daughters, Marietta Bennett of Charlotte, NC, Thomasine Watkins (Bernard) of Norwood, NC, Donna Carothers of Albemarle, NC, Zina Collins of Badin, NC, Zaru Bey (Karim) of Charlotte, NC and Shirley Westbrook of Mooresville, NC; three sisters, Lelia Jones of Simpsonville, SC, Rosetta White of Charlotte, NC and Luretta Kelly of Charlotte, NC; five sister-in-laws, Sarah Sutton of Badin, NC, Hattie Powell of New London, NC, Mattie Bennett of Charlotte, NC, Jean Bennett of Charlotte, NC and Mary Moore of West Hartford, CT, and a number of grandchildren, great grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren and a host of many nieces and nephews.

Stanly Funeral and Cremation Care of Albemarle is serving the Bennett family.

Alene Marie Lowder Brooks of Richfield, NC, passed from this life into life eternal after several years of declining health Wednesday, March 2, 2022.

Born on June 26, 1925, she was the daughter of the late John Frank Lowder and Quennie Tine Smith Lowder. She was a graduate of New London High School and Salisbury Business College.

Alene was preceded in death by her loving husband, Charles Spurgeon Brooks. Also preceding her in death were three brothers, James D. Lowder, John Frank “Bud” Lowder, and C. Ray Lowder, and four sisters, Esther L. Bunting, Cecile L. Almond, and Ada Lowder.

She is survived by her four children: Judy Allred and husband Jim, Butch Brooks and wife Wanda, Steve Brooks, and Jed Brooks and wife Bonnie, all of Richfield.

Alene was blessed to have nine grandchildren: Grant Allred (April), Anna Allred-McGee (Brant), Elizabeth Sutton (Brad), Jennifer Carrick (Jamie), Laura Daugherty (Lee), Kim Shaver (Jeremy), Amanda Bowen (Kent), Jed David Brooks, Jr., Jenna Brooks (Philip Nanney), and 23 great-grandchildren: Jacob, Grayson, and Laurel Allred, Isabella, Sophia, and Evelyn McGee, Ashland, Addison, and Garrett Sutton, Tanner, Avery, and Hannah Carrick, Catherine, Tyler, and Lily Daugherty, Luke and Charlie Shaver, Grier, Blake, and Quinn Bowen, and Emery, Carson, and Graham Nanney.

Linda Swaringen

James Wade Harris

July 29, 2016 - March 1, 2022 James Wade Harris, 5, of Richfield passed away Tuesday, March 1, 2022 in Levine’s Children’s Hospital in Charlotte.

Born July 29, 2016 in Stanly County, NC he was the son Brandon Wade Harris and Elizabeth Marie Vanhoy of Richfield.

In addition to his parents he is survived by a brother Trypp Harris and sister Nevaeh Harris, maternal grandparents James and Marie Vanhoy of Richfield, paternal grandparent Kari Harris of Georgia.

Stanly County Journal for Wednesday, March 9, 2022

8

STATE & NATION

Zelenskyy’s ‘desperate’ plea to Congress: Send more planes

By Lisa Mascaro The Associated Press WASHINGTON, D.C. — Fighting for his country’s survival, Ukraine’s leader made a “desperate” plea Saturday to American lawmakers for the United States to help get more warplanes to his military and cut off Russian oil imports as Kyiv tries to stave off the Russian invasion.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy opened the private video call with U.S. lawmakers by telling them this may be the last time they see him alive. He has remained in Kyiv, the capital, which has a vast Russian armored column threatening from the north.

Appearing in what is now his trademark army-green shirt in front of a white wall with the Ukrainian flag, he told them Ukraine needs to secure its skies, either through a no-fly zone enforced by NATO or through the provision of more warplanes so Ukraine could better defend itself.

Zelenskyy has been pleading for a no-fly zone for days, but NATO has refused, saying it could provoke a widespread war with Russia.

The hourlong exchange with some 300 members of Congress

and their staffs came as Russian troops continued to shell encircled cities and the number of Ukrainians who have fled the country grew to 1.4 million.

“President Zelenskyy made a desperate plea,” said Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer.

He said Zelenskyy wants the U.S. to facilitate the transfer of planes from Eastern European allies. “I will do all I can to help the administration to facilitate their transfer,” Schumer said.

There appears to be a logistical problem, however, in sending F-16s to Poland or other East European allies because of a production backlog. These countries would essentially have to give their MiGs to the Ukrainians and accept an IOU from the U.S. for the F-16s. The situation is further complicated because the next shipment of F-16s is set for Taiwan, and Congress would be reluctant to delay those deliveries as it eyes China.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken reiterated that the U.S. support for Ukraine “not only has been unprecedented, not only is it going to continue, it’s going to increase.”

The U.S. Congress is working on a $10 billion package of mil-

itary and humanitarian aid to Ukraine. Schumer told Zelenskyy lawmakers hope to send it quickly to Ukraine, according to a person on the call and granted anonymity to discuss it.

When Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell asked about the types of military support his country needs, Zelenskyy said drones as well as planes would be the most helpful.

During the call, Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia asked Zelenskyy about the idea of banning the import of Russian oil to the U.S., according to two other people granted anonymity to discuss the private call. They said Zelenskyy indicated such a ban would be effective in putting pressure on Russia.

Republicans and a growing number of Democrats, including Speaker Nancy Pelosi, back the idea of an Russian oil import ban.

The Biden administration has so far resisted that step, worried about rising prices at the pump.

Zelenskyy urged U.S. lawmakers to sanction Russia’s oil and gas sector, which has so far escaped the mounting sanctions imposed by the Biden administration and other countries.

The Ukrainian leader also

AP PHOTO

In this photo, Feb. 27, 2022, taken from video provided by the Ukrainian Presidential Press Office, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks to the nation in Kyiv, Ukraine. urged lawmakers to suspend Visa and Mastercard credit card access in Russia — and the two announced later Saturday that they were doing just that. Mastercard said cards issued by Russian banks will no longer be supported by its network and any card issued outside the country will not work at Russian stores or ATMs. Visa said it’s working with clients and partners in Russia to cease all Visa transactions over the coming days.

In a video posted to Twitter after the call, Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said: “Anything that could hurt the Russian economy will help the Ukrainian people and may make this war more difficult for Putin.”

Zelenskyy’s office said he also

suggested the U.S. consider imposing an embargo on all Russian goods and stripping Russia of its most-favored-nation trade status.

Lawmakers are concerned that Zelenskyy will be killed in the Russian invasion. They are also worried that a Ukrainian government under assault will be unable to function and to receive aid.

When one lawmaker asked diplomatically what would happen if he was killed, Zelenskyy acknowledged the concerns but implored Congress to do whatever it can to help Ukraine fight off Russia’s assault on his country.

Sen. Ben Sasse, R-Neb., said in a statement that Zelenskyy’s “message is simple: ‘close the skies or give us planes.’”

Western NC Rep. Cawthorn’s candidacy challenge blocked

By Gary D. Robertson The Associated Press RALEIGH — A federal judge on Friday blocked an effort by voters to disqualify North Carolina Rep. Madison Cawthorn from seeking reelection this fall by alleging his involvement with the rally that preceded the U.S. Capitol riot in January 2021 made him ineligible.

U.S. District Judge Richard Myers in Wilmington issued a preliminary injunction, according to a hearing summary provided by the federal court system.

The order is a victory for Cawthorn, a 26-year-old, first-term Republican and close ally of former President Donald Trump.

Myers declared the state’s candidate challenge process didn’t apply to a portion of the 14th Amendment designed to prevent congressmen who had fought on the Confederate side during the Civil War from returning to Congress, according to attorneys involved in the challenge and Cawthorn’s lawsuit.

Several North Carolina voters affiliated with left-leaning organizations had filed candidate challenges alleging Cawthorn is disqualified because evidence shows he “engaged in insurrection” related to the events of Jan. 6, 2021, including the rally in which he spoke and where the presidential election outcome was questioned.

The amendment says no one can serve in Congress “who, having previously taken an oath, as a member of Congress . . . to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same.”

AP PHOTO

Rep. Madison Cawthorn, R-N.C., arrives in the chamber of the House of Representatives before the State of the Union address by President Joe Biden to a joint session of Congress at the Capitol, Tuesday, March 1, 2022, in Washington, D.C. The ruling means the State Board of Elections can’t move ahead with a formal review of his qualifications based on the voters’ arguments, which would have required the creation of a special panel to investigate as soon as Monday.

Cawthorn, who voted against certifying Joe Biden’s presidential victory days after he was sworn in to office, says he’s never participated in an insurrection against the U.S., and the amendment didn’t apply to him. He filed a lawsuit that sought to block candidacy investigations by the State Board of Elections against him and anyone

else, saying the process violates his due process rights.

Myers, who was nominated to the federal bench by Trump and confirmed in 2019, issued a more narrow ruling, declaring that challenges under the portion of the 14th Amendment couldn’t be heard by North Carolina elections officials.

Myers cited an 1872 federal law that removed office-holding disqualifications for most Confederates but kept the prohibition in part for those who served in only a couple of specific sessions of Congress, according to John Wallace, an attorney for the voters chal-

lenging Cawthorn, who was in the courtroom.

The 14th Amendment provision states that Congress can vote to remove such disqualifications.

Therefore, the provision doesn’t apply to Cawthorn, according to his lawsuit.

“HUGE VICTORY!” Cawthorn’s campaign tweeted. “The left’s lawfare tactics have failed.

On to reelection!”

Free Speech for People, a national election and campaign finance reform group backing the challenges, was disappointed with the decision. The group has said it intends to file similar chal-

lenges against other members of Congress associated with the protest.

“The ruling must be reversed on appeal, and the right of voters to bring this challenge to Cawthorn’s eligibility must be preserved.” Ron Fein, the group’s legal director, said in a written statement. The State Board of Elections, a lawsuit defendant, was reviewing the court’s decision, board spokesperson Pat Gannon said.

North Carolina government attorneys for the elections board said in filings the state had the authority to police which candidates should or shouldn’t be disqualified under the 14th Amendment provision, just like the powers used to enforce age and residency requirements before elections.

Candidate challenges were initially brought in January, after Cawthorn had officially filed to run in the 13th District created by the General Assembly during redistricting.

But redistricting litigation led to two more redraws that largely eliminated that district and shifted the 13th to eastern North Carolina. Cawthorn decided this week to run in a far-western 11th District that largely mirrors the region he represents now. Since challenges must come from voters within the district in which the candidate is running, the old challenges had become moot, and two voters in the new 11th District filed challenges on Wednesday.

If the ruling stands, Cawthorn will face seven other Republicans running in the May 17 GOP primary for the 11th District nomination. Six Democrats also filed to run.

Need Ammo?

.223  .45  .40  .308  9mm NCammunition.com

VOLUME 4 ISSUE 24 | WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9, 2022

Twin City Herald

PJ WARD-BROWN | NORTH STATE JOURNAL

Alondes Williams, pictured shooting against Duke earlier this season, was named ACC Player of the Year after leading the league in both scoring and assists.

WHAT’S HAPPENING

Wake sweeps major ACC awards Steve Forbes wins coach of year, Alondes Williams player of year

Contractor defaults on I-40 bridge project Forsyth County A contractor has defaulted on a contract to build a $12.3 million bridge replacement on Interstate 40. The N.C. Department of Transportation terminated its contract with National Bridge Builders LLC of Kernersville over its “failure to resolve payment issues” and “provide sufficient labor and equipment to complete the project.” NCDOT said National Bridge completed about 55% of the bridge work and was paid $7.1 million. The bridge, part of Sugar Hill Road in McDowell County, will pass over I-40. Construction began on the project in July 2019 with an original completion date of March 2022. NCDOT requires contractors to have a bonding company in case the agency is forced to terminate a contractor’s right to work on a project. In this instance, a bonding company is now responsible for the project, and no construction activity will occur until a new contractor is hired to take over the job, which is expected to occur later this year.

AP

2 convicted of inciting fight at assisted living facility Forsyth County Two women have been convicted of inciting two female residents at an assisted living facility to fight each other in 2019. The fight was recorded and shared with others.

One woman pleaded guilty to two counts of misdemeanor assault of an individual with a disability.

The other woman pleaded guilty to one count of misdemeanor assault of an individual with a disability. A judge gave the first woman a suspended 45-day jail sentence and placed her on 12 months of supervised probation.

She has to complete 50 hours of community service and must stay away from the facility and have no contact with any of its residents.

The other woman received a 30-day suspended jail sentence and was placed on 12 months of unsupervised probation. She also must stay away from the facility and cannot have contact with the other defendant, the two residents involved in the fight or another co-defendant, the judge ruled.

AP

Twin City Herald staff WAKE FOREST had its most successful men’s basketball season in 14 years, and ACC award voters took notice.

Head coach Steve Forbes was named the Atlantic Coast Conference Coach of the Year, and guard Alondes Williams has been selected as the ACC Player of the Year.

Forbes, in his second year as coach of the Demon Deacons, helped the Deacs post a 23-8 regular season record, 13-7 in the ACC, good for fifth place in the league.

It’s Wake’s first winning record since 2016-17, its first 20-win season since 2009-10 and its first winning record in the ACC since

2009-10, which was also the last time Wake finished as high as fifth in the standings. Wake reached double digits in conference wins for the first time since 2008-09.

The Deacs had a remarkable turnaround from last season’s 6-16 record, 3-15 in the conference. The Deacs tied the single-season program record for ACC wins with 13 (2004-05, 2002-03). With just six league wins last season, the Deacs had the largest year-to-year improvement ever in ACC win totals with 10. Additionally, Wake Forest’s nine conference victories by 15 or more points this season lead the conference and are the most by an ACC team since Virginia also won nine ACC contests by at least 15 points in 2018-19.

With a 17-win differential from last year to this year, Wake Forest is on pace to have one of the largest improvements from year to

Forbes received 40 of the 78 votes cast, more than doubling Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski.

year in NCAA history. Wake Forest earned its 16th win of the season inside LJVM Coliseum last week, which is tied for the highest total in program history.

Forbes became the fifth Wake Forest coach to earn the honor and the first since Skip Prosser in 2003. Dave Odom won it in 1991, 1994 and 1995. Bones McKinney won it in 1960 and 1961, and Murray Greason won in 1956.

Forbes received 40 of the 78 votes cast, more than doubling

Duke’s Mike Krzyzewski, who received 19 to finish second.

Williams became the eight Deac to win Player of the Year and first since Josh Howard in 2003. Dickie Hemric won in 1954 and 1955, Len Chappell in 1961 and 1962, Charlie Davis in 1971, Rod Griffin in 1977, Rodney Rogers in 1993 and Tim Duncan in 1996 and 1997.

Williams is the first player to lead the ACC in scoring and assists in the same season.

He received 41 of the 78 votes, outpacing Armando Bacot (31).

Williams was also named to the All-ACC first team. Junior forward Jake LaRavia was named to the Second Team. It’s the first time Wake has placed someone on the first and second team since 2005.

Khadim Sy also tied for second place in ACC Sixth Man of the Year voting, behind FSU’s Matthew Cleveland.

Wake Forest signs Forbes to ‘long-term’ contract extension The Associated Press WAKE FOREST says second-year coach Steve Forbes has signed a “long-term” contract extension as he leads a rapid rise for the long-struggling Demon Deacons program.

The school announced the deal Monday, the same day the Atlantic Coast Conference picked Forbes as coach of the year. The private university didn’t release terms of the extension.

Forbes said the negotiations were stress-free.

“I didn’t have to go to them,” Forbes said in a video teleconference with reporters. “They came to me. ... I never lost one ounce of sleep about it. I knew (athletics director John Currie) and my agent would get it done. And they did.

“It wasn’t a commitment just to me. It was a commitment to my staff, my players and the entire program.”

Forbes was the only hire made by a power-conference men’s basketball program as the COVID-19 pandemic shut down the sports world in spring 2020, then labored through a pandemic-altered first season with six wins.

This year’s Demon Deacons were picked to finish 13th in the 15-team ACC. Instead, Wake Forest (23-8) has its highest win total since the 2008-09 sea-

PJ WARD-BROWN | NORTH STATE JOURNAL

Wake Forest Demon Deacons head coach Steve Forbes talks to his bench against the Louisville Cardinals during an ACC mens basketball game at LJMC in Winston-Salem, NC on February 26,2022. Wake Forest Demon Deacons wins 99-77 son and holds the No. 5 seed for this week’s ACC Tournament in New York, where it opens play in Wednesday’s second round against the Boston College-Pittsburgh winner.

The Demon Deacons could also reach the NCAA Tournament for only the second time since 2010.

Forbes hit it big on the transfer market to enable him to restructure this year’s roster. Headlining the new additions is Oklahoma transfer Alondes Williams, who was the league’s No. 2 scorer (19.3) and assists leader (5.3) en route to being named ACC player of the year. The Demon Deacons also added Indiana State forward

Jake LaRavia, picked as a second-team all-ACC performer.

“Him being on us everyday in practice and seeing how much he cares about this game ... it was just great seeing him win that (award) and seeing what he’s been putting into this program to turn it around,” Williams said.

The extension marks the second time in recent months that Currie has sought to secure one of his headlining coaches who could be an attractive candidate for other jobs.

The school in November announced it had signed football coach Dave Clawson to an extension as he led the Demon Deacons to a top-10 national ranking in the ACC championship game.

“They put the ball in my court,” Forbes said. “This is where I want to be, I never said anything different. ... I will say this: if your name is being mentioned for stuff like that, it’s a good thing because it means you’re winning.

They ain’t going to put your name in there if you’re losing.”

5

20177 52016 $0.50

8

Twin City Herald for Wednesday, March 9, 2022

2 WEDNESDAY

WEEKLY FORECAST

3.9.22 #180

WEDNESDAY

MAR 9

HI LO PRECIP

“Join the conversation” Twin City Herald

57° 42° 94%

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

MAR 10

HI LO PRECIP

52° 38° 16%

MAR 11 HI LO PRECIP

66° 46° 14%

SATURDAY

MAR 12

HI LO PRECIP

50° 23° 88%

SUNDAY

MAR 13

HI LO PRECIP

52° 32° 0%

MONDAY

MAR 14

HI LO PRECIP

64° 42° 5%

TUESDAY

MAR 15

HI LO PRECIP

66° 45° 43%

COLUMN | JOYCE KRAWIEC

Lies my president told me

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.

(704) 269-8461 INFO@TWINCITYHERALD.COM TWINCITYHERALD.COM 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.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: North State Journal

1201 Edwards Mill Rd. Suite 300 Raleigh, NC 27607

DEATH NOTICES ♦ Bobby Ray Clinard, 89, of Kernersville, died March 4, 2022. ♦ Glenda Gail Whitaker Dion, 79, of Winston-Salem, died March 4, 2022. ♦ Sarah Davis Edwards, 97, of Winston-Salem, died March 2, 2022. ♦ Roger Dale Fulk, 68, of Forsyth County, died March 4, 2022. ♦ Shelia Ann Goode, 71, of Forsyth County, died March 4, 2022. ♦ Steven “Steve” Dale Hedgecock, 72, of Colfax, died March 4, 2022. ♦ Alfred Ray Joyner, 83, of Winston-Salem, died March 4, 2022. ♦ Travis Ray Joyner, 72, of Lewisville, died March 6, 2022. ♦ Bruce Allan Kourim, 58, of Winston-Salem, died March 3, 2022. ♦ Donna Irving Lambeth, 83, of Winston-Salem, died March 7, 2022. ♦ Bobby Graham Messick, 89, of Lewisville, died March 3, 2022. ♦ Frank Foster Mize, 90, died March 5, 2022. ♦ Richard David “Rick” Murray, Sr., 83, of Winston Salem, died March 2, 2022. ♦ Jack Lee Palmer, 88, of Mount Airy, died March 2, 2022. ♦ Anita “Nita” Jo Brannon Phillips, 59, of Pfafftown, died March 3, 2022. ♦ Eva Marie Brewer Tuttle, 83, of Forsyth County, died March 4, 2022. ♦ Mary Ann Sloan Watkins, 79, of Clemmons, died March 3, 2022. ♦ Herman Leon Wilson, 90, of Pfafftown, died March 2, 2022.

Over the past year, Biden has been anything but a uniter.

HAVE YOU EVER been lied to? Perhaps a colleague at work promised to finish that high-stakes report

by Friday. You were depending on them to save the day, only for them to come up short and force you to scramble over the weekend. Or your sister promised to babysit on that long-needed getaway weekend, only to bail at the last minute. The most painful lies involve family members and those we love. Spouses that cheat and destroy households can cause tremendous pain and heartache. Parents that change wills at the last-minute and make promises that they know they cannot keep.

Big, and small, we have all felt it.

Human beings are naturally social creatures. Our brains cause us to feel a sense of well-being and security when we know that we can rely on others.

Being lied to destroys this feeling. It makes us feel isolated, betrayed, and humiliated. It wreaks havoc on our ability to trust others and work together cohesively.

When a person lies too often, people also quickly learn to discard anything they have to say. We all know the story of the little boy who cried ‘wolf.’

The Bible tells us that lying is one of the most destructive forces in the universe. Throughout its pages, we can see lies wrecking friendships and family bonds. More than one nation has also been destroyed by the lies of its leaders. Could it happen here?

Joe Biden began his presidency by promising to unite the country. He outlined the challenges facing America before promising that “my whole soul is in this: Bringing America together, uniting our people, uniting our nation. And I ask every American to join me in this cause.”

Over the past year, Biden has been anything but a uniter. He has thrown his full support into demanding extreme mask and vaccination mandates. Instead of listening to those who disagree with him, he attempted to go after them with the full force of the United States federal government. We all remember the infamous letter from the United States Department of Justice, labelling parents at school board members as “domestic terrorists.” It read like something out of Moscow circa the 20th century. Instead, it was from Washington, DC circa 2021.

In the summer, Biden told another whopper.

Describing the long-overdue pullout from Afghanistan, the President went on national television and said, “the likelihood there’s going to be the Taliban overrunning everything and owning the whole country is highly unlikely.”

Americans were then treated to images of the Taliban violently taking control of Afghanistan.

Desperate families lined the airports and the borders as the Taliban seized Kabul. Conflicting reports about Americans trapped in the country started to leak into the press. We all saw that viral image side-by-side with the picture from the Fall of Saigon. We abandoned Americans in that country with no way to escape. We saw Afghans hanging on to the wings of planes and falling from the sky. Our nation was embarrassed and weakened on the world stage.

After that fiasco, President Biden’s approval rating started to tank. It has been going down ever since. This sends a message that Americans are fed up with the ‘woke’ nonsense and the ‘cancel culture’.

Today, Russia is surging into Ukraine and upsetting the current global order. It has been heartbreaking to watch families trying to flee the country. President Biden has a lot to say about the latest moves.

Biden recently promised that “We want to send an unmistakable message, though, that the United States, together with our Allies, will defend every inch of NATO territory and abide by the commitments we made to NATO.” Amid skyrocketing gas prices, the President also promised that “As we respond, my administration is using every tool at our disposal to protect American businesses and consumers from rising prices at the pump.” It’s too late, Mr. President, gas prices have soared since you took office.

We, the people, now find ourselves in an awkward position. Our leader is signaling that we might need to make sacrifices in the months ahead. Sacrifices are already being made by those who can least afford it.

Soaring gas prices affect the lower income population disproportionately and those in rural areas who travel farther distances for work. That encompasses most of North Carolina.

The conflict could end in Ukraine if sanctions in their oil production were in place. The United States imported more oil from Russia last year than any other country. Thus providing Putin the funds he needed to invade Ukraine. Say what you want about Donald Trump, but the US was energy independent under his leadership.

If President Biden would reopen drilling, as Trump did, and allow American producers to produce again, Putin would be finished and the people in Ukraine could be saved.

I’m afraid President Biden is not up to the task. Can we trust him?

Joyce Krawiec represents the 31st district in the N.C. Senate.

WEEKLY CRIME LOG ♦ AUTRY, BRANDON LEE was arrested on a charge of BREAK COIN MACHINE at 3234 SWAIM ROAD on 3/6/2022 ♦ BALBUENA CRUZ, GERALDINE was arrested on a charge of CONCEALING MDSE at 318 E HANES MILL RD/SUMMIT SQUARE BV on 3/6/2022

3/5/2022 ♦ HARDIN, ALEXIS NICOLE was arrested on a charge of FUGITIVE ARREST (MAGISTRATE`S ORDER) at 5981 UNIVERSITY PW on 3/6/2022 ♦ Holt, Donnie Lee (M/41) Arrest on chrg of Probation Violation (M), at 201 N Church St, Winston-salem, NC, on 3/6/2022 07:59.

♦ BLAKNEY, CHRISTOPHER LEON was arrested on a charge of DRUGSPOSS SCHED II at 1487 NEW WALKERTOWN RD on 3/4/2022

♦ HOLT, DONNIE LEE was arrested on a charge of RESISTING ARREST at 403 E TENTH ST on 3/4/2022

♦ Bonner, Alexander Lee (M/20) Arrest on chrg of 1) Assault On Female (M) and 2) Vand-personal Prop (M), at 7194 Spring Hill Rd, Lewisville, NC, on 3/2/2022 13:50.

J ♦ ohnson, Latoya Tanika (F/35) Arrest on chrg of Violation Domestic Violence Act, M (M), at 200 N Main St, Winston-salem, NC, on 3/3/2022 10:42.

♦ BRACERO, KRISTINA ALISSA was arrested on a charge of ASSAULTSIMPLE at W 1ST STREET/BURKE STR on 3/5/2022

♦ MANNING, JENNIFER KENNEDY was arrested on a charge of CONTRIB DELINQ MINOR at 1236 PINEBLUFF RD on 3/4/2022

♦ Brown, Nolan Lester (M/31) Arrest on chrg of 1) Larceny-felony (F), 2) Fraud-obt Property (F), and 3) Fail To Appear/compl (M), at 2155 Lewisvilleclemmons Rd, Clemmons, NC, on 3/3/2022 18:32.

♦ MANNING, RICHARD PAUL was arrested on a charge of CONTRIB DELINQ MINOR at 1236 PINEBLUFF RD on 3/4/2022

♦ CLAROS ERAZO, MAYRON JESUS was arrested on a charge of IMPAIRED DRIVING DWI at 40 EB/ PETERSCREEK on 3/7/2022 ♦ CRUZ, JOSE LUIS was arrested on a charge of IMPAIRED DRIVING DWI at 5400 BECKS CHURCH RD on 3/6/2022 ♦ EVANS, DARIUS TYSHNELANAK was arrested on a charge of 2ND DEGREE TRESPASS at 299 E TENTH ST/N PATTERSON AV on 3/5/2022 ♦ FRANCISCO, PEDRO was arrested on a charge of CONCEALING MDSE at 318 E HANES MILL RD/SUMMIT SQUARE BV on 3/6/2022 ♦ GADSON, DAQUAN MONTA was arrested on a charge of ASSAULT ON FEMALE at 105 N MLK JR DR on

♦ Massas, Manuel (M/33) Arrest on chrg of 1) Poss Cocaine Fel (F), 2) Possession Marijuana (M), 3) Driving While Impaired (M), 4) Alter, Destroy, Or Steal Evidence Of Criminal Conduct (F), 5) Ndl - Suspended / Revoked (M), 6) Speeding To Elude Arrest (F), 7) Speeding - Posted (M), and 8) Reckless Driving (M), at Hwy 73 On Ramp Exit 55, Wnston Salem, NC, on 3/2/2022 03:49. ♦ MCLAURIN, HOPE TAMARA was arrested on a charge of ROBBERY at 2823 PIEDMONT CR on 3/5/2022

on a charge of CONCEALING MDSE at 4699 KESTER MILL RD/ JONESTOWN RD on 3/5/2022 ♦ MOSS, THERON WAYNE was arrested on a charge of FRAUD-OBT PROPERTY at SIXTH/ BROAD ST on 3/5/2022 ♦ Munn, Jeremy Logan (M/23) Arrest on chrg of 1) Second Degree Sexual Exploitation Of A Minor (F), 2) Second Degree Sexual Exploitation Of A Minor (F), 3) Second Degree Sexual Exploitation Of A Minor (F), 4) Second Degree Sexual Exploitation Of A Minor (F), 5) Second Degree Sexual Exploitation Of A Minor (F), 6) Second Degree Sexual Exploitation Of A Minor (F), 7) Second Degree Sexual Exploitation Of A Minor (F), 8) Second Degree Sexual Exploitation Of A Minor (F), 9) Second Degree Sexual Exploitation Of A Minor (F), and 10) Second Degree Sexual Exploitation Of A Minor (F), at 6975 Salem Chapel Rd, Walnut Cove, NC, on 3/3/2022 19:51. ♦ Perrell, Tasha Lynn (F/43) Arrest on chrg of 1) Larceny-felony (F), 2) Larceny-credit Card (F), 3) Larcenycredit Card (F), and 4) Poss Stolen Goods (F), at 201 N Church St, Winston-salem, NC, on 3/3/2022 19:37. ♦ POPE, MIHKAIL ALEX was arrested on a charge of ASSAULT ON FEMALE at 1000 WAUGHTOWN ST on 3/7/2022 ♦ Reyes, Santos Adonay (M/42) Arrest on chrg of 1) Driving While Impaired (M) and 2) Probation Violation (F), at 6973 Yadkinville Rd, Pfafftown, NC, on 3/5/2022 22:15.

♦ MEDINACRUZ, SERGIO was arrested on a charge of ASSLT ON OFF/ST EMP at 114 STATE ST on 3/5/2022

♦ RODRIGUEZ-LOPEZ, HERIBERTO was arrested on a charge of AWIK/ SERIOUS INJURY at 201 N CHURCH ST on 3/4/2022

♦ MILLER, MICHAEL RAVON was arrested on a charge of POSSESSION OF FIREARM BY FELON at 1001 E SEVENTEENTH ST on 3/7/2022

♦ ROSS, AARON MALIK was arrested on a charge of POSS COCAINE FEL at 1000 BLK BURKE ST on 3/5/2022

♦ MOORE, JALAH MARIE was arrested

♦ Sechrist, Heather Leigh (F/47) Arrest

on chrg of Aid And Abet Larceny ($1,000 Or Less), M (M), at 2699 W Mountain St/powering Progress Dr, Kernersville, NC, on 3/4/2022 23:02 ♦ SIMS, ANTIONE DENARD was arrested on a charge of WEAP-POSS

BY FELON at 201 N CHURCH ST on 3/7/2022 ♦ Southern, Nathan Daniel (M/20) Arrest on chrg of Impaired Driving Dwi, M (M), at 3020 Main St, Walkertown, NC, on 3/3/2022 00:27. ♦ Stadler, Dylan Reed (M/28) Arrest on chrg of 1) Ccw (M), 2) Fail To Appear/ compl (M), and 3) Fail To Appear/ compl (M), at 1400 Old Hollow Rd, Winston-salem, NC, on 3/4/2022 10:27. ♦ STRIMPEL, BRIANNA PAIGE was arrested on a charge of CCW - FIREARM at WB 40/E CLEMMONSVILLE RD_WB 40 RA on 3/4/2022 ♦ WALKER, JAQUELINE MARIE was arrested on a charge of IMPAIRED DRIVING DWI at 999 S MARTIN LUTHER KING JR DR/REYNOLDS PARK RD on 3/5/2022 ♦ WARD, DERRICK JOSE was arrested on a charge of ASSAULT ON FEMALE at 100 STAGE COACH RD on 3/5/2022 ♦ WILLIAMS, JUAN MAURICE was arrested on a charge of STALKING at 2750 PIEDMONT CR on 3/4/2022 ♦ WILLIAMSON, MASON MICHAEL was arrested on a charge of FUGITIVE at 249 W SIXTH ST on 3/5/2022 ♦ WILSON, TAMEYIA CELESTE was arrested on a charge of 2ND DEGREE TRESPASS at 601 PETERS CREEK PW on 3/5/2022 ♦ WORTHY, PENNY DIANNE was arrested on a charge of FELON ADW/ SER INJURY at 5099 WINSTER DR on 3/5/2022

Twin City Herald for Wednesday, March 9, 2022

SPORTS

3 SPONSORED BY

SIDELINE REPORT NHL

NHL suspends agreement with Russia-based KHL New York The NHL suspended its dealings with the Russiabased KHL on Monday, a move that could make it more difficult for teams to sign players from there.

The NHL told its teams to cease contact with KHL counterparts and Russia-based agents as part of the suspension of the memorandum of understanding between the leagues. They can continue to communicate with North American agents certified by the NHL Players’ Association but may have more difficulty completing agreements.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Former Arizona State QB Daniels transfers to LSU Baton Rouge, La. Former Arizona State quarterback Jayden Daniels is transferring to LSU, where he will enter a wideopen competition to be the starter in coach Brian Kelly’s first season with the Tigers. Daniels entered the transfer portal last month, not long after Arizona State fired its offensive coordinator in the midst of an NCAA investigation.

He has been Arizona State’s starter the last three seasons, throwing for 6,025 yards, 32 touchdowns and 13 interceptions in 29 games. The junior has two years of eligible remaining after the NCAA granted an extra year to all athletes who competed during the pandemic-altered 2020 season.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

MSU’s Izzo passes Knight for wins by Big Ten coach East Lansing, Mich.

Tom Izzo became the alltime Big Ten leader in career wins after Michigan State defeated Maryland 77-67 on Sunday. With his 663rd win at Michigan State, Izzo passed Indiana’s Bob Knight for the most wins at a Big Ten school.

Knight remains the leader in conference wins, with 353 to second-place Izzo’s 322. The 67-year-old Izzo is in his 27th season with the Spartans, winning 10 Big Ten regular season titles and six conference tournament championships, reaching eight Final Fours and winning a national championship in 2000.

TENNIS

Zverev put on 1-year probation for outburst in Acapulco London Alexander Zverev was put on probation for one year by the ATP on Monday for violently hitting the chair umpire’s stand repeatedly with his racket following a loss in doubles at the Mexico Open. If Zverev receives a code violation that results in a fine for unsportsmanlike conduct or for “verbal or physical abuse of an official, opponent, spectator or any other person while oncourt or on-site,” he will be suspended from ATP events for eight weeks and fined an additional $25,000, the men’s tennis tour announced. Zverev, the third-ranked player in the world, has until Friday to appeal.

JOHN LOCHER | AP PHOTO

Alex Bowman celebrates after winning Sunday's NASCAR Cup Series race in Las Vegas.

Bowman edges Larson in OT to win at Las Vegas The Hendrick Motorsports teammates battled cleanly in overtime

The Associated Press LAS VEGAS — The racing rule is quite clear at Hendrick Motorsports, where the boss will let his drivers go door-to-door so long as they don’t tear up his cars.

After two of his stars tangled last week in California, Hendrick gave his team a rules refresher.

Message delivered.

Alex Bowman and Larson went wheel-to-wheel Sunday in a twolap overtime shootout at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The racing was clean from the restart to the checkered flag, and Bowman bested the reigning NASCAR champion for his first win of the season.

The win made it two straight for Hendrick through three Cup races.

The winningest owner in NASCAR

now has 281 victories.

Bowman took pride in scoring a seventh career victory with a clean 1-2 finish for Hendrick following the meeting with the boss.

“The talk was a big wakeup call,” Bowman said. “When Mr. H calls a meeting like that, it gets your attention.”

Hendrick called the meeting after Larson and Chase Elliott collided racing for the lead at California.

Larson said he didn’t see Elliott when he squeezed him into the wall and apologized. Elliott was furious, and Hendrick put the matter to rest.

Just a week later, though, the Hendrick cars again had to race one another for the win and make sure to do it without any bumping or banging. The Hendrick chance came when a spin by Erik Jones with three laps remaining brought out the 12th caution of the race and shifted the fight from a pair of Joe Gibbs Racing cars to the Hendrick cars.

“Kyle and I historically have always raced each other really clean and this was no different.”

Alex Bowman Las Vegas native Kyle Busch and teammate Martin Truex Jr. had been in a lap-by-lap chess match for the win until Jones’ crash. Busch thought he’d inched ahead of Truex and had the win locked up until the caution.

“I don’t know what it was,” Busch said. “But anyways, wasn’t meant to be. Not our day. See you next week.”

The Hendrick trio of Bowman, Larson and William Byron all changed just two tires to get off pit road first through third. Busch, who had gone to the pits as the

leader, took four tires and came off pit road in fourth.

Larson, the defending Las Vegas winner and winner last week in California, chose the outside line for the restart with Bowman on his inside. The two were in a drag race over the final two laps and Bowman, who led three times for 16 laps, beat Larson to the finish line by 0.178 seconds.

“Kyle and I historically have always raced each other really clean and this was no different,” Bowman said.

Ross Chastain finished third for TrackHouse Racing and a podium sweep for Chevrolet. Chastain, who had led just 75 laps over 117 previous starts, led a race-high 83 laps.

Busch finished fourth in a backup Toyota after crashing in Saturday morning practice when his tire went flat. The wreck destroyed his car and because backups are in short supply at the start of NASCAR’s rollout of the Next Gen model, the only option JGR had was a “parts car” not meant for competition.

Byron was fifth to give Hendrick three drivers in the top five and Aric Almirola was sixth and the highest-finishing Ford. Almirola is the only driver to finish inside the top-10 through NASCAR’s first three races of the season.

Despite vitriol, MLB owners, locked-out players closing gap The work stoppage is approaching 100 days and jeopardizing a full 162-game season

The Associated Press NEW YORK — For all the vitriol, Major League Baseball owners and locked-out players have closed the gap in recent weeks and are negotiating on similar frameworks for a new collective bargaining agreement.

With the lockout in its 96th day Monday, the sides remained apart to various degrees on three of the most significant items: the luxury tax, pre-arbitration bonus pool and minimum salary.

MLB told the union on Monday that Tuesday was the last possible day to reach an agreement that would allow a 162-game schedule, along with full salary and service time, a deadline first reported by The Athletic.

Openers on March 31 were among 91 games already canceled, and Commissioner Rob Manfred appeared to be on the verge of calling off more.

“This is a horrible, horrible situation. Everyone on the Yankees, everyone in Major League Baseball shares the blame, players, owners, executives for where we are. It’s a really bad look, especially (with) what’s going on in the world,” Yankees president Randy Levine said Monday on the team’s YES Network. “We all look pretty bad. ... It’s embarrassing to be where we are.”

In an industry where payrolls project to total in the $4 billion range, the percentage differences

WILFREDO LEE | AP PHOTO

Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred speaks during a news conference last Tuesday. The owners and players seem to be inching toward a compromise that could preserve a 162-game season. on some items do not appear to be insurmountable.

The sides appear to be about $15 million apart on the minimum salary for this year, $20 million for 2023 and $25 million for 2024, each less than 1% of payrolls. This assumes about half of players in the major leagues at any given time are impacted by the minimum.

Differences are greater in the final two seasons, when the union is asking for cost-of-living increases.

The gap in the new pre-arbitration bonus pool is $50 million this year, rising to $70 million by 2026.

But, again, the percentage of overall payroll affected by this item is relatively small, under 2%.

And then there is the most di-

visive issue, luxury tax thresholds.

The sides are $18 million apart this year, a difference rising to $33 million by 2026.

Both sides are close to an agreement on an amateur draft lottery aimed to incentive competition.

Management has offered the top five selections and players asked for the top six, with some differences on limitations for teams participation in consecutive years.

Despite moving toward each other, the sides remain headed to a lost season unless they find a compromise.

“That’s a mind-boggling, horrid, horrid thought,” Levine said.

“Shame on all of us if it ever gets to that.”

“We all look pretty bad. ... It’s embarrassing to be where we are.”

Randy Levine, Yankees president

the bett ing to e stitution don’t kn now.”

The o for mil taking while a about t

Twin City Herald for Wednesday, March 9, 2022

4

STATE & NATION

Zelenskyy’s ‘desperate’ plea to Congress: Send more planes

By Lisa Mascaro The Associated Press WASHINGTON, D.C. — Fighting for his country’s survival, Ukraine’s leader made a “desperate” plea Saturday to American lawmakers for the United States to help get more warplanes to his military and cut off Russian oil imports as Kyiv tries to stave off the Russian invasion.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy opened the private video call with U.S. lawmakers by telling them this may be the last time they see him alive. He has remained in Kyiv, the capital, which has a vast Russian armored column threatening from the north.

Appearing in what is now his trademark army-green shirt in front of a white wall with the Ukrainian flag, he told them Ukraine needs to secure its skies, either through a no-fly zone enforced by NATO or through the provision of more warplanes so Ukraine could better defend itself.

Zelenskyy has been pleading for a no-fly zone for days, but NATO has refused, saying it could provoke a widespread war with Russia.

The hourlong exchange with some 300 members of Congress

and their staffs came as Russian troops continued to shell encircled cities and the number of Ukrainians who have fled the country grew to 1.4 million.

“President Zelenskyy made a desperate plea,” said Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer.

He said Zelenskyy wants the U.S. to facilitate the transfer of planes from Eastern European allies. “I will do all I can to help the administration to facilitate their transfer,” Schumer said.

There appears to be a logistical problem, however, in sending F-16s to Poland or other East European allies because of a production backlog. These countries would essentially have to give their MiGs to the Ukrainians and accept an IOU from the U.S. for the F-16s. The situation is further complicated because the next shipment of F-16s is set for Taiwan, and Congress would be reluctant to delay those deliveries as it eyes China.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken reiterated that the U.S. support for Ukraine “not only has been unprecedented, not only is it going to continue, it’s going to increase.”

The U.S. Congress is working on a $10 billion package of mil-

itary and humanitarian aid to Ukraine. Schumer told Zelenskyy lawmakers hope to send it quickly to Ukraine, according to a person on the call and granted anonymity to discuss it.

When Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell asked about the types of military support his country needs, Zelenskyy said drones as well as planes would be the most helpful.

During the call, Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia asked Zelenskyy about the idea of banning the import of Russian oil to the U.S., according to two other people granted anonymity to discuss the private call. They said Zelenskyy indicated such a ban would be effective in putting pressure on Russia.

Republicans and a growing number of Democrats, including Speaker Nancy Pelosi, back the idea of an Russian oil import ban.

The Biden administration has so far resisted that step, worried about rising prices at the pump.

Zelenskyy urged U.S. lawmakers to sanction Russia’s oil and gas sector, which has so far escaped the mounting sanctions imposed by the Biden administration and other countries.

The Ukrainian leader also

AP PHOTO

In this photo, Feb. 27, 2022, taken from video provided by the Ukrainian Presidential Press Office, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks to the nation in Kyiv, Ukraine. urged lawmakers to suspend Visa and Mastercard credit card access in Russia — and the two announced later Saturday that they were doing just that. Mastercard said cards issued by Russian banks will no longer be supported by its network and any card issued outside the country will not work at Russian stores or ATMs. Visa said it’s working with clients and partners in Russia to cease all Visa transactions over the coming days.

In a video posted to Twitter after the call, Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said: “Anything that could hurt the Russian economy will help the Ukrainian people and may make this war more difficult for Putin.”

Zelenskyy’s office said he also

suggested the U.S. consider imposing an embargo on all Russian goods and stripping Russia of its most-favored-nation trade status.

Lawmakers are concerned that Zelenskyy will be killed in the Russian invasion. They are also worried that a Ukrainian government under assault will be unable to function and to receive aid.

When one lawmaker asked diplomatically what would happen if he was killed, Zelenskyy acknowledged the concerns but implored Congress to do whatever it can to help Ukraine fight off Russia’s assault on his country.

Sen. Ben Sasse, R-Neb., said in a statement that Zelenskyy’s “message is simple: ‘close the skies or give us planes.’”

Western NC Rep. Cawthorn’s candidacy challenge blocked

By Gary D. Robertson The Associated Press RALEIGH — A federal judge on Friday blocked an effort by voters to disqualify North Carolina Rep. Madison Cawthorn from seeking reelection this fall by alleging his involvement with the rally that preceded the U.S. Capitol riot in January 2021 made him ineligible.

U.S. District Judge Richard Myers in Wilmington issued a preliminary injunction, according to a hearing summary provided by the federal court system.

The order is a victory for Cawthorn, a 26-year-old, first-term Republican and close ally of former President Donald Trump.

Myers declared the state’s candidate challenge process didn’t apply to a portion of the 14th Amendment designed to prevent congressmen who had fought on the Confederate side during the Civil War from returning to Congress, according to attorneys involved in the challenge and Cawthorn’s lawsuit.

Several North Carolina voters affiliated with left-leaning organizations had filed candidate challenges alleging Cawthorn is disqualified because evidence shows he “engaged in insurrection” related to the events of Jan. 6, 2021, including the rally in which he spoke and where the presidential election outcome was questioned.

The amendment says no one can serve in Congress “who, having previously taken an oath, as a member of Congress . . . to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same.”

AP PHOTO

Rep. Madison Cawthorn, R-N.C., arrives in the chamber of the House of Representatives before the State of the Union address by President Joe Biden to a joint session of Congress at the Capitol, Tuesday, March 1, 2022, in Washington, D.C. The ruling means the State Board of Elections can’t move ahead with a formal review of his qualifications based on the voters’ arguments, which would have required the creation of a special panel to investigate as soon as Monday.

Cawthorn, who voted against certifying Joe Biden’s presidential victory days after he was sworn in to office, says he’s never participated in an insurrection against the U.S., and the amendment didn’t apply to him. He filed a lawsuit that sought to block candidacy investigations by the State Board of Elections against him and anyone

else, saying the process violates his due process rights.

Myers, who was nominated to the federal bench by Trump and confirmed in 2019, issued a more narrow ruling, declaring that challenges under the portion of the 14th Amendment couldn’t be heard by North Carolina elections officials.

Myers cited an 1872 federal law that removed office-holding disqualifications for most Confederates but kept the prohibition in part for those who served in only a couple of specific sessions of Congress, according to John Wallace, an attorney for the voters chal-

lenging Cawthorn, who was in the courtroom.

The 14th Amendment provision states that Congress can vote to remove such disqualifications.

Therefore, the provision doesn’t apply to Cawthorn, according to his lawsuit.

“HUGE VICTORY!” Cawthorn’s campaign tweeted. “The left’s lawfare tactics have failed.

On to reelection!”

Free Speech for People, a national election and campaign finance reform group backing the challenges, was disappointed with the decision. The group has said it intends to file similar chal-

lenges against other members of Congress associated with the protest.

“The ruling must be reversed on appeal, and the right of voters to bring this challenge to Cawthorn’s eligibility must be preserved.” Ron Fein, the group’s legal director, said in a written statement. The State Board of Elections, a lawsuit defendant, was reviewing the court’s decision, board spokesperson Pat Gannon said.

North Carolina government attorneys for the elections board said in filings the state had the authority to police which candidates should or shouldn’t be disqualified under the 14th Amendment provision, just like the powers used to enforce age and residency requirements before elections.

Candidate challenges were initially brought in January, after Cawthorn had officially filed to run in the 13th District created by the General Assembly during redistricting.

But redistricting litigation led to two more redraws that largely eliminated that district and shifted the 13th to eastern North Carolina. Cawthorn decided this week to run in a far-western 11th District that largely mirrors the region he represents now. Since challenges must come from voters within the district in which the candidate is running, the old challenges had become moot, and two voters in the new 11th District filed challenges on Wednesday.

If the ruling stands, Cawthorn will face seven other Republicans running in the May 17 GOP primary for the 11th District nomination. Six Democrats also filed to run.

Need Ammo?

.223  .45  .40  .308  9mm NCammunition.com

VOLUME 7 ISSUE 2 | WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9, 2022 | MOORE.NORTHSTATEJOURNAL.COM

TO SUBSCRIBE: 704-269-8461

MOORE COUNTY

PJ WARD-BROWN | NORTH STATE JOURNAL

High gas prices The national average price of gasoline in the U.S. broke the existing record, exceeding $4 per gallon, according to GasBuddy. The previous alltime high was set back in 2008 ahead of the U.S. Great Recession and housing crisis. Many gas price records have been broken due to Russia’s war on Ukraine, which has pushed Western countries to impose severe sanctions on Russia, curbing Russian exports of crude oil to the global market. AAA Carolinas says the average rate in North Carolina as of Tuesday, March 8 is $4.02 per gallon. Just one year ago, the average price was $2.57 per gallon.

COUNTY NEWS Former County Commissioner Gregory has died Louis Gregory, who recently retired from the Moore County Board of Commissioners after serving six years on the board, died Saturday.

First elected to the board in 2016, Gregory won reelection in 2020 in District 2, which includes Pinehurst, Seven Lakes and Taylortown.

Gregory survived by his wife of 58 years, Ann Deese Gregory; daughter, Tammy McGugan and her husband Steven; son, Michael Gregory and his wife Elizabeth, and three grandchildren. A funeral service for Gregory will be held March 11 at Brownson Memorial Presbyterian Church.

Senior Games registration is open Registration for the 39th Annual Senior Games in the Pines is underway through March 25. The games are sponsored by the Moore County Senior Enrichment Center along with the Southern Pines, Aberdeen, Pinehurst and county recreation departments and are an official preliminary competition for the North Carolina Senior Games.

Competitions begin March 31 and run through May 12. The competition includes bowling, swimming, golf, tennis, badminton, pickleball, running among other individual and team events. The games also include performing, literary and visual arts. The state finals will be held in September and October.

Candidates file for office in Moore Co. North State Journal staff PINEHURST — Candidate filing for Moore County in the 2022 elections ended on Friday, March 4.

Republicans will continue to hold countywide offices, as no Democrats filed for full-term county commission seats, clerk of court, register of deeds, sheriff, or two N.C. House seats. In addition, two district court seats did not have a Democrat file for office, and one seat did not see a Republican file.

In the N.C. House, the seat being vacated by the retirement of Allen McNeill has three candidates running: Neal Jackson, David Ashley, and Cory Bortree. A primary will also take place between current incumbents Jamie Boles and Ben Moss, who are facing off in the redrawn 52nd District that covers southern Moore County and all of Richmond County. The third House district covering Moore, the 51st, sees Lee County incumbent Republican John Sauls facing off against Democrat Malcolm Hall in November’s general election.

20177 52016 $1.00

8

Moore County Sheriff – GOP Ronnie Fields (i) Steve Adams NC House of Representatives District 52 – GOP Ben Moss Jamie Boles (i) NC House of Representatives District 78 – GOP Neal Jackson David Ashley Cory Bortree MOORE COUNTY GENERAL ELECTION CANDIDATES Moore County Board of Commissioners District II (Unexpired Term) Ariadne T. DeGarr (DEM) Nick Picerno (GOP) Moore County Board of Commissioners District V Kurt Cook (GOP) †

MOORE COUNTY CONTESTED RACES

District Court Judge District 19D Seat 1 Warren McSweeney (GOP) †

Moore County Board of Commissioners District I – GOP Jim Von Canon David McLean Angela M. Erica Vacek

District Court Judge District 19D Seat 2 Beth Tanner (GOP) †

Moore County Board of Commissioners District III – GOP John L. Ritter Charlie Smoak Moore County Board of Education District III Shannon Davis Pam Thompson (i) Moore County Board of Education At-Large (Vote for 2) – GOP Ken Benway Pauline Bruno Robin Calcutt Rollie Sampson Forrest Leach

5

Moore County Register of Deeds – GOP William (Bill) Britton Andrew Ritter George W. (Wes) Little, Jr.

Moore County Clerk of Superior Court – GOP Chris Morgan Todd Maness

District Court Judge District 19D Seat 5 Regina M. Joe (DEM) † NC House of Representatives District 51 Malcolm Hall (DEM) John Sauls (i) (GOP) NC House of Representatives District 78 Erik Davis (DEM) † NC State Senate District 21 Frank McNeill (DEM) Tom McInnis (i)(GOP)

† No general election opponent

School board moves on masks, book decision looms District committee recommended keeping the book “George” in school libraries

North State Journal staff CARTHAGE — After hearing from interim superintendent Tim Locklear on the status of COVID-19, the Moore County school board voted to make changes to the system’s COVID protocols.

The county’s staff recommended the school system allow students to return faster from isolation in line with state guidance. Instead of a mandatory 10-day isolation, students and staff could return from isolation after 6 days if certain criteria were met. The board continued the policy of not requiring masks and expanded that policy to school buses after federal changes allowed the change.

The board also heard an update on the superintendent search. A survey of community members as well as school staff, including teachers and administrators, was conducted. The survey was intended to highlight some of the issues each group thought were important when the board considers applicants for superintendent. Over 640 members of the community responded to the survey and 478 staff members completed the survey. The survey results and the comments will be utilized by the board as they move forward with the superintendent search process.

The board also heard from the district’s Media and Technology Advisory Committee. On Dec. 15, 2021, the district received a complaint related to the book “George” by Alex Gino which is in the media collection at Union Pines High School and McDeeds Creek Elementary School.

School-level committees had reviewed the complaint and recommended the book remain at each school.

On Jan. 26, 2022, the district received a request for the board to review the school-level deci-

sion. The board, which has sole authority to make a decision related to the book’s inclusion as a school resource, appointed a broader committee to review the book’s status at the two schools.

The committee held meetings on Feb. 17, 22, 24 and March 1. Committee members Dalija Breecher and Denise Martin did not attend any of the meetings, according to a report by the committee.

The complaint, filed by James Pedersen, said the book does not address the “diversity of needs, interests, and viewpoints of students.” Pedersen said in his complaint that the book introduces children to pornography, teaches them to hide their browser history and discusses genital mutilation.

See SCHOOL BOARD, page 2

North State Journal for Wednesday, March 9, 2022

2 WEDNESDAY

3.9.22

WEEKLY FORECAST

#324

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

MAR 9

HI LO PRECIP

“Join the conversation” North State Journal (USPS 20451) (ISSN 2471-1365) Publisher Neal Robbins

Editor Matt Mercer

Sports Editor Cory Lavalette

Senior Opinion Editor Frank Hill

Design Editor Lauren Rose Published each Wednesday

by North State Media, LLC 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.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: North State Journal

1201 Edwards Mill Rd. Suite 300 Raleigh, NC 27607

WEEKLY CRIME LOG ♦ Martin, Jordan Isaiah (B, M, 19) of Red Spring, arrested 3/7/2022 on charges of Assault on a Female, Communicating Threats by Moore County Sheriff. Bond: $0. Next Court Date: 3/17/2022. ♦ Catalan-Hernandez, Ulice (H, M, 28) of Eagle Spring, arrested 3/7/2022 on charges of Assault and Battery by Moore County Sheriff. Bond: $500 Secured.

Next Court Date: 4/7/2022. ♦ Rouse, Charity Dawn (W, F, 38) of Bennett, arrested 3/6/2022 on charges of Misdemeanor Larceny, Possession of Stolen Goods/Property, Possess Heroin, Possess Drug Paraphernalia (3 counts), Possess Schedule I Controlled Substance by Robbins PD. Bond: $8,250 Secured. Next Court Date: 3/17/2022. ♦ Hinson, J B (W, M, 36) of Bennett, arrested 3/6/2022 on charges of Possess Heroin, Possess Drug Para (2 counts), Possess Controlled Substance Prison/Jail Premisses, Possess Schedule I Controlled Substance by Robbins PD. Bond: $7,500 Secured. Next Court Date: 3/17/2022. ♦ Welch, Kenny Lee (W, M, 42) of Eagle Spring, arrested 3/5/2022 on charges of Possess Methamphetamine, Possess Drug Para, Possess Marijuana Para by Robbins PD. Bond: $2,000 Secured. Next Court Date: 3/24/2022. ♦ Young, Bryan Oneil (B, M, 33) of Huntersville, arrested 3/4/2022 on charges of Stat Sex Off w/ Child by Adult (2 counts), Indecent Liberties With Child, Solicit Child by Computer, Crime Against Nature, Stat Rape of Child by Adult, First Degree Kidnapping, Robbery With Dangerous Weapon, Assault on a Female

by Moore County Sheriff. Bond: $400,000 Secured. Next Court Date: 3/14/2022. ♦ Hughes, Michael Oneal (B, M, 39) of Aberdeen, arrested 3/4/2022 on charges of Driving While Impaired, Poss Open Container MBEV/UNFORT Wine Pub St/Prop Local Ord, Carrying Concealed Weapon, Drive While License Revoked Impaired Rev Based by Moore County Sheriff. Bond: $15,000 Secured. Next Court Date: 3/24/2022. ♦ Douglas, Namir Javarionta (B, M, 18) of Southern Pines, arrested 3/4/2022 on charges of Breaking and or Entering, Larceny After Break/Enter, Possess Stolen Goods/Prop, Felony Conspiracy (2 counts), Robbery With Dangerous

62° 43° 81%

FRIDAY

MAR 10

HI LO PRECIP

MAR 11

50° 42° 54%

HI LO PRECIP

66° 54° 24%

SATURDAY

MAR 12

HI LO PRECIP

58° 22° 94%

SUNDAY

MAR 13

HI LO PRECIP

53° 30° 0%

MONDAY

MAR 14

HI LO PRECIP

63° 41° 3%

TUESDAY

MAR 15

HI LO PRECIP

68° 47° 24%

Settlement over North Carolina moore driver license revocations OK’d happening Here’s a quick look at what’s coming up in Moore County:

By Gary D. Robertson The Associated Press RALEIGH — A federal judge has approved an agreement designed to help tens of thousands of North Carolina residents regain driving privileges only because their licenses were revoked when they couldn’t afford to pay traffic fines and court costs.

The settlement signed by U.S. District Judge Thomas Schroeder and disclosed last week essentially ends a 2018 lawsuit that challenged the constitutionality of North Carolina’s practice of revoking the licenses of people for the inability to pay.

Lawyers for a pair of low-income motorists who initially sued the Division of Motor Vehicles commissioner said the agency failed to alert drivers in danger of losing their licenses that they could get a reprieve by pleading to a judge that they could not afford to pay their penalties.

The lawsuit ultimately expanded to include everyone whose licenses were revoked since mid-2015 because of their failure to pay these costs for traffic offenses and who were still unable to drive lawfully. They wanted the law governing license revocations for nonpayment struck down and licenses reinstated where the question of indigency applied.

DMV estimates there are 57,000 people with revoked licenses in which their failure to pay is the only obstacle to reinstatement, a state’s attorney told Schroeder at a hearing in Winston-Salem last week.

The settlement “will help mitigate the harms of the unnecessarily harsh and punitive practice of revoking people’s drivers’ licenses because they are not wealthy, a practice which has disproportionately affected people and communities of color,” Michele Delgado, an attorney for the ACLU of North Carolina, which helped represent the plaintiffs, said in a news release.

Under the agreement, reached following negotiations with a mediator’s help, DMV will send letters and emails to an estimat-

March 12 St. Patrick’s Day Parade 11am The annual Village of Pinehurst St. Patrick’s Day parade will flood the streets with Irish spirit.

PHOTO VIA NCDMV OFFICE

A woman walks into a Division of Motor Vehicles office in this undated file photo. ed 185,000 people letting them know of the legal process in place to seek a judge’s waiver of their traffic fees and court costs. Similar notices will be sent in the future before revocations are complete.

DMV also will pay $30,000 to fund a third-party website that provides information to motorists seeking how to prevent their licenses from being suspended due to nonpayment of penalties and costs, including legal resources. Notices will be posted in DMV offices and courthouses statewide about the settlement and options to prevent revocations.

Schroeder wrote that while the motorists had not demonstrated a likelihood that the law was unconstitutional, the “increased notice provisions included in the settlement seek to provide additional procedural due process safeguards” so drivers plainly know they can retain their licenses.

“The settlement appears fair, reasonable, and adequate,” Schroeder wrote in his order, dated Wednesday. The settlement contains no admission of wrongdoing by the DMV commissioner, he added.

DMV said in a statement Thursday that the state offered

not long after the lawsuit was filed to make improvements to the current warning that drivers receive when their permit may be revoked, but the plaintiffs rejected it. The settlement contains conditions the state offered earlier, the agency said.

DMV “always looks for new ways to improve communications as we strive to provide outstanding customer service to all North Carolinians,” the statement said.

The initial plaintiffs described in the litigation their struggles to get restored their licenses, which the lawsuit says are essentially a prerequisite to employment in a state like North Carolina. A 2016 U.S. Department of Transportation report said more than 90% of North Carolina residents traveled to work by car and only 1% got there by public transit, according to the lawsuit.

The initial plaintiffs — both Cabarrus County residents at the time — described in the lawsuit a cycle of fines and attempts to catch up on their debts as they try to hold on to their jobs and support their families.

One unemployed resident said he faced revocation because he failed to pay $228; the other could not pay several hundred dollars in penalties.

Pops: Movie Muse 7:30pm The Carolina Philharmonic returns for a live performance in Owens Auditorium. The onenight show features grand cinematic scores with video clips and behindthe-scenes reels from classic films.

March 17 Moore County Land Use Summit 8am-5pm Issues surrounding development, landowner rights, conservation, preservation, government zoning, land-use regulations and taxation will be presented during this all-day event in Carthage. The Land Use Summit is designed to educate landowners and farmers. More information at moore.ces.ncsu.edu.

March 18 SCHOOL BOARD from page 1 Locklear introduced the recommendation of the advisory committee and said he recommended the board accept the recommendation to keep the book in the libraries of both schools.

The committee recommended that “George” remain in both schools’ libraries. The report presented to the board Monday included comments from the committee justifying their position.

With respect to McDeeds Creek Elementary, the committee “determined that the book addresses positive messages about acceptance, diversity and inclusion.

Members of the team expressed that the media collection should reflect the diverse demographics and needs of its community and should provide resources repre-

sentative of the many religious, ethnic, and cultural groups.”

The committee’s report also characterized the complainant’s concerns as “out of context” and several members of the committee said the excerpts were “inaccurately portrayed.” The committee recognized that “various professional literary organizations recommend the book for grade 4 and higher” but noted “there were some discrepancies between the age recommendations of these reviewers.”

With respect to Union Pines High School, the committee said the members determined the book “is appropriate for a high school media center.”

The committee recommendation is not the final say on the matter. The board will vote at its March 14 business meeting.

TUNE INTO The John and Maureen show

Sundays

1 - 2PM WEEB 990 AM 104.1 and 97.3 FM

James E. Holshouser, Jr. Lecture 7pm 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.

March 26 COURTESY PHOTO

The cover of the book George is shown in this photo.

Kristin Chenoweth: For the Girls 7pm Emmy and Tony Award winning actress and singer Kristin Chenoweth’s career spans film, television, voiceover and stage. Chenoweth has been nominated for two Emmy Awards and for a People’s Choice Award for her role on “Glee.”

In 2009, she wrote an upliftingly candid, comedic chronicle of her life so far, “A Little Bit Wicked,” which debuted on the New York Times Hardcover Non-Fiction Best Seller List. Tickets available at sandhillsbpac.com.

North State Journal for Wednesday, March 9, 2022

OPINION Neal Robbins, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor VISUAL VOICES

COLUMN | ROBERT BORTINS

Democrats don’t want you to believe the pain in your pocket It is estimated 80-90% of the world’s supply chain backlog is off the coast of California and there are around 1 million container days’ worth of backlog.

I BELIEVE AMERICA’S BEST days can be ahead of us, but it will take Americans uniting and going back to common sense policies to make it happen. I believe that in Moore County we will have an unprecedented opportunity this fall to elect local people who believe in you and me.

President Biden in his State of the Union said his priority is on reducing inflation, but the radical left policies which he is supporting will only make it worst for most Americans.

Here are some policies that would immediately help: Make America energy independent again. One of the sanctions put on Russia is closing the Nord Stream 2 pipeline. This was smart, it was what President Trump had in place before Biden reversed it. When President Biden first stepped into office, he stopped the Keystone XL pipeline.

Who was that meant to hurt? As gas reaches $4/gallon in Moore County you know who it is hurting. I’ve seen recent articles how Moore County residents are “shocked” by their heating bill. As Vice President Kamala Harris said on February 28, “voters got what they asked for” in electing our current administration. President Biden should reverse his decision and assure our domestic oil and gas producers that he won’t enact additional regulations on them during this term. That way they can invest with confidence and bring back American energy independence.

Clean up the shipping container backlog. We’ve all heard of supply and demand. The “supply” is stuck off the California coast. It is estimated 80-90% of the world’s supply chain backlog is off the coast of California and there are around 1 million container days’ worth of backlog. I recently got a quote for a print paper run for one of my companies. I was expecting it to be about $1.50 per piece, but it came back at $5/piece and we had to decide that day, because it was the only way they’d be able to get the paper for it.

California’s insane labor laws are keeping this backlog from being cleaned up. In a state with sane labor laws, you

could bring in a bunch of temporary employees, get people to work, and get it cleared up. In California you can’t do that, and on top of that the unions have a stranglehold on the docks. There is constitutional power to regulate interstate commerce, we have military and others that could be sent to the docks to get them running properly. No current dock employees’ wages would be negatively affected, but we could get the backlog cleaned out quickly. This would help relieve the supply side, which in my experience is what is currently driving up cost.

Insist Congress passes a balanced budget and reduces government spending from its current levels. Democrats tried to pass “build back better,” which would have exacerbated our debt and increased the rate of inflation.

President Clinton and a Republican Congress passed a balanced budget a long time ago but they proved it can be done. President Biden campaigned as a uniter, but his policies have been divisive. If he was serious about addressing inflation, he needs to start where he has the most control and that is by vetoing out-of-control government spending. Demand that each level of federal government find ways to cut their budgets.

At the State of the Union, Democrat Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia sat with his Republican counterparts.

Perhaps it was to distance himself from Democratic Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, who seemed at a loss multiple times on when to clap. Perhaps it was because the only thing that President Biden seems to be uniting is America against his radical policies. Biden’s poll numbers are cratering, and his plan is to double down on his failed policies.

You better get used to the pain in your pocket. Career politicians who live in the insulated D.C. swamp are counting on it.

Robert Bortins is a businessman in Moore County.

COLUMN | MAUREEN KRUEGER

Ukraine: a modern day Moores Creek?

Thirty years post-Soviet Union, Ukrainians now know freedom. They are rightfully reluctant to give it up without a fight.

LAST WEEK marked the 246th anniversary of the Battle of Moores Creek Bridge near Wilmington. British troops, aware of the American militia presence but convinced of their own superiority, proceeded across a partially dismantled bridge at Moores Creek into the waiting ambush of nearly 1,000 North Carolina patriots.

The British commanders greatly underestimated the patriot’s desire for freedom and succumbed to inventive, guerilla tactics of the revolutionists. The battle marked the end of British authority in North Carolina and prompted North Carolinians to be the first colonists to formally declare independence. Just a few months later, the North Carolina delegation to the Second Continental Congress Convention unanimously signed the Declaration of Independence.

Freedom should never be taken for granted. The horror of the Russian invasion against its sovereign neighbor Ukraine is playing out in real time through the marvels of modern technology. Russian President Vladimir Putin exemplifies the pure evil of authoritarian power that many Americans naively thought was a distant part of Cold War history or the figment of the right-wing imagination. The world collectively repudiates Putin’s action and rallies behind the resolute Ukrainian people. Thirty years post-Soviet Union, Ukrainians now know freedom. They are rightfully reluctant to give it up without a fight.

Everyday people are displaying extraordinary courage and resolve in the face of the Russian military might. Ordinary citizens are using guns, not to hunt deer as our president

mockingly says, but against a powerful invading army.

Meanwhile, in the strongest and most free country the world has ever known, President Biden engages in intellectually dishonest policies about the pandemic, potsmoking, pronouns, pedagogy and pistols. Biden continues to hint at constricting the rights of legal gun owners by falsely linking the violent crime in Democrat-controlled cities to legal but rare “ghost guns.” In similar fashion, North Carolina Democrats proposed gun control bills that would restrict lawful gun ownership and reclassify normal firearms as illegal assault weapons.

Ukrainians may not have a Declaration of Independence as we do: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.” These are truths not because they were written on a piece of paper 246 years ago. These are truths because we were created by God and we derive our rights from God — not man and certainly not government. While I fervently believe in the power of local politics, this international human tragedy underscores the need to be vigilant of our own constitutional rights.

Ukraine and her spirited people have my prayers for courage and a peaceful resolution. Hopefully, history will remember the Russian invasion of Ukraine like the Battle of Moores Creek Bridge.

Maureen Krueger is President of Moore Republican Women and Secretary of Moore County GOP

3

North State Journal for Wednesday, March 9, 2022

4

obituaries

SPONSORED BY BOLES FUNERAL HOMES & CREMATORY

DEATH NOTICES

♦ Allegra T Taylor, 54, died on Tuesday, February 23, 2022, at First Health Moore Regional Hospital. ♦ Jonathan Andrew Fick, age 49 of Reston, VA., died on February 21, 2022.

John Andrew Gaines February 25, 1960 March 3, 2022 John Andrew Gaines was born February 25, 1960 to Toshika (Morikawa) and Bernard Gaines, in Shirley, Massachusetts at the US Naval Hospital. John and his siblings Deborah, James, and Joseph Gaines, spent early childhood years in France before their father retired from the US Air Force and settled the family in Ventura County, California. In 1977, John graduated high school in Newbury Park, California, along with another notable graduate, Heather Locklear.

John passed away March 3, 2022 at age 62, in Pinehurst, North Carolina, surrounded by his family. John leaves a huge void for his family, friends, and community. A memorial service to celebrate John’s life will be held at Grace Church (1519 Luther Way, Southern Pines) on Monday March 7th, 2022 at 11 AM EST.

Jack Wesley Zellers June 25, 1939 February 28, 2022

Jack Wesley Zellers, 82, lost this brave battle with cancer on February 28, 2022 at FirstHealth Hospice House in Pinehurst, NC. Born in Milton, PA, Jack was the son of the late Barner and Irene (McDaniel) Zellers. He is survived by his loving wife, Paula Drudi Zellers, his daughters, Donna Deppen (Mrs. Lenny Deppen) of Sunbury, PA and Diana Brown (Mrs. William Brown) of Milton, DE and four grandchildren: Michael and Alicia Wiles, Bradley and Bethany Deppen and great grandson Connor Wiles, and numerous nieces and nephews.

He is also survived by his brother, James Zellers (Shirley) of Milton, PA and sister, Sonya Powell of Athens, PA. He is predeceased by first wife, Patricia Shirk in 1989 and by his beloved Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, “Archie” in 2018.

Zona May Laidlaw January 5, 1945 February 28, 2022

Zona Laidlaw, 77, passed away peacefully in the loving arms of her family on February 28, 2022 in her home in Pinehurst, North Carolina.

Zona was born on January 5, 1945 in Clarendon, Jamaica W.I. and was the daughter of late Embden Dixon and Hermine Chin Gould, age 94. She attended Queen’s School and met her beloved husband, Garth Laidlaw, at the age of seventeen.

After emigrating to the US, they married in New York in 1964.

During Garth’s medical training and practice, the Laidlaws lived in the Bronx, Washington, DC, and Rochester, NY. They retired in Pinehurst, NC. Zona is survived by her husband of 56 years, Garth, her mother Hermine, her sister Audrey (her husband Richard), her two sons Phillip (his wife Natalie), Nicholas (his wife Tanya), and her four grandchildren Zachary, Nikkita, Zander and Mari who were her greatest joy.

Mary Janice Mayberry March 14, 1930 February 24, 2022

Paul Richard Dunn

Joseph Frank Diggs

October 10, 1928 February 25, 2022

Paul Richard Dunn, of Pinehurst, passed away Friday, Feb. 25, 2022, in his home, surrounded by his loving family.

He was born Oct. 10, 1928, in East Orange, N.J., and spent his happy childhood in Oceanside, Long Island, N.Y. His parents were Paul Francis Dunn and Audrey Beatrice Hanser Dunn.

He is survived by his sister, Sheila Audrey Dunn, of Stonybrook, N.Y. He married Kathleen McCabe and they had 10 children, Claudia Miller, David Dunn, Susan Di Fonzo, Eileen Wheaton, Kevin Dunn, Jeannette Kendall, Matthew Dunn, Patricia Dunn, Dr. Timothy Dunn and Elizabeth Dunn. He leaves 65 descendants, including 10 children, 23 grandchildren, and 30 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.

Kathleen Dunn died in 2013.

Paul married Betty Jane (B.J.) Dunn, of Great Neck, N.Y., in 1991, and they were happily married until her death in 2015.

Paul maintained a strong bond with B.J.’s children, Rex Duval and Melissa Gray. His close companion since 2017 was Jo Ann Duncan, of Pinehurst, with who he enjoyed golf, scrabble, cultural events and her excellent cooking.

He enjoyed singing with the Golf Capital Chorus and choir of the Congregational Church of Pinehurst. He contributed op-ed articles to The New York Times and for 20 years’ columns in The Pilot newspaper, of Southern Pines. He recently authored and published The Secret War Diaries of Abraham Lincoln - Including His Recurring Dreams, a fourvolume work. He enjoyed giving talks on the religious views of Abraham Lincoln to local church and civic club audiences.

October 15, 1936 February 24, 2022

Joseph Frank Diggs, 85 of Southern Pines, passed away on Thursday, February 24, 2022 at First Health Moore Regional Hospital in Pinehurst.

A memorial service will be held at 3PM, Sunday, March 6th 2022 at the Boles Funeral Home in Southern Pines, NC. Joe was born in Stanley County, NC to the late George Alexander Diggs and Margaret (Preslar) Diggs.

He served his country in the US Navy, retiring with over twenty years as an Aviation Electrician and Naval Recruiter.

Finally settling in Knollwood Village, he made innumerable friends and additional family members. He was always the life of the party and a Good Samaritan, whether it be running errands for others, spreading humor, harassment, joy, or delivering papers by his sidekick, “Kiwi” (for the payment of treats, or course!) He will be sorely missed and loved by every single life he touched for years to come.

Joe was preceded in death by his wife of 56 years, Audrey Mary Elizabeth Neary Diggs on July 20, 2016 and a daughter, Shelly Diggs Howard. Also preceding him in death were nine brothers and sisters.

Joe is survived by his son, Stephen Diggs of Asheboro, NC; a daughter, Laurie Diggs Bailey of Philadelphia, PA; A sister, Virginia Cade of Southern Pines, NC; and seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made in memory of Joseph Diggs to the Tunnels to Towers Foundation.

Services entrusted to Boles Funeral Home of Southern Pines.

On February 24, 2022, Mary Janice Mayberry (née Morrissey), loving wife, mother, and grandmother, returned to her Heavenly Father at the age of 91. Mary was born on March 14, 1930 in Sheridan Oregon. On April 15, 1950, she married her high school sweetheart, Gary, and together they were blessed with four wonderful sons, Bruce, John, Tom, and Jim, and daughter, Jackie (Wills).

Mary is survived by her five children, fourteen grandchildren, nineteen great-grandchildren, and her sister, Harriett Morrissey.

Mary was predeceased by her loving husband Gary (December, 24, 2020), and five of her beloved sisters.

We were all blessed to have had Mary in our lives, and her spirit and love will be forever in our hearts. She will be greatly missed by all who celebrate that she is at peace with our creator.

William Waldo Crownover March 25, 1948 February 26, 2022

Loving husband, Dad and Pop, Bill Crownover passed away on Saturday morning, February 26, 2022. His beloved, Barbara A. Crownover, was by his side. He was in a happy mood, looking forward to watching the Tar Heel - N.C. State game that day, and dressed in his Carolina blue Brooks Brothers’ sweater and pressed jeans.

He is preceded in death by his parents, older brother Jim Crownover, in laws Dorothy Crownover and John Watts, and beloved dog Nittany. The family left to cherish his memory, generosity and sweet spirit are his wife Barbara; his children Amy Rozzell Behrendt (Trey), Shannon Gomez Crownover (Ricardo), Nancy Rozzell Johnson (Jay), William Blake Crownover, Nathan James Crownover; his grandchildren Conner and Sophie Behrendt, Isabelle and Sasha Pala, Yates and Hannah Johnson, Mateo and Lucas Gomez; his sisters Mitsy Watts and Margaret Crownover and sister-in-law June Lyda; many nieces and nephews; and cherished friends and Sig Ep brothers.

A graveside service will be held in Asheville’s Riverside Cemetery on Sunday, May 29.

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